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Welcome to St. Mary’s

Located in the heart of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore, the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s is a rural municipality consisting of five electoral districts. Incorporated in 1879, the Municipality has a population of 2,233 and is bounded by the counties of Antigonish and Pictou, the municipalities of Halifax and Guysborough, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s is pleased to provide information about this initiative, and encourage participation not just for beaches in St. Mary’s but across the county!

The Tourism Guysborough County Association is launching an exciting initiative to position Guysborough County as a unique coastal destination. This project focuses on identifying and thoughtfully promoting select local beaches as tourism spots, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and responsible development. 

We understand that communities feel a deep connection to their beaches. That’s why this effort is rooted in the belief that by acting now, together, we can protect and preserve these natural spaces for the future.

Rather than allowing tourism to grow without direction, we’re taking a proactive approach. By managing how our beaches are promoted and cared for, we can set clear standards for environmental stewardship, respectful visitor behaviour, and community benefit. This is a chance to share what makes these places special—before increasing tourism risks overwhelming them.

Sustainable and regenerative tourism has real potential to benefit our region: supporting local businesses, creating jobs, and attracting investment in conservation. With careful planning and strong community involvement, this project can help keep our beaches clean, accessible, and thriving—not just for visitors, but for local residents and future generations.

We’re asking for your help in identifying beaches that could be considered for this initiative. Under the guidance of Dr. Camilo Botero—a Little Dover resident and international expert in integrated coastal management—we will assess each suggested site using a clear set of sustainability criteria. While not every beach can be part of the first wave of promotions, all community-nominated beaches will be included in our portfolio for consideration in future sustainable tourism efforts.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to any member of our steering committee: Scott Beaver, Jack Leonard, Bill MacMillan, Brian Gary, and Ashley Cunningham Avery.

A special thanks to the Guysborough District Business Partnership for supporting this important project.

👉 Share your favourite hidden gem beach here: https://tinyurl.com/HiddenGemsGTCA
The link will remain open for ongoing submissions, but we’d greatly appreciate your input by October 31, 2025, for this phase of the project.

The Guysborough District Business Partnership Presents: 
Monday, October 27 at 6:00pm
Miles MacDonald Performance Center
Admission is free but you still need to reserve your seats at www.guysboroughdistrictbusiness.ca — it will fill up fast!
No food or drink permitted in the Performance Center*

Tareq Hadhad, Founder & CEO of Peace by Chocolate, Entrepreneur & Community Builder

Join us for an evening with Tareq Hadhad, founder of Peace by Chocolate, as he shares his family's remarkable journey from Syria to nova Scotia. Hear how they rebuilt their lives, became award winning entrepeneurs, and created a business built on the values of peace, community and resilience.
Tareq's story is a celebration of the newcomer experience, the power of perserverance, and the impact of a welcoming community. 

Mandatory Water conservation order:

Effective August 15, 2025, at 6:00am
The Sherbrooke Water Utility has ordered mandatory water conservation measures for all residential and commercial customers.
The following activities are not allowed for anyone connected to the Sherbrooke Water Utility:

  • Watering lawns, trees, shrubs, or flower beds
  • Filling or topping up pools
  • Washing down walkways or driveways
  • Washing vehicles

Residents may still water vegetable gardens but are urged to do so sparingly and in the early morning.
Enforcement: The Municipality will enforce these measures. Anyone found breaking this order may have their water service disconnected and be required to pay reconnection fees, as outlined in the Schedule of Rules and Regulations Governing the Supply of Water and Water Services and the Schedule of Rates for Water and Water Services.
These conservation measures will remain in effect until Sherbrooke Lake’s water level returns to an acceptable level.
The Sherbrooke Water Utility thanks all residents and businesses for their cooperation and for helping to use our water resources responsibly.

Water Assistance:

If your well has run out of water, the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s can provide bottled water to help with your immediate needs.
Residents will be asked to fill out a form with civic address and number of residents in the home.
📞 Call us at 902-522-2049 or
📧Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange support or for more information during Business Hours. (Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:00pm)
This service is for residents of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s. Your address will be required. This service is not available to the customers on the Sherbrooke Water Utility.
Thank you for your cooperation, and please remember to use water wisely.
Stay safe and hydrated,
-Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s

Shower Assistance: 

Showers will be available to residents within the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s starting tomorrow, Friday September 5th, 2025 from 9:00am. to 3:00pm at the St. Mary’s Recplex (164 Old Road Hill, Sherbrooke). Beginning next week, Monday September 8th, 2025, they will be open weekly, Monday to Thursday from 3:00pm. to 9:00pm. on a first-come, first-served basis during the drought.
There are two showers and dressing rooms available for use. Residents must bring their own shower amenities, such as a towel, shampoo, soap, etc.
Please keep showers to five minutes so everyone has a chance to use them and to help conserve water.
Be respectful of others, leave the space clean, and remember that minors must have an adult present.
Filling containers of water at the facility is not allowed.
This service will be available as long as there is a need by residents and water is available.

Thank you to everyone who purchased the surplus matting from the St. Mary’s Recplex. The matting is now completely sold.

The deadline to submit items for the November 2025 Municipal Newsletter is today, October 15 at 4:00 p.m. You can drop off your submission at the Municipal Office or email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

NOTICE
MEETING: Committee of the Whole
DATE: Wednesday October 15th, 2025
TIME: 5:30pm (Immediately following the Regular Council meeting)
PLACE: Council Chambers, 8296 Highway 7, Sherbrooke

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Additions to the Agenda
4. Approval of the Agenda
5. Approval of Minutes of COTW held Wednesday October 1st, 2025
6. Business Arising from Minutes
7. Correspondence
   a. St. Mary’s Memorial Hospital Society – Letter
   b. Department of Municipal Affairs - Amendments Clarify Code of Conduct for Elected Officials – News Release
   c. Department of Municipal Affairs – Municipal Modernization Act Amendments - Letter
8. Other Matters of Business  
   a. Staff Report – Main Street, Sherbrooke - Crosswalk
Adjournment

Newsletter

Keep up to date on Municipal news and events. Contact us if you have an item to submit to the municipal newsletter.

Recreation

Get active in St. Mary’s! Our Recreation Department offers a variety of programs and events around the Municipality.

Waste Disposal

Find information on recycling, waste collection and the Municipal Transfer Station.

Taxes

Access everything you need to know about your tax bill.

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