logo
#

Latest news with #ColchesterCounty

Months-long closure of Portapique bridge frustrating locals and tourism operators
Months-long closure of Portapique bridge frustrating locals and tourism operators

CBC

time09-07-2025

  • CBC

Months-long closure of Portapique bridge frustrating locals and tourism operators

The months-long closure of a well-travelled bridge — and a detour that means 10 minutes driving over a dirt road — is causing concern among residents and tourism operators in Nova Scotia's Colchester County. The Lower Portapique bridge has been closed since April, after public works staff found damage to the vertical poles that support the river bridge, known as piles, during an inspection. The detour skirts the scenic route along Highway 2 and takes locals and tourists alike down a gravel stretch. Portapique resident Ashley Fletcher said the closure came as a surprise to many in the community and communication has remained an issue. There is no firm timeline for the bridge's reopening. "Updates have been really minimal to non-existent, and I find that creates fear and confusion and worst-case-scenario thinking," said Fletcher. "Having this process be a little bit more transparent would be really helpful — like a timeline, educational information about what's actually wrong with the bridge so people could understand." Adding to the concern is how the bridge closure has affected tourism and business operators in the area, said Laura Schwarz, manager of the Bass River Heritage Museum. The museum off Highway 2 had expected a banner year for tourism as fewer Canadians travel south to the United States, but it has instead seen a 43 per cent decline in visitors year over year. Schwarz said area businesses are reporting a similar slowdown because of the bridge closure and detour. "We ourselves were gearing up for a boom in tourism this year at the museum … but yet here we are facing the lowest numbers we've seen, frankly since COVID," she said. Schwarz said the society that operates the Bass River museum decided to not hire two summer students in anticipation of a slower season. Design work complete Gary Andrea, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Works, said design work to repair the damaged piles on the Portapique bridge is complete. He said a tender for the work has not been issued. "Once a contractor is retained over the coming weeks, the remaining work required to repair the bridge and reopen Trunk 2 in this location will take place during the summer construction season," Andrea said July 3. Andrea said staff determined the "short detour" and "relatively high-traffic volumes" were not suitable for a temporary bridge — something residents have asked about. MLA hopes for July reopening Colchester North MLA Tom Taggart had hoped the work would be complete by Canada Day, when traffic grows heavier with tourists. In an interview, Taggart said he would be "upset" if the work is not complete this month. "Getting the equipment here is the biggest challenge. And the tender process is a long, long drawn-out process for a lot of reasons," he said, adding the province could select a qualified contractor through a non-competitive alternative procurement process. "I believe I've made the case to please look at that," he said. Public Works has graded the detour, and added products that have reduced the amount of dust and loose gravel. Still, many have damaged windshields, are worried about the additional wear on their vehicles, and are concerned about the impact on emergency response times, according to Fletcher. "There's lots of concern people have," she said. 'Save that stop for next year' At the Bass River museum, Schwarz is hopeful the public will turn out for an open house later this month and support local businesses while they're in the area. So far, however, indications are that visitors would prefer to keep to the main roads. "Other museums are telling me that people are hesitant to come out to the Bass River Heritage Museum due to the detour and how rough it is," Schwarz said.

Colchester selects design for pedestrian bridge at Fundy Discovery Site
Colchester selects design for pedestrian bridge at Fundy Discovery Site

Yahoo

time06-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Colchester selects design for pedestrian bridge at Fundy Discovery Site

