d2142

Pictou County News, June 30th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:25:37 +0000

New Glasgow Police have charged a 32-year-old woman from Scotsburn with several drug and weapons offences following a routine traffic stop on East River Road. New Glasgow Police say that during the traffic stop, officers identified the driver as being the subject of outstanding criminal charges. She was arrested, and a search saw police locate approximately 18 grams of cocaine, brass knuckles, a digital scale, and cash.

The woman has been released from custody, with conditions, and is scheduled to appear soon in Provincial Court in Pictou.

–

Pictou County District RCMP say that someone damaged safety infrastructure at railway crossings this month in apparent attempts to steal copper wire. R-C-M-P say equipment was damaged three times in two weeks at railway crossings in Pictou County, and the damage appears deliberate. Police are not providing specific details about the equipment because they don’t want to encourage more thefts. The Mounties are reminding residents that tampering with any railway equipment is illegal, and damaging signs around railway crossings can be dangerous for the public, especially if the signs warn drivers about approaching trains.

–

The provincial government is partnering with Ottawa to put 26-million dollars towards making homes more energy efficient.

The money will help people on low and medium incomes complete upgrades and lower their energy bills.

There’s a separate program for African Nova Scotians.

Insulation, air sealing and new heat pumps will all qualify for funding.

–

The Town of New Glasgow’s Pre-Canada Day Celebration scheduled for today at the Scott W. Weeks Sports Complex has been postponed due to weather. The Town says a new date and further details will be shared as soon as they are confirmed.

Pictou County News, June 29th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:35:04 +0000

A new poll suggests a majority of Nova Scotians are dissatisfied with Premier Tim Houston’s majority government. The Narrative Research survey says 59 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the province’s Progressive Conservative government The research firm suggests Nova Scotians’ disappointment with the Tories may stem from recent budget cuts that hit the arts and cultural communities, the state of the health-care system and perceived favouritism toward business interests. The survey results are based on 734 online surveys with eligible voters completed between June 10th and June 17th.

–

An Independent MLA is launching a lawsuit against the provincial government in a bid to get all tolls removed from a stretch of the Trans Canada Highway that goes through the Cobequid Pass. Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, the MLA for Cumberland North, announced her lawsuit Friday. Smith-McCrossin says her lawsuit is questioning the rationale for the Cobequid Pass tolls. Premier Tim Houston removed the tolls for vehicles with Nova Scotia license plates but all vehicles from out of province still have to pay to use the pass.

–

A heads-up from the Department of Public Works about road and bridge work that’s taking place. Highway 106 between the Pictou Rotary and the ferry terminal in Caribou is reduced to one lane for about four kilometres for paving until Monday, August 31. The Moore’s Ford Bridge on West Branch Road is closed until further notice. The detour route includes West Branch Road, College Grant Road and Route 256. And, the Welsford Bridge on Old Pictou Road is closed until further notice. The detour route includes Old Pictou Road, Allen Road, Trunk 6 and River John Road.

–

In sports

Stephen Eustaquio scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time in Los Angeles on Sunday as Canada beat South Africa 1-0 in the first knockout game of the World Cup. Canada will play the winner of today’s round-of-32 matchup between the Netherlands and Morocco on July 4th in Houston.

Pictou County News, June 26th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:34:23 +0000

Rescue crews are searching for survivors after two powerful earthquakes devastated northern Venezuela, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 43-hundred.

Authorities warn the death toll will climb, as thousands of people are still unaccounted for after the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes. The quakes were among Venezuela’s strongest in more than a century.

Canada is sending five-million dollars in humanitarian aid to Venezuela.

Global Affairs Canada says the funding will support emergency food, clean water, sanitation, health care and logistics as rescue efforts continue.

Officials say about 740 Canadians are registered in Venezuela, and none are known to have been affected.

–

More details were released Thursday after the Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit arrested six people after executing a firearms-related search warrant in Westville. After launching an investigation earlier this month, police searched a home on Spring Garden Rd. Officers seized a .22 calibre rifle; a loaded sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun; a starter pistol; two pellet guns; a taser; a large quantity of ammunition; and a 3D printer.

–

Gasoline prices increased overnight in Nova Scotia, but there’s no change in diesel prices. The price of regular gasoline increased by 3.6 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline at $1.70 per litre in the local area. The minimum pump price for self-serve diesel remains $1.86 per litre locally.

