CBRM News

Heavy garbage and litter clean up event dates are announced for 2025

SYDNEY, NS - Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s heavy garbage pick up will occur in all areas on the week beginning Monday, April 28, 2025
Materials must be curbside by 6:00 am on the morning of April 28. Residents are encouraged to wait until the weekend of April 25-27 to place heavy garbage materials out for this collection. Collection will be done by CBRM and private contractor equipment.

Additional public drop off sites will be open on six consecutive Saturdays from April 19 to May 24.

The public can drop off materials at SPAR Road waste disposal facility as well as the following locations between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm:

Glace Bay Public Works Drop-Off Site, 24 West Avenue
New Waterford Public Works Drop-Off Site 455 Ling Street
North Sydney Drop-Off Site, 93 King Street

The Great Cape Breton Clean Up community litter clean up day will be on Saturday, May 3 between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. Registration is now open online at www.cbrm.ns/ca/cleanup.

MORE about 2025 Residential Heavy Garbage Collection:

Demetri Kachafanas Appointed Chief Administrative Officer

March 18, 2025

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Demetri Kachafanas, KC, as the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), effective immediately.

A long-time employee within CBRM, Mr. Kachafanas has served as the municipality’s solicitor for 27 years and was appointed interim CAO in November. His permanent appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the municipality as he steps into this key leadership role.

He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University with a concentration in Finance. He was called to the bar in 1996 after earning a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Dalhousie University. He subsequently attained a Master of Laws (LLM) from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School with a specialty in Dispute Resolution.

Throughout his career, Mr. Kachafanas has earned numerous accolades. In 2017, Demetri was awarded the Municipal Law Fellow designation, recognizing his work in local government. He received the Certified In-House Counsel, Canada (CIC.C) designation in 2019. In 2020, Demetri was honored with the Nova Scotia King’s Counsel designation for his exceptional contributions to the legal profession. In 2023, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, followed by the Bruce A. Noble Award for Distinguished Canadian Municipal Lawyer from the International Municipal Lawyer’s Association.

"Demetri's wealth of experience, both in law and municipal governance, will be invaluable as CBRM continues to evolve and thrive," said Mayor Cecil Clarke. "His leadership will help us navigate the opportunities and challenges of a period of exciting growth and development for our municipality."

The CBRM looks forward to the continued success of the municipality under Mr. Kachafanas' leadership.

CBRM Council passes 2025-26 capital and operating budgets

March 6, 2025

SYDNEY, NS – Cape Breton Regional Municipality Council has approved its 2025-26 capital and operating budgets, totaling $321.1 million. The operating budget is set at $187.5 million, while the capital budget stands at $93 million, reflecting a strategic and cautious approach to municipal investments and operations.

Mayor Cecil Clarke described the budget as “a cautious budget for uncertain times, focused on modernizing our infrastructure and operations while building on the opportunity growth presents to us”.

Budget Highlights:

Public Safety and Service Modernization:

Establishment of a new firefighter training division, enabling volunteer firefighters to achieve credentials necessary for career fire service positions.
Approval of public safety enhancements, including downtown security cameras and body cameras for Cape Breton Regional Police.
Encryption upgrade of the TMR (trunked mobile radio) first responder radio system, used by police and fire services.
Enhancements in human resources capacity, emphasizing diversity in hiring.
New property enforcement officers to address derelict and unsightly premises.
Hiring of an electrician to improve traffic signal response times.
Combining Communications and 311 communications centre staff to improve communication with residents.

Update Regarding Corporate Credit Card Investigation

Feb. 7, 2025

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is aware that the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs has informed media that they are satisfied with the municipality’s actions in investigating irregularities on a CBRM corporate credit card issued to the former Mayor.

Now that the provincial process is complete, the interim CAO will bring it forward to council for their direction.

Tom Miller Human Rights Award Recipient: Kendrick Douglas

Feb. 7, 2025

Mr. Kendrick Douglas, originally from Whitney Pier, was presented with the 2025 Tom Miller Human Rights Award at the African Heritage Month Gala this past weekend at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.

This prestigious award honours the legacy of Tom Miller and recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights, equality, and justice within the community. The late Tom Miller, Nova Scotia’s first black Alderman, was a dedicated, principled and tireless advocate who supported the rights of all Canadians, particularly those disadvantaged by discrimination or poverty.

