News
News Items from Oct. 29, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
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Municipality selling piece of land to Environment and Climate Change Canada
Cumberland municipal council has approved the sale of land in Amherst Point to Environment and Climate Change Canada for a dollar.
The property was purchased in 2020 at a total cost of $22,268.79 as the municipality’s first acquisition under the federal land securement and protection program, also known as the Canada Nature Fund Project. The purchase price and most of the acquisition costs were provided by the Nature Fund Project.
The intent at the time was to acquire a chain of properties for designation as a Protected Wilderness Area that would connect the shore of Blair Lake to the Chignecto NWA and the Southampton Road. Unfortunately, all other target property owners and adjacent properties were not interested in selling or were not within budget, so that initiative was abandoned.
The designation of an individual 8.6-acre property as a Protected Wilderness Area to be managed by the municipality does not meet the conservancy objectives of the Canada Nature Fund Project. Staff recommended the parcel be transferred to Environment and Climate Change Canada for inclusion in the adjoining Chignecto National Wildlife Area.
Since the funds used to acquire the property were provided by the federal government under the Nature Fund Project, staff recommended that the sale price be a nominal $1.
Adding land to the Chignecto National Wildlife Area, in addition to serving conservancy and wildlife protection objectives, would enhance the recreation and tourism benefits the wildlife area currently provides to the municipality.
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.