Municipal Planning Strategy & Land Use Bylaw -Info Session Invite
April 29, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County & Eastern District Planning Commission to Host Information Session
In 2018, the Province of Nova Scotia passed legislation through Bill 58 that required every municipality (and all land within the municipalities’ area of responsibility) to be subject to a Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw.
In response, the Municipality of Inverness County launched Plan Inverness, a project to develop a new Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw. This project is part of Plan Eastern Nova, a joint initiative with the Counties of Antigonish, Richmond, and Victoria to bring consistent land use planning to Eastern Nova Scotia.
In support of this work, the Municipality of the County of Inverness and the Eastern District Planning Commission is inviting the public to attend an upcoming information session regarding the proposed new Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw.
Information Session
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 260 Main St., Port Hood
This session offers community members an opportunity to meet directly with representatives from the Eastern District Planning Commission, learn more about the proposed new documents, and ask questions.
Following the information session, a public hearing will be held to formally receive input from residents.
Public Hearing
- Wednesday, May 7, 2025
- 6:00 p.m.
- Council Chambers, Municipal Administration Building, 375 Main St., Port Hood
Members of the public may submit oral or written presentations either in support of or in opposition to the proposed changes. Written submissions may be sent in advance to:
Debbie Nicholson
P.O. Box 179, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0
Debbie.Nicholson@invernesscounty.ca
Draft documents are available for public review at the following links:
- Plan Inverness – Municipal Planning Strategy – DRAFT
- Plan Inverness – Land Use By-Law – DRAFT
- Draft Zoning Map
Printed copies can also be reviewed at:
- Municipal Administration Building, 375 Main St., Port Hood
- Eastern District Planning Commission office, 606 Reeves St., Unit 3, Port Hawkesbury
Following the public hearing, Municipal Council will consider adopting the proposed strategy and bylaw at its regular meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
For more information, please contact the Eastern District Planning Commission toll-free at 1-888-625-5361.
About Eastern District Planning Commission:
In Nova Scotia, it is a legal requirement to obtain development and/or building permits before starting any construction on a site or building. For residents of the Municipality of Inverness County, these services are provided by Eastern District Planning Commission (EDPC).
Inverness Outfall Partial Replacement Beach Work Complete
April 29, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County Announces Completion of Inverness Beach Work
The Municipality of Inverness County is pleased to announce the successful substantial completion of the Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant – Outfall Partial Replacement Project. This vital infrastructure upgrade involved the replacement of a section of the outfall pipe that safely transports treated effluent from the treatment plant into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Remaining work includes the installation of a valve on the end of the outfall pipe. This will happen from the water and is expected to have no impact on the public.
As part of the restoration efforts, dune grass has been replanted in the impacted area, and spruce boughs will be placed to help protect the delicate dune ecosystem. The area will continue to be monitored over the next year to ensure successful regrowth and environmental stabilization.
Additionally, a section of the boardwalk, which was removed to facilitate the project and had deteriorated over time, has been replaced with a newly constructed segment, improving accessibility and safety for beachgoers.
“The successful replacement of the outfall is a major step forward, not only for the Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant project but for the long-term health and vitality of the community and county,” said Melanie Beaton, Deputy CAO for the Municipality. “This work reflects our municipal commitment to building resilient infrastructure that protects the environment, supports future growth, and ensures the community and county of Inverness remains a thriving place for generations to come.”
The Municipality extends its gratitude to community for their patience and respect of the project’s safety measures, along with the Government of Canada, Province of Nova Scotia, CBCL Engineering & Environmental Design Services, Zutphen Contractors, and Davis MacIntyre & Associates Limited for their expertise, flexibility, and commitment to this important project.
For a complete overview of the project, along with photos taken throughout the duration of the project, visit Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant – Outfall Partial Replacement Project .
Flower Potting Series Continues – Registration Open
Municipality of Inverness County to Host Flower Potting Workshops
The Municipality of Inverness County is hosting a series of flower potting workshops throughout the County. Administered through the Recreation and Community Wellness Department, the workshops aim to bring people together and reduce social isolation, improve overall well-being, and share knowledge with friends. The workshops will be hosted in the communities of Inverness and Chéticamp.
