Evan Taylor

Bridgewater is preparing to welcome visitors from around the world after being selected to host the 2028 International Network of Michelin Cities conference.

Mayor David Mitchell confirmed the announcement following the organization’s recent gathering in Cuneo, Italy, where member communities unanimously supported Bridgewater as the next host.

The international conference takes place every two years, bringing together communities with connections to tire manufacturer Michelin to discuss economic development, innovation, sustainability and other shared challenges.

Mitchell says hosting the event is a major opportunity for a town of Bridgewater’s size.

“This is a huge deal. To host an international conference of this scale in a rural community in Nova Scotia is huge,” Mitchell said.

The town is aiming to hold the conference in May 2028, although exact dates and venues have not yet been determined.

The International Network of Michelin Cities was established in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where Michelin has its global headquarters.

The network originally connected communities with Michelin factories or offices but has since expanded to focus on sharing ideas and developing international business partnerships.

Bridgewater is one of the organization’s founding members and one of its smallest communities.

Despite its size, Mitchell says the town has played an important role in the network, helping raise its profile internationally.

“It puts us on the map at a global scale,” Mitchell said. “Most small communities of our size aren’t positioned to have some international recognition.”

Mitchell says those connections could help attract new businesses and investment to Bridgewater, particularly as the town looks to develop roughly 100 acres of commercial and industrial land near Exit 12A.

He pointed to the recent success of Petite Rivière Farming Company, which won an international startup competition during the gathering in Italy.

The company competed against 11 other businesses and has since begun discussions about a potential partnership in Germany.

Mitchell says those opportunities demonstrate how international exposure can benefit businesses on the South Shore.

The mayor also expects the conference itself to generate economic activity for local businesses, including hotels, restaurants and other services.

While Bridgewater will be the official host, Mitchell says activities will extend throughout the surrounding region.

“This will be kind of a regional effort,” he said. “We do also want to show off what our region has to offer.”

That could include visits to local agricultural, aquaculture and industrial operations, along with some of the area’s innovative businesses.

Planning for the conference is still in its early stages.

Mitchell says the town is targeting May 2028, but the exact timing remains flexible.

Financial details have also not been finalized, although Mitchell expects the town’s direct contribution to be relatively small.

The International Network of Michelin Cities has its own conference budget, and Bridgewater plans to approach provincial, federal and neighbouring municipal governments about supporting the event.

Mitchell says other member communities have expressed interest in visiting Bridgewater since 2019, but the timing had not previously worked out.

He believes the conference will provide an opportunity to showcase both Bridgewater and the wider South Shore to an international audience.

More details about the event’s schedule, locations and partnerships are expected in the coming months.

Lunenburg West MLA Becky Druhan has received a notable endorsement in her campaign to lead Nova Scotia’s Liberal Party, with former Progressive Conservative interim leader Karla MacFarlane announcing her support.

MacFarlane, who served alongside Druhan in Premier Tim Houston’s cabinet, announced her endorsement Friday, October 23.

The former Pictou West MLA says her decision is based on her personal experience working with Druhan and her respect for her leadership.

“My decision to support Becky Druhan is a personal one, based on the tremendous respect I have for her both as a leader and as a person,” MacFarlane said in a statement.

MacFarlane was first elected to the legislature in 2013 and served as interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives for much of 2018.

After the PCs formed government in 2021, she became minister of community services before being named Nova Scotia’s first female Speaker of the House in 2023.

She retired from provincial politics in 2024.

MacFarlane says she intends to register with the Liberal Party to vote for Druhan at the November leadership convention.

Druhan welcomed the endorsement, saying it reflects her desire to bring people together across traditional party lines.

The two appeared together at an event in Pictou County on Sunday.

MacFarlane is not the only former politician publicly listed as supporting Druhan’s leadership campaign.

Other reported supporters include former Liberal deputy premier Kelly Regan and former cabinet ministers Labi Kousoulis, Keith Irving and Joanne Bernard.

Former Liberal MLAs Carman Kerr, Ronnie LeBlanc and Angela Simmonds have also been listed among Druhan’s supporters.

Druhan was first elected as a Progressive Conservative in 2021 and served as education minister before becoming justice minister following the 2024 provincial election.

She left Houston’s cabinet and the PC caucus in 2025, citing differences in principle with the party’s leadership.

After sitting as an Independent, Druhan joined the Liberal caucus in May and entered the leadership race.

She is competing against Amanda Mombourquette, who has also received endorsements from former Liberal politicians, including former premier Stephen McNeil.

The candidates are scheduled to participate in their third and final leadership debate Wednesday in Membertou.

The Liberal Party will select its next leader on November 21, with voting beginning November 16.

