By Richard Bell
The Musquodoboit Harbour & Area Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs (MHACCCA) held its inaugural “Business Excellence Awards Dinner” at the Petpeswick Yacht Club on October 22. A number of local business, including this newspaper, provided extra support for the evening as sponsors.
The well-attended event featured a short speech by Senator Tom McGinnis, who founded the Sheet Harbour Chamber of Commerce. McGinnis described the key role he played in the creation of the MHACCA, coming to an organizing meeting where he explained the importance of having a functioning Chamber of Commerce to drive local economic growth. He said that he was now working with a group to set up a Chamber branch in Middle Musquodoboit. With Chambers up and running in all three towns, McGinnis said the groups could coordinate their efforts in ways that would give them much more leverage than any single rural HRM Chamber could achieve.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners of the MHACCCA’s first “Business Excellence Awards.” The three trophies were beautifully carved piping plovers, made by master carver Dave Shuman. The Business of the Year Award went to Baker’s Point Fisheries. The Business Leader of the Year Award went to a couple, Ralph and Patti Bayers. And the Community Spirit Award went to another couple, John and Linda Verlinden.