Kendrick Douglas was recognized for his remarkable contributions to human rights and community advocacy. Mr. Douglas has built a career focused on justice, inclusion, and youth empowerment. As Legal Counsel for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, he works to ensure fairness and equity for those facing discrimination.

Beyond his legal work, he co-founded the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, serves on Cape Breton University’s Board of Governors, and has advanced diversity in sports through Hockey Nova Scotia’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. Mr. Douglas also played a key role in developing cultural competency training for lawyers, strengthening equity in the legal system.

Mr. Douglas was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023. His dedication to justice, advocacy, and community service has left a lasting impact on Cape Breton and beyond.

Nominations Now Open for the Tom Miller Human Rights Award

January 13, 2025

The Tom Miller Human Rights Award is now open for nominations.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality welcomes your nomination for the Tom Miller Human Rights Award. The award will be presented to an individual of CBRM who has made a significant contribution to the Community with respect to the encouragement, promotion, initiation, or development of human rights within our Community.

Tom Miller was born in Halifax in 1917 - three months before the Halifax explosion. He and his family moved to Whitney Pier shortly after the disaster. Miller grew up to work in the Sydney Steel Plant and served in the Second World War. He became Atlantic Canada's first Black alderman when he was elected in Sydney in 1955 -- a seat he held for 17 years. Miller later became the first African-Nova Scotian to run for the provincial Liberals.

The closing date for nominations is January 23, 2025, and the winner will be announced at the African Heritage Month Gala on Saturday, February 1st, 2025 at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre.

Tom Miller Human Rights Award Nomination Form

2024-25 Holiday season service notices

Dec 24, 2024

HOLIDAY CURBSIDE COLLECTION NOTICE:

Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on Wednesday this year. There is NO Curbside Collection on Christmas Day and an alternate day is arranged. All Garbage, Blue Bags and Green Carts regularly scheduled to be collected on December 25 will be collected on MONDAY, DECEMBER 30.

There is no curbside collection on Boxing Day, December 26. Extra garbage bags and green cart material will be collected on your area’s next regularly scheduled collection day. Blue bags will be collected on your area’s next regularly scheduled blue bag collection week.

There is also no curbside collection on New Year's Day: Wednesday, January 1. The next collection for that missed date is Wednesday, January 8.

HOLIDAY TRANSIT NOTICE:

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the last transit runs will be at 5:00 p.m, All buses, including Handi-Trans, will be off the road by 6:00 p.m.

Mayor and Council announce solicitor Kachafanas will serve as interim CAO

November 12, 2024

Mayor and Council announce solicitor Kachafanas will serve as interim CAO

Sydney, NS – Mayor Cecil Clarke and Council approved the appointment of Demetri Kachafanas today as interim Chief Administrative Officer for Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

After 17 years of service to CBRM, Marie Walsh is moving on from her employment there. Ms. Walsh has been Chief Administrative Officer since 2017.

Mayor Cecil Clarke expressed gratitude on behalf of the CBRM Council for Walsh’s contributions, which included outstanding financial stewardship of the municipality during her tenure as CAO, and formerly Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance.

“CBRM Mayor and Councillors thank Marie for her service and wish her the very best for the future,” said Clarke.

Kachafanas has served as the Municipality’s solicitor for the past 27 years. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University with a concentration in Finance. He was called to the bar in 1996 after earning a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Dalhousie University. He subsequently attained a Master of Laws (LLM) from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School with a specialty in Dispute Resolution.

Election results 2024

October 19, 2024

Results for the 2024 Municipal and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial Election will be available at this link following the close of polls.
Polls close at 7:00 pm

Results will include the advance poll (October 10-15) with over 21,000 votes cast. Results from today’s in-person voting will be posted as the returns come back from each of the poll locations.

https://electionresults.cbrm.ns.ca/

Residents to receive voter information letters

The CBRM is advising residents that they will receive their voter information letters in October.

The voter information letter will feature all the necessary information to vote in the 2024 Municipal and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial Election including voting options and locations. The letter will also contain a personal identification number that allows eligible voters to vote online or by phone starting Thursday, October 10.

If a resident does not receive a voter information lettter by the end of the first week in October, or loses their personal identification number, they can contact the voter helpline at 902-563-5010 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Residents can also vote in person on election day Saturday, October 19

Residents are encouraged to visit https://www.cbrm.ns.ca/information-for-voters.html for more information about voting in the 2024 Municipal Election.

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