–

For the second year in a row, Nova Scotia Health is ranked among the best in Canada at reducing surgical wait times. It ranks top three or better in four categories in the Canadian Institute for Health Information report on national wait time benchmark performance. Nova Scotia was second in Canada for the percentage of cataract surgeries, knee replacements and joint replacements surgeries completed within the national targets and tied for third place for the percentage of hip fractures repaired within the targeted window.

–

Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer is retiring after 27 years in the province’s health-care system. Dr. Robert Strang became a well-known public figure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Tim Houston thanked Strang for his unwavering leadership and guidance through the pandemic and for his dedication to the health of Nova Scotians.

A search for a new chief medical officer of health will begin soon.

Pictou County News, June 25th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:12:54 +0000

Police have charged a second man with first-degree murder in the death of a Pictou County man, 61-year old Steven Boudreau. In April, Boudreau was reported missing from Hopewell. Boudreau’s remains were found in May, which is when the first suspect — a 29-year-old man from Torbrook — was arrested in Torbrook and charged with first-degree murder. The second accused, a 36-year-old man from Kings County, was arrested at a home in East Dalhousie on Monday.

–

A report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says Atlantic Canada is home to the lowest and highest gender pay gaps in the country. The highest reported gender pay gap is in Newfoundland and Labrador, where women make 76 cents for each dollar an average man makes in the province. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the report says women make 85 cents and 86 cents, respectively, to each dollar an average man makes. The report says P-E-I, where women make 95 cents for each dollar a man makes, has the lowest pay gap in the country.

–

Nova Scotians can now book a range of vaccines by calling 8-1-1. The province says the new booking option is available for Covid-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines. Residents seeking immunizations for shingles, pneumococcal and meningococcal B can also book a shot by calling 8-1-1. The health minister says adding vaccine booking to the provincial public health line will make access to immunizations easier.

–

The Public Health Mobile Unit, which supports access to immunization and testing, is holding a number of clinics this week. Locations include

the Museum of Industry in Stellarton on Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

–

In sports,

Canada faces South Africa on Sunday in Los Angeles in the round of 32 at the World Cup. Canada fell 2-1 to Switzerland in Vancouver yesterday to rank second in Group B. Both Canada and South Africa have reached the World Cup’s knockout stage for the first time.

Pictou County News, June 23rd 2026

Emma Freckelton — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:50:17 +0000

New Glasgow Police have issued a statement offering condolences after a Montreal Police officer was killed Monday in a shooting. The 34-year-old, who joined the force in 2021, was one of three people killed, along with a civilian and the suspected shooter. Another officer was seriously injured but remains in stable condition as investigators work to determine the shooter’s motive behind the attack.

New Glasgow Police say that over the past two weeks, Canada has witnessed a heartbreaking series of tragedies that have claimed the lives of three police officers and left three others seriously injured in four separate incidents. New Glasgow Police say they honour their service, their sacrifice, and their unwavering commitment to protecting their communities – and stand strongly in unity to condemn all acts of violence directed toward police officers and all emergency first responders.

–

Crown prosecutors in Halifax are still reviewing evidence in the case of two young people who were charged after the discovery of a newborn’s body in a wooded area last month.

A 23-year-old man and his 26-year-old wife are charged with concealing a child’s body, committing an indignity to a dead body and two counts of obstruction.

When the couple appeared virtually in Halifax provincial court yesterday, their lawyer said they were waiting on a disclosure package from the Crown.

On May 22nd, a 23-year-old woman who had given birth was admitted to hospital in critical condition, but the baby was nowhere to be found.

It prompted a search that led to the grim discovery at the edge of the city.

–

Nova Scotia’s annual inflation rate reached 5.2 percent in May, up from 4.3 per cent in April, driven heavily by surging gasoline and energy prices. Overall, the country’s annual rate of inflation jumped to 3.2 per cent in May, up from 2.8 per cent in April. Inflation figures show air transportation costs were up 7.4 per cent across Canada year over year last month after decreasing slightly in April. Higher jet-fuel costs — driven by the war in the Middle East — were not captured in Statistics Canada’s April inflation data but showed up in May. The report will be the Bank of Canada’s last look at price data before its next interest rate decision on July 15th.

–

The Town of Trenton is advising that today between 10:00am and 1:00pm, a small production crew will be filming on the sidewalk / hill along Main Street between Hampson Street and High Street. The filming will not take place on the roadway and Main Street will remain open for regular traffic as usual.

Pictou County News, June 22nd 2026

Emma Freckelton — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:45:39 +0000

The Pictou County Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit has arrested and charged a Thorburn woman who was wanted on outstanding warrants for drug trafficking.

