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Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Coordinates:46°08′20″N60°11′35″W/ 46.13889°N 60.19306°W/46.13889; -60.19306
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Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Municipality
From top, left to right: Highland Arts Theatre, Gabarus Light House, gate at Fortress of Louisbourg, Big Fiddle, Sydney waterfront
From top, left to right:Highland Arts Theatre,Gabarus Light House, gate atFortress of Louisbourg,Big Fiddle,Sydneywaterfront
Flag of Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Coat of arms
Nickname:
A Community of Communities
Motto(s):
Fortuna Non Mutat Genus
(Circumstances Do Not Change Our Origin)
Location of Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Location of Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Coordinates:46°08′20″N60°11′35″W/ 46.13889°N 60.19306°W/46.13889; -60.19306
CountryCanada
ProvinceNova Scotia
CountyCape Breton
First NationsEskasoni First Nation,Membertou First Nation
EstablishedAugust 1, 1995
Electoral Districts
Federal
Cape Breton—Canso/Sydney—Victoria
ProvincialCape Breton Centre/Cape Breton-Richmond/Glace Bay/Northside-Westmount/Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg/Sydney-Whitney Pier/Victoria-The Lakes
Government
• TypeCape Breton Regional Council
• MayorAmanda McDougall[1]
•MPsMike Kelloway,Jaime Battiste
•MLAsKendra Coombes,John White,Brian Comer,Derek Mombourquette,Keith Bain,Trevor Boudreau,Fred Tilley
Area
(2016)[2][3]
• Land2,430.06 km2(938.25 sq mi)
• Urban
29.43 km2(11.36 sq mi)
Elevation
Sea Levelto 235 m (0 to 771 ft)
Population
(2021)[4][5]
•Municipality93,694
• Density38.7/km2(100/sq mi)
• Change2016–21
Decrease0.6%
• Census ranking (2016)
58 of 5,162
DemonymCape Bretoner
Time zoneUTC−4(AST)
• Summer (DST)UTC−3(ADT)
Postal code
B1x, B2x
Area code902
Dwellings45,342
Median household income (2020)C$62,400
CoastlineAtlantic800 km (500 mi)
Bras d'Or Lakes 400 km (250 mi)
Roadways1,600 km (1,000 mi)
NTSMap11K1Sydney
GNBCCodeCBUCD
Websitecbrm.ns.ca

Cape Breton Regional Municipality(often referred to as simply "CBRM") is theCanadian provinceofNova Scotia's second largest municipality and the economic heart ofCape Breton Island.[6]As of 2021 the municipality has a population of 93,694.[7]The municipality was created in 1995 through the amalgamation of eight municipalities located inCape Breton County.

The region is home to a significant concentration of government services, social enterprise and private sector companies, including theCanadian Coast Guard College,Cape Breton University,NSCC Marconi campus,and New Dawn Enterprises. The rural areas of the municipality continue to host resource industries such as agriculture, fishing, mining, and forestry. CBRM is host to many cultural landmarks and institutions such as the historicSavoy Theatre,theCeltic Colours International Festival,the Cape Breton Centre for Craft, theHighland Arts Theatre,andHoly Angels Arts & Culturalcentre, currently undergoing a $12-million renovation.[8]

The area hosts one of Nova Scotia's premier tourism destinations, theFortress of Louisbourgnational park site, operated byParks Canadaas aliving history museum.The site stands as the largest reconstruction project in North America.[9]The Port of Sydney was projected to welcome a record 135,000 cruise ship visitors in 2017, a 67 per cent increase on 2016.[10]TheTrans-Canada Highwayterminates inNorth SydneywhereMarine Atlanticferries connect to bothChannel-Port aux Basques,Newfoundland and Labrador,where the highway starts again, andArgentia.[11]

History[edit]

Main article:Cape Breton Island

Early history[edit]

Main articles:Paleo-IndiansandLast glacial period

Theglaciers began their retreatfromthe Maritimesapproximately 13,500 years ago,[12]with finaldeglaciation,post-glacial rebound,andsea level fluctuationending and leaving the New England-Maritimes region virtually ice free 11,000 years ago.[13][12]The earliest evidence ofPaleo-Indiansettlement in the region follows rapidly after deglaciation. Evidence of settlement found in theDebert Palaeo-Indian Sitedates to 10,600 before present, though settlement seems likely to have occurred earlier,[13]following large game animals such as the caribou as they expanded into the land revealed by the retreating glaciers. The record of continuous habitation through thepaleo and archaicperiod over ten thousand years culminated in the development of the culture, traditions, and language of theFirst Nationspeople now known as theMi'kmaq.[14]

Mi'kmaq[edit]

Main article:Mi'kmaq
Mi'kmaq camp in Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia photographed by Paul-Émile Miot in 1857.

