HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-07_MunicipalInsight (2)-compressedIn the Municipality of the District of Chester this summer...
Voting is so "in" right now... COVID-19 Resources Trails are pretty awesome...
The Municipal Election Page 3 lists some recent Let's keep them that
will be on October 17. resources for residents. way with a refresher on
Check Page 2 for info. trail etiquette (Page 7).
FRONT AND CENTRE DURING COVID
Communities rally around frontline workers, showing support
As we come to terms with the changing en-
vironment that comes with a global pan-
demic, there is one group that has been stead-
fast through it all.
Frontline workers have consistently been
there for us, delivering essential services, pro-
viding care, keeping us safe, and a lot more.
Through these challenging times, we have relied
on frontline workers to keep us together and
our world functioning.
As a way to show recognition, the Municipality
of Chester asked residents to "Thank a Frontline
Worker" in an appreciation program that ran for
seven weeks.
The public was asked to submit nominations
(one per person) for an opportunity to win a
draw for one of fourteen $50 gift card from a
local business. We drew two names every Fri-
day for seven weeks with the first draw held on
Friday, May 22.
We received an outpouring of responses from
the public acknowledging the tremendous dedi-
cation of staff in essential positions. The well-
deserving winners are listed below.
• Cindy Robichaud, OHC Walk-In Clinic
Administrator
• Mia Armstrong, Chester Pharmasave
• Kim Croft, Shoreham Village
• Holly d'Entremont, Chester Pharmasave
• Carla Cook, Heart to Heart In-Home Care
• Barb Corkum, Shoreham Village
• Amy Eisner, Heart to Heart In-Home Care
• Heather Anderson, Hubbards Pharmasave
• Karan Overholt, South Shore Regional
Hospital
• Sara Shaw, Lunenburg County VON
• Nanette Conrad, Richardson's Kwik Way &
Garage
• Amanda Mosher, Personal Support
Worker
• Courtney Rhuland, Chester Basin
Pharmasave
• Donna Marie Peel, Spidle's Your
Independent Grocer
Thank you to the win-
ners, all of the other
nominees and those
who nominated them.
While the roles of
frontline workers have
been recognized various
ways during COVID (also
see the inset), their im-
pact on the daily lives of
every person is greatly
understated.
Let's take a brief look at how
frontline staff at one organization are handling
the "new normal" and the impact they have
within the community.
Closing care facilities to visitors was one of the
first steps taken at the onset of coronavirus in
our province. During that time, residents and
staff at Shoreham Village have worked together
to keep safe, keep healthy, and keep occupied.
Throughout the challenges that lockdown
presents, staff have remained optimistic and
continue to create a positive environment for
residents through activity, relationships, and
the ability to do their jobs, despite adverse con-
ditions.
Programming - although carried out some-
what differently - continues for residents, and
with financial support from the United Way,
even more programming is happening outdoors.
Small groups get together for Bingo (which is
the favourite), bowling, outdoor games, trivia,
and arts and crafts. Yoga is delivered through
a virtual program provided by Amy Graple in
Chester.
And, residents and staff recently enjoyed
a COVID-style Canada Day Celebration with
games and the kitchen BBQ.
Residents are now permitted to visit with their
family members in person outside and are also
using FaceTime and Zoom to stay in touch.
Staff at Shoreham Village have made a tre-
mendous difference in the lives of residents and
their families in the face of a serious crisis. They
don't do it only because they are being paid.
They do it because they care about others and
are willing to risk their own safety to make this
time more bearable.
And it's not just
the frontline work-
ers at Shoreham.
We are surrounded
by everyday heroes
who were, and con-
tinue to be, willing
to put themselves
between us and a
virus to make sure
we get what we
need: medication,
groceries, gas, care,
supplies, mail, and
much more.
The next time you pay for groceries, take an
item from a shelf, receive a delivery, or visit a
relative in a care facility, give an extra smile and
hearty thanks to the frontline workers you en-
counter ... From a safe distance, of course!
municipal insightmunicipal insight
“ “Keeping you informed about July/August 2020Keeping you informed about July/August 2020
your municipal government” your municipal government”
Shoreham Village, a long-term care facility in the Municipality ofChester is dealing with the pandemic with optimism and positivity.
