News & Events

News release: Upgraded wastewater and active transportation infrastructure to benefit residents of Town of Lunenburg and Municipality of the District of Lunenburg

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Published: Monday, 13 March 2023 11:28

Read the complete news release from the Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2023/03/upgraded-wastewater-and-active-transportation-infrastructure-to-benefit-residents-of-town-of-lunenburg-and-municipality-of-the-district-of-lunenburg.html

News release: MODL and TOB Funding Tiny Shelter Grant Program

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Published: Thursday, 19 January 2023 14:52

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and the Town of Bridgewater will share in funding the Town’s new Tiny Shelter Grant Program through a commitment of $15,000 from each municipality.

In November 2022, the Town of Bridgewater made amendments to its Grants to Organizations policy to create the Tiny Shelter Grant Program. The program is designed to financially assist organizations interested in acquiring and hosting a tiny shelter on their property.

Thanks to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg’s contribution, the funds available through the program have been doubled. Qualifying organizations are now eligible to be awarded a grant of up to $2,000 for one season (November 1, 2022 to May 1, 2023) and a grant of up to $6,000 for three seasons, from 2022-23 to 2024-25.

“I want to say a huge thank you to Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson and the councillors from the District of Lunenburg,” said Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell following the January 16 Town Council meeting at which recent amendments to the policy were finalized.

“This was not prompted – it was the Municipality coming to the Town and saying that they would like to be a part of the program,” he added. “We really appreciate their contribution to the program, and it will have a major positive impact for those struggling to find shelter locally.”

The cost of a single tiny shelter can range from $10,000 to $15,000, not including furnishings, utility hookups, or site preparation, meaning a significant portion of the cost is still shared by the hosting organization. The new funds, the mayors agreed, will be a big help in a time of need.

“Currently, there are two tiny shelters in Bridgewater, and we know there have been ongoing conversations for additional tiny shelters with other community partners,” said Mayor Bolivar-Getson. “We believe this jointly funded grant will offer greater assistance to the community organizations helping those in need in the community.”

Media contacts:

Patrick Hirtle
Manager of Community Attraction and Communications
Town of Bridgewater
902-930-1382
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Alex Dumaresq
Deputy CAO
Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
(902) 541-1332
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News release: Municipality Receives High Marks from Business Owners

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Published: Tuesday, 10 January 2023 16:20

January 10, 2023 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, along with the municipalities of Chester and Queens, undertook a Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) survey for business owners this past fall.

The goal of the survey was to better understand the plans and needs of local businesses and how business owners or managers view the community as a place to do business. MODL is pleased to report that the Municipality exceeded regional and national scores in many areas.

MODL’s Net Promoter Score of +31% was well above the regional average of +21%. The Net Promoter Score is a widely used market research metric. MODL was scored on the question I would recommend this Municipality to another business looking to expand or relocate. Of 100 respondents, 91% somewhat agree or strongly agree with this statement. To the question, Overall, how satisfied are you with The Municipality as a place to own and operate a business? 95% of respondents somewhat agree or strongly agree.

MODL scored the highest in the areas of Municipal marketing efforts to advertise the region (social media, web presence, etc.) (87% somewhat or strongly agree), Ability of the Municipality to attract tourists (85% somewhat or strongly agree), Ability of the Municipality to attract new residents (85% somewhat or strongly agree), and Availability of retail space (85% somewhat or strongly agree).

MODL scored lowest in Availability of skilled labour (31% somewhat or strongly agree) and Availability of health and medical services (33% somewhat or strongly agree).

As identified by survey respondents, their top priorities for MODL are:

1. Availability of health and medical services
2. Availability of adequate housing
3. Availability of funding programs for business and property improvement

The Municipality is working to address these concerns, with over 700 new residential units being planned for Osprey Village and the newly announced Lumia Health Collaborative Health Care Centre. These efforts will help address the top priority issues and contribute to MODL’s ability to attract additional skilled and unskilled workers.

MODL outperformed the national average on businesses’ ratings of many of the Business Health Index sub-scores, including historical revenue changes, community recommendation
and changes in business attitudes (765 versus a national average of 743 and a regional average of 749).

“The valuable information provided by our local businesses will be used to plan economic development activities focused on their top priorities,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “These businesses provide employment, services, and vibrancy to our community, impacting the day-to-day lives of all our residents. We look forward to digging deep into the survey responses to develop action plans to continue meeting the needs of our existing and future businesses.”
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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
(902) 541-1328
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News release: Municipality Assumes Management of Pinegrove Outdoor Play Park

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Published: Thursday, 15 December 2022 08:16

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will assume management of the Pinegrove Outdoor Play Park effective December 19, 2022.

While the land the park is situated on is owned by MODL, the park itself has been managed by the Pinegrove Outdoor Play Association (POPA) since 2011. The Municipality provided POPA an annual operating grant to help manage and maintain the park, and POPA volunteers contributed their time, money, and fundraising efforts to maintain and expand park features. The park now includes an outdoor hockey rink, a splash pad, playground equipment, soccer field, little free lending library, washroom, and seating areas.

