Grants to Upgrade Gabarus Seawall; Support Volunteer Fire Departments, Community Groups in Cape Breton
Volunteer firefighters in Cape Breton will see upgrades at their fire halls and residents can look forward to community upgrades – including work on the Gabarus seawall – with grants from the Province.
“We are grateful to our volunteer firefighters who are always there for us in our time of need. These grants will help to address infrastructure issues at their fire halls to improve community spaces,” said Brian Comer, Minister of Addictions and Mental Health and MLA for Cape Breton East, on behalf of Allan MacMaster, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. “Funding is also being provided to community groups and organizations for building repairs, increased accessibility and greater energy efficiency.”
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality received funding for the repairs to the seawall, which was damaged by hurricane Fiona in September 2022.
Fire departments receiving funding are:
- Howie Centre Volunteer Fire Department, to upgrade the hall and washrooms
- Loch Lomond Volunteer Fire Department, to replace the roof of its hall
- Louisbourg Volunteer Fire Department, to install heat pumps in its hall
- Big Pond Fire Department, for a new furnace
- Donkin Fire Department, to replace siding.
Community groups receiving funding are:
- Coxheath Hills Wilderness Association, to renovate Knox United Church for use as Coxheath Hills Cultural Centre
- Cape Breton Ski Club, to improve Ski Ben Eoin to ensure future operations
- Royal Canadian Legions in Port Morien and Louisbourg, for sewer repairs
- Louisdale Lions Club, to insulate its basement, repair washrooms, replace exterior doors, increase storage and replace chairs
- Marion Bridge Community Association, to renovate its kitchen
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish, to install a generator
- Spanish River Community Centre, to replace its septic system
- Mira Boat Club, to make its playground accessible and inclusive.
These community grants are part of a series of announcements taking place across the province.
Quotes:
“We were absolutely thrilled to have received this grant. It is beyond words how much this is going to help. Spaces like these are so important to rural communities like Big Pond. The electric furnace is a big part of helping us to go green and lowering our expenses. That’s crucial to volunteer-run organizations like ours. We can focus on keeping people safe knowing our building is sustainable.”
— Mike Kolanko, firefighter, Big Pond Volunteer Fire Department
Quick Facts:
- Grant recipients and funding amounts:
- Cape Breton Regional Municipality – $400,000
- Coxheath Hills Wilderness Association – $196,000
- Cape Breton Ski Club – $125,000
- Donkin Fire Department – $59,000
- Big Pond Fire Department – $60,000
- Howie Centre Volunteer Fire Department – $50,000
- Marion Bridge Community Association – $50,000
- Louisdale Lions Club – $50,000
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch #55 (Port Morien) – $45,000
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish – $42,398
- Spanish River Community Centre – $42,000
- Loch Lomond Volunteer Fire Department – $37,605
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch #62 (Louisbourg) – $24,980
- Mira Boat Club – $18,942
- Louisbourg Volunteer Fire Department – $16,000
Additional Resources:
Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage grants and programs: https://cch.novascotia.ca/investing-in-our-future
Online grant finder tool: https://beta.novascotia.ca/find-grants-offered-through-department-communities-culture-tourism-and-heritage