In your mailbox July 14, 2020. Look for it.
Staff at Shoreham Village had lunch on Subway as a well-earned thank you from the local store.
COUNCIL & GOVERNANCE
Wash your hands
Message from
the WardenWell, we have been through a
challenging past couple of months.
We are approaching some degree of
normalcy, although with a good deal of
uncertainty and a much more cautious
approach to every day life.
First, I want to thank your frontline workers
for continuing to provide the necessary
services to our communities and our local
businesses and community organizations
for stepping up to the plate in a safe and
respectful way to ensure public safety.
I would also like to thank my fellow
Councillors and staff for their commitment
to maintaining service delivery, and, where
necessary, enhancing financial aide to
individuals, businesses and community
organizations negatively impacted in these
challenging times.
On a more positive note, the Municipality
just received our year-end audited
financial statements, which demonstrate
the continued financial health of our
You can contact the Warden
by calling the Municipal
Office at (902) 275-3554,
calling his home at
(902) 275-2536, or emailing
awebber@chester.ca
Civic Holiday Hours: Municipal Offices are closed
on Monday, August 3, 2020 for the Civic Holiday.
Kaizer Meadow Landfill is also closed and waste
collection is cancelled. If your collection day falls
on the holiday, please put your waste out on Sat-
urday, August 1 instead.
Community School Family Growing? Municipal
Staff and representatives from the South Shore
Regional Centre for Education will work out details
for a proposal that could see Chester Area Middle
School and the Chester District Elementary School
be designated as community schools. Similar to
the existing community schools in MOC, the com-
munity will have access to both facilities through
bookings and planned activities. Stay tuned!
Hospitality Policy: Council adopted a policy out-
lining what is appropriate in terms of "hospitality
expenses". These expenses include meals, accom-
modations, gifts, etc. The Policy outlines what con-
stitutes a hospitality event and related expenses.
Currently, the CAO and Councillors are required
to post their quarterly expenses on our web-
site. You can review them at https://chester.ca/
government/council/council-and-cao-expenses
and you can review the Policy at https://webfiche.
district.chester.ns.ca/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=10
01733&dbid=0&repo=CHESTER
New Scalehouse Software: Council awarded a ten-
der to Paradigm Software to provide Kaizer Mead-
ow with computer software that tracks weights
coming and going through the Scalehouse. The
tender is valued at $31,858.31.
IN BRIEF...
Since the last report, we received one
compliment and three complaints.
• Our compliment was directed to our Rec-
reation Staff who showcased "backyard
ideas" during the COVID lockdown. The
ideas were appreciated and shared! Thank
you, kind person! Staff are always happy to
help (and be complimented!).
• A resident reported that our waste col-
lector seems to take more than one bulky
item during waste collection. The limit is
one large item per household per collec-
tion, so for those following the rules, it is
unfair. After contacting our collector, we
were reassured that drivers are careful not
to exceed the limits of collection. How-
ever, some multiple items are counted as
one. For example, a dining room table set
could be one table and four chairs, but is
2
counted as one item. Or, a
box spring, mattress and
bed frame are counted as
one item instead of three.
• A second complaint was received about
the poor internet connection in New Rus-
sell. The resident was asking for an update
to the current internet improvement proj-
ect. The process is with the Canadian Ra-
diocommunications Information and No-
tification Service, which is reviewing the
project. It will then be further reviewed
by the Canadian Radio-television and Tele-
communications Commission (CRTC).
• A resident filed a third complaint about
the trail. First and foremost was the
amount of litter (cans, bagged dog feces,
etc.). Secondary was pedistrian safety is-
sues around OHVs. We agree about the
litter. There isn't an excuse for it. We re-
moved litter receptacles because people
were dumping household garbage near
REGISTER A COMPLIMENT OR COMPLAINT BY:
Calling 902-275-3554. Leaving your name is
optional.
