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“ “Keeping you informed about December 2021/January 2022Keeping you informed about December 2021/January 2022
your municipal government” your municipal government”
In the Municipality of the District of Chester this winter...
Welcome Aboard! Let it Snow! Taking care of business...
Derek Wells joins us Winter can be a fun time We have launced a website
around the Council of year, but are you pre- focused on investment and
table. See Page 2. pared for storms? Page 3. businesses (Page 4).
It's no mystery how Oak Island continues to in-
trigue people worldwide. The Island, and the
history behind it, has been local legend for de-
cades. You can find tidbits of lore, historical ac-
counts, and artifacts throughout the area, and, at
one time, a band called the Oak Island Mysteries
played at local venues and even recorded an al-
bum.
Now, thanks to Rick and Marty Lagina, their
team, and The Curse of Oak Island, the mystery
is more alive than ever and fans can virtually wit-
ness the thrill of treasure hunting via small screen.
The Curse of Oak Island is in its ninth sea-
son on the History Channel and doc-
uments the victories and tribula-
tions of Rick and Marty as they,
along with their team, uncov-
er the Island's past through
science, research, and plenty
of perseverance.
Eyes around the world are
on Oak Island, but what some
people are not aware of is how
the good work of Rick and his
friends is benefitting charitable
organizations around the Province.
In 2017, Rick recognized a unique oppor-
tunity. With the help of Geologist Terry Matheson,
Rick collected discarded samples from The Curse
of Oak Island's 2017 drill program. Documented
samples were carefully selected and crafted into
necklaces designed by Rick Lagina. These unique
pieces were sold exclusively at the Oak Island In-
terpretive Centre for the benefit of the IWK Chil-
dren’s Hospital in Halifax.
Demand for necklaces from Oak Island fans,
who may never make it to the Island in person,
was so great that Rick and Oak Island Tours gra-
OAK ISLAND STILL HOLDS MYSTERY Treasure hunter and his team add a creative and charitable twist to the Oak Island legacy
Waste Collection starts at 7:00 a.m.
An aerial of Oak Island.
Photo courtesy of Oak Island Resort
and Conference Centre, Western Shore
Inset: Smith's Cove
ciously agreed to sell them online. Auctions are
held annually with all profits given to local chari-
ties (60% for local healthcare through the Health
Services Foundation).
The Oak Island Shares The Dream online auc-
tions and Facebook Live streams may not have
been as widely televised as the hit show, but re-
sults have been just as spectacular.
In October 2019, the Oak Island Shares the
Dream Auction raised over $19,000 for the Health
Services Foundation of the South Shore, the Col-
chester East Hants Hospice Society, and the Nova
Scotia Health Authority.
Proceeds from the auction came
from 200 drill core samples col-
lected from Oak Island and
signed by Rick Lagina, Marty
Lagina, Craig Tester, and Dan
Blankenship as well as 20
original stone necklaces de-
signed and crafted by Rick
himself. Rick collected the
stones during his work on the
Island, cut and polished them,
and created each unique necklace.
Despite COVID-19 putting a damper
on pretty much all activities, the 2020 auction,
Oak Island Shares the Dream: Take 2, raised over
$31,000 for the Health Services Foundation of the
South Shore and the Colchester East Hants Hos-
pice Society.
Mike Francis with the Colchester-East Hants
Hospice worked closely with Rick and Terry
Matheson in packing core samples for auctions.
Both Terry and Charles Barkhouse hosted a live
feed on the final night of the auction from the
Interpretive Centre on Oak Island to auction off
core samples from different holes and packed by
the television series cast, necklaces designed and
hand-crafted by Rick, shirts worn by Jack Bagley
during the filming of The Curse of Oak Island, cast
and crew yearbooks from 2013 to 2018, copies of
the Money Pit map, and rustic picture frames.
But the giving doesn't stop there. The Oak Island
Memories store hosted on Etsy has sold 944 neck-
laces, individual stones and key chains. All of the
profits were given to local families in need, Atlan-
tic Provinces Special Education Authority for the
deaf, hard of hearing, and the visually blind (AP-
SEA), and Brigadoon Village.
