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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2011-10_MunicipalInsight-compressed “keeping informed about your municipal government” Fall 2011 The cooler weather is a nice break for the Public Works crew as they continue to work on their top projects for the year. In the Municipal Budget section of the last newsletter, we mentioned some of the main priorities for the Public Works Department this fiscal year. Since then, they have been busy checking things off the list, and we have an update on their progress. New Ross Wastewater System Upgrade Before designing a new sewer treatment system for New Ross, we investigated causes for the excessively high amounts of fresh water entering our existing system. We located sources - such as improperly connected service laterals and leaking manholes - and completed most of the repairs. Now, we are monitoring the current flow and weather in preparation for the new system to be designed for next year. Chester Wastewater Treatment Plant The clarifier, which separates solids from liquids for treatment, was rehabilitated to further extend the life of the plant and improve operation. The work was tendered in February 2011, awarded to ABCO, and completed in June. The clarifier was cleaned and some steel components were replaced with stainless steel parts. The fence will also be replaced. Wastewater System Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program Inflow and infiltration is surface water that enters the central sewer system. Surface water is costly and unnecessary to treat, but ends up being processed in our plants because of leaky manholes and pipes, sump pumps, roof drains, etc. This preventative maintenance project will reduce the amount of surface water in our sys- tem, thus minimize equipment wear and tear. To date, we fixed 18 manholes in Western Shore and made various repairs to the New Ross system. We will continue with manhole maintenance as well as make some repairs in Mill Cove. We also plan to perform sewer main cleaning and videoing in the various communities which contain central systems. Mill Cove Well Decommissioning Because well placement is based on separation distances from other infrastructure, existing sewer, water and roads were mapped. Several locations for wells were proposed, and we are in the process of verifying the locations with Nova Scotia Environment. Phase One of this project is to tender and install wells this fall. The second phase is to install pumps and switch customers over to private wells, which will be done in the coming spring. Duke Street Sidewalk The new sidewalk, stretching from Valley to Regent Street, is designed and put out for tender. It is expected that the first 100 m of sidewalk will be installed this fall. Wharf Assessments Assessments were carried out on the Western Shore and Chester Basin wharves. These assessments will determine the levels of use permitted on each wharf as well as provide direction on maintenance. More information will be available after Council reviews the report and recommendations. Street Light Inventory Employees have begun mapping and assessing the condition and effectiveness of streetlights throughout the Municipality. Backup Power for Main Lift Station We expect to begin design of this system in the winter for installation next summer. Update on Public Works main projects Eugene Graves (left), Derek Peterson (right), and Justin Moore (top), repair one of the many aging manholes in the municipal sewer system. also inside…  SO, WHERE DO I CALL FOR… (pg. 3)  CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT (pg. 7)  TAX FACTS (pg. 2)  NOISE BY-LAW (pg. 3)  WASTE COLLECTION (pg. 4)  FREE ADVERTISING (pg. 5)  CAN YOU SAVE $$$ WITH THESE PROGRAMS? (pg. 7) Opening doors See page 5 to see how a new program can have a life- changing effect for some. The courage to care Volunteering for fire services doesn’t just mean carrying a hose. Learn about the opportunities, challenges, and rewards that are available to you on page 8. 2 Frequently Asked Questions Q: When do I need a building permit? A: For new construction of any structure exceeding 215 sq’, renovations over $5,000 and any and all structural work. Please call the Building Department at (902) 275-3080 prior to starting any projects to see if a permit is required. Q: Who is responsible to check to see if I need a permit? A: Ultimately, it is the homeowners responsibility to ensure all required permits are obtained. Please note, you may require other permits depending on your project and property location. Q: Who calls to arrange inspections of the building? A: You and your contractor, if you have one, should discuss and arrange this matter prior to beginning construc- tion. It is important that inspections are carried out when required. Q: Can my contractor