New accessible playground coming to Beacon Street Park
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A major transformation is coming to Beacon Street Park. Work is expected to begin soon on a new, inclusive and accessible playground where children of all abilities can play, explore and have fun together.
The project will replace the park’s existing playground with a new play space designed to remove physical and social barriers and make play more accessible for children with a range of mobility, sensory and developmental abilities.
Site preparation and removal of the existing playground structures will be the first signs of activity, expected to get underway soon.
A playground designed for everyone
The new playground will feature a central accessible play area with rubberized surfacing, making it easier to move throughout the space using wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Accessible pathways will connect play features and other areas of the park.
Planned features include:
- an inclusive play structure and accessible spinner;
- musical, sensory and interactive play elements;
- accessible, basket and traditional swings;
- separate play opportunities for younger children;
- a sand and sensory play area;
- an accessible sloped embankment with slides and climbing features;
- benches, accessible picnic tables and shade structures;
- landscaping, trees and planting areas; and,
- pedestrian lighting.
One of the playground’s major features will be an accessible embankment rising approximately 1.8 metres. The area will incorporate climbing and sliding features along with accessible routes, handrails, and other safety features.
Rather than placing accessible equipment in a separate area, the playground is being designed so children with different abilities can play alongside one another. The layout, pathways, and play features will help provide equitable access throughout the space.
There will also be plenty of space for parents and caregivers, with seating, accessible picnic tables and shaded areas helping make the park a comfortable place for families to spend time together.
A $1-million investment
The project has an approved budget of $1 million, excluding HST. This includes the design and supply of playground equipment, removal of the existing playground, site preparation, installation, accessible safety surfacing, landscaping, furnishings, and lighting.
Construction is expected to begin during the 2026 construction season.
Concept renderings provide a look at the vision for the new playground. Final design details and individual playground features may vary from the concept images.
Please stay tuned for more updates as this exciting new project progresses.
Smile Sushi welcomed to new downtown Amherst location
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The Town of Amherst recently celebrated Smile Sushi's move to its new downtown location with the presentation of a Business Certificate, recognizing the restaurant's continued investment in the community.
Councillor Terry McManaman and Deputy Mayor Charlie Chambers presented the certificate to owner and chef Joy Song, along with her husband Charles and daughter Daisy, at the restaurant's new location at 55 Victoria Street East.
Town of Amherst Welcomes Harris Atlantic Sales Ltd.
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The Town of Amherst is pleased to welcome Harris Atlantic Sales Ltd. to the community as the recipient of a New Business Certificate. A family-owned manufacturers’ sales agency serving Atlantic Canada for more than 25 years, Harris Atlantic Sales Ltd. recently made Amherst its home base — a move that, for President and Owner Mark Harris, just made sense.
Harris Atlantic Sales Ltd. is a wholesale manufacturers’ representative serving the plumbing, heating and mechanical industries across Atlantic Canada. The company works with manufacturers and wholesale distributors to help bring a range of products to contractors and installers throughout the region.
Mark purchased the family business from his father, Dave Harris, last year. The company was founded in 1999, and Mark has worked with the business for the past 13 years. He is now leading the next generation of the company while continuing to build on the strong relationships established with manufacturers, distributors and industry partners.
Operating from Amherst, Harris Atlantic Sales Ltd. serves a territory stretching from Edmundston, New Brunswick, to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Mark said Amherst’s central location makes it an ideal home base, providing convenient access to major centres throughout Atlantic Canada.
The company moved into its Amherst office in October and currently has a team of four. Harris Atlantic Sales Ltd. is also in the process of hiring an additional sales representative as the business continues to grow.
For Mark and his family, Amherst also offers a strong quality of life. With family nearby, community programs for children and easy access to the rest of the region, he said Amherst has proven to be a great place to live, work and grow a business.
The Town of Amherst congratulates Mark and the team at Harris Atlantic Sales Ltd. and wishes them continued success.
Axtion Independence Mobility Inc. welcomed to Amherst
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The Town of Amherst was pleased to join Axtion Independence Mobility Inc. in celebrating the company's grand opening and officially welcoming the innovative business to the community.
Mayor Rob Small and members of Amherst Town Council joined provincial and federal representatives, business partners, community members, and company leadership for the special event earlier this week, which showcased Axtion's new facilities and celebrated the production of the Raymex Lift in Amherst.
Councillor Kathy Wells, Tracey McGillivray, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Axtion Independence Mobility Inc.; Liam Maaskant, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer; Mayor Rob Small, Councillor Hal Davidson, and Councillor Terry McManaman pose with Axtion's New Business Certificate following the company's official welcome to Amherst.
Amherst marks Emancipation Day 2026
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As communities across Canada prepare to mark Emancipation Day on August 1, the Cumberland African Nova Scotian Association (CANSA) is inviting residents of all ages and backgrounds to gather in Dickey Park for a day of learning, celebration and community.
Emancipation Day commemorates August 1, 1834, when the Slavery Abolition Act came into effect across the British Empire, legally ending slavery for approximately 800,000 enslaved people, including those in what is now Canada. While Canada officially recognized Emancipation Day in 2021, the day has long been observed by African Nova Scotian and Black communities as an opportunity to remember history, honour resilience and continue building a more inclusive future.
Victoria Vance, Executive Director of CANSA, says recognizing Emancipation Day helps ensure this important chapter of history is never forgotten.
"We have to remember our past if we want to build a better future," said Vance. "Education is how we move forward together."
Community members gathered to raise the Pan-African flag in recocnition of Emancipation Day in 2025.
Canadian Choice Windows & Doors welcomed to downtown Amherst
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The Town of Amherst recently recognized Canadian Choice Windows & Doors with a new business certificate, celebrating the company's investment in Amherst and its continued growth in the community.
Councillors Hal Davidson and Dwayne Ripley presented the certificate to Amherst branch manager Brian Porter and sales representative Shawee Tooley at the company's downtown showroom.
Canadian Choice Windows & Doors is one of Canada's leading window and door manufacturers and installers, with locations serving communities across the country. The Amherst showroom, which opened in 2024, provides custom windows and doors to homeowners and businesses throughout Cumberland County and surrounding areas.
For Porter, the business is more than just another location on the map – it's home.
A lifelong Amherst resident with nearly three decades of experience in the window and door industry, Porter said operating a business in his hometown has been especially rewarding.
"Being from Amherst and having a business right in my own backyard is something I really appreciate," he said. "I enjoy working with people I've known for years and being part of the community."
Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum preparing for exciting new chapter in downtown Amherst
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The Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum will soon relocate to a new home at 55 Victoria Street East, bringing improved accessibility, expanded exhibit space and new opportunities to share Cumberland County's rich military history with residents and visitors.
Museum Committee volunteers and the Nova Scotia Highlanders Community Council have been working behind the scenes for more than a year to prepare for the move, with an official opening currently planned for October 17, 2026.
The North Nova Scotia Highlanders Mural was dedicated on August 20, 2005. Proudly displayed on Town Hall, the mural is just a short distance from what will be the new location of the Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum at 55 Victoria Street East.
