Residents on Waterloo Street in Liverpool appealed to Region of Queens councillors this week to speed up work on the street. (Rick Conrad)
Residents living on and around Waterloo Street in downtown Liverpool are frustrated with water and sewer upgrades that have been going on for three years.
Christopher Clarke, a former Region of Queens mayor who lives on Bootlegger Road at the end of Waterloo, told councillors this week that the project has disrupted residents’ lives for long enough.
“It’s a disgrace. … For three years, our street has been dug up, and it now, based on a letter that we were sent, looks as though it will go into the fourth year. The construction is being done there with very little consideration to the residents. The place is a mess.”
The work begins at the corner of School and Waterloo streets and extends down the narrow residential street to the water.
Clarke said heavy equipment has been left on the street, signs toppled on people’s lawns, pipes left lying everywhere. Also, a temporary traffic light is set up and the noise from the generator disturbs residents at night.
“Now, I don’t for one minute, criticize the employees who are working there. … This is a very, very badly managed project. And so maybe that’s where the blame should lie.”
And he said he was insulted when the region recently sent residents a letter with an update on the project and told them not to talk about the problems with anybody else but senior staff.
“I didn’t elect the manager. I helped to elect the mayor and the councillor. So if I want to come and talk to anybody, I’m going to come and do it. I’m not going to be told by staff that I’m not allowed to come and talk. But you’ve got to do something to help us. It’s a mess, it’s muddy, it’s going into next year.
“Shut the project down, you know you’re not going to get it done this year. … Fix up the street for us, get at it properly next year, do the job, and plan it. It is an absolute disgrace. I would be ashamed to sit in front of the public and tell them that I am responsible for a job like that.”
Waterloo Street resident Paula Doucet echoed Clarke’s concerns. She told councillors that the work is progressing too slowly and that crews don’t appear to be onsite full time.
She added that elderly residents and those with mobility issues also find it difficult to navigate around the work and the equipment.
“We have two big diggers on our street. One appears to be working. One isn’t working,” she said.
“We’re paying a lot of taxes and I’m getting really tired of this project. You know, I know it needs to be done, I know it will be great when it’s finished. Get it done! If you’ve got to hire more contractors to come in, get it done.”
Mayor Scott Christian said he understood the residents’ concerns.
“I appreciate your frustrations and thank you for your patience, and, yes, we do need to ensure that you have a better experience with respect to that project, so I apologize on behalf of the organization.”
Christian could not be reached for a followup interview.
A look at some Christmas trees from a previous Trees in the Park event. (Liverpool Adventure Outfitters on Facebook)
Freeman Lumber will be taking over Trees in the Park, the annual fundraiser that features Christmas trees decorated by local businesses.
The South Queens Chamber of Commerce had announced in early November that it would stop organizing the event. Freeman Lumber stepped in to ensure it continues.
Businesses, organizations or individuals buy a tree for $75 and decorate it however they like. The trees are displayed outside at the Queens County Museum and on the Liverpool waterfront.
All proceeds go to a local charity. That will be announced shortly, according to a notice from the chamber.
The chamber is still hosting the annual tree lighting ceremony at the Astor Theatre along with the Region of Queens and the South Shore Multicultural Association.
The Region of Queens is asking for a lower immediate rise in water rates. (Daan Mooij via Unsplash)
The Region of Queens is no longer asking for an immediate 106 per cent increase in water rates.
But customers will still have to pay about 115 per cent more over three years if the municipality’s application to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board is successful.
In documents filed with the board on Nov. 7, the region is now asking for a 43 per cent increase in the first year for the 1,200 water utility customers in Liverpool and Brooklyn. The region has diverted about $1.6 million in budget reserves to blunt the first-year increase and spread it over a longer period.
“The utility did not get in its present state overnight and it cannot be restored to its proper efficient and effective state overnight, but the process has started, and it needs a sustainable rate structure to accomplish this,” Willa Thorpe, the region’s chief administrative officer, wrote in the revised rate hike request.
“If the current underfunding is not addressed now it just pushes the problem forward and adds unnecessary debt payments for future customers.”
Before the region filed its revised rate hike request, the Queens Community Health Board filed a comprehensive objection to the planned increases, calling them “unreasonable, unjust and unprecedented”.
The board is the only registered intervenor in the hearing, though it has letters of support from the Queens County Food Bank, Liverpool Curling Club, Queens Transit and the Queens Care Society.
Board chair Tara Druzina told QCCR this week that many people can’t afford to pay up to an extra $461 a year for water services.
“I think the perspective of the community health board is the shock of the increase that is coming forward,” she said.
“The municipality does need to run a balanced utility and we’re aware of that. It’s just that the 115ish per cent over three years, while there’s such a large percentage of water loss, is this concerning part we have, particularly for our vulnerable residents.”
The board will hold a public hearing on the region’s water rate request on Wed., Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m. in council chambers at the region’s offices on White Point Road.
Druzina said it’s important for residents to have their say at the hearing.
“The board members, like at a council meeting, need to know the perspective of the community impacted.”
Anybody can speak at the hearing, but you must notify the board by Fri., Nov. 14, by email at board@novascotia.ca, by phone at 902-424-1333 or 1-844-809-0010. You can also send written comments to the board by email or by sending a letter to the Clerk of the Board at P.O. Box 1692, Unit “M”, Halifax, NS B3J 3S3 by Nov. 14.
The region says it needs to raise rates by more than 100 per cent to deal with an $800,000 deficit.
The utility has operated at a loss for five consecutive years, since 2020. It’s also been struggling to keep a lid on significant leaks in the system, losing up to 69 per cent of its water each year through faulty water mains and other unrepaired damage. In a 2024 study commissioned by the region, consultants said that leakage rate placed it in the “worst” category compared to other utilities.
“The people of Queens County face a choice made by others: pay dramatically more for a service that wastes two-thirds of its water or fight for regulatory protection,” the health board wrote in its submission.
“The (regulatory) board has both the authority and the obligation to protect ratepayers from this injustice while ensuring utility viability. We recognize the challenges faced by small rural utilities. However, four years of declining performance despite board direction and significant spending demonstrates problems beyond normal operational difficulties. We are not asking the board to let the utility fail. We are asking the board to protect the people of Queens County from bearing the full cost of that failure.”
The community health board points to the utility buying used water meters from Halifax that were already past their prime, staffing shortages, improper oversight and the ongoing system leaks.
The health board wants the provincial regulator to approve a 15 to 20 per cent increase and impose mandatory targets to reduce system leaks: 10 per cent reductions a year by 2028, with a long-term reduction goal to the industry standard of 30 per cent.
In a letter to the regulatory board after the region’s revised rate request, Druzina says the lower proposed hike in the first year is better, but “without binding performance accountability measures, however, it does not address the operational failures that created this crisis or prevent recurrence.”
And she says the region’s recently approved $200 utility assistance rebate for those on low incomes is “insufficient and unsustainable”.
In a county with a 31.5 per cent child poverty rate and where more than 30 per cent of residents are over 65, Druzina says even with the rebate, people will struggle to cope with a 43 per cent immediate increase.
Recent decisions by the regulatory board have approved water rate increases of up to 17.8 per cent in Sherbrooke on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore and 7.2 per cent over two years for Halifax.
The Queens proposal “represents the largest rate increase request in documented Nova Scotia regulatory history”, Druzina writes.
In addition to an interim hike of no more than 15 to 20 per cent, the health board wants future increases tied to reducing the water wasted through leaks in the system. It also wants the provincial regulator to order an independent system audit and quarterly public reporting, and to require a performance-based rate plan with accountability measures.
