Applications now open for homes in The Groves at Hillsdale
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The Groves at Hillsdale is a new housing community on Church Street - a partnership between the Town of Amherst, United Way Maritimes, The River Philip Foundation, and The Shaw Group.
Homes here will fill gaps for housing options in the middle of the residential market.
United Way Colchester & Cumberland is now accepting applications for the first 12 rental units, and the organization is also accepting applications for the first 10 homeownership units.
Access Awareness Week, 2025 proclaimed in Amherst
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This is Access Awareness Week! As officially proclaimed by Mayor Small during a ceremony this morning.
It's the 39th year that this public awareness initiative has taken place in Nova Scotia, aiming to promote the inclusion of all Nova Scotians with disabilities as full citizens within our communities.
Through public awareness, community partnerships, and education, this campaign aims to foster an environment of equal participation for persons with disabilities within the town of Amherst.
Maritime Green Energy Solutions Brings Sustainable Savings to Amherst
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Amherst is proud to welcome a new locally owned and operated business to town—Maritime Green Energy Solutions—a company with a clear mission: to help local residents and businesses lower their energy costs, reduce environmental impact, and live more comfortably through innovative green energy solutions
Deputy Major Hal Davidson, Councillors Furlong, Chambers, Wells & McManaman present the new business certificate to Patrick Manifold and his team at Maritime Green Energy Solutions
On May 15, members of Amherst Town Council joined the team at Maritime Green Energy Solutions to celebrate their official launch. The event marked more than just the opening of a new business; it highlighted a growing commitment in our region to sustainability, affordability, and community-driven progress.
Community organizations receive 2025-2026 support grants
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During the April 28, 2025 regular meeting of Amherst Town Council, a number of grants were approved under the Community Support Grants Policy and the Social Equity Fund, based on applications that were received earlier in the year ahead of the 2025-2026 budget process.
The Community Support Grants Policy guides the allocation of financial and in-kind contributions to non-profit or charitable organizations that are based in the Town of Amherst and are providing services that in the opinion of Council, are of a benefit to the residents and businesses of the Town.
Representatives of grant-receiving organizations were invited to Town Hall for a reception on May 15, where cheques were presented by Mayor Small and members of Council. Photos from the reception are available on our Town Facebook page.
George Baker sworn in as member of Amherst Board of Police Commissioners
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At the March 24 regular meeting of Amherst Town Council, George Baker was appointed to the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners for a one-year term, effective April 1, 2025. Mr. Baker was officially sworn in by Amherst Police Chief Dwayne Pike at the committee's meeting earlier this week.
Sincere thanks to Mr. Baker and to all citizens who serve as members of Town committees - we appreciate the volunteer work you do for our community.
Gamers unite! Got Item! Games going strong in its new location
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Do you like retro video games? How about video game accessories, collectibles, trading cards and board games? If this sounds like your jam, then Amherst has just the store for you. We’re talking about Got Item! Games, located in the Amherst Centre Mall since January of this year.
Not long ago, Deputy Mayor Davidson and Councillors Ripley, McManaman, and Furlong stopped by to congratulate the store owners and staff on their move from the original downtown location to their new space at the mall.
“The store’s roots date back over four years now to when a previous owner and I bought a business’s inventory and started up Got Item! Games,” explained store co-owner James Gaudet. “The roots of the Got Item! name go way back to when I was in high school – the name actually comes from a Mario Party reference on N64. It used to be when you got an item, it was a ‘Got Item!’ I was just like, that’s crazy enough to work.”
Gaudet shared that he and his colleagues tend to have people thanking them every day because they’ll come into the store and find products that they haven’t seen for a long time, or in other cases, products that are completely new to them.
“We specialize in retro video games, trading cards and collectables, and we strive to bring back a little bit of nostalgia,” said Gaudet.
Deputy Mayor Hal Davidson presented Got Item! Games co-owner James Gaudet with a new business certificate from the Town of Amherst, celebrating the business's new location at Amherst Centre Mall. Also pictured (left to right) are: Zac Mackinnon (volunteering in the community), store employee Kyle Estabrooks, Mann Forbes (representing his wife and store co-owner Jaclyn Forbes), Councillor Dwayne Ripley, Councillor Terry McManaman, store employee Elyse Bussiere, and Councillor Nic Furlong.
2025 Volunteer Appreciation Reception
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Earlier this week, a very special group of citizens gathered at the CCUBIC for the 2025 Volunteer Appreciation Reception.
Every year we ask the community to nominate individuals who give back by volunteering for initiatives that help make our town a better place for all.
A number of nominees were unable to attend the ceremony, but we will be sure to present them with their certificates very soon.
One such nominee was Dale Fawthrop - Amherst's Volunteer of the Year.
