The Town of Lunenburg says it has a new interim Chief Administrative Officer.
Lisa Dagley will take the role as current CAO Paul Nopper will leave to assume a leadership position with another local organization.
The Town thanks Nopper and says Council looks forward to working closely with Dagley.
Dagley is the 5th CAO (interim and permanent) since 2020.
One of Nova Scotia’s largest renewable energy projects has officially opened in Guysborough County.
MLA Greg Morrow says the $450 million Goose Harbour Lake Wind Farm held its opening ceremony Tuesday, featuring a tour of the site.
The project includes 24 wind turbines capable of generating 168 megawatts of electricity and has been in development for one and a half years.
It is expected to supply at least 60 per cent of the annual electricity needs of Port Hawkesbury Paper. There was an open house in the end of August as the project moved into the commissioning phase.
Construction on the project began in early 2024 after it was approved at the end of 2023. There is a goal of having electricity reach the grid as early as December.
The project also includes a 10 per cent ownership stake held by Nova Scotia’s 13 Mi’kmaw First Nations.
It’s expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 350-thousand tonnes annually.
The union representing more than 5,500 school support workers says if no deal is reached with the government and employers in the next few days, then members will walk off the job as early as Monday.
CUPE and the government as well as school boards reached an impasse in negotiations earlier this month. Positions affected include janitors, early childhood educators, cafeteria workers and more.
Key issues are quality of education and wages.
In a notice sent to CUPE members Tuesday afternoon, obtained by Acadia News, the union says they want at least $3.50 an hour wage increases over four years for every school support worker, or a strike notice will be issued on Friday.
“This weekend, we were hoping that government and the Employers would come back to the table, knowing that a strike is looming,” says the union.
“Instead of taking the opportunity to settle our contract before job action, they’re trying to wait us out.”
In email to families Tuesday, school boards say as classes continue, they know the uncertainty is difficult.
“We continue to hope an agreement can be reached and disruption to students, families and school communities can be avoided,” reads the email.
If there is a strike, it would impact the eight locals differently. Members could walk off the job by November 2.
An investigation is underway after a vehicle crashed into a home in Lower Sackville, injuring five teens.
RCMP say it happened Tuesday around 9:15 p.m. on the 1000 block of Riverside Drive.
A vehicle that was on Riverside Drive toward Sackville Drive, left the road and hit a vehicle in the driveway and then the house.
Five 17-year-olds were hurt and taken to hospital.
If anyone has dashcam or video footage you are asked to call RCMP at 902-490-5020.
Nova Scotia Power is about to have another leadership change for the second time in less than a year.
Chris Smith who is executive vice president of finance and commercial will become president and CEO of the utility on November 2.
He will take over from Vivek Sood, who is not renewing is contract having becoming CEO in March 2026.
“Over Vivek’s time as CEO, he provided steady leadership through a challenging period, helping to stabilize operations, rebuild trust, and strengthen the focus on reliability, while moving important work like securitization forward,” says Nova Scotia Power in a statement.
Sood took over at an uncertain time after a cyberattack that had access to hundreds of thousands of customers’ personal information.
According to Nova Scotia Power, Smith brings “extensive utility experience” and “deep knowledge” of the business.
He has served in several senior executive roles with the utility as well as President of Heritage Gas (now Eastward Energy) before joining Nova Scotia Power a decade ago.
The Chair of Nova Scotia Power’s board of directors, Scott Balfour says, he thanks Sood for his leadership during a “pivotal year”.
The former ambassador to the U.S. said she is optimistic about the relationship between Canada and the United States but acknowledges there has been a fundamental shift.
Kirsten Hallman spoke in Halifax on Monday to a crowd of businesses leaders.
She said things like geography, military and economics have historically brought our two countries closer together, however, things have changed.
“Our partnership, which we had relied on sort of reflexively for 38 years since the Canada-USFTA, is not only under strain, but it’s not the given that is used to be,” said Hillman.
“I know we’re going to find a path forward. I know that we will strike a deal when the conditions are right for both our countries.”
Tensions have been high between Canada and the United States since President Donald Trump implemented tariffs on a slew of products and a trade deal tanked in August.
A deal that Ottawa said threatened our sovereignty.
Trump has said he wants products made in America, which according to Hillman is their right but has long-term implications. She said making things together is good for both countries.
“Will future administrations have a different view? Perhaps they will. And I suspect we will find a different attitude in some years going forward,” said Hillman.
But she says there is no guarantee.
“I’m confident we will find that equilibrium with the United States. And we will find that equilibrium because that is what U.S. businesses want. That’s what Canadian business wants. That’s what is good for communities.”
Americans head to the polls for the U.S. midterm elections on November 3.