apply for a building permit on my behalf? A: Yes, your contractor can act as your agent and make application on your behalf. However, it is important to note, as the homeowner, you should have a clear understanding with your contractor as to what you require her/ him to do on your behalf. Be certain that all necessary permits are in place prior to commencing construction. Building permits, competent building practices, and professional builders ensure a minimum building standard. A system of permit approvals and inspections are used to make certain these minimum standards are achieved. Happy Building! www.chester.ca visit us for updates 2 Final Tax Bills went out in the mail on September 12, 2011, and as always, you can call the Administration Department at (902) 275-3554 if you have any questions or comments. Property taxes fund a great deal of the Municipality’s operational and capital costs as well as some Provincial services. To view a copy of this fiscal year’s budget, please visit www.chester.ca and look in the Document Library found und er the “Resources” tab. Or, visit the Municipal Office at 151 King Street, Chester, and request a copy. Some things you should know about your tax bill...  The due date is November 15, 2011.  Please check your bill closely, and if your mailing address or civic address is incorrect, notify us immediately. You can call (902) 275-3554, fax (902) 275-4771, or email administration@chester.ca  When making inquiries or payments at our office, please have your Municipal Account Number ready. You can find the account number on the right side of your bill, partway down in the box titled “Description and Municipal Account Number”.  You can now view your account(s) online at anytime. To sign up for this service, please call our office at (902) 275-3554, and we will be pleased to walk you through the steps.  To qualify for the Municipal Tax Exemption this year, the total household income from all sources must be $19,000.00 or less, and you must be a full-time resident of the Municipality. If you qualify and have not applied, please come to the office and we will fill out the application form. Proof of income must be provided, so bring your Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada for 2010.  If you have questions regarding the assessment on your account, please contact Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC) at 1-800-380-7775. This is the organization responsible for determining the value of your property, not the Municipality. Therefore, PVCS is better equipped to respond to your questions and concerns regarding your property’s assessment. W ith the turn of the seasons, summer, such as it was, has drawn to a close, and we can now start all of those projects that were on hold. As always, with construction comes the need for permits. We are happy to assist you with obtaining any permits and are available for questions about the Building Code. The Building Department:  issues permits for all residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings constructed, altered, relocated, or demolished in the Municipality.  has contact information for agencies and other departments you may be required to gain approval from prior to a building permit being issued.  conducts inspections to ensure Building Code requirements are met during specific stages of construction. Chester Municipal Building Department Got a fall construction project? The Building Department can help. it’s in the mail... 3 The issue of noise has become somewhat of a ‘hot potato’ within the Municipality over the last few months. The good news is that, despite the recent economic downturn, local businesses that are involved with events and functions seem to be doing good trade, and events such as Chester Race Week and the Opti Jam have been as successful as ever, if not more -so. The bad news is that the increase in these kinds of events, and the resulting rise in visitors to the area, can have a direct impact upon local residents in terms of increased noise and disturbance into the early hours of the morning. The Municipality is all too aware of the need to balance the rights of residents to a peaceful and quiet life with the needs of local businesses to satisfy the growing demand for social event locations and the like. After all, Chester is a beautiful area. That’s why we choose to live here, so who can blame someone for wanting to be married here? We are looking at the current Noise By-law to see if it can be amended to better serve the needs of all those involved. In the meantime, if you are planning an event, please be aware of the current noise regulations and respect your neighbours by making sure that noise is kept to a minimum after 11:00 pm. You may obtain a copy of the current Noise By-law from the Municipal office, or download one from www.chester.ca. If you