The former Bridgewater Memorial Arena (BMA) has been undergoing a transformation over the past few years.

Today, the building is home to the Bridgewater Farmers’ Market and the South Shore Players theatre. No longer an arena, the building is in need of a new name that better reflects what the space is now.

We’re inviting you to share your ideas and help shape the next chapter for 123 Empire Street.

Click here to send us your name ideas!

Submissions are open until March 31.

The flag at Town Hall has been lowered to half-mast in recognition of the victims of the recent tragedy in Tumbler Ridge.

We also extend our condolences to the community of Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg during their time of mourning.

We are deeply saddened by these events, and our thoughts are with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who lost their lives. We, along with communities across Canada, mourn and reflect on the impact of these heartbreaking tragedies.

FEBRUARY 6, 2026, BRIDGEWATER, NS—On February 14^th, from 10 am to 1 pm, join the Town of Bridgewater at 123 Empire Street for the 2026 Frost Fair. Filled with family-friendly activities, including a lobster cookie s’more station, this free event welcomes everyone to warm up to winter, gather with friends and community members, and have fun.

Hosted in honour of the Towns 127^th Birthday, this year’s event includes an open house. The location, 123 Empire Street, is the former Bridgewater Memorial Arena, but is now home to the Bridgewater Farmers’ Market and the South Shore Players Theatre.

“A lot of people in our community still call the space the BMA,” says Donna Hatt, the Town of Bridgewater’s Economic Development Officer. “But the space has been undergoing a transformation over the past few years. It’s being given new life as a community hub.”

For this year’s Frost Fair, the Town has partnered with the two tenants operating within the facility to create a fun day of activities and experiences.

The Bridgewater Farmers’ Market will be hosting a special Valentine’s themed market featuring local makers and creators. There will also be a 360 photobooth presented by Purple Cow. The South Shore Players are inviting guests to tour their new 100 seat performing arts space, and to enjoy a performance by the Lamplighters from 11am to 12pm on the stage.

Outside, visitors can play giant games and then warm up by the fire with lobster-shaped s’mores from Weagles’ Bakery, and complimentary hot chocolate presented by Nova Scotia Power.

Visitors are also invited to help with renaming this facility, by stopping by the Town of Bridgewater’s booth. No longer an arena, the building is in need of a new name that better reflects what the space is now. This will officially kick-off the community engagement program that will run until March 31^st.

Frost Fair is proudly presented by the Town of Bridgwater in partnership with the Bridgewater Farmers’ Market, South Shore Players, Nova Scotia Power, Purple Cow, CKBW / Country 100.7 and is part of Nova Scotia Lobster Crawl.

Rounding out the weekend of festivities is free Family Swimming on February 13th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre presented by the Town, and Seedy Saturday on February 14th from 10am to 4pm at the DesBrisay Museum. Everyone is invited to enjoy free Bridgewater Transit all weekend too thanks to a generous sponsorship by the Bridgewater Kinsmen Club.

For more information, click here.

A message from Mayor David Mitchell, Board Chair:

On behalf of the Board, it is my pleasure to welcome Jill Rafuse as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Municipal Joint Services Board, Lunenburg Region, effective February 4, 2026.

Jill brings twenty-five (25) years of experience in real property management, project delivery, procurement and occupational health and safety through her federal public service career with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).  She holds an MBA, is a Professional Engineer, and is certified as a Project Management Professional.

Jill shared the following message as she prepares to step into her new role:
“I’m eager to meet everyone, learn more about your roles and priorities, and work together to strengthen the services we provide. Thank you in advance for the warm welcome—I look forward to collaborating with all of you.”

We look forward to Jill’s contribution to the MJSB!

Mayor David Mitchell

Board Chair

The Public Service Commission of Bridgewater has agreed to waive interest charges on the current water bills until end of business day November 28th, 2025.Those signed up for pre-authorized payment will still have their accounts debited as scheduled on October 31st, 2025.

The water bills were mailed a little over a week ago, though their delivery may be delayed due to the rotating postal strike.  Please note bills were printed prior to the strike and will not reflect any payments made on or after September 18th, 2025.  Interest will still be charged on overdue balances owing from prior bills.

There are a number of different ways that you can make payment, including visiting Town Hall in person, making a payment at your local financial institution or paying online.  For more details on all payment options, please visit www.bridgewater.ca/payments or call 902-543-4651. As usual, payment options are also detailed on the invoice you will receive in the mail.

