Town News
October 27, 2025 Amherst Town Council Highlights
- Details
- Category: Media Releases
Election of New Deputy Mayor
The term for Amherst’s Deputy Mayor expires annually on October 31. At the regular meeting of Town Council, Charlie Chambers was elected as the new Deputy Mayor – effective from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026.
Council Committee Appointments
Council approved the following committee appointments effective November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026, with the exception of the terms for the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners appointments as noted:
- Mayor Small has been re-appointed to Regional Emergency Management and re-appointed to the North Tyndal Wellfield Advisory Committee;
- Councillor Chambers has been re-appointed to the Planning Advisory Committee, and will continue to sit on the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners through October 31, 2027;
- Councillor Davidson has been re-appointed to the Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, the L.A. Animal Shelter board, and will continue to sit on the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners through October 31, 2026;
- Councillor Furlong has been re-appointed to the Northern Region Solid Waste Committee, Regional Emergency Management, and will continue to sit on the Amherst Board of Police Commissioners through October 31, 2027;
- Councillor McManaman has been re-appointed to the Planning Advisory Committee, the North Tyndal Wellfield Advisory Committee, and the Cumberland Public Libraries Board;
- Councillor Ripley has been re-appointed to the Planning Advisory Committee, the Intermunicipal Tourism Committee, and has been appointed to the GFL Community Liaison Committee; and,
- Councillor Wells has been re-appointed to the Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee, as well as being newly appointed to the YMCA Board of Directors.
Further, all members of Council are also appointed to the Committee of the Whole of Amherst Town Council, and the Town of Amherst Audit Committee.
Additional Committee Appointments
The Town of Amherst Audit Committee received two new citizen appointments on Monday night when Jim Prince was appointed to the committee for a one-year term and Rae Burke was re-appointed for a two-year term.
Council also approved a motion appointing Ava Tooley as the Amherst Youth Town Council appointee to the Town of Amherst Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee.
Remembrance Day Ceremony
- Details
- Category: Public Notices
On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the annual Remembrance Day Ceremony will take place in downtown Amherst at Victoria Square. Attendees are asked to be in place by 10:45 a.m.
To accommodate this year's ceremonies, Victoria Street East will be closed between Havelock and Lawrence, and Church Street will be closed at King. Streets will close at 7 a.m. and will re-open after the ceremonies, by approximately noon.
Remembrance Day Itinerary
- 10:15 a.m. - Colour Party/Pipe Band meet behind Baptist Church
- 10:55 a.m. - Parade marches off from Lions Parking lot
- 10:58 a.m. - Colour Party halts in front of flag pole
- 10:58 a.m. - O Canada sung by Zea Carbona
- 11:00 a.m. - Eleven bells - First Baptist Church
- After the 11th bell:
- Last Post by Lt. MacLean MS
- Two Minutes Silence
- Flag Half Masted by NCdt Jordan Jones
- (Banner dipped - Colour Party)
- After the 11th bell:
- 11:05 a.m. - One Bell - First Baptist Church
- Lament - Pipe Band
- Rouse by Lt. MacLean MS
- Flag raised by NCdt Jordan Jones
- (banner raised - Colour Party)
- Amazing Grace - Pipe Band
- 11:15 a.m. - Act of Remembrance
- Official wreath laid
- Formal speeches
- Prayers and benediction - Rev Jeff White
- Royal Anthem
- 11:20 a.m. Parade dismissed
Water Bills Are in the Mail
- Details
- Category: Public Notices
Due to circumstances beyond our control, there was a delay in sending out water bills, therefore the payment deadline has been extended to December 12, 2025.
Find more information here on the quarterly water billing schedule.
Winter Parking
- Details
- Category: Public Notices
The public is advised that Winter Parking Regulations are in effect in the Town of Amherst from November 15th, 2025 until April 15th, 2026.
