CBRM News

Transit Cape Breton Expands Services to Membertou

May 2, 2025

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) and the community of Membertou have partnered to bring public transit service to the First Nations community for the first time, improving connectivity and access to services for those traveling to and from Membertou.

“The expanded service aims to support access to employment, education, healthcare, and commercial areas while strengthening connections between Membertou and the surrounding parts of the municipality. This expansion also reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering strong relationships and ensuring that all residents have access to the services and opportunities they need,” said Cecil Clarke, Mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Route 12, which has two-way service between Sydney and Sydney River, will now include 36 new bus stops in Membertou; 18 in each direction. The updated route will travel from Sydney to Membertou to Sydney River, and from Sydney River to Membertou to Sydney, with the change taking effect on May 5 The updated route will travel from Sydney to Membertou to Sydney River, and from Sydney River to Membertou to Sydney, with the change taking effect on May 5. The bus will run every half hour, Monday to Saturday.

“This new bus route has been a longtime goal for Membertou, and we're proud to partner with the CBRM to make public transportation more accessible for our community. It strengthens connections, supports our workforce, and brings us one step closer to truly welcoming the world,” said Terry Paul, Chief and CEO of Membertou.

Fares for Membertou:

Membertou to Sydney River ($1.25 adult/ $1.00 senior/child)
Membertou to CB Regional Hospital ($1.25 adult/ $1.00 senior/child)
Membertou to Whitney Pier ($1.25 adult/ $1.00 senior/child)
Membertou to Sydney ($1.25 adult/ $1.00 senior/child)
Membertou to Mall/Walmart Spar Road ($1.25 adult/ $1.00 senior/child)
Membertou to CBU ($2.25 adult/ $2.00 senior/child)
Membertou to Glace Bay ($3.25 adult/ $3.00 senior/child)
Membertou to New Waterford ($3.25 adult/ $3.00 senior/child)
Membertou to Northside ($3.25 adult/ $3.00 senior/child)

For information about new and existing routes, rider guidelines, bus schedules, ticket fares and more, please visit www.cbrm.ns.ca/transit

Download the Transit app from Google Play or the App Store to plan your trip, track your ride, and access real-time vehicle locations for Transit Cape Breton services.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/transit-subway-bus-times/id498151501

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thetransitapp.droid&hl=en&gl=US

Davis Day 100th anniversary commemoration essay/video contest

May 1, 2025

June 11th, 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of Davis Day, a day of remembrance that began after the death of coal miner William Davis in 1925.
Davis was shot and killed during a strike in New Waterford, while standing up for safer working conditions and fair wages. His death became a turning point in the labour movement in Nova Scotia. Every year since, communities across the province, especially in former coal mining areas, pause to honour Davis and all workers who have fought for justice, safety, and dignity on the job.

To commemorate this anniversary, we’re inviting Grade 11 and 12 students to learn more about what happened here 100 years ago.

****Essay Contest for Grade 11 & 12 Students who live in CBRM.****
Honouring 100 Years of Davis Day – June 11, 2025

Open to all Grade 11 & 12 students in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Write an original essay (600–700 words) or create a 30 second video on the question:

"How do the events surrounding William Davis’s death and the 1925 coal miners' strike shape how today’s youth understand inequality and injustice in the world?"

First Place – $1000
Runner-Up – $500

Heavy garbage and litter clean up event dates are announced for 2025

SYDNEY, NS - Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s heavy garbage pick up will occur in all areas on the week beginning Monday, April 28, 2025
Materials must be curbside by 6:00 am on the morning of April 28. Residents are encouraged to wait until the weekend of April 25-27 to place heavy garbage materials out for this collection. Collection will be done by CBRM and private contractor equipment.

Additional public drop off sites will be open on six consecutive Saturdays from April 19 to May 24.

The public can drop off materials at SPAR Road waste disposal facility as well as the following locations between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm:

Glace Bay Public Works Drop-Off Site, 24 West Avenue
New Waterford Public Works Drop-Off Site 455 Ling Street
North Sydney Drop-Off Site, 93 King Street

The Great Cape Breton Clean Up community litter clean up day will be on Saturday, May 3 between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. Registration is now open online at www.cbrm.ns.ca/cleanup.

MORE about 2025 Residential Heavy Garbage Collection:

Demetri Kachafanas Appointed Chief Administrative Officer

March 18, 2025

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Demetri Kachafanas, KC, as the new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), effective immediately.

A long-time employee within CBRM, Mr. Kachafanas has served as the municipality’s solicitor for 27 years and was appointed interim CAO in November. His permanent appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the municipality as he steps into this key leadership role.

He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University with a concentration in Finance. He was called to the bar in 1996 after earning a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Dalhousie University. He subsequently attained a Master of Laws (LLM) from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School with a specialty in Dispute Resolution.

Throughout his career, Mr. Kachafanas has earned numerous accolades. In 2017, Demetri was awarded the Municipal Law Fellow designation, recognizing his work in local government. He received the Certified In-House Counsel, Canada (CIC.C) designation in 2019. In 2020, Demetri was honored with the Nova Scotia King’s Counsel designation for his exceptional contributions to the legal profession. In 2023, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, followed by the Bruce A. Noble Award for Distinguished Canadian Municipal Lawyer from the International Municipal Lawyer’s Association.

"Demetri's wealth of experience, both in law and municipal governance, will be invaluable as CBRM continues to evolve and thrive," said Mayor Cecil Clarke. "His leadership will help us navigate the opportunities and challenges of a period of exciting growth and development for our municipality."

