CBRM News

Water service disruption in Glace Bay

Update: August 25, 8:00 am

GLACE BAY WATER SUPPLY NOTICE: All tank levels have been restored to safe operating levels. Enhanced water conservation measures are no longer required by water customers.

Update 11:55 pm

Thank you to the community for conserving water as requested. Staff worked diligently today with multiple water main breaks in the Glace Bay and Area water system. A larger break was completed earlier this evening while crews are in final stages of repairing second leak area. Tanks and pressure are nearing normal levels, but users may still have some discolouration at first until the system flushes through.

Update: 7:45 pm

Public Works crews have located the break and repairs are underway. The request to conserve water continues for Glace Bay, Dominion, Reserve Mines, Birch Grove, Port Morien, Donkin and Tower Road. It is anticipated that it will be several more hours before pressure is restored and residents are asked NOT to run water until Public Works advises.

Update: 11:45 am
Water conservation is requested in the following areas served by the Glace Bay water supply system: Glace Bay, Dominion, Reserve Mines, Birch Grove, Port Morien, Donkin and Tower Road. Please do not use water unless necessary.

GLACE BAY - August 24, 9:20 am

There is a significant water service disruption in Glace Bay resulting in low pressures and possibly discoloured water in some areas. Public Works are presently searching for the leak's location. Water customers are asked to conserve water today while the repairs are conducted.

Election 2024

Election Information for candidates and voters is on the Election page on the CBRM website.

Step 1: Ensure you are eligible to vote and on the voters list.
Step 2: Know the time to vote: Online only between Oct. 10 and Oct. 15. In person only on Election Day October 19.

Visit the Election page!

Two Housing Infrastructure Projects to Create Nearly 300 Residential Units in CBRM

July 3, 2024

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) has allocated $6.6 million to support housing infrastructure projects within the municipality.

“Accessing funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund allows the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to make investments in the infrastructure required for local developers to build much needed residential units,” says Mayor Amanda McDougall-Merrill. “Our partnership with the Federal Government of Canada will result in a significant increase of safe, sustainable housing options in the CBRM, and for many people an opportunity to finally find a place to call home.”

CBRM received $11 million from the Federal Government through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund, which aims to help remove barriers to build more residential units, faster.

CBRM received applications for funding from developers to contribute to the expansion of residential housing within the municipality. The approved projects and their respective allocations are as follows:

Urban Neighbourhood Development Association on behalf of Cape Breton University (CBU): Awarded $5.4 million to construct 145 new residential units at the former Tartan Downs racetrack in Sydney. Seventy of the residential units will be affordable units.

Construction of 67 townhouses and two 39-unit buildings
New public streets of approximately 720 metres
All new public water, sewer, and storm infrastructure
Installation of a stormwater retention pond

Joneljim Concrete Construction Ltd.: Awarded $1.2 million for the development of 144 new residential units off of Cossitt Heights Drive in Sydney.

Construction of twelve 12-unit buildings
New public streets of approximately 470 metres
Utilizing existing municipal water and sewer infrastructure for a portion of the development
All new storm water infrastructure

Women’s World Curling Championships delivered major economic boost for Sydney region

July 8, 2024

SYDNEY, N.S. – The World Women’s Curling Championships, held from March 16-24, 2024 at Centre 200, delivered a significant economic boost to the region. The combined spending of out-of-town participants, delegates, and spectators who visited Sydney for the event, in combination with the expenditures made by the event organizers, totalled just over $10.0 million, supporting just under $13.8 million in overall economic activity in Nova Scotia, including almost $11.9 million in economic activity in the Sydney area.

A comprehensive economic impact report, produced by Sport Tourism Canada revealed the event’s financial benefits.

The combined purchase of goods and services by the event organizers and local partners totaled just under $1.3 million. The championships also supported nearly $4.3 million in federal, provincial and local tax revenues across Canada.

Visitor statistics derived from an on-site survey conducted during the event indicate 31 per cent of respondents extended their stay in Sydney, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia by an average of 3.6 days beyond the event. Furthermore, 76.6 per cent of respondents expressed a high likelihood of returning to Sydney, Cape Breton or Nova Scotia in the future.

“The BKT Tires World Women’s Curling Championships not only showcased world-class curling but also delivered substantial economic benefits,” said Mayor Amanda McDougall. “These numbers demonstrate the importance of hosting major sporting events and their role in stimulating economic activity and community engagement.”

Citizen Handbook

Now arriving at CBRM residences!
Additional copies available by calling 311.

