Village of Pugwash

The Village of Pugwash is one of 20 incorporated villages in Nova Scotia.

The Village services provided include parks and recreation, festivals and the provision, care and maintenance of sidewalks. The Village staff and commissioners work closely with all other levels of government to ensure that all services are maintained and that new services, such as water supply, are provided in a timely and appropriate manner.

The Village affairs are overseen by a team of five elected commissioners who work to provide the best services possible to village ratepayers. The village staff provide those services and advise the commission when new or different services are required.

The rights, restrictions and services that can be offered by a Village are described in the Nova Scotia Municipal Government Act. Chapter 18 pertains specifically to Villages.

Boundaries of the Village of Pugwash

stats can map

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2024 Village Taxes
Residential: 37c on every $100 of assessed value
Commercial: 44c on every $100 of assessed value

The assessed value of a property is adjusted annually. Taxes are used to provide the services listed below (see Village Services). These are services that are not otherwise provided by the Municipality of Cumberland.

2023 Municipality of Cumberland Taxes
Residential: $1.14 on every $100 of assessed value
Commercial: $2.71 on every $100 of assessed value

Fore more financial information, please go to this page.

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2024 Financial Report

2025 Budget

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Joint Accessibility Plan

Village of Pugwash addendum

Services provided by the Village of Pugwash include:

Care and maintenance of its various properties which are available for public use (see Village Properties section). These include extensive lawns and flower gardens which require constant care throughout the summer.

Pugwash Harbourfront Centre (PHC)
This outdoor theatre was opened in 2019, replacing Eaton Stage. It is used for concerts, exercise classes, theatre workshops and many other functions. Call the Village Hall to book space at the PHC.

Sidewalks
General care and maintenance and snow removal of current sidewalks along Water Street and around the Cenotaph. Litter is picked up throughout most parts of the village.

Street lights
Additional street lights are located at some village properties - for example at the train station and municipal car park.

Gathering of the Clans
This festival is coordinated by village staff. It is covered by the village insurance.

Website
This website is maintained by village staff.

Newsletter
The quarterly village newsletter, It Takes a Village, is compiled, edited and published by village staff.

Visitor Information Centre (VIC)
The VIC is hosted at the Village Hall.

Beautification
Includes: flower gardens in the public parks, flower boxes on public buildings, interpretive panels and planter boxes on sidewalks. Keeping grass and weeds cut/trimmed on all Village properties. Seasonal banners.

Solid waste
The village owns garbage/recycling/compost bins at several sites scattered throughout the village. These are emptied and maintained by village staff.

FREE WiFi
At the Village Hall and Train Station site.

Eaton Park
The park includes picnic tables and art installations. It is maintained by Village staff.

Boardwalk
Recent extreme weather events have damaged the boardwalk, but we do keep the lights on (literally) to illuminate this path with wonderful views of the harbour.

The old CN Train Station
Is used by the Farmers' Market and the North Cumberland Historical Society

Webcam
A view of the harbour refreshes every minute every day. Click here for access.

There are five elected commissioners. Each term is for three years and they overlap. Elections are held each June for one or two positions. Commissioners are volunteers and to be elected must be a Canadian citizen, a resident of the Village of Pugwash and over 18 years old as of the election date.

Brent Wilson - Chair (902.664.8695) email: Bwilson@sunsetcommunity.ca
Commissioner since 2020. Commission term ends June 2026.
Brent lives on Durham Street. He has worked at Sunset Community for many years and is a long serving member of the Pugwash Fire Department.

Sue Duncan - Vice Chair (902.243.2595) email: sue.m.duncan@gmail.com
Commissioner since 2020 by by-election. Commission term ends June 2025.
Sue lives on Water Street. She and her husband Terry retired and moved from Ottawa to Pugwash in 2017.

Dave MacEwan - (902.664.8072) email: djdave@hotmail.com
Commissioner since 2020. Commission term ends June 2026.
Dave lives on Willow Street. He has worked at Sunset Community for many years and as DJ Dave has brought music to the area for over 20 years.

Margaret Anderson (902 694 5133) email: lindsayandme@hotmail.com
Commissioner since 2022. Commission term ends June 2025.
Margie lives on Water Street and is a retired teacher.

Matthew Parker (902.669.3022) email: parkeroverheaddoors@gmail.com
Commissioner since 2024. Matthew has lived in Pugwash all his life. He lives on Irishtown Road and is the owner operator of Parker Overhead Doors

Lisa Betts (office: 902.243.2946)
lisabetts@pugwashvillage.com
Clerk Treasurer and Event Coordinator - since 2010
The Clerk Treasurer is the administrator of the Village. The Clerk overlooks the operations and maintenance of the various village properties and coordinates the services the Village offers.
Current job description

Greg Fahie
Maintenance/Janitor/Groundskeeper/snow removal - since 2016
Greg is kept very busy keeping village properties clean and in repair.

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2024 Seasonal Staff

The Village of Pugwash seasonal staff this year are:
Assistant to the Administrator/Event Coordinator - Rachel Galbraith
Visitor Information Councilor - Mya MacPhee
Parks Maintenance - Steve Gray

The Village of Pugwash owns ten properties:

Pugwash Village Hall

Eaton Park which includes:
   Pugwash Harbourfront Centre
   Playground
   Volleyball court
   PeaceGround
   Boardwalk
   Interpretive signage

CN rail yard which includes:
   The old train station (Provincial historic site)
   The North Cumberland Historical Society
   Farmers' Market
   Peace garden
   Car park

Public Works building (the old fire hall)

Municipal car park and boat ramp

The Cenotaph

Tennis and basketball courts

Community Garden - 32 Prince Albert Street

Road between the marine terminal and the harbour bridge

Site of the old Pugwash dump (Irishtown Road)

The use of these sites is free to non profit groups.
Please contact the village Clerk to apply to use or rent any of these sites.

Please go to this page.

Minutes are published once adopted in the next regular or annual meeting.