Eric Fry speaks during a public hearing Wednesday on proposed changes to the Region of Queens land use bylaw. (Region of Queens YouTube)
It will take a little longer to find out if the old Stedman’s building on Main Street in Liverpool will have a new life as an apartment complex.
The Region of Queens held a public hearing on Wednesday on proposed changes to the municipality’s land use bylaw that would allow for more residential space on the ground floor of buildings in the downtown commercial district.
At their meeting afterward, councillors voted to seek legal advice on whether they have the authority to make one of those changes.
Developer Eric Fry wants to turn 194 Main St. into 18 residential units, four of which would be “hotel suites”, and two main-level commercial units of 300 square feet each.
Fry bought the 30,000-square-foot building earlier this year and has been trying to get municipal approval for his apartment proposal since February. His original plan was for 16 residential units, indoor parking, storage and no commercial space. Councillors refused to change the bylaw to allow that to proceed.
After Fry listed his property for sale, the region’s planning advisory committee agreed to consider a revised a proposal and return it council.
Municipal rules require that at least half of a building’s ground floor must be commercial space.
On Wednesday, Fry spoke briefly in support of the bylaw changes. Four Liverpool residents spoke against them.
Tara Druzina said she wasn’t sure whether councillors had the authority under the Municipal Government Act to dictate who uses space in a building. A proposed change would forbid the owner or property manager from using one of the commercial spaces as an office.
“Municipalities regulate land-use types and their characteristics, but discriminating against and between identical uses based on ownership arrangements may exceed municipal jurisdiction,” she told councillors.
Denaige McDonnell said she was concerned that councillors were missing the mark in trying to change the bylaw.
“A common argument for expanding residential use is that there isn’t enough demand for commercial space, but deeper issues are at play here,” she said.
“ Many of our commercial buildings simply do not meet current building code, accessibility, or safety standards that are required for occupancy or for commercial use. And really what that’s telling us is that it’s not a demand problem, but it’s a readiness problem.”
McDonnell said the region is trying to change its bylaw to appease one property owner without having a comprehensive commercial plan.
“Structural changes like this need to be informed by clear, data-driven, county-wide strategy, not as reactions to individual development proposals.
“This proposed bylaw change may offer a short-term perception of flexibility and reward a single proponent, but it comes at a long-term strategic cost. Our commercial spaces are a very valuable part of our community. They are our most valuable assets for the future, and they deserve to be protected, planned and leveraged as part of a larger vision for economic sustainability.”
Susan McGibbon said she was worried the process is moving too quickly without a proper assessment of business in downtown Liverpool.
“I’m not saying that is your fault, council. This goes way back. There’s been no development of an economic plan for the downtown for a very long time. So there’s no research, there’s no data, and there’s been little to no expertise in the understanding of commercial and retail in the downtown.”
Paul Deveau pointed out that during public consultations in the spring, residents and business owners said that there needed to be a downtown plan that protects commercial space while adding more housing.
“But here we are a few months later, and you’re again trying to amend a bylaw without a comprehensive plan.”
Later in the meeting, councillors decided that they couldn’t make a decision on the proposed changes until they got legal advice.
Mayor Scott Christian asked whether staff sought advice on the wording around what landlords can do with the commercial space.
Staff conceded they had not.
Council asked staff to have that information ready for their next meeting on Nov. 25.
Until then, the land use bylaw remains unchanged. Any substantive changes would likely restart the process and require council to have another public hearing.
Once councillors voted for a legal opinion, Christian called a break and met with Fry in his office for about 15 minutes.
Afterward, Fry told QCCR that he appreciated residents’ comments and their passion for the downtown. He said he understands that council has to make sure they have authority to make the changes.
“It’s unfortunate that this wasn’t flushed out as maybe as thoughtfully as it should have been. So, I understand there is a process to remedy, so we’ll have to wait until we hear what those next steps are.”
Carol Smith is the chair of the North Queens Remembrance Day Committee and chaplain with the North Queens Fire Association. (Rick Conrad)
When people in North Queens gather on Tuesday to commemorate the community’s war veterans, they’ll have a little help from a booklet and website honouring those who didn’t return.
The project is a collaboration between the North Queens Remembrance Day Committee, the North Queens Heritage Society and air force veteran Chris Charlton.
They’ve created a booklet called North Queens: We Will Remember Them. It profiles the 33 service members from the area who died in the two world wars and the Korean conflict.
“I think the importance is that these young men from North Queens were very committed to serving their country and to doing what was needed in their time,” says Carol Smith, chair of the Remembrance Day committee and chaplain of the North Queens Fire Association.
“And when you read the profiles, you just see what a huge change it must have been for them to leave rural Nova Scotia and go fight in faraway countries and just put their lives on the line. So it’s the enormity of their sacrifice that we need to remember. And I think that’s what Remembrance Day is all about, is realizing that we’re all called upon to want the greater good and to remember what they did for peace and what is it that we can do in our time and place. It’s just a great inspiration to me.”
Charlton, who was a Sea King pilot for 28 years and is a Gulf War veteran, approached the committee last year about a project he was working on to commemorate the war dead from North Queens.
The Maitland Bridge native wanted to profile each of the fallen veterans listed on the cenotaph in Caledonia.
“And we quickly got the committee together and started working with Chris,” Smith says. “Chris has done an amazing amount of work researching the lives of those whose names are on the cenotaph in North Queens, and he deserves a lot of credit for that because it’s been a labour of love for him.”
The committee received a $3,000 grant from Veterans Affairs Canada to print 250 booklets to distribute to families of the fallen. There will also be copies handed out at this year’s Remembrance Day service in Caledonia. Charlton will be at the ceremony.
The booklet includes a full profile and photos of each of the servicemen. There’s even more information on the North Queens Remembers website, including a treasure trove of archival documents.
“I think what makes them so very interesting is the details that Chris has put in, where each person was born, their family, where they enlisted, how they served, tragically where they died, where they’re buried, how their families were notified. It all brings to life their commitment and their sacrifice.”
Though Charlton wrote the profiles and compiled the documents, it was a community effort, including members of the former Royal Canadian Legion branch in Caledonia and the volunteer fire department.
“Part of it is to honour these people. And it would be easy to let the passage of time dim our memories. … A lot of the men were buried in foreign fields. And a lot of people have not been able to go and see the cemeteries. So this is just one way to connect us to the amazing stories for each of these people.”
The project was also a personal one for Smith. Her father Mervyn Dunn was a veteran of the Second World War. He returned home, but he didn’t talk much about his experiences overseas.
“He was in France, Italy, Holland, all those places, and he never talked about it. He never talked about it. Many veterans are like that, and I regret, I really regret, that I didn’t ask him more. … But, you know, so many people have the same story, that their fathers didn’t talk about it.”
At the Remembrance Day service in Caledonia on Tuesday, members of the committee will read the profile of Private Joseph Colp, whose brother Simeon is still alive and living in a nursing home in Lunenburg. They also plan to give one of the commemorative booklets to him.
“And I think this is a really good profile to read because it really highlights the sacrifice of so many. And Chris has mentioned in his profile that where he is buried, the cemetery contains the graves of those who died during the fighting at Moro River and Ortona. Today, there are 1,615 graves in the cemetery, of which 1,375 are Canadian.”
Smith says the committee has also given about 20 copies to the North Queens Community School, where teachers plan to use it in class projects. She hopes the document will inspire other groups to do similar research on veterans in their area.
“We used to have them around so that we could talk to them, but now we don’t. So I think these stories need to be told. And so if it could be an inspiration, that would be great.”
The Remembrance Day service in Caledonia is on Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. at the North Queens Fire Hall.