The CBRM looks forward to the continued success of the municipality under Mr. Kachafanas' leadership.

CBRM Council passes 2025-26 capital and operating budgets

March 6, 2025

SYDNEY, NS – Cape Breton Regional Municipality Council has approved its 2025-26 capital and operating budgets, totaling $321.1 million. The operating budget is set at $187.5 million, while the capital budget stands at $93 million, reflecting a strategic and cautious approach to municipal investments and operations.

Mayor Cecil Clarke described the budget as “a cautious budget for uncertain times, focused on modernizing our infrastructure and operations while building on the opportunity growth presents to us”.

Budget Highlights:

Public Safety and Service Modernization:

Establishment of a new firefighter training division, enabling volunteer firefighters to achieve credentials necessary for career fire service positions.
Approval of public safety enhancements, including downtown security cameras and body cameras for Cape Breton Regional Police.
Encryption upgrade of the TMR (trunked mobile radio) first responder radio system, used by police and fire services.
Enhancements in human resources capacity, emphasizing diversity in hiring.
New property enforcement officers to address derelict and unsightly premises.
Hiring of an electrician to improve traffic signal response times.
Combining Communications and 311 communications centre staff to improve communication with residents.

Update Regarding Corporate Credit Card Investigation

Feb. 7, 2025

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is aware that the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs has informed media that they are satisfied with the municipality’s actions in investigating irregularities on a CBRM corporate credit card issued to the former Mayor.

Now that the provincial process is complete, the interim CAO will bring it forward to council for their direction.

Tom Miller Human Rights Award Recipient: Kendrick Douglas

Feb. 7, 2025

Mr. Kendrick Douglas, originally from Whitney Pier, was presented with the 2025 Tom Miller Human Rights Award at the African Heritage Month Gala this past weekend at Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.

This prestigious award honours the legacy of Tom Miller and recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights, equality, and justice within the community. The late Tom Miller, Nova Scotia’s first black Alderman, was a dedicated, principled and tireless advocate who supported the rights of all Canadians, particularly those disadvantaged by discrimination or poverty.

Kendrick Douglas was recognized for his remarkable contributions to human rights and community advocacy. Mr. Douglas has built a career focused on justice, inclusion, and youth empowerment. As Legal Counsel for the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, he works to ensure fairness and equity for those facing discrimination.

Beyond his legal work, he co-founded the MacPhee Centre for Creative Learning, serves on Cape Breton University’s Board of Governors, and has advanced diversity in sports through Hockey Nova Scotia’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. Mr. Douglas also played a key role in developing cultural competency training for lawyers, strengthening equity in the legal system.

Mr. Douglas was awarded the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023. His dedication to justice, advocacy, and community service has left a lasting impact on Cape Breton and beyond.

Nominations Now Open for the Tom Miller Human Rights Award

January 13, 2025

The Tom Miller Human Rights Award is now open for nominations.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality welcomes your nomination for the Tom Miller Human Rights Award. The award will be presented to an individual of CBRM who has made a significant contribution to the Community with respect to the encouragement, promotion, initiation, or development of human rights within our Community.

Tom Miller was born in Halifax in 1917 - three months before the Halifax explosion. He and his family moved to Whitney Pier shortly after the disaster. Miller grew up to work in the Sydney Steel Plant and served in the Second World War. He became Atlantic Canada's first Black alderman when he was elected in Sydney in 1955 -- a seat he held for 17 years. Miller later became the first African-Nova Scotian to run for the provincial Liberals.

The closing date for nominations is January 23, 2025, and the winner will be announced at the African Heritage Month Gala on Saturday, February 1st, 2025 at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre.

Tom Miller Human Rights Award Nomination Form

2024-25 Holiday season service notices

Dec 24, 2024

HOLIDAY CURBSIDE COLLECTION NOTICE:

Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on Wednesday this year. There is NO Curbside Collection on Christmas Day and an alternate day is arranged. All Garbage, Blue Bags and Green Carts regularly scheduled to be collected on December 25 will be collected on MONDAY, DECEMBER 30.

There is no curbside collection on Boxing Day, December 26. Extra garbage bags and green cart material will be collected on your area’s next regularly scheduled collection day. Blue bags will be collected on your area’s next regularly scheduled blue bag collection week.

There is also no curbside collection on New Year's Day: Wednesday, January 1. The next collection for that missed date is Wednesday, January 8.

HOLIDAY TRANSIT NOTICE:

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the last transit runs will be at 5:00 p.m, All buses, including Handi-Trans, will be off the road by 6:00 p.m.

Mayor and Council announce solicitor Kachafanas will serve as interim CAO

November 12, 2024

Mayor and Council announce solicitor Kachafanas will serve as interim CAO

Sydney, NS – Mayor Cecil Clarke and Council approved the appointment of Demetri Kachafanas today as interim Chief Administrative Officer for Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

After 17 years of service to CBRM, Marie Walsh is moving on from her employment there. Ms. Walsh has been Chief Administrative Officer since 2017.

Mayor Cecil Clarke expressed gratitude on behalf of the CBRM Council for Walsh’s contributions, which included outstanding financial stewardship of the municipality during her tenure as CAO, and formerly Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance.

“CBRM Mayor and Councillors thank Marie for her service and wish her the very best for the future,” said Clarke.

Kachafanas has served as the Municipality’s solicitor for the past 27 years. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University with a concentration in Finance. He was called to the bar in 1996 after earning a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at Dalhousie University. He subsequently attained a Master of Laws (LLM) from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School with a specialty in Dispute Resolution.

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