Strait Talk Ep. 61

In the fourth instalment of her interview series, Richmond Warden Lois Landry sat down with Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot to discuss a range of pressing issues impacting the Municipality of the County of Richmond.

Landry opened the conversation by discussing a recent meeting with Invest Nova Scotia concerning properties in Point Tupper.

Cell service issues continued to be a concern across the municipality, with the warden acknowledging ongoing complaints about deteriorating coverage and the need for new cell towers in various parts of Richmond County.

She also spoke about a recent Emergency Management Committee meeting, highlighting that hundreds of residents have now signed up for the Voyent Alert System. Landry emphasized the importance of this communication tool in times of emergency and noted the committee's continued work on developing the Vulnerable Persons Registry, which aims to assist residents requiring extra support during crises.

At the time of the interview, no formal council meetings were scheduled for the summer. However, Landry anticipated that could change—and it did. A special council meeting was later held on July 22 in Arichat. Among the topics discussed was the state of the Richmond Arena, where repairs to the arena floor and the ice-making infrastructure remain a key priority.

Significant changes to waste collection services were also on the horizon. Landry explained that the municipality plans to bring garbage collection in-house, ending its existing contract arrangement. Public Works will manage the service directly, with the municipality investing in new trucks and hiring staff to handle operations. Landry estimated that this move will save approximately $300,000 per year.

The conversation wrapped with brief updates on several other municipal priorities, including:

• The growing deer population and related concerns.

• Ongoing work at Pondville Beach Provincial Park.

• Housing and infrastructure needs throughout the county.

• Planned zoning changes are currently under review.

The interview concluded with an invitation to the public to provide feedback or share local concerns by contacting Jake Boudrot at Telile via phone at 902-226-1928 or by email at jake@telile.tv.