Click here for the December 6th Queens Place Emera Centre Advisory Committee Agenda.

The Region of Queens Municipality is now accepting applications from Community Organizations for grants for the 2016/2017 fiscal year.

To qualify, organizations must be Queens County based, must submit a financial statement for the previous year and a budget for the upcoming year. New organizations must submit a budget only.

For details and applications please click here.

November 14, 2016: Residents on the Region of Queens Municipal Water Utility may notice discoloured water as staff continue to work to repair a leak on the system that occurred over the weekend. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.

November 8, 2016; Liverpool, NS: The Liverpool Fire Fighters Association recently approached the Region of Queens Municipality for help in finding a large area to conduct practices and controlled burning with their volunteer fire fighters. Formerly, the LFFA conducted their practices in the gravel lot on Henry Hensey Drive, at the rear of the Liverpool Fire Department building.

“Our staff will work with the Liverpool Fire Fighters Association to find an appropriate area in which their volunteer fire fighters can practice the essential skills needed to keep our community safe,” said David Dagley, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “The Fire Department identified that a number of their activities, such as controlled outdoor burning, would be more appropriate outside of the business district, which is near residential areas. We were happy that Chief Steven Parnell approached us to help the organization locate a larger area in which to practice.”

There are a number of municipally owned properties near Liverpool that could be considered. Before an area is selected, a report prepared by Region of Queens staff co-operatively with Chief Parnell, will be submitted to Council for approval.

“As a volunteer fire department, we need a lot of training time to keep skills current. We would like to access a large secluded area, where we can conduct the training without worrying about smoke or noise carrying to neighboring homes,” said Steven Parnell, Fire Chief of the Liverpool Fire Fighters Association. “In working with the Region of Queens, we are hoping to find a spot large enough to not only carry out the training for the Liverpool Fire Department, but also to be able to offer mutual aid training to include the other five fire departments and the first responders that serve Queens. Training space located close to homes is an issue for fire departments, and a large remote space would be beneficial to many volunteer firefighters throughout Queens, and allow us to continue to be good neighbors.”

The Liverpool Fire Fighters Association is a volunteer organization that conducts ongoing skills training and practice in the areas of fire suppression, first responder activities, and safety. There are 43 volunteers in the Liverpool Fire Fighters Association, and approximately 20 in the Liverpool Junior Fire Fighters Association. The Liverpool Fire Fighters Association services a large geographical area, providing service to communities in South Queens (including Liverpool, Milton, Brooklyn, Beach meadows, Eagle Head, East Berlin, West Berlin, Mersey Point, Western Head, Moose Harbour and others), West Queens (including White Point, Hunts Point, Summerville, Port Mouton, Port Joli, Port L’Hebert, and others), and provides mutual aid to communities throughout Queens County.

October 28, 2016, Liverpool, NS: On the evening of October 27, 2016, residents of Liverpool and surrounding areas reported hearing a loud noise, which caused concern. The noise was the result of the ignition of a controlled burn of excess wood, undertaken by the volunteer fire fighters at the Liverpool Fire Fighters Association. The excess wood was clean construction debris originally intended for fire fighting practice in the Burn Trailer, which was unused due to the Provincial Burn ban in place throughout the summer and early fall. It was a still night, and the sound of the ignition carried far. There was no danger to the residents from this controlled burn; the Liverpool Fire Fighters Association and Region of Queens Municipality regret any concern caused to residents.

Residents of Queens County
are Cordially Invited to Attend the

S W E A R I N G – I N  C E R E M O N Y
of the
M A Y O R  A N D  C O U N C I L L O R S
for the
REGION OF QUEENS MUNICIPALITY
on

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Council Chamber – Region of Queens Municipality
249 White Point Road
Liverpool

Ceremony to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Followed by Refreshments

October 25, 2016; Liverpool, NS: The sixth Council of the Region of Queens Municipality will officially take office at a swearing-in ceremony on November 1, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. The public are invited to attend the ceremony, to be held in the Council Chamber at the Region of Queens Municipality’s Administration building, 249 White Point Road, Liverpool.

Following an election, successful candidates are deemed Mayor Elect or Councillor Elect, depending on which position for which they ran. They cannot act as a member of the Municipal Council until they are officially sworn-in. After the swearing-in ceremony, they become members of the Region of Queens Municipality’s Council.

Mayor Elect David Dagley will be sworn in as the Region of Queens Municipality’s sixth Mayor, along with the Councillors Elect for seven districts during the ceremony. The 2016 – 2020 Region of Queens Council consists of Mayor Elect Dagley, District 1 Councillor Elect Kevin Muise, District 2 Councillor Elect Heather Kelly, District 3 Councillor Elect Brian G. Fralic, District 4 Councillor Elect Susan MacLeod, District 5 Councillor Elect Jack Fancy, District 6 Councillor Elect Raymond Fiske, and District 7 Councillor Elect Gilbert Johnson.

