GUYSBOROUGH COUNTY — The provincial government is investing more than $252,000 in 11 infrastructure and recreation projects across Guysborough County – funding that’s tied directly to community proposals and aimed at some of the most used and needed public spaces in this rural region of Nova Scotia.
From roof repairs in New Harbour to accessible washrooms in Sherbrooke and tourism rest stops in Guysborough, the funding commitments – administered through various programs in the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH) – signal what provincial officials describe as a firm response to grassroots demands for stronger, more inclusive gathering places in small communities.
“I believe my role as MLA – and government’s role in general – is to work with community and non-profit groups and organizations and municipal units on projects they’ve identified as priorities, [and] that’s what we’ve done with this recent round of successful applicants,” said Guysborough-Tracadie MLA Greg Morrow in an email to The Journal Monday.
“These investments touch nearly every aspect of community life – from recreation and culture to essential infrastructure,” he added in the announcement release. “They show our government’s belief in rural potential and in building strong, sustainable communities.”
Among the largest allocations is $55,000 to the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) for a new network of tourism and recreation rest stops, aimed at bolstering local mobility and visitor access. The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s will receive $43,923 for the installation of a new, fully accessible public washroom, plus $24,300 for upgrades to the interior of the St. Mary’s Recplex.
The list of recipients also includes: $50,000 for exterior wall and roof repairs to the St. James The Martyr Church hall in Halfway Cove; $38,812 to the Harbourview Community Centre in New Harbour to replace aging roof shingles; $29,641 to the Lincolnville Community Development Association for a new water pump, attic insulation and metal roofing; $24,709 to the Guysborough Waterfront Development Society for renovations to the Jost Building, including heat pumps, electric heaters, new garage doors and roofing upgrades.
Smaller grants include: $5,000 to the Chedabucto Bay Folk Society in Canso for its Sunnyville Roadshow; $3,000 to the Broadhorns ATV Club in Country Harbour for trail improvements; $1,000 to the St. Mary’s Trail Association in Stormont for engineering inspections of trail bridges; and $650 to the Ocean Lake Riders ATV Club in New Harbour for maintenance work.
Warden Paul Long of MODG welcomed the investment as a clear signal that small, rural municipalities matter in the province’s broader economic and social development fabric, and noted that community groups are “working hard to provide an infrastructure for community development throughout the county.”
Though some of the projects are relatively modest in dollar terms, recipients indicate the value is in their reach –targeting not only tourism and recreation, but also cultural preservation, public safety and long-term sustainability. The St. James hall, for instance, remains a key gathering place for the Halfway Cove area, while Lincolnville’s upgrades support an active hub for events, education and emergency use.
“By focussing on recreational projects and community halls, those traveling the roads of Guysborough County will see the fruits of this announcement and the great work that is being done by all the groups year-round to make our communities more welcoming and efficient,” Long said, adding: “It takes all levels of government and the private sector to collaboratively make a difference in improving the opportunities that all our residents and visitors appreciate.”
In St. Mary’s, Warden James Fuller echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how even modest grants can carry large impacts in sparsely populated areas.
“[With] improvements to our public washroom at 16 Main Street in Sherbrooke, we will be able to upgrade to the necessary components to make this a fully accessible unit,” he said in an email. “Providing this barrier-free environment goes a long way towards our goal of inclusivity to all our residents and visitors ... The Recplex grant will permit upgrading and improvement to the compressor units so that we may maintain a level of consistent ice during our winter skating and hocky season.”
He added: “Provincial assistance in maintaining a high level of service to our community is always appreciated.”
Said Morrow: “I’m very pleased to see Guysborough-Tracadie receive substantial provincial funding for several important projects... It’s all about working together.”
Further information on CCTH grant programs and eligibility criteria is available at https://cch.novascotia.ca/investing-in-our-future.
