Free Training Opportunity - Community & Volunteer Groups

The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is offering a limited number of free online training spots for staff and volunteers in a course called “Designing for Belonging.” 

Led by the Reimagining Sport, Recreation and Leisure Collective—a team of experienced facilitators, practitioners, and community-based researchers—this training aims to foster inclusive and welcoming communities. 

Participants will gain practical tools and resources to help reduce barriers to participation in activities that your organization provides — like sports, recreation, arts, and outdoor activities. This training is especially helpful for people who want to make their communities more welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

 We’re looking for people from volunteer organizations in Lunenburg County providing community services, who care about making programs more welcoming and easier to join and are open to working with people who don’t always get the support they need.

Training Details:

• When: Every Wednesday for 9 weeks from October 1 to November 26, 2025, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.(online)
• Bonus: A one-day, in-person workshop will be held in early 2026 for everyone to meet, learn more, and share ideas.

For more information on the training, visit:  www.reimaginingaccess.ca/design4belonging

Interested?  Here’s how to apply

• Download and complete pdf this fillable application form (233 KB) .
• Email your application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 10, 2025
• Or pick up and drop off an application at the Municipal Building: 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville

Space is limited, so apply soon! You’ll be notified by September 19 if you’re selected.

Questions? Contact Trudy Payne at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 902-541-1333.

Parks & Trails Closures Update

CLOSURE INFORMATION UPDATED AUGUST 6, 2025

The Province of Nova Scotia has restricted travel and activities in the woods due to extremely dry conditions and high wildfire risk.

In line with these restrictions, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg - MODL has updated the list of closures.

WOODED PARK CLOSURES (as of August 6):

• Miller Point Peace Park, Dayspring
• River Ridge Common, New Germany
• Indian Falls Park, Newburne

TRAIL CLOSURES:

Walking Trails

Indian Path Common, Indian Path

Multi-use Trails

• Arthur Young Trail, Cookville
• Osprey Connector Trail, Cookville
• Rails to Trails network

Walking & Mountain Biking Trails

• Municipal Activity Recreation Complex (M.A.R.C.), Dayspring  *Wooded areas are closed at the MARC

REMAINING OPEN:

• All municipal beaches and ocean access parks
• MODL parks not listed above
• MARC greenspaces and ball fields

For a full list of our parks, visit https://www.modl.ca/municipal-parks-and-trails.html

A reminder that all parks and open spaces are smoke free! Now more than ever, everyone plays an important role to stay safe and respect our spaces.

We encourage residents to use extra caution when enjoying public spaces.

These closures are in line with the provincial measures intended to reduce wildfire risk by limiting activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and the use of vehicles in wooded areas. The fine for violating these restrictions is $25,000  

Read the full provincial news release here: Province of NS - Stay out of the Woods  
Click the link to watch the press conference: https://fb.watch/Bh-PW6pcSt/ 

Temporary Water Relief Program Notice 2025

Starting on Monday, August 11, 2025, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg will be providing water coupons for drinking and cooking water to municipal residents experiencing dry wells. Municipal residents can pick up coupons at the Municipal Service Building at 10 Allée Champlain in Cookville (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive electronic coupons (must be printed to redeem) and exchange them at various retail locations for water.

The program provides 4L of bottled water per person per day up to a maximum of four 4L jugs per day per household. Only households experiencing a clean water shortage are eligible to receive the coupons. Coupons are good for a one-week period (Monday to Sunday) and will expire each Sunday for as long as the program is running. New coupons can be picked up on a weekly basis. Each coupon can be exchanged at select retailers within the Municipality for one 4L jug of water (no substitutes).

The locations in which the coupons can be used are:

• Sam’s No Frills, Bridgewater
• The Water Market, Lunenburg
• Nick’s Your Independent Grocer, Mahone Bay
• New Germany Freshmart
• Sobey's Bridgewater

Residents with dry wells can also visit the LCLC (135 North Park St, Bridgewater) for showers.  Showers can be accessed by registering at the front desk.

Residents of Big and Little Tancook Islands can go to the Municipality of the District of Chester and applicable Chester retail locations for their water coupons and bottles of water.

For questions about the program please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 902-543-8181, extension 1.

Trail Closures

The Province has announced new restrictions on travel and activities in the woods due to extremely dry conditions and high wildfire risk.

Effective 4:00 PM, August 5, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg - MODL will be closing the following trails until October 15, or until provincial restrictions are lifted.

Walking & Mountain Biking Trails
▫️River Ridge Common, New Germany
▫️The Municipal Activity Recreation Complex (MARC), Dayspring

Walking Trails
▫️Indian Falls Park, Newburne
▫️Indian Path Common, Indian Path
▫️Miller Point Peace Park, Dayspring
▫️Sawpit Wharf, Back Harbour Road

Multi-use Trails
▫️Arthur Young Trail, Cookville
▫️Osprey Connector Trail, Cookville

Beaches and park spaces remain open

Wooded trail systems are off-limits, including the rails to trails.

