Municipality Hires Director of New Department of Infrastructure & Emergency Services

INVERNESS COUNTY – The Municipality of the County of Inverness has hired Commander David A. Coulombe as Director of the new Department of Infrastructure & Emergency Services (previously referred to as the Public Works Department).

Commander David A. Coulombe.

Commander David A. Coulombe is currently serving as a Special Projects Officer for Canada’s Naval Reserve. He has also worked as Marine Superintendent for SuperPort Marine Services Ltd, Commanding Officer of the Regional Cadet Support Unit for British Columbia, Commanding Officer for the Port Operations and Emergency Services at CFB Esquimalt, and the Operational and Emergency Planner at the Canadian Forces Joint Headquarters in Kingston, Ontario. Commander Coulombe has a wealth of experience in strategic orientation, team leadership for teams of over 1,300 staff, managing budgets of over $20 million a year, compliance with federal and provincial legislation, and additional senior project management responsibilities.

The Director of Infrastructure & Emergency Services’ duties will include leading the planning, organization, direction and integration of the Municipality’s emergency services; facility management; the operations and maintenance of the water distribution systems; solid waste management; buildings and grounds maintenance; sewer and water hook-ups; and municipal recycling.

Commander Coulombe’s appointment will bring additional leadership experience to the Municipality’s management team. His extensive knowledge will be invaluable as the Municipality works towards long-term infrastructure planning and emergency preparedness for the communities throughout Inverness County.

Commander Coulombe currently resides in Inverness County with his family and will begin his duties in October once he returns from Japan where he is currently serving as Canadian Task Force Commander for Operation NEON, advising the United Nations Security Council on sanctions imposed against North Korea.

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Former School Board Office For Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9th, 2019

PORT HASTINGS, N.S. – The Municipality of the County of Inverness is selling the former headquarters of the Strait Regional School Board (now the Strait Regional Centre for Education). Interested parties can view information on the build here: CLOSED

The 7,900 sq. ft. building, which sits on 7 acres of land in beautiful and friendly Port Hastings, was originally built in 1963 as a school and later converted into an office building complete with a large parking lot, a reception area and lobby, a large board room, two kitchenettes, a fully-functioning water heater and 15 office spaces. The building has full three-phase electrical hook-up as well as access to municipal sewer and water services and local community transportation services. It has been well-maintained throughout the years and requires minimal updating, with great potential for development.

Port Hastings is the main gateway to Cape Breton and is a central point for the Strait of Canso area of Nova Scotia. “It is an exciting time to live and work in Inverness County, and many businesses could thrive at the location in Port Hastings,” said Keith MacDonald, CAO of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “It’s the iconic gateway to the rest of the Island.”

Inspection is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment and for more information, please call Debbie Nicholson at 902-787-3501.

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Media Contact:

Keith MacDonald, CAO

902-787-3501 / 902-258-5999

Keith.MacDonald@invernesscounty.ca

Municipality to Replace Water Meters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24^th, 2019

Municipality to Replace Water Meters

INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – The Inverness County Water Utility will soon be conducting a water meter upgrade program to retrofit and/or install new water meters to customers on the Inverness County Water Utility.

The project will be completed in the fall and will improve accuracy of billing, facilitate leak detection, as well as make meter reading quicker and more efficient. Neptune Technology Group has been contracted by the Inverness County Water Utility to upgrade existing water meters and complete new installation of water meters where required.

Customers of the Inverness County Water Utility have been receiving a notification in their mail containing information on how to book their appointment. This is a mandatory program in accordance with Nova Scotia Utility and Review Boards Regulations for the Inverness County Water Utility. The upgrade procedure requires approximately 30-90 minutes to complete, during which time the water will be shut off for a brief period. There is no charge for the meter or the installation.

Customers of the Chéticamp Water Utility will be sent bilingual information, and a bilingual installer has been contracted to complete the water meter upgrades in the area.

For any questions, residents are invited to call Neptune’s toll-free number at 1-800-667-4387. Residents of Port Hood and Inverness are now able to book appointments by calling the toll-free number above. Appointments will open for other communities soon.

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Port Hood Boil Water Advisory

NOTICE: BOIL WATER ADVISORY

To: All users of the Port Hood Water System

July 18^th, 2019

Please be informed that the customers of the Port Hood Water System are currently under a boil water advisory as a public health preventative action.

