Update: Bylaw Modernization Process

November 17, 2025

Council Continues Bylaw Modernization Process, Repeals Bylaws 20, 21, 24, 40

At the Regular Meeting of Council on Thursday, November 13, the Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness agreed to repeal four Municipal Bylaws. The decision to repeal the bylaws was made as part of an ongoing bylaw modernization process. Effective Friday, November 14, the following bylaws are no longer in effect:

i. Bylaw 20 – Trailers Bylaw
As trailer regulations are now covered under the Municipality’s Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Planning Strategy, Bylaw 20 was repealed and not replaced.

ii. Bylaw 21 – Trailer Courts Bylaw
Trailer court regulations are now covered under the Municipality’s Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Planning Strategy, so Bylaw 21 was repealed and not replaced.

iii. Bylaw 24 – Development Officer Bylaw
This bylaw outlined the relationship between Council and the Eastern District Planning Commission (EDPC). Council and the Director of EDPC have established clear and directive practices, so Bylaw 24 was out of date. It has been repealed and not replaced.

iv. Bylaw 40 – Bylaw Respecting Relief from Liability
This bylaw outlined how the Municipality discharged sewage and wastewater, but the language was vague. New bylaws and policies better address the matters in more detail; therefore, Bylaw 40 was outdated and unnecessary. It was repealed and not replaced.

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.

Foyer Père Fiset Flood

November 5, 2025

Update: October Foyer Père Fiset Flood

A wastewater backup at Foyer Père Fiset Nursing Home in Chéticamp on Wednesday, October 8, caused significant flooding within the facility. Two residential wings were affected, impacting 44 of the home’s 70 residents.

Restoration efforts have been ongoing since the incident and are expected to be completed by early December.

Initially, 10 residents were temporarily relocated to other long-term care facilities in Cape Breton. Over the past few weeks, that number has increased to 25, with residents moved to facilities in Inverness, Glace Bay, Sydney, and Port Hawkesbury.

Foyer Père Fiset has 60 long-term care and 10 residential care rooms. Currently, 39 residents remain on-site. The facility anticipates that some residents will be able to return to their rooms before all restoration work is completed. Affected residents, family and next-of-kin will be updated accordingly.

Appreciation continues for the staff at Foyer Père Fiset and the other long-term care facilities across the island for their ongoing support to reduce any disruption to residents in care.

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

PSA: Mandatory Water Conservation Directive – Mabou Water System

November 4, 2025

Public Service Announcement: Mandatory Water Conservation Directive for Users of the Mabou Water System

Water levels in the Mabou water system are critically low due to an extended period of dry weather this fall and not enough groundwater replenishment. As a result, the Municipality of Inverness County is issuing a mandatory water conservation directive for all Mabou residents connected to the municipal system. Municipal staff are working to increase the water supply by bringing a second well online.

Although we are currently experiencing rain, it takes time for precipitation to have a meaningful impact on well levels. Until the water supply can be increased, everyone must reduce water use to protect the system and ensure a safe, reliable supply for all residents.

This directive takes effect immediately (Tuesday, November 4) and will remain in place until water storage levels return to a safe and stable level.

Water Conservation Tips:

• Take short showers and avoid baths.
• Turn off taps when brushing teeth or washing dishes.
• Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
• Keep a bottle of water in the fridge to avoid running the tap for cold water.
• Limit toilet flushing.
• Avoid non-essential outdoor water use.
• Promptly repair any leaks in and around taps and plumbing.

To learn more about water conservation, visit invernesscounty.ca/services/infraemerg.

Detect and Report Leaks:

Leaks can waste thousands of litres of water and often go unnoticed. Watch for:

• Persistent puddles or soggy ground
• Running water or unexplained streams
• Sudden drops in water pressure

If you suspect a water leak in your community, please report it immediately by calling 1-866-258-0223, select option #9.

Enforcement

According to the Municipality’s Water Utility Rules & Regulations:

The Water Utility can require customers to conserve water if it believes conservation is necessary to maintain reliable service for everyone. If a conservation directive is in place and a customer does not follow it, their water service may be temporarily shut off. Service will be restored once the customer agrees to follow the directive or when the directive is lifted.

There is a fee to reconnect water service: $60 during regular working hours or $160 outside regular working hours.

Conserving water is a shared responsibility, and every drop counts.

The Municipality thanks residents for their cooperation.

Please note: the other six water systems in the municipality remain under a voluntary water conservation advisory.

