News release

Provincial Funding to Protect Coastal Community Trail in Digby County

Environment and Climate Change
Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund
land and water protection

A popular coastal trail in Belliveau Cove, Digby County, will be protected from coastal flooding, erosion and storm surge with help from the Province.

The Belliveau Cove Development Commission is receiving a provincial grant for work to protect the Belliveau Cove Trail from the impacts of climate change. The five-kilometre coastal trail passes through salt marshes, along beaches and past Clare’s first Acadian cemetery.

Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration and MLA for Digby-Annapolis, announced the funding today, October 18, in Belliveau Cove on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman.

“Our government is taking strong action to protect our coastline from climate change,” said Minister Balser. “This funding is empowering community-led action to protect this beloved and popular part of our coastline, and our government is pleased to help make sure this trail continues to be used and enjoyed for generations to come.”

The commission will use the funding to raise low parts of the trail to higher ground and widen canal gaps to add five new bridges. The work will also make the trail more accessible.

The commission is receiving a $152,365 grant from the Province’s Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund for this work.

Quotes:

“The Belliveau Cove Development Commission (BCDC) is extremely grateful to the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund and the Province of Nova Scotia for their financial support towards our rejuvenation of our five-kilometre walking trail and bridges that were destroyed as a result of high winds and tidal surge almost two years ago. The BCDC is concerned about the effects of climate change, which in our case, is the increasingly rising tides. Therefore, building higher and with more durable material for longevity is a must as we cannot stop the tides.”
— Gary Theriault, President, Belliveau Cove Development Commission

“Our province’s environment is becoming more sustainable and resilient thanks to the Belliveau Cove Development Commission. The commission's work to elevate trails, reinforce canal structures and build accessible facilities demonstrates a strong commitment to climate adaptation and community inclusivity. These projects will enhance the region’s environmental durability and its capacity to respond to the challenges of climate change, creating lasting benefits for all.”
— Juanita Spencer, CEO, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

Quick Facts:

  • the Belliveau Cove Development Commission is a non-profit organization that does community projects, including preserving and promoting local heritage sites and developing tourism attractions
  • the government created the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund in 2021 as part of the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, its legislated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, respond to climate change, transform how Nova Scotians produce and use energy, make homes and buildings energy efficient, and more
  • the program provides grants to municipalities, non-profit and community organizations, post-secondary institutions, and Mi’kmaw communities to help them respond to and prepare for climate change impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • the government released a coastal protection action plan on February 26; it empowers municipalities and property owners with the tools needed to protect coastal communities
    • one of the actions in the plan is to support coastal protection projects through the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund

Additional Resources:

More information on the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is available at: https://nschallengefund.ca/

News releases about the fund and related projects: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=228

Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf

Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf

Weathering What’s Ahead: Climate Change Risk and Nova Scotia’s Well-being: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/climate-impacts

The Future of Nova Scotia's Coastline: A plan to protect people, homes and nature from climate change – https://novascotia.ca/coastal-climate-change/docs/coastline-plan.pdf

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