A test tower collecting wind data on the site of the Mersey River Wind farm in Milton. (Renewall Energy)
The Mersey River wind farm in Milton has finally broken ground, with crews getting the site ready this fall for when turbines are delivered next year.
“We are moving forward with the construction of the wind farm,” said Dan Roscoe, CEO of Roswall Development, the company that plans to install 33 windmills on Crown land west of the Mersey River.
“What will take place over the coming weeks will mostly be work on roads and grading, and we’re going to get as much done as we can before the snow flies. It’ll probably take us into the first week or two of January until we have to shut down, and then we’ll pick things up in probably March or April.”
Once the windmills are operational, Queens County residents will be able to buy power directly from Roswall’s subsidiary Renewall Energy.
Renewall promises that its rates will be lower and more stable than Nova Scotia Power’s. Hundreds of people have already signed up to be among the first residential customers, and the company also has agreements with more than 30 commercial, industrial, and government customers. The Region of Queens Municipality is one of them.
Roscoe told QCCR this week the company is in talks with about a dozen more big users.
“We’ve been engaging commercial and larger customers for some time, and that has continued. We continue to sign up new customers.”
Renewall sent out notices this week to people on its mailing list and to other local groups to tell them they’d be working at the site in Milton.
Roscoe said they’re still on schedule to have the wind turbines delivered by fall of 2026. He says people are excited about one of the first big wind projects in Nova Scotia that will sell power directly to homeowners.
“So it’s a big milestone for us, and I think it’s a big milestone for Nova Scotia. I think there’s a lot of interest in having choice of who we can buy electricity from. So we think it’s exciting for both electricity customers in Nova Scotia and the renewable energy industry in general.”
In 2021, Renewall was the first in Nova Scotia to be awarded a licence to sell power directly to consumers under the Renewable to Retail program introduced by the provincial government in 2015. The program allows companies to supply electricity directly to consumers while paying Nova Scotia Power a tariff for use of their grid.
The Region of Queens is considering using Nickersons Pond and the Herring Cove Lake watershed area as a source for non-potable water. (Rick Conrad)
Despite recent rain showers, the Region of Queens is still struggling with low water levels in the Town Lake Reservoir.
On Wednesday, it continued voluntary water conservation measures that have been in place for a month.
The region is asking its 1,200 customers in Liverpool and Brooklyn to use less water.
In an update on its Facebook page on Thursday, the region said water levels continue to drop.
Almost 47 millimetres of rain has fallen in the area in the past week, according to Environment Canada.
“At full capacity, the Town Lake Reservoir has a maximum depth of nine feet above the water intake pipe,” the region wrote in a Facebook post.
“At present, the water level is at six and a half feet. If levels reach five feet, it triggers the Warning Level, where reduced water pressure could impact the entire system. While the system is operating at lower pressure, it remains functional.”
Mayor Scott Christian said that the region is investigating alternative water sources to deal with future shortages because of climate change.
“If that means accessing the Herring Cove watershed and drawing water down from Nickersons Pond, that potentially could be something for the future. But you’re talking a multi-multi-million-dollar investment to stand up a secondary source for the water utility.”
The Nickersons Pond area (Rick Conrad)
That watershed used to supply water to the old Bowater Mersey mill and some residents in Brooklyn.
He said municipal officials are considering that as a source for non-potable water for people with dry wells.
“There’s no draw on it and there’s a dam on it. There’s a significant amount of water there. My understanding is that when it was in full operation, it was drawing in excess of 6 million gallons of water a day.”
Christian said that at their meeting next week, councillors will be considering a proposal for low-interest or no-interest loans for people to switch to drilled wells.
The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has a program like that. And Christian said it’s been so popular that there’s a backlog of about 60 properties on a waitlist.
“We know that there are pain points there and it also adds to the overall debt load as a property owner, so it’s not a magic bullet, but we’re exploring that channel.”
In the meantime, though, he said the municipality needs to fix the leaks and water loss in its system due to old infrastructure.
In documents filed with the region’s application for water rate increases at the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board, it was revealed that the Region of Queens Water Utility lost 69.1 per cent of its water in 2024 through leaks.
The $21-million project to extend and upgrade water and wastewater services to the Mount Pleasant area of Liverpool will help address that, Christian said.
“We know that we need to stop losing so much water, ensuring that the water utility is viable and sustainable is making the upgrade to the existing infrastructure so that we’re not losing so much water.”
Christian said Town Lake Reservoir is reliable, despite the challenges with water levels in the past two years.
“We’re really fortunate with the watershed that we have. We actually (issued) a conservation order on our water utility quite a bit later coming than it was in a lot of our adjacent municipalities and that’s reflective of the fact that is a very strong watershed.”
Christian said the municipality will work with the provincial and federal governments to create a more reliable water supply, especially if droughts continue due to climate change.
The Region of Queens is asking for hefty water rate hikes. (Rick Conrad)
Some municipal water customers in Liverpool and Brooklyn will get a break on their bills.
Region of Queens councillors recently approved the utility assistance rebate for those on low incomes.
Council created the rebate program because the 1,200 customers of the municipal water supply are expected to see a huge increase.
The Region of Queens Water Utility is asking provincial regulators for a 106 per cent increase to water bills. That’s to address an $800,000 deficit.
Under the rebate program, the region will give up to a $200 credit on the applicant’s utility account.
That is expected to cover just over half (58 per cent) of the expected $342 annual increase in people’s water bills. If someone gets the full rebate, they would still be paying about 50 per cent more than they do now, or about $472 annually.
Mayor Scott Christian said he was impressed with council, given that they’re asking customers for such a hefty increase.
“And so I’m proud, I’m proud of this piece of work, and I thank the staff for your efforts in helping us with our vision to get to a place where we can feel good about the fact that these water rates are going to impact a lot of our residents.”
If the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board grants the region’s request, most people’s annual bills will rise to $672.
The provincial regulator will hold a public hearing at council chambers on Wed., Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m. Residents can speak at the hearing, but they must notify the board by Nov. 14. Written comments can be sent by email to board@novascotia.ca or by sending a letter to the Clerk of the Board at P.O. Box 1692, Unit “M”, Halifax, NS B3J 3S3 by Nov. 14.
Councillors approved $15,000 in this year’s budget to pay for the rebate. If more money is needed for the program, staff will return to council to approve the extra spending.
The rebate took effect last Tuesday, after council’s vote. The region will publicize the rebate and tell people how to apply for it.
It is open to all water utility customers with an annual household income of $35,000 or less.
More information on the region’s water rate application can be found here by searching for Matter Number M12363.
Region of Queens Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton wants a ‘comprehensive review’ of the municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw. (Rick Conrad)
Region of Queens councillors are considering an overhaul of the rules that govern what people and businesses do with their properties.
Regional council voted unanimously on Tuesday evening in favour of Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton’s motion for a “comprehensive review” of the municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw “with particular focus on commercial uses and allowances within residential zones, regulation and permitting of short-term rentals, the keeping of livestock within residential and rural zones, light pollution mitigation and related dark sky considerations, coastal protection measures and climate resilient land use provisions, and minimum property standards.”
She said she wants staff to prepare a report in time for the Dec. 9 council meeting “outlining proposed consultation timelines, engagement methods and anticipated resource requirements to support this review process.”
“We have had some things pop up that are proving to be challenging,” Charlton said, “other things that I think maybe we didn’t think of during that timeframe. … I think we do need to address the issues in our land use bylaw.”
Developer Eric Fry originally wanted the building to be only residential, despite municipal rules that require at least half of a downtown building’s ground floor be for commercial use.
The region is in the process of changing the land use bylaw to allow Fry to include a much smaller commercial footprint.