would like to talk about the current noise by-law, or have any constructive suggestions for amendments, I would be only too happy to hear from you, so please give me a shout! Oh, hang on a minute.... GETTING VOCAL ABOUT NOISE By Dave Brettell, By-law Enforcement Officer New to the Municipality?? Call (902) 275-3554 for a welcome package 3 QUICK REFERENCE INFORMATION SHEET Other ways to contact us: fax mail email 902-275-4771 151 King Street administration@chester.ca publicworks@chester.ca P O Box 369 building@chester.ca recreation@chester.ca Chester NS B0J 1J0 planning@chester.ca info@KaizerMeadow.ca If you have questions about… call this Department at... this number Animal Control (Dogs) Animal Control Officer 277-0017 Boat Launches Recreation & Parks Dept 275-3490 Building Permits/Inspections Building/Fire Inspection Dept 275-3080 By-Laws By-Law Enforcement Officer 277-1589 Composting Public Works/Solid Waste 275-1312/275-2330 Council Meetings Administration/Tax Dept 275-3554 Derelict Vehicle Program Public Works 275-1312 Fire Inspections Building/Fire Inspection Dept 275-3080 Islands (use of) Recreation & Parks Dept 275-3490 Kaizer Meadow Solid Waste Department 275-2330 Municipal Sewer Public Works Department 275-1312 Municipal Sewer After Hours Emergencies 1-888-664-6998 Parks/Trails Recreation & Parks Dept 275-3490 Planning Areas Planning Department 275-2599 Public Works (Municipal) Public Works Department 275-1312 Recycling Public Works/Solid Waste 275-1312/275-2330 Taxes Administration/Tax Dept 275-3554 Waste Collection Public Works/Solid Waste 275-1312/275-2330 Wharves Public Works Department 275-1312 Zoning Planning Department 275-2599 Municipal Districts and Councillors #1 Part of East Chester, East River, Blandford Marshal Hector 228-2881 #2 Hubbards, Fox Point, Mill Cove Floyd Shatford 857-9817 #3 Village of Chester and part of Old Trunk #3 Brad Armstrong 275-3121 #4 Chester Basin, Chester Grant, Lower Grant Allen Webber 275-2536 #5 Martin’s Point, Western Shore, Gold River Robert Myra 627-2470 #6 Seffernsville, New Ross, Forties, Leville Cheryl Scott 689-2535 #7 Windsor Road, Robinson’s Corner, Sherwood Sharon Church-Cornelius 275-2281 Provincial Contacts Department of Environment ............................................... 543-4685 Labour ......................................................... 543-0665 Natural Resources ....................................... 634-7555 Public Health ............................................... 543-0850 Transportation (Bridgewater) ..................... 543-8169 Transportation (Marriott’s Cove) ................ 275-3221 Property Valuation Services (Assessments) ..... 543-2267 MLA Denise Peterson-Rafuse ...............1-877-740-3378 857-3378 MP Gerald Keddy ..................................1-888-816-4446 527-5655 4 Need a green cart? Backyard composter? Kitchen mini-bin? Call Kaizer Meadow at 275-2330 or Public Works at 275-1312. 4 GREEN CART CLEANING SERVICE We have received many calls in the past inquiring about green cart cleaning services in our area. Unfortunately, we do not know of anyone who does this. If this is a business venture that you are considering or that you already do, please contact the Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre at 275-2330. Using clear bags doesn’t only apply to garbage placed at the curbside for collection. It also applies to waste brought to the Landfill for disposal. Haulers and residents can bring one black bag plus five clear bags for garbage as well as up to ten bags/bundles or recyclable material per household. If you have questions, please call 275-2330. SPECIAL COLLECTION The next special collection is from October 17 to 28. Your items will be collected on your regularly scheduled collection day during this week. ITEMS FOR SPECIAL COLLECTION INCLUDE:  LARGE APPLIANCES, such as stoves, dishwashers, and clothes dryers. NOTE: Appliances containing Freon (eg. freezers, fridges, air conditioners, dehumidifiers) MUST be taken directly to Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre for disposal even if the Freon and door are removed.  METALS, such as hot water tanks, small car parts, and lawnmowers with gas removed. Please keep metal items apart from other collection items.  FURNITURE and mattresses.  BUILDING MATERIALS like odd pieces of wood, insulation, siding.  