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National Day for Truth & Reconciliation : September 30, 2025

The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s Municipal Office & Facilities will be closed on September 30th, 2025 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
We will resume regular business hours Wednesday October 1st, 2025. Keep an eye out for the Mi'kmaw Grand Council flag flying in support of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
🌿 Did you know?
Napu’saqnuk is the Mi’kmaw name for the St. Mary’s River / Estuary. For centuries, the Mi’kmaq used this waterway as a home, for travel, fishing, and community life. Today, it’s still central to our heritage.
Dive into its story here:
🐟 The St. Mary’s River Salmon Museum in Sherbrooke isn’t just about salmon—it’s about people, history, and it’s connections to the land and waterways. From old fishing tackle to stories of conservation, it’s a place where Mi’kmaw heritage and natural history meet.
Worth a visit or a share. More info: https://www.stmarysriverassociation.com/
Words carry meaning. Place‑names like Ecum Secum (“a red house”) and others around St. Mary’s reflect Mi’kmaw language, long used by the first peoples of this land.
Learning the names helps us reconnect with stories & history carried in the land.
The St. Mary’s River / Estuary (Napu’saqnuk) is more than beautiful scenery—it’s a living site of culture. Wildlife, fish, plants all share this space with human stories, especially those of the Mi’kmaq people who have been here for generations.
Supporting conservation isn’t just about protecting nature—it means protecting culture too. Learn more: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/.../st-marys-napusaqnuk-eng.html
Sherbrooke Village is a living history museum in the St. Mary’s area. It interprets 19th century life (lumber, logging, river transport, etc.) which overlap with Indigenous land‑use, travel routes, and ecological knowledge. Learn more: https://saintmarysnovascotia.com/attractions/?utm_source=
The St. Mary’s Genealogy Research Centre (at Sherbrooke Village) was founded around 2011 to preserve records for Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s (western portion of Guysborough County). It is a valuable source for local historical records and stories — including those of the Mi’kmaq and early settlers. Learn more: https://historicnovascotia.ca/items/show/216?utm_source=

 

Fire Restrictions Lifted: Burn Ban Lifted

With conditions improving, the ban on open fires is lifted in all counties except Annapolis as of 8 p.m.on September 26, 2025.
The ban will remain in place in Annapolis County until the end of wildfire season due to the ongoing Long Lake wildfire.
“It’s been a very challenging wildfire season, and I thank all Nova Scotians for co-operating with the prevention measures we put in place,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources. “For most of the province, the daily burn restrictions will resume until the end of the season, and it’s still very important that everyone follow them to keep our people and our communities safe.”
The daily burn restrictions – and the continued ban in Annapolis County – apply to open fires such as campfires, bonfires, brush fires, fires in chimeneas and any other fire that is not enclosed and uses wood as the fuel. Unlike gas or charcoal fires, sparks could escape from an open wood fire and cause a wildfire.
The restrictions do not apply to non-wood-burning devices like charcoal and gas barbeques and gas stoves, which can be used following manufacturer’s instructions.

Quick Facts:

  • the provincewide ban was put in place through a proclamation under the Forests Act on July 30; the proclamation was revised for Annapolis County today
  • the Province’s BurnSafe map, which lets people know where and when burning is permitted, will remain red for Annapolis County while the proclamation is in effect, meaning open fires are not allowed
  • for all other counties, the map will be red from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. because burning is never permitted during those hours; the daily restrictions will be posted at 2 p.m. to show what is and is not allowed for the rest of the day
  • the usual end of wildfire season is October 15

Additional Resources:
Burn ban proclamation: https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/fire-proclamation_2025-09-26.pdf
Information on fire restrictions and the BurnSafe map: https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe/
Forests Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/forests.pdf
News release – Provincewide Burn Ban in Effect: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/07/30/provincewide-burn-ban-effect

Thank You - Smart-Go

The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s would like to extend our sincere thanks to Smart-Go, St. Mary's Association for Rural Transit for their generous donation of bottled water to our Municipality.

Your support is greatly appreciated and reflects a strong commitment to helping our community in times of need. Acts of generosity like this make a meaningful difference and strengthen the bonds within our Municipality.

On behalf of the Warden Council, Staff, and Residents — thank you for your contribution and continued community support.

COTW - October 1, 2025

NOTICE
MEETING: St Mary’s Municipal Council
Committee of the Whole
DATE: Wednesday, October 1st, 2025
TIME: 5:00pm
PLACE: St. Mary’s Municipality
Council Chambers, Sherbrooke, NS

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Additions to the Agenda
4. Approval of the Agenda
5. Approval of Minutes the Committee of the Whole held Wednesday, September 17th, 2025
6. Business Arising from Minutes
7. Correspondence:
a. Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities – AGM & Proposed By-law Changes
8. Other Matters of Business
  a. Staff Report – Sewer Utility Inflow & Infiltration Manhole Covers - Capital Project
  b. Staff Report – Growth and Renewal for Infrastructure Development Program – New Application
9. In-Camera – Legal
Adjournment

Residents

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