Media Releases
Joint Regional Transit Feasibility Study
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- Published: Thursday, 20 March 2025 09:22
Town of Truro and Municipality of Colchester Announce Joint Regional Transit Feasibility Study
Truro, NS – March 20, 2025 – The Municipality of the County of Colchester and the Town of Truro are pleased to announce the launch of a collaborative initiative to explore the feasibility of introducing new public transit options in the region. The municipalities have retained Arcadis, in collaboration with Colliers Project Leaders, to conduct a Regional Transit Feasibility Study that aims to explore how new transit solutions can connect communities, enhance economic opportunities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve social equity throughout the Truro and Colchester region.
This study marks an important step toward improving transportation infrastructure and fostering more sustainable and accessible mobility options. By assessing various public transit models, the project will consider how best to serve the diverse needs of residents, businesses, and visitors, with a strong focus on economic, environmental, and social outcomes.
The municipalities are committed to ensuring that the views, ideas, and concerns of the community are central to the planning process. An engagement strategy has been developed to gather meaningful feedback from residents, community organizations, local businesses, transit users, and other identified groups and stakeholders. Community engagement will run from March to May and consist of a variety of outreach activities, including a stakeholder workshop and interviews, pop-up information centres, and two public surveys.
"We are excited to embark on this important initiative with the Municipality of Colchester," said Cathy Hinton, Mayor of the Town of Truro. "Public input is critical to understanding the needs of our community and how best we can create a transit system that works for everyone. Together, we can develop a plan that not only improves transportation but also contributes to a more sustainable and equitable future."
The study is expected to evaluate different models of public transit that could be implemented across the region, taking into account environmental sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility. It will also explore potential partnerships and funding opportunities, with the goal of building a transportation network that enhances the quality of life for all residents.
"We believe this study represents a significant opportunity to enhance transportation in our region, reduce environmental impact, and improve accessibility for all," said Christine Blair, Mayor of the Municipality of Colchester. "The success of this project depends on the active participation of the public, and we encourage everyone to get involved and have their say."
The first public survey will be open from April 1-22, 2025, and will seek insights into residents’ current transportation challenges. Further details about engagement activities will be shared in the coming weeks.
For more information on the Regional Transit Feasibility Study or to learn how you can participate in upcoming engagement activities, please follow the Town of Truro or Municipality of Colchester's social media or visit their websites.
Together, the Town of Truro and the Municipality of Colchester look forward to working with the community to explore innovative public transit solutions that will benefit everyone in the region.
For more information, contact:
Alison Grant
Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Communications
Town of Truro
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (902) 893-1434
or
Joanna Burris
Sustainability Planner
Municipality of the County of Colchester
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (902) 897-3170
Public Notice: Closure of Lower Truro Spring
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- Published: Monday, 17 March 2025 09:07
The Municipality has made the difficult decision to decommission the Lower Truro Spring due to health, safety, and liability concerns. While traffic issues and occasional altercations at the site have been factors, the primary issue is that the Municipality does not own the land where the water originates and therefore has limited ability to ensure its ongoing safety. Since both the fill site and water source are leased—and these agreements are set to expire—closure has been determined to be the most responsible course of action.
Work to dismantle the site will begin soon. The public will receive at least two weeks’ notice before the official closure. We understand this may be disappointing for those who use the spring, and we appreciate your understanding as we prioritize community safety and responsibility.
Nova Scotia 2025 Property Assessments in the Mail
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- Published: Monday, 20 January 2025 10:15
January 13, 2025 – Over the next few days, property owners throughout Nova Scotia can
expect to receive their 2025 Property Assessment Notices.
Assessments reflect a market value as of January 1, 2024, based on market sales and
financial data, and the physical state of the property as of December 1, 2024, including
renovations and demolitions.
Assessments are determined by Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC), the
independent, municipally funded, not-for-profit assessment authority for Nova Scotia.
PVSC determines market value using mass appraisal, the process of valuing a group of
properties on a given date using common data, standardized methods, and statistical
testing.
"The 2025 Assessment Roll reflects steady residential market growth especially in towns
outside of the Halifax Regional Municipality," says Charlene MacNeil, Director of
Assessment. "Our analysis indicates apartment buildings and manufactured homes are a
very strong market across the province."
The total value of the 2025 Assessment Roll is $190.6 billion.
"Commercially, both vacant land and industrial parks continue to show market growth,"
adds MacNeil.
This year's rate for the provincial government's Capped Assessment Program (CAP) is 1.5
per cent, reflecting the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Nova Scotia. The CAP limits the
annual increase in taxable assessment for eligible residential properties to no more than
the CPI rate for the year. About 67 per cent of residential assessments, 415,306 property
accounts, qualify for the CAP for 2025.
PVSC operates in accordance with the Nova Scotia Assessment Act and the Property
Valuation Services Corporation Act and follows internationally accepted standards for
mass appraisal.