REMEMBER! Electronics must go to Adam’s Bottle Exchange in Gold River or brought to the Landfill. Items should not exceed 22.68 kg (50lb) in weight, 1.22m (4’) in length (except furniture), and 1.3 cubic metres (46 cubic feet) in volume (which equals approximately the volume of 12 full bags of garbage). Small items should be boxed to avoid being left at the curb. COLLECTION FOR LEAF AND YARD WASTE Leaves in CLEAR, PLASTIC BAGS will be collected from November 14 to 26 on your regularly scheduled day. Special leaf collection is the only time clear, plastic bags can be used to bag leaves. During regular collection, yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, garden trimmings) can go in your green cart. If your green cart is full, you can put up to three paper or compostable bags alongside your green cart each collection. DO NOT put branches in a bag. Please tie them in 3’ long bundles and place them alongside your green cart OR place them inside your green cart if they do not exceed 2” in diameter or stick out of the top. This family of Canada Geese built their nest at the lagoon at Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre this past spring. QUICK TIPS  The tip fee for residential shingles is free whether the weight exceeds 1500 pounds or not.  Household hazardous waste brought to the Landfill MUST be labeled with what’s in the container.  We chip all of our clean wood to use as fuel at Brooklyn Energy. We cannot use dirty wood because it pollutes the air when consumed. Dirty wood is wood with paint, preservatives or other chemicals on it. Clean wood and dirty wood has to be sorted when it’s brought to the Landfill.  Please be cautious when visiting the Landfill. There is wildlife and heavy equipment around the site. 5 5 Non-profit community groups within the Municipality of the District of Chester can have their events listed FREE-of-charge in the Progress Bulletin newspaper by submitting a brief description of the event (in writing) to the Municipality of Chester Recreation & Parks Department. The submission deadline is 12 noon on the second last Tuesday of each month. Send your event information... Hunting is a popular, outdoor activity in Nova Scotia every fall. When using the trail during hunting season, there’s a few t hings you might like to know:  Hunting and trapping are NOT permitted on the trail. Also, regulations state that, “No person shall have in their possession or discharge a loaded firearm or bow” on the trails.  Trail users are encouraged to wear brightly colored clothing (hunters orange is best) when using the trails during hunting season.  General open season for deer hunting is from October 28 to December 3; however, trail users should be in the habit of dressin g appropriately during the fall and winter as other seasons, such as rabbit hunting, extend beyond the deer hunting season. To report illegal hunting and/or trapping, please call your local Department of Natural Resources office or call 1-800-565-2224. Hunting Season on the Chester Connection & Aspotogan Trails Canadian Tire Jumpstart Adapted Recreation Equipment Loan Program off to a great start Taking a walk along the trail, ice skating at the rink, and biking through town are all recreational activities most of us can enjoy. However, for some, due to a physical disability or an injury, these activities are difficult or impossible. The Lunenburg Queens Recreation Coordinators/ Directors Association (LQRCDA) is a group of recreation professionals that want to make these activities accessible for everyone. They have started a service called the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Adapted Recreation Equipment Loan Program. LQRCDA Chair, Chad Haughn, says, “Recreation is such a vital part of everyone’s life, and we feel this program will provide opportunities to those who maybe thought they could never swim at the beach, ride a bike or skate at their local arena.” The program was launched in September and the equipment has already been borrowed by several families. Some of the equipment available includes adapted trikes or modified three-wheeled bicycles, sledges for the ice, hippocampes for rough terrain and water, and adapted wheels for wheelchairs and bicycles. Borrowing the equipment is easy. All you have to do is call the Recreation & Parks Department at 275-3490, book the piece of equipment you want, and make arrangements to pick it up. A piece of equipment can be borrowed for up to two weeks. There is a $15.00 rental charge which is used for the maintenance and upkeep of the equipment. Recreation Department Helps Increase Opportunities by Investing in Equipment “... we feel this program will provide opportunities to those who maybe thought they could never swim at the beach, ride a bike or skate at their local arena,” says LQRCDA Chair, Chad Haughn Municipal Building 151 King Street Room 212, Chester 151 King Street PO Box 582 Chester NS B0J 1J0 recreation@chester.ca (902) 275-3630 IN PERSON BY EMAIL BY MAIL BY FAX Mary Ellen Shatford, Executive Director of Through the Years Day Care and Community Centre, shares a joyful moment with Carter Seaboyer, Day Care Student. 