Media Releases
November 24, 2025 Amherst Town Council Highlights
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At Monday night’s regular meeting of Amherst Town Council, the new Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law were given second reading and were subsequently adopted by Council. These documents provide an updated framework for how land in the town is planned, developed, and managed. The new documents also contain policy changes that satisfy a number of initiatives agreed to in our Housing Accelerator Fund agreement.
Marshview Drive Sale of Lots
The Town has developed Marshview Drive for residential construction and four-of-ten building lots have been sold to-date. Council authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to sell two lots for the construction of two single detached dwellings, with the purchase price of $50,000 each payable within 18 months or upon sale of the homes.
Beautification Strategy
One of the Town’s strategic priorities was the development of a beautification strategy. This strategy encourages volunteerism and promotes a sense of ownership and responsibility for our residents to care for their shared spaces. Council approved the Town of Amherst 2025 Beautification Strategy on Monday night.
Wastewater Treatment Plant UV Disinfection System
Council awarded the supply and installation of a new Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection System for the Amherst Wastewater Treatment Facility to Filtrum Construction in the amount of $721,000 plus applicable taxes.
Youth Arrested and Charged With Uttering Threats
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A 16-year-old youth is facing 2 counts of uttering threats in relation to an investigation conducted by the Amherst Police Department.
The youth, who cannot be named as per the Youth Criminal Justice Act, allegedly made the threats that include harming several people including students at Amherst Regional High School.
As a result of the alleged threats, a search warrant was executed on November 14th 2025 at a residence in Cumberland County and the youth was later taken into custody and held for court.
Police are notifying the individuals who were subject of the alleged threats. Police do not believe there is any ongoing danger to students or staff at Amherst Regional High School or that there is anyone else involved in this incident.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Amherst Police Department at 902-667-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
October 27, 2025 Amherst Town Council Highlights
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Election of New Deputy Mayor
The term for Amherst’s Deputy Mayor expires annually on October 31. At the regular meeting of Town Council, Charlie Chambers was elected as the new Deputy Mayor – effective from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026.
Council Committee Appointments
Council approved the following committee appointments effective November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026, with the exception of the terms for the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners appointments as noted:
- Mayor Small has been re-appointed to Regional Emergency Management and re-appointed to the North Tyndal Wellfield Advisory Committee;
- Councillor Chambers has been re-appointed to the Planning Advisory Committee, and will continue to sit on the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners through October 31, 2027;
- Councillor Davidson has been re-appointed to the Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, the L.A. Animal Shelter board, and will continue to sit on the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners through October 31, 2026;
- Councillor Furlong has been re-appointed to the Northern Region Solid Waste Committee, Regional Emergency Management, and will continue to sit on the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners through October 31, 2027;
- Councillor McManaman has been re-appointed to the Planning Advisory Committee, the North Tyndal Wellfield Advisory Committee, and the Cumberland Public Libraries Board;
- Councillor Ripley has been re-appointed to the Planning Advisory Committee, the Intermunicipal Tourism Committee, and has been appointed to the GFL Community Liaison Committee; and,
- Councillor Wells has been re-appointed to the Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, as well as being newly appointed to the YMCA Board of Directors.
Further, all members of Council are also appointed to the Committee of the Whole of Amherst Town Council, and the Town of Amherst Audit Committee.
Additional Committee Appointments
The Town of Amherst Audit Committee received two new citizen appointments on Monday night when Jim Prince was appointed to the committee for a one-year term and Rae Burke was re-appointed for a two-year term.
Council also approved a motion appointing Ava Tooley as the Amherst Youth Town Council appointee to the Town of Amherst Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee.
September 22, 2025 Amherst Town Council Highlights
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On Monday night a motion was approved to amend the 2025/26 general capital budget, and the 2025/26 water utility capital budget, to include the engineering design to reconstruct West Victoria Street from the CNR tracks to Hickman Street. This engineering design work is estimated at $67,000 inclusive of applicable taxes.
Several more financially-focused motions were approved Monday night, including the request from Maggie’s Place for a $2,000 community support grant to purchase back-to-school supplies for children in Amherst and Cumberland County.
Council approved the transfer of small amounts from Solid Waste and Sewer Operating Reserves to General Operating, to fund respective department deficits. And, funding changes were approved allowing the increase of Water Operating Capital from revenue from $40,000 to $134,000.
A motion was approved for $75,000 to replace the Fire Chief’s command vehicle.
Council accepted the recommendation of the Audit Committee, approving the Town of Amherst Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended March 31, 2025, which have been audited by the firm McIsaac Darragh Inc. Council also re-appointed that same firm as the municipal auditor for auditing services for the 2025/26 fiscal year.
August 18 Special Meeting of Amherst Town Council
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At Monday afternoon’s special meeting of Amherst Town Council, a motion was passed to amend the 2025/26 General Capital Budget and the 2025/26 Water Utility Capital Budget to include the installation of the water, sanitary, and storm sewer infrastructure for Phase 3 of the Marshview Drive extension project.
Staff recently completed installation of underground infrastructure for Phase 2 of this project, well within the allocated budget. A recommendation was made to continue with underground infrastructure installation for the remainder of the development (Phase 3), which will be accommodated within the previously-approved infrastructure budget for Phase 2.
Motor Vehicle Collision
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Amherst Police Department
A Lunenburg County woman is facing multiple charges following a motor vehicle collision on Victoria Street which occurred in Amherst on August 6th, 2025, at approximately 10:40am. Emergency Services and The Amherst Fire Department assisted with the call that resulted in the 33-year-old female driver facing several charges and a second person being transported to the hospital.
Stacey Dykstra, aged 33, has been charged with:
- Section 320.14 (2) CC - Operation While Impaired (Drug) of a Motor Vehicle Causing Bodily Harm
- Section 221 CC - Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm
- Section 354(1)(a) CC - Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.00
- Section 129(a) CC - Resisting/Obstructing a Peace Officer
On August 6th, 2025, at approximately 10:40am, members of the Amherst Police Department were patrolling in the area of Victoria Street and came upon the scene of an accident. One of the vehicles involved in the accident, a KIA Forte, was facing westbound on the wrong side of the road and had collided with a parked car facing eastbound in front of a local business. Responding officers noted that the driver of the vehicle displayed signs of drug impairment and she was subsequently placed under arrest. During the investigation, police also learned that the KIA had been reported stolen from the Halifax area and that the driver was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant.
