Grants Readiness Clinic Recap
January 21, 2026
Municipality Hosts Grant Readiness Clinic to Help Community Groups Access Provincial Funding
On Friday, January 16, Municipality of Inverness County staff hosted a Grant Readiness Clinic in Chéticamp to help community organizations prepare to apply for provincial funding to support local facility improvement projects.
Led by the municipality’s Culture and Community Development team, the clinic focused on helping participants view their organizations’ facilities as vital community spaces and describe why improvements matter for the community as a whole.
The session was held at Club de Retraités in Chéticamp and drew 20 participants, including 13 in person and seven online. Volunteers represented 15 community organizations from across Inverness County.
“It was great,” says participant Helena Aucoin, who attended the session on behalf of Le Manoir Saint-Pierre Housing Cooperative. “We appreciated that the municipality came to Chéticamp. The session was well organized and thought out, and we feel like we’re in good shape.”
The clinic was built around the province’s Community Facilities Improvement Program, a competitive funding program offered through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. The program supports community-led projects that improve public-use facilities, including building repairs, accessibility upgrades and interior and exterior improvements.
The municipality plans to expand the clinic model to support volunteers applying for other funding programs in the future, as part of its broader capacity-building work with community groups.
“Inverness County is powered by volunteers,” said Shannon MacLean, a project coordinator with the Culture and Community Development team. “People bring different skills and experiences, and they know what their communities need. Our role is to help them tell their story clearly and access the tools they need to succeed.”
Participants received customized workbooks to help organizations collect and keep important project information, so it remains with the facility even as volunteer boards and leadership change. Each group will also receive a one-on-one session with municipal staff to refine their project narratives ahead of the provincial application deadline of Feb. 14.
About Culture and Community Development
The Culture and Community Development team works with community groups, volunteers, newcomers and youth to better understand local priorities and strengthen communities across Inverness County. Organizations or individuals seeking support can contact the department at ccd@invernesscounty.ca.
2026 Excellence in Healthcare Awards Nominations Now Open
January 20, 2026
Municipality Opens Nominations for 2026 Excellence in Healthcare Awards
The Municipality of Inverness County is proud to announce the second annual Awards for Excellence in Healthcare.
Following the success of last year’s awards, this is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the dedicated healthcare professionals who work tirelessly and selflessly to serve others. The awards offer everyone the opportunity to highlight individuals who deserve special recognition of their service.
Nominations are now open, available online at invernesscounty.ca. Paper copies of the nomination forms will be available at the Municipal Administration Building (375 Main St., Port Hood) as well as Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital, Sacred Heart Community Health Centre, and at all East Coast Regional Library branches in Inverness County.
Award categories have been created to recognize everybody involved in the healthcare sector in Inverness County. Including but not limited to doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals, volunteers, and more.
Nominations must be submitted by end of day Saturday, February 28, 2026. An awards committee made up of municipal staff and a mix of practicing and retired healthcare professionals will select winners, which will then be announced at an awards gala in Chéticamp on April 22, 2026.
For guidelines, a detailed list of award categories, and the online nomination form, visit invernesscounty.ca/awards-for-excellence-in-healthcare.
For more information, contact Healthcare Navigator Ocean Phi Long Le: ocean.le@invernesscounty.ca | 1-902-323-0057, Municipality of Inverness County, 375 Main Street, Port Hood, B0E 2W0.
The awards are made possible by support from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment & Doctors Nova Scotia.
Council Repeals Bylaw 36
January 12, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County Council Repeals Bylaw 36
At the Regular Meeting of Council on Thursday, January 8, the Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness voted to repeal Municipal Bylaw 36—Pensions. The decision to repeal the bylaw was made as part of an ongoing bylaw modernization process.
Bylaw 36 outlined a former pension plan for municipal employees. Current pension arrangements are now covered under updated Human Resources and Personnel Policies. The bylaw is outdated, inaccurate, and does not reflect current municipal operations or values. Bylaw 36 was repealed and not replaced.
Copies of all municipal bylaws are available online at invernesscounty.ca/government/bylaws/ and in print at the Municipal Administration Building during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday).
This notice is published in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, Section 169.
Climate Risk Assessment Survey
December 22, 2025
Municipality Encouraging Residents to Complete Climate Risk Survey
The Municipality of Inverness County is inviting residents to participate in a short survey that will help inform a climate risk assessment and adaptation plan currently underway across several municipalities in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador.
