News & Events

News release: Municipality Giving Away 500 Trees to Residents

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Published: Tuesday, 29 August 2023 10:59

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality is giving away 500 trees to MODL residents in September to promote a greener community. This project is part of the Local Climate Change Action Plan 2030 (LCCAP 2030), which aims to plant 10,000 trees by the end of this decade. This event is open to all residents of MODL, with a limit of two trees (seedling size) per household, on a first come, first served basis. Tree species will include red maple, red oak, red spruce, and white pine.

“By prioritizing 500 community trees for planting by 2023, the Municipality is taking steps toward achieving its long-term goal. This event will contribute to our green canopy and empower citizens to actively participate in environmental conservation efforts,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Planting trees is a meaningful way to combat climate change and enhance the community's overall well-being. Encouraging residents to plant trees on their properties can have several positive effects on the local environment, including improved air quality, increased biodiversity, and enhanced aesthetics.”

Location: Municipal Activity and Recreation Complex (MARC), 33 Leary Fraser Road, Dayspring.
Date: September 9, 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Rain Date: September 10, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Please visit https://engage.modl.ca/tree-planting for more annual tree-planting information.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Launches Food Security Project Surveys

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Published: Friday, 21 July 2023 09:54

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) has launched a local food security project and is seeking resident, business, and producer input.

The two surveys (one for the public and the other focusing on businesses, including schools, restaurants, grocers, retailers, and institutions) will draw a baseline for the current levels of local food consumption, production, and highlight any concerns or issues in our local food system.

To improve local food security, MODL needs to understand how much local food people currently consume in the region.

"By hearing from both consumers and suppliers, we can obtain a comprehensive view of local food consumption patterns,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Using this information, we will begin developing a Local Food Security Action Plan to develop food security programs and strategies.”

One area of MODL’s plan will be establishing a Food Hub. The Food Hub will play a crucial role in addressing food security challenges within the municipality while simultaneously enhancing local food production and distribution.

The Food Hub will act as a centralized facility that connects local farmers, producers, and consumers. It will provide a platform for farmers to collaborate and share resources, leading to increased production and offer a diverse range of local food options.

Both surveys are open until August 8 at engage.modl.ca/local-food-security. Respondents will be entered into a random draw for a chance to win a $25 gift card to a local farmers market or food business.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Negotiating with NEST on the sale of the Former Centre School Property

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Published: Monday, 17 July 2023 15:28

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) and Nest Affordable Living Association (NEST) are pleased to announce that they have entered into negotiations on the sale of the former Centre School property. NEST has proposed a refit of the property into 100 affordable living rental units along with commercial community space. The Mayor and Council are in full support of the proposed project and the desired outcomes for our community.

NEST is currently undertaking environmental and construction refit design/engineering processes that will breathe new life into the former school facility which holds fond memories for thousands across the region.

"We are pleased to be working with the Municipality to bring this important project to our community," says NEST President Matthew Thompson. "We look forward to working together to create a vibrant, sustainable community that will provide much-needed affordable housing for the municipality."

Centre Village will contain 100 deeply affordable living units, ranging from bachelors to three-bedrooms, a social community business' incubator site, 10 commercial spaces, 20 short term rental suites, a café, and a convenience store.

“Like many Nova Scotia municipalities, the Municipality is experiencing a housing crisis,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “We are pleased to be working with NEST and expect Centre Village to provide much-needed affordable housing to the community.”

For more information on Centre Village the Capital Campaign and how you can become part of this project, visit nesthousing.ca.

About

Nest Affordable Living Association based in Bridgewater leads, supports, and builds robust community-based affordable housing throughout Nova Scotia, producing vibrant, healthy, and diverse communities for all Nova Scotians. Additionally, they strengthen the affordable not-for-profit housing sector by building capacity for low to middle income workers and positively impacting housing excellence, providing innovative living solutions and opportunities for their clients.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Awards Annual Grant Funding

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Published: Tuesday, 13 June 2023 14:35

Each year, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg offers an Annual Operating and Major Recreation Capital Grant program to its non-profit groups to support the many volunteers and volunteer groups that make our communities better places to live, work and play.

This year, under the 2023-2024 Annual Operating Grant Program, the Municipality awarded $77,350 to 37 organizations. Under the Major Recreation Capital Grant Program, the Municipality awarded $74,400 to 10 organizations, enabling them to undertake transformative projects that will promote a more vibrant community.

“The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the well-being and vitality of our communities through the Annual Operating and Major Recreation Capital Grant program,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. ‘These funding programs serve as a testament to the profound appreciation we hold for the countless volunteers and volunteer groups that tirelessly work towards making our communities flourish. By providing essential funding, we empower these organizations to enhance the lives of our residents and create spaces where people can live, work, and play.”