PVSC representatives are available to discuss assessments and answer questions by
phone (1-800-380-7775) or email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). For more information, visit pvsc.ca.
Managed Urban Deer Hunt Plebiscite
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- Published: Tuesday, 24 September 2024 13:53
A plebiscite will be conducted in several urban communities of the Municipality of Colchester during the upcoming Municipal Election asking residents if they support a managed deer hunt to help control growing deer populations. Similar to the Town of Truro, many communities throughout the Municipality of Colchester have experienced problematic increases in deer. These increases have disrupted local ecosystems, destroyed property (gardens and landscapes), and have resulted in numerous Deer Vehicle Collisions (DVCs) and unsafe driving conditions.
Earlier this Spring the Municipality began working with Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables (DNR&R) in the Brookside/Bible Hill/Valley area to collect the 3-years of data required before a managed deer hunt can be considered. In 2025 data collection is anticipated to expand to the communities of Salmon River, Truro Heights, Lower Truro, and Hilden. These communities will all be included in the plebiscite during the election and will be asked to respond “yes” or "no” to the following question:
“Do you support a safely managed urban deer bow/crossbow hunt to control and reduce the urban deer population in and around your community?”
The Town of Truro spent several years in consultation with the DNR&R, researching, collecting data and gauging public opinion on how best to address their deer problem. A resulting Deer Management Strategy concluded that a controlled managed hunt is the most favourable population reduction method, in terms of effectiveness, feasibility, public cost, capacity, and time to implement. The Town, in partnership with Millbrook First Nation, has conducted several successful managed hunts since 2022 resulting in thousands of portions of protein being donated to Nova Scotia food banks through the Hunters Helping the Hungry program. A similar strategy mirroring Truro’s was adopted by the Town of Yarmouth in April of 2022.
What does a managed urban deer hunt mean?
A managed urban deer hunt is a controlled archery deer hunt, using carefully selected experienced, proficient archery hunters. These hunters operate under strict guidelines for the purpose of safely and humanely reducing the deer population numbers in select urban areas of the Municipality of Colchester for the benefit of natural ecosystems, citizen landscapes, reducing Deer Vehicle Collisions (DVCs) and an overall reduction of deer human conflict. A managed hunt would restrict the use of any firearms and would only involve bows/crossbows. The hunt would only take place in select areas of the community deemed to be safe and discreet (i.e., away from residences or places where people frequent) and a variety of necessary precautions would be taken to ensure public safety.
Sewage System Improvements in Colchester County
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- Published: Thursday, 25 July 2024 15:15
Today the Province announced funding for the replacement of pumping stations in Lower Truro and Hilden, and 275 metres of sewer pipe in Brookfield and Great Village. These sewage collection system improvements in Colchester County will help improve the reliability of services for existing homes and allow for future expansion.
“Colchester is a vibrant, proud community with a very bright future ahead - both for the people living and working here, and for those looking for a new place to call home,” said Tom Taggart, MLA for Colchester North, on behalf of John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “It’s crucial that this area has the infrastructure in place to continue to thrive and grow, and this investment will help set the course for that bright future.”
The Province will invest $973,000 in the project. An additional $973,000 will come from the Municipality of Colchester and other sources.
“The Municipality of Colchester welcomes the investments by our provincial government partners in strengthening our infrastructure to support new homes and businesses in our county. We are growing. New funding not only stretches our tax dollars to achieve more infrastructure goals, but it assists in our planning for the future,” said Christine Blair, Mayor, Municipality of Colchester.
The project is part of the Municipal Capital Growth Program, a one-time $102-million investment in projects across Nova Scotia – a historic provincial investment in municipal infrastructure.
Colchester’s Deputy Mayor Elected President of FCM
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- Published: Wednesday, 12 June 2024 13:46
The Municipality of Colchester’s Deputy Mayor, Geoff Stewart, was recently named President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) at the organization’s annual conference held, June 6-9, 2024. After rising through the ranks and completing terms as 3rd Vice President in 2021, 2nd Vice President in 2022, and 1st Vice President in 2023, Stewart is now the national organization’s new leader. This is the first time that a representative from the Municipality of Colchester has held this position in the 123-year history of the FCM.
“I am extremely proud and honoured to have earned the trust and support of my peers to become President of the FCM Board. This is an organization that I am very passionate about and one that I believe can effect real change in municipalities all across Canada. I am especially proud to represent my home Municipality of Colchester in this important work and thank my family, municipal colleagues and staff who have supported me on this journey,” says Deputy Mayor Stewart.
FCM advocates for municipalities across the country and ensures citizens' needs are reflected in federal policies and programs. It has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. Members include more than 2,100 municipalities of all sizes, from Canada's cities, and rural communities, to northern communities including 20 provincial and territorial municipal associations. Together, they represent more than 92 percent of all Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Image: Deputy Mayor Stewart being presented with the President’s Pin by now Past President Scott Pearce at the FCM Conference.