“This was not an easy decision to make,” said Board member Stephanie Crouse-Mailman. “We were hopeful after two community meetings this fall that we would be able to refresh the Board with new members. However, we understand that people are busy with family and jobs making time for volunteering a challenge. The Association has always been supported by MODL Council and the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism and we are appreciative and thankful for this support, but feel it is time to request the Municipality take over management of the park.”

“The Municipality is in the process of developing park standards which will outline amenities, features, and service levels to be provided at each park. When Council determines the park standards, this will provide staff the direction as to the amenities, features, and service levels that will be provided at Pinegrove going forward,” said Trudy Payne, Director of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism with MODL. “The park will be closed this winter, effective December 19, 2022, as we take the time for municipal staff to inspect the park and complete a review.”

“I want to thank the members of POPA and the community so much for your hard work and dedication to developing and maintaining such a wonderful playground for our community. It is truly a special place where children can play and learn, and adults can relax and enjoy the outdoors,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Your efforts to create and maintain a safe and fun environment for everyone to enjoy are greatly appreciated. The Pinegrove Outdoor Play Park is a valuable asset to our community, and we are grateful for the work you invested in developing the park into the asset it is today.”

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
(902) 541-1328
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News release: MODL Council Approves Local Climate Change Action Plan 2030

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Published: Tuesday, 08 November 2022 13:51

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg Council has approved their Local Climate Change Action Plan 2030. This 10-year plan was developed around a central vision that MODL will be a low carbon community, with the long-term goal of becoming sustainable, climate resilient, and net-zero community.

The plan outlines a set of strategies, actions, and targets to guide the Municipality and the community to work together toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and support a climate-resilient, healthier, and sustainable future.

“Through the efforts of our staff and an active Sustainability Committee, with input from the public, we have created a robust plan that identifies important actions to reduce the community emissions and build a sustainable and climate-resilient community,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “However, a climate-resilient and low-carbon community does not come from a plan, but through acting on it. We are committed to responding to the impacts of climate change and creating a safe, livable, and prosperous community for generations to come. We hope to receive the community’s continued support and collaboration as we implement the actions identified in the plan.”

The approval of this plan meets the requirement of Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program’s Milestone 2 and 3. To learn more about the Local Climate Change Action Plan, please visit: engage.modl.ca/local-climate-change-action-plan-2030

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Media contact:

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

News release: Municipality Partners with Lumia Health Collaborative Health Care Centre to Open Community Hub

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Published: Tuesday, 01 November 2022 10:30

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is pleased to announce that Osprey Village will be home to Nova Scotia’s first Lumia Health Collaborative Health Centre and MODL’s Community Hub.

Lumia Health is led and delivered by Partners for Care, an independent, board governed non-profit service partner of Nova Scotia Health (NSH) which collaborates with wellness-oriented businesses that complement NSH’s healthcare services and contributes to positive patient experiences.

Jane Davies, Executive Director of Partners for Care, is excited about the progressive and engaging partnership with MODL. “Partners for Care is so pleased to be partnering with MODL. This stage in the project development is conditional on finding strong tenant partners. We feel confident going to market in the District of Lunenburg knowing that the Municipality’s dedication to creating a healthy community fits hand in hand with the mission of Lumia Health,” says Davies.

MODL has committed to renting space for a Community Hub in Lumia’s planned two-storey, 45,000 square foot facility. The Community Hub will include a farmers’ market, community kitchen, cold storage, education and meeting spaces, and a café. Tenants are expected to include a pharmacy and other health-related businesses such as physiotherapists, oxygen therapy, dietitian services hearing therapy, and more.

“We are very excited about this partnership and see it as a wonderful way to combine community space with like-minded tenant partners committed to helping patients on their health journey,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson.

Lumia Health Collaborative Health Centre and the Community Hub will be situated in Osprey Village at the intersection of Nathan Cirillo Road and Allée Champlain Drive, across from the Stonemont Retirement Lifestyle Community. Once Lumia Health has tenants secured construction will begin in 2023.

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Media contact:

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

News release: Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy & MODL Protect Lands in the Shaubac

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Published: Wednesday, 26 October 2022 09:42

The Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy (KCC) and the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg are pleased to announce the preservation of four pieces of land totalling more than 54 acres, in the Shaubac, an area on the South Shore’s Kingsburg Peninsula, and the formation of a partnership between the two groups designed to work towards the protection of additional lands in this area.

Through the advocacy, diligence, and financial commitment of the KCC, and the financial support and advice of MODL, the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust, and numerous individuals, the KCC was able to acquire four lands in the Shaubac which had come on the real estate market during the boom in land sales on the South Shore which took place this past year. With these recently acquired lands and lands earlier preserved by the KCC within this area, the Shaubac now has a virtually contiguous 116 acres protected corridor, which will aid in the protection of the areas flora and fauna and provide opportunities for public access via an eventual trail system.