The Palaeoindians inhabiting the area prior to European arrival lived a semi-nomadiclifestyle, following the cycle of the seasons in search of food and resources, which required the frequent moving from place to place.[14]The area known as Cape Breton Island has been a part of the territory of theMi'kmaqnation ofMi'kma'ki.Mi'kma'ki included what is now the Maritimes, parts ofMaine,Newfoundlandand theGaspé Peninsula.

French settlement[edit]

Main articles:AcadiaandFortress of Louisbourg

The French were the first Europeans to claim the region, which was namedAcadia.Control passed back and forth between the English and French throughout the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Under the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713, France retained control of "Île Royale". In 1719, France began construction on a fortified town located along the sheltered southwestern shore of Havre Louisbourg, naming the settlement Louisbourg.

The fortress was captured by British colonial forces, then returned by the British to France. It was captured again during theSeven Years' Warwhich saw the inhabitants expelled and the fortress completely destroyed by British Army engineers in 1760.

Post-Acadian settlement[edit]

By proclamation of October 17, 1763, after termination of theSeven Years' War,Île Royale was renamed Cape Breton Island and was formally annexed to Nova Scotia. For a time thereafter Cape Breton Island was part ofHalifax County.On December 10, 1765, Cape Breton Island was set apart as a separate county. In 1784, the island was made a separate colony with its capital at Sydney however by 1820 the colony was remerged into Nova Scotia.

Industrial activity[edit]

Main article:Industrial Cape Breton
Reserve Colliery 1900

Coal mining began during the 18th century to supply Fortress Louisbourg. Industrial mining began in 1826 under the General Mining Association monopoly, followed in later years by independent American-owned mines south of Sydney Harbour. Large-scale mining commenced in 1893 under the auspices of theDominion Coal Company(DOMCO) which merged these independent mines. Coal production underDominion Steel and Coal Corporation(DOSCO) peaked in the early 1940s and in 1957 the company became a subsidiary ofHawker Siddeley Group.The company announced in 1965 that it would be exiting the coal mining business within months.

In response to a public outcry, theminority governmentof Prime MinisterLester B. Pearsonannounced J.R. Donald would head a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Cape Breton coal industry, with hearings held in 1965 and 1966. The Donald Commission recommended that a federalCrown corporationbe established to acquire and manage DOSCO's coal operations, with the aim being to slowly wean the area economy from its dependence on the coal industry.

On July 7, 1967, theCape Breton Development Corporation(DEVCO), was established to operate the mines in the interim, while phasing them out throughout the 1970s and, at the same time, develop new economic opportunities for the surrounding communities. At the same time, the provincial government expropriated DOSCO's steel mill in Sydney, creating theSydney Steel Corporation(SYSCO), while DEVCO would continue to operate the adjacentcoke ovens.By 1992 the Lingan Colliery was closed followed by the Phalen Colliery in 1999 and the Prince Colliery in 2001. At the same time, the provincial government decided to dismantle and sell SYSCO.

DEVCO ceased to exist on December 31, 2009, with its remaining assets and staff turned over toEnterprise Cape Breton Corporation(ECBC), a federal government economic development initiative, in an attempt to diversify the CBRM economy.[15]On June 19, 2014, the operations of ECBC were transferred to both theAtlantic Canada Opportunities Agencyand the Public Works and Government Services Canada.[16]

Amalgamation[edit]

Aerial view of Sydney Harbour

In 1992, the Task Force on Local Government Report (often called the Hayward report) stated that 67 municipalities in Nova Scotia were too many to efficiently and cost effectively provide services in a province having a population of slightly more than 900,000.[17]The report was commissioned for theProgressive Conservativegovernment ofDonald Cameron,but was taken up and implemented by the incomingLiberalgovernment ofJohn Savage.

The provincial government subsequently forced the amalgamation of bothHalifaxandCape Bretoncounties and supported the voluntary amalgamation ofQueenscounty. TheCape Breton Regional Municipality Actwas implemented and the CBRM was created on August 1, 1995, whereas the amalgamation in Halifax County didn't take place until April 1, 1996, and Queens County several years later.