Charlton, who chairs the municipality’s planning advisory committee, told councillors that some people want more flexibility to open businesses in their houses.
Currently, the land use bylaw essentially prohibits retail and other commercial operations in residential zones, though there are some exceptions for artists and other small home-based businesses.
“I think some of our measures are a bit too strict and they’re restricting economic development in Queens,” Charlton said.
Mayor Scott Christian said it’s standard practice to review a new bylaw after two years. Plus, he said, residents have raised concerns with parts of the bylaw that he says are “clunky”.
“In this term of council we’re really focusing on making sure we’re striking that balance to foster a business friendly environment, to addressing affordability issues. And I think some provisions within the municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw don’t resonate entirely with the strategic vision and direction that this council wants to take the organization.”
He said council wants professional advice from staff on a “laundry list of items”.
“(The bylaw) doesn’t do enough to give us a strong sense and deliberate approach to managing short-term rentals. It doesn’t strike the right balance in its approach to homesteading. It’s too blunt in its restrictions of the type of commercial activity that can happen in general residential areas.”
In 2022, many residents cried foul over proposed changes to homesteading rules. People who kept chickens or small numbers of other animals on their properties were worried that the bylaw would interfere with their ability to produce food for themselves and others.
Those concerns overshadowed many of the other significant changes in the comprehensive bylaw overhaul.
Velta Vikmanis is the new executive director of Liverpool’s Astor Theatre. (Rick Conrad)
Liverpool’s Astor Theatre has a new executive director.
Velta Vikmanis took over the job on Oct. 1, part of a new management team at the historic theatre.
“As a practising artist myself, I know the significance and the importance of the Astor,” she said in an interview Thursday.
“It carries a tremendous history in the community. And having had a show here myself, and then having the pleasure of stepping onto the board earlier this year, it just seemed like my skill sets from health-care administration and operations experience really lends itself to what the Astor needs in this moment. And so I was happy to step up and just say, ‘Yeah, I’m willing to give it a go.’”
Lori Smyth, who had been the Astor’s box office manager, will take on a new role as theatre manager.
Joe Lyndon will look after the theatre’s technical needs, including light and sound for shows.
Vikmanis moved to Liverpool with her husband in 2021 and has been actively involved in the community since. She is a volunteer and former board member at QCCR, and a volunteer at Queens Manor. Before she took the job as the Astor’s executive director, she was a member of the Astor Theatre Society board.
“Right now, we have a great synergy between the board and the staff here at the Astor, and we’re really hoping to capitalize on that momentum as we move forward, so that we can just continue building and moving the Astor forward into the next decades.”
Katy Hopkins had been the theatre’s manager of operations for many years until she resigned in September.
In a news release announcing Vikmanis’s appointment, chairman Eric Goulden thanked Hopkins for her “dedication and support for the Astor”.
“My first main priority,” Vikmanis says, “is to continue with all of the variety of programming that Katie Hopkins, the previous general manager, had put into place and making sure that all of those artists are honoured, their contracts are honoured and that patrons can continue to come into the theatre uninterrupted.”
Vikmanis said she wants to continue the entertainment mix that the Astor has been offering, from popular tribute band shows to movies to live theatre. And she wants to continue to welcome community groups to use the Astor space, and expand on some of the things happening there now.
She said she wants to explore showing a livestream on the theatre’s big screen of some performances from New York’s Metropolitan Opera.
And she’d like to give new artists more opportunities to exhibit at the Astor.
“I really do feel like I have put my best foot forward in the community. Ever since I arrived here, I’m really committed to being a resource and a support within our community. So the relationships that I’ve already established throughout the community, I hope will help and support all that’s going on within the theatre and just further enhance that momentum that we seem to have going right now.”
Goulden also announced on the news release that Easton Goodwin, who has appeared in various Astor productions, has been hired as a theatre staff member.
The Astor is close to launching its new website. And it’s been working with the Region of Queens, which owns the building, to improve the building’s accessibility.
Dave White, president of the Queens County ATV Association, at a July public information session on road trails. (Rick Conrad / File)
ATV users will soon be able to travel more easily through Queens County.
Regional councillors voted unanimously on Tuesday evening to create a bylaw that would allow the vehicles on some municipal roads.
The bylaw will designate five routes around Liverpool that riders can use to access services or other trails.
Dave White, president of the Queens County ATV Association, and about 30 supporters were at the council meeting for the vote.
“We’re really excited with the decision of council tonight to move forward to the bylaw phase with all five road trails in the Region of Queens Municipality, specifically in the former township, to create trail-to-trail and trail-to-amenities connections,” White said in an interview afterward.
“And I think this is going to be a really positive thing for our community so we’re very excited.”
It’s been about two years since the association and the Queens Rails to Trails Association approached the region to create a connected trail network similar to those that exist in neighbouring Lunenburg and Shelburne counties and in other parts of Atlantic Canada.
ATV groups say that the changes will bring more economic activity to Queens County. In 2022, ATV users said they spent $454 million in Nova Scotia.
The Nova Scotia government passed the Road Trails Act in 2023, which allows off-highway vehicles on provincial and municipal roads with certain conditions.
The region formed an ad hoc committee with local ATV organizations. The groups consulted with property owners, held public engagement sessions and asked for feedback in an online survey.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. About 180 people attended an information session at the Liverpool Fire Hall in July. Nobody voted against any of the five proposed routes. (Note: The routes are explained in detail at the end of this story.)
The online survey garnered between 74 and 84 per cent support for each route.
Those routes are behind the municipal offices on White Point Road and at various points from the Trestle Trail that would allow access to the Visitor Information Centre, downtown shops and Queens Place Drive.
In a staff report to council, project officer Richard Lane said comments from residents were mostly positive, but some were confused about the rules, while others worried about how those rules would be enforced.
The region’s traffic authority, Director of Infrastructure Adam Grant, said increased traffic from ATVs may contribute to driver confusion in some areas, like the intersection of Bristol Avenue and Milton Road.
He said he wanted to ensure that public safety remains the priority as the region moves ahead with a bylaw.
The region also consulted five other municipalities with road trail networks – the towns of Oxford, Pictou, Shelburne and Yarmouth and the city of Corner Brook, NL.
The municipality asked Queens District RCMP for their feedback but didn’t get a response.
Mayor Scott Christian said Queens will likely use municipal bylaws in other jurisdictions as their guide.
“We’re going to take all those lessons and try to … do it right the first time and just make it really clear and easy for the users about how they can navigate the road trails through the town of Liverpool, where they can go, where they can’t go, how they can safely operate their vehicles in town. I’m really excited about it.”
As with any new bylaw, the region must notify the public and give them an opportunity to comment at a public hearing. Christian said it shouldn’t take long to draft it.
White says road trail bylaws in other places are usually brief, since a lot of the regulations are already in provincial legislation.
He says that after lobbying two separate councils for the past two years, he’s happy that ATV users will soon get a greenlight to ride on certain roads.
“There are lots of things going on in a muncipality at any given time and while this took a little longer than we had hoped, we’re very happy with the outcome.”
FIVE PROPOSED ROAD TRAIL ROUTES IN LIVERPOOL (Source: Region of Queens staff report from Richard Lane, presented at Oct. 28 council meeting)
Route #1
From the rail trail as it enters Liverpool from the Shelburne direction and emerges from the walking trail behind the municipal office at 249 White Point Road, the road trail would allow a right turn onto West Street and left onto Harley Umphrey Drive. The road trail would then cross Hwy 3 and join the Trestle Trail, the road trail would also continue along George Street and end at the intersection with Old Port Mouton Road.
