Chamber Anniversary & Sign By-Law Garner Media Coverage

Both of our local papers have featured coverage of Chamber affairs over the last week.

In the first instance, the Minden Times looks at our 75th anniversary year and talks about the recent growth in the organization.

Chamber of commerce is 75 years old and still growing
Minden Times – January 13th, 2010

The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 75th anniversary and it’s doing so with renewed zeal.

The chamber has more than 330 members, almost 100 of which have joined in the last year, and that number is still growing.

In all, there are about 600 businesses in Haliburton County.

“That’s phenomenal,” chamber president Nick Lawrence said last week, pointing out that having more than half an area’s businesses as chamber members is a rate that is basically unheard of.

Click here to read the full article.

Meanwhile, the Echo has coverage of the advocacy work we’ve undertaken in regards to the new county sign by-law.

Chamber not keen on sign bylaw
Haliburton Echo – January 12th, 2010

The Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce has concerns that upcoming changes to the county’s sign bylaw may have negative affects for area businesses.

While county council passed them in 2008, the changes will not come into effect until 2013, following a five-year grace period.

“At this point in time, we don’t have any issue,” said Maria Micallef, the chamber’s administrative co-ordinator.

However, when the new bylaw comes into effect in three years time, Micallef said she wonders what the effects will be for businesses that advertise along county roads and a survey recently put out to the chamber’s 300 members asks just that question.

Click here to read the full article.