The municipalities from which the CBRM was created included theMunicipality of the County of Cape Breton,the City ofSydney,the Towns ofGlace Bay,Sydney Mines,New Waterford,North Sydney,DominionandLouisbourg.

Government[edit]

CBRM Council Chambers in City Hall, Sydney, Nova Scotia
Cape Breton federal election results[18]
Year Liberal Conservative New Democratic Green
2021 42% 20,840 35% 17,136 19% 9,098 1% 297
2019 32% 17,081 32% 17,249 19% 10,438 5% 2,914
Cape Breton provincial election results[19]
Year PC Liberal New Democratic
2021 32% 14,153 41% 18,136 26% 11,405
2017 46% 21,419 31% 14,502 22% 10,192

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is governed byCape Breton Regional Council,which is composed of amayorelectedat-largeand 12councillorseach elected to represent a separate district. Regional Council is responsible for all facets of themunicipal government,including police, fire, library, transit, and water. The municipality oversaw an operating budget of $146 million and a combined capital and water capital budget of $32.375 million in the 2016/17 fiscal year.[20]The current mayor isAmanda McDougall.[1]Council and its committees meet at least once a month.

Municipal governments in Nova Scotia are elected every four years and the most recent round of elections took place on October 17, 2020. The provincial legislation that creates and empowers the municipality is the Nova Scotia Municipal Government Act.[21]Under former Mayor John Morgan, the council authorized several studies regarding fairness and equity, fighting for a larger share of thefederal equalizationfunding from the province, including an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge in 2004.[22]Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness is a citizens group that continues to argue for a greater share of equalization payments paid to CBRM, arguing that CBRM receives $15 million in equalization and should receive $239 million, based on per capita distribution of federal equalization to the province.[23]

In addition to municipal government there are two First Nations in CBRM operating underband government,theEskasoni First Nationand theMembertou First Nation.[24]CBRM is represented by seven ridings in theNova Scotia House of Assembly.The municipality shares representation by two ridings in Canada'sHouse of Commons,as well as by SenatorMichael L. MacDonald,who identifies as representing theSenateDivision of Cape Breton.

Economy[edit]

Cape Breton Regional Municipality welcome sign

After a long struggle to recover from the disappearance of coal and steel industries and while continuing to suffer from high annual population loss the economy of Cape Breton is projected to achieve sustainable growth from 2017 to 2021.[25]Cape Breton Island, of which CBRM is home to over three quarters of the population, has continued economic strength in its fishing and forestry primary sectors and in services (trade, transportation and warehousing, business and other support services), education, health care, and accommodation & food.[25]While the region boasts a diverse industrial economy when compared to other regions in Nova Scotia,[26]the region continues to struggle with an unemployment rate of 13.7% in December 2017, significantly higher than the Nova Scotia and national averages.[27]

CBRM is home to a significanttourism industry.Nearby attractions such as theCape Breton Highlands,Bras d'Or LakeandFortress of Louisbourghave made Cape Breton Island a tourism destination for many years. Visitors can experience the art and history that Sydney and area has to offer,[28]or experience Sydney's surging culinary scene.[29][30]A growingcruise shipbusiness has been making use of the port of Sydney to give cruise passengers access to the area. The Port of Sydney hosts more than 70 cruise ships per season,[31]most notably theQueen Mary 2,Queen Elizabeth 2,andMSMaasdam.A recent study found that a strong tourism cluster is emerging and will be reinforced with the recent announcement of a second cruise ship dock in Sydney.[32]

Currently, the formerSydney Steel Corporation's site in Sydney has been transformed into the Harbourside Commercial Park focused on office and light industrial use, connected in 2010 by the Sydney Port Access Road toHighway 125.[33]As the province's second largest municipality, recent federal policy of increased infrastructure spending will provide added economic stimulus.[25]

Geography[edit]

NASA landsat photo of Cape Breton Island

The boundary of CBRM includes all of Cape Breton County except for theEskasoniandMembertouFirst Nations.

Climate[edit]

The climate of the CBRM is cool and wet although it is warmer than most other places in Canada. The average annual temperature is close to 6 °C (43 °F). The average summer maximum temperature is 25 °C (77 °F).