Municipal staff will be reaching out to community groups shortly to update them on their grant applications.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services & Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Invites Residents to Have Their Say on Coastal Protection

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Published: Wednesday, 31 May 2023 11:19

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) is developing a new land use bylaw that will impact how development occurs along our coast.

MODL has a responsibility to its residents and our environment to ensure that new homes, businesses, and other structures are not placed in areas that could be at risk of coastal flooding or erosion, while protecting our natural assets from potential harms caused by development.

A Land Use By-law that regulates coastal development is intended to meet two primary objectives:

• Protecting our communities from our coast: Keeping human activity away from the risks posed by coastal erosion and flooding.
• Protecting our coastline from us: Protecting our sensitive coastal ecosystems from the impacts of human activity and development.

“It’s vitally important that we hear from residents on this issue,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Everyone is encouraged to have their say in this process. There are a wide variety of opportunities to get involved, including several in-person open houses, a public workshop, an online survey, an interactive online map, and the opportunity to send in general comments. While we consider the development of the Land Use Bylaw to manage coastal development to be one of our top priorities, we want to ensure that the public has an opportunity to be involved in the process and provide their input as it is imperative that we get this right–the first time.”

Information about this project, including dates and locations on the open houses, can be found at engage.modl.ca/coastal-protection.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328

News release: LaHave River Straight Pipe Replacement Program Complete

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Published: Friday, 28 April 2023 11:00

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality is proud to announce the completion of our commitment to achieving a straight pipe-free Lower LaHave River by 2023.

The LaHave River Straight Pipe Replacement Program was launched in 2017 in the Wastewater Management District (WWMD), encompassing 1,739 properties. Over five construction seasons, 357 on-site sewage disposal systems were installed. The Municipality located qualifying properties by asking owners to provide information about their existing system. If information was not available, MODL accessed the property for inspection. 884 inspections were carried out under the program to locate qualifying properties, with remaining property owners providing proof of a system or enrolling directly into the program.

“Reliable wastewater treatment protects the environment and supports community development. I’m excited to see the improvements in the LaHave River water quality from this project, and the benefits it provides to Nova Scotians. The Government of Canada’s investments are building cleaner, more inclusive communities across the country,” said Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings—Hants, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.

“The LaHave River plays an important role in our community and means a great deal to its residents,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Becky Druhan, on behalf of Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr. “We can all take pride in knowing that our actions will help foster safer, environmentally sustainable communities and help preserve the natural beauty in Nova Scotia.”

The Municipality managed the design and installation of approved on-site septic systems for the property, with the project based on full cost recovery. Any program costs not recoverable via federal and provincial grants were recovered by property owners who benefit from the replacements. The majority of the program costs were eligible for two-thirds cost sharing from the federal and provincial governments. The Government of Canada has invested $5,247,060 in the construction of the LaHave River Straight Pipe Replacement Program through the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-Small Communities Fund.

“I would like to thank the provincial and federal government for their commitment to funding this project, Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation for their work over the past decade to bring this issue to Council and for their hard work in testing and research, Stella Bowles for using her voice to bring this issue to national attention, and the Lunenburg County Community Fund for their million-dollar investment, and commitment to seeing this project happen,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “I must also express gratitude to all the property owners who participated in the program, past and current Councils for their commitment to moving this project forward, and to our Project Manager, Maria Butts, for her exceptional work in finishing this project on time, and on budget.”

The Municipality is proud to have successfully met the objective of removing all straight pipes from the lower LaHave River on time and within funding limits.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
(902) 541-1328
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News release: Municipality Asks Residents to Pledge Not to Mow in May

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Published: Tuesday, 18 April 2023 08:11

April 18, 2023 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – Spring is in the air–are you ready to fire up the lawnmower? The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is hoping you’ll think twice about mowing your lawn this May.

According to the NCC, No Mow May is a call to help wild pollinators and other wildlife in the greenspaces where we live. With habitat loss and degradation as the major cause of wildlife decline, the non-profit land conservation organization is suggesting that keeping your lawn mower in the shed for the month of May can benefit nature.

By letting flowers bloom on your lawn, including dandelions, you can provide an important source of nectar and pollen for wild bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects.
Residents can register for No Mow May Challenge and be entered to win gift cards from local garden centres at engage.modl.ca/NoMowMay. Challenge participants can also pick up their free No Mow May lawn sign from the Municipal Services Building at 10 Allée Champlain Drive during regular business hours, while supplies last.

“No Mow May is a community science initiative that encourages property owners to limit lawn mowing practices during the month of May to provide early season foraging resources for pollinators that emerge in the spring, especially in urban landscapes when few floral resources are available,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “I hope residents will join us in this important initiative.”