Workshop Details:
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Rodney Room, Inverness Manor, 72 Maple Street, Inverness
Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Location: La Salle des Retraités de Chéticamp, 15108 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp
Each participant will be planting their own large flowerpots just in time for spring. The workshop will be led by knowledgeable gardeners who can answer any planting questions. Refreshments and light snacks will be provided.
Registration:
To attend, advance registration is required, and the cost is $10 per person. Please contact Maggie MacDonald, Accessibility Coordinator, at Maggie.macdonald@invernesscounty.ca or by phone at (902) 258-7960 to reserve a spot.
Inverness County Celebrates Healthcare Heroes
April 24, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County Celebrates Healthcare Professionals’ Excellence at Awards Gala
The Municipality of Inverness County proudly celebrated the outstanding contributions of local healthcare professionals at the first annual Awards for Excellence in Healthcare, held at a gala event at the Canton Culturel de Chéticamp on April 23.
Nearly 140 community members gathered to honour the remarkable individuals and teams who go above and beyond in caring for residents across Inverness County.
2025 Award Recipients:
• Dr. Raymond Lok, Outstanding Physician
• Mary Anderson, Outstanding Nurse Practitioner
• Yvon Pino, Outstanding Allied Health Professional
• Edith Anne MacKay, Outstanding Nurse
• Lori Ann Gillis, Outstanding Palliative Care Professional
• Graham Patrick McIsaac, Outstanding Young Healthcare Professional
• Inverness Cancer Care Clinic, Outstanding Collaborative Care Team
“It was a beautiful evening, and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our incredible healthcare workers,” said Warden Bonny MacIsaac, Municipality of Inverness County. “On behalf of the Municipality, I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the nomination process and joined us last evening to make the event so memorable. I also want to extend heartfelt congratulations to all the well-deserving winners.”
Each award winner received a unique stained-glass ornament, handcrafted by local Acadian artist Polycarpe LeBlanc of Polycarpe Glass Art. The designs reflected the natural beauty of their home communities: scenic views of Le Buttereau for Chéticamp honourees, and a depiction of Margaree Island for those from Inverness.
Attendees had the chance to hear from a variety of guests including Dr. Annalee Coakely, Assistant Dean of Student and Resident Affairs with the Cape Breton Medical Campus on behalf of Cape Breton University President & Chancellor, David Dingwall, Senator Réjean Aucoin,MLA Kyle MacQuarrie, Nova Scotia Health’s Eastern Zone Executive Director of Community & Rural Health, Glenn Cox and Director of Integrated Rural Health, Andrew Heighton. Ginette Chiasson was the MC for the event and gave a wonderful bilingual presentation.
Special Leadership Recognition:
In addition to the individual and team awards, two special honours were presented to recognize exceptional leadership in healthcare.
• Heather Gillis, Site Lead at Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital
• Johanne Doucet, Site Lead at Sacred Heart Community Health Centre
Both were celebrated for their dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to patient care.
Funded by the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment and Doctors Nova Scotia, the Inverness County Awards for Excellence in Healthcare is set to become an annual tradition, recognizing and uplifting the healthcare heroes who make a difference every day.
Flower Potting Workshop – Open for Registration
April 16, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County to Host Flower Potting Workshop
The Municipality of Inverness County is hosting a series of flower potting workshops throughout the County. Administered through the Recreation and Community Wellness Department, the workshops aim to bring people together and reduce social isolation, improve overall well-being, and increase creativity through expression in arts and crafts. The first workshop will be hosted in the community of Port Hood with more to follow.
Workshop Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Port Hood Seniors Lounge, 23 Reynolds Street, Port Hood
Participants are encouraged to bring a small plant to exchange or pick one that is provided. Each person will be painting their own pots and leave with a potted plant to enjoy for the spring. Refreshments and light snacks will be provided.
“We’re really hoping that hosting these events at seniors’ community lounges throughout the county reduces barriers to participation and encourages the community to come together” says Maggie MacDonald, Accessibility & Senior Safety Coordinator for the Municipality of Inverness County.
Registration:
To attend, advance registration is required. Please contact Maggie MacDonald, Accessibility Coordinator, at Maggie.macdonald@invernesscounty.ca or by phone at (902) 258-7960 to reserve a spot.