Temperatures rarely rise above 30 °C (86 °F). The average winter low is −10 °C (14 °F) and temperatures rarely drop below −20 °C (−4 °F) although strong winter winds can make it seem much colder.

Climate data for Cape Breton Regional Municipality (JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport)
WMO ID:71707; coordinates46°10′00″N60°02′53″W/ 46.16667°N 60.04806°W/46.16667; -60.04806(JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport);elevation: 61.9 m (203 ft); 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1870–present[34]and from April 1941 to the present day at Sydney Airport.[35]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record highhumidex 18.2 19.0 25.0 26.0 36.8 43.4 41.8 41.9 38.9 30.4 25.5 18.5 43.4
Record high °C (°F) 16.9
(62.4) 		18.0
(64.4) 		24.0
(75.2) 		27.2
(81.0) 		31.1
(88.0) 		34.4
(93.9) 		33.9
(93.0) 		36.7
(98.1) 		32.3
(90.1) 		27.2
(81.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		16.7
(62.1) 		36.7
(98.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.1
(30.0) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		1.5
(34.7) 		6.6
(43.9) 		13.1
(55.6) 		18.6
(65.5) 		23.1
(73.6) 		22.9
(73.2) 		18.8
(65.8) 		12.6
(54.7) 		7.3
(45.1) 		2.1
(35.8) 		10.3
(50.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −5.4
(22.3) 		−5.9
(21.4) 		−2.6
(27.3) 		2.5
(36.5) 		7.9
(46.2) 		13.2
(55.8) 		17.9
(64.2) 		18.0
(64.4) 		14.0
(57.2) 		8.5
(47.3) 		3.8
(38.8) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		5.9
(42.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −9.6
(14.7) 		−10.3
(13.5) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−1.6
(29.1) 		2.7
(36.9) 		7.7
(45.9) 		12.6
(54.7) 		13.1
(55.6) 		9.1
(48.4) 		4.3
(39.7) 		0.2
(32.4) 		−5
(23) 		1.4
(34.5)
Record low °C (°F) −31.7
(−25.1) 		−31.7
(−25.1) 		−31.1
(−24.0) 		−17.8
(0.0) 		−7.8
(18.0) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		0.6
(33.1) 		2.2
(36.0) 		−2.2
(28.0) 		−5.6
(21.9) 		−13.9
(7.0) 		−23.3
(−9.9) 		−31.7
(−25.1)
Record lowwind chill −42.6 −41.1 −34.3 −21.4 −11.3 −6.1 0.0 0.0 −5.1 −10.5 −19.3 −31.3 −42.6
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 152.5
(6.00) 		128.1
(5.04) 		130.0
(5.12) 		133.3
(5.25) 		103.2
(4.06) 		96.9
(3.81) 		88.5
(3.48) 		100.2
(3.94) 		118.7
(4.67) 		142.9
(5.63) 		156.0
(6.14) 		167.0
(6.57) 		1,517.2
(59.73)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 80.5
(3.17) 		63.8
(2.51) 		83.2
(3.28) 		112.2
(4.42) 		100.9
(3.97) 		96.9
(3.81) 		88.5
(3.48) 		100.2
(3.94) 		118.7
(4.67) 		142.2
(5.60) 		144.0
(5.67) 		111.2
(4.38) 		1,242.4
(48.91)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 74.3
(29.3) 		65.3
(25.7) 		48.1
(18.9) 		21.4
(8.4) 		2.3
(0.9) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.62
(0.24) 		12.4
(4.9) 		58.5
(23.0) 		283.0
(111.4)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.2 mm) 20.6 16.5 16.6 15.8 14.5 14.0 11.7 12.7 13.5 15.9 18.1 21.0 191.0
Average rainy days(≥ 0.2 mm) 8.4 7.3 9.5 13.0 14.1 14.0 11.7 12.7 13.5 15.8 15.4 11.5 146.9
Average snowy days(≥ 0.2 cm) 16.6 12.6 11.0 5.6 0.83 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.62 5.4 14.2 66.8
Averagerelative humidity(%)(at 15:00 LST) 72.5 72.0 69.8 69.7 65.0 64.9 65.2 65.2 67.6 70.5 74.2 75.9 69.2
Mean monthlysunshine hours 91.0 111.6 132.9 141.0 198.0 224.6 246.9 228.4 167.1 130.1 77.0 68.2 1,816.7
Percentpossible sunshine 32.4 38.3 36.1 34.7 42.7 47.7 51.8 52.0 44.3 38.3 27.1 25.3 39.2
Source:Environment and Climate Change Canada[36][34][37][38][39][40]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
185127,520—
186120,866−24.2%
187126,454+26.8%
188131,817+20.3%
189134,244+7.6%
190149,166+43.6%
191173,330+49.1%
192186,319+17.7%
193192,502+7.2%
1941110,703+19.7%
1951120,306+8.7%
1956125,478+4.3%
1961131,507+4.8%
1971129,075−1.8%
1981127,035−1.6%
1986123,625−2.7%
1991117,403−5.0%
1996114,733−2.3%
2001105,968−7.6%
2006102,250−3.5%
201197,398−4.7%
201694,285−3.2%
202193,694−0.6%
[42][43]Population prior to 1996 is for Cape Breton County. Population from 1996 onwards is for Cape Breton Regional Municipality, which has the same boundaries as the former county.