Emailing the Municipal Clerk at pmyra@
chester.ca
Filling in our online form at www.chester.ca
under "Contact" or https://webfiche.district.
chester.ns.ca/Forms/CCRegister
Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in
Chester.
BOSSBOSS oror BUSTBUST
Municipality, both now and moving forward.
This is an election year, and I'm sure you
are aware, and in this edition of Municipal
Insight, we have outlined some of the
changes that have had to be made to ensure
public safety.
Although not the traditional approach, and
still not clear on what may change between
now and this Fall, I encourage all of you to
become engaged and participate as fully as
possible.
In closing, thank you for your support, and
for your involvement in helping make our
communities a great place to live and enjoy.
Respectfully
them. While we expect people to be re-
sponsible for their own garbage, it some-
times just doesn't happen. As far as OHVs,
we are a multi-use trail. Many riders are
respectful and adhere to the regulations.
For those who don't, the RCMP has com-
mitted to making a presence on the trail
this summer to curb any reckless or unsafe
behaviour.
Questions?
Returning Officer Samuel Lamey or
Assistant Returning Officer Pamela Myra
Municipality of Chester
151 King Street, PO Box 369
Chester, NS B0J 1J0
902-275-3631 or election@chester.ca
With the Province's announcement that
Municipal Elections will proceed on
October 17, 2020, many municipalities in Nova
Scotia are deciding what that will look like amid
concerns around COVID-19.
Council for the Municipality of Chester dis-
cussed this very topic during their July 2 meet-
ing and ultimately decided that electronic vot-
ing is the safest option for their constituents.
Having researched what other municipal units
are doing, the Assistant Returning Officer re-
ported that 76% of decided municipalities are
opting for all electronic voting (19/25 that we
heard from), and all opted for electronic voting
during the Advanced Poll. This wasn't the only
deciding factor for Council. They also consid-
ered safety of voters and polling officers, cost,
and potential line-ups at the polls.
THE RACE IS ON! ELECTIONS A GO
Province "OK's" Municipal/School Board Elections for October
Elections Nova Scotia shares their latest
information with us to help us assemble our
Voter List. We use their information plus
rely on residents to contact us with updated
information about their residency. We will mail
letters to confirm our information in July, so if
you don't receive one by July 31, you may not
be on "the list".
We will use that information to send you
your Voter Information Letter that tells you
how to vote, who the candidates are in your
district, a personal identification number (PIN)
to vote electronically, and reconfirms all of
your residency information like address, name,
district, etc.
YOU WILL NEED THIS LETTER to vote! If you
don't get your letter by September 30, please
contact us ASAP using the information below.
Voting in the Advanced Poll will begin on
October 6 and end on October 14. There is NO
voting on October 15 and 16. Then, voting will
resume on the official Election Day, which is
October 17.
Please watch for the next edition of munici-
pal insight for information on candidates, voting
procedure and eligibility, and where the elec-
tion results will be found.
If you are interested in throwing your hat into
the ring as a candidate, please contact Pam
Myra for some very important information that
you should know. Welcome to the race!
Find more resources at https://chester.ca/covid-19 3
COVID-19 RESOURCES
Do you have clients or know of people affect-
ed by the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you or they
have difficulty trying to determine what benefits
are available to help?
Access all the benefits and financial relief
measures supporting Canadians in one, simple,
easy-to-use location. The Financial Relief Navi-
gator (FRN), is an English and French online too
providing a one-stop portal to help vulnerable
Canadians access critical emergency benefits
and financial relief from governments, financial
institutions, telecoms and internet providers.
While other tools focus exclusively on emergen-
cy benefits, the FRN collectively pulls together
relief measures from all of these entities.
United Way Centraide Canada is proud to
support the development of Prosper Canada’s
Financial Relief Navigator alongside United
Way Greater Toronto, TD Ready Commitment,
Bridgeable, and Maple Leaf’s Feed Opportunity.
https://financialreliefnav.prospercanada.org/
FINANCIAL RELIEF TOOL LAUNCHES United Way and partners develop tool for Canadians
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have
seen a great deal of people helping people -
neighbours, businesses, patrons, or even ran-
dom strangers. Those instances see many of us
through these hard times, whether we are the
giver or the receiver.
