HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021-01_MunicipalInsight1 (2)-compressedIn the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter...
Interested in having an impact? Beautiful! Just Beautiful! State of the Art
Consider sitting on a Parade Square will Artists named for trail
Committee of Council see some improvements. art project. See Page 4
Process on Page 2. See Page 3. for the exciting details!
THE VALUE OF ONE
Volunteers still volunteer despite the pandemic
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of
the Municipality of Chester's (MOC) Volun-
teer Awards. The awards are celebrated during
National Volunteer Week, April 18 to 24, and
culminate in a Provincial Volunteer Awards cer-
emony held in Halifax.
In the 20 years prior to our annual awards
banquet, the Municipality recognized volun-
teer efforts in a number of ways: ceremonies,
proclamations, open houses, receptions, or
advertising. Since 2001, volunteers have been
nominated for local awards recognizing their
contributions to communities - recognition that
is well deserved.
According to data released by Statistics Can-
ada through the 2018 General Social Survey on
Giving, Volunteering and Participating, the value
of volunteer time and the non-profit sector in
2017 equalled $55.9 billion nationwide. Volun-
teers added over two billion hours to Canada's
work effort. Two billion!
As part of that national total, more than
410,000 Nova Scotians volunteer, contributing
an average of 192 hours per year. That’s almost
79 million hours of volunteering! (taken from
the Provincial Government website at https://
novascotia.ca/nonprofitsector/provincialvolun-
teerawards/)
That effort is not unnoticed, especially this
past year. Nova Scotians - and Canadians - have
been pushed to limits some of us didn't even
know we had. While we have been deprived of
social contact, a necessary part of the wellbeing
and mental health of many, we have found ways
to stay connected and do for others. Instead of
organizing community suppers, many organized
online kitchen parties. Instead of festivals, volun-
municipal insightmunicipal insight
“ “Keeping you informed about January/February 2021Keeping you informed about January/February 2021
your municipal government” your municipal government”
teers held outdoor concerts complete with safe
distance marks! Instead of fundraising events,
individuals made masks. Despite obstacles, vol-
unteers keep volunteering. It's extraordinary if
you think about it.
In fact, volunteerism in 2020 was so extraor-
dinary that the Province introduced a second
volunteer award: the Nova Scotia Strong Award.
This new award acknowledges "an individual or
group of individuals who volunteer their talents
for the greater good in times of hardship or cri-
sis." The Nova Scotia Strong Award will be pre-
sented during the annual Provincial Volunteer
Awards celebration.
Volunteers, whether for an organization or on
their own, give so much to others. We would
like to list every volunteer in our Municipality, or
even the hundreds of volunteers nominated and
recognized over the last 20 years, but our pub-
lication is only a few pages long. Instead, please
read the list of volunteers - those with us and
those who have passed on - recognized by their
peers and selected to receive the Provincial Vol-
unteer Award since 2001.
• Terry Atherton, Chester
• Patricia Bates, New Ross
• Barb Boutilier, Blandford
• Verna Boutlier, Blandford
• Betty Eisnor, Chester Basin
• Richard Eldridge, Chester Basin
• D'Arcy Enright, Blandford
• Merlin Gates, New Ross
• Maria Kirby-Breen, East Chester
• Bernice Levy, Windsor Road
• Cyril McDonagh-Harnish, Blandford
• Linda Meister, New Ross
• Lloyd Publicover, Blandford
• Phyllis Publicover, Blandford
• Jenny Rafuse, East Chester
• Sharon Rafuse, New Ross
• Darren Russell, Chester Basin
• Mary Schnare, Chester
• Cheryl Scott, New Ross
• Don Weagle, Hubbards
• Dale Williamson, New Ross
• Fred & Mabel Witherall
In the coming year, we aren't sure if we can
celebrate Volunteer Week together in person or
from afar, but one thing is for certain: we will
celebrate.
A section of this year's campaign poster celebrating National Volunteer Week.
COUNCIL & GOVERNANCE
Viola Desmond, 2015 Nova Scotia Heritage Day honouree, was an important figure in Nova Scotia's civil rights movement. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/
Message from
the WardenWell, 2020 is behind us, and there
is no doubt it was a challenging
year like no other that I have experienced.
This is not only my first message of 2021
but the first since the October Municipal
Election.
I would first like to thank you all for your
resilience and support of each other over
the past year and also your commitment
to engaging in our democratic process in
October, even though it, in and of itself,
was not conducted in its normal format.
Congratulations to the new Council and
my sincere appreciation to all members
for their support and confidence in
re-electing me as Warden. I, and my
colleagues on Council, are committed to
moving our communities forward and
meeting whatever challenges we may
face, keeping the health, welfare and
prosperity of the Municipality, and all of
you, at the forefront always.