In the2021 Census of Populationconducted byStatistics Canada,the Cape Breton Regional Municipality had a population of93,694living in42,316of its46,471total private dwellings, a change of-0.6% from its 2016 population of94,285.With a land area of 2,419.7 km2(934.3 sq mi), it had a population density of38.7/km2(100.3/sq mi) in 2021.[4]

Within the regional municipality there are multiple census population centres (previously known as urban areas). These include Cape Breton-Sydney (population: 30,960), Glace Bay (population: 16,915), Sydney Mines (population: 12,353), New Waterford (population: 6,723), and Howie Centre (population: 1,106).

Ethnicity[edit]

Panethnicgroups in the Regional Municipality of Cape Breton (2001−2021)
Panethnicgroup 2021[44] 2016[45] 2011[46] 2006[47] 2001[48]
Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. % Pop. %
European[a] 84,185 91.49% 86,810 93.79% 91,010 95.32% 98,175 97.22% 102,405 97.98%
Indigenous 2,900 3.15% 3,330 3.6% 2,035 2.13% 1,060 1.05% 675 0.65%
South Asian 1,985 2.16% 265 0.29% 265 0.28% 255 0.25% 95 0.09%
African 1,250 1.36% 1,100 1.19% 1,130 1.18% 970 0.96% 830 0.79%
East Asian[b] 720 0.78% 625 0.68% 490 0.51% 245 0.24% 195 0.19%
Southeast Asian[c] 480 0.52% 145 0.16% 85 0.09% 50 0.05% 75 0.07%
Middle Eastern[d] 295 0.32% 210 0.23% 355 0.37% 120 0.12% 140 0.13%
Latin American 80 0.09% 40 0.04% 70 0.07% 10 0.01% 20 0.02%
Other/multiracial[e] 125 0.14% 40 0.04% 0 0% 95 0.09% 100 0.1%
Total responses 92,020 98.21% 92,555 98.17% 95,475 98.03% 100,980 98.76% 104,515 98.63%
Total population 93,694 100% 94,285 100% 97,398 100% 102,250 100% 105,968 100%
Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses
Ethnic origin (2021)[49] Responses 1% or over:
Ethnicity Population Percent
Scottish 36,110 39.2%
Irish 21,980 23.9%
English 19,715 21.4%
Canadian 14,965 16.3%
French 13,350 14.5%
Caucasian (White), n.o.s. 4,875 5.3%
Cape Bretoner 3,930 4.3%
Italian 3,605 3.9%
German 2,965 3.2%
European n.o.s 2,635 2.9%
Polish 2,245 2.4%
Acadian 2,210 2.4%
Nova Scotian 2,015 2.2%
First Nations(North American Indian), n.o.s.

+North American Indigenous,n.o.s.

1,620 1.8%
Welsh 1,550 1.7%
Newfoundlander 1,465 1.6%
Ukrainian 1,340 1.5%
Indian(India) 1,295 1.4%
British Isles n.o.s 1,285 1.4%
Dutch (Netherlands) 1,115 1.2%
Métis 1,080 1.2%
Mi'kmaq,n.o.s. 935 1.0%
Lebanese 895 1.0%

Language[edit]

Mother tongue language (2021)[49]

Language Population Pct (%)
English only 93,210 95.2%
Non-official languages 2,920 3.2%
Multiple responses 850 0.9%
French only 710 0.8%

The most reported mother tongues aside from English or French werePunjabi(0.7%),Chinese Languages(0.5%), andMalayalam(0.4%).

