Latest news with #GlaceBay
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Watermain break affecting businesses, homes in Glace Bay, N.S.
Crews repair a watermain break on Reserve Street in Glace Bay, N.S., on July 30, 2025. (Ryan MacDonald/CTV Atlantic) A watermain break on Reserve Street in Glace Bay, N.S., is affecting homes and businesses in the area Wednesday. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality says Phalen's Road to Official Row is affected by the watermain break, which is located near the intersection of Gannon Street. Watermain break Crews repair a watermain break on Reserve Street in Glace Bay, N.S., on July 30, 2025. (Ryan MacDonald/CTV Atlantic) 'The water system isolation to repair this leak will affect the entire business area of Reserve Street, as well as residential properties,' said CBRM in a statement Wednesday morning. 'Public Works is mobilizing equipment, traffic control and planning of the response for the repair.' The estimated time of repair is 3 p.m. No further details are available at this time. CBRM says it will provide updates on its website and social media accounts. More to come… For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CBRM to ask province for help with cost of cleaning up derelict properties
Cape Breton Regional Municipality plans to ask the province for help cleaning up derelict properties after fires destroyed two structures in Glace Bay last week, underscoring the danger of old, vacant buildings. Officials say the municipality simply can't afford to tackle the large number of properties in CBRM that need attention. "Unfortunately, statistically, I think we are in Nova Scotia the highest per capita with hundreds of vacant properties, dangerous and unsightly, and in the midst of trying to grow, we're trying to deal with some of the blights of the past," Mayor Cecil Clarke said. "The two recent structure fires in Glace Bay just highlighted the impact of abandoned properties and ... what it means to the bottom line." A fire on July 10 took out an empty warehouse next to an active fish plant and several hours later, a separate blaze consumed the former Morrison school, which is surrounded by homes. Clarke said the cost of demolishing the remains of the former school alone is about $300,000, and that's money CBRM likely will not be able to recover from the building owner. According to provincial property records, the building is owned by the non-profit Glace Bay & Area Y's Men & Women's Club. A CBRM spokesperson said the building was up for tax sale with $87,400 in taxes and other costs owing to the municipality. It went to tax sale three times over the last year and was not sold. It was scheduled to go up again later this month with the price reduced to $7,900, which is a year's outstanding taxes. However, whether it makes it to the next tax sale is now in doubt because of the fire. At Tuesday's council meeting, Coun. Dave MacKeigan got unanimous approval from his colleagues to have the mayor reach out to the minister of municipal affairs to seek financial help. There are roughly 400 derelict properties in CBRM. The municipality removes up to 80 a year from the list, but others get added to the list every year, as well. Most are empty homes, but about 10 per cent are large commercial buildings. Others are former school buildings that once belonged to the province — something the Nova Scotia government should bear in mind, said Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald. "We do not have the financial capacity and resources to deal with them, and I think consideration should be given that it was their buildings in the past and it should remain their responsibility," MacDonald said. Clarke said he intends to ask for a meeting with the province as soon as possible. The Glace Bay Volunteer Fire Department has been preparing and practising with other departments for at least two years in case of a fire at the former Morrison school. Ten departments responded to the alarm call, providing protection for neighbouring homes. No one was hurt and no other properties were damaged in the fires, but Clarke said the next incident could end in tragedy. "All it would take is a change in wind direction and we could be talking a much larger disaster and a much more pressing discussion with the minister," he said. MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
16-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
CBRM to ask province for help with cost of cleaning up derelict properties
