Whycocomagh Active Transportation Planning Engagement

The Municipality has recently launched a new project. The Whycocomagh Active Transportation and Detailed Design Plan will improve mobility for residents and visitors in Whycocomagh, reflecting the Municipality’s vision of a vibrant, sustainable community where active transportation is safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.

Currently, the design of Main Street and Highway 105 prioritizes vehicles, limiting opportunities for active transportation. The project covers the area from Whycocomagh Provincial Park at 9780

Highway 105 to where Highway 105 meets the Skye River, including the entire Main Street corridor and the intersections of nearby streets.

By introducing thoughtfully designed infrastructure that balances all modes of transportation and prioritizes inclusion, the final plan will improve safety and comfort for active transportation users, and establish a distinct sense of place reflecting Whycocomagh’s unique character and identity as a hub for outdoor adventure.

The Municipality is advancing this planning work in partnership with a community group and has hired two consulting firms Englobe and UPLAND to undertake the design, which will be informed by community consultation.

Please note that the successful implementation of the project will be dependent on securing the necessary funding.

Community input will be at the heart of this project, and there will be many opportunities to get involved. To learn more and share your initial thoughts, please visit https://speakupland.ca/whycocomagh-at-plan

To contact the project team directly, please email consultation@uplandstudio.ca or call 1-902-423-0649 extension # 109

Public Notice – Canadian Navigable Waters Act

Canadian Navigable Waters Act Public Notice- Dec 13

Outfall_Community_Notice

Public hearing: Wind turbine strategy

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 6 pm, for the council of the Municipality of Inverness County to consider and, if deemed advisable, adopt amendments to the Municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw for the County of Inverness concerning the regulation of wind turbine development.

This is in order to implement stricter development standards for utility-scale wind turbines, including

• new setback requirements from
  • the coastline
  • property lines
  • residences

• revised noise requirements
• a revised zoning map increasing the area where the Utility-Scale Turbine Exclusion (UTE-1) zone applies

Written or oral presentations in favour or in opposition to the proposal can be made before council at the public hearing which will be held:

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 6 pm
Municipal Administrative Building
375 Main Street, Port Hood

Copies of the staff reports, providing detailed information on the proposals, are available on the Eastern District Planning Commission website.

This information was posted to the municipal website on Friday, January 3, 2025, and will be advertised in the January 8 and 15 editions of the Inverness Oran newspaper in accordance with the requirements of the Nova Scotia Municipal Government Act.

Amendments to the Port Hood Municipal Planning Strategy

On October 17, 2024 the Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness approved the following amendments:

1. Amendments to the Port Hood Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw to enable the development of private roads in the Port Hood Plan Area.

As required by the Municipal Government Act these amendments were reviewed by the Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs and determined not to require further provincial review or approval. These amendments therefore come into effect with the publishing of this advertisement.

Copies of the planning documents and staff report, providing more detailed information on the file, can be inspected at the office of the Eastern District Planning Commission, 606 Reeves Street, Unit 3, Port Hawkesbury between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm weekdays (excluding statutory holidays) or at edpc.ca or by contacting (902) 625-5361 or Toll-Free 1-888-625-5361.

Posted to the Municipality of the County of Inverness website on December 18, 2024 in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Government Act.

Your future, your voice in Inverness County

Want to help shape the future of your community? The Municipality of Inverness County is hosting youth engagement sessions where you can share your ideas, priorities, and challenges. This is your chance to speak up, be heard, and directly influence future projects that impact the youth of Inverness County. Plus, you’ll connect with other local young people, share experiences, and have a say in decisions that affect your life.

Who should join?

If you’re between 16 and 30 and call Inverness County home, we want to hear from you! Whether you live here now, grew up here and moved away, or are a newcomer to the area, these sessions are for YOU.

What to expect

Come ready to share your thoughts in an interactive session. You’ll get to hear about exciting ideas from the municipality, and then take part in brainstorming activities and group discussions to tackle the challenges and dreams of youth in Inverness County. And don’t worry, there will be light snacks and a chance to win some awesome door prizes – just in time for the holidays!

When and where

• Thursday, December 19 – Celtic Music Interpretive Centre, Judique | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Friday, December 20 – Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Saturday, December 21 – Canton Culturel, Cheticamp | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Bilingual session)

How to sign up

The event is free, but we’d love for you to register so we know you’re coming!

This is your chance to make an impact, so don’t miss out – we can’t wait to hear from you and work together to shape the future of Inverness County!

Any questions can be directed to Project Coordinator, Siobhan Beaton: siobhan.beaton@invernesscounty.ca

Municipal youth engagement session registration

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

1. Which session do you plan to attend? *

• Thursday, December 19 | Celtic Music Centre, Judique
• Friday, December 20 | Inverness County Centre for the Arts, Inverness
• Saturday, December 21 | Place des arts, Cheticamp

2. What is your age? *

live Which to

3. What is your name? *

First

Last

4. What is your email address? *

You may receive information regarding the event.

5. Which community are you from? *

6. What is your preferred language? *

• English
• French

7. Which one best describes you? *

• I am a high school student
• I am a post-secondary student, currently living in Inverness County
• I am a post-secondary student, currently living away from Inverness County
• I am not a student, and I currently live in Inverness County
• I am not a student, and I currently live away from Inverness County
• Other

7. How would you describe your situation? *

8. If you live locally, do you wish to be a part of a county-wide youth network? *

• Yes
• No

9. If you live away, do you wish to be added to an Inverness County expat network? *

• Yes
• No

10. Please specify any allergies or dietary restrictions. *

Submit

Sale of surplus equipment

The Municipality of Inverness County is inviting bids on the sale of surplus vehicles and equipment.

