Growth and revitalization

BROOKSIDE WAY
Youth served
Signing in
► Heritage Advisory Committee kicks
off fundraising for Brookside Cemetery
signage campaign - Page 3
► Local youth embraced at YMCA
through programs; plus projects On
the Horizon - Page 4
Voted BEST place to raise a family in Atlantic Canada!
by The Chronicle Herald
the
BRIDGE
keeping us connected
volume i, issue i
www.bridgewater.ca
MARCH 2014
Growth and revitalization
New developments, downtown planning for King and LaHave streets set
the tone for the strengthening of Bridgewater’s heart
In recent years, Bridgewater has become one of just a
handful of growing towns in the Province of Nova Scotia.
Like most other communities, there are always challenges,
but the key to having a strong town is having a resilient,
bustling downtown ­­­­– one that nurtures not only economic
but also social growth.
Over the past 18 months, the heart of Bridgewater has
seen the kind of growth that will keep it beating strong for
years to come.
The Bridgewater Mall was purchased by a developer called
ZT Bridgewater Investment. It’s now in the process of undergoing a multi-million dollar upgrade. When completed
later in 2014, the Bridgewater Mall renovations will accommodate an expanded Dollarama, Mark’s Work Wearhouse,
Sport Chek, a Leon’s furniture store and Winners.
tunities in what was formerly commercial space.
And, the MLA for Lunenburg West, Mark Furey, is happy to
have his office located in Bridgewater’s core on King Street.
All of these changes mean there’s plenty of reason to be
excited about the future of downtown Bridgewater - but
that’s not all!
The Town has also taken a critical step forward in guiding future development in the downtown by adopting the
Downtown and Waterfront Master Plan and merchants
and interested partners are now planning for the creation
of a Business Improvement District (or BID). The BID will
work to help improve the downtown and ensure that both
banks of the LaHave River are teeming with activity!
The region’s economic centre has moved to the old
Dooley’s location on King Street, bringing the Bridgewater Development Association, ACOA, and other economic
development groups under one roof.
A new Cleve’s Sporting Goods opened on LaHave Street in
late 2013. The old post office became home to apartments
and new commercial space. The former King Street library
location is slated to become a Thai restaurant.
The Lunenburg County YMCA has opened up a Youth Centre along King Street to provide great programming oppor-
The multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Bridgewater
Mall will mean the arrival of four new retail tenants and
will be a major story for the downtown in 2014.
THE BRIDGE keeping us connected
page 2
The mayor’s desk
Welcome to the first edition of the Town of Bridgewater’s
newsletter, The Bridge - Keeping us connected.
In my many years of work in municipal government, I’ve
often heard from residents just how difficult it is for the
public to keep up with what’s going on here in our beautiful community.
That’s why I was very encouraged when our Town Council
began discussing the idea of introducing a quarterly newsletter – one that would help keep everyone in the community informed about not only the business of Town Council,
but also broader stories about growth and opportunity
here in Bridgewater. It’s my hope that The Bridge will reach
citizens of all ages and backgrounds, engaging citizens in a
way that is often so very difficult in this day and age.
We all live busy lives, but it’s incredibly important to make
the time to stay in touch with what’s happening in your
You asked!
community – in our community.
Like any other town in Nova Scotia, we face challenges.
However, the more informed our residents are about the
issues and opportunities facing Bridgewater, the more
likely it is that we will all be able to work together to
ensure Bridgewater maintains its place as the heart of the
South Shore.
With that in mind, I hope you’ll take the time to read The
Bridge and to talk about the things you see in these pages
with your friends, family, and colleagues. Perhaps you’ll
even be inspired by something you see here and decide to
volunteer your time to make our town a better place.
David Walker
Town of Bridgewater Mayor
Safety tips for seniors
When you have questions about services provided by the
Town, please let us know! In this section we will answer
some of the questions we hear from you.
Bridgewater is the only certified Senior Friendly community
east of Alberta! Here are some tips for seniors to stay both
safe and healthy in our community.