The South Shore Lumberjacks suffered back-to-back losses over the weekend, bringing their record to 4–3 in the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League.

The Jacks travelled to Cape Breton Saturday, October 24, for a matchup against the Eskasoni Junior Eagles at the Dan K. Stevens Memorial Arena.

The Lumberjacks were unable to come away with a win before heading to Antigonish for another road game Sunday afternoon.

South Shore also fell to the Antigonish Bulldogs, completing a winless weekend for the team.

The Lumberjacks entered the weekend with four wins in their first five games, including an overtime victory over the Brookfield Elks earlier this month.

The two losses leave South Shore with eight points through seven games in the league standings.

One of Lunenburg’s largest employers is set to be acquired by a Japanese seafood company in a deal worth approximately $1.25 billion.

High Liner Foods announced Monday that it has reached an agreement to be purchased by Umios Corporation for $27 per share.

The agreement includes commitments to maintain High Liner’s existing workforce, operations and Nova Scotia headquarters.

The announcement is significant for Lunenburg, where High Liner has been a major employer and part of the local economy for more than 125 years.

The company traces its roots to 1899 and has grown into one of North America’s largest frozen seafood businesses.

High Liner continues to operate a seafood processing facility in Lunenburg, which employed approximately 265 unionized workers according to the company’s 2024 filings.

The company also maintains corporate operations in the community.

Umios, which has an existing business relationship with High Liner, says it plans to invest in the company’s future growth while maintaining its established brands and operations.

High Liner President and CEO Paul Jewer welcomed the agreement, pointing to the opportunities the acquisition could create and the buyer’s commitment to keeping the company’s headquarters in Nova Scotia.

The deal has been unanimously recommended by High Liner’s board of directors but still requires shareholder and regulatory approval.

Shareholders are expected to vote in December, with the acquisition anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2027.

Until then, High Liner will continue operating independently.

Municipal leaders across Atlantic Canada are looking to work more closely together to push for change on issues affecting communities throughout the region.

Representatives from municipal associations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador gathered in Halifax for the first Atlantic Local Government Ministers’ Meeting.

The meeting also brought together provincial ministers and government representatives to discuss shared challenges, including cellular service and harassment of municipal officials.

Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities President David Mitchell says the goal is to give Atlantic communities a stronger voice when dealing with other levels of government.

“I think everyone’s — this was a great meeting, a great opportunity to amplify the voice of Atlantic Canadians because sometimes we can be drowned out a little by the larger provinces that have much larger populations,” Mitchell said.

He says municipalities across the region face many of the same problems, making it worthwhile to work together rather than advocate individually.

One example is cellular service, which remains a concern in communities throughout Atlantic Canada.

“Instead of the NSFM or a provincial minister from Nova Scotia going to advocate to the federal government about cell coverage, doing that as four provinces and two orders of government is a stronger voice,” Mitchell said.

He believes that approach could help bring more attention to shared concerns.

The meeting included representatives from the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick, Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities and Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mitchell says the first gathering was largely about figuring out how the organizations and provincial governments can work together.

He says there are no plans to create a new association. Instead, the existing groups will coordinate their efforts on issues where they share common ground.

The participants have committed to meeting twice a year, with a possible virtual or in-person meeting in the spring and another in-person gathering in the fall.

Mitchell says those meetings will help the groups identify shared priorities and develop coordinated approaches to advocating for Atlantic municipalities.

No federal government representatives attended the first meeting, although Mitchell says working together to bring concerns to Ottawa will be an important part of the effort.

Demolition is underway at the former Centre Consolidated School near Lunenburg, marking the end of a building that served generations of students and teachers.

The school opened in 1958 and remained in operation until 2012, when students moved to a new school.

For many former students and staff, the demolition brings mixed emotions.

Former principal and teacher Hank Middleton says the building was an important part of people’s lives, not just because of the education they received, but because of the friendships and relationships formed there.

He says memories of school sports, clubs and other activities remain an important part of the community’s history.

Middleton also met his wife at the school, where she worked as an elementary teacher.

While the building holds sentimental value for many, its condition has deteriorated significantly since closing.

The property was returned to the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg after the school closed and has become a costly responsibility.

Municipal officials have raised concerns about vandalism, broken windows and the possibility of fires at the vacant building.

Efforts to find another use for the property were unsuccessful.

In 2023, the municipality explored a partnership that could have seen the school converted into affordable housing, but the proposal did not move forward.

Challenges included insufficient water infrastructure and the presence of asbestos in the building.

The municipality is now moving ahead with a demolition project costing approximately $2 million.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The existing soccer fields will remain in place, but there are no firm plans for the rest of the property.

The municipality expects to spend the following year conducting ground studies before determining what could be developed on the site.