Our community needs more than just
the commitment of elected officials, but
the community at large. This year marks
the 20th anniversary of the Municipal
Volunteer Recognition Awards. I believe
that when you look over the list of those
who have, over the past 20 years, have
also been nominated for Provincial
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
Holiday Hours and Waste Collection Sched-
ule: Municipal Offices will close on Monday,
February 15 for Family Day. Kaizer Meadow
Landfill will remain open and collection will
proceed as usual.
Message from the South Shore Tourism Co-
operative: With the second wave of Covid-19
currently impacting Nova Scotia, and the
likelihood that health and safety risks will
remain high throughout the winter months,
the South Shore Tourism Cooperative has de-
cided to press pause on the 2021 Nova Sco-
tia Lobster Crawl Festival. In-person festival
events and activities are suspended, but it is
possible that some of the festival’s elements
will be moved to a virtual setting. Stay tuned!
Upgrades to Wastewater Treatment Plant:
Iron Maple Constructors was awarded the
tender to complete upgrades to the Village
of Chester Wastewater Treatment Plant in
December. The upgrades were completed
and necessary to meet Nova Scotia Environ-
ment regulations. Among improvements was
the installation of a new ultraviolet treat-
ment unit to replace the chlorine gas injec-
tion equipment. Thank you to Iron Maple and
their sub-contractors for complete the proj-
ect on time and on budget.
Wastewater Service Study: Council approved
the issuance of a Wastewater Service Study
Request for Proposal. The study will result in
a detailed, evidence-based framework that
will provide options for capital projects for
the Municipality’s wastewater systems. Stay
tuned for exciting news in the future!
Request for Quote Awarded: Council award-
ed the Heavy Equipment Services contract to
R. Schnare & Son Septic & Excavation. The
service contract term is for five years.
IN BRIEF...
2
recognition, you will personally recognize
many and know full well the level of
effort they have put into making our
communities and the lives of many
so much better than they could be
without them. These are only a small
representation of the efforts of so many
that give so much to us all. Thank you so
much!
Christmas this year was a challenge
as many of us were separated from
family and friends, not able to gather
in the traditional manner. I would like
to recognize the creativity of the many
community organizations for their efforts
in doing their best to promote public
safety without losing the magic of the
season.
Let's start the New Year off with a
positive attitude, knowing that as a
community, we have the resources and
the will to make a positive difference in
our lives and those in need.
Happy New Year! Thanks for all you do!
Sincerely,
The Municipality of Chester is inviting citizens to
participate in shaping aspects of our communi-
ties. We need interested members from the public,
like you, to sit on various committees.
Currently, there are vacancies on the Audit Com-
mittee, Chester Municipal Planning Advisory Com-
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Citizens invited to become involved in decision-making
mittee, and the Recreation & Parks Committee. The
purpose of each committee is to research, discuss
and identify issues relevant to residents and the
municipal level of government. Committees make
recommendations to Council that result in decisions
and policy governing communities on the ground
floor.
An introduction to
each of the three com-
mittees is below along
with term, number of
vacancies available, and
district representation
needed.
Audit Committee: This
committee's role is to
advise Council and man-
agement around risk
management, internal
control practices, and
governance. The Audit
Committee has many
responsibilities, includ-
ing reviewing financial
statements with exter-
nal auditors, assess-
ing risk management
policies and processes,
overseeing the selection
of accounting policies,
reviewing new account-
ing and reporting stan-
dards, and more. More
information, such as member criteria, can be found
in the Audit Committee Policy P-88 on our website.
One vacancy for a two-year term is available. Appli-
cations will be received from all districts.
Chester Municipal Planning Advisory Committee:
This Committee's role is to advise Council about
planning matters, including the preparation, amend-
ment and administration of the Municipal Planning
Strategy, Land-Use By-Law, and Subdivision By-Law.
The Committee also advises Council with regard to
the Heritage Property Act. More information can be
found in Policy P-63 on our website or by reaching
out to Pam Myra, Municpal Clerk, whose contact
information is listed below. Two vacancies for two-
year terms are available. Applications from residents
representing Districts 2 and 5 are needed.
More information can be found in Policy P-63 on
our website. One vacancy for a three-year term is
available. Applications from residents representing
Districts 4 are needed.
Recreation & Parks Committee: This Committee
discusses support to local community organizations
as well as matters that impact the health and well-
being of residents. The Committee provides rec-
ommendations to Council on topics such as grants,
volunteer recognition, and recreation programming
and services.