Route #2
Diverging from the Trestle Trail, the road trail would turn right onto King Street, left onto Lawrence Street, and right onto Wolfe Street until rejoining the Trestle Trail at Central Boulevard. The purpose of this road trail would be to avoid travel through a residential backyard and a section with poor sight lines and steep gradient.
Route #3
From the Trestle Trail as it crosses Main Street, the road trail would allow a left turn as far as the end of municipal street jurisdiction at Mersey Place Court. This would allow access to the Cowie Well and prepare for connection to the Trestle Trail from outside town limits via Milton, should an application be submitted to the Province of Nova Scotia for access in the future.
Route #4
From the Trestle Trail, the road trail would allow a right turn onto Brunswick Street, slight left on Main Street and right onto Henry Hensey Drive as far as the Visitor Information Centre. No access to Market Street, Bristol Avenue, or Main Street would be available. This road trail would enable access to parking, shops, and services including the Visitor Information Centre.
Route #5
Following the Trestle Trail until a left turn onto an access road at 31 Milton Road, the proposed road trail joins Milton Road with a right turn to the traffic light. From the traffic lights, the route allows a right turn onto Bristol Avenue, and a left turn onto Hank Snow Drive – no further travel on Bristol Avenue would be permitted. The route also enables riders to go straight through the traffic light, or to turn left and then left again onto Queens Place Drive. The inclusion of Old Cobbs Barn Road enables future road trail designation of a section of Hwy 3 toward Brooklyn, should an application be submitted to the Province of Nova Scotia in the future. This route would enable access to multiple shops, gas stations, accommodation, and amenities such as the Hank Snow Hometown Museum and Queens Place Emera Centre.
A food bank in North Queens is getting $10,000 grant from the Nova Scotia government to help stock more protein options for its clients.
The Community Food Resource Network in Caledonia will use the funds for their Protein Pick Me Up program, Queens MLA Kim Masland said in a news release Wednesday.
The funding from the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage helps stock local food banks with fresh produce, dairy and proteins to help vulnerable families.
“The Community Food Resource Network serves hundreds of families every month in North Queens, and this investment will help them provide the nutritious protein and fresh food that families need,” Masland said in the release.
Operating since 2019, Community Food Resource Network provides about $10,000 worth of food and support each month. The organization also includes a seasonal garden, Muriel’s Closet thrift store, and partnerships with youth groups, schools and other local food banks.
It’s located at 9868 Highway 8 in Caledonia and is open Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. They can be reached at 902-682-3130 or by email at ddawe@ns.sympatico.ca.
Region of Queens councillors have voted to move ahead with changes at the three-way stop at Main and Market streets in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad)
The Region of Queens is going ahead with changes to the three-way stop in downtown Liverpool to address safety concerns from pedestrians and motorists.
Those are: removing the separate westbound or right-turning lane on Main Street in front of the post office and adding a curb extension to shorten the crosswalk distance; adding tactile walking surface indicators to warn visually impaired pedestrians they’re entering or leaving a crosswalk; and removing or changing some of the parking near the intersection.
Mayor Scott Christian said after the meeting that council wants Director of Infrastructure Adam Grant to come back with a plan.
Christian said he’s eager to see what could happen with the parking spaces. The region’s traffic study found that some collisions and near-collisions were caused by people entering or leaving the angled spots outside the post office.
“I’ll be interested to see what staff come up with in consultation with some experts to figure out what some other options for reconfiguration could look like there.”
CBCL representatives told councillors in July that the intersection can handle current and future traffic volumes without installing traffic lights.
The busy intersection has caused safety concerns for years. Council has returned to the issue repeatedly in the past without settling on a solution.
CBCL had asked staff whether the region wanted the study done during warmer weather in the spring when traffic activity would be higher. The region’s response was that the consultants should use their best judgement.
Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton asked Grant whether the recommendation against traffic lights would have been different if the consultants had come later in the year. Grant said their conclusion about lights would have been the same.
“I think it was a valid point to be raised,” Christian said, “but I’m satisfied that our director of infrastructure felt that the methodology was appropriate.”
Christian said he’s not sure when council will see a plan for the changes at Main and Market streets. But it would have to be accounted for in next year’s budget before the work could begin.
Jason Scott Rudderham of Hunts Point. (RCMP Nova Scotia)
A Queens County man wanted on a provincewide warrant has been arrested in Halifax.
Nova Scotia RCMP said Monday in a news release that officers with the Halifax detachment safely apprehended Jason Scott Rudderham of Hunts Point.
The 50-year-old faces charges of sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation and exposing his genitals to a person under 14.
Queens MLA and newly appointed Minister of Natural Resources Kim Masland and Premier Tim Houston at the opening of the Steele Athletic Grounds in Liverpool earlier in October. (Rick Conrad)
Queens MLA Kim Masland says she was surprised to get the call to take over the natural resources portfolio, but she says she’s up to the challenge.
“It’s gonna be very busy, very, very busy and for me, my top priority always remains at home, that’s why I was elected. That’s why I ran was for the people of Queens County. It certainly is a privilege to bring their voices and perspectives to the table, but it’s gonna be busy.”
Masland was already the minister of emergency management when Premier Tim Houston announced a cabinet shuffle Tuesday that moved Tory Rushton out of the job and Masland in. Two other longtime cabinet ministers were also dropped from the government’s inner circle.
It’s been less than a year since the province created the standalone Department of Emergency Management. And Masland says she’s been doing a lot of work to get that up and running.
“I have a tremendous amount on my plate right now in building this new department and I know how important resource development is to our premier and to our province so it’s a big lift for me but I know we’ll get there together. Obviously I consider it a privilege, especially considering one of my first mentors through politics was John Leefe, and he once held this portfolio.”
She said she didn’t consider turning down the chance to lead a second department.
“I do like a challenge. I have an extremely strong work ethic, as most people know at home. You know, I’ll give it everything I have like I do with everything that I take on in life, while trying to also find a bit of a balance for family and my friends, but this certainly is gonna be a challenge, but I’m up to it.”
Masland would not say whether the direction of Natural Resources will change with her as minister.
Houston says he wants to make Nova Scotia an “energy superpower” and that the cabinet shuffle will help his government “stay focused on energy and resource development”.
Masland is stepping into Natural Resources at a controversial time.
The Toronto golf course developer behind Cabot Cape Breton wants to take over part of West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.
Former minister Rushton confirmed in early October that department officials and the company would “have a conversation” about the protected public land.
Local residents are fighting any attempt to allow the developer to use any part of the park.
Masland had her first briefings as natural resources minister on Thursday. She says it’s too early for her to comment on the issue.
“I’ve been a minister for a hot minute, so I will be briefed this afternoon,” she said.
“I’m coming in with an open mind. I’m going to listen to the department. I will listen to Nova Scotians and my decision will be made from that, but we need to be looking at development of our natural resources and doing them in an environmentally sustainable way. We’ve said no for way too long and it’s time to start looking at how we can ensure that our province is prosperous, and that people can have a good quality of life and earn a good living in our province.”
She says Rushton and she are close, and she’ll rely on him for advice as she learns the Natural Resources portfolio.
“I consider him one of my brothers. Tory has been in this department since the beginning and he has given it everything he has and he is highly respected in the industry. I have some huge, huge shoes, or I’ll say work boots, to fill in minister Rushton, but he is there to support me and to assist me going forward.”
Masland says that even with leading two departments, her focus will still be on Queens County.
“I am a very, very strong constituency MLA. I believe that the MLA needs to be in the constituency and needs to be talking with their constituents so I’m gonna work very very hard to make sure that I maintain that balance. They are my priority above anyone else, but I know I’ve put my entire life to the side to represent the people of Queens and it’s something that humbles me every day and I’m tremendously proud to represent those people, my friends, my neighbors, my family I love Queens County so that’ll be a focus for me to continue.”
