Official homepage for the Town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Purpose

Our natural environment is a top priority and we work to keep it healthy for future generations. The Town partners with local and regional organizations — including the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve (SNBR), a UNESCO-recognized area covering five counties — to guide conservation and stewardship.

Waste management

Yarmouth follows provincial best practices for waste management to reduce landfill use. Our collection partner, Waste Check, helps us divert recyclables and organics so materials can be reused or turned into compost.

Recycling

• Use two blue bags: one for paper, one for cans and containers.
• Recyclables from Yarmouth and Digby Counties go to Scotia Recycling to be sorted, reclaimed, and shipped to markets for recycling.

Organics

• Collected every two weeks.
• Use the green cart at the curb with paper liners only.
• Cart sizes: 35 gal and 65 gal.
• Organics are taken to the Yarmouth Compost Plant and processed into compost.

Garbage

• Collected every two weeks.
• Use clear bags; one black/green bag is allowed per collection per household.
• Clear bags help staff spot recyclable or reusable items before landfill disposal.

Ensuring the ecological sustainability of Yarmouth is a long-term project for everyone. Please be sure to sort your trash properly and do what you can to reduce your carbon footprint whenever possible. Along with composting, recycling, and disposing of household garbage properly, you can take part in our Adopt-a-Block program. Seafood lovers can also use ThisFish to discover where their seafood came from, learn about the fishermen who harvested it, and ensure that their purchases help the environment.

How you can help

• Sort materials correctly: recyclables, organics, and garbage.
• Reduce waste by reusing and choosing products with less packaging.
• Join the Adopt-a-Block program to help keep neighbourhoods clean.
• For sustainable seafood, try ThisFish to learn where your seafood comes from and support responsible fishers.

Climate change action

We are planning for the effects of a changing climate on our town. Key plans:

• Climate Change Action Plan (2013): recommends updates to the Land Use By-law and Municipal Planning Strategy to protect infrastructure from storm surge, sea-level rise, and heavy rainfall. (Research informed by Dalhousie University and ACASA.)
• Climate Change Mitigation Action Plan (2021): sets actions for the Town’s operations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Documents and links

pdf (323 KB) pdf Climate Change Action Plan(3.40 MB) pdf
Climate Change Mitigation Action Plan(323 KB)
pdf Municipal Planning Strategy(6.22 MB)

Yarmouth’s schools help children and adults learn and grow. The town has:

• Two elementary schools
• One junior high
• A new high school
• A special needs school
• A campus of Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)
• Lifelong learning through the Yarmouth County Learning Network

French-language education

Nova Scotia also offers French-language public education through Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP). There are seven CSAP schools in Yarmouth County.

Schools in the town

1. Yarmouth Elementary School
2. Meadowfields Elementary School
3. Maple Grove Education Centre
4. Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School
5. NSCC Burridge
6. Yarmouth County Learning Network

Parenting supports

Parents' Place is a family resource centre that offers:

• Drop-in space to play and learn with your child
• Programs for parents and children
• A library of parenting and child development resources
• Help from trained staff and early childhood educators
• Referrals to other professional services when needed

You can  learn more at the Parents' Place website. 

More information

For a full list of schools in Yarmouth County, see the Tri-County Regional Centre for Education or the CSAP website.

The Yarmouth Dog Park was established to provide dog owners and those who care for dogs, the opportunity to socialize and provide their pets with off-leash exercise. It is located between South East Street and Forest Street, alongside the Broad Brook Trail, behind the Mariners ball field (see map below). The park features a ground cover of grass and has two separate enclosures. Visitors to the park will need to bring their own water. Please note that the dog park is not accessible to persons with mobility issues.

For more details and regular updates, follow the Yarmouth Dog Park on Facebook. 

Park Rules

• Hours: Dawn To Dusk
• Use park at your and your dog’s own risk
• Owners are legally responsible for the behaviour of their dog at all times
• Dogs must be leashed while entering and exiting the park  (Bylaw #20*) 
• Dog waste must be picked up and disposed of in designated containers by their owners immediately
• Owners must be present in the park and supervise their dogs with leash readily available at all times
• Dog handlers must be at least 16 years of age. Children from 9 – 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Children under 8 are prohibited
• Aggressive dogs must be removed immediately
• Dogs should have current immunization
• Only 2 dogs per handler
• Owners must fill in holes dug by their dogs, immediately
• Handlers are to discourage their dogs from negative behaviour
  
  The following are prohibited:
  
  
• Human and dog food/treats
• Glass containers
• Dogs in heat, sick dogs, or aggressive dogs
• Puppies under 4 months
• Smoking, littering, consuming alcohol, and use of bicycles
• No spiked, pronged, or choke collars

 Park Location

2 Clements Avenue, Yarmouth, NS

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