Community Park Coming to Port Hood
April 17, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County to Build Community Park in Port Hood – Launches Survey
The Municipality of Inverness County is excited to announce the launch of a vibrant community park project in the heart of Port Hood – alongside a public survey designed to gather input. Whether you live in Port Hood, learn in Port Hood, work, shop, play, or visit, we want to hear from you.
Thanks to a generous donation of land by Ted & Hermina vanZutphen, the future Port Hood Community Park will be located at the corner of Main St. and Wharf Rd., on the site of the former Port Hood Consolidated School.
The Port Hood Community Park will be thoughtfully designed with the community – and especially its youth – in mind, as a hub of activity, connection, and fun.
“The Municipality’s vision is to create a people-centric park that is inclusive, accessible, and builds upon the natural beauty and energy of the space – a place for gathering of all ages and abilities”, said Melanie Beaton, Deputy CAO, Municipality of Inverness County. “The Municipality recognizes the generous donation from Ted & Hermina of this land, for what will become a well-loved park, creating a legacy for generations to enjoy.”
Design consultants, Glenn Group Landscape Architects & Park Planners, have been hired to design the park. To help guide their work, residents are invited to complete a short survey and share their ideas for the space.
The survey will remain open from Thursday, April 17 to Thursday, May 1, 2025. Paper copies will also be available at the Municipal Administration Building, located at 375 Main St., Port Hood.
After the survey closes, the consultants will use the feedback to develop potential park designs. A public engagement session will be held later this spring, where these design concepts will be presented, and further input gathered.
Following that, a revised design will be prepared and once approved and funding is secured, the project will move into the construction phase. Updates will be shared with the community as the project progresses.
A Planning Committee has been formed to guide the planning and construction phases. This group includes members of the community with support from members of Municipality of Inverness County staff. Glenn Group consultants will provide support and direction throughout the planning and construction phases of the project.
“We want to create this park in collaboration with our community. We are asking people to fill out the survey so that the community will better understand the benefits of creating a space like this for our youth, and see themselves in its design,” says Port Hood Community Park Planning Committee Member, Ardell Hawley.
If members of the public have questions about the Port Hood Community Park Project, visit Port Hood Community Park Project, email construction@invernesscounty.ca or call 1-866-258-0223, select option #5.
Update – Inverness Beach and Boardwalk Access
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County Announces Update to Timeline for the Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant – Outfall Partial Replacement Project
The Municipality of Inverness County would like to provide an update on the Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant – Outfall Partial Replacement Project taking place on Inverness Beach.
The project focuses on the partial replacement of a section of a pipe (outfall) that runs treated wastewater (also known as effluent) from the Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
As previously announced, the project was scheduled to run from Early April to April 15, 2025. An archaeological assessment and marine construction phase were successfully completed. However, due to unfavourable and unpredictable weather conditions, the onshore construction portion of the project (temporarily impacting access to Inverness Beach and a section of the boardwalk) will continue until the end of April, tentatively between Friday, April 25, and Wednesday, April 30. This date is subject to change based on weather conditions.
“We’re proud of the progress made on this project, especially given the unpredictable weather and ocean surf conditions,” said Melanie Beaton, Deputy CAO, Municipality of Inverness County. “Our crews have adapted quickly, and we’re nearly there. We thank our community for their patience and respecting our safety measures around the site. We look forward to delivering a finished result that benefits the community, residents, and businesses for years to come.”
As bird nesting season began yesterday, April 15, the municipality would like to reassure the community that the team is working closely with Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources to conduct daily site surveys to protect the nesting population.
Although there will be areas of the beach that are fully accessible depending on where residents enter the beach, access to walk the entirety of the beach may depend on tidal conditions. In addition, a section of the Inverness boardwalk will remain closed for the duration of the project.
The Municipality of Inverness County acknowledges the inconvenience, however, asks the public to please stay off the dunes to avoid trampling dune vegetation.
If members of the public have questions or concerns, please free to reach out:
- Email: construction@invernesscounty.ca
- Call toll-free: 1-866-258-0233, select option #5.