Cape Breton Regional Municipality plans to ask the province for help cleaning up derelict properties after fires destroyed two structures in Glace Bay last week, underscoring the danger of old, vacant buildings. Officials say the municipality simply can't afford to tackle the large number of properties in CBRM that need attention. "Unfortunately, statistically, I think we are in Nova Scotia the highest per capita with hundreds of vacant properties, dangerous and unsightly, and in the midst of trying to grow, we're trying to deal with some of the blights of the past," Mayor Cecil Clarke said. "The two recent structure fires in Glace Bay just highlighted the impact of abandoned properties and ... what it means to the bottom line." A fire on July 10 took out an empty warehouse next to an active fish plant and several hours later, a separate blaze consumed the former Morrison school, which is surrounded by homes. Clarke said the cost of demolishing the remains of the former school alone is about $300,000, and that's money CBRM likely will not be able to recover from the building owner. According to provincial property records, the building is owned by the non-profit Glace Bay & Area Y's Men & Women's Club. A CBRM spokesperson said the building was up for tax sale with $87,400 in taxes and other costs owing to the municipality. It went to tax sale three times over the last year and was not sold. It was scheduled to go up again later this month with the price reduced to $7,900, which is a year's outstanding taxes. However, whether it makes it to the next tax sale is now in doubt because of the fire. At Tuesday's council meeting, Coun. Dave MacKeigan got unanimous approval from his colleagues to have the mayor reach out to the minister of municipal affairs to seek financial help. There are roughly 400 derelict properties in CBRM. The municipality removes up to 80 a year from the list, but others get added to the list every year, as well. Most are empty homes, but about 10 per cent are large commercial buildings. Others are former school buildings that once belonged to the province — something that should be kept in mind, said Deputy Mayor Eldon MacDonald. "We do not have the financial capacity and resources to deal with them, and I think consideration should be given that it was their buildings in the past and it should remain their responsibility," MacDonald said. Clarke said he intends to ask for a meeting with the province as soon as possible. The Glace Bay Volunteer Fire Department has been preparing and practising with other departments for at least two years in case of a fire at the former Morrison school. Ten departments responded to the alarm call, providing protection for neighbouring homes. No one was hurt and no other properties were damaged in the fires, but Clarke said the next incident could end in tragedy. "All it would take is a change in wind direction and we could be talking a much larger disaster and a much more pressing discussion with the minister," he said.
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Cape Breton Regional Municipality to ask province for help with abandoned buildings after fire
The former Morrison School in Glace Bay, N.S., was destroyed by fire on July 10, 2025. Last Thursday's fire at the long-abandoned Morrison High School in Glace Bay, N.S., threatened homes in the nearby area. Residents, firefighters and elected officials said the thought the fire was bound to happen. 'These are becoming an issue in the community,' said councillor Gordon MacDonald of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM). On the Northside, which includes MacDonald's District 1, a number of fires have been set at the former North Sydney post office. MacDonald estimates it would cost about $1 million to get rid of the building. 'And they're left to cash-strapped municipalities like us who don't have the resources to be able to tear them down because we don't have the budget available for the high cost of doing it,' MacDonald said. A spokesperson for CBRM told CTV Atlantic that abandoned buildings will be a significant item on the agenda at Tuesday evening's council meeting and the municipality will likely ask the provincial government for help with the issue. 'I think the province should definitely sit down as part of negotiations with the CBRM and look at the issue', said Derek Mombourquette, interim leader of Nova Scotia's Liberal party and MLA for Sydney-Membertou. Mombourquette said CBRM's case might be unique because it has so many derelict buildings - roughly 400 of them. 'The sheer size of it compared to other municipalities around the province, I would argue it probably has a more significant case of this,' Mombourquette said. MacDonald says they also have to consider buildings that aren't empty yet but soon will be. 'We're going to have the North Sydney hospital - the Northside General Hospital - coming up,' he said. 'That's going to be abandoned in the near future, and people have to start planning what is the next step for a building like that?' Tuesday's council meeting begins at 6 p.m. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
11-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Glace Bay basketball club cleans up after fire
A blaze that burned down an abandoned school in Glace Bay on Thursday also damaged a neighbouring gym. The space is owned by a local organization for kids who play basketball. As Anna Rak reports, those who use it are relieved it survived.
