PSA: Port Hastings Water System Impacts on Monday, December 8
The Municipality of Inverness County would like to advise that the Town of Port Hawkesbury will be completing a final water system connection (“tie-in”) on Monday, December 8, 2025, as part of a construction project. (A tie-in is simply the last step where new pipes or equipment are connected to the existing water system.)
During the Town of Port Hawkesbury’s work on December 8, the Port Hastings water system will be isolated from the Town of Port Hawkesbury’s system. During that time, all customers on the Port Hastings water system will be supplied by the Port Hastings water storage tank.
Customers of the Port Hastings municipal water system will not be impacted while this work is underway, however during the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 9, they may experience temporary water discolouration or reduced water pressure while the system is flushed. In the event of discolouration, run cold water until it is clear. If possible, avoid laundry or heavy water use during the shutoff on December 8.
The municipality thanks residents for their patience while this important work is completed.
Notice: Facilities Closure
December 10, 2025
Municipal Facilities and Offices Closed on Wednesday, December 17
The Municipality of Inverness County advises residents that all offices and facilities will be closed on Wednesday, December 17 for staff training. The following facilities will be closed:
- Strathlorne Municipal Recycling Facility – 15109 Highway 19, Strathlorne
- Kenloch Waste Management Facility – 420 West Lake Ainslie Rd., Inverness
- Recreation and Community Wellness Office – 186 High Rd., Port Hood
- Municipal Administration Building – 375 Main St., Port Hood
Solid waste collection will not be impacted. In case of a water or wastewater emergency, call 1-866-258-0223, select option 9.
Facilities will reopen for regular hours on Thursday, December 18.
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
December 4, 2025
Council Marks 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
At the Regular Meeting of Council on Thursday, December 4, Inverness County Warden Bonny MacIsaac recognized the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This campaign runs every year from November 25 to December 10. Its goal is to raise awareness about violence toward women, girls, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and to encourage action to prevent it.
The campaign begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and ends on International Human Rights Day. It also includes December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day honours the 14 women who were killed in the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre because they were women.
Gender-based violence continues to affect many people in Nova Scotia. If you are experiencing violence or abuse, you can call or text 211, or visit ns.211.ca, to learn about supports and services in the province.
PSA: Mabou Voluntary Water Conservation Directive
Public Service Announcement: Mabou Transitioning from Mandatory to Voluntary Water Conservation Directive
November 20, 2025
Thanks to the efforts of residents, Mabou is transitioning from a mandatory water conservation directive to a voluntary directive for users of the Mabou municipal water system.
While water conservation is no longer required by mandate, it remains strongly encouraged to help ensure the long-term sustainability of our water supply.
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 Water & Wastewater | Municipality of the County of Inverness .
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.
Should water tower levels drop, a mandatory water conservation advisory will be re-issued. The municipality thanks you for your cooperation and understanding.
On November 4, 2025, the Municipality of Inverness County issued a mandatory water conservation directive due as water levels were critically low due to an extended period of dry weather this fall and not enough groundwater replenishment.
Bylaw Modernization: Council Seeking Public Feedback
Municipality of Inverness County Council Seeks Feedback: Municipal Bylaw 50
November 20, 2025
The Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness is considering the repeal of a bylaw as part of an ongoing bylaw modernization process. If approved, the following bylaw will be officially repealed:
Current: This bylaw was created to amend Bylaw 30: Capital Cost of Sewer and Water, adding a frontage rate (connection charge) for residents of Maple St. Inverness, accessing the Inverness water and wastewater system. This street was not included in the original Capital Cost of Sewer & Water Construction bylaw.
Proposed Change: Repeal Bylaw 50 as a Municipal Fees Policy was adopted in October 2025 by Council, making this bylaw redundant. The fees outlined in Bylaw 50 are now included in the new fees policy.
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, December 4 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 December 3, 2025, 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.
Update: Foyer Père Fiset Flood Restoration Work Complete
A facility issue at Foyer Père Fiset Nursing Home in Chéticamp on Wednesday, October 8, caused flooding within the facility. Two residential wings were affected, impacting 44 of the home’s 70 residents.
Restoration efforts have officially concluded, ahead of schedule, and a deep cleaning of the affected rooms and living spaces is underway.
Twenty-five residents who were temporarily relocated to other long-term care facilities in Cape Breton will gradually return to Foyer Père Fiset in the next few weeks.
The County of Inverness Municipal Housing Corporation would like to extend sincere appreciation for the support, effort and professionalism displayed by everyone involved and looks forward to seeing Foyer Père Fiset residents return.
Test Section of Jajiktek Seawall Trail Under Construction
A unique and challenging wilderness hiking trail is one step closer to becoming a reality in Inverness County. Construction is now underway on a test section of the proposed Jajiktek Seawall Trail. This initial work, happening in a provincially protected wilderness area, will help determine if the planned trail design will work across one of Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s most rugged and beautiful landscapes.
The Jajiktek Seawall Trail is planned to span approximately 50 kilometres, beginning in the small community of Red River (near Pleasant Bay) and following the dramatic northwestern coastline of the Polletts Cove–Aspy Fault Wilderness Area. Designed as a four-day trek, the trail will end in the remote community of Meat Cove.
Earlier this summer, the Municipality of Inverness County awarded a $7.5 million design-build contract to Zutphen Contractors Inc. Since then, Zutphen’s in partnership with Glenn Group Landscape Architects, has been finalizing preliminary design and construction plans.