The deadline to apply for vacancies is 4:00 p.m.
on February 1, 2021. Forward a letter outlining your
skills and why you would like to serve on the com-
mittee to Pam Myra, Municipal Clerk, Municipality
of Chester, P O Box 369, Chester NS B0J 1J0 or email
pmyra@chester.ca or fax 902-275-4771.
For information on Committees, check our web-
site at https://chester.ca/government/committees-
and-appointments. To see district descriptions, look
on the back page under Councillors.
Joseph Howe: defender of free speech, Member of the Legislature, Premier of Nova Scotia, Lieutenant Governor, and 2016 Heritage Day honouree. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/3
PUBLIC SPACES
Residents and visitors of the Village of Chester
can soon look forward to a refresh of Parade
Square, near the Lido Pool and Freda’s Beach in
Chester. Historically, the popular community space
has been used for events, such as Remembrance Day
ceremonies, outdoor concerts, weddings, fundrais-
ers, and picnics to mention a few.
Thanks to a grant through the Department of Mu-
nicipal Affairs and Housing 2020-21 Beautification
and Streetscaping Program, Phase One of the revi-
talization project is set to get underway March 2021.
VILLAGE SQUARE REFRESH
Beautification grant provides funds for Parade Square improvements
In consultation with the Village of Chester Com-
mission and the Chester Garden Club, the space will
be outfitted with new benches and a paver stone
pathway to the Bandstand and Yacht Club. A new
pathway will also be installed within the existing gar-
den, located in the centre of Parade Square. Other
improvements scheduled in Phase One include a
fresh coat of paint on the Bandstand, new waste
receptacles, and new picnic tables. These improve-
ments are funded by a $12,500 provincial grant and
$25,000 budgeted by the Municipality of Chester.
Council has not approved the three additional
phases to the project at this time and have request-
ed staff to engage in rigorous community consulta-
tion about those proposed phases before undertak-
ing next steps. This consultation process will be a
six-month opportunity for residents to provide input
and will be coordinated by Municipal staff beginning
mid-January. While most of the consultation will be
conducted online due to COVID-19, residents may
contact staff directly. Also important to note is that
Council has asked staff to continue exploring poten-
tial Federal or Provincial grants to support future
phases of the project as they take shape following
community input.
Redevelopment of the space has been a vision for
local architect, Syd Dumaresq, who volunteered to
provide a draft sketch of the idea to municipal staff.
The proposed concept was divided into four, each
designed in such a way so there is an option to sup-
port them individually or in combination without
compromising the overall project design.
Phases Two to Four
• Phase Two (2021-22 FY): Compass Rose Circle
with new paver stone pathways, new trees,
and 10 parking spaces on South Street to re-
place those lost in front of the Bandstand.
• Phase Three (2022-23 FY): Additional five new
parking spaces on South Street, landscaping
(new garden beds and trees), benches and pic-
nic tables, additional waste receptacles.
• Phase Four (TBD): Construction of the Look-
out platform, pathway from Compass Rose to
South Street, pathway and crosswalk to Look-
out platform.
Details on www.voicesandchoices.ca, Municipality
of Chester’s online public engagement platform.
There are several types of illegal dumping that
occur in the Municipality of Chester.
Ghost Dumping
This is when offenders secretly dump garbage at
a locked municipal collection site meant to only ser-
vice the home owners living in a specific area. The
garbage, often unsorted, is left near the collection
site, only to be torn open by wildlife because the il-
legal dumper does not have a key to open the build-
ings where it can be stored securely.
Routine examples of ghost dumping can be found
at George Brown Road in New Ross and at Mill Lake,
near Hubbards. These waste collection sites are
fenced and locked. Residents and cottage-owners
have a key to the compound and generally use it
responsibly by sorting and putting out their limits.
Ghost dumpers, on the other hand, do not have a
key, do not live in the vicinity or even in the Munici-
pality in some cases.
COST: $200-$300 to our waste collection contrac-
tor for every extra trip they make. In the summer,
this cost could be weekly if the contractor decides
to charge us. Sometimes they just take the extra at
no extra cost. Either way, taxpayers are paying $76/
tonne to process this extra waste at the Landfill.
Yeah? What About It? Dumping
Yeah? What About It dumping happens in any lo-
cation: the woods, someone else's private property,
public green space, businesses, you name it. This
kind of careless dumping can be anything, such as
carcasses, shingles, household garbage, hazardous
waste, and more.
This kind of dumping usually costs the most and
takes more effort to clean up, but is more uncom-
mon than illegal dumping at waste collection sites.
Examples include shingles dumped on a vacant
piece of land, accumulated waste at a known illegal
dump site used by multiple people, a refrigerator
tossed to the side of a seldomly used road.
