The Inverness Oran

The current district of Inverness would be divided into two new electoral districts: Cheticamp–Margarees– Pleasant Bay and Inverness–We’koqma’q. (Electoral Boundaries Commission)

-by Rankin MacDonald

                The Electoral Boundaries Commission has recommended that the Riding of Inverness be split in two in order to provide better representation for the Acadian Region of Inverness County.

                The commission released its final report on January 30^th, in both French and English.

                Commission members were appointed in April 2025 by an all-party select committee of the House of Assembly for the purpose of recommending electoral boundaries to provide effective representation of the Acadian region of Chéticamp and area. The select committee also provided the commission with terms of reference.

                The last review of the province’s electoral boundaries took place in 2018-19. Reviews normally take place at least every 10 years. This review, however, was conducted as a result of an order by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, which ruled that the previous commission’s decision not to create an exceptional electoral district for Chéticamp violated Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

                In its interim report, submitted in August 2025 after public consultation, the commission presented three alternatives: keeping the status quo, with 55 electoral districts, and two other proposed scenarios, each with 56 electoral districts.

                For the final report, the commission’s terms of reference mandated that only one set of boundaries be recommended.

                After deliberations following a second round of public consultation, the commission is unanimously recommending a House of Assembly of 56 seats. The current district of Inverness would be divided into two new electoral districts: Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay and Inverness-We’koqma’q.

                Commission Chair Kenneth Deveau thanks everyone who contributed oral and written comments during the two rounds of public consultation.

                “It was a difficult job, but it was a pleasure working with this commission of dedicated members,” Mr. Deveau said. “There were very helpful and passionate contributions from the public in all the communities we heard from. As our mandate draws to a close, I – and I am sure I speak on behalf of all commission members – am honoured to have been chosen and to have had the opportunity to serve my province through this process.”

                The new riding of Chéticamp – Margarees – Pleasant Bay recognizes that

– The District of Inverness, as it currently stands, does not meet the mandate,

– the Margarees constitute a community of interest and should be not split apart, and,

– there are strong Acadian roots in the Margarees which include people of Acadian descent who no longer speak French.

                The names of the new ridings clearly describe the areas and the communities (both Acadian and Indigenous) that they include.

                The new riding of Chéticamp – Margarees – Pleasant Bay represents a 56^th seat in the province, one that is considered exceptional as it deviates from the 25 per cent threshold for voter parity. However, this is supported by the terms of reference, which allow deviations for reasons of geography; historical, cultural or linguistic settlement patterns; and political boundaries.

                Dr. Kenneth Deveau was the commission chair while Martin Chiasson, Point Cross, represented Inverness County.

                Speaking for many of the residents of Margaree and Pleasant Bay, Marcel Deveaux looked to the future.

                “On Friday, January 30^th, the 2025 Electoral Boundaries Commission recommended that a new provincial riding, called the “Cheticamp – Margarees – Pleasant Bay” riding, be created. As the name implies this riding will include Pleasant Bay, Cheticamp and all of the Margarees as well as all the communities within those boundaries. The stated purpose of this new district is “to provide effective representation of the Acadian region of Cheticamp and area.” Premier Houston has accepted the Commission’s recommendation and will introduce enabling legislation in the upcoming sitting of the legislature.

                “The vast majority of the voters in Pleasant Bay and Margaree were opposed to this change. We made many strong and thoughtful submissions to the Commission that we were happy with the status quo and feared that being in a small district dominated by the special interest groups in Cheticamp would decrease our effective representation.

                “Despite our disappointment with the Commission’s recommendation, I hope that I speak for all of the residents of Pleasant Bay and the Margarees when I say that we accept the recommendation and we will engage in the political process to ensure that our interests, and the interests of the new district as a whole, will be addressed. I hope that we can work cooperatively and respectfully with our counterparts in Cheticamp to achieve this end. We consider the new district to be a “Cheticamp – Margarees – Pleasant Bay” riding not a “Cheticamp and Area” riding. Each of our communities has distinct areas of interest as well as interests in common. They all need to be addressed.

                “It has to be said that the residents of Pleasant Bay and Margaree feel that we were not well served by the Commission’s work. There were significant procedural and communications problems of the Commission’s own doing that greatly interfered with our ability to make our positions known. We are aware of conflict-of-interest issues affecting a majority of the Commission members, which leave us unsure that our concerns were considered fairly. The report itself contains numerous statements that show us that they fundamentally misunderstood some of the core issues that concerned us. Finally, the Commission’s recommendation had to be based on the principle of balancing effective representation with voter parity, and we question whether the Commission got it right.

                “This new district is by far the smallest district in the province. It has only about ¼ the number of voters that districts in Nova Scotia are supposed to have. This gives the voters in this smaller district more voting power than voters in larger districts, and this violates the principle of “voter parity” that states all districts should have about the same number of voters.

                “This extreme deviation from voter parity will be a concern for voters and business interests in oversized districts in the province. It is without precedent and it sets a precedent. For that reason, this Commission’s recommendation will echo in future Electoral Boundaries Commissions’ deliberations.”

                Inverness Municipal Councillor Claude Poirier said he was pleased with the decision they have been seeking for over five years.

                “We got it,” he said. “It will be good for the whole region.” We were unable to contact some of the other key players in this decision but Warden Bonny MacIsaac said council will be discussing it on Thursday at its regular council meeting.

