Ryan MacLean with UPLAND Planning and Design Studio at a public engagement session in Liverpool in July. (Rick Conrad/File)

The Region of Queens will be looking for outside help for a planned overhaul of some parts of its land use bylaw.

Councillors voted this week to hire an external firm to review the bylaw and municipal planning strategy.

The region passed an extensively reworked bylaw and planning strategy in May 2022. The process cost $140,000 and was led by UPLAND Planning from Halifax. It was also supposed to take 18 months, but ended up taking almost four years because of the pandemic.

The 2022 bylaw changes were controversial, with many residents upset that proposed livestock provisions could prevent many people from raising small numbers of animals on their land.

Mayor Scott Christian said this week that it’s time for a review.

“The municipal planning strategy and land use bylaw, I think, is second only to a budget deliberation as an allocation of the public resources, and setting of the tax rate in terms of the levers that we have available to us as a council to impact our community, impact business owners, impact residents, in terms of the regulations, the protections and regulations, and avenues that residents and businesses have with respect to permitted use of property in our municipality,” Christian said.

“And I think that it’s really important to me that our land use bylaw or municipal planning strategy is reflective of the priorities and the concerns and the direction that this council wants to take the community.”

The land use bylaw returned to council’s radar earlier this year as developer Eric Fry applied to turn the dilapidated former Stedmans building on Main Street in Liverpool into apartments.

Councillors initially rejected his plan because it contained no commercial space. The rules required that at least half of a downtown building’s ground floor be devoted to businesses.

But after Fry threatened to sell the property, councillors relented. They changed the bylaw in late November to allow a modified version of Fry’s plan to go ahead, with two much smaller spaces for commercial use.

The region hired UPLAND to conduct citizen engagement sessions in relation to Fry’s development and proposal to change the bylaw.

Mike MacLeod, the municipality’s director of land use, told councillors at their regular meeting this week that hiring outside consultants would be more efficient, since the region’s staff don’t have the capacity to carry out the review in a timely manner.

“There is considerable work involved in even an interim planning review,” he said. 

“So if staff were to undertake it, the timeframe will be considerably lengthened to complete the review, as well as staff’s ability to carry out the day-to-day operations at the department. We would be very challenged to do it in-house.”

The region has about $50,000 set aside already for future planning review projects. MacLeod said that money could go toward the cost of this review.

Councillors want to create or review regulations regarding

• Commercial uses in residential zones
• Short-term rentals
• Keeping of livestock in residential and rural zones
• Light pollution
• Additional coastal protection measures and climate resilient land use regulations
• Minimum property standards

District 3 Coun. Courtney Wentzell said he was concerned about getting one firm to do all the work.

“I still have some deep concerns about one firm looking after so many different items, and the cost that will be,” he told his fellow councillors.

“And I think of our town hall meetings, and our priorities, where coastal protection and climate resilience is way up there. I didn’t see a whole lot about livestock in our planning meetings and town halls. I think there’s nothing prioritized here, and I am still leery of one contractor looking after all of this.”

MacLeod said that even though an outside company will be hired, staff would still be involved. And he added that professional planning firms are experienced in work like this.

Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton said that the region could rely on lessons learned in other municipalities who have already addressed things like coastal protection.

Councillors will have input on details of the tender before it’s issued. 

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Team Nova Scotia third Jill Brothers in the Page 3 vs 4 game at the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts on the weekend. (Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver Photography)

It was an intense, emotional week of curling at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts for Liverpool native Jill Brothers and Team Nova Scotia.

But they topped it off with a spot on the podium on Sunday.

Brothers is the third on the team skipped by Christina Black. They made it to the semi-final against Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson, losing 9-8, forcing Einarson to make her last shot for the win.

Brothers told QCCR from Thunder Bay on Monday that they were happy with how they battled back during the game. 

“We almost got the steal in the end, so we just kept believing in ourselves that we could make it a really close game and make her throw her last rock.”

It’s their first year together as a team, and Brothers says getting on the podium at the national championship was a big win for them.

“We were having a lot of fun and we just wanted to keep the game really exciting and close. … It’s a long, long week of a lot of focus and concentration and so we were just really happy with our performance.

“At the Scotties, you get a ring if you make it on the podium. So that’s always been a lifelong goal: I want to be on the podium, I want to get a ring.”

But the team also fought through some adversity to get there. Teammate Jenn Baxter’s father died suddenly on Saturday, the day before the semi-final.

“It was a mixture of letting out some tears in between the games and then parking the situation a little bit and just knowing that Jenn and her dad would want us to be out there giving our all. We found the energy to regruop and lean on each other a little bit.”

Rachel Homan’s team repeated as national champions, after their win over Einarson on Sunday.

“They were super kind to us. After they won, they came over to us and just acknowledged the situation we had been in the last couple of days. It was super special that they were so kind and congratulated us and just commended our play in the last couple of games knowing what we had been through.”

Team Nova Scotia entered the tournament in Thunder Bay ranked fourth in the country. And with the bronze medal win on Sunday, they believe they have a chance to be one of the seven teams with an automatic berth in the Olympic trials in Halifax in November.

All team members live in the Halifax area and train together at least four times a week. Some other elite Canadian teams have members scattered in different cities or provinces. Brothers said being in the same city has been a big part of their success so far. 

“There’s no way we’d be where we are without being together this much. … It’s invaluable. And we heard it a lot at the Scotties this year. I don’t know if we have any inspiration for teams to maybe get back to doing it (that way), I guess it feels like an old school way. Like Colleen Jones (and her team), they just all lived in the Halifax area and they were together all the time, just practise, practise practise and that’s how they got their results.”