ILLEGAL DUMPS: trashy, but not cheap
Household garbage and construction debris left in public spaces are an expensive eyesore
COST: The cost varies depending on the magni-
tude of the illegal dump. If this happens on private
property, the property owner is usually on the hook
for clean up. The cost could range from the price of
gas to drive to the Landfill and back or upwards of
$3,000 to rent heavy equipment, a dumpster, and la-
bour. Generally, the Municipality waives tip fees for
illegal dumps for property owners. However, the op-
erating cost of $76/tonne still rests with taxpayers.
Oh Well, I Tried... Dumping
This type of dumping is when people are on the
right track to proper waste disposal, but for a variety
of possible reasons, surrender to the path of least
resistance.
While we don't support any reasoning behind il-
legal dumping, some reasons could include:
• Kaizer Meadow Landfill closed upon arrival or
too far;
• Type of hazardous waste brought to Kaizer
Meadow was not labelled or unaccepted;
• Too many black bags for collection;
• Too many bulky items or unaccepted items put
out for collection;
• Public waste receptacle not nearby;
• Missed waste collection day or will not be
home when collection occurs; or
• Unsorted waste was rejected.
This waste can be found at public waste stations,
at the end of Kaizer Meadow Road, carpool parking
lots, the trail, or at the end of someone else's drive-
way on their collection day.
COST: If it happens on public property, taxpayers
pay $200-$300 to our waste collection contractor for
every extra trip they have to make. Again, the con-
tractor sometimes takes extra at no extra cost. Costs
are also associated with our staff time and equip-
ment use if Municipal Staff pick it up. The operation-
al cost of $76/tonne to process this extra waste at
the Landfill applies.
We cannot stress enough the need for ownership
and responsibility for waste management. Granted
there is an increase in disposable products. Yes,
more waste is being generated nowadays. Sure,
there are fewer "dumps" than a couple of decades
ago. However, none of these points can replace
common courtesy or taking care of your own waste.
Kaizer Meadow Landfill offers free tipping fees to
residents up to 1500 lbs per trip. Asphalt shingles
brought by residents, whatever the weight, are also
free. As an aside, if you are doing renovations and
plan to bring construction and demolition waste
(C&D), you must bring protective equipment, such
as a hard hat, steel-toed boots, safety vest, etc.
We accept electronics, hazardous waste, and large
items for free from our residents. We are open Sat-
urdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as well as every
day through the week. In addition to our site being
open, Adams Bottle Exchange in Gold River accepts
batteries, cfl lightbulbs, electronics, and paint in ad-
dition to refundable containers. We have adjusted
our waste collection to include one large, bulky item
every two weeks instead of only several times a year.
If you are a cottage owner, arrange to have a neigh-
bour put out your waste, build a garbage box, or take
your waste with you.
Additional Costs of Illegal Dumping
Besides the noted financial costs, the number one
cost is that to the environment through pollution
and harm to wildlife. There are also broader costs to
the economy associated with potential decreases to
property values and tourism.
We know that it is difficult to prove illegal dump-
ing. We continue to choose to believe that people
will make a conscious choice to dispose of waste re-
sponsibly or contact us for advice or arrangements.
Failing that, if you see illegal dumping happen,
please report it to us by calling 902-275-3080.
Heritage Day Honouree for 2017 is Mi'kmaq Heritage, deeply rooted in the land and the people for thousands of years. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/4
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Are you a low-income homeowner?
Do you spend more than 50 percent
of your income to run your home?
Direct support is available for eligible
homeowners through the Canada-
Nova Scotia Targeted Housing
Benefit. Working together, we are
making housing more affordable for
vulnerable people.
For information visit: housingns.ca
Email: housingsupplements@novascotia.ca
Or call: (902) 943-0835
Just over a year ago, a request was made to
school administrators by the School Advi-
sory Council (SAC) for Chester and Area Middle
School (CAMS) to explore the possibility of des-
ignating CAMS as a community school.
The SAC saw this as an opportunity to increase
public access when school-related activities
were not taking place and to assist school ad-
ministration with the coordination of requests
from the public to use the facility after school
hours.
This mutual use of facilities was seen as a
way to strengthen ties with the community and
provide space for a variety of activities and pro-
grams. CAMS staff readily came on board, and
efforts to explore the feasibility of a community
school in Chester began.
Last December a committee including repre-
sentatives from CAMS administration, staff, SAC,
South Shore Regional Centre for Education, De-
partment of Health and Wellness, Recreation
& Parks Services, and Municipal Council met to
share ideas and overwhelming support for the
project.