Religion[edit]

75.6% of Cape Breton residents identify asChristianin 2021, down from 90.5% in 2011. About 21.9% affiliate with no religion, up from 8.5% in 2011. The remaining 2.6% affiliate with another religion, up from 0.9% in 2011. The largest non-Christian religion was Hinduism with 0.7% of the population. In 2011 there were zero recordedSikhresidents, however by 2021 they accounted for 0.6% of the population making Sikhs the second largest non-Christian group.

Transportation[edit]

J.A. McCurdy Airport

The Port of Sydney Development Corporation was established in 2015. Owned by the municipality, the port corporation manages and operates the port, including the emerging cruise ship business, the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion and Marina.[50]International investors have announced construction of the Novaporte, the deep-water marine container facility able to accommodate ultra-class container ships at the port. Novaporte is proposed to operate as an officially designated Canadian Foreign Trade Zone.[51]The Port of Sydney was projected to welcome a record 135,000 cruise ship visitors in 2017, a 67% increase on 2016.[10]

J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airportserves CBRM and Cape Breton Island, providing domestic flight connections via Air Canada and WestJet as well as charter flight service. The airport is classified as an airport of entry, staffed by theCanada Border Services Agency.The region is served byMaritime Bus,a coach bus service connecting North Sydney and Sydney to the mainland viaWhycocomaghandWagmatcook.TheCape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railwayprovided rail service connecting Cape Breton to the mainland and CN Rail in Truro. Service ended December 30, 2014 though negotiations between the province and the owner to revive the railway are ongoing.Sydney Coal Railwayis a short line railway connecting the coaling piers on Sydney Harbour in Sydney to the Lingan Generating Station near New Waterford.

Marine Atlantic ferry Blue Puttees

The municipality is the western terminus of theMarine Atlanticferry services to Newfoundland. It is also the eastern terminus of two east–west highways in the province:Highway 105,theTrans-Canada Highway,runs along the north shore ofBras d'Or Lakeand accesses the northern part of CBRM, whereasTrunk 4extends along the southern part of Bras d'Or Lake and accesses the western and eastern part of the municipality. Within the municipality communities are served by Highway 125, a regional 4-lane arterial limited access highway that circles Sydney Harbour.

Transit Cape Breton bus

Public transit service is delivered byTransit Cape Breton,which offers thirteen bus routes within the municipality, serving the region's larger communities: Sydney, Sydney River, Glace Bay, New Waterford, Dominion, Reserve Mines, North Sydney and Sydney Mines. Handi-Transparatransitis available for passengers whose disabilities restrict them from using Transit Cape Breton's regular bus service. Fares range from $1.25 to $5, depending on how many zones are travelled.[52]

Education[edit]

Great Hall of Cape Breton University

The regional municipality is home to several institutions of higher learning:

English language public schools in CBRM are operated by theCape Breton – Victoria Regional Centre for Educationon behalf of the provincial government's Department of Education. This regional education office provides instruction for grades primary to 12 in CBRM as well as in neighbouringVictoria County.

French language public school education is administered throughout the province by theConseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial.

Culture[edit]

While Cape Breton Island is known for its Scottish Gaelic or Celtic culture and heritage, the industrial strength of Sydney and industrial Cape Breton attracted a diverse community from around the world. CBRM's cultural scene continues to be influenced by a mixture of these other cultures includingAfrican Canadian,Jewish,Irish,and a variety of Eastern European countries.[53]

Rita MacNeil performing at theNational Arts Centrein 2009

The region is home to several festivals of art and music such as theCeltic Colours International Festival,Lumiere Art at Night, theCape Breton International Drum Festival,Makin' Waves,andGobblefest Music Festival.The area is also known for its vibrant music scene, which includes celtic, singer-songwriter, and country artists, as well as underground alternative rock, metal, and punk bands who have played the local circuit since the mid to late 1990s. Among the musicians from CBRM was Canadian country singerRita MacNeilfrom the CBRM community ofBig Pond,and known for her songs including "Flying On Your Own" and "Working Man."[54]Other notable artists includeTom Fun Orchestra,Slowcoaster,Pretty Archie,Matt Minglewood,Jordan Musycsyn,Carmen Townsend,Morgan Toney,Alicia Penney,andFire Valley Fire.

