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.

August 1, 2016; Liverpool, NS: Spending time at the popular and beautiful Carter’s Beach will soon be improved under a new agreement between the Province and the Region of Queens Municipality. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR) will widen the final 40 metres of the Carter’s Beach Road to allow vehicles to pass safely, under a cost shared agreement with the Region of Queens. Widening the road will lead to the elimination of the no parking signs at the end of the road closest to the beach, and will enable parking on both sides of the road near the end of the roadway, providing space for emergency and other vehicle to pass.

“Word has spread about the beauty of Carter’s Beach and what a great spot it is. Traffic to the beach has increased greatly, exceeding the limits of the small parking lot,” said Christopher Clarke, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “We are pleased to have been part of finding a temporary solution to some of the parking issues.”

The narrow roadway and lack of parking at the very popular beach has been an ongoing concern, and one that the Region of Queens has stepped forward to help put a solution into place. The widening of the roadway is expected to cost approximately $15,000, with the Region of Queens Municipality providing up to $7,500 of this total.

A working group made up of representation from the Region of Queens Municipality, including Mayor Clarke, Deputy Mayor Darlene Norman and CAO Richard MacLellan, along with representatives of the Provincial departments of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal, Natural Resources, and Environment, and citizen representation by resident Robert Ross and Brian Fisher has been in place and meeting regularly since October, 2015.

“We are working on the opportunities and challenges of continuing public access to this popular beach, and striking a balance between conservation of this special area and enjoyment of what many consider to be the one of the best beaches in Nova Scotia,” said Clarke. “Widening the road to allow parking on both sides close to the beach is a positive development from the collaboration between the province, the Region and citizens.”

There are ongoing discussions to make the dunes, the estuary and other sensitive features of the beach a Nature Reserve. The Region of Queens Municipality, citizens and representatives from provincial departments will continue to meet to ensure that local access to the beach continues, while preserving the special attributes of Carter’s Beach to ensure it there for years to come.

Saturday nights will continue to be Hockey Night in Liverpool for fans of the Liverpool Privateers Junior B Hockey Club. Team owner Jim Bottomley and the Region of Queens Municipality have entered into a two year Facility Rental Agreement extending the current agreement through to end of season 2018. The Liverpool Privateers will continue to call Queens Place Emera Centre home and hope to build on the successes of the past two seasons. 

“We have tremendous fan support at Queens Place Emera Centre, and our team has been treated first class by the staff,” said Jim Bottomley, owner of the Liverpool Privateers Junior B Hockey Club, and Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. “We are pleased to be able to call Queens Place home, and to play in what is one of, if not the best, facilities in the league. We are glad to be returning for two more years, and hopefully longer.”

Since Bottomley relocated the team to Liverpool in September 2014, the Liverpool Privateers has developed a huge following in Queens County, with fan support at the their regular season home games exceeding 400 spectators, and growing to more than 600 enthusiastic fans during playoff season. The team has a strong and loyal fan base from Queens County.

“Council is as thrilled as the fans to have the Liverpool Privateers at Queens Place Emera Centre,” said Christopher Clarke, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “Not only does the team provide an exciting, entertaining sport experience that brings teams and spectators from across the province to our community, but having a team of community minded athletes offering elite hockey in our area is significant for the youth of our community. These young men are positive role models who interact with their fans young and old, and show the value of working hard and training. Saturday evenings at Queens Place has become ‘the place to be’ during hockey season.”

With an average of 17 regular season home games each year, and having made their way to the playoff rounds of the Nova Scotia Junior Hockey League each of the two years they have called Queens Place Emera Centre home, the Liverpool Privateers players and management have felt welcomed from the start. There is a loyal contingent of volunteers who turn out each week, a large number of season ticket holders, many enthusiastic fans, and significant local business sponsorship of the team.

“Right from the start, the boys have felt welcomed and supported by the community. They love playing here, and have been made to feel at home. The players give back to the community as well, getting involved in local fundraisers, parades and more,” said Bottomley. “This year, we would love to bring a Nova Scotia Junior B Championship here, and bring the win home to Liverpool and Queens Place.”

Queens Place Emera Centre opened in December 2011, and is known for its quality ice, and successful special events, as well as being home ice for recreational, competitive and elite hockey teams, including the Liverpool Privateers. Fans can enjoy the fast paced game in the climate controlled arena, or the community room bar, which has sound piped in, ensuring that they don’t miss a minute of the on-ice action.

The Liverpool Privateers will be holding tryouts in late August to early September, and will play their first home game of the season September 17, 2016.

Liverpool, NS, June 10, 2016: In less than a year since opening its doors, the North Queens Business Centre and Innovation Hub has gained national recognition as an innovator in working to improve Canada’s online world. On June 9, the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), announced grants totalling $1 million, with the North Queens Business Hub’s North Queens TVWS (Television White Space) Project selected as one of 24 chosen from across the country. It is the only application approved for funding in the Maritimes from 500 applications submitted nationally.

“This is great news, both for the North Queens Hub and rural internet users throughout North Queens. Having access to reliable internet in rural communities in Queens has been a challenge which has been looked at by many over the years,” said Christophe Clarke, Mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality. “The North Queens Hub will be testing an innovative solution to a very real problem that affects many internet users here in Queens, as well as elsewhere in Canada. We are both happy and proud to have played a supporting role in achieving this CIRA funding, and look forward to supporting their efforts in researching technical solutions to the issue of rural internet. This could be a game changer for our community, providing reliable internet for rural users, and allowing rural businesses to compete on a global playing field.”

The North Queens TVWS (Television White Space) Project will be based out of the North Queens Business Hub in Caledonia. The funding will purchase hardware to trial the use of innovative TVWS wireless technology as a solution to distributing high speed internet service to communities in wooded and hilly areas. Tests will be carried out in several locations during the remainder of 2016, and the results will be presented to CIRA in December 2016. The TVWS Project stresses that it is a research project. Although it is not a permanent solution to the problems of rural internet, it is an important step along the way.

Founded in 2014, CIRA’s Community Investment Program’s mission is to fund innovative technology projects from the non-profit and research communities, contributing to building a better online Canada. Now in its third funding cycle, over $3 million has been distributed to 78 projects from coast, to coast, to coast.