Cubicles at Global Empire Corporation’s call centre in Liverpool. File photo: Ed Halverson
Sixty-nine people who used to work for Global Empire Corporation at its Liverpool call centre still haven’t been paid severance after being laid off last March.
After a 14-month investigation, the province ruled in May that the company failed to give proper notice of the layoff under Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code and that the non-unionized workers were entitled to just over five weeks of severance.
It closed its operation in Liverpool shortly after the May 1 ruling.
Debra Lalonde was one of those who lost her job. An official with the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration told her recently that they were unable to collect the severance because Global Empire has no funds or assets in Nova Scotia.
“Come on. Really?” Lalonde says. “How about start protecting employee rights in Nova Scotia so that people living paycheque to paycheque feel protected by the government whose duty is to protect the non-unionized workers that are at risk for abuse from a predatory employer?”
The company says its head office is in Edmonton, so the department asked the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to register the ruling as a judgment of the court.
They then sent that judgement to officials in Alberta to enforce the order on Nova Scotia’s behalf.
Company owner Moe Nashman, however, claims that the company’s assets are in Phoenix, Arizona. So Labour officials say that there are no funds or assets in Nova Scotia or Alberta to collect on.
“No government wants to take accountability when they can’t honour their own legislation, and that’s unfortunate,” Lalonde said.
Lalonde says she and other former employees feel abandoned by the province and the Region of Queens.
Liverpool was the company’s only Canadian location, employing as many as 120 people. It signed a five-year lease with the Region of Queens in December 2021 to move into the municipally owned Business Development Centre.
A Facebook post from the Region of Queens celebrating its lease with Global Empire Corporation.
In late May of this year, a few weeks after the labour board ruling, the municipality hired Global Empire’s former human resources manager.
After Lalonde told two NDP MLAs about the issue at this year’s Labour Day event in Liverpool, Labour critic Paul Wozney raised it in the Nova Scotia legislature with Labour, Skills and Immigration Minister Nolan Young.
“Recent labour board cases involving workers at Global Empire Corporation … show that our Labour Standards Code is outdated and makes it hard for workers to collect wages they’ve rightfully earned,” he said. “If this government is acting quickly to help businesses, why is it ignoring workers unprotected from predatory employers?”
Young responded: “Well, I can’t speak about specifics here on the floor for any specific case, we are working hard. We are. Look, we are working hard for workers. We are out there. We are doing things. Um, yeah, leave it there.”
Wozney replied: “I guess governmenting is hard. The fact is, our current legislation means workers are getting robbed. Despite the labour board ruling in their favour, dozens of people are out thousands of dollars in wages, due to legislation that’s been unchanged for five years under this government’s watch. … Workers need protection from wage theft, and their calls have gone ignored. When will this government update one of the weakest Labour Standards Code in the country to ensure workers actually get paid for the work that they’ve done?”
Lalonde says she’s disappointed that Queens MLA Kim Masland didn’t advocate harder for the employees.
“I have reached out to Minister Masland asking what are our next steps? You know, the government failed in protecting our rights. I haven’t heard back from Minister Masland if there are any any further steps to be taken for the 69 of us to be compensated.”
Masland told QCCR recently that she is “certainly concerned for those employees.”
“Those were earnings and they should be paid. My understanding is that this numbered company which is in a foreign land has gone bankrupt. So I’m not really sure how that is going to be retrieved, but do they deserve to be paid? Absolutely. And the company should have stepped up and paid those employees. But they left in the middle of the night.”
She said the government’s hands are tied.
“You can’t expect the province to pay out every business that goes bankrupt and doesn’t pay its employees. That was a private business, it’s not a government entity, there were no government funds that went into that project, so the business has to step up and find the ability to pay.
“My heart breaks for those folks. … We encourage growth, we encourage business to come to our communities. Sadly a government can’t tell a private business how to run their business.”
Lalonde said Masland’s comments are “typical and disappointing.”
“Actually that’s the first I have heard from her. … I think it’s right on par with the government’s lack of accountability for workers’ rights protection.”
She says that former employees are resigned to never being paid. Most workers were making little more than minimum wage, so they can’t afford to hire a lawyer.
Lalonde says she’s owed about $2,800. She’s contacted Nova Scotia’s ombudsman’s office to see if they can help. But she says the workers have little recourse.
“My next job is just to make sure that I don’t let this go without it being noted that our government did not protect our workers’ rights and unfortunately do not want to take any accountability.”
Jason Scott Rudderham of Hunts Point is wanted by RCMP on a province-wide arrest warrant. (RCMP Nova Scotia)
Queens District RCMP are looking for a Hunts Point man wanted on a province-wide warrant, facing various sex charges.
Jason Scott Rudderham, 50, is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation and exposing his genitals to a person under 14.
Rudderham has brown hair and brown eyes, stands 5-foot-11, and weighs 234 pounds.
RCMP say they’ve made several attempts to find Rudderham and are requesting the public’s help.
Anyone with information on where Rudderham is can call Queens County District RCMP at 902-354-5721. You can also call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Kim Masland is Nova Scotia’s new minister of natural resources. (Rick Conrad/File)
Queens MLA Kim Masland will be taking on a bigger role in the Nova Scotia government.
Premier Tim Houston announced Tuesday that Masland, who is already minister of emergency management, will add Natural Resources to her duties.
Masland had served as minister of public works and Government House Leader in the Houston government’s first term in office. When they were re-elected last November, she was moved to Emergency Management.
Masland takes over the Department of Natural Resources from Tory Rushton, who was bumped from cabinet in Tuesday’s shuffle.
Houston himself will take over the Energy portfolio from Trevor Boudreau, who is also out of cabinet.
“I want to turn Nova Scotia into an energy superpower,” Houston said in a news release.
“Responsible resource development will power our economy for generations, combat poverty and help Nova Scotians earn more money.”
Becky Druhan is the other Tory MLA out of cabinet. She has been replaced as justice minister by Scott Armstrong.
Masland takes over Natural Resources at a time when the department is under increasing scrutiny for its discussions with Cape Breton golf course developer Cabot Links and Cliffs and its bid for part of West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.
Masland’s cabinet colleague Barbara Adams will also add to her portfolios. She will become minister of opportunities and social development in addition to her roles as deputy premier and minister of seniors and long-term care.
Masland has been a longtime supporter of Houston, backing him in his bid for the party leadership in 2017-18. At an event in Liverpool last week, both Masland and Houston talked about their friendship, and Houston praised Masland for her work as minister and MLA.
Two other Progressive Conservative MLAs will join cabinet for the first time. John A. MacDonald will take over Municipal Affairs, while John White will become minister of housing.
The new cabinet will be sworn in later Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony closed to media.
Two children have died after a boat they were in overturned in the West Caledonia area late Saturday afternoon.
RCMP, EHS, fire services and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre responded to a 911 call of a boater in distress in Lake Rossignol just before 5 p.m.
A 45-year-old man and three children from Fall River were in a flat-bottom canoe with a motor when it capsized.
Emergency personnel reached them just before 6:30 p.m., RCMP said, when they were rushed to hospital in a search and rescue helicopter.
The man and one child survived their injuries. The other two children died, RCMP said.
The children were “10 or younger”, RCMP spokeswoman Const. Mandy Edwards said in an interview. Edwards said they’re not releasing any more specifics about the children’s ages.
“There were many challenges involved with the rescue,” she said. “The recent drought levels, the lake was quite low so there were a lot of rocks exposed as well as just trying to locate exactly where in the lake the group was for the rescue efforts. And darkness was falling. This time of year, the evening comes pretty quick.”
