Deputy Premier to visit Chéticamp recipient of Community Generator Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8 February, 2023

CHETICAMP, INVERNESS COUNTY – Inverness MLA and Deputy Premier Allan MacMaster will take part in a press event at 1 pm on Thursday 9th February 2023, at the North Inverness Recreation Centre Association (NIRCA) in Chéticamp, one of the recipients of the Community Generator Program.

The Community Generator Program is a fund created by the province of Nova Scotia in September 2022 in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. The provincial contribution is worth $656,000 in Inverness County.

“People in our communities are always there for each other,” said MacMaster. “These generators will ensure our gathering places are warm and welcoming, especially when we need them most.”

The Municipality of the County of Inverness has committed over $253,000 to purchase and install generators in 19 designated community comfort centres throughout the County.

The community comfort centres equipped with generators will be able to serve as gathering spaces for community members when the need arises, for example in the case of power outages due to extreme weather. The investments have been targeted with attention to population distribution within the County. Remote areas, such as Meat Cove at the northernmost point of Cape Breton Island, have also benefitted from the investment.

“Thanks to this investment from the Province and the Municipality, residents and visitors of Inverness County can be reassured that there will be a safe, warm and welcoming space nearby where they can shelter and connect with others in the community, if the need arises,” said Inverness County Council Warden Bonny MacIsaac.

Registered Nova Scotia non profits or Legions which own their own premises were eligible to apply for the fund. The fund recipients in Inverness County are as follows: the fire halls in Blues Mills, Lake Ainslie, West Bay Road, Whycocomagh, and Valley Mills; the Community Centres in Glendale, Cranton Cross Roads, and Meat Cove; as well as Port Hood Food Bank, the Whycocomagh Waterfront Centre, the Inverness County Centre for the Arts, North Inverness Recreation Centre Association, the Mi-Carême Interpretive Centre, West Mabou Hall, Judique Hall and Creignish Hall.

Applications for the 2023-24 Community Generator Program are open now and close on February 14.

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Media contact:

Keith MacDonald
CAO
Municipality of the County of Inverness
375 Main Street, Port Hood, NS B0E 2W0
keith.macdonald@invernesscounty.ca
902.787.5999

Have your say on library services in Inverness County

The Municipality of the County of Inverness is conducting a review of library services.

The aim is to hear from the community what is working well, and what services and spaces community members and organizations wish for. We want to hear about core library services, and about services and spaces that could be co-housed with a library, as is done in many communities across Canada.

Input will inform a library strategy, which will provide guidance to Eastern Counties Regional Libraries (ECRL), our local service provider for all things libraries.

We’d love to hear from as many community members as possible.

You can:

Fill out this survey: www.tinyurl.com/SurveyInverness
RSVP for one of the online engagement sessions via Zoom: www.tinyurl.com/EngageInverness

Two separate engagement sessions are planned
Tuesday, January 10th, 6pm – 7.30pm or
Wednesday, January 11th, 3pm – 5.30pm

Facility Closure Update

Inverness County Housing Survey Now Live

INVERNESS COUNTY, UNAMA’KI – The Municipality of the County of Inverness, in partnership with the Cape Breton Partnership, has launched the Inverness County Housing Survey to assess the housing needs and preferences of current and future residents.

“The housing landscape has changed significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and it is no secret that there are gaps in attainable and sustainable housing throughout Nova Scotia and Inverness County,” said Keith MacDonald, CAO of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “The Municipality, its funding partners and developers require data in order to move forward with supporting new housing for current residents and those interested in moving to the area.”

“The Cape Breton Partnership recognizes housing as a critical opportunity in fostering economic development and population growth across the province, and especially here at home in Cape Breton – Unama’ki,” says Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “The information gathered from the survey will help to paint a clearer picture of the housing needs and challenges in the county, which will help to inform future decision-making and spark new investment.”

The survey is open until July 5^th, 2022 and is available in both English and French at www.invernesscounty.ca/housing.

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CONSERVE WATER NOTICE: Port Hastings Water System

This week, Municipal staff will be conducting repairs on the Port Hastings Water Reservoir. As such, it is necessary to conserve water diligently for the rest of the week as there will be no water reserves for the time being. To conserve water, please:

– Do not take baths and take short showers;

– Do not wash vehicles;

– Do not let your water run while brushing your teeth;

– Use the dishwasher or clothes washer only with a full load.

Thank you in advance for your help.

BOIL ORDER LIFTED: Port Hastings Water System

The Municipality of the County of Inverness would like to inform all users of the Port Hastings Water System that the boil water order is no longer in effect. Water from the Port Hastings Water System can be consumed with no boiling required.

The Municipality apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused and thanks you for your understanding and cooperation during this process.

Please share this information with neighbours, friends, and those who may not receive this notice such as seniors or those living alone.

Think twice before you flush!