Volunteer Opportunity – County Audit Committee
- are at least 18 years of age
- are not related to a member of Council or to an employee of the Municipality of Inverness County
- have been a resident of the Municipality of Inverness County for the last six months before making an application and must continue to be a resident of the municipality throughout the term of the appointment
- are not ineligible for an appointment pursuant to the Municipality’s Public Appointment Policy.
- serve without pay
- must meet at least two times per fiscal year, or otherwise as needed to fulfill its duties.
- complete mandatory Audit Committee Training prescribed by the Nova Scotia Department of Municipal Affairs
- understand financial statements and issues at a reasonable level
- have an ability to receive correspondence by email, access digital documents in MS Word, Excel, or pdf formats, and have a working knowledge of computers
2025 Bulky Garbage Collection Date Announced
The Municipality of Inverness County is pleased to announce the 2025 Residential Spring Bulky Garbage Collection, taking place from Monday, May 12 to Friday, May 16, 2025.
This special collection allows residents to dispose of large items that are too big for regular curbside pickup. Please note that regular garbage (items that can fit in a standard garbage bag) will not be collected as part of the bulky item pickup.
Important Dates & Information:
- Start date for curbside placement: Saturday, May 10, 2025
- Deadline for curbside placement: No later than 7 a.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025
- Collection period: May 12 – May 16, 2025
To ensure your items are properly collected, they must be placed curbside within 10 feet from the road and left in place for the duration of the collection period.
For a complete list of materials accepted during the bulky garbage collection, residents can refer to the fact sheet.
Key Reminders for Residents:
- A 20-item limit per household applies.
- Items longer than four feet must be broken down.
- Keep all items within 10 feet of the road for easy access.
- The collection trucks will visit each road only once during the collection period.
- Regular household garbage and recyclables should be kept separate from bulky items.
- Items in trailers or trucks will not be collected.
- The collection team is not responsible for cleaning up debris after pickup.
- Residents must remove non-accepted items after collection.
- Be sure not to place important items near the bulky garbage pile – items mistakenly taken are not the municipality’s responsibility.
- If a yellow tag is placed on an item, it means it was not eligible for pickup. Please remove the item and dispose of it properly.
In addition to bulky garbage collection, a Residential Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Event will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Judique Firehall and Margaree Forks Firehall from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. More information about this event will be shared soon.
To learn more about properly sorting solid waste and recyclables, check out the Municipality of Inverness County Sort It Guide.
For more information, please contact the Solid Waste Team by calling toll-free 1-866-258-0223 (selection option #1) or email waste@invernesscounty.ca.
Inaugural Awards for Excellence in Healthcare Gala Reception
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County to Host Inaugural Awards for Excellence in Healthcare Gala Reception
The Municipality of Inverness County is proud to announce the inaugural Awards for Excellence in Healthcare Gala Reception, set to take place on Wednesday, April 23rd at Place des arts Père-Anselme-Chiasson, located at 15118 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp.
The Healthcare Awards were designed to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of healthcare professionals in Inverness County. A call for nominations was sent out to the community in search of remarkable individuals in various healthcare categories.
“It’s crucial that we recognize and celebrate the incredible healthcare workers who show up every day to provide essential services to our community,” said Bonny MacIsaac, Warden of the Municipality of Inverness County. “This event also serves as a great opportunity to attract healthcare professionals who may be considering living in our County. We want to ensure that our healthcare team knows just how much they are valued.”
Winners were chosen by a selection committee, and the celebration will include the announcement of these deserving individuals.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 23rd
Location: Place des arts Père-Anselme-Chiasson, 15118 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp
Admission: $25 for the general public (No charge for current or retired healthcare professionals)
Registration: All guests are asked to register online.
The Gala Reception will also serve as a reminder of the ongoing need to recognize and celebrate the contributions of healthcare professionals in the community. The awards will be held annually to acknowledge the dedication and service of Inverness County’s healthcare providers and to highlight the invaluable services they offer.
The Awards for Excellence in Healthcare Gala Reception has been generously funded by the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment and Doctors Nova Scotia.
For more information about the event, please contact Healthcare Navigator, Lynn Carter at 902-323-0057 or lynn.carter@invernesscounty.ca.