We would like to shine a light on one of those
examples that is happening in our Municipality.
Many of you may know Erin Gore as a woman
of action who gets things done. If you want re-
sults, ask Erin and she will give you results. She
has been a trusted staple of her community for
DOUBLE HELPING OF HELPING
Resident sews masks for others and then donates proceeds
many years as a teacher, volunteer, and friend,
among many other valued roles.
When we approached her to provide Munici-
pal Staff with her handmade, fabric face masks,
she immediately agreed. When we offered to
pay her, she wasn't so agreeable. One other
thing you should know about Erin: when her
mind is made up, it's made up.
Not only did she provide staff with quality
masks in an unbelievably short period of time,
but she donated all of the money back to PRO
Kids (minus materials, of course).
While she was filling our order of almost 100
masks, she continued to help other individuals
and organizations by sewing their masks as well
and making weekly trips to Halifax to volunteer
with Souls Harbour. We don't know how you do
it, Erin.
If you would like to purchase a face mask for
$10, Erin offers a wide variety of patterns in me-
dium and large sizes. Please drop by or contact
her at 902-275-5864. She keeps only the cost of
materials and donates the proceeds to PRO Kids.
If you have a similar story or stories that you
would like to share, please forward them to
communications@chester.ca and we will post
them on our Facebook page (with the person's
permission of course!).
Many of us are reeling with the effects of COV-
ID-19 - physically, mentally and financially. While
we continue to face this extraordinary chapter
of our collective lives together, our experiences
can be very different, especially if our livelihood
is affected.
Some are struggling to support themselves
and their families. Property taxes should be the
least of their worries while trying to get back on
track. Because of this financial burden, the Prov-
ince of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Federa-
tion of Municipalities announced a new financ-
ing program valued at $380 million.
As a result, Council for the Municipality of
Chester (MOC) adopted a Policy that will assist
property owners who are negatively affected by
a loss of income or other financial hardship di-
rectly related to COVID-19.
Eligible residents can apply for low-interest fi-
nancing to pay property taxes over a period of
30 months at an interest rate of 1.35%. Deadline
to apply is July 31, 2020.
Eligibility Requirements
• Must own a primary residence within the
Municipality of Chester.
ONE-TIME PROPERTY TAX ASSISTANCE
Financing available for property owners affected by COVID-19
• If you own a primary residence, then a sec-
ondary cottage/summer residence is also
eligible for the program.
• Property tax account must be in good
standing (cannot be in arrears).
• The program is for residential properties,
which include tourism operational (B&B),
but not Airbnbs.
• Commercial properties are not eligible.
• Residential rental properties are eligible.
Eligible residents are encouraged to complete
the intake form found at https://nspropertytax-
program.ca. MOC staff will review the form and
contact you. For a link and more information,
visit https://chester.ca/government/property-
taxes-and-rates/covid-property-tax-financing
Don't touch your face 4
TOURISM
Maintain physical distancing of 6' and wear a mask if that isn't possible 5
COMMUNITY INTEREST
HIT THE JACKPOT!
Rural Riches Treasure Trove Association holds a weekly 50/50 raffle
that supports local organizations in Lunenburg County. Prior to CO-
VID-19, all you had to do to play was purchase a number from a par-
ticipating vendor and play it every week for $2 for a chance to win half
the pot. If you didn't play your number and it was drawn, you didn't
win.
In light of COVID-19, game play was slightly modifed. Rural Riches is
now online! Visit www.ruralrichesonlineraffle.com for tickets.
Organizations in the Municipality of Chester that receive support from
Rural Riches include PRO Kids, Community Wheels, District #1 Com-
munity Centre, and the Chester Basin/New Ross/Chester Lions Club.
Healthcare Heroes ROCK! was the inspiration for these lovely painted rocks
dropped off at the Municipal Office in May. The program was launched by
the Health Services Foundation to recognize the tremendous amount of
dedication and courage shown by local healthcare workers. The rocks were
collected and used to line the pathways to South Shore Regional and Fisher-
men's Memorial Hospitals.
