Wolfville Council Approves 2019/20 Budget and Operations Plan
Wolfville, NS – At the March 19, 2019, Town Council Meeting Wolfville's Council approved an operating budget totalling $10.7 million for the fiscal year 2019/20, with a capital investment plan of $4.15 million.
Mayor, Jeff Cantwell, confirmed ‘I am very happy that, once again, we have been able to pass a budget for the new fiscal year while being able to continue our strategic initiatives with minimum effect on the tax rate for residents.’
Director of Financial Services, Mike MacLean, advised ‘On average, the property tax bill for residents will increase by 1.76%, which is below the cost of living adjustment. We will also have the highest level of property tax exemption for low income residents in the Valley, and are very pleased that we are able to offer that exemption, all within a balanced budget.’
The approved residential tax rate has increased by ½ cent to $1.465 per $100 of assessment which means, for 86% of residential properties, on average tax bills will increase less than the cost of living. Similarly, the Commercial Tax rate has increased by ½ cent per $100 to $3.575; while the Business Development Area Rate has been reduced by 2 cents, good news for local businesses.
The Town’s Operating budget will continue to enhance Council priorities for the community. In 2019/20 the Town will:
• Hire a Climate Change & Energy Coordinator to increase its focus on environmental initiatives
• Continue to Partner with the Town of Kentville and Berwick and the County of Kings to complete a Regional Recreation Needs Assessment
• Continue to build on the partnership with Acadia University and Acadia Students Union to promote community harmony
• Provide Grants to Organizations in the value of $178,900 through the Strategic Partnership Program, Community Partnership Program and other grants approved by Council
• Complete the amendments to the Town’s Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use Bylaw
• Develop a Party Registration Bylaw
• Conduct a community engagement exercise to help better define the Town’s recreational needs and values
• Increase the Low Income Tax Exemption to $650, for those households not exceeding an income threshold of $27,413
• Start to operationalize the priorities identified in the Town’s Accessibility Plan.
The 2019/20 Capital Budget continues Council’s focus on improving the basic street infrastructure as well as community areas, amenities and protecting our shoreline. Streets included for infrastructure renewal are Seaview Avenue, Westwood (Main to Irving Centre), and Gaspereau – Willow (up to Civic 94).
Capital investment over the next two fiscal years in the amount of $850,000 will turn the East End gateway to the Town into a welcoming and enjoyable space for visitors and residents alike. Upgrades will include a new Visitor Information Centre, upgrades to Willow Park, and upgrades to the Harvest Moon Trail Head that will all serve to announce and articulate the arrival into Wolfville’s vibrant Downtown core.
The complete 2019/20 Budget and Operations Plan will be available on the Town of Wolfville's website at www.wolfville.ca.
For Additional Information Contact:
Erin Beaudin, CAO
902-599-2380
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OR
Mike MacLean, Director of Financial Services
902-670-2388
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The postponed Public Hearing of March 4th, regarding the MPS and LUB amendments, will now be taking place on March 18, 2019.
It will still be held at Acadia University in the KCIC auditorium at 32 University Avenue at 6:30 pm.
The Agenda will be posted here when available.
Check out our programs running at the Wolfville Rec Centre every school day, Afterschool!
IMPORTANT: Due to the inclement weather, the Public Hearing originally scheduled for this evening is being postponed and we will be rescheduling as soon as we can.
Thank you for your patience.
As you may or may not know, the Kings County region is undergoing a Recreation Needs Assessment.
The Towns of Berwick, Kentville, and Wolfville, and the Municipality of the County of Kings, have hired Stantec/Trace to lead us in the work.
Part of the consultation is a survey that is open to the public to provide input that will inform the final report.
The link to the survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/kingscommunityrecneeds
Please take a couple of minutes to help us gather some important data!
The Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival Leadership Competition strives to promote and develop leadership among the young people of the Annapolis Valley. The 87th Apple Blossom Festival will be held from May 22nd to 28th, 2019.
Are you interested in becoming the Leadership Candidate for Wolfville in 2019? Have you graduated high school, are between the ages of 19 and 23 in 2018 and resided permanently in the Town of Wolfville for a minimum of one year?
For more details, the Festival agreement can be found at http://appleblossom.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/85th-Leadership-Candidate-Agreement-2017-1.pdf
To apply, please e-mail your resume and biography to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Application Deadline: February 28th, 2019
Click on the image below to view a full-size version of the job ad or scroll past to read a plain text version.