Hillman sad the outcome will matter regionally in Canada, pointing to Michigan, which is a border state to Ontario.
“But the number one issue for American voters is affordability.”
Hillman said the path forward involves building more at home and taking advantage of our own marketplace while looking for other partners around the world. Steps Prime Minister Mark Carney has put in place.
“While this is a bit of an unsettling time, while it is a time that has led to a lot of emotions, I think the lessons for Canada are important and I would hope enduring,” said Hillman.
She added that Canada is a country of enormous potential.
“Much of it, I think, untapped. We are country that can do big things. That has the ambition to do big things. And is on the road to do big things for ourselves and our allies.”
Hillman said most importantly we’re the masters of our destiny.
“Keep the foot on the gas.”
The CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce said Hillman’s message to the business community was to learn from this and become more resilient.
“As a country we have an incredible opportunity to take this change, this rupture in the world, if you will, and find new markets and opportunities – that she said and I agree – that we can compete with best in the world,” said Don Bureaux.
He said Canada is a position to excel
“I thought that message was heard by all and appreciated by all.”
A fire at the grain elevator in the south end of Halifax has been put out after hours of “complex and difficult” battle with the flames.
Crews responded Monday night to a fire at the grain elevator on Marginal Road with a response that Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency (HRFE) described as “significant”.
In a social media post just before 10 p.m., Halifax Fire says there were 56 firefighters and 20 apparatus involved.
HRFE arrived on the scene shortly after 8 p.m., and fought the blaze into the early morning.
”Crews working to contain the fire and protect the nearby vessel while navigating the challenges presented by the industrial infrastructure and elevated firefighting operations.”
The blaze took hours to bring down, with firefighters remaining on scene until just after 1 a.m.. A spokesperson for the fire union said the work was “extremely complex”, and that crews worked hard under “a difficult circumstance”.
In a post on social media at around 9 p.m., Halifax Professional Fire Fighters said there were multiple crews working inside the structure to contain the blaze.
The union says HRFE Fire Chief Deryn Rizzi was on scene overseeing operations.
HRFE said it was about 135 feet above ground.
“Within the facility’s dust management system, presenting significant access and tactical consideration.”
At it’s peak, the fire was considered a three-alarm response, meaning a large-scale severe emergency requiring a significant response. The risk level has since been reduced.
HRFE says they’ve left gear like hoses on site in case of a potential flare-up, and that fire investigative services are looking into the cause of the fire.
Residents are still being asked to avoid the area.
Negotiations have stalled between the union that represents more than 5,500 school support staff and education system employers and the Nova Scotia government.
In an email to Acadia News, Monday afternoon, Mary-Dan Johnston with CUPE said they have no new statement after conciliated talks on Friday.
“We’ve not been called back to the bargaining table by government and the employers yet.”
According to the union, concerns include quality of education and wages.
Job action would affect positions that include early childhood educators, janitors, cafeteria workers and bus drivers in eight locals across Nova Scotia.
A letter was sent to families on Thursday, Oct. 15, outlining the potential impacts of a CUPE support staff strike. Some families whose children have disabilities say they are very concerned about the impact of a strike.
Johnston said more information on next steps will be in the coming days.
In an email to our newsroom, the education department said that CUPE has not submitted a strike notice.
“We remain hopeful that a resolution can be found between the parties to help minimize the chance the impacts to all student learning and well-being, and that the parties can reach renewed agreements prior to any job action and contingency plans being required.”
A 51-year-old man is dead after a crash on Highway 101 in Canaan.
RCMP say it happened on October 24 around 6 p.m. involving four vehicles, including a Ford F350, Honda CRV, Ford Fiesta and Nissan Rogue, all travelling westbound.
The driver of the Fiesta from Hants Border was pronounced dead on scene.
Two men and one woman, ranging in age from 23 to 68, were treated at the scene.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision, is asked to all RMP at 902-679-5555.
More first responders in Nova Scotia are going to get the training they need to help Nova Scotians experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
The province says they are spending $700,000 to move the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) into the eastern zone, which includes Antigonish and Guysborough Counties as well as Cape Breton.
Police and other first responders receive training to help them recognize and respond to a crisis, reacting more compassionately and connect people to the right care sooner.
There is also a dedicated phone line for real-time guidance and support.
“Nova Scotians deserve a response that recognizes what they are going through,” said Brian Comer, Minister of Addictions and Mental Health. “The Crisis Intervention Team model gives first responders practical skills to safely respond to someone in crisis and strengthens the connection between first responders and the healthcare system. This expansion means more people will get the right support when they need it most.”
Planning is also underway to bring the model to the Annapolis Valley, south shore and southwest counties. The program has been operating in the central and northern zones for several years.