Reflecting on nearly ten years as President and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce
Writing this message feels bittersweet, as it will be my final President’s Message as President and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. I joined the Chamber in the summer of 2016, and it has been a privilege to serve this organization and our business community during that time.
When I arrived, the Chamber was in good shape, but it was ready for more growth and more impact. Over the past decade, we’ve grown our membership by 500 members, reaching 2,000 businesses and making us the largest Chamber east of Montreal and one of the strongest consolidated business voices in Nova Scotia.
That growth matters—it gives us greater influence with municipal, provincial, and federal decision-makers, and it allows us to reinvest more directly in our members through events, programming, and education.
Halifax and Nova Scotia have grown significantly during my time at the Chamber. We’ve seen strong population and economic growth, and there is much to be proud of. That pride has been evident in our regular demonstrations of our local leaders. During my tenure, virtually every speaker at our spring and fall dinners has been a local business leader, community builder or academic visionaries sharing their experiences and lessons with our broader business community. Supporting and showing strong local voices has always mattered to me, and I’m proud the Chamber has offered a platform for those stories.
Every day at the Chamber has been different, challenging, and rewarding. We’ve navigated significant moments together, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic, which fundamentally changed how we work and how we support our members. Through it all, the Chamber remained focused on its purpose: being a strong, credible voice for business and helping our members succeed in a difficult time.
Looking back, I am proud to have led the COVID-era Nova Scotia Business and Labour Economic Coalition, lovingly nicknamed NSBLEC. NSBLEC met daily for several months that stretched to years to collaborate with all levels of government, business associations, labour representatives, community groups, not-for-profits, and more. Together, we accessed and shared real-time updates on the evolving changes of the pandemic and provided feedback on government programs.
I’m also proud of the Chamber’s growing national presence, particularly through our work with the Canadian Global Cities Council, where Halifax collaborates with other major urban centres to advocate federally for the needs of cities and their business communities.
Finally, I can’t help but mention our efforts to create a more diverse and representative Chamber in our community. Seeing the greater representation of all of our community members at events and as members fills me with pride.
As I prepare to retire, I do so with confidence in the Chamber’s future. In March, Don Bureaux, current President of Nova Scotia Community College, will step into the role of President and CEO. Don brings deep experience, strong leadership, and a commitment to collaboration that will serve the Chamber and its members well.
Thank you to our members, our Board of Directors, and the Chamber team—past and present—for your trust, support, and dedication. It has been an honour to work alongside you. The Chamber’s work continues, and its role in shaping a strong, prosperous Halifax has never been more important.
