Annual Christmas luncheon full of seasonal spirit

The Greater Burnside Business Associations fourth annual Christmas luncheon was another big hit, attracting 200 participants to the Park Place Ramada to share some holiday joy and express their opinions on issues facing the Park.

The latter was done through the return of Dot-ocracy, the popular poll introduced at last years event. Attendees receive a sheet of coloured dots and are asked to place them beside the issues they believe are the most important. Lists of the issues are placed on easels located in the reception area for the gathering.

Last years dot-ocracy results were presented to the municipal government and helped shape the GBBAs agenda for the past year.

The growing importance of the GBBA as a voice for the Burnside community was reflected in the events attendance. No less than six members of the Halifax Regional Municipal Council were there, including Mayor Peter Kelly and councillors Bill Karsten, Sheila Fougere, Andrew Younger, Gloria McCluskey and Jim Smith. Two members of the provincial government were also there, provincial Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil and Dartmouth North MLA Trevor Zinck.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the key to Burnside to volunteer extraordinaire Dick Farah by Mayor Kelly. The honour was occasioned by Farahs retirement from his volunteer duties due to health concerns. Farah also received the first ever Park Place Ramada Volunteer Award, an annual honour instituted by the GBBA to recognize volunteers that make a significant contribution to the improvement of the Burnside Business Park.

Perhaps the most important development of the meeting took place away from the podium, though. GBBA Chair Kelvin Sams spent much of the event speaking with Mayor Kelly and emerged with a commitment to begin regular meetings between the Association and municipal staff to discuss issues related to the Parks current operation and future development. This is something the Association has wanted to implement for several years.



Please Note: The UPS store on Windmill Road has closed. Consequently, the GBBA has opened a new address at Canada Post at the 95 Akerley Drive location. The new address for the GBBA is: P.O. Box 38015, Dartmouth, N.S. B3B 1X2. Please change the address on all your correspondence.

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