So thank you, Mr. Lagina, for your contributions
to various charities in Nova Scotia. Your commu-
nity spirit and generosity have touched thousands
of lives, and your legacy of superstar far surpasses
your status of Oak Island celebrity!
Thank you to Marty, Terry, Dan, Craig, Charles,
Jack, and all of the cast members and contribu-
tors of The Curse of Oak Island. We appreciate and
have much respect for your work on Oak Island
and your willingness to share your knowledge,
stories, and experience with us and the world.
For more information on The Curse of Oak Is-
land, visit https.//www.history.ca.
Tina Connors, Councillor for District #6, approaches the Cenotaph in New Ross
on November 11, 2021. Councillors are honoured to represent the Municipality
of Chester every year during Remembrance Day services in Western Shore,
Chester Basin, New Ross, Chester, and Hubbards. Photo credit: Hugh Harper
COUNCIL & GOVERNANCEMessage from
the Warden
I would first like to start by welcoming
Councillor Derek Wells to our team.
Derek was sworn in as Councillor
for District #3 on November 25.
Congratulations on your successful
campaign, Derek, and I look forward to
working with you over the next three
years.
November 25 was a big day all around
for our Municipality. Later that evening,
we received an early Christmas present.
I was invited to attend the Screen Nova
Scotia Awards Ceremony where we
received their Community Recognition
Award.
This award represents our ongoing
willingness to welcome and support
the film industry in our communities as
well as our understanding of the overall
economic and social value that it brings
to the Municipality of Chester.
We have a long-standing working
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
2
relationship with the film industry, and
it was a pleasure to join them and meet
so many of them in person for the first
time.
It takes the support of the whole
community to make this successful and
be recognized for our efforts. So, thanks
and congratulations to you all. We hope
to build on this relationship and will be
having ongoing discussion with them on
the challenges to overcome and build
on our success.
Well, Santa Claus is coming and our
community organizations are gearing up
for a wide variety of events all across the
Municipality. Please get out and enjoy
them. Stay safe and Merry Christmas to
you all!
Office Closures: Please refer to the back page
for holiday hours and waste collection infor-
mation. Christmas trees can be put out during
regular collection.
Tax Sale: The rescheduled Tax Sale will take
place on Tuesday, January 11 at 10:00 a.m. at
the Chester Legion. A storm date has been set
for January 18, same time and place.
Gold River Bridge: The Gold River Trail Bridge
remains closed for public use. The assessment
report that brought the safety issues to light
is online at https://chester.ca/news/bridge-
closure. We have applied for federal funding
and hope to have options to present soon.
Fire Services Drone: Council approved the pur-
chase of a drone and operating costs. Drones
can provide thermal and visual imagery to allow
for rapid detection of fire locations. They can
monitor hot spots during wildfires when crews
cannot and provide critical information needed
to attack the fire. During structural firefight-
ing, the integrity of the building and the risk of
second fires can be evaluated quickly. The cost
of the drone, including HST, is $9,898.05 and is
shared equipment between fire departments
serving residents of the Municipality of Chester.
Committee Appointments: Patricia Bates was
appointed to the Recreation & Parks Committee
for a three-year term. Carol Nauss and Robert
Young are now members of the Heritage Advi-
sory Committee, each for a one-year term, and
Robert Mitchell is the newest member of the
Landfill Advisory Committee (two-year term).
We are grateful for citizen participation and
thank all of you for giving your time, expertise,
and insight for the benefit of our communities.
IN BRIEF...
WELCOME, COUNCILLOR WELLS!
Derek Wells elected as municipal representative in District #3
A warm welcome to Derek Wells, newly elect-
ed Councillor for District #3 (Village of Ches-
ter and part of East Chester)!
Derek served as the Municipality's Solicitor for
over 20 years until he was elected as Member of
Parliament in 1993. He returns to the Municipal-
ity, this time as an elected official.
The confirmed results of the November 13 Elec-
tion are:
Annette Collicutt 99
Jo-Ann Grant 164
Derek Wells 461
We thank all of the candidates for participating
in the Election. Campaigning is hard work, and
your commitment to your fellow residents has not
gone unnoticed. It was a pleasure to work with
you during the election, and we wish the best for
you.