Thank you.

WHEREAS on Wrongful Conviction Day (October 2, 2025), we raise awareness of the tremendous personal, social and legal costs associated with wrongful criminal convictions.

It is important to note that a person’ s fundamental rights and freedoms are taken away from them when they are wrongfully convicted.

Wrongful Conviction Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about those who have been wrongfully convicted and to educate people on the causes, consequences and complications that lead to wrongful convictions, in the hopes of preventing them from occurring.

The Town of Bridgewater acknowledges with gratitude organizations and individuals who work hard to overturn false convictions and ensure the wrongly convicted can receive the justice they rightfully deserve.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor David Mitchell, on behalf of Bridgewater Town Council, do hereby proclaim October 2, 2025, as “Wrongful Conviction Day” in the Town of Bridgewater.

Signed this 22nd day of September 2025, at Bridgewater, in the County of Lunenburg, in the Province of Nova Scotia.

-- From the Regular Meeting of Bridgewater Town Council
Monday, September 22, 2025

The Province of Nova Scotia has announced as of late this afternoon that the Woods Restrictions have been lifted in Lunenburg County as of 4 p.m. on September 18.

As this information was not provided in advance to municipalities, the Town of Bridgewater is asking our residents for patience over the next couple of days as our Parks staff conduct required inspections of trails and parklands that have been closed since the restrictions were introduced. Inspections will begin early on Friday morning.

Residents can expect that barricades will remain in place at parks and trails until inspections have been completed.

Once areas have been inspected and deemed safe for use, barricades and signage will be removed location by location, indicating that the area is once again open to public use.

Again, we ask you to be patient for another day or two as inspections take place and to continue to respect any barricaded and signed trails and parkland out of an abundance of caution and concern for your safety.

BRIDGEWATER, NS - Following the phenomenal success of the Parade of Paddlers on the LaHave (Pijinuiskaq) River in 2024 in honour of Bridgewater's 125^th anniversary, Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia (CKNS), Cape LaHave Adventures and the Town of Bridgewater are pleased to announce the event will return in 2025, expanding to become the Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival, a two-day event, September 20 and 21, 2025.

The very vibrant and eye-catching Parade of Paddlers, which attracted 170 paddlers last year, will take place once again, this time on Sunday, September 21, beginning at 11 a.m.

Honouring the areas ancestral and cultural connection to the LaHave River, the event name continues to reflect the traditional Mi’kmaq name for the LaHave River, Pijinuiskaq, meaning having long joints or branches.

The mass paddle event starts and ends at Shipyards Landing, along the west bank of the river, with the paddle route travelling northward through the heart of downtown Bridgewater and under the two bridges before turning back. The route is a gentle paddle and about 2 kilometres in length.

The Parade of Paddlers is open to everyone, residents and visitors alike – registration is required, but the event is FREE to join. Participants need to bring along their own canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard and safety equipment, however rentals can be pre-arranged.

Among the boats participating again this year will the be the 10-person “Big Canoes” thanks to the continued partnership between CKNS and the South Shore Multicultural Association.

New for this year is the addition of paddling clinics, which will take place on Saturday, September 20. Nearly 60 spots are available within Beginner Stand-Up Paddleboarding and Kayaking, Rescue clinics, Basics of Adaptive Paddling, Greenland roll training and more. There is a $20 fee to participate in the workshops.

The clinics are coordinated and offered through event partner, Cape LaHave Adventures in Dublin Shore. Co-owner Sarah Hrdlicka says they are excited to be a part of the event and its growth.

“We're looking forward to hosting and helping more people access our ocean playground and learn skills that enable them to stay safe and enjoy our beautiful backyard, including the LaHave River and the LaHave Islands archipelago,” she said.

Brian Crooks, Board Member with Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia and member of the planning committee says the Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival embodies the core mission of CKNS, to foster safe, inclusive, and environmentally responsible paddling across Nova Scotia.

“Through this event, we are proudly bringing people together to enjoy the scenic LaHave River as we strengthen the paddling culture in Bridgewater and along the South Shore,” he said. 

With an eye toward showcasing how paddling can unite people in celebration of nature, heritage, and accessibility, Bridgewater’s Mayor David Mitchell said he’s thrilled to welcome back the Pijinuiskaq Parade of Paddlers and the expanded program for the community.

“The LaHave River is our Town’s most beautiful natural resource and seeing more than 170 paddlers on the river last year was magical.” he said.