The Town of Wolfville is hiring a full-time (2-year term) Climate Change & Energy Coordinator with funding secured through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Reporting to the Director of Planning & Development, the successful candidate will focus on the planning and implementation of municipal climate change and energy priorities in a vibrant university town located in the beautiful Annapolis Valley. A primary responsibility of the successful applicant will be working on the development and implementation of the Town’s GHG emissions reductions plan and advancing the Town’s position in the Partners for Climate Protection Program.
Additionally, the Climate Change & Energy Coordinator will contribute to the development and implementation of municipal operational and institutional changes that will lead to operational savings and the reduction of GHG emissions. This individual may also be responsible for broader capacity-building and knowledge-sharing activities which could include community consultations or educational work during one of the Town’s many public events.
Under a shared service agreement, the successful candidate will also provide services pertaining to GHG emissions reduction, approximately 1 day/week, to the Town of Windsor.
Candidates must have a university degree in engineering, environmental science, environmental studies, geography, urban planning or equivalent. Other relevant training and at least 1 or 2 years of experience would be considered valuable assets.
The position requires 35 hours per week, some of which will be in the evenings to provide meeting support. A valid driver’s license is required. A full job description is available upon request.
Applications will be accepted up until Monday, March 11th, 2019 at 4:30 pm by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We thank all candidates for their interest; however only those under consideration will be contacted.
February 11, 2019
Public Statement – Town of Wolfville
Amendments to planning documents regarding craft beverages and off-site sales
There have been a number of questions and comments from members of the public about the Church Brewing Company’s intentions regarding selling some of the beer it produces off-site, the communications between the Town and the Company, and how off-site sales factored into the Town’s dealings with the Company and the decision to issue the Development Permit 329 Main Street dated May 30, 2018.
The assessment of applications for Development Permits and the decisions on whether to grant Development Permits are made by the Town’s Development Officer. In this case, the Development Officer made the decision that the proposed development at 329 Main Street met the requirements of the Town’s Land Use By-Law and therefore granted the Development Permit. The decision to grant the Development Permit and the validity of it were upheld by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in the Court Decision dated September 5, 2018, but the Court also stated that based on the current wording of the Town’s Land Use By-Law, off-site sales of beer were not permitted.
In making the decision to grant the Development Permit, the Development Officer did not have any information regarding the issue of off-site sales and off-site sales was not an issue that factored into the decision to issue the permit. The maximum volume permitted was set at 15,000 hectolitres per year because that is the maximum volume for a microbrewery according to Nova Scotia Liquor Commission policy.
The amendments to the planning documents currently before Town Council deal with whether the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-Law should be amended to allow off-site sales of product from developments that are approved for craft beverage uses and other uses as an accessory use in the C-1 zone. The Town will continue to try to answer questions and provide information that is relevant to the proposed amendments, but will not be answering any further questions about the lead up to the issuance of the Development Permit for 329 Main Street.
Applications for the Community Partnerhip Program Grants will be accepted until February 28th, 2019..
Click here to find out how to apply.
All questions may be directed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Primary - 5 Students of Wolfville School Welcome
Click here to learn more about the program and how to register.
If you know of someone in our community that deserves recognition for their volunteer contributions, please nominate them!
Any Adult, Youth, Couple or Group of Volunteers from the Town of Wolfville qualifies!
The Town of Wolfville will be selecting a representative from the nominees we receive for the 44th Annual Provincial Volunteer Award Luncheon and Ceremony.
There are Provincial Awards for: Volunteer Representative; Family; and, Youth.
Here are some of the things you should include with your nomination:
Name, Phonetic spelling, Mailing address, Postal Code, Phone number(s), Email address.
Summarize in 100 words or less the overall impact the Volunteer has made to their community.
What makes this Volunteer stand out?
What are some highlights of the Volunteer’s (volunteer) career that they are particularly proud of or that should be featured?
When did they start volunteering?
What motivated them to start volunteering?
What are the organizations that have been most affected by their volunteering?
What were some of the impacts?
Please email nominations by February 15th to:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Agenda package for the next Town Council meeting on Tuesday January 22nd is now available on the Town’s website in the normal way.
Please be advised that the first reading for the proposed craft brewery amendments will be discussed at a separate, Special Town Council meeting on Monday February 4th at 6.30 pm. Venue to be confirmed. This will allow additional time to process information that has been obtained to date on this matter, and to allow for the full development of the staff report that will ultimately go to a public hearing if the first reading is passed on February 4th.
It will be advantageous for all to have the benefit of reading the full staff report in advance of the first reading so that there is ample time for careful consideration by all.
It is anticipated that the staff report will be available on our website on Thursday, January 31st.
