CBRM News

Mayor and Council commemorate Davis Day

June 11, 2021

SYDNEY, NS - William Davis Miners’ Memorial Day was commemorated across Cape Breton Regional Municipality this morning as Mayor Amanda McDougall and Councillors laid wreaths at miners’ memorials.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Davis Day ceremonies are cancelled for a second consecutive year.

Although communities cannot gather on this memorial day, Mayor McDougall and Council ask residents to share the history of the events surrounding Davis Day and reflect upon the lives of 2,497 miners who have died mining coal in Nova Scotia.

The Miners Museum (https://www.minersmuseum.com) is a tremendous resource for information about the industry that shaped many of our communities.

The Museum of Industry maintains a list of all known coal mining fatalities in Nova Scotia. (https://museumofindustry.novascotia.ca/coal-mining-fatalities)

Public Hearing on June 11

The Council of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) has scheduled Public Hearings to consider:

The proposed sale of CBRM property to the Menelik Hall Society pursuant to Section 51(3) of the Municipal Government Act.

Amending the zoning on properties owned by the Menelik Hall Society to be under one zone category.

Amending the CBRM Land Use Bylaw to remove the Rural CBRM-No Mobile Home Zone and add the Special Provision for Grand Lake Road/Sydney Road to the Rural CBRM Zone.

The Public Hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 15th at 6:00 p.m.

Citizen committee volunteers sought

June 1, 2021

The Council of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality requires the services of citizens who would be willing to serve as volunteer members on the following Committees. Application deadline is June 7, 2021.

Diversity Committee (one representative from Cape Breton University; and one representative from the Cape Breton-Victoria Centre for Education for a two-year term)
Cape Breton Island Housing Authority (three positions for a three-year term)
Port of Sydney Development Corporation (one individual with a professional engineering designation for a two-year term)

The Terms of Reference/Roles for these Committees can be foundon the CBRM website: https://cbrm.ns.ca/clerks-department.html

CBRM TRAFFIC NOTICE: Street closures impacting transit service

May 18, 2021

SYDNEY, NS – Two street closures today impacting transit service are as follows:

(UPDATE: Buckingham Drive is reopened for transit at 12:45 pm. )

Buckingham Drive in Sydney is closed with access for local traffic only. Transit Cape Breton Route 10 Alexandra Street bus will be detoured turning left onto Moxham Drive and then right on Newlands Avenue.

Road work on Upper Prince Street continues today, altering the routing of Transit Cape Breton Route 11 Ashby. The bus will not go up Reeves Street and turn right on Upper Prince. The bus will instead detour along Lorne Street back to Cabot Street.

Municipal services update

April 28, 2021

Cape Breton Regional Municipality Update

Due to an exposure notice released by the province on Tuesday night, the Miners Forum in Glace Bay is closed for cleaning today and tomorrow. The facility will reopen after that time.

The CBRM Solid Waste public drop-off site on King Street in North Sydney will be closed on Saturday, May 1, 2021. If you have questions, contact the Solid Waste Hotline at 902-567-1337.

Reminders of cancellations, closures and postponements:

All municipal buildings are closed to the public and many municipal staff are working from home. Residents may contact CBRM's lockdown operations line at 902-563-2276 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further assistance.

Service adjustments have been made to transit operations to increase driver and passenger safety. Passengers enter and exit through the back door and no fares are collected. Signage on the bus requests social distanced seating. At this time there are no changes to schedules or routes.

City Hall and municipal buildings closed to public

April 27, 2021

SYDNEY, NS - Effective Wednesday, April 28, City Hall and other municipal buildings will be closed to the public until further notice.

Tax and Water Bill Payments:

Tax or water bill payments can be paid by cheque through mail to 320 Esplanade, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 7B9. Cheques may be dropped off at the drop box at City Hall, 320 Esplanade. A notation indicating the account number should be on the cheque.

There are online payment options here: http://www.cbrm.ns.ca/online-services.html
Payment can also be made by online banking.

Building/Development, Subdivision, & Vendors Licence Applications:

CBRM Planning and Development will now be accepting Building and Development Permits, Subdivision, and Vendors Licence applications by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Building and Development Permit applications must include attached electronic drawings, plans, site plan, location certificate, and approvals from outside agencies, if necessary (Nova Scotia Environment and Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal).

Transit Cape Breton Update

April 27, 2021

Route 11 Ashby and Route 12 Sydney River will end for the day at 3:00 pm due to driver shortage at Transit Cape Breton.

Residents can still access Sydney River via Route 5 to North Sydney every hour.

Council appoints new Chief of Police in CBRM

April 20, 2021

SYDNEY, NS - Robert Walsh is the new Chief of Police for the Cape Breton Regional Police Service.

Cape Breton Regional Municipality's Council approved the recommendation at a meeting on Tuesday evening following an internal competition process for the position.

Walsh was appointed Acting Chief in February of 2020, after the extended absence of Chief Peter McIsaac who had taken leave. McIsaac recently announced he would not be returning to the position.

Walsh has 30 years of extensive policing experience on patrols, traffic services, street crime and drug enforcement, major crime investigations and emergency response. He has 12 years of senior leadership experience and served as Deputy Chief prior to his appointment as Acting Chief.

"Robert Walsh has proven himself more than capable in this important leadership role," said Mayor Amanda McDougall. "This past year has been especially challenging for our front line police officers as we navigated the pandemic response. He brought valuable insight and sound judgment to the table every step of the way."

Traffic Notice: Buckingham Drive closed on April 20

April 19, 2021

Buckingham Drive in Sydney will be closed on Tuesday, April 20 for road repair. Access is available for local traffic only. Transit Cape Breton Route 10 bus will be detoured turning left onto Moxham Drive and then right on Newlands Ave.

Community Engagement Launched for Economic Development and Municipal Planning Strategy

April 9, 2021

SYDNEY, NS – The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) and the Cape Breton Partnership are pleased to announce CBRM Forward, a new and collaborative approach to Economic Development and Municipal Planning.

CBRM Forward is a three phased, two year process. An Economic Development Strategy and Growth Management Strategy will be developed in the first phase, with the second phase providing an update to the Municipal Planning Strategy, and the third phase undertaking updates to enabling by-laws including the Land Use (Zoning) and Subdivision By-laws.

This set of strategies presents an important opportunity to develop a unified vision for the future of the community.

“A meaningful consultation and outreach and a really thoughtful process will be undertaken over a good time span of two years,” said Mayor Amanda McDougall. “I’m looking forward to the creative collaboration process and the outcomes that will come from it.”

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