Town of Amherst Helping Build Brighter Futures for NSCC Students
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This is always an exciting time of year. School is back in session with students in classrooms across the province, including at our very own Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Amherst Learning Centre.
“We’re so fortunate to have the Nova Scotia Community College as part of our educational landscape,” said David Kogon, Mayor of the Town of Amherst. “This is an institution that prepares a great many students every year to work in industries vital to the success of our town, and our province as a whole.”
Post-secondary education can be life-changing, but not everyone can access college programs due to the costs involved.
In 2018, the Town of Amherst established the “Town of Amherst Community Award” through the NSCC Foundation’s Make Way Campaign. This five-year commitment provided $100,000 to the campaign, which helped 50 students, each receiving a $2,000 award.
Recipients of the award were selected based on financial need, academic standing, and the fact that they were a resident of Amherst for at least a year prior to applying.
Outstanding Accomplishments at the Amherst Fire Department
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Three members of our Amherst Fire Department are celebrating a number of outstanding accomplishments, all related to their service at the local, provincial, and national levels.
Chief Greg Jones – our Director of Fire Services – recently attended the Fire Rescue Canada conference in Montreal where he was re-elected to the Board of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs as a Director at Large. During a special ceremony, Chief Jones was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work across multiple organizations to advance the field of fire services.
Deputy Fire Chief Brian Farrow was also awarded a King Charles III Coronation Medal, for his work related to co-chairing the Building Codes Committee of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.
Captain Bob Sperry – after years of study and effort – received his Executive Chief Fire Officer Aspire certification in Montreal. This certification is an acknowledgement of Bob’s professional conduct, training, education, and skills in a number of competencies required as a leader in today’s fire service, and it allows these competencies to be recognized across provinces, territories, and municipalities.
Congratulations Greg, Brian, and Bob on these fantastic honours and achievements.
Mayor and Councillors Welcome New Take-Out to Downtown
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This is the story of The Dog Pound – that cute little yellow take-out that popped up on Church Street this summer – owned by Darrin and Sandra Baker.
Darrin grew up in Amherst but he eventually moved to Ontario where he worked for years in the construction industry. It was there that he met his wife, Sandra, and the two started their family together.
“We were in the market to buy a home and we were looking in Ontario, but it was way too expensive,” Darrin shared. “It was my wife’s idea (to move to Amherst) – she wasn’t born here, but I was. We were looking at houses down here and I saw a house for sale that I had history with – that I worked on in my early years. We bought it. It happened really quick.”
Although everything happened quickly, Darrin said it just felt like the right time to move back to Nova Scotia. That was four years ago.
“I decided to take up and drive cab,” Darrin said. “I got to know the area again and meet some people and decide what kind of business would be nice to see in town. Fast-forward three years; when I saw this building being painted and saw the ‘For Lease’ sign on it, my mind stated elevating to my life experiences and my imagination and cuisine.”
Darrin went ahead and pitched his idea for a take-out to the building’s owners, Casey Realty, and it was exactly the type of business they were looking for to fill the space. That was in October of 2023, and a lot of work took place in the months that followed, allowing Darrin and Sandra to open The Dog Pound back on June 30 of this year.
Mayor David Kogon was joined recently by members of Council to present Sandra and Darrin Baker with a
New Business Certificate, welcoming their new take-out restaurant - The Dog Pound - to downtown Amherst.
Side Netting at Amherst Stadium Comes Down
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The Amherst Stadium has served our community for many years, undergoing renovations and changes at multiple points along the way.
Netting has been in place along the side seating areas since at least 2005, although it has never been a requirement. This material has aged and darkened over time, and it came to affect the viewing experience for those in the stands. The nets also negatively impact the video quality of televised events, and prevent audiences from participating in any activities where they are encouraged to toss items like stuffed toys or mittens onto the ice for community initiatives.
Lil' Em's Eatery Serves Downtown Amherst
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Mary Butcher has long dreamed of operating her own restaurant, and now she’s doing exactly that. Lil’ Em’s Eatery is one of downtown Amherst’s newest restaurant offerings, with food made fresh daily and served in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.
Deputy Mayor Dale Fawthrop was recently joined by Councillors Leon Landry and George Baker, as well as Amherst’s CAO Jason MacDonald, to welcome Mary by presenting her with a new business certificate.
“I always cooked with my grandmother,” Mary explained. “She was an excellent cook. Her husband was in the military and she always had lots of people around the house to feed.”
Indigenous Survivors' Day
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June is Indigenous History Month and this Sunday, June 30, is being recognized by many communities across the country as Indigenous Survivors' Day.
Recently, Mayor Kogon signed a proclamation officially designating June 30, 2024, as Indigenous Survivors' Day in Amherst, acknowledging the enduring historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, providing a significant opportunity to recognize and honour the resilience, strength, and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities that have endured historical traumas, and helping to create a platform for healing, education, and dialogue.
Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful at Maya Burke Aesthetics
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Back in April, 20-year-old Amherst native Maya Burke moved into her downtown space at 28 Church Street and launched Maya Burke Aesthetics, and she couldn’t be happier with her decision.
Recently, members of Council met with the young entrepreneur to present her with a new business certificate and officially welcome her to Church Street.
“I never thought at 20 years old that I was going to open up my own business,” shared Maya. “After graduating, I worked for someone for a few months and I started to get these ideas that it would be pretty cool to open up on my own. I just had a feeling one day and I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to open up my own business.’ And I went for it; I would never change it for the world.”