Council will be sworn-in at a ceremony celebrating the culture and heritage of the Region of Queens Municipality. The Invocation will be led by Dr. Reverend Steven Hopper, the Kings Orange Rangers will serve as ceremonial guard along with the RCMP, and the Honour Song will be performed by members of Acadia First Nation. All are welcome to attend this important ceremony marking the beginning of the four-year term of the sixth Council for the Region of Queens Municipality.

Official Results, 2016 Region of Queens Municipal Election
October 18, 2016

Mayor
8,625 voters on list. Average Voter Turn Out: 37.8%
Christopher CLARKE 1,271
Scott COSTEN 404
David DAGLEY (Elected) 1,573
Rejected ballots: 13

District 1
1,299 voters on list. Average Voter Turn Out: 41.7%
Bill ALLAN 69
Mary DAHR 44
Kevin MUISE (Elected) 283
Darlene NORMAN 149
Rejected Ballots: 1

District 2
1,178 voters on list. Average Voter Turn Out: 34.3%
Chris BALL 91
Heather KELLY (Elected) 308
Rejected ballots: 5

District 3
Brian FRALIC (Elected by Acclamation)

District 4
1,187 voters on list. Average Voter Turn Out: 50.0%
Susan MACLEOD (Elected) 335
John TOWNSEND 252
Rejected Ballots: 7

District 5
1,188 voters on list. Average Voter Turn Out: 43.2%
Jack FANCY (Elected) 225
Ralph GIDNEY 140
Mervin HARTLEN 147
Rejected Ballots: 1

District 6
Raymond FISKE (Elected by Acclamation)

District 7
Gil JOHNSON (Elected by Acclamation)

Oct. 6, 2016; Liverpool, NS: “We Need to Hear from YOU!” says the Queens Community Aquatic Society (QCAS) and the Region of Queens Municipality. Public input is needed from residents of Queens County to accurately gauge the community’s interest in and level of support for building a year round, indoor pool. Residents are being encouraged to complete a questionnaire to voice their opinion use of a community swimming pool.

“Keeping active improves health. There are many ways in which people can be active. One setting in which different forms of activity can occur is a swimming pool,” said Dr. Celeste Johnston, President of the QCAS. The QCAS’ mission is to bring an aquatic facility to Queens that will benefit all ages and abilities at minimal cost so as not to be a tax burden.

In considering the possibility of a swimming pool for Queens County, the Region of Queens Municipality and the QCAS have worked with Dr. Patrick McGrath, VP Research, Innovation and Knowledge Translation of the Nova Scotia Health Authority. Dr. McGrath developed a questionnaire to determine how the population is active and how important they think a pool would be, and his research lab at Dalhousie University will analyze the results. To date, over 1,000 people have responded to the online survey. The more people who take the survey, the more the results will reflect the opinion of the people of Queens.

“Community input on this important decision is essential. Whether residents want a pool or don’t want a pool, we need to hear from them. The survey will help in deciding if there is community support to maintain a swimming pool, and if so, what components the community wants in their pool,” said Christopher Clarke, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “This is an important decision, and one that requires engagement from residents to determine the need and potential use.”

The QCAS is a non profit organization formed in 2015 by residents with a vision and commitment to bringing a pool to Queens, which was in the original Queens Place Emera Centre design. The QCAS’s Board of directors consists of Dr. Celeste Johnston, President; Deborah Spartinelli, Vice President; Susan Higgins, Secretary; Bill Smyth, Treasurer; Dee Kozlowski, Fundraising Chair; Ian Clark; Dr. Al Doucet; Dave Oickle; Kevin Page; Bill Raine; and Kristopher Snarby. The Council of the Region of Queens Municipality and QCAS has had ongoing meetings to discuss the possibilities. The volunteers of QCAS are planning for a structure that will not burden taxpayers, as QCAS are planning to fundraise to cover the cost of construction of the facility, as well as an endowment fund to support pool operations for an extended period of time.

Please let your opinion be known. Residents can respond to the questionnaire online by going to the Region of Queens Home Page http://www.regionofqueens.com or https://survey.nshealth.ca/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=8l2L8555

Paper copies of the questionnaire are available at the Region of Queens Municipality’s Administration Offices at 249 White Point Road, Liverpool, NS, or from QCAS members Celeste Johnston or Susan Higgins, or by contacting any member of the QCAS Board.

Liverpool lost an outstanding citizen this week with the death of Dr. Bill Murphy. He was as a native son. His father, Charlie Murphy, had been Mayor of Liverpool. Bill started his career as a dentist here in 1964. He and a group of businessmen started Mersey Seafoods which has remained a major employer to this day. He told me once he’d had many opportunities to sell the business and its licenses, but he kept it largely on account of the employees.

He made his mark on the east coast fishery through his service of several international boards and had achieved an international reputation for his wisdom and insightfulness.

His philanthropy during the last twenty years has been huge. Both he and his wife, Janet, shunned the publicity that comes with such generosity. They did great work through the J & W Murphy Foundation. The six J & W Murphy Scholarships, each worth $40,000, are vied for by students each year.

He and Janet made a very big donation to the Queens General Hospital rebuild. It was his commitment to this that enabled me to get government approval for the project and to find other funding sources. The new medical wing is named in their honour. There are many other institutions, organizations and buildings in Queens and elsewhere in Nova Scotia that have benefited from Bill and Janet’s largesse.

