Your MHACCCA

Membership Benefits

YOUR MEMBERSHIP HELPS US PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THE
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CIVIC WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES

Why should you become a member?

Your membership helps us promote and enhance the economic, social, and civic well-being of our communities from West Ship Harbour to the Musquodoboit Harbour / Gaetz Brook western boundary.
Investing in a membership also gives you a voice in the future of your community by allowing full voting privileges.

Membership benefits of the MHACCCA

Your Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs:

provides a powerful voice on behalf of the community; it speaks out on issues such as taxes, transportation and education that affect you. As a member of your local Chamber you make that voice even stronger to speak on your behalf.
is a voluntary business organization, supported by its member firms to promote the areas economic growth and development.
enables businessmen and businesswomen, groups, associations and individuals to accomplish collectively what no one of them could do individually, creating a pool of resources from which one can draw ideas, energy, and finances.
is a resource of information and services for the business community and the region that it serves. Many businesses both small and large support the Chamber because it is simply good business.

Types of annual memberships:

Membership categories include groups such as Businesses, Clubs, Groups, Societies, Associations or Individuals, and we welcome anyone who is directly or indirectly interested in trade, commerce, or the economic and social well-being of the area.

Individual, business and group memberships are each given one vote, and that person (or representative of a business or group) must reside (civic address) in the Musquodoboit Harbour and surrounding area. Memberships are valid for a full calendar year from January through December.

Annual Membership Fees

Senior: $10.00 (Age 65+)
Individual: $25.00 (Age 18 - 64)
Business: $50.00 (Business Enterprises of any type or size)
Non-Profit: $25.00 (Non-Profits)
Associate: $10.00 (Groups, Clubs, Societies, Associations)

Membership Application & Renewal

Who We Are

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

Unifying Our Community Strengths

While a lot of good, constructive work is ongoing in our community, no single group can possibly create a future which benefits every member of the community. A Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs serves as an "umbrella" organization, uniting various community groups, businesses and individuals providing its members with a clear, representative voice where it's needed most.

Establishing the Musquodoboit Harbour & Area Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs puts us in a position to efficiently and meaningfully steer our community's destiny.

Why do we need a Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs?

As the average age of rural Nova Scotians rises to retirement levels and opportunities for employment diminish, communities continue to lose residents to metropolitan areas. In response, communities need to protect and develop sustainable strategies that ensure a comprehensive aging in place continuum of housing, accessible health care, and transportation which are all indicators of maintaining an individual’s dignity and right to live fully their community of choice.

A major misperception exists which suggests the investment of Municipal, Provincial, and Federal tax dollars in infrastructure (such as water and sewer, housing and business development, transportation, and I.T.) are subsidies afforded only to densely populated areas of the HRM and elsewhere in Nova Scotia. Given the existing population trends, going forward this belief requires correcting while both residents and various levels of government will require a major shift in attitude if we are to remain successful as a Province and continue to grow as a community.

A Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs …

is all about its members
fosters better communication through fact based research on important issues affecting our area
helps to retain youth in our communities by fostering entrepreneurship and embracing immigration
has a traditional objective of fostering trade and industry as well as civic development, and to promote the general welfare of the community and surrounding areas
is a non partisan and non sectarian group
is a well respected brand in Canada, offering proven programmes and many levels of support for each chapter
provides one credible, unified, fully accountable voice for the community while holding its representatives accountable in all levels of government
holds regular Town Hall meetings to maintain a current pulse of community concerns
builds credibility with residents and all levels of government
paves the way for rural communities to work with all levels of government to take the lead in developing long term social and economic strategies
proves it has the support of its members through paid association and engagement
allows decision-making to be controlled at the community level
unifies several highly functioning groups under one respected umbrella, repairing fragmentation and making it possible for politicians to effectively meet with our community within busy schedules
actively and positively engages elected officials and large private sector service delivery models IE: important rural infrastructure such as NSP, Bell, Eastlink etc. for the betterment of our entire community
allows both community and business interests to be properly represented in shaping our community, making it one of the only organizations able to actively and effectively engage our area's business community
facilitates economic growth of the region through ensuring the establishment of the requisite infrastructure for economic and social wellbeing while constantly being guided by the membership
creates and maintains an environment that grows the quality of life for our citizens, and continues to grow it through a prosperous economy and a social network that meets the needs of all
represents the voice of business, supporting its members’ success and championing community prosperity
attracts highly skilled volunteers to help organize and operate an effective, all-encompassing group
allows for future growth of historically important rural growth centres along the Eastern Shore, including Musquodoboit Harbour, Sheet Harbour, Sherbrooke
is a brand well respected by Greater Halifax Partnership, Nova Scotia Business Inc., The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, CBDC Bluewater, Municipal, Provincial and Federal Governments

MHACCCA Board Members

Board Nomination Form

MHACCCA Funding Application

CARA - Common Area Rate Funding Application & Guide 2025 - 2026

Common Area Rate Administration Board Member Application

FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

How did the idea of the MHACCCA get started?

On Sunday, Nov. 9th, 2014, at 2 pm at the Petpeswick Yacht Club, concerned citizens came together to discuss the benefits of a Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs for Musquodoboit Harbour and the surrounding area. Overwhelmingly, more than seventy community members gave their support in the public interest to establish a Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs. A “Steering Committee” was nominated and endorsed by the community, tasked to draft bylaws and draw up a suggested slate of officers. That community meeting was hosted by the Musquodoboit Harbour + Area Community Association, and the guest speaker was Senator Tom McInnis.

How did the "steering committee" form the MHACCCA?

The Steering Committee for the Musquodoboit Harbour & Area Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs is the result of our community's sheer determination to take control and change the status quo. The committee met weekly, determined to establish the framework of the MHACCCA while keeping in mind the Ivany report and other important recent studies done regarding Nova Scotia. Over the years much important and meaningful work has been done in our communities, in fact, the Musquodoboit Harbour and District Board of Trade was formed in October, 1980. The steering committee reactivated this old board of trade which happens to pre date amalgamation in HRM. We engaged in extensive research and established Chamber bylaws and an operational framework based on review of multiple existing Chambers. As such, as of March 17th, 2015 the MHACCCA is now a formally registered society with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stock, and with additional membership will become a member of the Atlantic Provinces Chamber of Commerce.

How are the geographical boundaries of the MHACCCA membership defined?

The Halifax Municipal Planning Strategy for the Eastern Shore defines our membership boundaries; "Eastern Shore (West) Plan". As such the MHACCCA’s boundaries are from the West Ship Harbour east boundary to the western boundary of Musquodoboit Harbour where it meets the Gaetz Brook.

Eastern Shore District High School Building