PRESS RELEASE: Exhibition Grounds Tax Bill

For Immediate Release

Settling of the Tax Bill Between the Town & County of Antigonish

The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce is pleased to hear that the tax bill outstanding between the Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish has been paid. As we had asked the two municipal units to work towards a punctual and fair resolution, the Chamber commends the County for, upon learning of the decision of the Nova Scotia Board of Appeal, acting swiftly to settle this matter.

As we have stated in the past, the relationship between Town and County of Antigonish is a matter of great concern for our membership, and the Exhibition Grounds have certainly acted as the most public representation of those concerns.

Now, however, the circumstance is at an end. And with this end is the opportunity to usher in a new era for Antigonish. The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with both municipal units as we strive to create an empowered Antigonish economy.

PRESS RELEASE: The Retirement of Dr. Sean Riley

For Immediate Release

Antigonish Chamber of Commerce Wishes Dr. Sean Riley Well in his Retirement

The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce would like to wish Dr. Sean Riley well upon hearing the announcement of his pending retirement as President of St. Francis Xavier University.

It is clear that one of Dr. Riley’s primary goals for St.F.X. when he became president over 17 years ago was to make the university a nationally recognized and renowned institution.  In this, there can be no doubting his success, as St.F.X. consistently ranks highly in MacLean’s University Rankings, having a five-year span where it was the top-ranked primarily undergraduate university in Canada.  With an increased national, and international, focus on St.F.X., there has also been an increased focus on Antigonish itself, and there can be no doubting that this has created great opportunities for our region.

Now, as Dr. Riley departs, St. Francis Xavier University enters a new era of its history.  The new president faces difficult financial challenges in an uncertain global economy.  As the university searches for a new leader to navigate these complex issues, the Chamber hopes that the incoming president will not only be cognizant of the social, cultural, and academic importance of St.F.X. itself, but have a deep appreciation for the invaluable symbiotic relationship that the university has with Antigonish and its surrounding areas.

The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce hopes that Dr. Riley’s retirement will bring him the best in health and happiness.

Hail and Health,

W. Patrick Curry

President of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce, Class of ’97

PRESS RELEASE: ACC reaction to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal's decision on the Exhibition Grounds Tax Sale

For Immediate Release


Upon learning that the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal before it as it pertains the Exhibition Grounds, it is the hope of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce that both of Antigonish's municipal units can now work out a final resolution to this matter.

The Board of Directors of the Chamber has heard from its membership that the lack of cooperation, or perceived lack of cooperation, between the Town and County of Antigonish is of grave concern to them, perhaps their gravest concern. There is no topic in which this issue is more visible than in the matter of the Exhibition Grounds. A brisk, courteous, and equitable final resolution would do much to reassure residents and businesses of Antigonish, as well as those who wish to do business in and with Antigonish.

The Antigonish Chamber of Commerce, as always, looks forward to working with both municipal units as we move forward together to make Antigonish the desired place to do business.

A Blog for the Antigonish Business Community

Hello and welcome to the official blog of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce.

An issue the Board of Directors has deemed important is one of communication. In order for the Chamber of Commerce to be of benefit to its membership, it needs to know what its priorities are. To that end, we've recently completed a survey of our membership assessing what your concerns are in the Antigonish business community, and we will be sharing that feedback with our membership before long.

But communication, good communication, is a two-way street. Not only must we listen and act on your behalf, but we must also let you know the work that we do for you and for Antigonish as a whole. The fact is, many businesses and individuals (members and non-members alike) really don't know what the Chamber truly is, and the work all the work that we do. It is time to change that. In order for our members to feel like they are getting the value for their membership, we must inform them of all that we do on their behalf. As such, we have recently started a Twitter feed and have also launched our Facebook page. You are encouraged to Follow and Like both.

This blog is an extention of this communications plan. We intend to use it to post letters sent to advocate on behalf of Antigonish businesses (such as our recent letter to the Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism in support of wayfinding funding), press releases, information on Chamber activities, and the like. How the blog evolves from there...who can say?

Thank you for reading, and we hope you continue to do so.

Antigonish Chamber of Commerce Supports Town of Antigonish's Application for Funding under the Tourism Development Investment First Impressions Program

TDI-FIP Support Ltr