QUESTION: Why do I pay for a green bin (compost cart)
when residents of the municipality don’t?
Answer: Both the Town of Bridgewater and the Municipality charge residents a fee for green bins, they just administer the fee differently -- residents of the Town of Bridgewater pay a separate fee for their green bins, residents
who live in the Municipality have this fee included in the
cost of their property taxes.
► Stay active. Exercise is the best way to prevent falls,
increase feelings of well-being, and help maintain independence. Exercise also gets you out to meet people.
QUESTION: When will my street be re-paved?
Answer: The Town’s Engineering Department maintains a
master list of priority streets for paving. You can contact
the Engineering Department (541- 4370) to see where
your street is on the list, or to request that it be added.
QUESTION: When do I pay the annual renewal of my dog’s
licence?
Answer: All dog owners must ensure their dogs are
licenced by April 1 each year. If you haven’t renewed your
licence by April 1, the Town will send out an invoice as a
friendly reminder.
Have a “You Asked” question?
Send it to us at [email protected].
► Knowledge is a powerful weapon – keep learning! Ask
questions, and then share what you’ve learned with
family and friends.
► Install good locks on your doors and windows and use
them.
► Keep your money in the bank, not in your home.
► In Nova Scotia, it is the law that any direct seller (doorto-door salesman) must be licenced and carry a permit.
Ask any stranger that comes to your door for their
credentials. If they don’t have any, don’t give them your
business.
► Any lottery or contest that requires you to pay something before you get the prize is a scam, (particularly
one that you don’t remember entering).
For more information on senior safety, contact
Beth George at 543-3567 or e-mail bgeorge@bridgewaterpolice.
ca.
Have questions? Contact The Bridge at [email protected], phone 530-3631,
or search for “Town of Bridgewater” and like us on Facebook.
THE BRIDGE keeping us connected
page 3
The bottom line: budget
planning begins for 2014-15
The Town of Bridgewater has begun preparing its budget
for the fiscal 2014-15 year.
The Town’s senior managers have been carefully working
at projections and anticipated expenditures over the past
few months and, on January 20, the first preliminary budget session was held at a regular and televised meeting of
Bridgewater Town Council.
Budget approval is tentatively scheduled for April 28, 2014,
but between now and then, the public is invited to provide
comments and suggestions on the budget to Council.
If you’re interested in commenting on the budget or you
have a suggestion to make, you can have your voice heard
at the opening of any regular Town Council meeting.
You can also complete a special online budget survey
(found online until March 17) at www.bridgewater.ca or
add a comment on the Town’s Facebook page or e-mail
the Director of Finance Dawn Keizer directly at dkeizer@
bridgewater.ca.
Signs of the times
The Bridgewater Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) has
begun a campaign to erect roadway signs in Brookside
Cemetery. The signage project will have a number of positive outcomes for the entire community, including assisting
emergency personnel in responding to calls, aiding visitors
in finding burial sites, and serving to recognize the natural
and historical features of the cemetery.
The total project will cost approximately $6,000 and the
HAC and the Town are looking for support in any form to
make this a reality. The cost for a single sign is approximately $250.00. Those wishing to make a contribution to
the project can do so at the Town office. A list of contributors will be maintained by the HAC, and memorials noted.
Bridgewater Town Council
... on the record
We asked your council members, in just one sentence, what
they see as the key item or point of interest during 2014-15
budget deliberations.
► Mayor David Walker
Simply, the goal of reducing debt while providing the
services our residents want.
► Deputy Mayor Bill McInnis
Balancing the level of debt and taxation rate with all
of the capital spending expectations, such as rebuilding North St., Generations Active Park, Revitalizing
Downtown, etc. etc.
► Councillor Wayne Thorburne
We should consider the amount of the special purpose tax collected and make adjustments to lower the
rate for our residents.
► Councillor Jennifer MacDonald
This year will surely come with a focus on long-term
financial planning for infrastructure maintenance.
► Councillor Andrew Tanner
Town budgeting needs to use citizen engagement to
better understand what services the public values
most.