Municipal staff perform weekly water sampling on all the water distribution systems throughout the Municipality for testing and analysis. Four samples are taken from the Port Hood system at various locations. One of the four samples tested positive for possible bacterial contamination. Municipal staff are resampling at that one location and working to get test results back as soon as possible.

In the meantime, residents and users are advised to follow preventive measures using water to ensure its safety prior to consumption or use:

Bring tap water to a rolling boil and maintain for a minimum of 1-2 minutes
Cool water before using for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing beverages and food.

Please share widely with neighbours, friends, visitors, and members of vulnerable populations such as seniors who may be living alone.

For further information please contact the following:

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm: 902-787-3503 or 902-787-3502

Evenings/weekends 902-258-5048

Municipal Recreation & Tourism Summer Students Prepared for a Great Season

INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – Four Inverness County students have been hired by the Municipality for the 2019 summer season and will be travelling throughout the county promoting festivals, events and outdoor recreation.

As Trail Ambassadors, Colby MacLean and Regyn MacDonald will be hosting trail events and promoting outdoor recreation as well as facilitate free Multisport sessions for kids. Festival & Event Promoters Sophie Blondin and Leah Sauer will promote events across the County, manage Canada’s Musical Coast social media accounts, and develop marketing material for the Recreation & Tourism Department. These young ambassadors began their summer employment the first week of July and received social media and recreation training before starting their work.

Meet the Municipality’s Recreation & Tourism 2019 summer students:

Regyn MacDonald, Trails & Recreation Ambassador

Community: Kingsville

Current school: Strait Area Education/Recreation Centre

Most looking forward to: Being outdoors and having lots of fun playing sports with kids

Favourite spot in Inverness County: Maple Brook Falls

Plans for the future: To be determined

Fun fact: I am a step dancer!

Colby MacLean, Trails & Recreation Ambassador

Community: Mabou

Current school: St. FX University

Most looking forward to: Running the Multisport kids’ camps

Favourite spot in Inverness County: West Mabou Beach

Plans for the future: Get a job close to home

Fun fact: I love playing basketball.

Leah Sauer, Festival & Event Promoter

Community: West Bay

Current school: Holland College

Most looking forward to: Being able to travel all around Inverness County and seeing all the wonderful events and local businesses

Favourite spot in Inverness County: Marble Mountain Beach & Look-off

Plans for the future: Travel internationally to events and festivals

Fun fact: I am a fluent in English, German and French.

Sophie Blondin, Festival & Event Promoter

Community: Dunvegan

Current school: Mount St. Vincent University

Most looking forward to: Exploring the County, getting to attend all the festivals and meeting lots of new people

Favourite spot in Inverness County: My grandparents’ house up the hill in Southwest Margaree – best place on earth

Plans for the future: After my bachelor I plan on moving to a fast-paced city and starting a career in Public Relations

Fun fact: I’m all about hanging out with friends, shopping sprees, travelling wherever I can and spending time with family!

Photos by Skylar Gillis of @daveyandsky.

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Media Contact:

Karolyn Aucoin

Communications and Community Engagement Specialist / Spécialiste en communications et engagement communautaire

Municipality of the County of Inverness / Municipalité du Comté d’Inverness

375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0

Ph: 902.787.3519

karolyn.aucoin@invernesscounty.ca

Municipality Congratulates Graduates

INVERNESS COUNTY, N.S. – 118 students have received their grade 12 diplomas from École NDA, Cape Breton Highlands Academy, Inverness Academy and Dalbrae Academy following their school’s graduation ceremonies this past June.

Among these students were Kaylee Deveau (NDA), Emma MacKinnon (CBHEC/A), Skylar Kennedy (IEC/A) and Sarah Wilson (Dalbrae) who were each awarded a scholarship of $500 from the Municipality. The recipents were chosen for their exemplary work ethic and leadership skills coupled with academic success. They will also be pursuing education at a post-secondary institution of their choosing in the fall.

This year the Municipality was also proud to collaborate with Mitch MacDonald of Port Hood in launching a new award to graduating students at Dalbrae Academy. The Municipality made a $500 contribution that supported two students with aspiring musical abilities in either instrumental music and/or vocals who plan to continue their musical journey post-graduation receive a $1000 gift card each for Long & McQuade Musical Instruments under the Small Towns to Big Stages Award. Keigan MacLennan and Alasdair Cameron, who were awarded the prize, each submitted a video application to musician Mitch MacDonald, where they answered questions about their love of music and performed an acoustic piece of music of their choosing. While the pilot project, also presented with the help of the Clove Hitch Bar & Bistro and Long & McQuade, was available to Dalbrae students only, the intent is to work at making a similar award available to graduates at the other three County high schools next year.