Citizen Handbook 2024 Summer

New Holiday Transit Service

June 17, 2024

Transit Cape Breton will be offering service on specific holidays throughout the year. This new service aims to better accommodate the transportation needs of our community on days when it has not been available in the past.

Full transit service will be available on Canada Day with the exception of Route 2. To ensure Transit Cape Breton is servicing Canada Day celebrations, the following changes have been made:

Route 1: Extended to Intercolonial and Ferry Street to allow patrons to get to the Canada Day celebrations at Open Hearth Park.

Route 5: Additional run from Sydney to the Northside at the end of the day.

Route 6: Serving Canada Day celebrations at Petersfield Park.

Route 9: At night, transferring patrons from Route 1 at CBU to New Waterford, if needed.

To request Handi-Trans service on Canada Day, bookings must be completed by 3 pm on Thursday, June 27th. To book Handi-Trans, call 902-539-4336.

In addition, Transit Cape Breton will be operational on the following holidays:

Civic Holiday
Thanksgiving
Easter Monday
Victoria Day

For information about new and existing routes, bus schedules, ticket fares, and more, please visit www.cbrm.ns.ca/transit.

Annual lead and copper sampling program for residential tap water

April 6, 2024

Annual lead and copper sampling program for residential tap water

SYDNEY, NS - The CBRM Water Utility is seeking volunteers for the annual lead and copper sampling program for residential tap water. The program is for customers of the CBRM Water Utility, not for those whose water source is a well.

The Water Utility routinely monitors water quality within distribution systems. In 2020, Nova Scotia Environment introduced additional sampling requirements for lead and copper within customers’ homes.

This sampling program will be provided free of charge to a limited number of customers in each CBRM distribution system (Sydney, Glace Bay, Northside, New Waterford, Louisbourg, Floral Heights and Centreville).

Participants will be registered on a first come first serve basis until the program goals are met. The program occurs every year.

Customers can sign up online here.

Notice of Fire and Emergency Services change: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE

April 5, 2024

Cape Breton Fire and Emergency Services made a challenging decision this week to move Hazardous Materials response to the career service location at Sydney Station 2.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality recognizes that our Fire Service requires fast-as-possible response times in our emergency services. Hazardous Materials response, a key service, is now moved to a 24 hours, seven days a week, staffed location.

Chief Mark Bettens confirms the volunteers with the service can continue to be volunteers within the Fire Service and thanks them for their work on the HazMat team.

“We regret that the notice of the change to the volunteer group was short,” said Chief Bettens. “We never want to see any disruption in the service available to the community. This change is needed to ensure fast and consistent response from HazMat, which responds to about 10 calls per year.”

The Fire Service has relocated the HazMat inventory of protective equipment, four vehicles, two boats, and additional assets belonging to CBRM.

CBRM water utility customers will see greater savings from water conservation efforts beginning on April 1

March 27,2024

CBRM water utility customers will see greater savings from water conservation efforts beginning on April 1

New billing cycle for water and wastewater will begin on April 1, 2024

SYDNEY, NS - Beginning on April 1, a new water-wastewater billing cycle will begin that is based on customer water usage. CBRM Council approved a new wastewater discharge by-law at the council meeting on Tuesday, March 26.

The CBRM Water Utility and CBRM Wastewater Department are in process of becoming a UARB-regulated commission named the CBRM Water and Wastewater Commission. Water and wastewater services will be entirely based on customer usage. Currently, the system is a combination of customer use billing and property tax billing.

“Water utility customers are on rotating billing cycles, but we want to make all customers aware that the new billing process for the usage-based system will begin on April 1st,” said Greg Campbell, Manager of Technical Support Services – Utilities at CBRM.

“This new billing allows residents to have more control over their water bill as it will reflect usage,” added Campbell. “Anyone wanting to make conservation efforts will see more value to that beginning on April 1 onward.”

Experienced fire and emergency services leader Mark Bettens appointed as new CBRM Chief

March 1, 2024

SYDNEY, NS - The Cape Breton Regional Municipality today announced the hiring of a new Director of Fire and Emergency Services.

Veteran Fire Services official Mark Bettens will begin his role effective Monday, March 4th.

With over 35 years of experience in emergency services and public service leadership, Bettens brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to his new role. Bettens' journey in emergency services began as a paramedic while still in high school, and over the years, he has served in various capacities, showcasing a commitment to excellence and community safety. Notably, he served as a volunteer firefighter for almost a decade in Glace Bay before transitioning to a distinguished career in CBRM Fire & Emergency Services, where he held progressively advancing leadership roles for the majority of his career. He has progressed through the ranks in the fire service over his career, most recently serving as Platoon Chief.

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