The survey, developed by McAllister & Craig Disaster Management Inc., asks residents to share their perspectives on climate-related risks in their communities, such as storms, flooding, wildfires, and other potential emergencies. The feedback collected will help ensure the assessment and resulting adaptation plan reflect local concerns and priorities.
The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and is an important opportunity for residents to contribute to planning efforts that will strengthen community preparedness and resilience. To complete the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/HazardSurveyDecember2025.
The survey is open until January 7, 2026.
About the project
The climate risk assessment and adaptation plan is funded through the Green Municipal Fund, administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Led by McAllister & Craig Disaster Management Inc., the project involves identifying climate-related risks across Inverness County, evaluating how climate change may impact local communities, and developing strategies to address these risks.
McAllister & Craig are engaging with municipal staff and the public to gather data which will be used to create a plan that ensures climate risks are identified and communities are prepared and protected.
Holiday Waste Collection Schedule
December 16, 2025
Public Service Announcement: Holiday Waste Collection Schedule
The Municipality of Inverness County is advising residents of the waste collection schedule for the upcoming holiday season:
- Thursday, December 25: there will be no collection on Christmas Day. Instead, there will be a makeup collection for Thursday routes on Tuesday, December 30.
- Friday, December 26: there will be no collection on Boxing Day. Instead, there will be a double collection on Friday, January 2.
- Thursday, January 1: no collection on New Year’s Day. Instead, there will be a double collection on Thursday, January 8.
Collection will not be impacted on December 24th or December 31st.
For reminders and updates, download the Recycle Cape Breton app or visit https://invernesscounty.ca/services/sortitout/.
Municipal Housing Corporation Announces New CEO
December 8, 2025
County of Inverness Municipal Housing Corporation Announces New CEO
The County of Inverness Municipal Housing Corporation, which oversees the operation of two long-term care homes and two small options homes in Inverness County, is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Nelson as its incoming Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed Stephen Doiron, who has served in the inaugural CEO role since September 2022.
A resident of South Lake Ainslie, Nelson brings 15 years of senior administrative leadership within a large long-term care organization. He also has more than ten years of management experience with a not-for-profit healthcare organization that provided medical insurance counselling and client advocacy services to older adults and persons with disabilities.
“I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to share my experience and knowledge so close to home and look forward to advancing the County of Inverness Municipal Housing Corporation’s many initiatives to improve care for residents, their caregivers, and the dedicated staff in each of our facilities,” said Nelson.
Frank Nelson will assume the CEO position on December 8, 2025, beginning a transition process alongside the outgoing CEO.
About the County of Inverness Municipal Housing Corporation
The County of Inverness Municipal Housing Corporation (CIMHC) is a not-for-profit corporation comprised of four separate entities: two long-term care homes; Inverary Manor, (Inverness) and Foyer Père Fiset (Chéticamp) and two small option homes; Koster Huis (Mabou) and Port Hood Small Options (Port Hood).
Council Repeals Bylaw 50
December 4, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County Council Repeals Municipal Bylaw 50
At the Regular Meeting of Council on Thursday, December 4, the Municipality of the County of Inverness Council voted to repeal Municipal Bylaw 50: Bylaw Amending Bylaw 30 – Capital Cost of Sewer and Water. The repeal comes as part of an ongoing bylaw modernization process.
Bylaw 50 was originally created to amend Bylaw 30 by adding a frontage rate (connection charge) for Maple St. residents in Inverness who were connected to the water and wastewater system. However, in October 2025, Council adopted a Municipal Fees Policy that included the same fees found in Bylaw 50, making Bylaw 50 redundant.
Council voted to repeal Bylaw 50 and not replace it.
All municipal bylaws are available online. Print copies are available at the Municipal Administration Building (375 Main St., Port Hood) during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday).
This notice is published in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, Section 169.
Recycling Changes Launch: What it Means for Inverness County
December 1, 2025
Recycling Changes Launch Across the Province: What it Means for Inverness County
Starting December 1, Nova Scotia will launch a new residential recycling model that shifts responsibility from municipalities to the producers of packaging and paper products. This change is part of the province’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiative, designed to divert more waste away from landfills.
Impacts in Inverness County
The Municipality of Inverness County has opted into the EPR program. Under this new model, recycling operations will now be overseen by Circular Materials, a national non-profit organization.
However, residents will not see any changes to their curbside collection routines. The Municipality will continue to provide residential curbside pickup and remains available to assist residents with questions about solid waste and recycling.