To determine if this interest was shared by the
public, a community needs assessment was con-
ducted over the winter. The results of the on-
line survey confirmed that community members
wholeheartedly supported a community school
based in Chester and have numerous sugges-
tions as to the types of activities that could be
offered. It was at this point when the idea of a
"community school campus" was formed that
Thank you to Hugh MacKay, who captured
this image of Santa Claus "on the road" in
New Ross. Chauffer is Lyle Russell, Fire Chief of
New Ross Volunteer Fire Department. Santa
was in the neighbourhood early December
to celebrate during the New Ross Christmas
Festival.
COMMUNITY SCHOOL CAMPUS
A little bit of history behind CAMS and CDS Community Schools
would include both CAMS and Chester District
School (CDS), and representatives from CDS
were included on the committee.
Despite some setbacks due to COVID-19, the
community school committee made a presen-
tation to Chester Municipal Council during a
virtual meeting in the Spring. Council gave its
unanimous support to explore the feasibility of
a community school in Chester.
Thanks to the hard work of Recreation & Parks
Services staff during the summer, they were
able to provide Council with the information it
needed to approve the project.
Since that time, Nadine Hackney, CAMS-CDS
Community School Campus Coordinator for the
Municipality, continued to work with school staff
and the South Shore Regional Centre for Educa-
tion to finalize a community use agreement.
The agreement is complete, and Nadine is
looking forward to the community accessing fa-
cilities in whatever capacity is permitted under
current Public Health restrictions. Right now,
the public can access the gymnasium and select
classrooms for certain activities.
When restrictions are lifted, the space can be
used for meetings, workshops, sporting events,
festivals, birthday parties, and more. While
some rental is allowed right now, we suggest
contacting Nadine to see if your activity falls
within the Public Health guidelines.
You can reach Nadine by telephone at 902-
275-8503 or by email at nhackney@chester.ca.
Chester Area Middle School, Chester
Mona Louise Parsons, honoured for her role in resisting the occupation while living in Holland, later returned to her roots in Nova Scotia https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/5
ROADS
ROUNDABOUT
There have been a couple of questions brought
to the Council table surrounding the round-
about in Marriotts Cove recently. Although round-
abouts fall within the jurisdiction of Nova Scotia
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (NSTIR),
we thought we would take the opportunity to share
their information with residents.
Roundabouts were designed to maximize the safe
flow of traffic. Because vehicles are traveling in a
circle, the speed will naturally decrease and so will
the severity of accidents. Also, everyone is going
the same direction (counter-clockwise), so unless a
driver is going the wrong way (clockwise), head-on
collisions are impossible.
As you approach the roundabout and prepare to
enter, make sure no other vehicles are coming. Vehi-
cles already in the roundabout have the right-of-way
In aIn a
WayWay
ism. No matter where it happens, defacing publicly-
funded infrastructure is illegal, costly, and just plain
wrong.
If you would like more information about round-
abouts, please visit NSTIR's website at https://no-
vascotia.ca/tran/roundabout/roundabout.asp
and will not stop to let you in. Then, just veer right to
enter the roundabout. There are two lanes: the lane
closest to the centre, which keeps going around and
around, and the outer lane, which drivers use to exit
the roundabout. Keep going counter-clockwise (left)
until you get to the road you want to take. When
you get to your road, signal right, check for traffic,
and then exit. If roundabouts make you nervous,
go around a couple of times just to get a feel for it.
There's no shame in that!
In case you are wondering, the hill in the middle
of the roundabout is there on purpose. It keeps driv-
ers from being distracted by what might be happen-
ing on the other side. That way, drivers can focus on
what they need to focus on: looking left for traffic.
One other issue Council discussed related to the
roundabout, but not related to driving, is vandal-
The topic of roads is a source of great interest in
our Municipality, and likely across the Province. We
receive a fair bit of feedback from residents con-
cerning roads; mainly about snow and ice clearing,
potholes and other road conditions, maintenance,
culverts and ditching, bush cutting, and especially
paving. However, all of these issues are the specialty
of Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Re-
newal (NSTIR).
The Municipality owns only eight roads (listed
below) and all of the sidewalks in the Municipality
of Chester (MOC). We maintain only the roads and
sidewalks we own.
• Captains Way, Aspotogan
• Commodore Drive, Aspotogan
• Foxwood Drive, Mill Cove
• Lake Road, Mill Cove
• Landing Drive West, East River
• Endeavour Avenue, East River
• Millennium Drive, Chester
• Parkwood Drive, Mill Cove
Snow Clearing
NSTIR clears and salts/sands all provincially-owned
highways and roads (signed with a green background
and white letters). Their levels of service are listed
to the right. If your road hasn't been plowed, NSTIR
has a great feature on their website that shows
where their plows are. Visit https://novascotia.
ca/tran/winter/ for information on all the winter
maintenance provided by NSTIR.
