Richmond Municipal Council approved dozens of grant applications after passing its 2025-2026 budget.
During a special meeting last night in Arichat, council approved $3,500 for the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia’s Dave
Gunning Zero Hunger Fund, despite a nay vote by District 3 Councillor Brian Marchand. Before voting in favour of the funding, District 4
Councillor Amanda Mombourquette asked whether all schools in Richmond County will have equitable access to the fund, which supports Free
Stores or Pantries in schools. Warden Lois Landry said she would get more information about that.
In response to a request from the Raising the Villages Co-operative Ltd. for $3,000 in municipal funds, council agreed to a suggestion
from Mombourquette to have representatives from the organization return to council with a specific project to fund, and determine which
projects are specific to Richmond County. The District 4 Councillor called it a “large ask,” that “feels operational in nature,” noting
that the group has already received financial assistance from the Town of Port Hawkesbury and the Municipality of the County of Victoria.
A request for $3,000 from the Whiteside Church Preservation Society was approved by councillors after a debate over its qualifications under the new Municipal Grant Policy. Deputy Warden Brent Sampson voted against the request because it was the second time a request was made for the same project.
Richmond Municipal Building in Arichat
The River Bourgeois Mariner Society was approved for $750 in funding for its annual Luck of the Draw Boat Run. Despite concerns raised by
Mombourquette whether it was a sponsorship request, the warden noted that the application includes money for portable toilets and dock
removal.
Despite a nay vote from Marchand, the Kitchen Rackets Organization was greenlit for $800 for Celtic Colours workshops, but council
unanimously supported another $200 from the Kitchen Rackets Organization for Summer Jam Sessions.
The Janvrin’s Island Community Centre will get $6,640 in funds from the municipality for a renovation project on the Isle Madame facility,
with a total cost of $13,281.
Despite a nay vote from Sampson because a funding request was already received and funded by the municipality for the project, the St.
Peter’s-Grand River-Loch Lomond Pastoral Charge will get $5,980. The warden said the group owns the buildings that will be upgraded, while
Mombourquette noted that the municipality will get good bang for its buck since the work includes accessibility improvements and technology
upgrades which will make it unlike other facilities in eastern Richmond County, Landry agreed that no other halls and schools in that
part of the municipality will have those capabilities to host concerts and other events.
To pay for display and promotion materials it plans to showcase at the Lennox Passage Yacht Club in D’Escousse, the Richmond Artists Alliance
was greenlit for municipal funding of $1,000. In response to a question from Marchand whether the group plans to expand beyond Isle
Madame, Mombourquette and Landry noted that the group is being established to include artists from all parts of Richmond County.
The Riverdale Community Services Society was approved for $500 for a project to expand the community garden by building boxes and getting
new soil to grow food. The society also received $200 for a new BBQ for the Riverdale Community Centre, which was less than their request
of $396.72 with the warden and deputy warden agreeing that district funds, not regional funds, should be used for this application. A
final request from the society for $7,250.39 for equipment to maintain the nearby ballfield, specifically a mower and a trimmer, was deferred
to council’s upcoming regular monthly meeting on June 24 after Marchand asked to speak with the organization.
A request from the Oban Cemetery Society for improvements to the cemetery to place top soil, spread grass seed, and add signage was approved for $750 in municipal money, after it was noted that this is not regular maintenance but a project to fill in low-lying areas of the cemetery.
To host a children’s parade, a BBQ, and outdoor activities, the annual Petit de Grat Acadian Festival will receive $1,000 from Richmond
County.
To help fund a $23,112 project, councillors approved $1,129 for the Isle Madame Historical Society.
The Lakeside Community Association was greenlit for funding of $7,500 to make repairs to the Lakeside Community Centre in Sampsonville to convert the facility into a comfort centre.