Derek was sworn in at the November 25 Council
meeting and began his work as your representa-
tive immediately. His committee and appoint-
ment portfolio will be posted on our website once
the Nominating Committee meets and gives their
recommendations to the rest of Council.
Residents can reach Derek by email at dwells@
chester.ca or by telephone at 902-277-2263. Wel-
come, Derek!
Council approved a list of J-Class roads to sub-
mit to the Province for consideration under
our cost-sharing agreement.
The agreement allows the Municipality to sug-
gest eligible roads for the NS Department of Public
Works to resurface if their schedule permits. MOC
pays 50% of the cost while the Province pays the
other half.
The Province will review our submission as well
as those from other municipalities, and let us
know if any of the roads will be added to their fu-
ture work plan, which is dependent on budget and
workforce. The roads submitted are listed below
alphabetically.
• Adams Rd., Western Shore
• Brunswick St., Village of Chester
ROAD REPAIR
MOC offers list for 5-year plan
• Myra Rd., Western Shore
• Stevens Rd., East Chester
• Walker Rd., Village of
Chester
• Valerie Ave., Chester Basin
• Forest Village Rd., Simms
Settlement
• Main St., Village of Chester
• Union St., Village of Chester
ooopsies...
We made a mistake in our last is-
sue of municipal insight. On page 7,
Boss or Bust (#6), we mistakenly said
that Bell plans to complete an Inter-
net project in the New Russell area
in the summer of 2023. In fact, it is
2022. For updates on rural Internet,
visit https://www.voicesandchoices.
ca/ruralinternet
3
COUNCIL & GOVERNANCE
WINTER PREPAREDNESS
Are you prepared for potential power outages?
Winter brings blizzards, cold weather, heavy
snow, and freezing rain, and can cause
power outages. Planning now for what to do in a
winter power outage is important.
Winter Power Outage Tips
Power outages may leave you without heat,
lights, hot water, or possibly running water.
• If you have a landline, have a corded phone
not just a cordless phone. Cordless landline
phones may not work during an outage.
• Monitor news broadcasts with a battery-
powered or crank radio.
• Install a non-electric heat source, like a
stand-by stove or heating unit that is not de-
pendent on electricity.
• If you have a wood-burning stove/fireplace,
clean the chimney every fall to eliminate
creosote build-up which could ignite and
cause a chimney fire. That's the last thing
you need during a winter storm.
• Things to consider when using an emergen-
cy generator:
• Generators produce carbon monoxide
(CO), a poisonous, toxic engine exhaust,
so it's important to operate generators
outdoors in a well-ventilated area, away
from the garage, doors, windows, and
vents.
• Turn the generator off and let it cool
down before refueling. Gasoline spilled
on hot engine parts could ignite.
• Generators do not need to run constant-
ly. For example, fridges and freezers can
be on the generator every 3-6 hours to
keep things cold.
Life-Saving Electrical Devices
People who require electricity to sustain life,
(for example those who require power for their
medical devices) should take extra precautions to
prepare for a power outage.
• Create a power outage safety plan.
• Plan for a backup power supply for essential
medical equipment.
• Establish a self-help network to assist and
check on you during an emergency.
• Know which family/friend/neighbours have
power or back-up power so you can go there.
• Keep a flashlight and a cell phone handy to
signal for help.
• Know your evacuation route without eleva-
tor service (if applicable).
• Enroll in a medical alert program that will
signal for help if you are immobilized.
• Keep a list of medical conditions and treat-
ments.
• Call your electric utility provider and get
added to their Critical Customer List.
• If you live in an apartment, advise the prop-
erty management that you may need assis-
tance or that you must be evacuated if there
is a power outage.
The Regional Emergency Management Organi-
zation serves the Municipality of Chester and has
launched a new comprehensive website along
with a Facebook page and refreshed Twitter ac-
count. Please follow or search Lunenburg REMO
online to get invaluable information about pre-
paring for emergencies, staying-in-place, status
updates, and tips for any type of potential emer-
gency, including winter storms and power out-
ages.
For information on preparing for 72 hours and
comfort centres, you can also visit https://chester.
ca/public-safety/emergency-measures/comfort-
centres-and-preparing-for-72-hours.
Chester Municipal Grant Programs.
“Fun”ding communities.
