July & August 2025
- Jill Guinan
- Sep 16, 2025
- 8 min read
Summer 2025 Across Nova Scotia
School Lunch Program
The Nova Scotia School Lunch Program is a Government of Nova Scotia program that offers nutritious lunches to public school students every school day. The program helps make life more affordable and easier for busy families and ensures students have access to nutritious, delicious food that supports their learning and well-being.
Top Score for Internal Trade
Nova Scotia has earned the top score in Canada on the 2025 internal trade report card from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, receiving an A grade and the highest overall mark in the country.
This recognition reflects the work we’ve done to reduce interprovincial trade barriers and cut red tape that holds businesses back. By making it easier for goods, services, and labour to move across provincial borders, we're creating more opportunity for Nova Scotian businesses to grow, compete, and reach new markets across the country. We’re proud to lead the way. When local businesses succeed, our economy gets stronger and more Nova Scotians benefit.
Making Life More Affordable
The province has taken steps to make life more affordable for Nova Scotians by cutting the HST, raising the minimum wage, and increasing the basic personal exemption. These changes are helping ease financial strain and let you keep more of what you earn.
Province Ends Relationship With Firefighters School
The Province released the findings of a comprehensive value-for-money audit of the Nova Scotia Firefighters School on August 5.
The value-for-money audit was commissioned in June to help ensure the safety of students and staff at the school. This stems from the preventable death of firefighter Skyler Blackie during a training exercise in 2019.Key findings from the report include:
systemic and governance issues
a breakdown in safety accountability
lack of stakeholder engagement
inadequate governance and oversight of the executive director
eroded public trust
lost confidence of firefighters
The audit also revealed a failure to uphold a culture of safety; serious, unaddressed safety-related deficiencies; a lack of strategic planning; and a decline in infrastructure. A steering committee for firefighter training will be established in the coming weeks to oversee an interim training plan and to guide the work on a long-term, comprehensive training model for firefighters once the results of a broader fire services review are in. The goal is to have the interim training available by fall.
New Mine to Create Jobs, Boost Province’s GDP
A new gold mine in Guysborough County, which is expected to create 735 new jobs and contribute $2.1-billion to Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product (GDP), received its industrial approval on August 27. This approval comes after seven years of consultation and study. Work on the Goldboro gold mine, owned by NexGold Mining Corp., is expected to start in 2026.
The project is also projected to generate $1.1 billion in direct and indirect household income in Nova Scotia over 15 years as well as about $528 million in tax revenue – $274 million provincial, $44 million municipal and $209 million federal. The company also has benefits agreements with the Municipality of the District of Guysborough and the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs.
Local Healthcare Access Points
Pharmacist Walk-In Clinic +
The Pharmacist Plus Clinics are another way we're improving access to healthcare for all Nova Scotians.
The Truro Lawton's Pharmacist Plus Clinic is a walk-in clinic that has a nurse practitioner and pharmacists working as a team to provide a variety of health care services, from primary care to chronic disease prevention and management.
Services include:
Diagnosing and treating routine and more immediate health concerns
Prescribing medications and prescriptions renewals
Medication management or modifications
Chronic disease management
Health screening and preventative care
Ordering and interpreting tests
Vaccinations and injections
Making referrals to specialists and other health care providers
Lawton’s Pharmacist Walk-In Clinic + 316 Willow Street, Suite 20 902-896-0987
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Monday | 9:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Tuesday | 12:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
Wednesday | 9:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Thursday | 12:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
Friday | 9:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic
Pharmacist-led clinics provide an extended suite of pharmacy primary care services at no charge to people with a valid Nova Scotia Health Card.
These services include assessment and prescribing for:
Strep Throat
Pink Eye
UTIs
Chronic Disease Management (Diabetes, Asthma, COPD)
Prescription renewals for all medications and more
Publicly funded vaccines for adults and children are also available at these clinics as well as medical injections.
The Medicine Shoppe Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic 1B-664 Prince Street 902-814-2679
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Monday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Tuesday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Wednesday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Thursday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Friday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Saturday | 9:00 am | 1:00 pm |
Sunday | 9:00 am | 1:00 pm |
VirtualCareNS
Did you know that Nova Scotians with a primary care provider get two free visits through VirtualCareNS per year? And that those without a primary care provider have unlimited access to virtual care?
To learn more about VirtualCareNS and to register today,visit: www.virtualcarens.ca
Summertime in
Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River
Canada Day in the Village of Bible Hill
It is always a pleasure to celebrate Canada Day with the Village of Bible Hill's parade and festivities at the Rec Park. Thank you to Village Commissioner Kevin Kennedy for the ride!
North Nova Family Medicine
On July 2 I had the pleasure of joining community leaders and local healthcare professionals at the Rustic Table to welcome 10 new residents from the North Nova Family Medicine Residency program that will be practicing in the region.
Thank you to Karen Putnam and the Truro & Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity for your continued leadership and support on recruitment of healthcare professionals to our region.
Minister Grosse Visits George Jones Fire Station
On July 3, I was pleased to welcome Twila Grosse, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs to Truro to showcase our newly renamed George Jones Memorial Fire Station.
HFX Wanderers Coin Flip
It was truly an honour to be part of the official coin flip and to welcome the Wrexham A.F.C players and staff to Nova Scotia on July 5. This was the first match of the International Summer Series between the Halifax Wanderers U21 vs Wrexham A.F.C.