MODL acknowledges residents may have concerns about ticks. Recent research has shown that mowing your lawn less often to provide native bees a better habitat won't lead to an increase in disease-carrying ticks. While blacklegged ticks can be found in some yards, blacklegged ticks need near 100% humidity for at least part of the day and prefer areas with significant leaf litter, not lawns.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Passes 2023-24 Budget

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Published: Tuesday, 11 April 2023 12:20

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg approved the 2023-24 operating and capital budgets at the Tuesday, April 11 Council meeting.

The Municipality approved its annual operating budget of $38,936,500 with a $27,700 surplus. The capital budget and Canada Community-Building Fund investment totals $9,420,024. This budget continues the Municipality’s track record of strong financial management, while continuing to meet the needs of residents.

“The commercial and residential tax rate remains unchanged in this budget. While assessed values increased, the percentage change of revenue from property assessments is projected to increase just 6.72%, from $28,607,400 to $30,529,500, and there are significant cost pressures due to inflation,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson.

“Council has a 5-year financial strategy that guides our budgeting decisions. This strategy continues to allow us to invest in our four major areas of priority: Osprey Village Growth Centre, improving our current parks and open spaces, executing on our Climate Change Action Plan, and developing a Coastal Protection Land Use By-law and a comprehensive Municipal Planning Strategy. Council is making major capital investments that will support housing, economic growth, coastal protection, and reaching net-zero emissions. We will continue to be a place where people can live, work and raise families.”

Major Capital Investment Summary by Category 

Water, Wastewater, and Environmental Protection Projects $2,825,000 

Corporate Infrastructure and Accessibility Projects $1,715,000 

Trail Development Projects $1,721,024

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Projects $1,010,000

Parks & Open Space Projects $924,000 

Economic Development Projects $675,000 

Paving Projects - Roads and Shoulders $550,000 

Total $9,420,024

Read the Budget highlights at: www.modl.ca/Budget.

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Media contact:

Elana Wentzell, CPA CMA
Director of Finance and Municipal Treasurer
Municipality of the District of Lunenburg 
(902) 541-1322
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News release: Municipality to Close the Gap by Expediting Coastal Protection Land Use Planning

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Published: Wednesday, 29 March 2023 14:01

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg’s Council passed a motion to direct staff to expedite coastal protection land use planning.

When it comes to regulating coastal development, Municipal Council recognizes that a number of “gaps” currently exist that must be addressed including the creation of coastal protection land use planning by the Municipality and the adoption of the Coastal Protection Act Regulations by the Province. 

“The protection of our shorelines and sensitive coastal ecosystems is the responsibility of both the Province and the Municipality and the time is now for both levels of government to take immediate action to fill these Gaps. The Municipality is moving forward with a plan to resolve the Gap in its jurisdiction by expediting municipal planning for shoreline protection,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. 

Council has directed staff to bring a report and recommendation to the next Council Meeting outlining how MODL can move forward with coastal protection land use planning including a workplan and timeline for the adoption of the Coastal Protection Land Use Bylaw.

“The development on Crescent Beach that has recently received public attention is the latest example of the gap that currently exists between Municipal Bylaws and Provincial Legislation with respect to the protection of our sensitive coastal ecosystems,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “The decision to expedite coastal protection land use planning is intended to close the municipal gap.”

“In addition to directing staff to expedite coastal protection land use planning, Council also directed my office to send correspondence to the Provincial Government requesting that the Province approve and adopt the Coastal Protection Act Regulations immediately so as to close the Provincial gap,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. 

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
(902) 541-1328
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

News release: Municipality Asks Province for a Moratorium on Coastal Development in MODL

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Published: Wednesday, 29 March 2023 14:00

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg’s Council is committed to protecting our coast and shoreline and, to demonstrate that commitment, Council has taken the extraordinary step of requesting a moratorium on coastal development in the Municipality.  

“The use of moratoriums as a tool to limit coastal development while policy is being created is not new to the Maritimes,” said Mayor Bolivar-Getson. “The Province of PEI has recently issued a moratorium on coastal development through Ministerial Order which is intended to be in place until a formal policy can be developed.

“We want to work collaboratively with the Premier and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to enact a moratorium on coastal development until staff can develop a Municipal Coastal Protection Land Use Bylaw approved by Council, or until the adoption of the Coastal Protection Act & Regulations by the Province, whichever comes first,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. 

Municipal Council has directed staff to expedite coastal protection land use planning and the Mayor has been directed to send correspondence to the Provincial Government requesting that the Coastal Protection Act Regulations be adopted immediately. 

“While we recognize the importance of taking the time necessary to develop detailed and clear rules governing shoreline development, Council strongly feels that an interim measure is necessary to pause coastal development until the Provincial Legislation is effective or Municipal Bylaws created,” adds Mayor Bolivar-Getson.  

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
(902) 541-1328
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.