Victoria Day 2026

Published: May 15 2026 21:26

Happy Victoria Day weekend! Also known as the "set up the barbecue" and/or "open the camp" weekend. It may be a little cool yet, but the unofficial opening to the summer season is here!

Welcome back to all our Chester seasonal businesses. Shop local!

*Please note that the Village office will be closed for the holiday on Monday, May 18th.

2026-05-20 Monthly Village Commission Meeting

Published: May 15 2026 21:15

The Chester Village Commission's May Monthly Meeting agenda(169 KB) and agenda package(2.27 MB) are now available.

Items of interest to the public include: a request from the Chester Fire Services Committee to approve/guarantee a loan for the build of the new fire station; annual review of tax exemptions offered to homeowners and non-profit organizations; and preparation for the June 17th AGM, June 23rd Election, and the start of summer services. The meeting will be held in-person at the Zoé Vallé Library (63 Regent Street) and online at 6:00 pm. The public is welcome to join us!

Livestream links:
> Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87180167457?pwd=Ma5lAKteLeQwXVpaiIWpsWUajUZU2C.
> YouTubeLive https://www.youtube.com/@villageofchesterns (the meeting video will also be archived here)

Zoé Vallé Memorial Library re-opens June 1st

Published: May 15 2026 10:30

The Village of Chester Commission and South Shore Public Libraries are pleased to announce that the Zoé Vallé Memorial Library will re-open to the public on June 1, 2026!

There will also be an official Grand Opening on July 18^th; rain date July 19^th.

Library Hours as of June 1:

• Mon  10am - 3pm
• Tue   10am - 3pm
• Wed  10am - 3pm
• Thu   10am - 7pm
• Fri     10am - 3pm
• Sat    10am - 2pm

For programming and events, visit the Library Calendar. 

For more information on the Village’s stewardship, visit our Library page.

Call for Volunteers: Library Assistants

Published: May 15 2026 10:00

Do you enjoy working with people, supporting your community, and sharing a love of libraries and books? Join the team at the Zoé Vallé Memorial Library as a Volunteer Library Assistant!

To be with us when we re-open on June 1, apply by Monday, May 25! The first South Shore Public Libraries’ training sessions will take place later that week.*

Download the Volunteer Application(120 KB)  or stop by the Library at 63 Regent Street to pick up a paper copy.

Volunteers help create welcoming and inclusive library spaces by:
- Assisting visitors and borrowers
- Helping with library programs and events
- Supporting basic technology use
- Shelving and organizing materials
- Helping people discover library services and collections

This is a great opportunity for individuals who are dependable, friendly, organized, and interested in community service.

Our ideal volunteers will:
✔ Enjoy helping others
✔ Be comfortable learning library technology
✔ Have strong communication skills
✔ Work well independently and as part of a team
✔ Value privacy, respect, and excellent public service

Whether you’re looking to give back, gain experience, or connect with your community, we’d love to hear from you!
*May 25th is just the first deadline. We will be happy to receive continuous intake for Library Volunteers.

Questions? Contact us at  or 902-275-4482.

More information? See our Library page and Library Event Calendar.

Chester Public Washroom is OPEN (2026)

Published: May 01 2026 08:00

The Village of Chester’s public washroom facility is open May 1st through Nov 11th, 2026 from 8am-8pm daily. It is located on the waterfront at 10 Parade Square Road next to the Lido Pool.

Men’s, women’s, and universal (accessible/family/gender-neutral) washrooms are available.

Brought to you by the Village of Chester Commission.

Commission Meeting Highlights: Apr 22, 2026

Published: April 28 2026 12:17

Due to technical difficulties the Village Commission was unable to livestream its April Monthly Meeting. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Highlights of the meeting included:

• The 2026/27 Village Budget was passed, with the tax rate unchanged at $0.077 per $100 of assessment (see here). 
• The Village was successful in receiving two Canada Summer Jobs grants for one of our Lido Pool lifeguards and one representative for our Visitor Information Centre up at the Old Chester Train Station. 
• The Village office move into the Library is completed. (Building repairs are in progress inside and outside, and the South Shore Public Libraries continues their cataloguing and preparations for at least another month.)
• The Chester Fire Services Committee is holding a public meeting to present the final design for the new Chester Fire Station on May 11, 2026. (See their Facebook post for more information.)
• The 2026 Community Grants were awarded to the Chester Arts Centre, Farmers & Artisans' Market, Merchants' Association, Municipal Heritage Society, Playhouse, and Yacht Club. Community grants are awarded to Village organizations who are planning public events - thank you to all who strive to make Village life more vibrant!

 For Commission Meeting agendas and minutes, see here.

Employment Opportunity: VIC Summer Student

Published: April 23 2026 15:53

Would you enjoy talking to visitors and advising them on what to do and see locally? 

The Village of Chester is seeking a summer student to work full-time (35 hours/week) at our Visitor Information Centre at the Old Chester Train Station. Must be eligible for Canada Summer Jobs program participation (youth 15-30, and legally entitled to work in Canada). You should be capable of working alone and unsupervised, as well as cooperatively with VIC volunteers. 

Role:  Visitor Information Centre (VIC) Representative

Tasks and Responsibilities:  To welcome visitors and provide information services about (a) the Village of Chester, (b) the Municipality of Chester, and (c) the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Service delivery by phone, e-mail and in-person.

• Answering questions and advising on tourist attractions, activities, events, and accommodations.
• Maintain a good knowledge of the region and the materials in the Centre, including online resources.
• Maintain a complete supply of brochures, pamphlets, maps and other material – distribute to visitors as requested.
• Relay current information of interest such as weather reports, tourist alerts, etc.
• Maintain a daily record of the number of visitors to the VIC, time and date of the visit, requests made, where they are coming from, comments, etc. Encourage guests to sign the visitor book.
• Ensure the general cleanliness of the Centre.
• Make coffee or tea as needed.
• Request supply replenishment from the Village office as needed.
• Appropriate smart casual attire for dealing with the public.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the VIC Manager.

Pay and Hours:

• Pay rate is $18/hr. Vacation pay and Worker's Compensation included.
• Preferred hours would be afternoons-evenings with a full day on Saturdays and two days off -- but let’s talk about what would work for you!

For more information or to apply, please contact the Village Clerk/Treasurer.

2026-04-22 Monthly Village Commission Meeting

Published: April 19 2026 15:16

The Chester Village Commission's April Monthly Meeting agenda(171 KB) and agenda package(1.72 MB) is now available.

Items of interest to the public include: the status of the 2026/27 Village Budget and Community Grant applications for review and awarding, along with regular monthly activity reports. Community grants are offered by the Commission to support organizations in Chester Village who are planning public events. The meeting will be held in-person at the Zoé Vallé Library (63 Regent Street) and online at 6:00 pm. The public is welcome to join us!

Livestream links:
> Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87180167457?pwd=Ma5lAKteLeQwXVpaiIWpsWUajUZU2C.
> YouTubeLive https://www.youtube.com/@villageofchesterns (the meeting video will also be archived here)

*Please note: 63 Regent Street has a temporary access permit only while the entrances are under repair, so please use caution coming into the building. The Library will fully re-open to the public in the next 6-8 weeks.