Town of Berwick, Nova Scotia

Fifteen photos from around Town, cold day, Feb. 2, 2008 

• Tire swirls in snow Tire swirls in snow
• Gingerbready blue house on Main St. Gingerbready blue house on Main St.
• Can you find the crow in the birch? Can you find the crow in the birch?
• Frame and panel door Frame and panel door
• White and bright, South and Maple Sts. White and bright, South and Maple Sts.
• Mary in the bower, Mill St. Mary in the bower, Mill St.
• Elegant corner house, Mountain View and Maple Elegant corner house, Mountain View and Maple
• Going north on Maple Ave. Going north on Maple Ave.
• Public Works, Main St. Public Works, Main St.
• Shortcut to school from Foster St. Shortcut to school from Foster St.
• Tennis anyone? Yeah, maybe in 3 months! Tennis anyone? Yeah, maybe in 3 months!
• Tennis light standard Tennis light standard
• Tennis clubhouse, Cottage Ave. Tennis clubhouse, Cottage Ave.
• White on white White on white
• Wood on wood Wood on wood
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The new fire hall project has entered its next phase with the first design meeting held January 29, 2008. Roscoe Construction reps sat down with subcontractors, the architects, and a new subcommittee of Town and Firefighter participants. Over a couple of hours, this group poured over the plans fine-tuning details of Roscoe's bid submission.

• New Fire Hall New Fire Hall
• Administration Office Administration Office
• Quartermaster Quartermaster
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Click to enlarge photo + 3 more in mini-gallery)

We're still working through a few administrative bumps with the new web site. On the old site local citizens could enter events directly on the events calendar. We'll get there soon with the new site, but first we need to become a little more familiar with its mechanics. For now, please call the office (538-4068) or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll put your event on the calendar for you.  

After many years of struggling with the deficiences of an obsolete, inefficiently designed fire hall, the dream of a brand new facility is within sight--October 2008 targeted. Getting to the point of awarding the design/build contract has been a long haul--for Council, staff, for the Berwick and District Fire Commission and the Berwick and District Volunteer Fire Department. Here's the core team, but there are many, many others who have made huge contributions to the project so far.

• New Fire Hall Team New Fire Hall Team
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Click on thumbnail to enlarge team photo

The remuneration of Councilors will soon be under review. We are looking for two citizen representatives to join a special committee to do just that. No special expertise is required. If you are a citizen of Berwick and want a say in determining what is fair and reasonable for Councilor honorariums, please contact our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (538-4006). We'd encourage you to get engaged in Town decisions. It's not as intimidating as you might think!

Did you know the average 15-inch computer monitor contains over 1.5 lbs. of lead? Disposing of a hazardous waste in a landfill could pose a threat to drinking water and result in other environmental hazards in the future. 

And all the plastic components of these computer products -- monitors, circuit boards, printers, scanners also contain contaminants.

As of February 1, 2008, electronic waste will be banned from Nova Scotia's landfills. 

Download the ACES (Atlantic Canada Electronics Stewardship) ACES brochure Jan 08 (1.02 MB)to find out where to recycle your unwanted TV, computer, monitor or printer. Visit the ACES website. This program will be administered by our Valley Resource Management Authority and the Resource Recovery Fund Board of Nova Scotia. You can also call toll-free 1-877-774-3260 for more information.

(Photo: Recycling Council of Ontario)

For New Years Eve, Environment Canada issued a snowfall storm warning for much of the Maritimes. Town Hall offices were closed, but our public works staff were working hard most of the day on the roads and sidewalks trying to keep up. The healthiest and safest way to get around town on this blustery New Years Eve afternoon was to just walk. Quite a few people were doing just that, making the best of the inclement weather. Click on the thumbnails below and you'll be taken to a gallery of 19 images in the New Years Eve, snow photo gallery. See the Town dressed in winter white. It's easy to get back to this home page by clicking 'CLOSE' on any photo in the gallery.

