PARKING METER NOTICE

Bridgewater's parking meters are being upgraded and, effective Thursday, August 4, 2022, meters will no longer accept 5-cent and 10-cent coins for parking.

Please note that parking rates have NOT changed. Parking meters will continue to accept 25-cent, $1 and $2 coins. You can also still pay for parking from your smartphone using the HotSpot app. For more info, please visit https://www.htsp.ca/. Decals on meters will be updated in the coming days to reflect the changeover.

To learn more about parking in Bridgewater, please visit www.bridgewater.ca/parking.

Residents and businesses that have their waste regularly collected on Mondays are advised that collection will not take place in the Town of Bridgewater on August 1, 2022. Collection will instead take place on Saturday, July 30.

The Community Recycling Centre will be closed August 1st. Questions? Call (902) 543-2991.

? BRIDGEWATER PARKING STUDY
>>> Public Engagement Session #2 this Thursday evening

Work continues on the Town of Bridgewater's 2022 Parking Study and you're invited to attend the second public engagement session to share your thoughts on the present and future parking needs of the downtown.

The study will ultimately help guide Bridgewater Town Council in planning the Town's long-term capital investments, ensuring that the implementation and phasing of parking infrastructure improvements is efficient and done with the needs of our growing and vibrant community in mind.

➡ SECOND PUBLIC SESSION ON JULY 21, 2022
Consultation with business owners and the public is a key element of the study. An initial Public Information Centre (PIC) was held on May 31, 2022, to introduce the study.

Members of the public are invited to attend the second PIC on Thursday, July 21, 2022, starting at 6:30 p.m. in-person at the Bridgewater Fire Hall, located at 81 Dominion Street.

The purpose of the second PIC is to share the study findings to date, discuss preliminary recommendations, and to obtain further input from business owners and the public. The study team will deliver a presentation and there will be an opportunity at the end of the presentation to ask any questions or submit comments.

If you are unable to attend the PIC and would like to provide input, or if you have any questions or comments, please contact the study team Project Manager:

Michael MacDonald, P.Eng.
Consultant Project Manager
Harbourside Transportation Consultants

902-405-4696 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CLICK HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONLINE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY REVIEW/COUNCIL SIZE SURVEY

In 2022, the Town of Bridgewater and every municipality in Nova Scotia is required to conduct a Municipal Boundary Review. In Bridgewater's case, where Town Council members are elected at large, community members have the opportunity to offer their input on the size of Bridgewater Town Council and if they believe that the number of elected officials serves the needs of the community and offers appropriate representation for its citizens or if they believe a change to the existing system should be made.

BACKGROUND
The population of Bridgewater during the 2021 Census was 8,790. Bridgewater Town Council consists of an elected Mayor and six at-large elected Town Council members. "At large" means that Council members represent the entire community and not any specific district or ward within Bridgewater.

How does Bridgewater stack up to other towns of similar size in Nova Scotia? The Town of Kentville (pop. 6,630) has a mayor and six at-large councillors. The Town of Truro (pop. 12,954) has a mayor and six councillors - Truro has three wards with two councillors per ward. Yarmouth (pop. 6,829) has a mayor and six at-large councillors. In Amherst (pop. 9,404), there is also a mayor and six at-large councillors.

Town Council members in Bridgewater are paid a taxed salary of $25,000 per year for their service. The Deputy Mayor (elected by Town Council) receives a taxed salary of $36,700 per year. The Mayor receives a taxed salary of $62,300 per year. In addition to twice-monthly Town Council meetings, there are approximately 25 committees and commissions which require Town Council representation, with each Town Councillor generally serving on at least seven committees.

HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE YOUR INPUT
As part of the public engagement process around the Municipal Boundary Review, you will be invited to participate in an online survey that is available by clicking here.

You may submit written comments by regular mail to the Town of Bridgewater by regular mail or drop off at Town Hall, located at 60 Pleasant Street in Bridgewater (please include "Municipal Boundary Review" in writing in the title of your submission.