A historic route across the Salmon River in Colchester County is being restored with the addition of a multi-million dollar pedestrian bridge at the Fundy Discovery Site, which is part of the Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark. A decade ago, the Municipality of Colchester acquired the former motel property in Lower Truro. Since then, amenities such as a playground and an amphitheatre have been built. A tidal bore viewing platform is also under construction this summer. Colchester Mayor Christine Blair said there have long been plans for a bridge across the river, but two previous tenders were over the $11-million budget. The suspension bridge design yielded price tags between $17.5 million and $27 million. To lower costs, the municipality instead pursued a design-build tender and received federal approval for pier installation in the river. On June 25, council voted seven to five to pursue a $7.9-million, three-pier, wooden bridge with a curved design. The municipality will be responsible for just over a quarter of project costs with funding for the remainder secured from the federal government. "I've had people stopping me in the grocery store ... saying what a great looking bridge this will be," Blair said in an interview. "Now it'll probably take a couple of years to get it in, but you know, it's going to be there and I think it will be great for the walkers and the bikers and so on." The submission by builder WRD & TRS estimates construction will be completed as early as January 2027. When it opens, it will reinstate pedestrian crossing at the location. According to a staff report, a bridge was established in the 1850s linking Onslow to Lower Truro. The crossing was removed after the construction of Highway 102 in 1970. Even after years of consideration, not all taxpayers agree with the plan to spend millions on a pedestrian bridge. "There's people on both sides of the fence or both sides of the bridge," Coun. Laurie Sandeson, who represents Lower Truro where the Fundy Discovery Site is located, said ahead of the council decision. "And some really want it and some know that we need our roads fixed. We need housing to be a priority." Blair said the pedestrian bridge, which will be closed to motorized vehicles, will advance active transportation in the municipality by connecting Onslow to the Cobequid Trail. She said the infrastructure in view of Highway 102 will also be a valuable tourist attraction. "It's very important for our Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark, for tourism, for economic development," she said. WATCH | Atlantic Canada sites could lose status as UNESCO Geoparks: The bridge plans come as the UNESCO Global Geopark evaluators are expected to assess the Cliffs of Fundy sites this month. The geopark, which stretches along the coast in Cumberland and Colchester counties, was first designated in 2020, but received a yellow rating in its most recent evaluation. In response to recommendations, both county governments have committed to annual funding for the geopark through to 2028. A new website was launched last fall, promotional material was created and trilingual interpretive panels are being installed in preparation for the evaluation. "We're hoping that the improvements that we have made will be nice for them to see and to recognize that we have taken the recommendations seriously and have followed through," said Blair. MORE TOP STORIES

Stewiacke slows development pending new water treatment plant
Stewiacke slows development pending new water treatment plant

CBC

time27-06-2025

  • Business
  • CBC

Stewiacke slows development pending new water treatment plant

A Colchester County town has created new rules intended to curb a development boom, citing concerns over its aging water treatment plant. Stewiacke Mayor Doug Glasser said the capacity of the current system is unknown. He said the plant is at the end of its lifespan and the measures are needed to uphold the water supply for customers. "We want our community to continue to grow, but we have to do it responsibly," said Glasser, who was acclaimed as mayor of the town of more than 1,500 people in October. Previously, the municipal planning strategy said there was "significant capacity" to support future development. Water advisory However, that has not been the case in recent summers, including this week. On Thursday, the town issued a water-use advisory recommending residents take shorter showers and avoid watering lawns, among other conservation measures. The St. Andrews River, the town's water source, is currently low and when it does rain, silt is stirred up in the river, according to Glasser. "The water that's coming into the system is so murky that we can't treat it fast enough. And the machines that are treating that water, we don't know if they're going to last for another week, a month or a year," the mayor said. Following a public hearing on June 9, council approved amendments to temporarily slow the speed of residential development. There are also new restrictions for commercial uses that are water-intensive, such as car washes and laundromats. Under the rules billed as temporary until a new facility is built, development permits for apartment buildings cannot be issued in the serviced area. There are also new limitations in unserviced areas of the town, with only three lots able to be created from an area of land each calendar year. Joely Killen, owner of Ruby's Way Developments, said she was surprised the slowdown of development was the only option the town considered. The developer has about 10 lots that have been grandfathered in under the old rules, but the changes have curtailed a second phase of nine lots and a third of up to 50. "If the town doesn't have growth, then it starts to die and Stewiacke has just in the last few years started to see that development and is ready for more," said Killen, who also owns Winding River Homes and the local Home Hardware store. "As a developer I'm gonna move outside of Stewiacke into other areas that we own land and maybe I don't invest my money back in Stewiacke," she added. Killen said the move by town council feels contrary to priorities of the provincial and federal governments, which have been fast-tracking construction to deal with the national housing crisis. New facility years away Scott Armstrong, the PC MLA for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, said he supports the interim measures, which will have to be approved by the minister of municipal affairs. "One of the issues around growth is you have to have the infrastructure in place, water and sewer being part of that, in order to have new housing, new developments. And we want our communities to continue to grow," he said in an interview. Armstrong said he will voice support for a new water treatment plant once the town makes an application for funding. The town is applying to the Environment Department for a permit to drill a well, rather than continue to rely on the river. Glasser hopes the federal and provincial governments will each contribute a third of the project costs. Still, he said it could be three to five years before a new water treatment plant comes online.

