Accessibility Tools

Welcome to St. Mary’s

Located in the heart of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore, the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s is a rural municipality consisting of five electoral districts. Incorporated in 1879, the Municipality has a population of 2,233 and is bounded by the counties of Antigonish and Pictou, the municipalities of Halifax and Guysborough, and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s would like to inform residents that our supply of potable water for distribution is currently running low. We are expecting a new shipment to arrive by tomorrow, Friday, August 22, 2025. This service is for residents within the Municipality that are on a well. To avoid unnecessary travel or disappointment, please call the Municipal Office at 902-522-2049 before coming to pick up water, to ensure availability.
We appreciate the community’s cooperation and understanding as we work to maintain access to safe drinking water.

The Department of Emergency Management has shared the following documents to help residents understand how they can monitor the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), and information on wild fire smoke for outdoor Recreation, Events, and Sports.

Please click the links below for the information. 
pdf 2025 08 21 AQHI and PurpleAir Monitoring Guide(183 KB)
pdf 2025 08 21 Outdoor Events and Sports Wildfire Smoke Key Messages(126 KB)

Response to the article appearing in the Guysborough Journal on August 20, 2025

I read with interest the recent article on water distribution and how different municipalities within Guysborough Country were facilitating the program. While I can agree that each area is handling the situation differently, I am a bit disappointed in the unspoken conclusion that St. Mary’s was being too rigid or inflexible in the distribution of this aid.

It was, and is, a provincial requirement that all distributed water must be tracked and accounted for. This is true in both methods of distribution either by voucher or in person.

However, in the time period between the interview made by media staff and the publication of the newspaper, meetings were held between both municipalities and provincial EMO to clarify on what constitutes evidence of need and methods of accounting for distribution. The initial guidelines provided by EMO staff could have been interpreted as overbearing in some cases, but since then the standards have been adjusted. No one needs to lift a well lid or take photos as first suggested. However, due to tracking standards set by EMO, we do need to keep count of how much water is distributed and to whom. Your word that the well is dry is enough.

This is a new and evolving program and as with any new process, when details need to be worked out on the fly there can be some confusion. Were mistakes made? Maybe. Are we trying hard to adjust and make this resource available? Absolutely. Were these changes made as a result of news media reporting? Absolutely not. In fact, yesterday a pallet and a half of water was distributed with no complications, a day before news publication.

St. Mary’s remains committed to the health and safety of all our residents and will continue to do so in the future.

James Fuller, Warden
Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s

Voyent Alert:
Voyent Alert is a mass notification system used to communicate critical information to individuals and communities during emergencies (i.e. fire bans, water advisory, drought conditions etc.) and for everyday communication (i.e. water utility updates, recreation cancellations, etc.) Voyent Alert provides personalized, and enriched notifications via app, email, text, and phone, ensuring timely and relevant information reaches the recipients that register.

Registration:
To sign up just call the Municipal Office at 902-522-2049 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Key Features:

Emergency Notifications:
Voyent Alert! is used to communicate urgent information like fire, flood, and extreme weather alerts. 

Day-to-Day Communications:
It also facilitates routine communications such as road closures, facility updates, and other important announcements. 

Personalized Information:
Beyond basic text, Voyent Alert! allows for the inclusion of personalized maps, visuals, and attachments to provide context to notifications. 

Multi-Channel Delivery:
Notifications can be sent through various channels, including mobile app, email, text, and phone calls, ensuring broad reach

 

Shoppers Drug Mart (Sherbrooke) Temporary Store will now be open!
Come in and visit the Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacists.
They look forward to helping you with your health care needs. 
Phone: 902-522-2010

In Nova Scotia, the Department of Environment and the Department of Natural Resources are addressing concerns about smoke haze related to wildfires. Residents are advised to monitor air quality reports, follow public health messages, and take precautions, especially if they are sensitive to poor air quality

  • Wildfires in Nova Scotia, like the one in Annapolis County, are causing smoke and haze in various areas. 
  • Environment Canada reports that air quality is generally moderate, with some areas possibly experiencing a higher risk due to smoke. 
  • Air Quality Health Index (AQHI): Environment Canada provides AQHI information to help people understand the health risks associated with air quality. 
  • Special air quality statements: Have been issued and ended for Halifax Metro and Halifax County West, with smoke no longer expected or having moved out of the area

What to do:

  • Monitor Air Quality:

Pay close attention to local air quality reports and the AQHI, available from Environment Canada. 

  • Limit Exposure:

Reduce time spent outdoors, especially during strenuous activities, if you are sensitive to smoke or experiencing symptoms. 

  • Protect Yourself:

Keep windows and doors closed, run air conditioning if available, and avoid using anything that burns indoors. 

  • Be Aware of Symptoms:

Watch for symptoms like coughing, scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or chest pain. 

  • Seek Medical Attention:

If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical advice. 

  • Emergency Calls:

If there is a clear column of smoke, visible flames, or a concentrated area of heavy smoke that appears local, call 911. 

  • Evacuation Plans:

Residents near wildfires should be prepared to evacuate if necessary and monitor official government sources for updates. 
To view the St. Mary's Emergency Management Plan click the link below:
St. Mary's Emergency Management Plan

  • Stay Informed:

Keep up-to-date on the latest information from the Department of Natural Resources and other relevant authorities. 

Additional Resources:

  • Air Quality Health Index (AQHI): Provides information and advice on protecting your health during wildfire smoke events. 
  • Canada.ca: Offers information on wildfire smoke and its impact on health. 
  • HealthLine 811: Provides advice on health risks, symptoms, and precautions related to air quality.

https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/provincial_summary/ns_e.html

Newsletter

Keep up to date on Municipal news and events. Contact us if you have an item to submit to the municipal newsletter.

Recreation

Get active in St. Mary’s! Our Recreation Department offers a variety of programs and events around the Municipality.

Waste Disposal

Find information on recycling, waste collection and the Municipal Transfer Station.

Taxes

Access everything you need to know about your tax bill.

Go to top