Constructing the trail will be a significant undertaking due to the exceptionally challenging terrain, which presents a challenging working environment. Over the next two weeks, small sections of the trail will be built as a mock-up to evaluate how well the proposed design works in these conditions.
The Municipality has obtained the necessary authorizations from the province to work in the wilderness area. A comprehensive evaluation of the mock-up sections with be conducted to inform further planning. Full trail construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2026 and finish in 2027.
The project is being led by the Municipality of Inverness County with support from the Jajiktek Seawall Trail Project Steering Committee, which includes representatives from northern communities, the Seawall Trail Society, Mi’kmaw organizations, the Municipality of Victoria County and other government bodies. A Mi’kmaw Elders Advisory Group will also provide guidance.
The project represents a total investment of approximately $9.4 million, jointly funded by the provincial and federal governments. The Province of Nova Scotia is contributing $6.4 million through the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, while the Government of Canada is providing $3 million through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
To learn more about the project, visit Jajiktek Seawall Trail | Municipality of the County of Inverness .
Quotes:
“This trail could become one of Canada’s premier wilderness attractions and a leading tourism destination in Nova Scotia. We are thrilled to be moving forward with our partners on this exciting project that may not only enhance tourism but create future jobs and business opportunities in our communities.”
- Bonny MacIsaac, Municipality of Inverness County Warden
“Cape Breton’s landscape and people are what make this region truly remarkable. This milestone for the Jajiktek Seawall Trail brings us another step closer to offering an unforgettable wilderness experience that will connect people with nature while inspiring visitors to return to the Highlands for years to come.”
- Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish
“Jajiktek is a Mi’kmaw word that means crouching down and standing up as you move along a difficult route close to water. This is an old trail, a part of the landscape that our ancestors have traveled since time immemorial.”
- Ernest Johnson, Mi’kmaw Elder Advisory Group Member
“The Seawall Trail Society’s guiding principle of Etuaptmunk – Two-Eyed Seeing, respecting both local values and Mi’kmaw traditions, has shaped an environmentally and socially responsible trail plan.
- Ray Fraser, Board Chair, Seawall Trail Society
“The Jajiktek Seawall Trail partnership has been a great opportunity to help share the traditional knowledge of the ancestral lands of the Mi’kmaw people. We are gathering in spaces and places and listening deeply with our hearts and minds on this journey of decolonization so that we can one day soon share the true stories of our people to visitors from around the world who will be visiting this trail. Now that is what we call reconcili-ACTION.”
- Robert Bernard, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network
Quick Facts:
- The Jajiktek Seawall Trail Project Steering Committee includes the Seawall Trail Society, Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network, Meat Cove Development Association, the communities of Wagmatcook and We’koqma’q, the Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, Build Nova Scotia, the Municipality of Victoria County, and the Municipality of Inverness County.
- The Seawall Trail Society, a local volunteer-based community group, has championed this project for over a decade and has been invaluable in the project’s success to date.
- Currently, there is no Jajiktek Seawall Trail or accommodations. It is a rugged, remote, and challenging wilderness route with no wayfinding signage or infrastructure of any kind. It is strongly recommended that anyone exploring the area should reach out to a local guiding business. The hike should only be attempted by people with extensive wilderness navigation and survival skills.
Foyer Père Fiset Flood
October 10, 2025
Flood at Foyer Père Fiset Results in Temporary Relocation of Some Residents
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 70 residents.
Families and next of kin of the affected residents have been notified by staff. A timeline for repairs and for the return of residents to the facility is still being determined.
Access to care and the health and safety of residents and staff remain the highest priorities as the situation is managed. Restoration services are on site providing cleanup and repairs.
Appreciation is extended to the staff at Foyer Père Fiset for their prompt response, and to Inverary Manor’s team for their support and assistance in minimizing any disruption to care.
Further updates will be provided when more information is available.
Mi’kmaq History Month
October 2, 2025
Municipality of Inverness County Proclaims October as Mi’kmaq History Month
At the Regular Meeting of Council on October 2, Deputy Warden Lynn Chisholm proclaimed October 2025 as Mi’kmaq History Month in Inverness County.
Established in 1993 by the Province of Nova Scotia and the Mi’kmaq Grand Council, Mi’kmaq History Month celebrates the culture, history, and contributions of the Mi’kmaq people. The month begins on Treaty Day (October 1st), which celebrates the anniversary of the 1752 Treaty of Friendship and Peace.
The Municipality acknowledges that it is located on Mi’ma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq, and recognizes the importance of honouring this connection 12 months a year.
Throughout the month, residents are encouraged to learn more about Mi’kmaq traditions and heritage, and to take part in community events that highlight the role of the Mi’kmaq in shaping Nova Scotia’s past, present, and future.
Bylaw 25 – Building Repealed
October 2, 2025
Council Continues Bylaw Modernization Process, Repeals Bylaw 25
At the Regular Meeting of Council on Thursday, October 2, the Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness agreed to repeal Municipal Bylaw 25—Building. The decision to repeal the bylaw was made as part of an ongoing bylaw modernization process.
According to Bylaw 25, residents were required to obtain a permit from the municipality before constructing, altering, or changing the use of a building. As permits, fees, and planning are handled by Eastern District Planning Commission, this bylaw was outdated. Council agreed to remove the bylaw 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.