Region of Queens councillors have granted a funding request from the Brooklyn Recreation Committee. (File photo by Rick Conrad)
The Brooklyn Recreation Committee, which operates the Brooklyn Community Hall, the Hank Snow playground and Brooklyn Waterfront Park, has been given a grant of almost $6,000 to finish work on the hall.
At their Sept. 23 meeting, councillors unanimously approved a request from the society from the Community Investment Fund for fixing trim, walls and drywall as well as painting the whole interior of the building.
The group had asked for $8,976 under the fund’s capital investment portion. But councillors accepted a staff recommendation for $5,999.71 in funding.
The recreation committee said it needed help to pay for the final work after completing significant upgrades like new windows and heat pumps.
The region charges Brooklyn residents an area rate on behalf of the non-profit society. That rate is expected to generate $49,761 in revenue in 2026 to help with maintenance of the playground, park, hall and the cemetery in Brooklyn.
Before the request, $71,000 was left in the region’s Community Investment Fund to fund eligible applications.
“Accounting best practice would not normally consider painting and the repairing of trim a capital expense, however, it could be considered the final phase of the capital work that has taken place over the last year involving conservable investment in the hall and remediation of some damage caused by the installation,” according to the staff report from Steve Burns, community economic development officer.
District 4 Coun. Vicki Amirault declared a conflict and did not vote on the matter.
Horse pull at Queens County Fair. File photo: Doreen Holdright
Eleven community groups have been granted more than $62,000 from the Region of Queens community investment fund.
Non-profit groups from Queens County can apply to the $175,000 fund each year to help offset operational, capital, event, training or travel expenses.
The groups approved for $62,216 in operational funding this week represent only the first stage of grants from the fund. Steve Burns, the region’s community economic development officer, told council that they were time-sensitive.
Any requests from the community investment fund higher than $1,000 have to be approved by council.
Burns said council will be asked to vote on more funding requests now that their 2025-26 budget is approved.
Groups can apply to three different streams for operational funding: up to $10,000 annually if they own their own facility or are in a long-term lease and their programs or services are well-established and open to the general public; up to $5,000 to help community organizations that offer year-round programs or services to Queens County residents and up to $1,000 for groups that offer new, expanded or seasonal programs.
Community groups must submit financial statements, including their current bank balance, what the money will be used for and any other funding sources.
Here is a rundown of what each group received:
CJQC Radio Society, which operates QCCR, for eligible operating expenses up to $5,000
South Shore Flying Club up to $6,047
Friends of Hank Snow Society up to $10,000
Medway & Area Heritage Society up to $2,267.50
South Queens Chamber of Commerce up to $3,750
Mersey Band Society up to $3,121
Milton Canoe & Camera Club up to $2,030.50
Carroll Baker Society up to $5,000
Queens County Fair Association up to $10,000
Seaside Recreation & Community Centre up to $5,000
Darlene Norman, mayor of Region of Queens. Photo Credit: Darlene Norman
By Rick Conrad
Voters in the Region of Queens may be able to cast a ballot online in October’s municipal election.
Mayor Darlene Norman says she’s confident the region will be able to introduce electronic voting as an option this year.
Councillors asked CAO Cody Joudry at their first meeting of 2024 to prepare a report on the feasibility and costs of introducing electronic voting to Queens, while keeping the traditional paper ballot.
“I expect the cost to come back much more than pure paper voting, but it may not,” Norman said in an interview after the meeting.
“But a combination (of voting options) would be good. … Younger people say that it’s the thing that we need, but it would be interesting to do it.”
Twenty of 49 Nova Scotia municipalities offered an electronic voting option in 2020. Elections Nova Scotia used electronic ballots in the July byelection in Preston. And it plans to allow e-voting in the 2025 provincial election.
District 3 Coun. Maddie Charlton said it’s time that Queens offers an electronic option in addition to the traditional ballot, to make it easier for people to make their choice.
“I think it’s important for us to move forward with this.”
District 6 Coun. David Brown said it would also help encourage people in more rural areas of the municipality to vote.
“With our widespread rural areas, it’s hard for people to get out to the polling station. Having the electronic option will get more people involved.”
The Kiwanis Club of Liverpool is closer to taking over the canteen at Queens Place Emera Centre.
The region would lease the facility to the club for one year rent-free. The club would be responsible for ensuring food safety and insurance compliance. Kiwanis volunteers would operate it along with members of the Queens County Blades and the Queens County Minor Hockey Association.
The three organizations would share proceeds from concessions sales.
Because of the Christmas holidays, staff couldn’t have a final agreement ready for councillors to review at their Tuesday meeting. They voted to wait until they see the contract before giving their final approval.
David Schofield, president of the Kiwanis Club of Liverpool, said Tuesday that his group is excited about running the canteen.
“I think it’s a good opportunity not just for the Kiwanis Club but also for the figure skating club and Queens County minor hockey who we’ve asked for their support as well, because we don’t have enough volunteers in our organization to do it. … A lot of people have made comments about not having a canteen available (at Queens Place), so I think it’s win-win-win-win.”
Steve Burns, manager of events, promotions and sponsorships, told councillors that it would likely take a couple of weeks after the contract is signed to get all the necessary permits in place for the Kiwanis club to take over.
District 6 Coun. David Brown asked staff for recommendations to address the problem.
He said the 40 so-called “grey box” sites on private roads throughout the county consume half of the region’s garbage collection budget.
“These are places that have large tax revenues for us that we don’t provide a lot of services for,” Brown said. “And nobody wants to see a mountain of garbage every time they drive into beautiful, pristine wilderness.”
Mayor Darlene Norman says it is a “huge problem”.
“And people in the Labelle and Molega area, some people are paying $10,000 property tax out there for no services. It is an issue that has to be dealt with.”
Councillors asked staff to prepare an inventory on burnt out streetlights in the region, and press Nova Scotia Power to fix them more quickly.
District 1 Coun. Kevin Muise said many residents have complained that several streetlights haven’t been working in some areas for up to three months. He’s concerned about safety for motorists and pedestrians.
There are six streetlights out on Shore Road in Mersey Point alone, council heard. Many are out for longer than the 60-day service guarantee.
Nova Scotia Power is supposed to maintain the lights, but the region pays for them, even when they don’t work, Norman said.
“We are paying for a tremendous amount of street lights which are burnt out.”