“This event is a fantastic legacy stemming from the Town’s 125th anniversary celebrations last year, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic to see this type of activation of our waterway here in the heart of the LaHave River Valley,” Mayor Mitchell added.

While the group paddle itself is fun and meaningful for paddlers, it’s fun for spectators too. On the day of the paddle, the public is invited to meet and mingle among the participants Shipyards Landing from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. as they prepare to depart and organizers suggest Pijinuiskaq Park in downtown Bridgewater is perfect for watching the boats on the water pass through Town.

The Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival intertwines within Bridgewater’s Harvest Moon Music Festival on September 19 and 20, and the 2025 Nova Scotia 55+ Games which takes place the same week. Organizers hope paddlers will plan to incorporate these events during their visit.

Presented by CKNS and Cape LaHave Adventures in partnership with the Town of Bridgewater, the Festival is supported by Paddle Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

For more information and to register for the 2025 Pijinuiskaq Paddle Festival as a participant or a leader, or to register for one of the workshops visit https://ckns.ca/pijinuiskaq-paddle-fest-2025/ or explorebridgewater.ca.

📣 2025 PAVEMENT RENEWAL PROJECTS

The Town of Bridgewater’s 2025 Pavement Renewal Projects, including planing and paving of selected street surfaces, will be taking place at locations throughout Bridgewater beginning the week of August 25.

This year, renewal project work areas will include:

- King Street (Brown Street to 1095 King Street)

- York Street (Victoria Road to Empire Street)

- High Street (163 High Street to Anne Street)

- Elizabeth Avenue (Christie Street to 39 Elizabeth Avenue)

- Sunset Drive (Pinecrest Boulevard to 31 Sunset Drive)

- Dublin Avenue (Regent Street to DesBrisay Drive)

- Miller Drive (Pinehurst Avenue to 64 Miller Drive)

For a map of these projects, please visit www.bridgewater.ca/roads.

The contractor for the project is Dexter Construction Ltd., and completion is expected to take approximately three weeks depending on weather conditions.

Crews will plane off old pavement in the above listed project areas over a number of days before returning to complete paving in the project areas. Traffic control will be in place during active work.

As a result, motorists should expect to encounter temporary dips and rises in asphalt when entering and leaving work areas. Please drive with care and slow to appropriate speeds to ensure the safety of you, your vehicle, and others around you.

Every effort will be made to minimize the disruption to residents in order to complete the work, however motorists are advised to expect some brief traffic delays in and around project areas.

In total, the Town of Bridgewater has allocated approximately $800,000 toward pavement renewal this year. That budget does not include additional allocations for new streets or other project areas where underground infrastructure or intersection improvement work is taking place.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Traffic delays, dust, noise and heavy equipment are common elements of planing and paving. We are committed to providing a work site that is safe and orderly.

WORK HOURS
Working hours are generally 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It should be anticipated that the contractor might choose to work longer hours and weekends to complete the work, on schedule.

WASTE COLLECTION
Regularly scheduled solid waste collection will continue as normal in work areas. Residents are reminded to have items to the curb prior to 8:00 a.m.

SPECIAL NEEDS
Individuals with special needs who may be uniquely impacted by this project should contact the Project Manager as soon as possible to make them aware of your situation. We will work with you in an attempt to minimize your inconvenience as much as possible.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact:

Justin Penny, Public Works Manager
Town of Bridgewater Engineering Department

Office Phone: 902-541-4370
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Town of Bridgewater regrets any inconvenience caused to residents and businesses, during these important improvement projects.

SHARED ON BEHALF OF THE NOVA SCOTIA FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE

Summer is an enjoyable time in Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, with the warm, dry weather, our forests can become tinder dry and the risk of wildfires can increase throughout the province. To reduce the risk of accidental wildfires, the Fire Marshal has issued the following advisory.

To achieve fire safety, the Office of the Fire Marshal advises that effective the date of this advisory the use and ignition of all Consumer Fireworks, Display Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Special Effects is prohibited in any area of the province where the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a burn ban on open fires.

This means that in any region shown in red on the official DNR Burn Map — indicating a prohibition on open burning — the use of fireworks and pyrotechnics is also strictly prohibited.