We clear snow from our own roads as well as
sidewalks. We also contribute to NSTIR's budget for
snowclearing in the Village of Chester. Residents
who live on private roads are responsible to keep
them plowed.
Road Paving and Maintenance
NSTIR maintains all roads in our Municipality
except private roads and municipal roads (listed
above). That means cutting bushes, installing
culverts and signs, ditching, paving, filling potholes,
and maintaining shoulders. Similarly, we do the same
for our own roads (listed above), and residents are
responsible for their private road, if they live on one.
MOC contributes 50% of the cost for paving some
roads owned by NSTIR. These roads fall under a
service agreement. Information can be found on our
website at https://chester.ca/transportation/roads-
and-sidewalks
Each year, NSTIR requests that the Municipality
prioritize up to ten of the roads in the service
agreement for improvement. Municipal Staff apply
criteria to the roads and determine which ones are
highest priority for paving.
Once the list is established, it is presented to
SPEAKING OF TRANSPORTATION...
Fixing roads, snow clearing, and who does what
Council for discussion and up to ten are selected.
One of the things that Council has to bear in mind
when deciding is that NSTIR only has a budget of $2
million to upgrade service agreement roads for the
whole of Nova Scotia.
Last year was an exception, and NSTIR added an
extra $10 million to their budget, allowing us to sub-
mit more roads than usual for paving.
Once the list is submitted, NSTIR reviews all sub-
missions from other municpialities, their own work
plan, and the amount they have to spend (they pay
for 50% of the projects). They approve the roads
they can and then notify municipalities.
Under this service agreement, NSTIR recently
contracted Dexter Construction to pave 18 streets
(or portions of) in
MOC. The work
was valued at
over $2 million.
Roads paved in-
clude the roads in
Island View Sub-
division in East
Chester, Frank
Swinimer and
Lawrence Hatt
Roads in West-
ern Shore, Ches-
ter Shore Road,
Duke Street and
Prince Street in
Chester as well as
portions of Trem-
ont Street, Union
Street, Main
Street, Regent
Street, Pleasant
Street, Chandler
Road, and Nauss
Point Road.
We thank the
construction
professionals
and NSTIR staff
for working with
us to complete
this work and to
ensure concerns
brought forward
by residents and
Councillors were
addressed.
MOC submit-
ted a list of ten
roads to NSTIR
for consideration under the service agreement for
the 2021 construction season. If approved by NSTIR,
they will tender for and manage the repaving of all
or some of the roads listed below.
• Pleasant Street, Chester (Central to King)
• Union Street, Chester (King to end)
• Pig Loop Road, Chester (Duke to Trunk 3)
• Adams Road, Western Shore (Trunk 3 to end)
• Brunswick Street, Chester (Regent to Union)
• Myra Road, Western Shore (Trunk 3 to end)
• Stevens Road, East Chester (Trunk 3 to end)
• Walker Road, Chester (Victoria to end of pub-
lic right-of-way)
• Smith Road, Chester (Trunk 3 to end of public
right-of-way)
• Valerie Avenue, Chester Basin (Lacey Mines
Road to end)
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Folk artist Maud Lewis, 2019 Nova Scotia Heritage Day Honouree, is internationally recognized for her inspiring spirit and artwork. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/6
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Receive notifications by email, text or phone
Receive real time alerts on weather-related ser-
vice 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.
Dear Shabby,
While I understand that less plastic is a good
thing, and I agree with the plastics ban in prin-
ciple, I can't help but miss plastic shopping bags.
What can I use instead to line my wastebaskets?
What do I put my recyclable paper in when it's
waste collection day? What should I wrap on my
head when I'm doing a home dye job?
~ signed Wistfully Reminiscent in
Western Shore
Dear “Wistful”:
I hear you, but we must think of the greater good.
I purchased a box of 100 kitchen bags that I use
for everything that I used to use shopping bags
for. They are bigger, sturdier and a lot cheaper
than what I paid for plastic bags . For recylable
paper, I use clear bags anyway so I don't have to
Dear Shabby
Friendly waste disposal advice
take it down to the curb as often. And coinciden-
tally, with the hit stores are taking because of
COVID-19, any savings they get is a good thing.
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
I live on a private road. Last winter, the waste col-
lection truck didn't make it back during a storm.
Is there any way that we can find out if the truck
won't be back our road?