► Councillor Sandra Mailman
Bridgewater Outdoor Pool is a great asset to residents
and should be considered; a partnership with a not-forprofit would be a good idea.
► Councillor Michael Graves
I would like to maintain the current tax rate and look
at partnerships to help reduce costs.
Watch the debate unfold at council meetings, held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.
For more information, please contact Nick Brown, Development Officer, at the Town of Bridgewater Planning Office,
at 541-4369.
We’re thinking about selling ad space in
this newsletter. Please contact us by
e-mailing [email protected]
for more information!
Councillor Michael Graves, right, hands out cupcakes on
King Street to help mark the town’s 115th birthday.
THE BRIDGE keeping us connected
page 4
Youth will be served
Lunenburg County YMCA has lots of great
programs to engage local youth
It’s no small task growing up in rural
Nova Scotia.
But one local organization is offering
youth in and around the Bridgewater
area ways to get involved, have fun
and make our corner of the world a
better place in the process.
During March Break, the Lunenburg
County YMCA Child Care Centre will
run a fun-filled week of activity for
five to 12-year-olds. Set in a safe and
nurturing environment, children are
provided an opportunity to be social
and active.
This program consists of outside
activities and adventure, field trips,
science and math exploration, computers, theme days and much more.
Contact Candy Lohnes at [email protected] or call (902) 543-6399
to register today.
There are a number of free drop-in
activities each week for youth (ages
12 to 18) at the YMCA King Street
Youth Centre, including:
► Homework Help, taking place on
Sundays, from 1 to 6 p.m. Youth
have free access to computers,
resource tools and materials,
school supplies and adult mentors
to assist with completing home
work, preparing for exams and/or
group work. Individual work stations and comfortable group areas
are designated within the Youth
Centre.
► Creative Cooking takes place on
Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
This youth and adult-led pro
gram provides a hands-on approach to growing, shopping,
budgeting, preparing, cooking, and
preserving food/meals which will
lead to healthier eating. All ingredients and supplies provided.
On the horizon
There are a lot of important projects
underway or scheduled to take place
in the coming months and years in the
Town of Bridgewater - initiatives and
improvements that will help to ensure
our town remains a vibrant and growing community.
► Planning work is underway for the
upgrade to Kinsmen Field, which will allow for better water drainage and field
conditions.
► A timetable is in place for the development of Generations Active Park, an
18-acre parkland off Glen Allan Drive.
Among the first phases will be the
establishment of an off-leash dog park
at the site.
► Social Wise is hosted Tuesdays
from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
► Design and fundraising work continues for Grinders Square All-Wheels
Park, located near the LCLC.
PRO Kids Program
► The Bridgewater Marina is growing
along the LaHave River.
Do you know a youth who is unable
to participate in sport, recreation, and
cultural activities because of finanical
limitations?
The PRO Kids program provides financial assistance to eligible children and
youth. For more information contact
Sandy Mair-Dodman at 541-4384 or
e-mail [email protected]. All
kids deserve to play!
► Work on the new Collaborative
Healthcare Centre adjacent to the
Medical Arts building is progressing.
► A Special Events committee has
been struck to work to bring major attractions to the Bridgewater area.
If you’d like more information on these
initiatives, you can visit bridgewater.ca
or contact the Town by e-mail at [email protected].
A walk about town
The Wile Carding Mill Walk - 6.2 km (75 minutes)
The Town of Bridgewater promotes active transportation as a way to stay
healthy and happy. Start this walk at the Wile Carding Mill, head down Victoria Road, cross Veterans Memorial Bridge and follow LaHave Street north
to the Centennial Trail walking bridge, for a majestic view of the LaHave
River. Continue across the bridge to an enchanting part of the trail, where
water gently drips down rock cuts. Finally, pass by the rear of the new
Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre and follow the trail until it returns to the
Wile Carding Mill.
Have questions? Contact The Bridge at [email protected], phone 530-3631,
or search for “Town of Bridgewater” and like us on Facebook.
THE BRIDGE keeping us connected