Sewer Issues

The Municipality of the County of Inverness would like to remind their customers of the sewer systems to please refrain from dumping substances that are harmful to the Municipal infrastructure. This includes, but is not limited to, ‘flushable’ wipes, grease/fats, tampons, condoms, dental floss, paper towel, hair and prescription medication. These items clog the pumps in the sewage lift stations and the treatment equipment at the Sewer Treatment Plants. The Municipality has had to pay for repairs and manpower to remove these items from the system. Wipes that are marketed as ‘flushable’ do not break down in our system and in fact cause a significant amount of damage to the Municipal infrastructure. The Municipality knows where the ‘problem spots’ are in the system for wipes and grease and are working to trace it back to the person/persons that are responsible. An individual or business could be fined under the Municipal Sewer By-Law for introducing substances into the sewer system that do not belong or cause an issue with the operations.

What if the label says ‘flushable’?

Products that say they’re flushable – like tampons and wipes – may make it down your toilet, but they may not make it through the sewer. There are currently no regulations in Canada to specify which products can be labelled “flushable”. Cities and Municipalities around the world are developing standards to more accurately label whether or not products are truly flushable. For now, please put them in your trash.

What can be flushed?

The only things that are okay to flush down the toilet are toilet paper, poo and pee.

UPDATE: Rapid Antigen Test Kit Distribution – Port Hood

Rapid Antigen Test Kit (COVID-19 Test Kit) Distribution – Port Hood

Port Hood Rapid Antigen Test Kits Drive Thru:

Date: Friday, February 18, 2022
Time: 10am to 12pm or all kits have been given out
Location: 375 Main Street, Port Hood (please be mindful of directional barricades, pylons, and traffic direction volunteers and police)
Note: One kit will be given to each vehicle without exception (reminder to those picking them up that each kit contains 5 tests.
No walk-ups (it is a safety concern for all involved – there is phone-in delivery options available to all with transportation issues).
For questions, please call 902-562-5616.

Call-in/Delivery of Rapid Antigen Test Kits:

Date: starting on February 18, 2022, and continuing as resources and demand dictate
Time: 10am and continuing as resources and demand dictate
People unable to pick-up a kit at the drive thru due to various mobility reasons may call the Cape Breton Family Place Resource Centre (902-562-5616) and have a no-contact delivery of a kit.
People requesting this service will be required to leave their name, phone number, and address.
A call will be placed at the given number prior to the delivery (1-2 hours) to ascertain if the recipient is available to receive a kit as the kits can not be left outside for a period of time which will allow them to freeze and thereby possibly be left ineffective.
Kits will be delivered as rapidly as resources and weather conditions allow – one kit per household

In each kit you will find:

The elements to administer 5 separate tests which will indicate a presumptive negative or positive result for the COVID-19 virus.
Instructions on how to administer said tests.

UPDATE: Rapid Antigen Test Kit Distribution – Chéticamp

Rapid Antigen Test Kit (COVID-19 Test Kit) Distribution – Chéticamp

Chéticamp Rapid Antigen Test Kits Drive Thru:

Date: February 15, 2022
Time: 10am to 2pm or all kits have been given out
Location: Les Trois Pignons, 15584 Cabot Trail Road, Cheticamp (please be mindful of directional barricades, pylons, and traffic direction volunteers and police)
Note: One kit will be given to each vehicle without exception (reminder to those picking them up that each kit contains 5 tests.
no walk-ups (it is a safety concern for all involved – there is phone-in delivery options available to all with transportation issues).

Call-in/Delivery of Rapid Antigen Test Kits:

Date: starting on February 15, 2022, and continuing as resources and demand dictate
Time: 10am and continuing as resources and demand dictate
People unable to pick-up a kit at the drive thru due to various mobility reasons may call the Cape Breton Family Place Resource Centre (902-562-5616) and have a no-contact delivery of a kit.
People requesting this service will be required to leave their name, phone number, and address.
A call will be placed at the given number prior to the delivery (1-2 hours) to ascertain if the recipient is available to receive a kit as the kits can not be left outside for a period of time which will allow them to freeze and thereby possibly be left ineffective.
Kits will be delivered as rapidly as resources and weather conditions allow – one kit per household

In each kit you will find:

The elements to administer 5 separate tests which will indicate a presumptive negative or positive result for the COVID-19 virus.
Instructions on how to administer said tests.

Notice of Approval: By-Law 52

NOTICE OF APPROVAL

By-Law Adoption for the Municipality of the County of Inverness

Please take notice that the Council of the Municipality of the County of Inverness has approved and adopted:

By-Law No. 52:

By-Law to authorize the voting by telephone/internet for the 2022 Special Municipal Election for the District 1 Councillor

The purpose of By-Law No. 52 is to allow voting by telephone and internet for the 2022 Special Municipal Election for the District 1 Councillor.

Second Reading and adoption was given to By-Law No. 52 at the Regular Meeting of Council on January 6^th, 2022.

A copy of By-Law No. 52 may be read online or at the office of the Municipality of the County of Inverness, 375 Main St., Port Hood, NS.

If you have any further questions, please call 902-787-3500.