Congratulations to the Wanderers, who won the first match 3-0!
Great Village Volunteer Fire Brigade 100th Anniversary
On July 5, Amber and I had the honour to join Premier Tim Houston, Colchester North MLA Tom Taggart and members of the Great Village Volunteer Fire Brigade at a dinner celebrating 100 years of service to the community. Congratulations on 100 years of unwavering service and dedication! Your bravery and commitment to the community are truly outstanding.
The Big Splash
July 12 was an historic Saturday in Nova Scotia, where I had the opportunity to join the Premier, colleagues, residents and visitors in Pictou for the ‘Big Splash Event’ - the re-launch of the Ship Hector. Thank you and congratulations to everyone that made this historic event happen.
160th Highland Games
After the Ship Hector relaunch, I was honored to attend the 160th Annual Antigonish Highland Games with a visit to Columbus Field in Antigonish.
Promotional Fast Food Fundraisers
July 16 was Camp Day at Tim Hortons and had the opportunity to work in the drive thru at the Tim’s in Millbrook! Every Camp Day, 100% of the proceeds from all hot and iced coffee sales at Tims restaurants are donated to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps to help underserved youth reach their full potential.
August 14 was Miracle Treat Day, where all Blizzard proceeds go to the IWK Foundation!
August 21 was Burgers To Beat MS day at A&W Canada restaurants which helps to support Canadians living with MS.
Heartland Tour 2025
The 19th Annual Heartland Tour stopped into the Town of Truro this July. Thank you to Dr. Nicholas Giacomantonio and Raj Makkar for the invitation, as well - thank you to all the volunteers, organizers and sponsors.
A special shout out to Daisy and Bruce Roberts for their amazing support for the last 19 years of this event in our community. The Heartland Tour is an annual event focused on promoting health and wellness through physical activity and healthy eating.
Congratulatory Certificates
On July 8, I stopped by to offer congratulations to Jill Hawkes, owner of the new COBS Bread bakery in front of the Hub Shopping Centre on Robie Street.
On July 19 I had the pleasure of attending Florence and Cecil Stewart’s Diamond Wedding Anniversary celebration at the Village Hall in Bible Hill. Congratulations Florence and Cecil on this incredible milestone.
Public Works Minister Tilley Visits TBHMSR
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of hosting the Minister of Public Works Fred Tilley and his team in Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River.
Thank you Minister Tilley for visiting areas of opportunity to work together on and providing valuable feedback during the tour.
Apex 2025
The 51st Annual Apex Invitational Golf Association Tournament Banquet and Dance took place on the 2nd of August - always a wonderful evening celebrating community and family.
Millbrook First Nation - Nova Scotia Stampede Partnership
The Nova Scotia Stampede is proud to welcome Millbrook First Nation as the official Rodeo Arena Sponsor for this year’s event along with funding a matinee rodeo performance for Saturday afternoon.
This exciting partnership marks a significant step in community involvement and cultural celebration. Millbrook First Nation has been a long-standing supporter of regional events, and their sponsorship of the Stampede highlights their continued commitment to fostering local traditions and bringing communities together.
Wild Blueberry Festival
It was a pleasure to take part in the Wild Blueberry Festival's blueberry pie eating contest again this year. Thanks to Craig Burgess for organizing this fun event and to all the participants for their willingness to get a bit messy!
Quinzou che'nous
On August 16 I joined Yvette and Jill of the centre communautaire francophone de Truro and community members at Truro Civic Square for a day of lively Acadian festivities in the heart of Nova Scotia!
On the agenda were live performances by Razzmatazz, Wontarana, Weldon, Josée and Gary, Lorraine and Décota, a botanical workshop with Ariane, bouncy castles, makeup, snow cones, hot dogs, and much more! Thank you to centre communautaire francophone de Truro for another fun and successful event.
New Recovery Support Centre Opens in Truro
As of August 25, a new walk-in recovery centre for substance use and gambling support is now open in Truro.
The Truro centre is among the newest locations to open, along with centres in Amherst, Springhill and Yarmouth, bringing the total to twelve support centres across the province that are onboarding staff and offering support and services in their communities.
Recovery support centres (RSC) offer a variety of services depending on community need. Staff at these centres can include physicians, nurses, social workers and administrative support, providing services such as in-person assessments, group programs, harm reduction support, and recovery support.
The RSC teams help people develop recovery and relapse prevention plans while building skills to cope with cravings and improve overall wellness. They also connect people to other important services such as inpatient withdrawal management and community-based supports.
Walk-in services are available across the province, with hours varying and expanding as clinical teams grow. Appointments can be made by calling 1-855-922-1122 or booking at https://prebooking.nshealth.ca/
Canada Games 2025
I was excited and honored to be able to attend the 2025 Jeux du Canada Games in Newfoundland.
Team Nova Scotia has much to be proud of! Congratulations on an outstanding performance with 61 medals. Thank you to the athletes, teams, coaches, staff, volunteers and the host who made this year's games a success.
Federal Culture, Sport & Recreation Meetings
I was honored to attend Federal Culture meetings in Regina this summer, as well as Federal Sport & Recreation meetings in St. John's. I appreciate the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with our provincial and federal partners across Canada.
As always, I remain deeply appreciative of the opportunity to be your MLA. Please visit my website to view past newsletter editions and to keep up on what's happening in Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River and beyond at http://www.daveritcey.ca!
Sincerely,
The Hon. Dave Ritcey
MLA Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River