~ signed Uninformed in
Mill Cove
Dear "Uninformed":
If a storm is a-brewin', listen to CKBW for a can-
cellation notice or call Solid Waste Services at 902-
275-2330. If collection is cancelled, a reschedule date
will be posted on www.chester.ca, on the Munici-
pality's Facebook and Twitter accounts, or an elec-
tronic notice will be sent to your email if you have
subscribed to collection notifications on the web-
site. If it isn't cancelled, make sure your private
road is plowed and salted and that your collection
area is accessible.
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
My Christmas tree is finally out of the house! I
love Christmas as much as the next person, but
when it's been up for so long that you have to dust
it, it's time to say goodbye. What should I do with
it since there isn't a Christmas Tree Collection?
~ signed Twiggy in
New Russell
Dear "Twiggy":
Just put it out for collection on your regular day.
Instead of having a special collection for Christmas
trees, trees are collected as a bulky item that you
can put out every two weeks.
Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m.
WASTE PROGRAM NOTICES
A reminder about some of the lesser known program changes
Below are some reminders about waste pro-
gram changes that might not affect you of-
ten enough to stick in your mind.
• Protective equipment: If you plan on visit-
ing the Landfill and need personal protec-
tive equipment, please bring your own.
We are not lending equipment because
of COVID-19. You don't need protective
equipment to visit the Public Drop-Off or
Household Hazardous Waste site, but if
you are disposing of construction and de-
molition waste, you will be directed to the
collection area near the Landfill itself. Pro-
tective equipment (hard hat, safety boots,
gloves, and vest) are needed in areas be-
yond the Administration Building.
• Used oil and antifreeze containers: These
containers are now banned from landfills
but can be dropped off at our Household
Hazardous Waste site instead. The ban
includes used oil containers (50L or less),
used antifreeze containers (50L or less), oil
filters, diesel exhaust fluid containers (50L
or less), lubricating aerosols, and automo-
tive parts cleaner.
• Paint and paint cans: In addition to paint,
residents can also bring empty paint cans
and empty aerosol paint cans to Kaizer
Meadow for disposal. An alternate loca-
tion is Adam's Bottle Exchange in Gold
River, which is the location of the ENVIRO-
DEPOTTM.
• Paper recycling: Please do not bring boxes
of recyclable paper to the Public Drop-Off
at Kaizer Meadow. When we dump the re-
cycling bins at the Drop-Off into the con-
Recyclable paper is like bleach.
Clean plastic is like your new black pants.
The two don't mix.
(hint: put your clean paper in a separate recycling bag)
tainer that goes to Halifax Regional Munic-
ipality for processing, the boxes open and
the loose paper creates a litter issue. We
have enough litter to pick up as it is! Please
bag your recyclable paper when you bring
it to Kaizer Meadow.
• Christmas trees: You can place your Christ-
mas tree out during regular collection. It
will be collected as a bulky item.
• Items with Freon: Appliances or items with
Freon in them cannot be placed curb-
side for collection, even if the Freon is
removed. Air conditioners, refrigerators,
freezers, some water coolers, and dehu-
midifiers are examples of appliances with
Freon in them. All of those items can be
taken to the Kaizer Meadow Landfill for
disposal.
• Waste Collection Calendar: The 2021
Waste Collection Calendar was sent to
residents through Canada Post in Decem-
ber. You can access it, along with other
valuable information, on our website at
https://chester.ca/waste-recycling. If you
would like a paper copy but didn't receive
one, contact Solid Waste Services at 902-
275-2330 or email solidwaste@chester.ca.
PROPERTY SERVICES
The close-knit community of Africfille, built by descendants of Black Loyalist and Black Refugees, is the 2020 Heritage Day Honouree. https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/7
WINTER STORMS AND DRIVING Be prepared this winter with these tips on winter travel
Severe winter storms and blizzards can re-
sult in school and business closures or early
dismissals, unsafe travel conditions, and wide-
spread utility disruptions. Environment Canada
tracks weather systems to mitigate potential
effects, but winter storms can strike with little
notice.
In the event of an upcoming storm,
• consider your travel requirements and re-
vise plans to stay off the roads if possible;
• pack a vehicle emergency kit including
shovel, blanket, food, booster cables, and
flashlight and put it in your vehicle;
• check on family members and neighbours
for assistance;
• charge battery-operated devices, such as
cell phones, laptops, and radios; and
• consider how you would cope with being
home (shelter in place) for three days or
more, possibly without power, and ensure
you have appropriate supplies. Once you
know how you and your family could cope
and you have the supplies you need, relax
in the knowledge that you have done what
you can. Settle in to enjoy the storm.
If you lose power, notify your electric utility
provider and practice safety measures, such as:
• Have flashlights and battery-powered
lighting ready. If you need to use candles,
place them in a sturdy base and 12" away
from other items.