Nova Scotia RCMP investigating 2 fatal fires
Nova Scotia RCMP investigating 2 fatal fires

CBC

time17-06-2025

  • CBC

Nova Scotia RCMP investigating 2 fatal fires

Nova Scotia RCMP are investigating two fatal fires that happened on Sunday and Monday. The first, a house fire in Shelburne County, happened Sunday. Police said first responders were called to the scene at 1:35 a.m. AT on West Head Road in West Head, N.S. When they arrived, the house was engulfed in flames, said a news release. A 74-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said a dog that lived with the man was found dead inside the home. Police do not consider the fire to be suspicious. Second fire The second fire was reported in Colchester County at 6:30 a.m. on Monday near the 4000 block of Alton Road in Alton, N.S. First responders arrived to a residence that was also fully engulfed, said a separate news release. Once the fire was out, human remains were found inside the home. Police did not provide further identifying details about the remains. While police do not consider the fire to be suspicious, they are looking to talk to anybody who may know more about it. Colchester County District RCMP can be reached directly at 902-896-5000. Anonymous tips can be shared with Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Concerns raised about N.S. safe house after sex charges against founder's husband
Concerns raised about N.S. safe house after sex charges against founder's husband

CBC

time16-06-2025

  • CBC

Concerns raised about N.S. safe house after sex charges against founder's husband