Youth Sewing Workshop Recap

October 28, 2025

Youth Learn to Sew and Reduce Waste During Waste Reduction Week

RFP Issued for Margaree Airstrip Property

RFP Issued for Lease and Use of Margaree Airstrip Property

The Municipality of the County of Inverness has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the lease and future use of municipally owned property located at 604 Big Intervale Rd., Margaree Valley, formerly the site of the Margaree Airport.

The Municipality is seeking proposals from non-profit organizations or private businesses to present plans for the site that will bring meaningful value to the Margaree Valley community.

This property is in District 2 (Margaree/St. Joseph du Moine). To inform the RFP development process, District 2 Councillor Blair Phillips hosted two community meetings to hear residents’ ideas for the future of the site. To gather more input, the municipality also launched a community survey with over 100 responses received.

About the Property:

Originally developed in 1963, the former Margaree Airport occupies a 34-acre (13.75-hectare) parcel and operated as a registered aerodrome until its closure for public use around 2021.

The site includes:

• Electrical service to the terminal building
• Well and septic systems
• Road access via Cranton Crossing Rd. and East Big Intervale Rd. from Margaree Centre.

Key Details:

• Proposal Deadline: Wednesday, January 21, 2026
• Link to full RFP and submission guidelines: https://procurement-portal.novascotia.ca/tenders/MCI-RFP-2025-006
• To schedule a site visit or ask questions, please contact:
  • Aaron MacDonald, Procurement Specialist
  • Aaron.macdonald@invenresscounty.ca

Opportunities for Inverness Multicourt Facility Naming Rights

Municipality offering partnership opportunities for Inverness Multicourt Facility naming rights

The Municipality of Inverness County is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest for the naming rights of the Inverness Multicourt Facility.

The Inverness Multicourt Facility, located at 85 MacLean St., Inverness, is home to three pickleball courts, two basketball courts, a games area (beanbag toss, table tennis, checkers, chess), parking and accessible pathways and gathering spaces.

Designed with universal accessibility in mind, the facility will become a hub for health, inclusion, and intergenerational connection.

The municipality is seeking to partner with qualified individuals and/or companies to fund capital investment and program support in exchange of the naming rights of the facility. There will be multiple opportunities depending on sponsorship levels, such as the entire facility, specific courts or an individual court, etc.

To learn more, check out the Expressions of Interest here. The deadline to apply has been extended to Thursday, February 26, 2026.

Waste Reduction Week Contest

October 21, 2025

Municipality Celebrates Waste Reduction Week with Contest

It’s Waste Reduction Week in Nova Scotia, and the Municipality of the County of Inverness is celebrating with a low-waste prize pack giveaway from Divert Nova Scotia.

Waste Reduction Week takes place each October as part of Circular Economy Month—a time to rethink how we use and reuse everyday items. By swapping, sharing, thrifting, and repairing, Nova Scotians can extend the life of their products and reduce what ends up in the landfill.

“The municipality’s Solid Waste team is always exploring new ways to help residents waste less,” says Solid Waste Educator and Coordinator Nicole Latimer. “We visit schools, host community sessions, and share tools like the Recycle Cape Breton app to make sorting and reducing waste as easy as possible. This contest is a fun way to encourage residents to get involved and stay connected.”

The app, Recycle Cape Breton, helps residents sort waste correctly and stay informed about collection. Available for both iOS and Android, as well as through invernesscounty.ca, the app allows users to:

• Sign up for solid waste collection reminders
• View your collection schedule
• Use the Waste Wizard, a quick search tool to find out where any item belongs

Contest Details

From now until October 31, residents who sign up for waste collection reminders in the Recycle Cape Breton app will be entered to win a low-waste prize pack from Divert Nova Scotia.
The pack includes a sewing kit, tool kit, beeswax wraps, reusable travel straw, reusable water bottle, and shopping bag—everything you need to live a little lighter on the planet.

Visit invernesscounty.ca/services/sortitout or download the Recycle Cape Breton app through linktr.ee/recyclecapebreton to get started.

Winter Active 2025 – 2026

October 17, 2025

Municipality Opens Winter Active Funding for 2025 – 2026

The Municipality of Inverness County’s Recreation & Community Wellness team is inviting community non-profit groups to apply for the 2025–2026 Winter Active Program.

Offered annually, Winter Active provides up to $500 in funding to community organizations planning winter projects, events, or activities. The program supports a wide range of initiatives, with priority given to those that promote healthy living and community inclusion.