For now, the demolition marks the end of a familiar landmark that was part of life in the community for more than five decades.

A 27-year-old Lunenburg County man has been arrested and charged in connection with an armed robbery at a Blockhouse convenience store earlier this month.

Lunenburg District RCMP say the man was arrested Thursday, October 22, following the October 13 robbery that took place at a convenience store on Highway 325.

Police were called to the business around 8:30 p.m.

According to investigators, a man entered the store, pointed a firearm at the clerk and demanded money.

The clerk was the only person inside the business at the time.

The suspect was described as approximately six feet tall, wearing a black hooded coat and a brown face covering.

He fled the scene as a passenger in a small white SUV, which was last seen backing up School Road.

No injuries were reported.

Police subsequently released images of the suspect and asked the public to provide information or surveillance footage that could assist investigators.

RCMP confirmed Friday that a suspect had been arrested and was facing nine charges, including:

• Robbery with a firearm
• Pointing a firearm
• Using a firearm in the commission of an offence
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
• Possession of a weapon knowing possession was unauthorized
• Possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
• Careless use of a firearm
• Disguised with intent to commit an offence

The accused was scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on Friday.

Police say the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lunenburg District RCMP at 902-634-8674 or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Heavy rain and strong winds are expected across parts of the Strait area Friday.

Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for Richmond and Guysborough counties, with up to 30 millimetres of additional rain expected before the storm moves out Friday evening.

The weather agency says strong winds could also bring down tree branches and cause localized power outages.

Port Hawkesbury is expecting between 10 and 20 millimetres of rain Friday, along with wind gusts reaching 60 kilometres an hour.

Drivers are encouraged to use caution as heavy rain could reduce visibility and cause water to pool on roads.

Rain is expected to continue into Friday evening before conditions improve overnight.

The South Shore Lumberjacks are preparing for a busy weekend with two road games on their Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League schedule.

The team will travel to Cape Breton on Saturday, October 24, to face the Eskasoni Junior Eagles at the Dan K. Stevens Memorial Arena.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Lumberjacks will then make the trip to Antigonish on Sunday, October 25, for an afternoon matchup against the Antigonish Bulldogs.

That game gets underway at 1 p.m. at the Antigonish Arena.

The two games will wrap up the Lumberjacks’ October schedule, according to the team’s published calendar.

The Jacks have played three games earlier this month, including a pair of matchups against the Brookfield Elks and a home game against the Strait Pirates.

The team plays its home games at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater.

Fans can follow the Lumberjacks through their official social media channels for game updates and results.

The Maritime Fishermen’s Union is calling on the federal government to take a closer look at the risks offshore wind development could pose to Nova Scotia’s fishing industry before moving forward with major investments.

The concerns follow Ottawa’s announcement of $100 million to advance offshore wind development in the province.

In a statement released Wednesday, October 21, the union argued that governments need to demonstrate offshore wind is economically and environmentally worthwhile while protecting existing fisheries.

Martin Mallet, executive director of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union, says the federal government should complete an independent assessment comparing offshore wind with other energy options.

Those alternatives include onshore wind farms and hydroelectric power imported from Quebec and Labrador.

The union wants the comparison to consider costs, reliability and potential environmental impacts, including the consequences for fishing grounds.

The federal announcement came on October 15, the same day Ottawa and Atlantic provincial governments announced the renewal of the Atlantic Fisheries Fund, committing more than $300 million over five years.

While the union welcomed the fisheries funding, it questioned whether governments are doing enough to protect the industry from potential disruption.

“Renewing the Atlantic Fisheries Fund is welcome, but government cannot invest in the future of fishing businesses while putting the foundation of those businesses at risk,” Mallet said.

The organization is concerned about the effects offshore wind farms, underwater transmission cables and related infrastructure could have on established fishing areas.

It wants fishermen to have a meaningful role in deciding where developments are located and whether projects should proceed.

The concerns are shared by some fish harvesters who have spent decades working along Nova Scotia’s coast.

Nancy Wadden, who has fished out of Port Morien in Cape Breton for 35 years, says promises of new employment opportunities from offshore wind projects do not address the potential loss of existing fishing livelihoods.

She is concerned that developments could threaten the economic stability of families and communities already dependent on the fishing industry.

The union is calling for independent assessments and greater consultation with fishing communities before projects receive approval.

It also wants fishing interests to have the ability to reject developments that present unacceptable risks to productive fishing grounds.

The federal government says its offshore wind investment is intended to support research, planning and efforts to attract private investment into the emerging industry.

However, the Maritime Fishermen’s Union maintains that decisions about the future of offshore wind must account for the livelihoods and fishing grounds already supporting coastal communities.