The Record Ep. 70

The RCMP is investigating a fatal ATV crash in Richmond County.

On Sept. 16, around 10:20 p.m., Richmond County District RCMP responded to a report of an overturned side-by-side and a deceased man in Grand Anse.

Cindy Bayers, with Nova Scotia RCMP Strategic Communications, confirmed the crash occurred on Buchanan Road and was reported by a passing motorist.

Police identified the victim as a 39-year-old man from Whiteside. The off-highway vehicle involved was a blue Can-Am side-by-side, according to the RCMP.

Anyone with information is asked to call Richmond County District RCMP at 902-226-2533 or contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.

Meanwhile, Nova Scotia’s former Lieutenant-Governor, Arthur J. LeBlanc, has been appointed Chancellor of Université Sainte-Anne.

The announcement came on Sept. 22 from Board of Governors Chair Michel P. Samson, a native of Petit de Grat and former Richmond MLA and cabinet minister.

“Arthur J. LeBlanc is a great Acadian whose career inspires commitment and leadership,” Samson said. “A pillar of our community, a respected lawyer and judge, he embodies the excellence, wisdom and dedication that will guide our institution into the future.”

Born in West Arichat, LeBlanc earned a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Francis Xavier University in 1964 and a law degree from Dalhousie University in 1968. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar the same year and went on to practice law for over three decades. In 1983, he was named Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel), and in 1998 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

Two years later, he delivered a landmark ruling in favour of Glenda Doucet-Boudreau, a group of parents, and the Fédération des parents acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse, affirming the right to homogeneous French-language schools under the Charter. LeBlanc stressed that these Charter obligations were remedial, requiring government action to counter assimilation of rights holders.

Installed as Lieutenant-Governor in 2017, LeBlanc served until 2024, focusing on higher education, the performing arts, veteran recognition, Acadian heritage, and Crown-Indigenous reconciliation. His honours include the Order of Nova Scotia, the Order of St. John (Knight of Justice), and several Jubilee and Coronation medals. He has also received honorary doctorates from Cape Breton University (2023) and Université Sainte-Anne (2025).

“As the first Cape Breton chancellor, his appointment is a testament to the provincial presence of Université Sainte-Anne,” said Kenneth Deveau, the university’s President and Vice-Chancellor.

On Sept. 23, Richmond Municipal Council held its regular monthly meeting in Arichat. Following the meeting, Warden Lois Landry addressed local media.

Council approved a taxi licence for Willy’s Taxi to operate in Richmond County. District 3 Councillor Brian Marchand opposed a separate recommendation to provide municipal sponsorship for the Recreation Nova Scotia conference.

Members voted to seek funding for replacing the rink floor and ice refrigeration system at Richmond Arena. Later, during a report from the Municipal Recreation Advisory Committee, council also directed staff to prepare communication and evacuation plans for when the snow load on the arena roof exceeds 24 pounds per square foot.

From the Municipal Bylaw/Policy Committee, council approved amendments to the Low-Income Tax Exemption Policy. The annual household income threshold was raised to $30,000, and the exemption amount was set at $200.

Following the Fire Services Committee report, council instructed staff to investigate installing a dry hydrant in Cleveland. Two applications will also be submitted to the Growth and Renewal of Infrastructure Development Fund for waterline work on Bennie’s Lane in Louisdale.

Council further agreed to explore re-establishing the Richmond Water Utility Source Water Protection Advisory Committee. A request from the River Bourgeois Community Services Society for funding to install lights at the local lighthouse was also discussed.

During the public session, a resident of Arichat raised concerns about poor cellular service. Warden Landry outlined the steps the municipality has taken to raise awareness of this ongoing issue.

Elsewhere, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced the closure of the Atlantic mackerel bait fishery.

In a Sept. 10 statement, spokesperson Barre Campbell said the closure affects all mackerel fishing areas. He cited conservation concerns, noting that landings were approaching the second portion of the total allowable catch for the 2025 season.

“We recognize the hardship these measures create for harvesters and communities,” Campbell said. He added that DFO will continue scientific assessments and monitoring, with the aim of reopening the commercial fishery once the stock recovers.

To support fishers in the meantime, a small personal-use-only bait fishery has been in place for 2024 and 2025. Its 440-tonne quota was released in two portions to give licence holders in Atlantic Canada and Quebec access to bait as the mackerel migrate through local waters.

In other provincial news, Nova Scotia announced the creation of the Fire Training Advisory Committee, which will design an interim basic firefighter training program. The 32-member group will cover essential skills, from fire behaviour to rescue operations.

Richmond County’s Steve Marcellus, Regional Emergency Management Officer, and Shawn Andrews, Deputy CAO for Guysborough, are among those appointed, along with Jim Cavanagh of the Port Hastings Volunteer Fire Department.

Finally, the Centre of Rural Aging and Health (CORAH) is rolling out new fall programming at the NSCC Strait Area Campus.

Coordinator Michele MacPhee said participation in spring programs was strong, and activities have expanded since September. Upcoming offerings include a Square Roots food workshop, a gardening session with retired professor Elizabeth Beaton, and health-focused events hosted by Osteoporosis Canada and local pharmacies.

Other programs will help seniors cut heating and power costs — a vital issue for many on fixed incomes. “Affordability is a key concern for the people we work with,” MacPhee said, emphasizing that CORAH aims to provide both education and practical support for older residents in the region.