Town News
Downtown Streets Closing for Halloween Event
- Details
- Category: Public Notices
On Thursday, October 31, portions of downtown streets will be closed for an event organized by the YMCA of Cumberland - The Trail of Treats.
- Victoria Street E. will be closed between Lawrence and Havelock Streets
- Church Street will be closed at Princess Street
Barricades will be in place beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 31 until 7 p.m. Motorists are advised to plan an alternate route during the time of these street closures.
Mayor and Council To Be Sworn In
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- Category: Public Notices
Amherst's Mayor and Councillors will be officially sworn in at a ceremony on Wednesday evening, October 30, from 6-8 p.m. at the Community Credit Union Business Innovation Centre, 5 Ratchford Street.
Everyone is welcome, with a reception to follow. Please RSVP to
Downtown Streets Closing Saturday for The Great Amherst Street Party
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- Category: Public Notices
Downtown Amherst will host The Great Amherst Street Party this Saturday - part of annual Esther Fest activities.
From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, October 26, Victoria Street E. will be closed to traffic between Havelock and Lawrence Streets, and Church Street will be closed at King Street. These areas will be transformed into pedestrian zones for the event - featuring vendors, music, and loads of activities - which will also occupy Victoria Square.
Barricades will be in place and motorists are advised to plan an alternate route during this time.
Scarecrow Stroll in Full Swing
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- Category: Articles
More than 45 businesses and residents are pariticpating in this year's Scarecrow Stroll - taking place from October 18-30. This Amherst tradition is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and the collection of stuffed characters spread throughout downtown and surrounding streets is sure to bring a smile to all who pass by - if not provide an outright scare. Soon, voting will open and everyone will have a chance to support their favourite creations.
Find more about the Scarecrow Stroll - a part of Esther Fest - in a recent story by CTV News Atlantic, available on thier website.
Results of 2024 Amherst Municipal Election
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- Category: Media Releases
Amherst’s municipal election saw 15 candidates vying for a seat at the table. With the success of two previous alternative voting elections (2020 and 2023), Amherst once again provided exclusive telephone or internet voting with no paper ballot option.
Intelivote Systems Inc of Dartmouth NS was our provider and advance voting opened on October 10th and ran through to the close of polls at 7pm on October 19th.
After 10 days of polling, the results are in for Amherst’s 2024 municipal election:
| MAYOR | ||
| David Kogon | 1491 votes | |
| Rob Small | 2359 votes | Elected |
| COUNCILLORS | ||
| George Baker | 1413 votes | |
| Charlie Chambers | 2500 votes | Elected |
| Hal Davidson | 2229 votes | Elected |
| Lisa Emery | 1424 votes | |
| Dale Fawthrop | 1419 votes | |
| Nic Furlong | 1443 votes | Elected |
| Leon Landry | 1377 votes | |
| Sharon LeBlanc | 1293 votes | |
| Vaughn Martin | 890 votes | |
| Terry (Mouser) McManaman | 1498 votes | Elected |
| Dwayne Ripley | 2408 votes | Elected |
| Norm Robitza | 236 votes | |
| Kathy Wells | 1637 votes | Elected |
Another Hundred Years of the Amherst Train Station
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- Category: Articles
Access CTV Atlantic's recent story on our train station here: N.S. town’s historic train station sold privately, building preserved
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Jeff Bembridge is an Amherst entrepreneur who is also a passionate rehabilitator of historic properties.
“I like buying old buildings because they have a soul and I like to fix them up, because I think people need memories,” explained Bembridge. “When I buy a building, one of the first things I do is I go in the basement by myself and I talk to the building; I explain ‘We’re going to help each other here – I’m going to revive you – we’re going to succeed together.’”
One of Bembridge’s most recent acquisitions was the Amherst Train Station, which was the result of a years-long process.
When the intercolonial railway came to Amherst in the 1870s a station was built to serve the community on this critical new transportation corridor. By the end of the 19th century, Amherst had transformed into a major industrial hub and a new train station was required to meet the demands of transporting goods and passengers, as well as to better represent the role of “Busy Amherst” in the provincial and national economies.
“Our current, grand sandstone train station was constructed in 1909, and was one of the largest to be built in the province,” said Amherst Mayor David Kogon. “In the 100 years after the station’s construction, the way that rail service was used in Nova Scotia changed a great deal – particularly passenger service – and there came a point that VIA Rail chose to divest itself of the Amherst Train Station.”
After years of negotiations, a deal was finalized in 2019 that saw the Town take ownership of the structure, while VIA remained as a tenant with access to a passenger waiting area.