A woman whose daughter is a former resident of a Nova Scotia safe house for survivors of sex trafficking is raising concerns about the involvement of a man at the organization who is charged with sex offences. Kevin MacLeod, 64, was charged in October with two counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual interference in incidents that took place between the early 1990s and the early 2000s. With his wife, MacLeod has helped run Trauma Recovery for Exploited Youth (TREY), a recovery house in Colchester County, since 2016. The mother of a former TREY resident says the charges are "a red flag." "If you were a victim and you were in a home that you go to … for a safe place, you want to know that the people that are around you and surround you are safe.… And I think that it may not be a safe place." The CBC is not identifying the mother, as doing so would identify her daughter. The CBC is also not specifying the location of TREY, as that could risk the safety of residents who have escaped from their traffickers. Charges unconnected to volunteer work When the charges were announced in October, the RCMP said MacLeod, a former teacher, is "known to have been in a position of leadership with youth and vulnerable people through his employment and volunteer work." However, police said the three complainants are not associated with entities MacLeod was employed by or volunteered with. MacLeod was released on conditions, including not to enter areas where youth under the age of 18 are known to be, unless accompanied by another adult. The charges have not been proven in court. MacLeod is next scheduled to appear in court in August. Messages left by the CBC with MacLeod and his lawyer were not returned. The Public Prosecution Service declined an interview with the lawyer for the complainants, saying it could jeopardize the prosecution. In a statement attributed to TREY and its board of directors, the organization said the founder, MacLeod's wife, has "formally stepped back and relinquished all duties with the organization" and her husband "does not have anything to do with TREY." Asked when the MacLeods ceased to be involved with TREY, the organization said it was unable to answer any further questions. The statement said the charges against MacLeod are not connected in any way to TREY or its operations. "TREY remains committed to the safety and well-being of the youth we serve," reads the statement. "All individuals currently involved with the organization, including board members, staff and volunteers, have undergone vulnerable sector record checks as part of our standard safeguarding policies." 'Lack of trust' The mother of the survivor said her daughter was under 18 at the time she lived at TREY, and spent about a year living there. She believes her daughter had a positive experience at TREY, where she received emotional support, tutoring and help connecting with other services for her recovery. She said at the time, MacLeod was deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the home, and took her daughter to church, grocery shopping and elsewhere, "as though she was a part of the family." While the MacLeods had their own home, they had their own bedroom at TREY and spent their nights there, she said. The mother said she has no reason to believe anything inappropriate occurred between MacLeod and her daughter while she was a resident. She said she was in disbelief when she heard about the charges he is facing. "At first I thought it must be somebody else.… I was like, no way that could be the same person," she said. "It left me feeling such a huge lack of trust because I really believe that they did such great work." Appearance at TREY fundraiser Although TREY said MacLeod was no longer involved with the organization, the mother captured screenshots of a video of MacLeod participating in an ice bucket challenge in February that was a TREY fundraiser. According to posters for the event, it was held off-site. Questioned by community members on social media about his appearance at the fundraiser, the organization responded that "Mr. MacLeod has always been helpful in raising funds for this non-profit organization. We apologize if his presence there caused anyone stress." In a now-deleted Facebook comment that the CBC has seen screenshots of, TREY said, "while we believe Mr. MacLeod is being falsely accused, we respect the legal process and will await the outcome of the court proceedings before considering any future involvement with TREY." The mother of the survivor said she believes TREY should have temporarily paused its operations, or at least made a public statement connecting the charges to the organization. "I just feel like it needed to be out there because not everybody was aware and could put two and two together." She also questioned the organization's statement that MacLeod is being "falsely accused." "To say that you don't believe the victims and that the allegations against him are false, that sends a clear message not to come forward," she said. "And if organizations are saying that, now we can kind of see why it's so hard for victims to come forward." Removed from resource directories Since the news of the charges came out, two organizations that connect survivors of trafficking to services — the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline and Nova Scotia's Trafficking and Exploitation Services System (TESS) — have removed TREY from their referral network or directory. Miia Suokonautio is the CEO of the YWCA in Halifax, which operates TESS. She says after a community member drew TESS's attention to the charges MacLeod was facing, TESS contacted TREY. "We have to make sure that wherever we are serving people or sending them to other resources, that we trust that they'll be in good hands," Suokonautio said. "We didn't get responses that satisfied us in a way that we would be confident making the referral." Suokonautio emphasized that MacLeod has not been convicted, and depending on the outcome of the court case, TREY could be reinstated in TESS's network. Lack of regulation Safe houses for victims and survivors of sex trafficking are not regulated in Nova Scotia. According to Suokonautio, that lack of oversight can create risk. "In the absence of that regulation, you don't want to lose like a group of volunteers at a church who want to do something good … but you also want to make sure the very, very vulnerable people are not in harm's way." Like TREY, the YWCA in Halifax runs a safe house. Suokonautio said she believes the entire sector should be regulated by the government, including the Y's safe house. She compares the situation of safe houses to that of child welfare organizations, which, years ago, used to be independent non-profits, or adoption services, which used to be privately run. Those sectors eventually were brought under the umbrella of government. "It's not to say that it's perfect by any means, but it was an acknowledgment of the high vulnerability of children in care," she said. "So I think that if we're talking about highly vulnerable children, adolescents, teens, young adults, we have a responsibility of due diligence to make sure that they're safe." According to TREY's registered charity information, in 2023 — the last year for which financial records have been published — the organization was funded through a mix of donations, gifts from other registered charities, other revenue and $8,306 from the provincial government. The province told the CBC the funding is to support student summer positions, and that it gave $4,588 in 2024 and has earmarked $5,000 for 2025.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store