News
Do You Know A Volunteer Deserving Recognitiion
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Each year communities across Canada celebrate National Volunteer Week as a way to recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals who volunteer their time and skills to provide services and programs in our communities.
This year National Volunteer Week is April 27 - May 3, 2025.
The Municipality of the County of Cumberland is accepting nominations for individuals that deserve special volunteer recognition. Nominees will be honoured at an event recognizing them for their efforts. Individuals may also be nominated for a Provincial Volunteer Award on behalf of the Municipality of Cumberland. One nominee from each category will be selected to represent the Municipality at the Provincial Volunteer Awards.
All nominees will receive a letter to thank them for their community contribution. They will also be invited to attend the Cumberland Volunteer Celebration in April to receive a certificate from the Mayor and Council.
The nominee(s) selected to represent the Municipality will also receive an invitation to attend the provincial volunteer appreciation event in Halifax, planned for September.
You may submit your completed nomination in one of three ways:
- In-person drop-off at the Service Centre nearest you:
- Springhill: Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre, 6 Main St., Springhill
- Upper Nappan: 1395 Blair Lake Road, Upper Nappan
- Parrsboro: 209 Main St., Parrsboro
- Pugwash: Pugwash Library, 10182 Durham St., Pugwash (open Wednesday's and Thursday's 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Service Centres are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Download the Volunteer Nomination Form 2025, submit by email to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Online form: https://forms.gle/jEYvh2HMvLthV5j57
Please submit your completed nomination on or before Feb. 28, 2025. For more information, please call 902-763-3000.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
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A Public Hearing regarding the By-law to Amend the Land Use By-law 24-14, and 24-16 and to Schedule A of the LUB for the
Municipality of Cumberland will be held 4:00 pm, Wednesday, January 22, 2025 in the Council Chambers of the Upper Nappan Service Centre.
Note that this meeting may be rescheduled or conducted online, visit cumberlandcounty.ns.ca to verify meeting schedule.
By-law to Amend the Land Use By-law 24-14
- PID 25189911, 19 McCully Lane, Wards Brook from Agriculture (AG) Zone to Commercial Recreation (CRec) Zone.
By-law to Amend the Land Use By-law 24-16
- PID 25394958, 1370 Southampton Rd, West Amherst from Country Residential (RCou) Zone to Rural Industrial (IRur) Zone and to add office as a permitted as-of-right use in the Rural Industrial (IRur) Zone AND to create Section 11.3.8 to create a 10m buffer area from the common property line of any adjacent residential use.
Hearing documents can be viewed at plancumberland.ca/hearings or by contacting our office at 902-667-2313. Public Hearings are open to the public. You may participate by submitting comments by email to:
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CALL FOR PUBLIC INPUT - Development requirements for undersized Lots
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Planning Staff has been asked by Council to study and prepare amendments to the Land Use By-law that would refine the guidelines for the development of undersized lots in coastal communities. The new requirements being proposed by staff changes the current requirements for new and the expansion of existing buildings/dwellings on undersized waterfront lots.
Staff is calling for input from the public on the proposed new regulations. Information and examples of the application of the proposed new policy can be found on PlanCumberland, through the link provided below:
Members of the public are invited to provide input on the proposed new regulations by e-mailing
News and Notes from Municipal Council's Dec. 18, 2024, Meeting
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Council gives first reading to Wards Brook, West Amherst land-use bylaw amendments
Cumberland municipal council has approved first reading of an amendment to the land-use bylaw that will rezone a property at 19 McCully Lane in Wards Brook from Agriculture to Commercial Recreation.
A public hearing will be scheduled prior to second reading.
The property is presently assigned two zones with the north portion zoned Country Residential and the waterside portion to the south zoned Agriculture. The property owner wants to rezone the Agriculture portion, approximately 8.5 acres, to Commercial Recreation that would permit the development and operation of campsites on the property.
Since the original zoning assignment in 2018, the property has been used as a source for gravel. Due to the lack of topsoil, the property is no longer suitable for agricultural purposes.
Council also approved first reading of an amendment to the land-use bylaw to rezone 1370 Southampton Rd. in West Amherst from Country Residential to Rural Industrial and to add office as a permitted as-of-right use. It will also create a 10-metre buffer area from the common property line of any adjacent residential use.
A public hearing will be scheduled prior to second reading.
The property owner wants to develop a transport truck and trailer storage area and a small office for a transport truck strategy.
In future, the property owners want the ability to permit an automotive service building for repairs of company trucks and trailers.
Council approves new Expense Reimbursement Policy
Municipal council has approved a new expense reimbursement policy and is repealing the reimbursement policy for council members and the chief administrative officer.
The new policy will consolidate the policy for councillors and CAO and for staff and committee members.
The policy sets out the signing authority for expense claims, responsibilities of individuals submitting expense claims and what expenses qualify for reimbursement.
Council approves amended grants policy
Cumberland municipal council has passed a motion to approve an amended grants policy.
The municipality’s grants program was last updated in 2015. The policy gives council direction for funding community initiatives using a consistent approach for all applicants.
The policy’s updates will reflect the county’s two grants streams: the county general grants that saw $837,000 approved for 90 organizations in 2024-25, and the district grant program that allows each councillor and the mayor to spend $10,000 on eligible projects.
Council approves amendments to Tax Reduction and Exemption Policy
Council has approved an amended Tax Reduction and Exemption Policy to include three properties divested by the Municipality of Cumberland to The Sunset Community Inc.
Under the Municipal Government Act, council has the authority to provide full tax exemptions for properties of a registered charity, non-profit community, charitable, fraternal, education, recreational, religious, cultural or sporting organization that provides a service that might otherwise be a responsibility of council.
Council approves an amended policy regarding safety lights
Municipal council has approved an amended policy regarding safety lights.
The municipality owns and maintains an inventory of safety lights that provide additional illumination where a hazard may exist, or is of benefit to roadway safety.
The policy establishes the process to determine whether to install a safety light at a particular location. The update will align the document with the municipality’s current organizational structure and reduce the number of staff involved in safety light review and decision-making.
Council asks for staff reports on food trucks in Springhill and repeated unsightly premises violations
Council has passed a motion to have staff create a report on the issues surrounding the feasibility of establishing a bylaw to regulate food trucks in Springhill.
Council also voted to ask staff to create a report on the pros and cons of establishing fines for repeated unsightly premises violations.
RFP-MCC-2431
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The Municipality of the County of Cumberland is currently advertising a request for proposal for a “Springhill Water Treatment Plant Chemical Tank Replacement“