Every year, the Municipality of Chester improves communities by funding many non-profit
community groups and youth through our grant programs.
• Council Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31.
• Council District Grants - contact the Councillor for your district.
• Economic Development Sponsorship - contact Economic Development at 902-275-4138.
• Tourism Grants - application deadlines of May 31 and October 31.
• Major Projects Grants - application deadline for 2022 is January 31.
• Recreation Grants - application deadline for 2022 is October 1.
• PRO Kids - applications received all year round.
• Youth Sponsorship Grants - applications received all year round.
All grant programs have eligibility requirements. Download the guidelines and applications at
www.chester.ca/government/grants-and-sponsorship or telephone 902-275-3490 and let us
help you choose the grant program that’s right for you.
Like many other
organizations, we need
staff.
Visit chester.ca/
employment or
call 902-275-4109.
We need:
Financial analyst | Systems analyst
Public Works Director | Wastewater
Engineer | Landfill Labourer |
Director of Infrastructure/Operations
EMERGENCY MEASURES
4
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Friday, Dec. 10 Community Variety
Show
Chester Legion, 7:30pm. Call the Chester
Playhouse Box Office at 902-275-3933.
Saturday, Dec. 11 Christmas at the
Barn
Hubbards Barn, 9am-1pm. Visit www.
hubbardsbarn.org.
Sunday, Dec. 12 Giving Tree Final day for giving to Christmas Daddies
program at Chester United Baptist Church.
Sunday, Dec. 15 Sing Choirs, Concert
of Seasonal Music
St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Chester,
7:30pm.
Saturday, Dec. 18
Food & Toy Drop-off
(Pet Supplies too!)
Chester Basin Volunteer Fire Department,
2-4pm. Santa will be there!
Sweets for the
Holiday Season
Fundraiser for New Ross Legion. Pick-up
1-4pm. Call 902-877-4222. Order by Dec. 11
Sunday, Dec. 19
Breakfast with Santa Forties Community Centre, 8-11am.
Reemy Smith Chester Legion, 7:30pm. For tickets, call the
Playhouse Box Office at 902-275-3933.
Special Christmas
Music Chester United Baptis Church, 10:30am
Friday, Dec. 24 Candlelight Service Canaan United Baptist Church, 5pm.
Chester United Baptist Church, 7pm.
Saturday, Jan. 1 New Year's Day
Levee New Ross Legion, 1-4pm.
Saturday, Jan. 15 Take-Out Supper New Ross Legion, 4-6pm. Deadline to pre-
order is Jan. 12. Call 902-275-8585.
Mondays Social Tea New Ross Legion.
Mondays &
Thursdays Public Skate Chester Rink, 10-11am, until mid-March.
Wednesdays Public Skate Chester Rink, 2:15-3:30pm, until mid-March.
Thursdays Bingo New Ross Legion, 7-10pm.
Saturdays Public Skate Chester Rink, 6:30-7:45pm, until mid-March.
Sundays Advent Services Chester United Baptist Church, 10:30am.
COVID PROTOCOLS APPLY TO COMMUNITY EVENTS. Please prepare to show proof of
vaccine and wear your mask.
Email events and posters to recreation@chester.ca to have them included on our
website, this newsletter, Recreation & Parks' Facebook page, and in a weekly events
column published in a local newspaper.
THE 4-H CONNECTION
4-H Clubs valuable to communities and kidsIt's always nice to see members of the com-
munity using a public facility, like the New
Ross Fairgrounds' outdoor rink on the right. This
picture was taken last season and, as luck would
have it, we not only captured kids from the com-
munity, but also a few 4-H members.
Members of the local Handy Hands 4H Club as
well as neighbouring Hill n' Dale 4H Club were out
enjoying the weather when they agreed to stop
for a quick chat and photo.
If you're not familiar with 4-H, it is a nationwide
youth organization whose motto is "Learn To Do
by Doing". The first 4-H club in NS was organized
in Heatherton, Antigonish County, in 1922. Today,
there are 75 clubs in Nova Scotia with over 2,400
members!
Katie Hirtle, leader for the Handy Hands 4-H
Club, feels that 4-H provides youth with valuable
and positive experiences, encourages community
involvement, and teaches skills that members car-
ry with them throughout their life. She, herself,
was involved in 4-H as a child and developed life-
long friendships.