“It seems the future is bright for all 118 graduates,” said Municipality of the County of Inverness Warden Betty Ann MacQuarrie. “Though they embark on a new, exciting journey, Inverness County will always welcome them home when they return.”

The Municipality would like to congratulate not only those awarded with scholarships but all graduates from Inverness County schools including Strait Area Education Recreation Centre and We’koma’q Mi’kmaw School for their academic and extracurricular success as well as wish teachers and school support staff a great and safe summer vacation.

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Media Contact:

Karolyn Aucoin

Communications and Community Engagement Specialist / Spécialiste en communications et engagement communautaire

Municipality of the County of Inverness / Municipalité du Comté d’Inverness

375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0

Ph: 902.787.3519

karolyn.aucoin@invernesscounty.ca

Port Hood Water Conservation Advisory

ATTENTION WATER CUSTOMERS OF PORT HOOD: PLEASE SHARE WIDELY

Port Hood Water Reservoir at a Critical Level

The Port Hood Water Reservoir is at a critically low level. Unless serious conservation efforts are taken in earnest by residents and businesses within the serviced area, Municipal staff estimate that the community will be out of water within approximately 4 to 5 days.

The two water production wells in Port Hood are no longer able to produce sufficient water to meet the current daily demand. Municipal staff and contractors have been and continue to work on the installation of an additional new water production well in Port Hood to increase overall water production to exceed demand. Unfortunately a number of water leaks, including a significant water main leak yesterday, have impacted the level of the reservoir, which is now below the level required for fire protection.

The Port Hood Volunteer Fire Department has been informed and the Fire Chief is connecting with both the Judique and Mabou Volunteer Fire Departments so that emergency response is coordinated, should it be required. Work towards the additional new production well is ongoing and the community will be updated on progress in the coming days.

To conserve water, please:
– Take shorter showers and no baths;
– Do not water your lawn or gardens;
– Do not let your faucet run when washing or rinsing;
– Avoid washing clothes as much as possible;
– Keep a bottle of water in the fridge to avoid letting water run to obtain a cold drink;
– Flush your toilet less often.

Please share widely and inform visitors of the water conservation advisory.

The Municipality appreciates your continued cooperation in this matter.

Your Voice Matters: Two Weeks Until the Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey Closes

NOVA SCOTIA — The Nova Scotia Quality of Life Survey is still active in communities province-wide for two more weeks. While over 10,000 surveys have been completed online and submitted by mail, Engage Nova Scotia expects there are a number of people who have intentions to fill it out and may need an extra prompt—Survey participation closes on July 5, 2019.

With this survey, you are helping to build a more complete picture of what matters to Nova Scotians. In the Fall of 2019, a Quality of Life Report will be created for your unique region of the province. By filling out the survey you are helping to ensure that issues most important to the health and wellbeing of you, your family and your community receive better attention.

Danny Graham, Chief Engagement Officer of Engage Nova Scotia explains, “Traditionally, much of the information we use to make decisions that affect our daily lives are based on economic data. Those data are not wrong – they are just incomplete.” He continues, “With this survey, you are helping us build a more complete picture of what matters to Nova Scotians.”

If you would like help filling it out, access to a computer, or if you did not receive an invitation and you would like an online code or paper copy, all of these resources are available at your local library. Similarly, the Strait Area NSCC campus has surveys and supports available, as well as La Société Saint-Pierre in Chéticamp, which has French copies.

Engage Nova Scotia hopes people will encourage anyone who has received an invitation to complete the survey to do so before the closing date. If you did not receive a survey invitation and would like to participate, please contact Engage Nova Scotia at 902-407-2582 or survey@engagenovascotia.ca. After completing the survey you can enter for a chance to win one of 25 Sobeys gift cards (valued at $400 each!).

