Media Releases
May 26, 2025 Amherst Town Council – Meeting Highlights
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Four new requests under the Community Support Grants Policy were approved by Council at Monday night’s meeting, totalling $33,320.
Funding in the amount of $15,000 was approved for the Westcumb Amateur Radio Club, to help financially support the purchase of a mobile radio communications trailer. The trailer is self contained and can be deployed where needed, providing valuable communication links as required for the club to support Regional Emergency Management Operations (REMO) in remote areas during an emergency. The Municipality of the County of Cumberland has also agreed to fund their portion of the cost.
Council approved funding in the amount of $1,600 to the Bridge Adult Service Centre for transportation costs to attend a tournament in Summerside.
A second funding request from the Bridge Adult Service Centre was approved in the amount of $14,720 to build a walking track around their facility. This new concrete walking track will be fully accessible and provide the clients with opportunities for increasing their daily physical activities in a safe and controlled area.
The fourth funding request approved by Council on Monday night was in the amount of $2,000 for Spring Street Academy Home and School Association for the upcoming Spring Fling event.
Amendment of Building Bylaw and Repeal of Vacant Building Bylaw
On April 1st, 2025, Nova Scotia adopted the latest edition of the National Building Code of Canada and new Building Code Regulations. Due to changes in the new regulations, the Town of Amherst's current Building Bylaw is no longer aligned with the updated codes. Council gave first reading to the proposed Building Bylaw amendments, mostly housekeeping in nature, to update definitions to align with the National Building Code and corresponding regulations.
The Town of Amherst Vacant Building Bylaw, adopted in 2011, sets out requirements and standards for vacant buildings. The Bylaw includes maintenance standards and provisions for boarding up vacant buildings that are already provided for by the Dangerous or Unsightly Premises provisions of the Municipal Government Act. As such, the Vacant Building Bylaw does not serve a useful purpose at this time. At Monday night’s meeting, Council give first reading of the Bylaw to Repeal the Town of Amherst Vacant Building Bylaw.
Town of Amherst Proclaims May 18–24 as VON Week
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On the morning of May 20, the Town of Amherst held a special flag-raising ceremony to recognize the invaluable contributions of VON Cumberland. During the event, Mayor Robert Small officially proclaimed May 18–24, 2025 as VON Week in Amherst, honoring the dedicated staff and volunteers who provide essential health and social services in our community.
The Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) is a charitable, community-based healthcare organization that has been supporting the health and well-being of Canadians for 128 years. In Amherst, VON nurses, home support workers, coordinators, and volunteers deliver critical care to residents.
April 28, 2025 Amherst Town Council – Meeting Highlights
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In preparation for the Province of Nova Scotia’s annual celebration of volunteers nominated by organizations and communities, Council nominated Dale Fawthrop as Amherst’s Volunteer of the Year and Leah Brunt as Youth Volunteer of the Year.
In January of 2025, the Town made a public call for nominations of volunteers who deserve special recognition, resulting in 53 applications. All nominated individuals will be recognized in person at the Amherst Volunteer Reception on May 6, 2025.
Operating and Capital Budgets Approved
Amherst Town Council passed a motion on Monday night approving a 2025-2026 General Operating Budget for the Town of $23,502,455, and a Water and General Capital Budget of $6,557,564. A separate media release will be issued in the near future providing more detail on the 2025-2026 Operating and Capital Budgets.
Three Development Agreements
112 West Victoria Street – Council gave First Reading of the development agreement for 112 West Victoria Street to permit the construction of two 16-unit and three 8-unit apartment buildings. A public hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in Town Hall council chambers.
3 Robie Street – On Monday night, Council gave Second Reading of the development agreement for 3 Robie Street, to permit the conversion of an existing community hall into an 8-unit apartment building.
91 Rupert Street – Council gave Second Reading of the development agreement for 91 Rupert Street, to permit the construction of an 18-unit apartment building.
For more information on the Town of Amherst’s six-step development agreement process, please visit the Development Applications page of our website.
Man in Custody after Pursuit and Facing Numerous Charges
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Amherst Police Department
A 31-year-old New Brunswick man is in custody following an incident over the weekend where the male allegedly fled from Police in a stolen vehicle.