Photo contributed by Tina Connors,
Councillor for District #6.
Katie explained that the 4-H
program is accredited national-
ly and has more to offer today's
youth than the traditional agri-
cultural programming. In addi-
tion to regional events, such as
skating parties at local outdoor
rinks, there are various projects
and competitions available to
4-H clubs participants.
Projects and competitions
are designed to develop skills,
advance technical ability, and
build life experiences. Some
of the project options for members are sewing,
crafts, small engines, veterinary science, welding,
woodworking, photography, heritage, scrapbook-
ing, and livestock.
Competitions take place across the province and
can range between entertainment, local foods,
public speaking, recycling, and agriculture.
Besides projects and competitions, members
can attend camps and courses as well as have
opportunities for high school credits and scholar-
ships. There is plenty to "Learn To Do by Doing"!
The Municipality of Chester is fortunate to be
home to two 4-H Clubs: Handy Hands and Two
Bays. For more information about 4-H, to find
a club, or to find out about volunteering, visit
https://4hnovascotia.ca.
Special thanks to Katie Hirtle for speaking with
us and to Tina Connors, Councillor for District #6,
for bringing us into the conversation!
The Municipality of Chester (MOC) has an ongoing commitment to investment attraction, business support services, and commercial
infrastructure. This commitment encourages entrepreneurship, supports sustainable development, and strengthens the commercial
tax base. One of our goals is to become "investment ready" by promoting our economic sectors, such as arts/culture and construc-
tion, and positioning MOC as a community of choice for residents, businesses, and organizations. Visit www.investchester.ca to learn
more about how we are attracting new business, like Nanotech Eco Solutions CDN Inc who are showcased below!
The Municipality of
Chester is in business!
www.investchester.ca
If you
own a commeri-
cal property and want
to sell or lease, contact us
to have it added to www.invest-
chester.ca under the ‘Sites and
Buildings’ page. Commercial realtors
with clients looking for commercial
properties will often frequent our
site for potential sites. Please con-
tact Erin Lowe, Senior Economic
Development Officer, at 902-
275-4138 or ecodev@
chester.ca.
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Shout out to Nanotech Eco Solutions CDN Inc.! Nanotech is locally owned and operated on
Windsor Road (near the RCMP Detachment) and has recently opened their virtual doors at
https://nescdn.ca.
Their cleaning products - PUREnes - are 100% organic, completely non-toxic, and biodegrad-
able, cleaning with "technology, not chemistry!" Browse the wide selection of products on
their new online store or follow them on Instagram @nescanada.
Watch for more business profiles in future editions of municipal insight!
PROPERTY SERVICES
6
Dear Shabby,
I ordered a green cart because mine is broken, but
the Municipality tells me that I can't get another
one right now because they are on back-order. To
top it off, they don't even have an ETA. What
kind of operation are you guys running over there
anyways?
~ signed Up to My Eyeballs in Beech Hill
Dear “Eyeballs”:
It's true. We have no green carts and won't have
any for the forseeable future. I'd love to pass the
Dear Shabby
Friendly waste disposal advice
buck, but how can you blame a virus? Like the hon-
eybadger, it just don't care. We have a back order of
more than enough, but like many other municipali-
ties and retail outlets, we are waiting on delays in
the supply chain. In the meantime, you can use pa-
per yard bags for your compost as long as they aren't
too heavy, an alternate container (bucket or tote),
your existing cart if possible (secure with bungees
or cover until just before collection), or we can lend
you a smaller cart (40L) to return later.
***********************************************
Dear Shabby,
What's up with Christmas tree collection this
year? Is there one?
~ signed Preparing for the Needle Storm
on Windsor Road
Dear "Preparing":
No special collection for trees. Just put it out with
your regular waste on your regular day.
Happy holidays to all my waste-reducing friends
out there! I did not buy you gifts, but I did make
you something from the heart.
Recyclable paper is like eating OreosTM.
Clean plastic is like brushing your teeth.
The two don't mix.