Edwards said the man and the children had been using the boat’s motor when it stopped working.
“The weather had changed. The motor stopped working and then they took on water. So they were trying to bail themselves out, but unfortunately, that’s when the boat overturned and that’s when they called 911.”
Edwards said the man tried CPR on the children.
“The man had performed life-saving measures such as CPR and he was attempting CPR when they were recovered. So they were all transported to hospital and it wasn’t until they arrived in hospital when they were pronounced deceased.”
Queens District RCMP are investigating, though Edwards said police don’t suspect foul play at this point.
“They would just be looking to obtain all the information involved, so that could include statements, recovery of the boat involved, just to paint that final picture of what exactly happened and put all the pieces together.”
In a Facebook post, North Queens Fire Chief Chris Wolfe thanked emergency personnel for their quick response.
“The low water and darkness brought us challenges but we managed to do what we set out to do,” he said.
“We also want to send out our condolences to the families affected by this awful tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.”
Region of Queens Mayor Scott Christian speaks to residents before a town hall meeting at the Liverpool Fire Hall on Thursday. (Rick Conrad)
Community safety and downtown development dominated the first of seven town hall meetings held by Queens County councillors.
About 30 people attended the two-hour session at the Liverpool Fire Hall on Thursday evening to hear about council’s plans for the municipality and to ask some questions of their own.
Safety for people of all ages was a big concern.
Some residents said their grandchildren stay away from the Mersey Skatepark at Queens Place Emera Centre because of violence and bullying there.
Others said they were worried about reckless riding of e-scooters and other vehicles on sidewalks.
And the owner of the Subway restaurant said she and her staff are dealing with problems from some students at the neighbouring Queens Adult High School.
Kim Moulton told councillors that her staff regularly witness drug use in front of the restaurant. She said they’ve called the RCMP, who take the students away but then bring them back.
“Most times it’s pretty good. And then sometimes, when the new school year starts it starts over again and then we have to put our foot down,” she said in an interview.
“It’s not a very nice sight to sit and eat your lunch when you have a group of people hanging around loitering, smoking, cursing and swearing, spitting. It’s very unsightly.”
Other people told councillors they’re concerned about the lack of enforcement of e-scooters on sidewalks.
Nova Scotia’s Motor Vehicle Act clearly defines limits on e-scooter use, similar to bicycles. But Mayor Scott Christian said that Queens District RCMP have told the municipality that they can’t do anything about people riding them on sidewalks or recklessly on the road.
“Some of the stuff that was raised here, it’s not safe for pedestrians and it’s intimidating for some pedestrians when they have users on electric vehicles bearing down on them,” Christian said after the meeting.
“We see a lot of youth, a lot of young kids, riding these scooters. They’re going quite quick. A lot of them aren’t wearing helmets. Something I’ve raised to the (RCMP) staff sergeant and they’ve identified as something that they need to do some public education around. When we raise it to them they say the municipality has to do their part and get effective bylaws in place as well.”
According to the Motor Vehicle Act, which the RCMP usually enforce, riders of e-scooters or electric kick scooters are supposed to wear helmets at all times, just like users of bicycles and skateboards. They also must ride on the road or in designated bike lanes.
Municipalities can make their own bylaws governing their use, in addition to what’s in provincial legislation.
Region of Queens councillors held the first of seven town hall meetings Thursday evening. (Rick Conrad)
People also raised concerns about the state of downtown Liverpool.
Sylvia Hurley said much of Main Street looks rundown.
“It needs to be revamped,” she said in an interview after the meeting.
“It needs upgrading, those buildings. I mean, you go downtown and look at the old Stedman building. Just look at it. It’s not attractive. It’s not attractive. The old Scotiabank, not attractive. You know, it’s just not welcoming anymore.
“I was born and brought up here and I remember when on Friday or Saturday night you came into town, and there was no place to stand on the sidewalk and talk because there would be other people standing and talking, and you don’t get that anymore.”
Christian and Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton pointed to council’s recent decision to amend the land use bylaw to allow more residential development downtown, specifically at the old Stedman’s site at 194 Main St.
“Coming up with a winning strategy where we can get more vibrancy in the downtown core, that’s a big priority,” Christian said.
For the first part of the meeting, Christian took people through council’s vision for the municipality and the priorities they plan to work on in four areas – governance, economic development, community wellness and environment and infrastructure.
People were asked to choose one part of each of those areas that was most important to them. They could also write suggestions on Post-It notes. The Top 3 concerns appeared to be transparency and accountability, coming up with an economic development plan, and repairing and replacing aging infrastructure.
Residents said afterward they appreciated the chance to air some of their concerns, though they said they wanted more time to ask questions.
Christian encouraged people to come out to one of the remaining six sessions, to be held over the next week and a half at locations around Queens County.
“I think it’s an opportunity to hear about the direction we’re trying to take the municipality in Queen’s County and then an opportunity to bring your questions forward.
“You want to come out to speak to the issue or ask your question directly to your elected officials, this is your opportunity to do it.”
The town hall meetings are scheduled to run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Here are the dates and locations of upcoming sessions:
The Region of Queens is asking people to restrict their water usage. (Pixabay)
As drought conditions continue throughout Nova Scotia, the Region of Queens is taking its own measures to save water.
The municipality announced Thursday on Facebook that it will no longer be offering bulk water services to fill dry wells or water tanks.
Local fire departments who carried this out have been notified.
The region said the public Cowie Well at 733 Main St. in Liverpool is still open for potable water. And Queens Place Emera Centre has shower facilities available by appointment.
Coastal Queens Place and the West Queens Recreation Centre in Port Mouton also offer potable water and shower facilities.
The municipality is also into its second week of voluntary water restrictions to deal with dropping levels in the Town Lake Reservoir. It has asked its water customers in Liverpool and Brooklyn to limit their usage.
QCCR hosted a session on Thursdy to generate ideas for events on the Liverpool waterfront and elsewhere. (Rick Conrad)
A food truck festival, a chili cookoff and Movies on the Mersey were among the dozens of ideas for Liverpool’s Privateer Park tossed around Wednesday evening at Queens Place Emera Centre.
QCCR hosted a community meeting to generate ideas for more events on the Liverpool waterfront and elsewhere in Queens County.
Station manager Norm Amirault said he wanted to hold the session after seeing some comments on Facebook about people wanting more to do in Privateer Park.
“And honestly, I’d felt that way myself,” he said in an interview. “You have this beautiful park, and you wonder why there aren’t more activities going on there. I always thought if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. … And based on the feedback tonight, there’s a ton of good ideas out there that people really do want to see more activities there.”
About 20 people discussed ideas for a more vibrant waterfront, like holding more seasonal festivals similar to last March’s Light Up Queens Winter Night Festival, more events targeted toward youth, encouraging more performing arts besides music in the park. And there was even talk of a Beatles festival.
Min Smale is the secretary-treasurer of the South Queens Chamber of Commerce. She’s also the chair of the Privateer Days committee, which holds the popular annual festival in the park every June.
She was impressed with people’s ideas.
“I think they’re fantastic, and I think it’s really going to revitalize both the waterfront or Privateer Park as well as some of the smaller, lesser-known venues across Queens.
“I think it was great to see the younger folks come in here and enjoy the conversation. They need to be involved in the music and the entertainment scene here.”
One of those young people was Easton Goodwin. He and some of his high school bandmates were at the event.
“I’m glad I came out tonight. Usually, not a lot of people like me come out to this kind of thing. And it’s such a great opportunity, you know? There’s a lot of voices in Queens County that really need to be heard.”