• Nicer to look at than sit on, at least today Nicer to look at than sit on, at least today
• The big apple with snow cap The big apple with snow cap
• Bicycle in hiberation Bicycle in hiberation
• Bill doing sidewalks Bill doing sidewalks
• Baseball season still a few months ahead Baseball season still a few months ahead
• The safest way from A to B in a snowstorm The safest way from A to B in a snowstorm
• Local couple out for afternoon walk on New Years Eve. Local couple out for afternoon walk on New Years Eve.
• Anyone for a double scoop of grizzly tracks ice cream? brrrrr! Anyone for a double scoop of grizzly tracks ice cream? brrrrr!
• Kings Transit bus. Did you know Berwick's citizens are shareholders of the bus company? Kings Transit bus. Did you know Berwick's citizens are shareholders of the bus company?
• Nice looking pizza palace! Nice looking pizza palace!
• Keith clearing snow from the Town Hall parking lot Keith clearing snow from the Town Hall parking lot
• Holiday lights with crab apples Holiday lights with crab apples
• Down and out in the crease, but he scores!! Down and out in the crease, but he scores!!
• Rolls in a winter white tuxedo Rolls in a winter white tuxedo
• Looking south on Commercial from Commercial and Union Street intersection. Looking south on Commercial from Commercial and Union Street intersection.
• No rest on New Years Eve for the sidewalk plow. No rest on New Years Eve for the sidewalk plow.
• A snowperson right in their element. A snowperson right in their element.
• Looking east on a snowy South Street Looking east on a snowy South Street
• Looking west on Union Street. Looking west on Union Street.
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Click thumbnail to go to gallery 

The population of Berwick, according to the Census 2006 is 2455. The number 275 represents the difference between the number of women and the number of men living in Berwick. As one might guess, consistent with the rest of the Canadian population, Berwick's women statistically live longer. In Berwick, there are more women (1365) than men (1090), by a count of 275. That said, the life expectancy for both men and women, says, Statistics Canada (as reported by CTV News) has finally reached the 80-year mark. People, men and women, are living longer. What does this mean for a Town like Berwick?

On a per capita basis, the cost for RCMP policing in Berwick is about $19 per month. That's near the same price as 16 litres of gas, about 1/3 the monthly cost of cable TV or one extra large pizza.

Berwick has close to 2500 residents. The projected annual budget for RCMP policing services for the 2008/09 budget year will be close to $575,000. On a monthly basis, that works out to about $19. The cost of policing includes contributions for the investigative crime and highway units, communications, administration, and community programs.

The new home of the Berwick and District Volunteer Fire Department is slated for completion by mid-autumn, 2008. Naturally, this raises the question What will happen to the site of the old fire hall, at the corner of Cottage and Commercial Streets? Town Council, along with its Planning Advisory Committee will be looking to local residents and businesses for ideas which might help to answer this question. Should the Town simply sell the property on the open market for the best price and use the proceeds to help reduce the total cost of building the new fire hall? Should we invite proposals from developers who might not only purchase the property but present competing ideas on how best to re-develop it? For example, is a commercial/retail establishment better suited than, say, a building a centre for professional offices? What about senior apartments? Should it be the home of government service? Does it have potential for recreation or educational services?  

What do you think? Write a letter to the Town, talk to your Councilors, or email the CAO. We're all ears! Your input matters.  

On January 5, 1915, it was the recommendation of the Berwick commissioners to organize a fire department, provide the necessary equipment, and appoint fire wardens and officers, "at an expense not to exceed one-hundred dollars". On January 20, 1915, the citizens of Berwick met to organize the Berwick Fire Company. Popular in the community, and involved in many of Berwick's organizations, the Main Street blacksmith, Samuel H. Parker, was elected the village's first fire chief.

from Hampsey, P. and McKenna, A.Exit 15: A history of Berwick, Kings County, Nova Scotia, 2007, p.59.

Last year the Kings Mutual Century Centre (Apple Dome) got a huge boost from the Province of Nova Scotia, to the tune of a $2M grant. Standing against the backdrop of the Berwick Heights Golf Club, Premier Rodney MacDonald (the cheque bearer) is flanked by prominent Berwick leaders. Left to right, Craig Burgess, Director of Recreation, Michael Trinacty, Councilor, Town of Berwick, and on the far right, Mayor John Prall. Not to be outdone, however, in the matter of fund-raising is the Berwick and District Community Association. The Association's Apple Dome SubCommittee has spearheaded the drive to raise $3M from local individuals, community groups, businesses, and governments. Arguably, the success is unprecendented in the Maritimes. Indeed, Berwick's fund-raising team has been esteemed by other communities who refer to it simply as the Berwick Model.