Normand Gautreau, aged 31, was arrested on the evening of Sunday April 20th, 2025 after he allegedly fled from police and was forced off the road.
Prior to the incident on Sunday, a warrant of arrest had been issued for Gautreau in relation to an incident that happened in Amherst on March 30th, 2025 shortly after 2:00am. Amherst Police had located an occupied parked vehicle in the industrial park and took measures to box the vehicle in using 3 police vehicles. The driver, who appeared to be sleeping awoke and rammed two police cars and was able to push the vehicles enough to escape, fleeing at a high rate of speed. One of the officers, who had approached the driver’s side windows, was able to identify the driver. The vehicle had been reported stolen from Dieppe NB on March 23, 2025. Gautreau is facing numerous charges from this incident that include:
- Section 320.13(1) CC – Dangerous Driving
- Section 320.17 CC – Fleeing Police
- Section 320.18(1)(a) CC – Driving While Prohibite
- Section 430(4) CC – Damage to Property over $5000
- Section 430(4) CC – Damage to Property over $5000
- Section 320.16(1) CC – Fail to Stop at Accident
- Section 267(a) CC – Assault with a Weapon x 2
- Section 129(a) CC – Resist Arrest
- Section 354(1)(a) CC – Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Exceeding $5000
Men Arrested and Charged with Break, Enter and Theft
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Amherst Police Department
Two men have been arrested and charged in relation to an early morning break and enter into a building in the Amherst Industrial Park.
Christopher Lee Glennie, aged 48 and Jason Edward Glennie, aged 52, both of River Hebert, NS have been charged with:
- Break and Enter
- Theft under $5000
At approximately 4:00am on Thursday April 10th, 2025, an Amherst Police Officer observed a vehicle in a parking lot of a local business that was closed. The vehicle was occupied by a lone male. The officer checked the occupant of the vehicle while other members attended and checked an adjacent property and located a second vehicle that was occupied by a lone male. The second vehicle had numerous items that had allegedly been taken from inside the building that it was parked behind. Both men were arrested and both vehicles were seized.
The matter is still under investigation by the Amherst Police Department and the accused parties were held in custody for a brief court appearance on April 10th, 2025. Both men were released by the courts and are scheduled to appear in court again on May 12th, 2025.
The Amherst Police Department often relies on assistance from the public in regards to matters that impact community safety and well-being. Anyone with information related to this or other incidents is asked to contact the Amherst Police Department at 667-8600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
APD Media Contact:
Cpl. Tom Wood
902-667-8600
March 24, 2025 Amherst Town Council – Meeting Highlights
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During Monday night’s regular meeting of Amherst Town Council, a motion was passed approving a new Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (AIDE) Strategic Plan. This new plan combines Amherst’s previous Accessibility Strategic Plan and the previous Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan into one new document, and is the result of diligent research and stakeholder input.
The former two separate plans were required to be updated, approved by Council, and forwarded to the Province by April 1, 2025, which led to the decision to produce the new combined AIDE plan.
Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee (AIDE) Terms of Reference
Through the process of combining the Accessibility Strategic Plan and the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan, it was learned that these same Town committees could also be combined, continuing to advise Council as before. As part of this process, the Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee was dissolved through a motion from Council. Old Terms of Reference were repealed and, on Monday night, new Terms of Reference for the AIDE Committee were approved by Council, thereby allowing for more collaboration amongst committee members and discussion on a broader range of topics for underserved and underrepresented groups.
Themed Crosswalks Policy
Through collaborative work with community allies, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and the development of the new combined AIDE Strategic Plan, staff have proposed the addition of new themed crosswalks representing African Nova Scotians and Indigenous partnerships – to complement the existing three Veteran themed crosswalks and the Pride crosswalk. These new crosswalks and the Town’s new Themed Crosswalk Policy were all approved by Council.
Fireworks
Council approved a motion allocating $20,000 in the 2025/26 operating budget for fireworks – $10,000 for Canada Day fireworks to be held at the Robb Complex, and $10,000 for New Year’s Eve fireworks to be held at the Amherst Stadium.
