News
Springhill’s GOVRC receives Municipality of Cumberland Community Support and Service Award
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For more than 50 years the Golden Opportunities Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, or GOVRC as it’s more popularly known, has been making a difference in the lives of its clients.
That commitment was recognized on Thursday, Oct. 23, when it was presented with the Municipality of Cumberland’s Community Support and Service Award during the Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce’s annual awards ceremony that coincided with Small Business Week.
“It’s a tremendous honour and the clients are very proud to be the recipient of this award as it recognizes what they do every day here at GOVRC and in the community,” manager Paul Williams said. “To me it’s a thankful reward for my board trusting me in revising and changing the program to allow our clients to be more inclusive in the community and more active in the community.
“We’ve expanded into a food program and a rec and leisure program and every week we’re working to get out into the community to do something different for everyone to be part of the community.”
Municipality of Cumberland selected for Community Climate Capacity Program
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The Municipality of Cumberland is one of nine communities across Nova Scotia who are the latest participants in the Community Climate Capacity Program.
Joining Cumberland in the program are the towns of Antigonish, Lockeport, Lunenburg, New Glasgow and Port Hawkesbury; the Municipality of Richmond; and the regions of Queens and West Hants.
Through the Community Climate Capacity Program, the Municipality of Cumberland will align its municipal planning strategy with coastal protection and climate priorities; develop and distribute public engagement materials on coastal hazards, such as flood risk, and develop flood policy.
“We are very pleased to be part of this program and the services provided to better define our coastal protection policies in the plan review we have underway,” the municipality’s director of development and planning Glen Boone said. “Having someone who is focused on that issue can help support that process.”
Boone said Cumberland County is unique geographically in that it has three coastlines – the Northumberland Strait, the Bay of Fundy and the Chignecto Bay.
“They’re all unique and distinct in their own way,” he said.
Location Not Everything for Small Businesses to Succeed in Rural Communities
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Location…location…location. It’s often said this is the difference between success and failure in the business world. However, that does not have to be the case.
Participants at a workshop held during Small Business Week at the Pugwash Library on Wednesday, Oct. 22, learned successful marketing can result in business success in rural Nova Scotia.
Michelle McCann, owner of Bold and Italic, talked to a group of small business owners about what they can do to attract attention and customers.
“Just because you live in a rural or small community doesn’t mean you are stuck or limited in terms of marketing your business. It’s about the importance of relationships,” McCann said. “When you live in a rural community anywhere it’s about building relationships with your customers and other businesspeople in your community.”
Valerie Brown, Leard family recognized at provincial volunteer dinner in Halifax
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Valerie Brown never had a eureka moment when it comes to volunteering, it’s something that just happened naturally as she involved herself in the community of Pugwash and Cumberland County.
Brown, the representative volunteer for the Municipality of Cumberland, was one of several dozen volunteers from all walks of life recognized at the Nova Scotia Volunteer Awards Dinner in Halifax in late September.
“It was fantastic. It was hard to explain it was so nice,” Brown said. “I really enjoyed the entertainment and listening to what so many people have done across Nova Scotia to help others. It’s amazing what people do.”
Brown is well known in Pugwash and along the North Shore of the county as an unwavering supporter of numerous community organizations. She also known for her friendly, helpful attitude and her dedication at making the community a better place.
Joggins Fire Department no longer registered by Municipality of Cumberland
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Effective immediately, the Joggins Fire Department is no longer registered by the Municipality as a fire department pursuant to the Municipal Government Act. The Municipality is not satisfied that the department is capable of providing fire and emergency services to its assigned area and the same services are being provided to the area by the neighboring River Hebert Fire Department.
Effective immediately, the River Hebert Fire Department will serve the River Hebert and Joggins coverage area from the existing fire hall in River Hebert.
These changes are effective immediately. All relevant emergency response and government agencies have been notified. For residents in the River Hebert and Joggins areas, the change should be seamless - if you have an emergency, CALL 911.
In making this announcement, the Municipality wishes to acknowledge the long and rich history of fire and emergency services in the Joggins community and thank all of the selfless volunteer firefighters and others who have for decades given of their time and resources in service of their community.
The Municipality is not, however, satisfied that the present Joggins Fire Department is capable of providing fire and emergency services for a number of reasons. An engineering assessment has deemed the fire hall in Joggins an unsafe and inappropriate building from which to provide fire services. The leadership of the Joggins Fire Department has been determined to be incapable of managing the department in an appropriate manner due to training and technical competency deficiencies and numerous examples of misconduct and poor judgement.
A duplicate coverage model has been place for many years as both the River Hebert and Joggins Fire Departments respond to all calls in both coverage areas.
Later this month, Council will consider a recommendation from staff that a capital budget amendment be approved to facilitate tenders being called this fall for the construction of a new fire hall in the River Hebert. Initial estimates of the cost of the building are $3.5 million, subject to the tendering process. The recommendation will include a provision for a public water station in the tender specification to address concerns about well water quality in the area.