“We definitely do have some highlights, such as the Astor Theatre, a lot to explore there, but also, you know, a group of teens want to hang out Friday night, where do they go? So, some spots for people to just explore, hang out with friends, and more opportunities for the youth.”
A couple of roadblocks exist in turning the ideas into reality — finding enough funding and volunteers.
Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton told the group that while the municipality can’t fund everything, there could be some money available for certain events.
Amirault said he’ll collect the ideas into some common themes, and then approach some local groups like the chamber to try to get things going.
“Maybe as we talked about bite sized pieces, partnerships, and focus on a few things and do them well. Maybe that’s a reasonable first step.”
La Fecundidad by Salvador Dali will hang in Gallery 244 in Brooklyn on Saturday as part of the Queens Coast Art Tour. Photo courtesy of Sue and Chres Jensen
It’s the third year for the Queens Coast Art Tour and studio rally, but it will be the first year that people will be able to see a piece by Salvador Dali at one of the galleries.
Gallery 244 owners Sue and Chres Jensen bought a signed Dali in September and they plan to display it at their gallery in Brooklyn starting Saturday to coincide with the art tour.
Called La Fecundidad or Fertility, it’s a sterling silver relief from 1977. It’s signed by the Spanish surrealist, weighs just 249 grams, and measures 18 by 24 centimetres.
It was part of a limited run created for American Express as a promotional item for some cardholders.
The couple are in Toronto for six months while Chres awaits surgery. They told QCCR this week that they bought it from their friend Doug Peterson in Burlington, Ont., who has owned it since the ‘70s.
They thought it would be a great way to help promote the art tour and Queens County artists.
“We knew we weren’t going to be there for the art tour and we wanted to send something back to Nova Scotia that would align our artists with a master,” Sue says. “I’m hoping that people come to see it and enjoy the work.”
“It’s kind of a draw like a bit of a fish hook so that people will see a piece by a well-known artist, and that will maybe introduce them to some of the local artists there,” Chres says.
“So that will create some curiosity and some buzz and that’s what we’re hoping to do and hopefully give the art scene in Liverpool and Brooklyn a boost.”
Sue says the piece will be hung differently than other artwork in the gallery. She says they’re not concerned about security.
“It’s gonna be hung in a little different way on the wall, but no, we know where we live and we want people to enjoy seeing it.”
After the art tour, she says they’ll store it in a secure place until next spring when they reopen the gallery.
The back of a piece by Salvador Dali bought by Sue and Chres Jensen of Gallery 244 in Brooklyn. Photo: Sue Jensen
Gallery 244 features work by Chres and other local artists.
He says the Dali, which he estimates is worth around $5,000, will help add to the eclectic nature of their space.
“Our gallery is kind of diverse but we are more contemporary. We have abstract artists and cubist artists. I guess I’d put myself in that category. We try to offer something different to the public. Some people want to have something a little different and more striking in their personal collection of art.”
Sue says their friends have been looking after the gallery for them while they’re in Toronto.
“It’s exciting to give back to the community. The artists and musicians have been watching the gallery for us and working, so it’s just something to send back to them to say thank you.”
The Queens Coast Art Tour is on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the Salvador Dali piece and other work at Gallery 244 in Brooklyn, the tour features artisans at work all over Queens County. You can meet artists in their own workshops or at three public sites – The Astor Theatre, Coastal Queens Place or White Point Beach Resort.
Queens District RCMP are investigating after a body was found in a cabin fire in Queens County. (Vlad Vasnetsov via Pixabay)
Police are investigating a fatal fire near Kempt, Queens County.
Firefighters found human remains inside a cabin on Albany New Road when they were called to a structure fire on Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
They called Queens District RCMP, who say they don’t believe the fire was suspicious. Police have not said how many people may have died in the fire.
RCMP say they continue to investigate, along with the Nova Scotia fire marshal’s office and the medical examiner service.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Queens District RCMP at 902-354-5721, or Crimestoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can also submit a tip at crimestoppers.ns.ca.
Region of Queens councillors on Tuesday voted on a revised plan to develop 194 Main St. in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad)
Region of Queens council have changed course to allow a developer to build apartments on Main Street in Liverpool after all.
At their regular meeting on Tuesday morning, councillors voted unanimously to start the process to amend the municipality’s land use bylaw.
A public hearing will be held on Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. in council chambers about changing the bylaw to allow more ground floor space to be used for residential uses in the downtown commercial zone.
Currently, no more than half of a building’s ground floor can be used for apartments.
Developer Eric Fry approached the region in February to change that rule to allow him to turn all of 194 Main St., commonly known as the old Stedman’s building, into apartments. His original plan was for 16 units, with indoor parking and storage.
In July, councillors rejected changing the bylaw. Fry immediately listed the property for sale.
He returned to the region’s planning advisory committee in August with a new plan that would include two commercial units on the ground floor of the 30,000-square-foot building, in addition to 14 apartments.
His latest proposal is for 18 residential units, four of which would be “hotel suites”, and two Main Street-level commercial units of 300 square feet each. One of those would be a laundromat.
“So given the significant size of the building at 194 Main St., 50 per cent of the ground floor area of the building creates some challenges for the owners of the building,” Director of Land Use Mike MacLeod told councillors.
MacLeod reminded councillors that if the bylaw is changed, it would apply to all property owners in the downtown commercial zone.
“Any proposed amendments would apply not only to the applicant’s property, but would apply to all other owners of property of commercial buildings who want to convert more than 50 per cent of the ground floor area to residential uses.”
Planning advisory committee members originally discussed recommending a minimum depth of 6 metres for commercial space on the ground floor, but settled on 3.66 metres or 12 feet and a minimum floor area of 27.88 square metres or 300 square feet.
The other changes proposed would require that commercial uses extend along the full width of the building facade from its main entrance.
Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton, who is a member of the committee, said PAC members believe the bylaw needs to be more flexible for property owners in the commercial zone.
“There are buildings of significant sizes that make it really challenging to allow for more residential while protecting the commercial area. And so what this does is it protects the Main Street and surrounding streets in those commercial zones or commercial core zones anywhere.
“We do recognize that there are folks beyond this proposal that have an appetite to decrease the size of commercial space. They could put in more residential space, which we feel like is a win-win.”
Under the proposed amendments, the commercial units could not be used as office space by the building owner or manager.
Mayor Scott Christian said after the meeting that the changes would be good for downtown Liverpool.
“We’re hoping to see that generate more investment, because right now we all know that there’s a lot of vacancy and underutilized spaces in the downtown core and there’s also a lot of space that could be repurposed for residential units, which we know there’s a huge demand for. So we’re hoping that we’ve struck a good balance there.”
Christian said the municipality looked at rules in other areas for guidance on the changes. He pointed to Halifax, which encourages businesses to set up as boutique shops in some buildings.
“Like a fishmonger or a small deli or an ice cream shop or a candy shop or small sort of micro retail models,” he said in an interview. “If property owners take advantage of the opportunity to create really small spaces, that micro retail model, which I think could be attractive to our residents and our visitors.”
Christian said he understands if some people might believe the process has been tailored to suit one developer. But he says it’s an issue the community had to tackle.
“That was certainly the impetus or the catalyst to have the conversation, but I’m quite excited about where we’re going to land. I think that if the amendment goes through, I think it’s a step in the right direction, in getting more flexible in the way that folks can use those buildings in the downtown core to make it more vibrant, breathe more life, bring more people into the downtown core.”
In a survey conducted by Halifax consultants UPLAND Planning in July, 18 of 30 respondents said they were fully or somewhat supportive of changing the bylaw.
But 90 per cent of the business owners who responded were against a bylaw change. They said they were concerned about eroding the commercial area.