(hint: put your clean paper in a separate
recycling bag)
DRAFT LAKESIDE ZONE PROPOSED
The Municipality is interested in learning what your think about it
In recent years Council has heard increasing requests
from residents and property owner associations
seeking protection for residential lakefront communi-
ties. This type of development, sometimes referred to
as “cottage country” is found on many lakes in the Mu-
nicipality and has seen steady growth in recent years.
Typically, these developments are clusters of seasonal
and year-round homes built near lakeshores and often
accessed by one or more private roads.
The requests to Council have been seeking pro-
tection from large commercial uses (such as camp-
grounds, RV parks and other uses that increase traffic
and pressure on the lake) as well as calls for regula-
tions aimed at environmental protection. These calls
are in response to noted decreases in water quality,
including more frequent algal blooms, which can pose
a serious health risk to lake users, pets and wildlife.
In response to these requests, staff have created a
new zone to provide protection from commercial uses
and to implement environmental protections. The
zone is being created as a “floating zone” meaning
that it will only be considered upon a request from an
individual or group of residents. Council would consid-
er the request and determine whether a staff report
should be prepared to move forward with rezoning.
Although anyone can request rezoning, Council will be
looking for support from neighbours and other prop-
erty owners in making a decision whether to proceed
with rezoning.
The Lakeside Zone has been drafted with the follow-
ing policy objectives:
• To protect water quality (the primary purpose of
the Lakeside (LS) zone);
• To safeguard essential character of lakefront
residential areas;
• To prohibit commercial and industrial uses;
• To provide for and protect lakefront residential
communities comprised of detached, single-
family homes, and residential use types compat-
ible with quiet, family-living environment;
• To enable low density residential development
on lands surrounding lakes while protecting the
sensitive riparian environment;
• To provide flexibility to recognize pre-existing
development patterns and the hardship of strict
limitations on property owners; and
• The protection of water quality in the Lakeside
(LS) zone shall take priority in the event of a con-
flict between residential and recreational uses
and water quality.
Key regulations that would be introduced to proper-
ties which are rezoned to the Lakeside Zone include:
• A limit of 1-2 dwelling units per lot;
• No commercial or industrial use (except the
home-based businesses described below);
• Home-based businesses permitted, such as
home offices, craft workshops, and professional
services;
• Maintain vegetation within 10m of high water
mark. This is known as a vegetated buffer, with
allowances to clear up to 30% of the area to pro-
vide access to the lake and to remove any dis-
eased or dead vegetation;
• Newly created lots must be at least 0.4 hectares
(1 acre) in area;
• Forestry processing, defined as processing raw
materials into a product (ie. milling), will be reg-
ulated and permitted in the zone. Note: forestry
processing does not include cutting and hauling
trees, which is a provincially-regulated activity.
These activities may occur in compliance with
any applicable provincial regulations;
• Farm animals permitted but regulated to ensure
adequate lot size and setbacks are in place;
• Recreational vehicles (RVs) permitted with appli-
cation for a Development Permit. RVs are limited
to one per lot, unless there are no other dwell-
ing units, in which case two RVs are permitted;
On October 28, 2021 Council gave First Reading to
the draft Lakeside Zone. This is the first step in adopt-
ing the new zone. Council also set a date for a Pub-
lic Hearing for Thursday, January 27, 2022, beginning
at 6:30pm in Municipal Council Chambers, 151 King
Street, Chester.
The Public Hearing is an opportunity for members of
the public to speak in favour or against the draft zone.
Residents may also submit written comments for con-
sideration at the Public Hearing. Written submissions
should be addressed to Pam Myra, Municipal Clerk, PO
Box 369, Chester, NS B0J 1J0 and must be received no
later than Thursday January 21 at 4:00pm.
For information or to obtain a copy of the staff re-
port and draft amendments, please contact the Com-
munity Development Department at 902-275-2599 or
email planning@chester.ca.
PROPERTY SERVICES
7
GIVE ME A BREAK... ON TAXES!
Do you qualify for an exemption or reduction on property taxes?
Do you qualify for a property tax exemption?
You may if both of the following apply:
1. The total income from all assessed owners,
including spouses and common law spouses,
residing at the property, and total income
from those persons who hold an interest in
the property and contribute to the house-
hold income together is less than $27,203 in
the 2020 calendar year.
2. Although all owners do not have to live in
the residence, it must be a principal dwell-
ing of the owner applying for the exemption.