On Wednesday, police executed a warrant at a home on Marsh Rd. and a 35-year old woman was arrested. She was wanted on three outstanding warrants and has now been charged with three counts of Fail to Comply with Release Order.

She has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in Pictou Provincial Court on June 30th

–

New Glasgow Police have made one arrest following an incident last Thursday. New Glasgow Police responded to a disturbance in the area of James Street and Marsh Street in New Glasgow, at approximately 7:10 p.m. When they arrived on scene, officers located and arrested a 45-year-old man who was in possession of a weapon. The man has been charged with Assault with a Weapon; Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose; and Causing a Disturbance. Police say the victim of the assault did not sustain any physical injuries as a result of the incident.

–

R-C-M-P say a 60-year-old man from Truro has died after being struck by a vehicle. Police say a vehicle being driven by a 29-year-old woman hit the 60-year-old pedestrian on Highway 326 near Earltown on Thursday night around 11 p-m. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and a 19-year-old passenger in the car were not injured, and the R-C-M-P is investigating.

–

The Town of Trenton has established a new line of communication with residents, giving them the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have. An Online Submission Form is now available on www.trenton.ca , the Town of Trenton’s website. The “CONCERNS” link is on the main category bar at the top of each page, and that link will take you to a submission form where you can submit a concern or complaint.

–

Canada’s inflation rate is expected to have risen in May, largely due to the skyrocketing cost of oil and its effect on pump prices. The annual inflation rate was 2.8-per cent in April, and economists expect it to reach three-per cent in May — with Statistics Canada set to report its Consumer Price Index for May this morning. The Bank of Canada has said it has seen limited evidence of higher energy prices spreading to other goods and services and is committed to preventing persistent inflation.

Pictou County News, June 19th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 11:28:16 +0000

Long-term care workers across Nova Scotia have resumed a strike that was thought to have ended when a tentative agreement was reached this month.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the strike resumed because unionized employees at three facilities could not resolve some issues with their employers.

When the tentative agreement was reached on June 6th, the union said it was under the impression that any remaining issues would be resolved quickly.

Many workers first walked off the job on April 13th, seeking higher wages.

–

Gas and diesel prices both went down overnight in Nova Scotia. The price of regular gasoline went down by 4.5 cents per litre, leaving the minimum pump price for regular self-serve gasoline at $1.66 per litre in the local area. The price of diesel decreased by 1.1 cents per litre, putting the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $1.86 per litre locally.

–

The premier says his government is not actively pursuing data centre projects and would only support them if the province could meet their energy needs.

Data centres are massive operations that require a lot of power to run and cool computer servers, and are often used in artificial intelligence and other high-tech industries.

Tim Houston says there’s no active proposal to bring a data centre to Nova Scotia and it’s not a top priority for his government.

He says he’d be willing to discuss a project when the province’s major energy generation projects become fully operational.

–

The federal and provincial governments are committing up to 25-million dollars to help the province’s livestock and wild blueberry producers recover from last year’s severe drought.

Provincial Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow says the drought was one of the worst in generations, causing severe financial hardship for farms across the province.

The funding will come from the AgriRecovery disaster relief program.

Agri-Food Canada will contribute 60 per cent of eligible funding, and the province will kick in 40 per cent.

–

Take note that road closures will be in effect on Sunday for the Johnny Miles Running Event.

Closures include:

Provost Street from George Street to Maclean Street: 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

George Street Bridge: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Terrace and Clyde Streets: 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Motorists should expect delays and plan ahead.

–

In sports, Jacob Shaffelburg of Port Williams scored one of Canada’s goals in Canada’s first-ever win last night in a men’s FIFA World Cup. Canada thumped Qatar 6-0 to now sit atop Group B alongside Switzerland.

Pictou County News, June 18th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:28:27 +0000

The Nova Scotia government won’t say when it will deliver on its promise to create a plan to protect people from homelessness. Some advocates argue the province’s current approach is more reactive than preventative. When the province released its five-year housing plan in 2023, it included a line that stated it would develop its first ever homelessness prevention strategy. A spokesperson for the Nova Scotia government says there’s no timeline for developing the strategy but the province allocated 165 million dollars in the latest budget to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

–

The provincial government has named 10 community-based service providers that will coordinate community living arrangement for people with disabilities. The province says the organizations are a part of a new HomeShare program and they will recruit and screen providers, facilitate matches and provide ongoing support. Premier Tim Houston said the organizations have community knowledge, trusted relationships and experience supporting people with disabilities. The Province is expected to spend just over two-million dollars on the HomeShare program, which is part of the five-year Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy. The remedy is an agreement to address systemic discrimination in how the province supports people with disabilities.