The burn map is updated daily at 14:00 by DNR and reflects current fire conditions across the province. For the most up-to-date information, please visit: https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe/

For the purposes of this advisory, “Consumer Fireworks” are outdoor, low altitude, recreational fireworks (classification 7.2.1/F1) available for purchase from retail outlets.
“Display Fireworks”, are high-hazard recreational fireworks such as display shells, bombshells, large wheels, barrages, bombardos, waterfalls and mines (classification 7.2.2/F.2) which can only be purchased with a valid fireworks operator certificate.

“Pyrotechnic special effects” are created through the firing of pyrotechnic, propellant and explosive materials and devices and are used by the entertainment industry for indoor and outdoor performances.(classification 7.2.5/F.3) Fire safety is achieved through compliance with laws that protect people and property from fire, through
public education and training in fire prevention, through actions taken to reduce the consequences of fire, and through emergency preparedness. Everyone has a duty to take all precautions that are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure fire safety.

A failure to comply with this fire safety advisory or with a reasonable request of a fire official may be considered an offence under the Fire Safety Act and could result in a Summary Offence Ticket being issued.

For more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit https://natural-resources.canada.ca/minerals-mining/explosives-fireworks-ammunition/fireworks-pyrotechnics/permits-licences-certificates-regulations-fireworks-pyrotechnics.

PARKS AND TRAILS CLOSURE INFORMATION
>>> Issued August 5, 2025

The Province of Nova Scotia has announced it is restricting travel and activities in the woods because continued hot, dry conditions have greatly increased the risk of wildfires.

Based on information provided to the Town of Bridgewater from the Province of Nova Scotia, trails and parks that pass through wooded land are captured in the spirit of these restrictions.

Therefore, residents are advised that the following areas will be closed to public use until further notice:

PARKS
The following parklands in wooded areas are closed to use until further notice:

-- Glen Allan Park

-- Generations Active Park (except South Shore Vet Dog Zone Dog Park )

-- Woodland Gardens (trails through wooded areas)

-- Michelin Nature Discovery Park

-- Riverview Park (near Park View Education Centre)

-- Sperry Ninos Park

-- Winburn Park

TRAILS
In addition to trails included in the parklands in the section above, Centennial Trail from Silvers Hill to the Town limits at Cookville and Wileville, and from Most Wanted Pawn to the Town limits in Dayspring, will remain closed to use until further notice. (Only paved sections of Centennial Trail along LaHave Street will remain open at this time.)

PARKLANDS AND PLAYGROUNDS REMAINING OPEN
The following areas are remaining open for use are this time:

-- The meadow area immediately behind DesBrisay Museum, including for events such as Beat the Heat on Wednesdays from 1 to 3, and the meadow area of Woodland Gardens off Alexandra Avenue

-- South Shore Vet Dog Zone Dog Park (please park and access from the HB Studios Sports Centre area parking lot)

-- Shipyards Landing

-- Tannery Park

-- Mariners Landing

-- Brookside Cemetery

-- Pijinuiskaq Park

-- Riverside Park

-- Glenwood Mill Park

-- Aberdeen Green

-- King Street Court

-- St. Phillips Street Playground

-- Kinsmen Tiny Tot Playground

-- Glen Allan Playground (Miller Drive)

-- Pinecrest Park and Playground

-- Kinsmen and LaHave Athletic Fields

Recreation programming such as "Adventure Playground" Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3 at St. Phillips Street Playground and Fresh Air Films on Friday nights at dusk at Shipyards Landing will continue as scheduled.

We ask our residents to remain vigilant during this extremely dry period and to take care when using public spaces. We also remind folks to properly dispose of cigarette butts and other waste that may pose a potential fire hazard.

Let’s all do our part to keep our community safe!

For more information, please visit https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/05/travel-activities-woods-restricted-prevent-wildfires?fbclid=IwY2xjawL_GyFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoNHhCU29yeTJNRXk1N0ZIAR4bbynjwaI4VW9kBXVSvU35kxuWIV2wDI4K2B1uKidqFjI8iU4M46RclIQlMA_aem_wiOY2jQp26JmybjPv-T0Jg.

On behalf of the good folks at the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre, Town of Bridgewater residents and businesses that typically have their waste collected on Mondays will not have collection take place this coming week on Monday, August 4, 2025, because of the August civic holiday.

If you normally have your waste collected on Monday, your collection will instead take place on Saturday, August 2, 2025. Please have your waste curbside by 8 a.m. as usual.

The waste site at 908 Mullock Road in Whynotts Settlement will also be closed on August 4. Questions? Call the recycling centre at 902-543-2991 or visit www.communityrecycling.ca.