SHERBROOKE — For the second time in as many years, the councils of Guysborough County’s three municipalities will gather to discuss urgent issues of mutual importance.
This year’s session, taking place at the Sherbrooke Village exhibit centre on Wednesday, April 9, brings together the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG), the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s and the Town of Mulgrave.
With issues like infrastructure, housing and road maintenance high on the list, municipal leaders indicate that a collaborative approach is seen as essential – especially as neighbouring communities often face similar struggles.
“We had the first joint meeting last year and I thought it was a great idea,” Mulgrave Mayor Ron Chisholm told The Journal. “It’s nice to join everyone together and get things in order.”
Chisholm expects housing and roads to be the main topics of interest, as they are for most communities in Nova Scotia. “It’s good to hear what everyone’s concerns are and whatever each municipality can do to help one another is a big thing as well,” he said.
MODG Warden Paul Long also emphasized the value of bringing people together.
“There’s a number of intents with these sessions,” he said. “First of all, it gets everyone introduced to one another because there’s new council members on each board. It also gives a chance for each municipality to update one another on what’s going on in their own areas.”
Long said MODG will provide an update on hospital development projects. Shared services contracts are also on the agenda, including a regional emergency management office update.
A key feature of the meeting will be a presentation by Dorothy Bennett, community health board co-ordinator for Guysborough County. “There’s a lack of members across the county on that board,” Long said. “Most are from the MODG side and they’re struggling to get members from other areas. So, I think it’s important that [Bennett is] coming in to speak to everyone.”
Warden James Fuller of St. Mary’s agreed that joint meetings give councillors a chance to discuss issues that concern everyone and coordinate possible responses.
“In our last meeting, one of the wind energy companies gave a presentation that had the possibility of impacting each municipality,” he said. “This was an opportunity for all of us to see the same information and project ideas at the same time, alleviating any future miscommunication.”
Fuller added that each municipal office can suggest topics for discussion. “For example,” he said, “the province has dictated that each county establishes and funds a regional emergency management officer. This is a topic that will affect all three municipalities and bears discussion between all of us. Updates on future wind energy projects can be another, as this too affects all of our bailiwicks and are also important topics.”
Aside from larger issues like roads and housing, the joint council sessions allow for conversations about broader regional development strategies — including tourism, economic growth and sustainability. With the challenges of rural life, such as population decline or financial restrictions, a collective approach can help ensure all three communities continue to thrive, the municipal leaders said.
“At the end of the day, we’re all in the same business of trying to present the best life opportunities for residents as we can,” said Long.
