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‘Resilience, progress and community spirit’

Berwick celebrates 100 years as an incorporated town

JASON MALLOY ANNAPOLIS VALLEY REGISTER jason.malloy@saltwire.com @JasonMa47772994

Chris Palmer called it a “momentous occasion” as Berwick celebrated 100 years as an incorporated town on May 25.

“This is a day that resonates with significance as it marks a century of resilience, progress and community spirit that has shaped this town into the extraordinary place it is today,” the Kings West MLA said.

During the community celebration at town hall, Palmer told those gathered it was an opportunity to honour the past, celebrate the present and envision a brighter future for tomorrow.

“When Berwick was founded and became a town 100 years ago, it was a small settlement with big dreams,” he said, noting there had been remarkable growth over the years. “Berwick has flourished into a vibrant hub of culture, commerce and community engagement.”

West Nova MP Chris d’Entremont thanked the individuals who make up the community.

“Towns, I guess you can say, come and go, but the people that are in it is what defines it,” he said. “You, as a community, are always here to help one another, to work together for the betterment of your neighbour.”

While the anniversary of incorporation was May 25, activities will last longer than 24 hours.

“When we started talking about this last year, we said, ‘We’re not going to have a birthday, we’re going to have a birthyear,’” said Deputy Mayor Mike Trinacty.

It included the Berwick Mural Society’s project at Bargain Harley’s which was completed in 2022, a New Year’s Eve celebration at the curling club on Dec. 31 and a sticker added to the Valley Wildcats’ helmets for the year. Smokehouse Nano Brewery created a Berwick beer and tulips are being planted around town.

Two concerts are planned for the Kings Mutual Century Centre in June, a centennial-themed garden party is in the works for August, Gala Days will have a centennial theme and there will be a New Year’s Eve dance at the Royal Canadian Legion among the activities still to come.

Mayor Don Clarke noted a town hall, which also housed the fire department, was built in 1926. It is now home to Copperstone Financial Group and North Mountain Fine Coffees.

The mayor said the town’s first assessment roll was $235,000.

“That’s the price of a house today. But that was the value of all of the houses in Berwick at that time,” he said.

He also said the tax rate back then was $2.47.

“So, we’re making progress because the tax rate is much lower today.”

The residential rate is $1.578 per

$100 of assessment while the commercial rate is $3.89 per $100 of assessment.

THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY REGISTER

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2023-06-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-06-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://saltwire.pressreader.com/article/281560885175941

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