Centre 200, Sydney, Nova Scotia

CBRM is home to several performance centres, including theCentre 200sports arena in Sydney, home to theCape Breton Screaming Eagles(aQuebec Major Junior Hockey Leagueteam), theHighland Arts Theatreperforming arts centre, also in Sydney, and the historicSavoy Theatre,in Glace Bay. TheHoly Angels Arts & Culturalcentre is currently undergoing a $12 million renovation.[8]Glace Bay is also home to the Cape Breton Miners' Museum, theMarconi National Historic Siteand theGlace Bay Heritage Museum.Louisbourg is home toFortress of Louisbourg,the largest historical reconstruction in North America.

CBRM is home to several media outlets.CBC Radiobroadcasts local morning and afternoon broadcasts across Cape Breton Island.Caper Radio,a campus and community radio station, broadcasts local music and college radio from the Student's Union Building inCape Breton University.There are also five commercial radio stations. Cape Breton's daily newspaper theCape Breton Postis a broadsheet focusing on Cape Breton Island. Its editorial style is populist conservative,[citation needed]and it is owned byThe Chronicle Herald.

Protective services[edit]

Police[edit]

The Cape Breton Regional Police Service provides policing for all areas of CBRM with the exception of the First Nation community ofEskasoniwhich is policed by theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP). The CBRPS operates out of three geographic divisions, Central (Sydney), East (Glace Bay) and North (North Sydney). The CBRPS works towards providing efficient law enforcement and working within the community and has recently cracked down on drug related crime in CBRM. The current Chief of Police is Robert Walsh.[55]

Policing in Cape Breton County prior to amalgamation was delivered by individual police forces in the urban areas andRCMPin the rural county. In the late 1990s, after a divisive debate, the municipality expanded CBRPS coverage to also cover the rural area of CBRM.

Fire & Emergency[edit]

Fire & emergency services for the CBRM are provided by the Cape Breton Regional Fire Service which consists of 36 fire stations dispersed throughout the municipality; two Sydney stations are staffed by career firefighters whereas the remaining 34 stations are staffed by volunteers. CBRFE has divisions for administration,fire departments,training, fire prevention, volunteer coordination,hazardous materials,building services and bylaws.[56] In addition, paramedic ambulance service in Nova Scotia is provided by the provincial government'sEmergency Health Services.

Emergency Measures Organization[edit]

The provincial Emergency Measures Act requires each municipality to develop an emergency measures organization. The municipality has an Emergency Measures Coordinator supported by an EMO Advisory Committee and an Emergency Preparedness Planning Committee.

Sister cities[edit]

  • Dalian,Liaoning,China(2015). The sister city arrangement, the first ever for a Cape Breton community, follows an announcement that China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has agreed, contingent on a feasibility study, to design and build a deep water container terminal in Sydney.[57]
  • Wałbrzych,Poland:On June 26, 2018, the Council of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality passed a resolution to recognize Wałbrzych as a partner city. This followed a resolution in Wałbrzych on June 21, 2018. The CBRM resolution cited commonalities in post-industrial heritage, and potential future collaboration among historic sites, schools, universities and businesses. Also noted was the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's longstanding Polish community. An agreement was formally signed by both mayors on January 11, 2019, during a video-conference session in the presence of students and representatives of organizations, schools, and universities.[58][59]

Access routes[edit]

Highways and numbered routes that run through the county, including external routes that start or finish at the county limits:[60]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Statistic includes all persons that did not make up part of a visible minority or an indigenous identity.
  2. ^Statistic includes total responses of "Chinese", "Korean", and "Japanese" under visible minority section on census.
  3. ^Statistic includes total responses of "Filipino" and "Southeast Asian" under visible minority section on census.
  4. ^Statistic includes total responses of "West Asian" and "Arab" under visible minority section on census.
  5. ^Statistic includes total responses of "Visible minority,n.i.e."and" Multiple visible minorities "under visible minority section on census.

References[edit]

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  6. ^"Our Community | Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-08-13.Retrieved2018-12-27.
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  8. ^abConners, Holy Jean (2017-04-12)."Former Sydney convent to become $12M arts and culture centre".CBC.
  9. ^National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of Canada, 2nd Edition.National Geographic Society. 2016. p. 49.ISBN978-1-4262-1756-2.
  10. ^abMacPhee, Norma Jean (2017-03-17)."Port of Sydney ready to welcome record 135,000 cruise ship visitors".CBC.
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