The past year was one of continued progress within the Municipality of Cumberland.
“As we look back on 2025, I am filled with pride at what we have accomplished together here in the municipality,” Mayor Rod Gilroy said. “This year has been one of meaningful progress — progress rooted in collaboration, community values and a shared commitment to improving the quality of life for every resident across our rural communities.”
The municipality supported the development of affordable and sustainable housing with an investment of $300,000 in support of construction of new housing units at Sunrise Landing in Pugwash.
It continued to invest in rural fire departments with a new truck in Wallace and delivered a new rescue vehicle for the Tidnish Bridge Volunteer Fire Department. The municipality is also taking delivery of a new rescue vehicle for the Parrsboro Fire Department in early January.
The municipality committed $14.3 million in capital projects including upgrades to the Springhill Wastewater Treatment Plant, self-contained breathing apparatus and air cylinders for our fire departments as well as $700,000 for capital paving in Springhill and $450,000 in Parrsboro.
The opening of a new fire station in Springhill in June was one of many accomplishments within the Municipality of Cumberland in 2025.
A highlight was the opening of a new fire station in Springhill that’s designed to meet the needs of a modern fire service and replaces a building that had served the community well since 1972.
“Another landmark success in 2025 was the official opening of the new Springhill Fire Station. It’s a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a cornerstone of public safety for Springhill and its surrounding areas,” Mayor Gilroy said.
“For a municipality covering a vast geographic region, ensuring that our first responders have the training space, equipment, and infrastructure they need has been a priority for council. This new station exemplifies our ongoing commitment to supporting those who put themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe — our firefighters, volunteers, and emergency personnel.”
The municipality successfully completed the Parrsboro Waterline Replacement Project that replaced water lines on Templar Street, Whitehall Road and Atlantic Avenue as well as a section of Pier Road.
The past year saw the municipality provide $913,979.50 through county grants, district grants, annual grants and student bursaries.
Council also received the Accessibility Plan and the Equity and Diversity Plan. These plans are the municipality’s commitment to celebrating and better serving Cumberland’s increasingly diverse population.
Looking ahead to 2026, the municipality is undertaking a focused and strategic update of its Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw.
“This project is a targeted review designed to address emerging challenges and opportunities across the community. The goal is to update policies and bylaws to ensure they are modern, practical and fully align with Nova Scotia’s Statements of Provincial Interest,” the mayor said.
This strategic update will focus on four crucial areas (Coastal Resilience & Protection, Housing & Balanced Neighbourhoods, Rural & Agricultural Land Use and Framework for Renewable Energy) to support best planning practices and secure a sustainable future for all who live, work, and operate here.
On Dec. 17, council approved a motion directing the CAO to prepare a request for proposals for the design and construction of a new fire hall in the River Hebert fire district.
He is also to provide a report with recommendations with respect to the site of the building and include a preliminary amount of $3.5 million in the capital projects recommended for the early approval report coming to council early in 2026.
The past year saw the successful completion of the Parrsboro Waterline Replacement Project that saw a number of aging water lines on several Parrsboro streets replaced.
The new fire hall may also incorporate a water supply for the community, which is a council priority.
As well, the Municipality of Cumberland County and the Town of Amherst are collaborating to ensure efficient use of municipal infrastructure and to support residential housing development today and in the future.
A parcel of land in the Brookdale area straddling the border between the two municipalities was acquired by the Shaw Group and has the potential to accommodate hundreds of new housing units. The municipal boundary makes efficient development of the site complex.
Under the agreement reached by the two municipalities, the full property would become part of Amherst, allowing for the development of the property under one set of regulations and much less complex. In return, the county will gain new access to the town’s sanitary sewer servicing capacity to support future development in an expanded service area in Cumberland County just outside the town boundary.
The agreement further outlines how costs and revenues, associated with extension of services, and new developments, will be shared between the two municipalities.
“None of what we accomplished would have been possible without the hard work of municipal staff, our partners at the provincial and federal levels and the residents, who care deeply about the future of Cumberland County,” the mayor said. “I also want to acknowledge the collaborative spirit of council, whose willingness to engage, debate and find common ground has strengthened our ability to deliver for our communities.”