News & Events

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
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(902) 541-1328

News release: MODL Helps More Homeowners with Property Tax Rebate Program

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Published: Tuesday, 06 September 2022 14:30

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – To help make life more affordable for low-income homeowners, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg expanded the Property Tax Rebate program in March of 2022.

The Tax Department received 553 property tax rebate applications for the 2022-23 fiscal year, of which 546 properties qualified for the program based on household income. The total amount of the rebate is $176,405.92. These credits will be reflected on the property owners’ final tax bill. In 2021-2022, 347 applications were received (of which 339 were eligible), and the rebate total was $78,068.15.

“The Property Tax Rebate Program is one of the ways that Council supports low-income homeowners,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “The changes we made to the program in March expanded the eligibility criteria, and we are pleased that more homeowners were able to receive a rebate under this program.”

Qualified applicants will see the exemption on their final property tax bill for the year. Applicants must apply annually.

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Media contact:

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

News release: Municipality Aims to Reduce Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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Published: Wednesday, 06 July 2022 13:06

July 6, 2022 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – In 2019, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) declared a climate emergency and joined the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection (PCP). The Municipality committed to complete the PCP 5-milestone framework by developing and implementing a Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP). The second milestone of the PCP program requires MODL to set a community greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

On June 28, Municipal Council set a community greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 30% below the 2019 baseline emissions level by 2030, 65% below the 2019 baseline emissions by 2040, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“In 2021, MODL set our corporate greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40% below the 2019 baseline emissions level by 2030,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Some of the actions the Municipality has undertaken take to reach this include transitioning municipal vehicles to electric vehicles, and we have begun the procurement work to add solar power to the Municipal Services building.

“Over the course of the summer, our Sustainability Committee will consider a list of action items to propose to Council for inclusion in the Local Climate Change Action Plan. Residents can expect to see more about this issue in the late fall. Climate change is affecting our communities, and MODL must take a leadership role to address this crisis.”

Residents can learn more at engage.modl.ca/local-climate-change-action-plan

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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: Wednesday, 06 July 2022 13:01

July 6, 2022 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – 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 2022-2023 Annual Operating Grant Program, the Municipality awarded $52,875 to 30 organizations. Under the Major Recreation Capital Grant Program, the Municipality awarded $36,000 to five organizations.

“Supporting our communities and community organizations continues to be an important priority of Council,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “In addition to these grants, the Municipality has given a total of $293,597 over the past year through our emergency community facility funding program.”

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Media contact:

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

News release: MODL Invites Residents to Provide Feedback for 2022 Boundary Review

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Published: Wednesday, 18 May 2022 13:42

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is seeking resident input on the number of Council members and boundaries of polling districts in the Municipality.

Nova Scotia’s Municipal Government Act requires municipalities conduct a study of the number of Councillors and the boundaries of polling districts in 2022. Following this, the Municipality must apply to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to confirm or change the size of Council or district boundaries. The Municipality has approximately 2,555 electors per Councillor; the average among Nova Scotia municipalities is approximately 1,915.

Currently, there are 10 Councillors elected by polling districts and 1 Mayor, elected at large, to make decisions for the Municipality regarding services, policies, and programs.

“We are seeking feedback from residents, and this input will be included in the final Boundary Review Committee recommendations,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “I encourage residents to visit our Engage website and provide their thoughts.”

Residents are encouraged to provide input through the survey by June 30 or by attending the virtual public meeting held Tuesday, June 21 at 6:30 pm. To register for the public meeting or ask questions about the survey, please contact Sarah Kucharski, Manager of Communications & Corporate Services at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (902) 541-1328.

To learn more about the 2022 Boundary Review, visit engage.modl.ca/boundaryreview.

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Media contact:

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

News release: Municipality Passes 2022/23 Budget

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Published: Tuesday, 10 May 2022 19:15

May 10, 2022 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg approved the 2022/23 operating and capital budgets at a Special Meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

The Municipality approved its annual operating budget of $35,604,600 with a $11,700 surplus. The capital budget and gas tax investment totals $8,897,500. This budget continues the Municipality’s track record of strong financial management, while continuing to meet the needs of residents.