• Do not bring generators indoors. Ensure
area around generator is well ventilated.
• Select a space heater that shuts off if it tips
over. Also, keep it 3' away from other ob-
jects and turn it off at night.
• Turn off the stove and clear the burners
and oven to prevent a fire when power is
restored.
During or after the storm, clear around your
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.
VILLAGE PLAN REVIEW Review and update coming up to one-year mark
The review and update of the Chester Vil-
lage Secondary Planning Strategy and Land
Use By-law continues to be a priority project for
the Community Development and Recreation
Department. Since beginning in January 2020,
significant progress has been made, including:
• Received applications and formed the
Chester Village Planning Advisory Com-
mittee (VPAC). This group is responsible
to oversee the work of staff and provide
recommendations to Council.
• The Committee meets monthly has and
completed a review of existing Secondary
Planning Strategy policies.
• Staff met with several stakeholder groups
to share information and hear concerns.
Staff also set up a kiosk at several events in
August 2020 to solicit feedback and input
from the public.
While many of the meetings are held virtually,
members of the public can participate by con-
tacting us in advance of the meeting. Groups or
individuals who wish to present or speak to the
Committee may also contact staff to arrange an
appointment.
Over the winter months, the VPAC will con-
tinue to meet to discuss a variety of issues and
topics and ultimately provide direction to staff.
Additionally, drafting of the new documents is
beginning which will lead to additional public
engagement opportunities to be scheduled in
2021.
Please register with the project website to
stay up to date: voicesandchoices.ca/villagere-
view. If you prefer, you may contact staff directly
by phone: 902-275-2599 or email: planning@
chester.ca to ask questions or obtain more in-
formation.
Seconds matter in an emergency. Without clearly
posted civic numbers to guide them, emergency ser-
vice responders can sometimes have difficulty locat-
ing the address of a 911 emergency. Please make
sure that your civic number sign is visible and cleared
of snowbanks!
Emergency services are most familiar with, and pre-
fer, the clearly visible blue and white reflective civic
number signs. You can purchase these signs at the
Municipal Office. Order forms are available at www.
chester.ca/------. Signs cost $14.00 (prepaid). If you
would like a sign mailed to you, please add $3.00 to
cover postage.
Contact Planning and Development Services at (902)
275-2599 or email civicaddress@chester.ca if you
have any questions regarding your civic address.
SNOW AND CIVIC SNOW AND CIVIC
NUMBERSNUMBERS
EMERGENCY MEASURES
outside oil tank, hot water exhausts, furnace
and dryer vents, secondary entrances, and fire
hydrants.
If a severe winter storm traps you in your ve-
hicle, remember these tips:
• Pull off the road and turn hazard lights
on. Remain in your vehicle as rescuers are
most likely to find you there.
• Do not set out on foot unless you can see a
building close by where you can take shel-
ter.
• Conserve fuel. Run the engine and heater
about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm,
cracking a downwind window slightly to
prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Huddle with other passengers and use
your coat for a blanket.
• In extreme cold, use road maps, seat cov-
ers, floor mats, newspapers or extra cloth-
ing for covering - anything to provide ad-
ditional insulation and warmth.
• Once the severe weather has passed, you
may need to leave the car and proceed on
foot. Follow the road where possible.
Tweet of the Week
Our most popular post for December...
Question: why would a hacker send a scam email to the
email address they stole? Shaking our heads...
LinkedIn: Find us on LinkedIn by searching "Municipality of Chester" and
get the latest updates on municipal careers, opportunities for business
and development, and community investment news.
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!
District #1
East Chester, East River to Northwest Cove
Andre Veinotte 902-277-1409
District #2
Simms Settlement, Hubbards to The Lodge
Floyd Shatford 902-275-7868
District #3
Chester and part of East Chester
Danielle Barkhouse 902-277-1624
District #4
Chester Basin and Chester Grant
Allen Webber 902-275-8373
District #5
Gold River to Martins River, including
Beech Hill
Abdella Assaff 902-277-2765
District #6
New Ross
Tina Connors 902-277-1095
District #7
Middle River to Haddon Hill/Windsor Road to
Sherwood
Sharon Church 902-277-1301
Municipal Districts Municipal Districts
and Councillors and Councillors
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BROCHURE?
If you have seen
this brochure in
your mailbox,
please approach
with extreme
enthusiam. Articles
inside are believed
to be entertaining
and informative.
Investigation of
programs should lead
to https://ca.apm.
activecommunities.
com/doc
If you have not seen
this brochure, contact
your local Recreation
Services at 902-275-
3490 immediately.