You may also participate by attending the regular meeting of Bridgewater Town Council on Monday, August 8, or Monday, September 12, and providing verbal remarks at the start of the meeting during the time specifically allotted for members of the public to provide feedback on the Municipal Boundary Review (at approximately 6 p.m.)

Finally, there will be an open-house event at DesBrisay Museum, located at 130 Jubilee Road in Bridgewater, on Tuesday, August 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome and staff will be on site to receive comments and answer questions related to the Municipal Boundary Review.

Last night, Bridgewater Town Council approved proposed changes to the Town's Vending Bylaw. Whether you're operating a food truck, hosting a yoga class, or something else entirely, anyone wishing to operate as a vendor on Town of Bridgewater lands will now have more choice than ever as the Vending Bylaw will be amended to allow vending at any park or recreation facility in Town.

With the expanded list, vendors will be able to book Tannery Park, Generations Active Park, Glen Allan Park Glenwood Mill Park, and others for vending. Visit the Explore Bridgewater website to see all the parks that can be used for vending: https://www.explorebridgewater.ca/parks-green-spaces-and-playgrounds

If you have any questions regarding vending permits, please contact the Recreation office at (902) 543-2274 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

⛵️ REMINDER RE: SHIPYARDS LANDING
Work continues on the pump station and forcemain upgrade project at Shipyards Landing. Due to that work, the Town will not be taking any event bookings for the bandstand/gazebo and adjacent lands at that site this summer, nor will the Town be issuing vending permits for that location. We apologize for any inconvenience and ask for your understanding as this important project continues.

Access to the boat launch for those looking to put watercraft in the river may be possible, particularly on evenings and weekends, however we ask boaters to understand that access to the launch cannot be fully guaranteed at all times because of the nature of the work. Boaters may wish to consider using the nearby municipal launch in Dayspring as an alternative.

? DID YOU KNOW?
>>> Town of Bridgewater 2021-2022 Grants

The Town of Bridgewater wishes to advise its residents, as is required by Section 65 (c) of the Municipal Government Act, that the following grants were issued for the year April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022:

Bluenose Shuffleboard Club -- $1,000

Bridgewater Baseball Association -- $1,000

Bridgewater Curling Club -- $3,300

Bridgewater Farmers Market Association -- $1,000

Bridgewater Figure Skating Club -- $1,275

Bridgewater Interchurch Food Bank -- $1,000

Bridgewater Tennis Club -- $1,000

DMC Boxing Club -- $2,275

Flourish 55+ Healthy Activity Centre -- $2,775

Kinship Performing Arts Centre -- $1,000

LC Judo Club -- $1,000

Lunenburg County Hikers -- $1,025

Park View Grad Event - The Lewis Foundation -- $1,500

Sea Hawks Minor Football Club -- $1,000

Society of Saint Vincent Paul -- $1,525

South Shore Fieldhouse Society -- $2,775

South Shore Pipers and Drums Assoc -- $1,500

South Shore Sexual Health -- $2,000

Senior Wheels Association -- $1,000

VON Lunenburg -- $3,275

Western Riptide -- $1,000

YMCA of Southwest Nova Scotia -- $8,275

Façade Improvement Program:
- Maria Charlin $799
- Greg Rafuse $5,000
- Gary Ramey $5,000

Designated Community Project Fund -- South Shore Fieldhouse Society $40,500

? TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER PROCLAMATION
>>> The Longest Day of Smiles

WHEREAS Operation Smile Canada is a global medical charity providing free, life-changing surgeries and medical care to children born with cleft conditions around the world; and

WHEREAS every 3 minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition, and lack of access to safe, effective surgery means that easily treatable conditions like cleft lip and cleft palate can become fatal. Operation Smile Canada believes every child born with a cleft condition deserves exceptional surgical care; and

WHEREAS The Longest Day of SMILES® will unite Canadians from coast to coast to coast as they raise awareness and funds to support this important cause; and

WHEREAS on June 19, 2022, the Town of Bridgewater is encouraged to celebrate the Longest Day of SMILES® by sharing #longestdayofsmiles on social media;

THEREFORE Town Council for the Town of Bridgewater hereby proclaims June 19, 2022, as The Longest Day of SMILES® and commends its thoughtful observance to all citizens

of our Town.