“Council has a 5-year financial strategy that guides all of our budgeting decisions. This has served MODL well; residential tax rates have not changed in 13 years while the commercial rate has remained constant for 10 years,” said Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “This strategy allowed MODL to build its reserves and become debt-free while investing in important projects such as expanding access to high-speed Internet, the continuation of the LaHave Straight Pipe Replacement Program, and significant investments in improving roads and our open spaces. In order to remain debt-free, MODL will continue to build our reserves to ensure that capital funding is available for upcoming projects to address climate change, sustainability, and improvements and construction of infrastructure to be able to service new development in Osprey Village.”

Major Capital Investment Summary by Category

Read the Budget document and 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: Statement on the Non-Resident Tax

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Published: Thursday, 05 May 2022 15:07

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – In session on April 26, 2022, Municipal Council discussed concerns related to the non-resident property tax contained in Bill 149 and its possible impact on the economy of rural Nova Scotia.

To voice its concerns regarding the non-resident property tax, Council passed a motion to write a letter to the NS Premier, Ministers of Finance and Treasury Board and Economic Development, with a copy to the local MLAs on the need to undertake a full analysis of the short- and long-term impacts of Bill 149, Financial Measures (2022) Act on both the supply and affordability of housing in Nova Scotia and on individuals, families, communities, businesses and the economy of MODL, rural areas and all of Nova Scotia.

“I am pleased that the Premier has taken our concerns, and the concerns of many other municipalities, individuals, communities and businesses, seriously, and has removed the proposed non-resident property tax completely for all non-residents who own residential property in Nova Scotia,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson.

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Communications Officer
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(902) 541-1328

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

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Published: Thursday, 28 April 2022 08:55

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 NCCC, 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-for-profit land conservation organization is suggesting that keeping your lawnmower 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 at engage.modl.ca/NoMowMay for a chance to win a $100 gift card to The Village Nursery.

“In MODL, we will refrain from mowing a number of our parks, including Miller Point Peace Park, Church Lake Access Site, Indian Falls, Mushamush Beach Park, and Wile’s Lake Park,” says 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
Communications Officer
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(902) 541-1328

News release: Municipality Expands Property Tax Rebate for Low-Income Homeowners

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Published: Thursday, 24 March 2022 10:02

March 24, 2022 / For Immediate Release

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – To help make life more affordable for low-income homeowners, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has expanded the Property Tax Rebate program.

The Property Tax Rebate Program is one of the ways that Council supports low-income homeowners by granting a property tax rebate based on household income. The amount received is dependent on the total household income. The previous policy allowed for a rebate of up to $500 for those households with incomes of less than $29,999.

The new policy permits a rebate of up to $530 for those households with incomes of less than $38,000. The number of categories has also been reduced from five to three, ensuring the majority of low-income homeowners now qualify for the highest rebate category.

“We recognize that this is a very difficult environment for low-income property owners,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “The Property Tax Exemption is one of the many ways the Municipality supports our residents facing financial hardship.”

Qualified applicants will see the exemption on your final property tax bill for the year. Applicants need to apply every year. Proof of income has been added as a requirement going forward.

Updated application forms will be available at modl.ca/property-tax-exemptions.html by April 15. Applications are due by August 1; however, the Municipality will accept applications all year if funding permits.

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Media contact:

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

News release: Municipality Awards Fourth Round of Emergency Assistance Funding

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Published: Thursday, 24 March 2022 10:00

MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBURG, NOVA SCOTIA – The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg has awarded a fourth round of funding support for not-for-profit organizations that operate community facilities impacted by COVID-19 cancellations.

The Municipality established an Emergency Assistance Fund for Community Facilities to assist local groups and organizations in addressing the financial hardship caused by the inability to host planned fundraising events and activities during the Covid-19 crisis.

Applicants could apply for emergency assistance for fundraising events and activities that were scheduled to take place during the Application Period of October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, but had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

In this fourth round, Council awarded the Emergency Assistance Fund for Community Facilities to 55 organizations for a total amount of $117,414.

“We continue to see hardship for these important community organizations,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “Since introducing this program, the Municipality has donated a total of $439,820 to our community organizations that operate community facilities. We hope this emergency funding will help these organizations as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

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Media contact:

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