We miss you and we hope you feel the same way - so let’s reconnect! Go check out the Municipality of Chester’s Facebook and Instagram
page where the Recreation Summer Staff will post updates about summer programs, online camps, the recreation hotline and online
recreation resource, and hints regarding our community chalk obstacle courses. You don’t want to miss out on these updates, so head over
to Municipality of Chester on Facebook and @chestermuni on Instagram.
Community Events
Thursday, July 9 to 23
'Doors Wide Open!' Community Art Exhibit. Chester Art
Centre is opening their doors to show what artists, arti-
sans, and creatives of all age and skill have been creating
during these unprecedented times. Drop by the Centre
Wednesday to Friday between 10am and 2pm. Pandemic
protocols for hand sanitizing and two metre space dis-
tancing of maximum 10 attendees at a time are in place.
Wednesday, July 15 & Thursday, July 16
Pre-booked tours for Lordly House from 10am to 2pm. To
schedule a tour, call 902-275-3826 or 902-275-5179.
Saturday, July 18 & Sunday, July 19
Oak Island Tours starting 1pm. Cost per tour is $5 per per-
son. To pre-book call Danny Hennigar, 902-275-3718.
Sunday, August 2
Bonny Lea Farm Lobster Trunk Sale from 10am to 1pm.
For more than 30 years we have been serving up 600 lob-
ster dinners. Our lobster is sponsored by Clearwater and
all proceeds support our specialized programs for adults
living with an intellectual disability. This year, due to pub-
lic health protocols, we will not hold a dinner. Instead, our
Bonny Lea Farm Lobster Trunk Sale is a drive thru – LOB-
STER ONLY – event. Pick up is from 10-11am; 11am -12pm
and 12-1pm at two locations - Chester District School and
Clearwater Parking Lot on Bedford Highway. Choose your
pick-up time and location when purchasing a ticket. The
event will follow all current public health protocols.
Saturday, September 19 (raindate - Sept 20)
7th Annual OHC Yard Sale at our Health Centre (3769 Hwy
3, Chester) from 9am to 1pm (postponed from May due
to COVID-19). Volunteers and donations needed! If you
are Spring (i.e. COVID) cleaning and can`t store your items
till September, contact Lisa Aiken 902-483-1666 email:
lisamarieaiken@gmail.com or Janice Moreside 902-275-
8184 email: moresidejanice@live.com. Call to volunteer
or to make arrangements for early collection.
Please call 902-275-3554 for info
regarding Provincial Senior’s Tax
Rebate Program.
PROPERTY SERVICES
Take care of your physical and mental health. Visit https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/staying-healthy/ 6
Recyclable paper is like your foot.Clean plastic is like a rusty nail.The two don't mix.
(hint: please put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag)
Municipal Water Strategy Update Survey wraps up, analysis begins, Phase II in the works
Download theR6RECYCLES app and never miss another collection day.
Create a personalized collection calendar
Find out "What Goes Where"
Receive notifications by email, text or phone
Receive real time alerts on weather-related
service disruptions
Play our "What Goes Where" sorting game
No smart phone or tablet? No
problem! Visit https://chester.ca/
waste-recycling/r6recycles for the
same features.
If you frequent the Public Drop Off at Kaizer
Meadow Environmental Management Cen-
tre, you will have noticed that we changed the
location of the curb stops.
We are asking users to respect the curbs as
they are there for an important safety reason. In
the past, pick-up trucks were driven to the very
On June 5, the Municipality of Chester’s
Resident Water Survey closed after pro-
viding a two-month window for residents and
businesses to share their thoughts on water is-
sues. Thank you to everyone who took the time
to complete either the paper survey received
in the mail or the online version on the Mu-
nicipality’s Voices & Choices website. We’re still
consolidating the data from all the completed
surveys, so we don’t yet have an exact count
of how many responses we received. However,
there are certainly well over 1,200!