Full information about this process, including how to submit a bid, is available at procurement-portal.novascotia.ca/tenders/MCI-TEN-2024-013

The following is a complete list of the vehicles and equipment included in the surplus sale. The municipality is not responsible for any costs relating to the removal of the vehicles/equipment.

All vehicles and equipment are located at the Public Works Facility at 15109 Highway 19, Inverness, NS.

Viewing will take place Monday to Friday, 9 am-3 pm until close of business on Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Tender bids must be received no later than 2 pm, Thursday, November 27, 2024.

Any questions or inquiries, contact:
Aaron MacDonald, Procurement Specialist
aaron.macdonald@invernesscounty.ca | 902-787-3518

Get involved with Santa for seniors!

The municipal Recreation & Community Wellness department has created a Santa for Seniors program this holiday season.

The municipal Seniors Safety program works with older adults throughout the municipality by providing access to information through Age Well lunch and learn sessions, assisting with grant applications, and other recreation-based programming for older adults. The program lead works with surrounding seniors’ clubs, and seniors serving organizations that address the needs of seniors in more rural and remote communities.

In collaboration with the municipal Seniors Advisory Council, the Santa for Seniors program provides older adults with a special gift handmade by local students during the end-of-year holidays. The aim is to bring some extra cheer at this wonderful time of the year, while fostering an inter-generational connection within our communities.

The holidays are exciting times but can bring feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially for older people. This program aims to provide individuals with a little extra cheer who need it this time of year.  

The Recreation and Community Wellness department has partnered with local schools including Bayview Education Centre, Whycocomagh Education Centre, and Inverness Academy. The students will participate in craft making workshops to create cards and crafts that will be gifted to the Santa for Seniors participants.  

Register yourself or a friend today, to receive one of these lovely handmade gifts! The program is open to older adults (55+).

Anyone without access to internet call the Seniors Safety Coordinator, Maggie MacDonald at (902)615-3670 to register, or for any questions.  

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Register yourself or a friend

Address Wishlist of

Name of recipient: *

First

Last

Address of recipient: *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

British ColumbiaOntarioQuebecAlbertaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNorthwest TerritoriesNova ScotiaNunavutPrince Edward IslandSaskatchewanYukonProvince

Postal Code

Wishlist *

• Chocolate
• Candy
• Ornament

Submit

2024 municipal election results

The results of the municipal elections held in the Municipality of Inverness County on Saturday, October 19, 2024 are as follows.

Inverness County Awards for Excellence in Healthcare

Thank you to all of those who submitted their nominations. The winners will be announced in April at a special Gala event. More details to follow.

The Municipality of Inverness County is delighted to announce the inaugural Inverness County Awards for Excellence in Healthcare.

This is a time to express sincere gratitude and thanks to all dedicated healthcare professionals who work so tirelessly and selflessly to serve others.  These awards offer everyone the opportunity to highlight those individuals who deserve special recognition for their service.  There will be seven individual awards and one team award (see categories below for details).

Nominees can be anyone involved in the healthcare sector in the Municipality of Inverness County in some capacity, which includes, but is not limited to, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, long-term and palliative care staff, and any other allied healthcare professionals such as paramedics, phlebotomists, pharmacists, radiologists, X-ray and lab technicians, physiotherapists, administrators or receptionists, to name a few.  (Note that volunteers should continue to be referred to Inverness County’s Volunteer Recognition Program – for more details on that program, email lisa.organ@invernesscounty.ca.)

We hope you will join in appreciating and celebrating the invaluable contribution that healthcare professionals make to our lives every single day.  They are all champions, but who stood out for you this year?  Use the form below to submit your nomination.

Additional copies of the nomination forms are available at municipal administration building, 375 Main St, Port Hood, as well as Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital and all libraries in the Municipality of Inverness County.

Nominations must be submitted by noon on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.
The awards committee will review and determine the winners, which will be announced at a special Awards Gala in Spring 2025.

To submit a nomination or for more information contact Lynn Carter, Healthcare Navigator:

• lynn.carter@invernesscounty.ca | +1-902-323-0057
• Municipality of Inverness County, 375 Main Street, Port Hood, B0E 2W0

Categories

1. Outstanding physician
2. Outstanding nurse
3. Outstanding nurse practitioner
4. Outstanding long term or palliative care professional
5. Outstanding mental health care professional
6. Outstanding allied health professional – this category includes professions such as paramedics, phlebotomists, pharmacists, radiologists, X-ray and lab technicians, physiotherapists, administrators or receptionists, to name a few.
7. Outstanding young healthcare professional (30 years and under)
8. Outstanding collaborative care team

Guidelines

• Any organization or individual may nominate one healthcare professional.
• The nominee must be a current or former healthcare professional within the Municipality of Inverness County.
• The healthcare professional must work within the Municipality of Inverness County.
• Nominations must be accompanied by a clearly written or typed description (250 words max.) of the nominee’s activities that have gone above and beyond for our community.
• One outstanding nominee in each category will be chosen as the overall winner(s) and winners will be announced at a special Awards Gala in Spring 2025.
• The final deadline to receive nominations is noon on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Any nominations after that date will be placed on a list for recognition in 2025.
• Eligibility of all nominations is at the sole discretion of the awards committee, which consists of municipal staff and retired healthcare and local professionals.

Read the Participaper online!

Cape Breton’s best loved municipal periodical now has an online home at participaperonline.ca.

Content is posted online when each new edition is published. Read this week’s article here.

Four decades of archives

Delve into the Participaper archives, kindly digitized by the staff of Chestico Museum and Historical Society.