Program Criteria
To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

• Be a community-based group with a valid Registered Joint Stocks Number
• Contribute at least 50% of the total project budget
• Hold the project, event, or activity between December 22, 2025, and March 21, 2026

Application Deadline
Applications for Winter Active funding are due Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Successful applicants will have their event advertised in the Winter 2025 edition of The Participaper, free of charge.

For full details on the program and to apply, click here.

Municipality Hosts Career Exploration Day for Local Students

October 17, 2025

Municipality of Inverness County Hosts Grade 10 Students for Career Exploration Day

 The Municipality of Inverness County welcomed 14 Grade 10 students from Dalbrae Academy’ s Options and Opportunities (O2) program as part of their Career Development Course, a key component in preparing students for life after high school.

The O2 program is designed to help students transition successfully from high school to post-secondary education and into their chosen career paths. The Career Development Course is the first step in this journey, encouraging students to explore their strengths, values, and interests while developing practical life skills such as decision-making, financial literacy, and workplace readiness.

As part of their course work, students spent the day with municipal staff and learning about the inner workings of local government. The visit included presentations from the Capital Projects team, as well as guided tours of the Strathlorne Recycling Facility and the Mabou Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Students also participated in a career fair held in Council Chambers, where they connected with team members from departments including Recreation & Community Wellness, Culture & Community Development, Bylaw & Enforcement, Solid Waste, Finance, Public Works, and Administration.

“This was a first for the municipality, and we were thrilled to have the students with us,” said Municipality of Inverness County Warden Bonny MacIsaac. “Our hope is that they left feeling inspired by the wide range of career opportunities available in municipal government, and that they’ll consider becoming the next generation of municipal employees.”

The Municipality of Inverness County looks forward to continuing partnerships like this one that support youth development and career readiness in the community.

Bylaw Modernization: Council Seeking Public Feedback

October 16, 2025

Municipality of Inverness County Council Seeks Feedback: Municipal Bylaws 20, 21, 24, 40, 36

The Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness is considering the repeal of five bylaws as part of an ongoing bylaw modernization process. If approved, the following bylaws will be officially repealed:

I. Bylaw Respecting the Repeal of Bylaw 20 – Trailers Bylaw

Current: This bylaw was originally created to regulate trailer licensing. It no longer reflects current municipal practices, is not enforced, and was passed before the Municipal Government Act came into effect.

Proposed Change: Trailer regulations are now covered under the municipality’s Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Planning Strategy, which were developed with input from Inverness County residents. As a result, Bylaw 20 is no longer needed and is recommended for repeal without replacement.

 II. Bylaw Respecting the Repeal of Bylaw 21 – Trailer Courts Bylaw

Current: This bylaw was intended to regulate the operation and development of trailer courts. It is outdated, no longer aligns with municipal practices, and predates the Municipal Government Act.

Proposed Change: Trailer courts are now regulated through the municipality’s Land Use Bylaw and Municipal Planning Strategy. Bylaw 21 is therefore redundant and is recommended for repeal without replacement.

III. Bylaw Respecting the Repeal of Bylaw 24 – Development Officer Bylaw

Current: This bylaw describes the relationship between Council and the Eastern District Planning Commission (EDPC). It references legislation that has since been replaced in part by the Municipal Government Act.

Proposed Change: Council and the Director of the EDPC have established clear and effective practices that better define their working relationship. Bylaw 24 is now outdated and is recommended for repeal without replacement.

IV. Bylaw Respecting the Repeal of Bylaw 40 – Bylaw Respecting Relief from Liability

Current: This bylaw outlines how the municipality discharges sewage and wastewater, but the language is vague and lacks clear definitions.

Proposed Change: New bylaws and human resources policies now address these matters in more detail, making Bylaw 40 outdated and unnecessary. It is recommended for repeal without replacement.

V. Bylaw Respecting the Repeal of Bylaw 36 – Pensions Bylaw

Current: This bylaw outlines former pension plan for municipal employees.

Proposed Change: 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. It is recommended that Bylaw 36 be repealed and not replaced.

Public Input Welcome

Council invites public input on these proposed changes. Residents may provide written or oral submissions—either in support or opposition—at the next Regular Meeting of Council:

Thursday, November 13 at 9:30 a.m.
Council Chambers, Municipality of Inverness County Administration Building
375 Main Street, Port Hood.

Written submissions must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12 to:

Debbie Nicholson
375 Main St.
PO Box 179
Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0
Email: Debbie.Nicholson@invernesscounty.ca

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 168.