What’s New in Blue Bags
With the introduction of EPR, several new items can now be placed in blue bag recycling, including:
Blue Bag 1 (Paper):
- Paper laminate packaging, such as:
- flour bags
- pet food bags
- popcorn bags
- Cardboard boxes, such as:
- Pizza boxes
- Food wrappers, such as:
- muffin wrappers
- burger wrappers
- sandwich wrappers
- Laminated paper
Blue Bag 2 (Plastics & containers):
- Multi-layer containers, such as:
- hot and cold beverage cups (disposable coffee cups)
- ice cream cartons
- cookie dough spiral cans
- frozen juice spiral cans
- potato chip spiral cans
- Plastic tubes, including:
- toothpaste
- deodorant
- hand cream containers
- Small item plastic packaging, such as:
- bottles/pumps
- candy/gum containers
- pails
- garden pots
- seedling trays
For a detailed list of accepted materials, visit invernesscounty.ca/sortitout to view the Residential Curbside Collection Guide.
Items No Longer Accepted
Books will no longer be accepted in blue bag recycling. Residents are encouraged to donate them to local thrift stores. If this option is not suitable, books may be placed in regular curbside garbage (black bags).
Curbside Collection and Support
Curbside collection schedules and routines remain unchanged.
Residents with questions about collection in Inverness County can continue to contact the Municipality at waste@invernesscounty.ca or by calling 1-866-258-0223 (option 1).
To stay informed on schedules and sorting guidance, download the Recycle Cape Breton App for Android or iOS, or visit invernesscounty.ca/sortitout.
Santa for Seniors 2025
November 27, 2025
Santa for Seniors Program Spreads Holiday Cheer Across the Municipality
The Municipality Inverness County Recreation & Community Wellness Department is once again inviting residents to get involved with “Santa for Seniors” this holiday season. The Santa for Seniors program connects local students with older adults (55+) by providing handmade gifts and cards to bring extra warmth, recognition, and joy at this time of year.
The municipal Seniors Safety Program supports older adults throughout the municipality by providing access to information through Age Well lunch-and-learn sessions, assistance with grant applications, and recreation-based programming tailored to seniors. Working closely with seniors’ clubs and seniors-serving organizations, the program helps address the needs of older adults, particularly in rural and remote communities.
The Santa for Seniors initiative offers a special, handmade holiday gift created by local students. The goal is to brighten the season for seniors who may be experiencing loneliness or isolation, while fostering meaningful intergenerational connections within our communities.
This year, the Recreation & Community Wellness Department has partnered with local schools including Bayview Education Centre, Whycocomagh Education Centre, and Inverness Education Centre/Academy. Students will participate in craft-making workshops to design cards and gifts that will be distributed to Santa for Seniors participants.
Community members are encouraged to register themselves or a friend to receive one of these thoughtful, handmade gifts. The program is open to individuals aged 55 and over.
Residents without internet access or those who have questions about the program are invited to contact:
Anna Solomon
Accessibility & Seniors Safety Coordinator
Phone: (902) 615-3670
Email: Anna.Solomon@invernesscounty.ca
To learn more about seniors activities within the Municipality of Inverness County, visit invernesscounty.ca/seniors.
PSA: Port Hood Fire Hydrant Replacement
November 19, 2025
Public Service Announcement: Port Hood Fire Hydrant Replacement – Temporary Water Service Disruption
The Municipality of Inverness County advises that municipal staff will be on site replacing a fire hydrant in Port Hood on Thursday, November 20. As a result, nearby residents will temporarily experience water discolouration and low water pressure, with a potential for temporary loss of service.
Date: Thursday, November 20
Start Time: Work will begin at 7:00 a.m. Residents will likely notice low water pressure and discolouration shortly after.
Traffic Impacts: traffic control will be on site near Little Mabou Rd. starting at 8:30 a.m. for the duration of the work.
Fire Hydrant Location: Across Main St. from Little Mabou Rd.
Affected Area: The isolation area for the work runs between Convent St. and Little Mabou Rd. Users of the municipal water system in that area and north towards Marble Hill will be impacted during the repair.
How to Prepare
In case of loss of service, the Municipality advises residents to prepare by:
- Filling containers with drinking water in advance
- Filling a bathtub to have water available for flushing toilets
The duration of the work will depend on site conditions. Please monitor the Municipality’s website and Facebook for updates regarding service restoration.
Please share this advisory widely with neighbours, friends, and visitors to ensure everyone stays informed.
The Municipality thanks residents for their patience and cooperation and apologizes for any inconvenience this work may cause.