6 You may recall that the Municipality introduced some changes to the Dog By- law earlier this year. The biggest of these changes is the introduction of regulations governing boarding and breeding kennels, as well as in-home boarding or ‘doggie day cares’. All of these businesses now need to be licensed and inspected annually. The annual inspection ensures that the minimum standards recommended for kennels by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association are met, and the license will attest to this. If you own a kennel, provide an in-home boarding service, or breed and sell puppies, you must apply for a license. The licensing period runs from January 1st through to December 31st. You can obtain a license application form by either calling the Municipal Office, downloading the Kennel License Policy #P68 at www.chester.ca, or contacting me at 902- 277-1589 or dbrettell@chester.ca A REMINDER FOR KENNELS, BREEDERS AND BOARDERS Civic numbers need to be posted in PUBLIC PLACES Churches, hotels, stores, wharves, cottage/house rentals, bed & breakfasts, restaurants, bakeries, parks, beaches, trails, markets, garden centers, skate parks, hairdressers, laundromats, rental shops, garages, gas stations, lumber mills, etc. - all of these places have a responsibility to the general public to post their civic number. When a 911 call is made, emergency responders most often rely on a map to find their way to the emergency. These maps only show points (dots) for civic numbers and lines for roads and community boundaries. There are no names or identification of buildings on these maps. The local community may know where a business is located and its name, but “out-of-towners” may not. Sometimes, even employees don’t know the civic number of the business where they work – employers need to make sure everyone is aware of the civic address. Landlords must let their tenants know the correct civic address to use in an emergency. Someone renting a cottage, who is not from our area, may not know how to give directions to the cottage. A civic number should be posted at the end of the driveway as well as in a visible place near a telephone. Please make sure that everyone who comes through your door is as safe as possible. Is there a liability factor? Ask your insurance company! By Dave Brettell, By-law Enforcement Officer All by-laws are available to the public. Visit www.chester.ca or call 902-275-3554 for a copy. 6 With the coming heating season, have your furnaces serviced, wood stoves and chimneys cleaned, and check your smoke alarms for proper operation. Woodburning Tips  Inspect chimneys annually and clean as necessary. This reduces the risk of fires and carbon monoxide poisonings due to creosote buildup or obstructions.  Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the chimney top. A chimney cap helps to keep debris out of the chimney and deters animals.  Choose well-seasoned firewood for burning in wood stoves or fireplaces. Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood in your fireplace or stove.  Never use flammable liquid to ignite your fire.  Do not store combustible material too close to the fireplace or wood stove.  Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and check batteries in the spring and fall. REMEMBER to have unscheduled fire drills with your family. Have a Fire Safe Fall Season 7 Want to do your school project on municipal government? Call us at 902-275-3554. 7 Weather is a common topic around dinner tables, and even at the local coffee shop. It’s common to hear people talking about how mild the winters have become or how wet the summers are in recent years. While some of this is a result of the normal weather cycles, some of it is due to a change in our climate. In Nova Scotia, with many of our residents living in coastal areas, one of the biggest concerns related to climate change is sea level rise. According to the Province of Nova Scotia, sea level in Nova Scotia rose 25 cm in the last 100 years and it is likely to rise another 60 cm in the next 100 years. With 7600 km of coastline, much of Nova Scotia is vulnerable to rising sea levels (Nova Scotia Department of Environment. Toward a Greener Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Action Plan, 2009). By 2013, all Nova Scotia municipalities are required to finish a planning process for adapting to climate change. In order to know how we are going to adapt to climate change, we first need to identify our most vulnerable areas. The Municipality is collaborating with Dalhousie University Marine Affairs program, the Nova Scotia Department of Environment, and two private sector consultants to do a study to identify vulnerable features and areas in our coastal region. The project got underway in September and runs through to March 2012. A grant provided by Climate Change Adaptation Fund through the Department of Environment will fund the majority of the project. REBATE PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS HOW IS THE MUNICIPALITY PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE? PROGRAM DESCRIPTION CONTACT Environmental Home Assessment Program Homeowners receive a water and wastewater assessment for their property; $50 rebate on septic tank pumping; water quality sampling kit; water saving devices; samples of environmentally friendly cleaners; and a home oil tank system checklist Bluenose Coastal Action Fund Office toll free at 1-866-551 -5586 to book an appointment or email Bruce Josselyn at bruce@coastalaction.org for more information The Heating Assistance Rebate Program Single people with an income of $27,000 or less and households with an annual income of $42,000 or less qualify for a $200 rebate. 