Media Contact:
Karolyn Aucoin
Communications and Community Engagement Specialist / Spécialiste en communications et engagement communautaire
Municipality of the County of Inverness / Municipalité du Comté d’Inverness
375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0
Ph: 902.787.3519
karolyn.aucoin@invernesscounty.ca

Municipality to Host Regional Early Years Coalition Gathering

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13^th, 2019

Municipality to Host Regional Early Years Coalition Gathering

PORT HOOD, N.S. – The Municipality of the County of Inverness, in partnership with Raising the Villages – Mawiomi w’jit Mijuwajijk, will be hosting a gathering on Wednesday, June, 19^th 2019 at 6:30pm in Municipal Council Chambers in Port Hood for all those who support early childhood across Victoria and Inverness Counties, the Town of Port Hawkesbury, and Wagmatcook and We’koqma’q First Nations. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Raising the Villages – Mawiomi w’jit Mijuwajijk was formed in 2017 as a response to the One NS Coalition’s 2015 report, recognizing the early years – ‘Starting Strong’ – as the number one priority for the province to act on to improve collective health and prosperity. The Municipality of the County of Inverness and Raising the Villages are therefore inviting all who are involved in the healthy development of children, such as family doctors, pre-natal support workers/doulas, midwives, Early Childhood Educators, Early Interventionists, Speech and Language Pathologists and Therapists, and teachers, to join this Regional Early Years Coalition and to discuss the current state of early years support in the area, from pre-natal support onwards to school entry.

The Municipality of the County of Inverness District 3 Councillor, Jim Mustard, has been involved in the Raising the Villages’ movement since its inception and will be present at the upcoming gathering. “What does the One Nova Scotia report mean for children here in western Cape Breton? What’s working, what’s not, and what more is needed?” he asks. Councillor Mustard says the meeting will allow those present to collectively look at what is needed for the future of early childhood support services.

For more information regarding the Regional Early Years Coalition gathering or Raising the Villages, please visit www.raisingthevillages.webs.com or contact Councillor Mustard at 902-295-0974, or by email at jim.mustard@invernesscounty.ca.

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Inverness County Partners Receive Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award

Photo: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11th, 2019

Inverness County Partners Receive Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award

TRURO, N.S. – During the 2019 Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Spring Conference, the Municipality of the County of Inverness was awarded the Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award, presented in person by Rick Hansen.

The Inverness Development Association (IDA) and the Inverness Accessibility Committee in partnership with the Municipality of the County of Inverness and the community of Inverness as a whole, has been recognized nationally for its work in making the popular Inverness Beach more accessible, by building ramps, washrooms and parking spaces, installing mats along the beach, and making two beach-friendly wheelchairs available to visitors along with floating chairs that allow people to go in the water safely.

The Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award acknowledges everyday people, organizations or communities who accomplish extraordinary things. They make positive change and a difference in the lives of others. Their efforts change the world, one good turn at a time. The recipient(s) could be anyone in the community who has removed a barrier, shown great courage and determination, and who has made a difference in their community. In doing so, the recipient(s) have demonstrated leadership, determination, courage and teamwork.

The Municipality of the County of Inverness was nominated for the Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award by Gerry Post, Executive Director of Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Directorate for the development of the most accessible beach in Atlantic Canada.

“This is a great honour for the Municipality of the County of Inverness and the community of Inverness,” said District 2 Councillor Laurie Cranton, who accepted the award on behalf of the working group who coordinated the project, and who was also recently named chair of the Province of Nova Scotia’s Built Environment Standard Development Committee, which will focus on the accessibility of buildings and public spaces. “This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of people like Councillor Jim Mustard, the Inverness Accessibility Chair Callum MacQuarrie, and the innumerable volunteers and supporters of this project. This is something everyone in Inverness and in the County can be proud of.”

“NSFM is proud to highlight the accomplishments of our members and their community partners,” said Waye Mason, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and Halifax City Councillor. “The Municipality of the County of Inverness exemplifies the great work Nova Scotia municipalities are doing across the province to meet the needs of our citizens. They are one of three municipalities to have been awarded the Rick Hansen Difference Maker Award at the NSFM conference in May. Halifax Regional Municipality and the Town of Wolfville joined the Municipality of the County of Inverness in being recognized as leaders across the province on accessibility and inclusion for all our Nova Scotians.”

The Municipality of the County of Inverness wishes to extend sincere congratulations to all those involved in the Inverness Beach Accessibility project and for being an accessibility leader of in Nova Scotia.

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Contact:

Karolyn Aucoin

Communications and Community Engagement Specialist / Spécialiste en communications et engagement communautaire

Municipality of the County of Inverness / Municipalité du Comté d’Inverness

375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0

Ph: 902.787.3519

karolyn.aucoin@invernesscounty.ca