On behalf of the Region of Queens, I would like to thank the Murphys for their many contributions to Queens and to offer his children, Karen and Lisa and their families our sympathy and condolences on their loss.

Christopher Clarke, Mayor
Region of Queens Municipality

September 28, 2016; Liverpool, NS: Those looking for the newest and more innovative gear, materials and supplies for home renovations, fishing, hunting and outdoor adventures will see it all under one roof, a first for the South Shore. The South Shore Home, Sport and Travel Expo will be held at Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool, NS from April 28 – 30, 2017.

“Ever since Queens Place was built, the community has expressed an interest in having trade shows there, and Council is pleased that Darwin Event Group has entered into a contract to have the South Shore’s first Home Sport and Travel expo here,” said Christopher Clarke, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “The desire to have a consumer trade show came up again at the Queens Place public meetings held this winter. Hats off to our leadership team at Queens Place Emera Centre, Steve Burns and Roslyn Rowter, for their hard work in securing the contact for the South Shore Home, Sport & Travel Expo. ”

The South Shore Home, Sport & Travel Expo is expected to be an annual event, showcasing the home, sport and travel industry experts and offerings from the best in each sector, conveniently located all under one roof. The Home show component will bring remodelers, contractors, designers and landscapers together; outdoor sport fishing and hunting enthusiasts will see the latest in gear, ATV’s, watercraft and more; and outdoor adventure seekers will be enthralled with the latest tours, expeditions and more along with gear and apparel for campers, runners, cyclists and additional hobbies and interests.

“We are very excited to announce this new show taking place in Liverpool. Queens Place Emera Centre is a new state-of-the-art facility that is the hub of recreational, social and cultural activity throughout the South Shore. I’m confident that Queens Place can draw event attendance from the entire southern half of Nova Scotia,” said Matthew Schurman, President of the Darwin Event Group. “We’ve been organizing trade shows for a long time. The economic impact of this new event to the local area is significant. We create a unique marketplace of businesses looking to sell products or services and attract thousands of visitors looking to buy. The economic impact spreads further to the local economy with the money spent on organizing and advertising this event as well as the dollars going into the local hotels and restaurants. This is a win-win for everybody.”

Built in 2011, Queens Place Emera Centre is a municipally operated community recreation facility. It is a popular venue that has hosted local, provincial, national and international sporting events; concerts by such well known performers as the Beach Boys, Blue Rodeo, Charlie Pride and Travis Tritt; and home of the annual Hank Snow Tribute. Queens Place Emera Centre is located at 50 Queens Place Drive, Liverpool, NS.

Sept. 12, 2016; Liverpool, NS: The hockey season officially gets underway at Queens Place Emera Centre Saturday evening, September 17th featuring two local teams, the O’Regan’s Subaru Western Hurricanes Major Bantam hockey team and the Liverpool Privateers Junior B Hockey Club. The Liverpool Privateer game will have special significance as the organization joins with the Region of Queens Municipality in honoring and celebrating the efforts of the community’s volunteer firefighters by hosting a Firefighter Appreciation Night.

“The efforts of our volunteer fire fighters and Dept. of Natural Resources fire crews are valued every day, but this summer’s fires in North Queens was a testament to their strong dedication, care and commitment to keeping our community safe,” said Christopher Clarke, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “There were so many involved in fighting the wildfires, and many of the volunteer fire fighters did not return to their regular job for more than two weeks, spending much time away from their own homes, devoted to keeping our community safe. For this, and for their year round efforts, the community is grateful. We hope to see many turn out for the Firefighter Appreciation Night at Queens Place Emera Centre, to show their support of the contribution that our residents make to our community.”

Among the activities planned to highlight the firefighters are the ceremonial puck drop at 7:30 p.m. with several Fire Chiefs and Firefighters, and during the second intermission, selected volunteer Firefighters will play Shoot for Jimbo’s Cash. During the game, fans will also have a chance to support Queens Mutual Aid with ‘Pass the Boot’; all contributions will be welcomed.

“The Liverpool Privateers have been welcomed wholeheartedly into the community, and are pleased to be back in Liverpool at Queens Place Emera Centre for our third season,” said Jim Bottomley, Team Owner. “To be able to recognize the contributions of the firefighters and help to support them is very important to our team. We are happy to be part of this event, and hope to see many of our fans turn out to show their support.”

Fans of hockey will be excited to know that Sept. 17 features two games of great hockey action, with the Major Bantam O’Regan’s Western Hurricanes taking the ice for their first home game of the season at 5 p.m., playing the ACCEL Hawks. The Liverpool Privateers will face off against rival Glace Bay Miners at 7:30 p.m. for the Firefighters Appreciation Night following the Hurricanes game.

Admission for the O’Reagan’s Western Hurricanes game is $5, with those under 14 admitted free, and for the Liverpool Privateers game, admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students. Queens Place Emera Centre is located at 50 Queens Place Drive, Liverpool, NS.