Climate Change

Climate change is the defining issue of our time

In May 2019, recognizing the urgency of the current global environmental crisis, Wolfville’s Town Council declared a Climate Emergency. Since then, staff have been working the community members, partners, and stakeholders to develop the Town’s response to climate change. This effort has had two important streams:

  • Adaptation: determining how Wolfville could be affected by climate change, and how to reduce associated impacts and risks.
  • Mitigation: determining how Wolfville as a community can play a role in fighting climate change by reducing its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

We invite you to explore the issue of climate change and the Town’s response. As our work progresses, there will be opportunities to learn with us, provide input and feedback, and get involved: stay on top of the latest developments and opportunities by signing up for the Wolfville Climate Action newsletter.

Even in a normal year, with visitors streaming in and Acadia in full swing, Wolfville’s population stays below 10,000 people. It is natural to wonder, just how much can a Town our size do to fight an issue as big as global climate change?

While the scale of problem is daunting, the good news is that Wolfville is not alone. Governments and communities around the world are waking up to the urgency of the crisis and beginning to take action. But the global response to the climate crisis only works if everyone does their part.

For its part, Wolfville can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and work with partners and stakeholders to reduce theirs. We can be an example of a community taking action, and we can also be a leader: helping our neighbours in the region take similar steps and letting the province know what communities need to do their part.

Adaptation

Located in a thriving agricultural region near some of the highest tides in the world, Wolfville is positioned to be both resilient to some of the impacts of climate change and particularly vulnerable to others. The Town has commissioned a detailed flood study to better understand the risks and hazards it faces from both rising sea levels and extreme weather events, and guide our efforts to reduce them. Additionally, staff are working with neighbouring municipalities, and liaising with provincial officials, to coordinate the Town’s efforts with other players in the region.

Mitigation

As part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program, Wolfville is working through a five-step Milestone Framework to determine how our community can take action on climate change. The Town has updated its community GHG emissions inventory, and Council has set a target for reducing community emissions by 45% from 2016 levels by 2030. Currently, staff are developing an action plan that will detail how the Town can achieve those emissions reduction targets. Stay tuned for further developments in the Spring and Summer of 2021.

Climate Science

  1. Right now, the global average temperature is about 1*C warmer than it was during pre-industrial times.

  2. Human activities are causing climate change, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, etc.) for energy (heat, transportation, etc.)

  3. 97% of scientists agree that climate change is being caused by human greenhouse gas emissions.

  4. 1°C of warming has already resulted in devastating impacts to human and natural systems across the planet.

  5. Just as humans are causing climate change, so too do we have the power to stop it: by quickly and radically reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, we can keep global temperature rise below 1.5*C, sparing community and our children from the worst impacts of climate change.

20210129 Message from the Mayor 2 pages 2

Design Review Committee

The Goal - To inform the planning process by providing peer review of development applications that require interpretation of the Town's Design Guidelines.

The committee will advise the Planning Advisory Committee and/or Town Council on matters relating to the architectural merits of proposed developments within the Town of Wolfville.

Committee Members

Angela Morin

Brian McKibbin

Michael Napier

John Whidden

Committee Reference Material

  Design Review Committee Policy

  Town of Wolfville's Design Guidelines - Land Use Bylaw Appendix F

 

2021 Design Review Committee Meeting Documents

Meeting Date Reference Document Committee Responses
     
     
     

Planning & Development Payments

 

Please note: Before submitting payment via one the options listed below, ensure that

  1. Planning Department has approved the application and;
  2. Confirmed the total amount due

 

By Mail: Please make your cheque or money order is payable to Town of Wolfville.  Please indicate on the cheque the permit number.  Mail your payment to:

Town of Wolfville
359 Main Street
Wolfville, NS  B4P 1A1 

In Person: Payments can be made in person using cash, cheque or debit at the Wolfville Town Office, 359 Main Street from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Drop-off Slot:  If you are unable to make your payment during regular office hours, a secure drop-off slot is located beside our  main entrance (No cash, please, in the drop-off slot). 

Credit Card via Plastiq:  The Town of Wolfville has partnered with 'Plastiq' to bring you the convenience of paying by credit card. The following permits can be paid with credit card. 

  • Building & Development Permit
  • Sidewalk Café Permit
  • Vendor Permit

Plastiq is a third-party automated payment service that accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express.  Customers using this bill payment option will be charged by Plastiq a convenience fee of 2.85%.  Making payments through Plastiq is simple - simply follow the link below, enter your email address, create a new user account with Plastiq; add Town of Wolfville as Payee and make a payment using your credit card. 

To pay via Plastiq, click here.