1-800-670-4357 or forms online at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/ access under “For Individuals” Your Energy Rebate If you paid HST on your residential use energy purchase and the rebate was not deducted from your bill, you have 24 months from the date of purchase to apply for your rebate. Property Tax Rebate for Seniors 50% rebate on the municipal property taxes paid the previous year, up to a maximum of $600.00 per year. To be eligible for this program, you must have received either the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance in January of this year, live in your home when you apply for the rebate and continue to reside in your home, and your previous year’s property taxes are paid in full. EnerGuide for Existing Homes Efficiency Nova Scotia offers rebates for space and water heating efficiency measures such as drain water heat recovery units; solar water heating systems; adding insulation to attic, walls, or basement; replacing old windows and doors with ENERGY STAR® models; air sealing and weather stripping windows and doors; low-flush toilets; and heat pumps. 1-877-999-6035 The ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program The maximum federal grant is $5,000 for applications since April 2007. If you participated before April 1, 2011, and have not received the maximum amount for your current property, you can submit one more application for additional improvements after June 6, 2011. Owners of multiple dwellings and MURBs could receive up to $1,000,000. Register with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/register and receive a registration number. If you do not have Internet access, you can call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). PerformancePlus Build with energy saving measures, get a rating, and save money. Rebates are paid once the home has received its final EnerGuide rating following final inspection and a blower door test. To be eligible for any rebates, the completed home must have a final EnerGuide rating of at least 83. Cost to enroll is $250 plus HST. 1-877-999-6035. Low Income Homeowner Program If you qualify, an Energy Advisor will conduct a free home-energy assessment to determine what free upgrades will help your home. This can include insulation, water heater wraps, lighting, programmable thermostats and more. 1-877-434-2136. Solar Heating Rebate A $1,250 rebate on residential solar domestic water heating systems and/or a $500 rebate on residential solar air heating systems. Call Efficiency Nova Scotia for eligibility requirements or to apply. www.efficiencyns.ca 1-877-999-6035. First-Time Home Buyers Rebate Rebate is equivalent to 18.75% of the provincial portion of the HST or 1.31% of the purchase price of capital stock in a housing cooperative, up to $1,500, on newly built homes. Deadline is 24 months from date of sale or date of occupancy permit. 1-800-670-4357 Call for eligibility requirements Tax Rebates on Motor Vehicles Rebates are available on taxes paid on a motor vehicle purchased by/ for an individual who has lost the use of both lower limbs. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Tax Rebate on Computer A rebate equal to the provincial component of the HST is available on a computer purchased by/for a person who is physically, visually or hearing impaired or mentally challenged. Tax Rebate on a Heritage Property A rebate equal to the provincial component of the HST is available to persons purchasing building materials for the repair, improvement or restoration of the exterior of a Heritage Property used for non- commercial purposes. 