So what’s next? Once the survey data con-
solidation has been completed, Coastal Action,
our partner in this project who bring 25 years
of experience in environmental monitoring and
management, will then undertake a thorough
analysis of the responses. This analysis will trace
the themes of what is top-of-mind concerning
your perspectives on water quality and quan-
tity. We’ll then use this information to figure out
next steps and determine what we will need in
terms of resources, partners, and information to
achieve those steps as part of a comprehensive
Municipal Water Strategy.
Ideally, this Strategy will provide a framework
that is flexible and responsive in facilitating pro-
grams, services, and projects that work to ad-
dress our Municipality’s challenges and oppor-
tunities when it comes to water supply, water
conservation, water protection, and drought
management. There’s a lot of work to do to
make the Municipal Water Strategy a reality, to
learn what’s needed and what’s possible – and
it begins with hearing from you, our residents
and businesses. After all, a safe, sufficient water
supply is critical to our quality of life in the Mu-
nicipality of Chester.
As an important first step, the Resident Water
Survey helps us gain a more thorough under-
standing of the impact of water issues on com-
munities throughout our Municipality. Instead
of simply amassing a broader range of numeri-
cal data, what we’re actually attempting to do
through this survey is look through the eyes of
Municipal residents and businesses so we can
better focus and prioritize our actions and re-
sources and work towards the long-term sus-
tainability of our surface water and groundwa-
ter resources.
THE TRUCK (or car) STOPS HERE!
edge of the dumping platform so the tailgate
overhung the ledge which led to a couple of in-
stances where users fell into the collection bins.
This could have led to significant injury. So, to
avoid this from reoccurring, we put the extra
safety measures in place.
If a hazard is identified, we must try to prevent
it from happening. This means that if someone
is caught backing up over the curbs in an effort
to get closer to the bins for dumping, we could
ask you to leave the site.
Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m.
Didn't get a 2020 calendar?
Call 902-275-2330!
Stay informed about
• waste collection routes
• sorting waste
• program changes
• holiday schedules
• public drop-offs
WE HAVE A CONNECTION
If you need service or to connect to the central sewer, make
application now so it can be reviewed, approved and
ready for connection.
Call us at 902-275-1312 or email publicworks@chester.ca
MUNICIPAL PROPERTIES
Atlantic Bubble - YEAH!7
The Municipality of Chester operates 46 kilome-
ters of trail on the abandon railway from Mar-
tins River to Hubbards. The route connects our com-
munities, serves as a safe off-road passage within
our villages, and features some of the natural beauty
of the South Shore.
As a multiuse trail, it is enjoyed by walkers, cyclists,
HAPPY TRAILS
Excuse me, you dropped something
Illegal dumping hurts us all - staff, taxpayers, and businessesIllegal dumping is the unauthorized disposal
of solid waste.
We have a number of examples, including:
• Depositing household waste at recepta-
cles located in public areas, such as parks
or wharves, that are meant to be used by
passersby. These types of receptables pre-
vent littering.
• Dumping residential or commercial waste
on private or crown land without the per-
mission of the landowner. This also in-
cludes the time your neighbour missed
the garbage truck by minutes and drove
their waste down the road, ahead of the
truck, and deposited it at someone else's
driveway. By the way, if this happens to
you, the deposited garbage is now your
responsibility if it's rejected.
• Putting waste out too early for collection,
unless it is contained in a closed garbage
box or at an approved site.
• Putting waste in public waste sites, such
as the one at Mill Lake, if you do not have
permission to do so.
• Littering in any location that doesn't be-
long to you. Actually, even if the location
does belong to you, there's a chance that
you will be cited for "unsightly premises".
If you are a culprit of illegal dumping, stop do-
ing it. Even though you may feel that you're get-
ting away with something, you aren't. If some-
one reports you, you risk getting a fine. You're
punishing yourself and your taxpaying friends
by driving up waste collection costs, and you
are degrading the look of our neighbourhoods.
Many businesses depend on the look of our
Unfortunately, images of illegally dumped material, like this one, are not uncommon in the Municipality.
neighbourhoods to attract visitors who spend
money. We get one chance at a first impression.
It would be a shame if that impression drove
away customers.