Located at the mouth of the LaHave River estuary, the Shaubac, a neighbour to Gaff Point, is an area of historical, cultural, recreational, and environmental significance and one with importance to the local and provincial community. At over 585 acres, it is one of the last large, predominantly undeveloped coastal forests on the South Shore and in
Lunenburg County. 

“Joining the KCC in a partnership to protect more land in MODL will help achieve both municipal and provincial goals for climate change and conservation,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “The acquisition of the additional 55 acres in the Shaubac will facilitate natural corridors that will connect adjacent wilderness areas for wildlife."

Moving forward, a joint KCC-MODL working committee will be established to map out a medium and long-term strategy for saving as much land as possible on the Shaubac by utilizing our joint resources, as well as beginning to plan appropriate public access to these recently acquired lands. While perhaps most widely known for the preservation of Gaff Point and West Ironbound Island, with the acquisition of these new lands, the KCC now protects and stewards 53 parcels of land, representing over 327 acres, throughout the Kingsburg Peninsula. The KCC’s work in acquiring, preserving, and stewarding lands in their natural state is in keeping with the organization’s mission to “protect habitat, beaches, wetlands and shoreline, and secure access to these places in the Kingsburg Peninsula for public enjoyment now and forever."

The Board of the KCC wishes to thank MODL and all who worked to make the protection of additional lands in the Shaubac possible. In a part of the province where land is in such high demand it is very reassuring to know that there are individuals who share the vision of the KCC and are willing to support it in such a tangible and significant way. Information regarding the KCC, the lands it stewards, and making land donations can be found on its website: www.kccns.org.

News release: Municipality Donates $10,000 to Red Cross for Hurricane Fiona Relief Efforts

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Published: Wednesday, 12 October 2022 16:41

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has donated $10,000 in emergency funding to the Canadian Red Cross to assist families that have been affected by the effects of Fiona.

“While we faced relatively minor issues here in Lunenburg County, other areas, like Cape Breton and Port aux Basques, faced significant damage,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Council voted unanimously to make this donation to help support those communities experiencing urgent need. We would like to express our sincerest condolences to the families of the three individuals who are believed to have lost their lives during the storm, and to those who are having to rebuild homes and businesses.”

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Manager, Corporate Services and Communications
(902) 541-1328
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News release: Dry Well Relief Program Launches

Details

Published: Wednesday, 07 September 2022 09:51

Dry Well Relief Program Launches

September 7, 2022 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – Commencing immediately, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will be providing water for drinking and cooking to municipal residents experiencing dry wells. This will be done through a coupon system and in partnership with local retailers. Municipal residents can pick up coupons at the Municipal Office at Allée Champlain Drive (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive electronic coupons and exchange them at various retail locations for water.

The program will provide residents with 4L of bottled water per person per day up to a maximum of four 4L jugs per day per household. Only households experiencing a clean water shortage are eligible to receive the coupons.

Coupons are good for a one-week period (Monday to Sunday) and will expire each Sunday for as long as the program is running. After expiration, new coupons can be picked up on a daily, weekly, or as-needed basis. Each coupon can be exchanged at select retailers within the Municipality for one 4L jug of water (no substitutes).

Effective immediately, coupons can be used at the following locations:

• New Germany Freshmart
• Nick’s Independent, Mahone Bay
• Sam’s No Frills, Bridgewater
The Water Market, Lunenburg (residents must bring their own container to be filled)

We anticipate offering additional locations in the near future, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more.

Residents of Big and Little Tancook Islands can go to the Municipality of the District of Chester and applicable Chester retail locations for their water coupons and bottles of water.

For those residents needing showers, the Municipality has opened the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre for shower availability.

This program will be re-evaluated as precipitation changes.

A dry well survey has also been created for residents to complete when they apply for their coupons. The answers to this survey will help emergency management officials determine the extent and severity of the dry weather. They can also determine if there are certain areas that require more assistance than others and can give consideration to helping those areas more directly. This information can also be useful if we have another drought situation in the future, as we can determine which areas are likely to be impacted first.

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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 Launches Business Retention and Expansion Survey

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Published: Tuesday, 06 September 2022 14:36

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, along with the municipalities of Chester and Queens, has launched a new Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) survey for business owners. The three municipalities are taking a collaborative approach to better understand the plans and needs of local businesses and how business owners or managers view the community as a place to do business. The information from the survey will be used to plan economic development activities focused on the top priorities of local businesses.

MODL has retained consulting firm Deloitte LLP to assist with the project. Deloitte will be working with municipal staff to review the completed surveys to get an understanding of the local business climate with the intention of developing economic development activities aligning with the local business priorities. Selection for survey participation is random, and businesses who receive a call are encouraged to participate in the telephone survey. The survey is open from September 12 to October 14.

“The vibrancy and prosperity of our region is strongly connected to the success of our existing businesses,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “They provide the employment and services we need to ensure the Municipality remains a place where people can live, work and play. In recognition of how important our businesses are, the Municipality is taking positive action to identify and meet the needs of the businesses in our community.”

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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