? SHIPYARDS LANDING BOAT LAUNCH ACCESS
>>> May 16, 2022

The Town of Bridgewater wishes to remind boaters who use the launch at Shipyards Landing that as a result of the ongoing Pump Station and Forcemain Project at that location, we cannot guarantee access to the boat launch for recreational boaters at this time.

While access to the launch at Shipyards Landing may be possible during the evenings and on weekends, because of the complex nature of the project we cannot guarantee with certainty that the launch will be available for use.

With that in mind, we are encouraging boaters to consider using other public launch sites, such as the Municipality of Lunenburg's location in Dayspring, for the next few weeks.

If you do choose to use the launch at Shipyards Landing, please move your trailer off site as quickly as possible after you have your craft in the water to allow others to make use of the launch.

Emergency access to the Shipyards Landing launch will be maintained for Bridgewater Fire Department and emergency responders, who may be required to respond to water rescue calls on the river during the project.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as this important project proceeds.

? TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER PROCLAMATION
>>> International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

WHEREAS the Human Rights Act of Nova Scotia recognizes that no one can be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression;

and WHEREAS Bridgewater is a society open to everyone, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans people (LGBTQ+) and to all other people who identify with sexual diversity and the multiplicity of gender identities and expressions;

and WHEREAS, despite recent efforts towards greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, homophobia and transphobia are still present in society;

and WHEREAS May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia;

THEREFORE, Town Council for the Town of Bridgewater hereby proclaims May 17, 2022, as INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA and recognizes this day as such.

For more information, visit https://may17.org/about/.

? TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER PROCLAMATION
>>> Lyme Disease Awareness Month

WHEREAS Lyme disease is a serious illness caused by the bite of a black-legged tick infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi:

and WHEREAS black-legged ticks carrying a variety of diseases or illnesses can now be found in all parts of Nova Scotia;

and WHEREAS awareness, education and practicing preventative measures, such as daily tick checks and proper tick removal, can help reduce your chances of contracting tick borne diseases;

THEREFORE, be it resolved that Town Council for the Town of Bridgewater, does hereby proclaim May 2022 as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month."

? TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, members of the Shriners International fraternity, with vision, generosity and a desire to make a positive impact on the world, opened the first Shriners Children's hospital 100 years ago;

and WHEREAS, Shriners Children's offers care for orthopedic conditions, burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, and craniofacial conditions, regardless of a family's ability to pay or insurance status;

and WHEREAS, since 1922, from that single hospital has grown a unique and beloved health care system with locations across the United States, as well as in Mexico and Canada;

and WHEREAS, Shriners Children's three-part mission has one goal: to change and improve lives by caring for patients, conducting research to gain knowledge and develop new treatments,

and providing educational opportunities for physicians and other health care professionals;

and WHEREAS, Shriners Children's has improved the lives of more than 1.5 million children since its founding 100 years ago;

and WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate to acknowledge the positive impact Shriners Children's has made in its first century of caring for children;

NOW, THEREFORE, Town Council for the Town of Bridgewater hereby congratulates SHRINERS CHILDREN'S UPON CELEBRATING the 100th anniversary of its founding and offering hope and healing to children and families around the world.

? SURVEY LAUNCH!
>>> McGill University team looking for info on energy use, housing, and connections to well-being

Calling residents of Bridgewater: we want to hear from you!

A research team from McGill University is conducting a study to understand how energy use and housing conditions relate to health and well-being in Bridgewater. This study is conducted in collaboration with the Town of Bridgewater.

Residents of the Town of Bridgewater, aged 19 years and older, who are either renters or homeowners, and who have lived at their current address at least since January 2022 are eligible to participate in the survey.

Those who complete the survey will receive a $10 gift card for Fresh Cuts Market!

You can participate online, over the phone, or in person.

Complete the survey online here: https://surveys.mcgill.ca/ls3/477489?lang=en

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment to complete the survey in-person or over the phone, contact the research team at 902-930-2561 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..