Besides, with free curbside collection and free
tip fees for residents at the Landfill up to 1500
lbs, illegal dumping is unnecessary.
To report someone illegally dumping their
waste, please call us at 902-275-2330.
You can schedule a time to have your boat pumped
out at the Municipality of Chester's pump out lo-
cated at the Chester Back Harbour Wharf; more
commonly known as the Red Cross Wharf. Call the
Infrastructure & Operations Department at 902-275-
1312 for an appointment between Monday and Fri-
day from 7:00am to 3:00pm.
Handy tips to remember:
• Social distancing during appointments required.
• Make sure your boat is secured (tied up to) the
wharf.
• When tying up, make sure your boat bumpers
are up against the wharf.
• Pump outs are easier when the tide is high.
• If your sailboat has an extra long keel, you should
tie up at the end of the wharf during high tide.
Any vessels blocking the boat pump out location at
the wharf will be asked to move or shall be towed at
owners’ expense; as per Policy P-13 Sections 2(b),(h).
Also, a few other things that may be of interest to
boaters:
• Municipal floats are in. Please be mindful of ten-
der crowding and monopolizing space at public
floats and docks.
• Wharves are open and ready to use. Be respect-
ful to other boaters and remember the 24-hour
rule: Boats cannot tie up to the sides of munici-
pal wharves for more than 24 hours and cannot
be tied to the front for more than two hours.
• Do not block the pump out!
A-BOATA-BOATTIMETIME
off-highway vehicles and even horseback riders. In
the winter, you may come across people on snow-
mobiles, skiing and snowshoeing.
While we normally have a fair number of trail us-
ers anyway, we have noticed that use has increased
significantly (not surprisingly). Which means it is
probably a good time to remind everyone of the
rules and best practices when adventuring out onto
the trail.
Trail Etiquette
The best way for all trail users to have a safe and
enjoyable experience on the trail is to be polite and
courteous to each other.
• Respect the trail and adjacent landowners.
• Always be aware of other trail users.
• Stay to the right when approaching fellow trail
users.
• Obey all posted signs.
• Clean up after your pets and keep them on a
leash. We cannot stress this enough.
• Walkers can't always hear someone approach-
ing from behind. A friendly "hello" or ding of
your bell is appreciated.
• Off-highway vehicles should always be extra
cautious when meeting another trail user,
preferably pulling over to the side of the trail
and stopping while the other person passes.
Trail Rules
You are responsible for your own safety while on
the trail; therefore, exercise caution at all times.
Please keep in mind the following rules while using
the trail:
• Motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, sport utility
vehicles and amphibious vehicles are not per-
mitted at any time.
• The maximum speed is 20km/hr by any mode
of transport.
• No person shall use the trail between 11:00pm
and 6:00am of the following day.
• All pets must be on a leash.
• No hunting or trapping is permitted.
• No person shall have in their possession or dis-
charge a loaded firearm or bow.
• No person shall have in their possession an
unloaded firearm or bow unless permitted un-
der the Wildlife Act.
As added security, the RCMP have recently an-
nounced their intention to patrol the Chester Con-
nection and Dynamite Trails to ensure the shared
trails are being used safely.
The RCMP encourage ATV riders to wear appropri-
ate safety gear, be aware of hazards and changing
weather, and to avoid riding alone. For other simple
tips, read their news release here: https://www.
rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/news/2020/lunenburg-district-
rcmp-says-see-the-trails-summer
For mapping and trail highlights in the Municipal-
ity of Chester, please visit our website at https://
chester.ca/recreation-parks/trails or call Recreation
and Parks Services at 902-275-3490.
Of course we miss you. We just want you to be safe, that's all. Please consider using online or drop-off options for municipal services.
www.chester.ca for payments, applications, tax rebate forms, and contact information.