The 41-year-old has been to the Scotties eight times in her career, as a skip and in other positions. But this is the first time the 2004 Canadian women’s junior champion made it to a senior semi-final.

“I had success at such a young age as skip and you do it for so long that the pressure can kind of wear on you after a while. I’ve skipped for a long time. It’s a position I’m comfortable in, but I like to chat, to communicate, I like to use my strength and sweep. I was so happy to play third for someone who loves to play skip.”

Brothers says she’s keen to get back to work as the technical director for the Nova Scotia Curling Association. But she’s really looking forward to getting home to Bedford and spending time with her husband Paul and their two kids.

Her family was in Thunder Bay for the Scotties, but the kids got sick early in the week, so they missed a lot of it.

“I just really want to spend some time with my kids. I just want to watch my kids plays soccer and go curling and go to dance. That’s my next goal is just to do some work and hang out with the kids.”

Brothers says she’s grateful for all the support from her family and friends and from her hometown of Liverpool.

“My sister lives there, my mom lives there. I’d choose to be there every second weekend if we could. It’s just great to have a special place that I still call home and they’re so supportive.

“A huge shoutout to my husband, Mom that lives in Brooklyn, my mother-in-law that lives in Cole Harbour. They all do so much.

“To have them supporting me to do this is incredible. They’ve always got my back. Even my neighbour, he had to take the kids to school when I flew out to the Scotties. We’ve got so many great people helping us out, so that’s super important.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Pam Lovelace, a former Halifax councillor and mayoral candidate, is the Region of Queens’ new municipal clerk. (Facebook)

The Region of Queens has hired a former Halifax councillor and deputy mayor as its new municipal clerk.

Pam Lovelace also ran unsuccessfully for mayor of the Halifax region in October’s municipal elections.

She placed third behind winner Andy Fillmore and runner-up Waye Mason.

“I am honoured to join the incredible team at Region of Queens Municipality and continue working in municipal government in rural Nova Scotia,” Lovelace said in a Region of Queens news release Monday afternoon. 

Originally from Kentville, Lovelace is a former legislative support clerk in Halifax’s clerks office and a former communications and project manager for the Municipality of East Hants. She is also an instructor in local government at Dalhousie University.

She was elected to Halifax regional council in 2020.

Queens has been searching for a municipal clerk for a while. The clerk is essential to the operation of council and its committees. Lovelace will also be the region’s freedom of information officer. And she will be the main researcher in developing policies and bylaws.

Queens CAO Cody Joudry said in the release that Lovelace is a “high-calibre candidate”.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told reporters Thursday that a $25,000 fine for violating burn restrictions is about preventing more wildfires. (Nova Scotia Government)

With wildfires breaking out in western Canada, Nova Scotia has increased the fine for violating the daily burn restrictions to $25,000.

From March 15 to Oct. 15, daily burn restrictions are in place across the province to help prevent wildfires.

Burning is not permitted anywhere between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. because that is when the wildfire risk is greatest.

Premier Tim Houston told reporters on Thursday that the increased fine is to help prevent the wildfires from happening in the first place. The basic fine for violating burn restrictions is $237.50. The larger fine is in place until the end of wildfire season.

“We encourage all Nova Scotians to check before you burn,” Houston said. “Check the website, reach out to find out what’s the situation in your community. … With the weather changing, the risk increases and we know the experience that we had in this province last year and we are seeing what is happening across the country, significant forest fires across the country. We should do what we can to prepare and encourage prevention.”

Last spring, wildfires in southwestern Nova Scotia and in the Halifax area consumed more than 25,000 hectares and destroyed 200 homes. 

Houston said people should check the province’s BurnSafe map every day to check the restrictions in their area.

The daily burn restrictions also now apply to campgrounds. Open fires like campfires are permitted only after 2 p.m. when the BurnSafe map is green or after 7 p.m. when the map is yellow. Those are the same standards for open fires in people’s backyards.

The province increased the fine to $25,000 last year when the Nova Scotia wildfires were still burning. Houston said Thursday he’s confident that if somebody violates the burning restrictions, they will be fined.

“So the enforcement is there. We’re serious about preparation, we’re serious about prevention. I would personally push for if anyone ignores the burn ban, I want them charged for sure.”

So far this year, crews have responded to 41 wildfires across the province that have burned about 39 hectares.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

A second water main break at the Halifax Infirmary site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre has left the hospital without running water. (Wikipedia)

Nova Scotia’s biggest hospital has no running water for a second day in a row, as a second water main break occurred at the Halifax Infirmary overnight Wednesday.

That means the Infirmary, Veterans Memorial Building, Abbie J. Lane and the power plant have no running water for flushing toilets or drinking. 

It’s affecting services at multiple sites at the QEII Health Sciences Centre complex and beyond. 

Patients with surgeries at the Infirmary, the Victoria General and Dartmouth General hospitals may have their procedures rescheduled. Nova Scotia Health says emergency and time-sensitive surgeries will go ahead.

Outpatient blood collection at the Infirmary site is closed for Thursday. Patients can go to the Bayers Road blood collection facility.

The Infirmary’s emergency department is open but patients are being asked to visit another site if their issue isn’t an emergency.

Nova Scotia Health says patients with other scheduled appointments Thursday will be contacted to relocate, reschedule or offer a virtual option. And visitors and support people for patients at the Halifax Infirmary site will be limited.

Officials are working on the problem. Portable hand-washing stations and portable washrooms are available. And bottled water is on site.

Workers with Nova Scotia Health had been fixing the original water main break in the steam plant on Wednesday, when the second one occurred.