Exemptions are only for the residential and
waste collection portion of your current property
tax on your principal residence.
The maximum exemption amount is $771 based
on total income and determined at the Munici-
pal Office. The exemption for the current fiscal
year (April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022) will expire
on March 31, 2022. Proof of income is required.
Please bring your 2020 Notice of Assessment from
Revenue Canada with you.
Please contact the Municipal Office at 902-275-
3554 to see if you qualify.
Provincial Seniors Property Tax Rebate
This program is administered by Service Nova
Scotia and designed to help eligible seniors re-
main in their homes by providing them with an
annual rebate on their municipal property taxes.
The rebate provides eligible homeowners with a
50% rebate of their municipal property taxes paid
the previous year, up to a maximum of $800. The
deadline to apply is December 31, 2021.
You must meet the following conditions to qual-
ify under this program:
• Applicants must be on the Guaranteed In-
come Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance
(or eligible as of January 2021). To find out if
you qualify for the GIS or the Allowance, call
Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914.
• 2020/21 property taxes must be paid in full.
• At the time of application, applicants must
be an owner of - and regularly reside at -
the property for which the rebate is being
claimed.
For more information regarding the Seniors
Property Tax Rebate (or if you are a new appli-
cant), please call 1-800-670-4357.
Since our last report, we received nine complaints.
Frustrated with login: Although it can be frustrating,
we have "ReCaptcha" enabled on some of our online
applications to prevent bots from spamming or hacking
us. One of the applications we have to take this step
with is ActiveNet, our online registration platform for
Recreation programming. ReCAPTCHA shows the user
a series of photos, from which the user has to click
certain images. While it's an extra step, ReCAPTCHA
helps us block a significant number of webcrawlers
and bots.
Trail bridges in disrepair: We received two complaints
about the deterioration of two trail bridges in Goat
Lake. Thank you for the messages! Both bridges were
repaired and the file closed.
Unsightly Premises: These complaints are given
to our By-Law Enforcement Officer, and a solution is
usually worked out with the property owner.
Barking dog: Our Animal Control Officer is available
by calling 902-275-0017.
Bike lanes suggested: We received
a suggestion to install bike lanes on
Highway 329. We are meeting with the
staff of the NS Department of Public Works (formerly
Transportation) as they own and control roads. DPW
has been open to working with us during past paving
projects to include options for active transportation
funded by MOC. We have provided funding to support
this type of project in the past in the Chester and
Chester Basin areas and will plan to continue this
practice in the future.
Fallen trees: We were alerted to a large tree that fell
in the new parking lot and trail in East River and at the
trail entrance on Regent Street, Chester. Thank you!
Between Public Works and Recreation staff, both trees
were removed.
Green carts: We are still awaiting delivery of our
green cart order. If you need to order one, please call
us at 902-275-2330 and we will add you to the list.
Sometimes we receive complaints that belong to
other organizations as we do not have authority to
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 on our website at
www.chester.ca/uhoh
Coming in to see us at 151 King Street in
Chester.
BOSSBOSS oror BUSTBUST act. We generally recommend reaching out to those
organizations. These complaints were:
• Provincial road sign missing (NS Department of
Public Works)
• Public location not accessible (non-profit
organization)
• Offensive lighting (private business)
• Dead wildlife on trail (NS Department of Lands
and Forestry)
SERVICE DELIVERY
ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE HUBBARDS AREA:
If you are planning to replace your business sign, or put one up for the first
time, the Municipality of Chester is starting a uniform signage pilot project in
that area. Before purchasing and erecting a new sign, please call Erin Lowe at
902-275-4138 to discuss your options.
SOLID WASTE GENERAL REMINDERS
Some things to remember when dealing with your waste
In case you forget about some of the more in-
frequently asked questions about solid waste,
let us remind you. Below is a reference to waste
situations that you may not come across too of-
ten, but are still important to know.
Boxed paper should NOT be delivered to Kaizer
Meadow Landfill. Recyclable paper needs to be
bagged. If not, it creates a litter issue when staff
dump the bin at Public Drop-off into the container
that goes for processing.