8 JOIN A GREAT TEAM Help your neighbors and community as a volunteer first responder Our volunteer first responders in the fire departments in Hubbards, Blandford, Chester, Chester Basin, New Ross, Western Shore, and Martin's River are our District’s first line of emergency response. Our members respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year long. They are extraordinary people who volunteer their time every day. People just like you! What are some of the challenges in the fire and emergency services? We see a declining and aging population in many of our communities and an increasing movement to major cities. Our society is changing as we see more demands on our time from family and in our workplace. Our volunteer fire service faces challenges in maintaining sufficient membership to meet a growing demand for emergency services. What are the benefits to our communities? Last year, our volunteers responded to over 600 emergency calls. If it were not for our dedicated volunteers, it would be very difficult to maintain an effective emergency response system; placing our businesses, residents and visitors at higher risk. Would you like a rewarding volunteer activity as a first responder? Time is valuable, but so is a strong and safe community. By volunteering some of your time as a member of our fire departments, you can help individuals who are important to you: family, friends, co-workers, neighbours, and citizens in your community. How can I be successful as a volunteer firefighter or medical first responder? You need courage, dedication and a willingness to learn new skills and conquer new challenges. Successful completion of basic firefighting training is required. If you are considering serving as a medical first responder, Emergency Health Services has training and registration requirements. Being conscientious, physically fit, dependable and having the greatest respect for your team and the members of the community are important values of our volunteers. Can I help in other non-operational areas of the emergency services? Yes, not all members are required to answer emergency calls. It takes a complete team to help our community. Instead of medical first responder or firefighter, consider joining our departments in other capacities, such as radio communications; fundraising; public education; equipment, building and vehicle maintenance; administrative support, etc. Besides responding to emergencies, how else will I contribute? In addition to responding to emergency calls, you will normally attend training sessions and department meetings. From time to time you may be called on to serve on a special committee such as health and safety or assist in fire prevention and department fundraising events. How will I be trained? You will be trained to deal safely and effectively with emergency situations ranging from structure fires, medical assist calls, ice and water rescues, hazardous chemical spills and more. Our medical first responders receive advanced medical first response training enabling them to effectively deal with the sick or injured. What are some benefits as a volunteer? When asked, most people tell you they are volunteering to contribute to the safety and quality of life in their community, to help people and to give back to their community. First and foremost is the reward of personal satisfaction from helping others in time of their greatest need. Our organizations provide our volunteers with a sense of belonging, achievement, responsibility, self respect and value. There is the opportunity to make new lifelong friendships and grow personally and professionally through learning new skills and developing new relationships within your community. The provincial and federal governments, in recognition of the great efforts and services provided by our fire service volunteers, provide other benefits as well. These include the cost of vehicle registrations, life insurance, and various income tax credits. Do I need to be available to respond to emergency calls at all times? No. We realize that your family and work come first. It is well understood that there will be times when a volunteer is unavailable to answer a call. I am still in school. Can I join the Fire Department? Yes. Most of our departments have active Junior Firefighter programs offering opportunities to our youth as young as 14 years of age. We strive to provide the youth of our communities with a positive experience in volunteer service to their community. Have the courage to care... contact us TODAY! Volunteering as a firefighter, a medical first responder or in a fire department support function is a rewarding and life-changing experience for men and women. If you have a sincere desire to help others in their greatest moments of need and have the satisfaction when your skills are used to save a life or home, volunteering some of your time for the emergency services is a good idea. There is a sense of pride, accomplishment and community spirit knowing that you are a part of a volunteer team dedicated to excellence and community service. We urge you to please visit our Fire and Emergency Services website (www.chester.ca) to find out more information on each of our district fire departments. Or, please contact Bruce Blackwood, Fire Services Coordinator at 902-275-1312 or by email at bblackwood@chester.ca We will be most pleased to assist you and provide more information on volunteering for the Fire and Emergency Services.