The RCMP says an East Hants man wanted on a province wide arrest warrant may be in the Truro area. 36-year old Ryan Cole of Lantz, is facing numerous charges, including Assault with a Weapon; Break and Enter; Robbery; Theft Under $5,000; and Mischief Under $5,000. Cole is described as approximately 6-foot-2, 165 pounds with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ryan Cole is asked to contact RCMP or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.

The Town of New Glasgow is supporting the 2026 Festival of the Tartans with a $2,500 grant, along with in-kind municipal support to assist with hosting the event. Set for August 13 to 16, the Festival of the Tartans celebrates Scottish heritage, traditions, and culture while bringing residents and visitors together in New Glasgow. The festival is expected to include a variety of cultural activities, performances, competitions, workshops, and vendors.

Pictou County News, June 17th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:08:36 +0000

For the second straight day, the Interrupter was invoked overnight for the price of diesel in Nova Scotia. The price of diesel went down by 8.6 cents per litre overnight after there had been a 7.1 cent per litre decrease on Tuesday. It put the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $1.87 per litre in the local area. The price of gasoline was not affected.

The third and final day of the G-7 Summit is underway in France. Prime Minister Mark Carney took reporters’ questions this morning at the gathering that comes as trade talks between Canada and the U-S remain tense. While Carney and U-S President Donald Trump don’t have a formal one-on-one meeting scheduled at the summit, Carney says they’ve had seven or eight informal discussions on a range of topics. Carney was overheard yesterday explaining to Trump Canada’s plan to import a limited number of Chinese electric vehicles — to which the president responded — quote — “That’s good, I like it.” Trump previously criticized the deal.

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation says its profit margin dipped by 4.1 per cent in the most recent fiscal year, falling to 269-million dollars. Even though total sales rose 1.1 per cent to 898-million dollars, overall alcohol sales dropped by 0.2 per cent to 759-million dollars. Still, cannabis sales rose 9.3 per cent to 139-million dollars. And sales of locally produced alcohol jumped 11.6 per cent to 111-million dollars.

After nearly 75 years on C-B-C, Hockey Night in Canada will not return to the network next season. The sub-licensing agreement between Rogers and the C-B-C expired at the end of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and was not renewed. In a joint statement, Sportsnet and C-B-C says it will be moving forward with a new sport programming strategy.

Pictou County News, June 16th 2026

Emma Freckelton — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:42:51 +0000

The Nova Scotia Energy Board says the Interrupter was invoked overnight for the price of diesel in the province. The price of diesel went down by 7.1 cents per litre overnight, leaving the minimum pump price for self-serve diesel at $1.96 per litre in the local area. The price of gasoline was not affected.

The Town of New Glasgow is supporting Pictou County Volunteer Ground Search and Rescue with a $1,500 grant to assist with ongoing operations.

The funding will help support training, operational readiness, and the maintenance and purchase of essential equipment, helping ensure volunteers are prepared to respond safely and effectively when called upon. Pictou County Volunteer Ground Search and Rescue provides vital search and rescue services throughout Pictou County and beyond, supporting public safety through emergency response, preparedness, and community service.

A new report shows that Halifax remains one of Canada’s toughest rental housing markets for apartments. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation report says the city has among the lowest vacancy rates, lowest turnover rate and high rents. Halifax’s vacancy rate sits at 2.7 per cent, which is lower than larger cities like Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. An economist for the housing corporation says the rate is even lower for affordable units.

Canada’s ambassador to the United States says American steel, aluminum and auto tariffs are the current focus of Canada’s trade-negotiating team in Washington.

Mark Wiseman says those tariffs are “biting” the Canadian economy.

He was speaking yesterday to a business audience in Toronto, trying to lower the temperature around the Canada-U-S-Mexico Agreement on trade, which has kept most other goods tariff-free.

CUSMA’s renewal date is July 1st, but Wiseman says that’s just the beginning of the review period for a deal that doesn’t actually expire for a decade.

In sports,

The Pictou County Weeks Crushers made a couple selections in the Maritime Junior Hockey League Territorial Draft. The Crushers selected defenceman Jack Cameron of Stellarton and defenceman Lawrence Williams of Kings Head.