Ammunition, smoke canisters and flares of any
kind do NOT belong in the garbage, blue bag or
green cart. Please take these potentially danger-
ous items to local RCMP.
Aerosol cans (empty or full), propane tanks
(small and large), and batteries do NOT belong
in garbage. Kaizer Meadow accepts these items.
Items with Freon cannot be placed curbside for
pick up. Those items have to be brought to Kaizer
Meadow Landfill.
Secure your load before coming to Kaizer Mead-
ow. Blowing waste is a hazard.
Collection sites (Mill Lake, Lakeshore Drive in
particular) are meant for the residents who live
on these roads, not illegal dumping.
Frozen green carts are a pain to deal with. To
keep your cart contents from freezing solid and
sticking, consider using paper liners, spraying the
inside of your cart with vegetable oil, straining liq-
uids from compostable items before placing in the
cart, or wrapping your wet stuff in newspaper.
New Waste Collection Calendar for 2022 will
soon be in your mailbox.
Empty paint cans are now accepted by our paint
program. Please bring your empty cans to Kaizer
Meadow Landfill or Adams' Bottle Exchange.
Used oil and antifreeze containers cannot be
thrown in the regular garbage. Used oil and glycol
containers can be dropped off at Kaizer Meadow's
household hazardous waste site.
Protective equipment is no longer on loan at
Kaizer Meadow. Please bring the required PPE if
you are visiting the non-public area of the Landfill.
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 alerts on 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.
Tweet of the Week
Our most popular post for October/November...
For more information on pregnancy and infant loss, visit https://
www.iwk.nshealth.ca/page/pregnancy-and-newborn-loss or call
211. You can also find support at http://www.gardensofgrace.ca/
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 updates and notifications about municipal
issues.
Facebook: Search ChesterMunicipality or ChesterRecParks 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
Derek Wells 902-277-2263
District #4
Chester Basin and Chester Grant
Allen Webber 902-275-8373
Municipal Districts and CouncillorsMunicipal Districts and Councillors
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
Contact Us!Contact Us!
Community Development & Recreation
Building/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 (incl Rebates) 902-275-3554
FOIPOP Officer 902-275-3554
Infrastructure & Operations
Public Works/Wastewater 902-275-1312
Solid Waste/Landfill 902-275-2330
Corporate & Strategic Management
General Inquiries 902-275-4147
Communications 902-275-4107
Council Inquiries 902-275-4109
Economic Development 902-275-4138
Administration Offices are observing the following holiday schedule:
Friday, December 24, 2021 CLOSING at noon
Monday, December 27, 2021 CLOSED in lieu of Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 CLOSED in lieu of Boxing Day
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 CLOSED
Thursday, December 30, 2021 CLOSED
Friday, December 31, 2021 CLOSED
Monday, January 3, 2022 CLOSED in lieu of New Year’s Day
Tuesday, January 4, 2022 OPEN for regular hours
The Kaizer Meadow Environmental Management Centre (Landfill) schedule
over the holiday season is:
Saturday, December 25, 2021 CLOSED for Christmas Day
Saturday, January 1, 2022 CLOSED for New Year's Day
Waste collection will not be impacted over the holidays.
Happy Holidays
from Council
and Staff
Thanks to a BELL Lets Talk Community Fund grant, a
Mental Health Walk-In Clinic happens every Tuesday
from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Our Health Centre. At this
clinic, we
• provide FREE 50 minute therapeutic appoint-
ments for individuals struggling with mild to
moderate mental health concerns who are not
currently connected to a therapist;
• provide a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental
space for individuals who are struggling;
• connect individuals to local community organi-
zations, resources and supports;
• offer resources and strategies to effectively
manage and cope with concerns such as anxiety,
depression, grief and addiction;
• offer virtual or telephone appointments for in-
dividuals who are not able to attend in person;
• refer to community partners and agencies best
suited to provide support on an on-going basis;
• provide psycho-education related to mental
health care and treatment.
This is not an emergency service. If you are experi-
encing a mental health crisis, you will be redirected to
the nearest emergency room. If you are experiencing a
mental health crisis DO NOT report to our clinic; please
call 911 or report to your local emergency room.
To book an appointment and to find out more about
the program, please call Erin at 902-273-2098 on Tues-
days starting at 3:00 pm.