The Regulations state that:
No owner or driver or person having control or custody of any vehicle, shall between the 15th day of November A.D. 2025 and the 15th day of April A.D. 2026, park or leave standing the same upon any highway or street in the Town of Amherst between the hours of 12:00 o’clock midnight and the hour of 7:00 a.m. of the same day.
Demolition of 27 Westminster Avenue
- Details
- Category: Public Notices
A Town-hired contractor will be completing the demolition of 27 Westminster Avenue starting on Tuesday, November 4th at 7:30 a.m., weather dependent.
The street will be temporarily closed November 4th - local traffic only.
Work is expected to be completed within three days. There will be heavy machinery on site during this time, so please use caution if in the area.
Amherst Firefighters Annual Banquet and Awards 2025
- Details
- Category: Articles
Members of The Amherst Fire Department and Amherst Firefighters' Association held their annual banquet this past weekend. Every year, members attend on the first Saturday in November to gather and celebrate acheivements'.
All active members of the Amherst Fire Department gathered for a photo on the department's apparatus floor before the annual banquet got underway on Saturday night.
25 Years of Service
Fire Chief Greg Jones - 25 Years of Service
L-R: Chief Greg Jones and Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin MLA – Cumberland North
Deputy Chief Mark Goodwin - 25 Years of Service
L-R: Deputy Chief Mark Goodwin and Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin MLA – Cumberland North
Captain Andrew Wallis - 25 Years of Service
20 Years of Service
Adam White - 20 Years of Service
L-R: Firefighter Adam White and Assistant Deputy Chief Bob Sperry
10 Years of Service
Shawn Lepage - 10 Years of Service
L-R: Firefighters Shawn Lepage and Deputy Chief Mark Goodwin
Donald Downey - 10 Years of Service
L-R: Firefighter Donald Downey and Assistant Deputy Chief Bob Sperry
Roger Gouchie Jr. - 10 Years of Service
L-R: Assistant Deputy Chief Bob Sperry and Firefighters Roger Gouchie
5 Years of Service
James Brundage - 5 Years of Service
L-R: Firefighters James Brundage and Deputy Chief Mark Goodwin
Stephen Chapman - 5 Years of Service
L-R: Firefighters Stephen Chapman and Assistant Deputy Chief Stephen Landry
Recruit of the Year
This award foes to a recruit firefighter who has completed the required in-house training and has shown commitment and dedication to the organization
This award goes to Firefighters Stephen Alder.
L-R: Chief Greg Jones, Deputy Chief Mark Goodwin, Firefighters Stephen Alder, Assistant Deputy Chief Bob Sperry, Assistant Deputy Chief Stephen Landry
Best Attendance
This award goes to the person who attened the highest number of volunteer fire fighter functions for the fire department during the year year.
This year's award goes to Assistant Deputy Chief Bob Sperry
L-R: Chief Greg Jones, Deputy Chief Mark Goodwin, Assistant Deputy Chief Bob Sperry, Assistant Deputy Chief Stephen Landry
Amherst Firefighters' Association Volunteer of the Year Award
The Amherst Fire Fighters Association volunteer of the year award is presented annualy by the Amherst Fre Fighters Association. The recipient of this award has been chosen by the members of the Amherst Fire Fighters Association by means of a vote.
This year's award was presented to Lieutenant Raymond MacDonald.
L-R: Lieutenant Raymond MacDonald and AFFA President Michel Poirier
President's Award
This award is presented to Michel Poirier by the Chief of the Amherst Fire Department to the President of the Amherst Fire Fighters Association to acknowledge his leadership and commitment as President throughout the operational calendar year.
L-R: AFFA President Michel Poirier and Chief Greg Jones
Presentation of Basic Firefighter Program Certificates
Certificates for the successful completion of the Basic Firefighter Program were formally presented to individuals who have completed the in-house training curriculum. This achievement marks a significant milestone in their professional development. The next phase for these firefighters will involve preparing for Level I Firefighter Certification, further advancing their skills and qualifications within the fire service.
L-R: Firefighters Bob Kemp, Roger Gouchie, Grant Hurley, Jason Turrell, Nick Shaw
