The North Woodside Community Association is a non-profit organization, run by a volunteer board of directors.  Our mission is to serve the social, educational and recreational needs of the community, particularly South Central Dartmouth.

South Central Dartmouth is a neighbourhood which includes homes, a variety of neighbourhood businesses, schools and public institutions such as the Nova Scotia Hospital and the Dartmouth General Hospital.

The Association was incorporated in 1994 under the Societies Act of Nova Scotia.  It is also a registered charity under the Federal Income Tax act.

The Society’s members are the residents of the North Woodside area of Dartmouth.  No formal membership admission is required and no fees are charged.  The Association is accountable to the entire community not only those who participate in the Association.

The Association is governed by a six member volunteer board of directors.  The Board, which meets once a month is elected at an Annual General Meeting, usually held in October or early November.  A staff person from the Recreation and Leisure Services Department represents the Halifax Regional Municipality on the board, in a non-voting capacity.

The Association employs, on a part time basis, a Centre Manager, Clerks and a janitor.  Volunteers operate most programs and projects.

The Association operates on a budget of about $80,000 per year supported entirely by revenues generated by rent from tenants, evening and daytime room bookings, program fees and project grants.  We issue an annual report each year in the late fall.

In addition to the activities of its full time tenants, the Association offers a variety of recreational and social programs in co-ordination with HRM Recreation and Leisure Services.  The Association also offers an opportunity for children grades 3-6 to interact by providing monthly dances from Sept-May on the third friday of the month.  The Association each year hosts an annual Canada Day event to provide an opportunity for the community and surrounding communities to celebrate this holiday.

The Association was formed by a group of residents in 1994, following the closure of the North Woodside Elementary School.  It was formed in order to use the building as a resource for maintaining and building a sense of community identity.  The building is owned by the municipality and leased to the Association for a nominal fee.