Category: Sydney

Mayor Cecil Clarke and the city’s economic development manager John Phalen met with Municipal Affairs Minister Zach Churchill this week to discuss compensation for Thanksgiving Day flood victims.

Clarke told the Cape Breton Post they came away from the meeting with the promise of another meeting next week which will include people from the United Way of Cape Breton.

It’s executive director, Lynne McCarron, says so far about half of the applications made under the Disaster Financial Assistance program have been processed.  $700,000 worth of claims have been denied, although some might be covered by insurance.  McCarron acknowleged delays in the process have been frustrating for homeowners.

A delegation from France is in Sydney to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a defining event in Canadian history.  Almost 3,600 Canadian soldiers died and 7,000 were wounded in winning the battle.

You are invited to help welcome the delegation to City Hall at 3:30.  It will also be visiting several communities including Glace Bay, Cheticamp, Port Morien and Louisbourg, following in the footsteps of John Arsenault who was killed at Vimy in 1917.  Their visit also recognizes the contribution of Percival Anderson of Big Baddeck, who served as a Commanding Officer in the 85th Battalion of Overseas Nova Scotia Highlanders who took Hill 145, where the Canadian Vimy Memorial now stands.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge will be officially commemorated, nationally and internationally, on April 9.