The votes are in and the list is out! With
11,621 votes cast, residents have chosen
their favourite local businesses in 23 categories
in our Best Of Chester Municipality Business
Awards. The winners and runners-up (in
brackets):
Best Artisanal Retailer
The Village Emporium (Chez Glass Lass)
Best Building Services
Chester Electrical, Plumbing & Heating
(Toadz Odd Jobs)
Best Building Supplies Store
Chester Building Supplies (New Ross Home
Hardware)
Best Community Space
Blandford Community Centre
Forest Heights Community School
Lordly Park
Best Farm/Forestry Business
Ross Farm Museum (Integrity's Haven
Equine Rescue Centre)
Best Garden Services
Oceanview Garden Centre (Downey's Pitcher
Plant Nursery)
Best Gas Station
Golden Nugget AFN (Chester Basin Petro-
Canada)
Best Grocery/Convenience Store
Spidle's Your Independent Grocer (Foodland)
Best Health/Beauty Services
Valerie's Hair Studio (Between Friends Hair
Studio)
Best Health Care Provider
Chester Family Dental Centre (Massage
Haven)
Best Manufacturing Business
South Shore Metalworks (Hawboldt
Industries (1989) Ltd.)
Best Marine Services Business
South Shore Marine (Gold River Marina)
Best Mechanic/Auto Shop
Jeff's Old Volks Home (Chester Service
Centre Ltd.)
Best Non-Profit Group
Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre
(Lighthouse Food Bank)
Best Pet Services
Your Friend and Mine Pet Supplies
(Oceanmark K9 Resort)
Best Place to Have Coffee
Imperfections Cafe (Kiwi Cafe)
Best Place to Stay
Oak Island Resort & Conference Centre
(Mecklenburgh Inn)
Best Professional Services
Scotiabank Chester (New Ross Credit Union)
Best Real Estate Company
Tradewinds Realty (Peter Reeves, RE/MAX
South Shore Realty)
Best Restaurant
The Fo'c'sle (Gold Bean Cafe)
Best Spa/Fitness Facility
Luna Salon Spa & Boutique (NILU Gym &
Fitness Centre)
Best Specialist Retailer
Julien's Bakery (Kiwi Cafe)
Best Vendor at a Farmers’ Market
Julien's Bakery (Higbee's Berry Farm &
Nursery)
Questions? Contact Heather at hhennigar@
chester.ca or call 902-275-4138.
Tweet of the Week
Our most popular post for May...
Not surprisingly, a COVID-related post, but it's one of the
more positive ones.
QR Code: Download a QR Reader app on your mobile device (eg.
iPhone). Hold it over the code while your device scans it, and it
will open our website directly. Here, you will find all of the latest
updates, minutes, tender information, and more.
Twitter: Search for @chestermun or @ChesterRecParks in
your Twitter account. Follow us and get regular updates and
notifications about municipal issues, including live tweets from
Council meetings.
Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/ChesterMunicipality and
learn about events and stories happening in the area. If you
have something to share, message us! We will post your event or
photos!
Instagram: Follow us at chestermuni to see photos of municipal
events and daily life in the Municipality! Tag us in your pics!
YouTube: Subscribe to modcvideo for our latest videos. We have
a channel showcasing some of our outstanding attractions and
businesses, and we are hoping to add more!
Municipal Districts and Councillors
#1 East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove
Marshal Hector 902-277-2982
#2 Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge
Floyd Shatford 902-275-7868
#3 Chester and part of East Chester
Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624
#4 Chester Basin and Chester Grant
Allen Webber 902-275-8373
#5 Gold River to Martins River
Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765
#6 New Ross
Tina Connors 902-277-1095
#7 Middle River to Haddon Hill
Windsor Road to Sherwood
Sharon Church 902-277-1301
Community Development & Recreation
Building Services 902-275-3080
Fire Inspection Services 902-275-3080
Planning Services 902-275-2599
Recreation & Parks 902-275-3490
Finance & Information Services
General Inquiries 902-275-3554
Taxation Services 902-275-3554
Tax Rebate Program 902-275-3554
FOIPOP Officer 902-275-3554
Infrastructure & Operations
Public Works 902-275-1312
Solid Waste/Landfill 902-275-2330
Water/Wastewater 902-275-1312
Corporate & Strategic Management
Communications 902-275-4107
Council Inquiries 902-275-3554
Economic Development 902-275-4138
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