A large group came out for the trail opening in spite of the cold, windy weather.

-by Beverley Phillips

                Despite the cold, blustery weather, nearly 30 people came out for the ribbon-cutting of a new cross-country ski trail on January 25^th in Margaree.

                Ski Margaree hosted a “Try it” event at the Cranton Cross Road Community Centre to celebrate the trail opening and to encourage people to try the sport. About 15 people came out to try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with Michelle Richards, Cape Breton’s ski ambassador. To avoid spending too much time in the frigid outdoors, some activities took place inside.

                After the lessons, the crowd warmed up with homemade chili, rolls, and hot drinks provided by local volunteers and outdoors enthusiasts.

                Ski Margaree Trail Society Vice President Dorothy Hart, local councillor Blair Phillips, and Vice President of Cross Country Nova Scotia Eileen Woodford made speeches before going to the trailhead for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. They were joined there by more ski enthusiasts, and about 30 people in all enjoyed the 2.5 km trail and bonfire.

                The Ski Margaree Trails Society board would like to thank all those who were part of making the event such a success, including the Municipality of the County of Inverness for their support through the Winter Active program with equipment loans and funds towards the event, and the community support from volunteers, local businesses and organizations such as the Margaree Co-op, Cranton Cross Road Community Centre, Aucoin Bakery, and Rose’s Sweets. A special thank you also goes to board member Sadie Thomas-Frye, who was largely responsible for planning this event.

                For an organization that was only established a few months ago, the Ski Margaree Trails Society board is pleased with its accomplishments this year. They plan to continue working with landowners in hopes of creating more trails in the years to come.

Damian MacLellan, of Inverness, received a national harness racing award at a ceremony in London, Ontario, on Saturday. He won a Standardbred Canada O’Brien Award as a Future Star.

-by Bill Dunphy

                The National Hockey League has the Calder Memorial Trophy. Standardbred Canada has the Future Star O’Brien Award.

                Both awards recognize a rookie’s achievements at the highest level of their sport.

                That’s where Damian MacLellan finds himself as a harness racing driver in Ontario.

                The 23-year-old from Inverness received his O’Brien Award at a black tie gala celebration in London, Ontario, on Saturday.

                The event marked the 37^th edition of the O’Brien Awards, named in honour of the late Joe O’Brien, an outstanding horseman from Prince Edward Island and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

                MacLellan’s career has been nothing short of stellar since getting his first win – in his first start – in May of 2022 at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

                From there he was off to Rockwood, Ontario, where, under the mentorship of the father-son  team of Rob and Kyle Fellows, he began plying his trade in earnest.

                With just over 100 starts in 2022 and 2023, MacLellan was up to 327 starts in 2024, boasting a modest record of 48 wins, 57 seconds and 38 thirds for earnings of $171,421.

                And then came 2025.

                Racing at tracks, big and small, all across Ontario – Grand River, Kawartha, Western Fair, Dresden, Flamboro and Woodbine – MacLellan ended up with 629 starts, including 83 wins, 66 seconds, and 65 thirds for earnings of $603,312.

                “From an early age, I wanted to do this,” MacLellan said on Monday before going to Western Fair in London.

                “People said I should get a trade, get a degree, so I took business administration at Holland College while I was in P.E.I. I lasted a month-and-a-half and I was gone,” he said.

                “Rob and Kyle Fellows have been just tremendous to me. I can’t express how grateful I am. It’s people like them in our industry that will keep it alive. And I really hope I can do that for someone, to give that back to a younger generation.”

                The son of John (Piper) and Priscilla, MacLellan said his father was his biggest influence, as well as many of the horsemen at Inverness Raceway, including Donnie MacDonald, Johnny Gillis, Andrew MacLean, Allan Gillis, Richie Hunt, Shelby Miller and Erland Campbell.

                “My dad would have been so proud. If he had been here he would have been the first one on the stage,” he said. Piper passed away in 2015.

                “So many people influenced me in my career, to get me where I’m at now. The sky is the limit, I’m young and there’s nothing holding me back.”

                He said the discipline to put the work in has to come from inside yourself.

                “With me, and anybody, you have to be invested in this sport. You have to want to do it. I was born into it, and if you do something in your life that’s meant to be, then you can be successful at it.

                “You want to do better than the night before, or the year before. And don’t make those goals small, make them difficult, make them so you become better at what you do.”

                MacLellan, who will likely top the 629 starts this year, said the job is seven days a week.

                “It’s a grind and a lifestyle. There are some guys with double my starts. It’s all about wanting to be better. I will get home at night and watch replays and read race programs.”

                He said winning 83 races last year doesn’t happen without help.

                “A guy like me, you’re not going to get to drive the best horses starting out. You have to prove yourself. I had a lot of support from different trainers and owners. And I did prove myself. Finishing in the top five drivers at Grand River was huge for me.”

                But most of all, he is grateful for the support he received from his family and friends.

                His brother Donald and wife Tina also live in Ontario and were on hand at the O’Brien Awards. His sisters, Shawna MacLean and Christa Shaw, both made the trip from Inverness, as did his niece Lilly and best friends Cole Mullins and Madison Poirier.

                “It was great having them all here. They have all been big supporters of me and my career,” he said.