These closures are in line with the provincial measures intended to reduce wildfire risk by limiting activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and the use of vehicles in wooded areas. The fine for violating these restrictions is $25,000.

📄 Read the full provincial news release here: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/05/travel-activities-woods-restricted-prevent-wildfires

🔗 Click the link to watch the press conference: https://fb.watch/Bh-PW6pcSt/

Thank you for helping reduce wildfire risk in our communities 🌲🔥

Council in the Community

We’re Bringing Council Meetings to You!

We’re holding Council meetings in local community centres across the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. This is part of our commitment to making local government more accessible and helping more residents take part in the conversation.

Join us for our first Council in the Community session:

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at Conquerall Bank Fire Hall
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

Regional Growth Management Committee

NEW Regional Growth Management Committee

A new advisory committee has been formed to advise Councils on matters referred to it by Councils.  The Regional Growth Management Committee (RGMC) is intended to make recommendations to the Town of Bridgewater Council and the District of Lunenburg Council on ways to collaborate on growth opportunities within the region.

The RGMC meetings are open to the public. 

Click  pdf Public Notice (27 KB) for more details on meeting locations, dates, and times.

Notice of Intent to Consider Repeal & Replace By-law 018

Notice of Second Reading of By-law 018 Building Code By-law

Council will conduct Second Reading of the proposed By-law 018 Building Code By-law at the September 9, 2025 Council meeting, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Municipal Administration Building at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, Nova Scotia.

If approved, the By-law will remove Schedule A – Fees from the by-law, add location certificate requirements, and add a new section regarding expiry of permits.

Select  pdf Public Notice (509 KB) to view it in its entirety.

Notice of Approval - By-laws 035 & 049

Municipal Council of the District of Lunenburg has approved amendments to By-law 035 Municipal Planning Strategy and By-law 049 Municipal-Wide Land Use By-law to implement Cluster Development Regulations.

These regulations come into effect on July 4, 2025.

Copies of the amended documents can be viewed by clicking:

  pdf By-law 035 Municipal Planning Strategy (152 KB) and  pdf By-law 049 Municipal Wide Land Use By-law (195 KB)  and at the Municipal Services Building, 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, NS, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For further information, contact the Planning Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Click  pdf Notice of Approval (28 KB) to view it in its entirety.

NOTICE: Development Agreement MacCulloch Road

NOTICE

Development Agreement with Jaylynn Enterprises Limited

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT on June 10, 2025, Municipal Council approved a motion to enter into a Development Agreement with Jaylynn Enterprises Limited subject to identified conditions. The Development Agreement will apply to Lot FE-1, MacCulloch Road (PID 60709383) in Cookville, and will permit a land lease community with up to 23 residential units.

In accordance with sections 247-250 of the Municipal Government Act: an aggrieved person may appeal Council’s decision to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board (NSARB). Appeals to the Regulatory and Appeals Board must be made within (14) days of the date of this Notice. Inquiries regarding appeals can be made directly to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board, by calling 1-(902)- 424-1333 or by mail at PO Box 1692, Unit "M", Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3S3.

Copies of the Agreement, and related staff reports, can be obtained from the Municipal Office during normal office hours 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m., at 10 Allée Champlain Drive, Cookville, Nova Scotia, Canada, B4V 9E4.

April Whynot-Lohnes, Municipal Clerk

Posted: June 18, 2025

Letter to Premier Houston Exploration of Uranium

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Council passed a motion to request that the Province pause the RFP process for exploration of uranium in East Dalhousie, which is in the LaHave River watershed, to allow for sufficient time for meaningful consultation with First Nations and the public.

Mayor McLean-Wile, on behalf of Council, wrote to the Premier requesting a pause in exploration and asking that serious consideration be given to the concerns raised by MODL Council and other municipalities throughout the province.

To view the letter in its entirety, click pdf Letter to Premier Houston (583 KB) .

Notice of Adoption - Neighbourhood Nuisance By-law

The District of Lunenburg conducted Second Reading on May 13, 2025 and passed a motion to approve and adopt By-law 050 Neighbourhood Nuisance.  The By-law is effective as of May 21, 2025 and is now available to be viewed on our website at https://www.modl.ca/index.php?option=com_docman&view=list&layout=table&slug=municipal-by-laws&own=0&Itemid=281&lang=en

Click  pdf Public Notice (440 KB) to view it in its entirety. 

Important notice for the residents of the Midville and District Fire District

The Midville and District Fire Department ratepayers meeting held on May 6, 2025, had a low resident attendance.  This meeting provides residents the opportunity to review the departments budget and set a tax rate for the 2025/2026 fiscal year. Therefore, another ratepayer meeting on June 3, 2025 at 7:30 pm will be held at the Midville & District Fire Department.  Any questions, please contact chief Adam Hubley at 902-298-4240 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.