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Port Hawkesbury

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A new vendor market may start in Port Hawkesbury

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A local produce provider is getting crafty to continue supplying nutritionally healthy food to Port Hawkesbury and the surrounding community.

Square Roots Port Hawkesbury is requesting to use the Civic Centre in-kind on a Wednesday each month to hold a Community Market including artisans and other vendors instead of their Saturday sale on their own.

This solution is their preference rather than raising prices or relying on donations going forward.

One of the Community Managers, Michele Tabensky tells us why they want to have a larger vendor presence after funding for leftover produce was cut earlier this year which caused markets in the Quad Counties to pause for a couple months.

“We have to absorb the cost of anything that’s not sold. So that plays a factor on our bottom line, because we’re not-for-profit, so when we start losing in sales, then it makes it really hard to continue,” she shared.

She explains how the Town will benefit from the market that could start as early as June.

“It will help with increased foot traffic on during the quieter seasons at the Civic Centre. It’ll help not only Square Roots provide nutritionally healthy food to the community, but it will also help vendors within the community get their wares for sale, so help income for their households. It’ll bring some community spirit to the town, as well.”

She’s hopeful by having other vendors selling with them that will raise their visitors and sales to everyone in the community.

Her and the other Community Manager, Yvonne MacDonald emphasize that Square Roots is for everyone to benefit from, regardless of your income or location because everyone deserves fresh and healthy produce.

They say the more they sell, the more they can help local groups and people in need with food security by giving away the leftovers.

Together, they started Square Roots in Port Hawkesbury in March 2025.

People can preorder 10-pound bags of mixed produce for $10 that include 2 pounds of carrots, a large onion, 4 apples, 4 oranges, and the remainder in potatoes.

They also take preorders for bulk items if anyone wants a large quantity of any given produce.

The Community Managers say the produce is grown locally in the valley or sourced by farmers when anything is not available depending on the season.

They announced at the council meeting that they have provided 25,000 pounds of produce to the Port Hawkesbury community since last year.

Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton is confident that the Town will be able to help as the request goes through the motions with council.

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Trustee program supports housing stability in Cape Breton

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If you would like support paying your rent and utilities on time, there is a trustee program that could help you.

New Dawn Enterprises is offering their free and confidential service to Richmond County and Port Hawkesbury residents.

Community Trustee Marguerite Conradie shared with our newsroom how their services are free, voluntary, and confidential.

She says they will receive your money to pay your rent and utilities first and then they disperse the rest back to you.

“It’s open to any adults. I guess the only thing is this person would need to have some kind of income coming in for us to be able to help. It’s open to any adult, who wishes to have support with their finances,” said Conradie.

“One thing I will say is we don’t provide investment advice or handle large sums. It’s really just for basic budgeting and staying housed and finding that stability with what we have coming in.”

She added additional monthly budgeting support and saving funds for bigger expenses are also available.

Conradie says if your income does not cover your bills, they can help you find benefits you may be eligible for or refer you to a community partner.

You can contact New Dawn Enterprises directly if you are interested in their trustee program or find out more information on their website.

doctor holding red stethoscope

Healthcare recruitment supported in Cape Breton South after cuts

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Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury are not giving up on a Cape Breton healthcare initiative after a huge cut to its funding.

Cape Breton South Recruiting for Health, Program Director, Gina MacDonald confirmed at a Port Hawkesbury council meeting that annual community funding of $2 million was cut by 20 per cent, which is a $400,000 provincial cut.

She explained their goal is to recruit and retain medical professionals and that this area does not get enough recruitment strategy focus.

Deputy Mayor Todd Barrett explained why healthcare is an important piece of a municipality.

“If you’re going to attract people, people need healthcare, it’s part and parcel to the growth of a community. So, you know, a healthy community, you need that for the future,” he expressed.

Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton says although municipalities aren’t the key drivers for finding and keeping medical healthcare, the Town has put funding behind it.

“In Cape Breton South, so Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury were happy to roll up our sleeves [and] figure out a way that we can impact positive change on the R&R, which is the recruitment and retention of medical healthcare staff,” she shared.

The Cape Breton South Health Infusion project initiative was also created to lure American doctors and healthcare professionals to Canada.

MacDonald said considering the political situation in the United States, a lot of them have made it clear that they will be to make their move to Canada permanent.

She’s created new recruitment packages that give a first impression and share about the community to attract and retain potential new medical professionals.

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Water rate hike may happen in Port Hawkesbury this year

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Port Hawkesbury residents may need to prepare for a hike on their water bill.

Councillor Iaian Langley says he believes it may go up 10 to 20 per cent for the first time in six years and that their rates are set on a cost recovery basis.

He says changes could come later this year after the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board’s review in April.

This follows EverWind’s request to Landrie Lake Water Utility for possibly 10 million litres per day to supply their proposed green hydrogen project.

“When you consider the available safe yield, meaning how much can that body of water produce and replenish itself on a daily basis, it’s well within its capacity to do that,” states Langley.

“We know that from the science that we understand, and is approximately round figures, approximately one third of the useable safe yield per day.”

He assures residential customers they are of paramount concern to the utility and other industrial users, which is well laid out in their agreements without any dispute.

Langley says Landrie Lake Water Utility is co-managed by the Town of Port Hawkesbury and the Municipality of the County of Richmond.

“We’ve actually had more studies conducted by hydrologists and engineering firms than has been done prior. including, but not limited to, the bathymetry work, which determines the whole bottom shape of the lake to get acrid volumes,” he shares.

“Things are dynamic, not static. Evaporation rates change, and we’ve made adjustments to evaporation rates change. We’ve updated precipitation amounts, and how the reservoir is refilled.”

He says lake levels were monitored when experienced a summer drought last summer through engineering and hydrological studies to know what affects the average capacity of Landrie Lake.

“No user subsidizes another user. There is no rate increase because of any other single users,” explains Langley.

The Town is planning to hold a public hearing in May.

Square Roots Port Hawkesbury

A cheaper way to buy local produce returns after funding cuts

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The local produce market Square Roots is returning to the Quad Counties this Saturday, March 21.

This comes after taking a two month pause when government funding was cut.

The Port Hawkesbury Community Manager is excited they’re starting back up after receiving some donations from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Civic Centre.

Michele Tabensky says they can’t do the program without your support which allows them to donate leftover produce to those in need.

“We know like so many people are enjoying the program and it’s so important to be able to have nutritionally fresh produce, at great prices available to everyone in the community. Square Roots is for everyone. It’s not income based,” expressed Tabensky.

“It’s so that everyone can have fresh nutritious produce at great prices. And we’re not only helping our community members. We [are] also helping the farmers by selling this excess produce that, if not sold, would just get turned back into compost.”

Square Roots markets in Guysborough and D’Escousse will also be returning on Saturday, March 21.

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Retired RCMP officer charged with sexual assault pleads not-guilty

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A retired RCMP Officer has plead not‑guilty to three charges of sexual assault, according to the province’s public prosecution service.

The Province’s Police Watchdog, Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) charged Sergeant Darrell W. Johnson for occurrences that allegedly happened between 2016 to 2025.

They say the incidents reportedly occurred while he was a RCMP officer and after his retirement.

He is now scheduled to appear in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court on April 9 for a hearing to set the trial date for the sexual assault charges.

On October 4, 2025, he faced two additional charges for failing to comply with a condition, which has a trial scheduled in Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court on June 18.