About Us
The Portland Estates & Hills Residents’ Association was established over 30 years ago to protect and enhance the quality of life in our community. The association is a group of resident volunteers that represent local concerns to the city, promote solutions and identify opportunities for improvements.
What We Do
Advocacy
PEHRA works with local, HRM, and Provincial officials to advocate for residents' voices
Events
Plan a variety of free events for all residents to connect with community throughout the year
Trails
Trail maintenance and coordination with HRM staff to balance conservation and recreation
Communications
Maintain the website, social media, newsletter to keep residents up-to-date on neighbourhood news
Environment
Monitor, report, and advocate for the safety of the ecosystem we call home
Safety
Work with local officials to ensure the safety of community both in our homes and in the park
Out in the Community
We've been busy. Check out a few projects we're proud of over the years.
Beaver Dam Mitigation Project
In 2025, PEHRA worked with HRM to construct a beaver mitigation cage on Ellenvale Run to allow the fish to swim up river to spawn, protecting the valuable ecosystem in our community.
Our History
We are grateful for all the volunteers that have made contributions in the past and encourage new volunteers to share their talents and ideas to continue the future work of the association. While there have been many efforts made over the years, here are a few of our key projects and successes:
1990 – Our Environment Committee organized the first Spring Clean up, which has become an important annual event, helping to make a difference and let us take pride in our community
1998 – the No way to the Highway campaign achieved a major victory at city hall with our preventing a proposed highway and additional traffic coming through our community from Caldwell Rd to the circumferential.
2000 – we negotiated a Gates & Gardens agreement with the city to
rebuild crumbling main gates to our community and allow the association to plant and care for gardens on city land to enhance the community
2009 – our Trails Committee worked directly with city planners and designers on the expansion of our trail system to include more trails, look-outs, benches and the upgrading of Active Transportation trails
2010 – the city approved our proposal for a Community Message Centre to be built in Birches Park as a unique, centrally located billboard for community information
2014 – our Birches Park Committee was formed to initiate improvements to Birches Park, and worked with HRM to move the playground away from tennis courts and landscape the open field to make it fit for more recreational enjoyment and the many community events now hosted in the park.
2019 – our Birches Park Committee initiated and worked with HRM to design and build the Birches Park Gazebo another valuable addition to our park offering shade and a venue for more recreational enjoyment, musical performances and special events.
2025 – the Environment Committee, after many years of diligently working with HRM on land, lake and wildlife preservation, has constructed a beaver mitigation cage on Ellenvale Run to allow the fish to swim up river to spawn.