Councillor Belle Hatfield
In Office: Elected September 18th, 2021 - present
Belle first joined the council table after a special election in September 2021, called to fill the vacancy left by the death of Councillor and former Deputy Mayor Jim MacLeod. She was elected to council again in 2024. She is a lifelong resident of Yarmouth.
She is a journalist and told the stories of this community for 30 years in the pages of The Yarmouth Vanguard newspaper, working with her late husband Fred. Her work has earned dozens of national writing awards. Her six-part series on child sexual abuse earned the newspaper national recognition for outstanding community service (Michener Awards) in 1991. She gained management experience during a five-year stint as Public Relations Manager for Western Counties Regional Library. Prior to her career in journalism, she counselled nursing mothers, parlaying her own experience as a teen mother to connect with young mothers at risk.
Belle has a background in health governance and policy, having served as a board member on both the Provincial Medical Board (Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons) and the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s Patient, Family and Public Advisory Council. In her retirement, she has served in a number of volunteer capacities including the Tri-County Local Food Network, the Sara Corning Society, the Yarmouth Music Society and the Yarmouth Facade Society.
She served as a patient representative on the Nova Scotia Health Authority’s COVID Network, which advised the executive leadership team that sets policy for managing the province’s health system during the pandemic. She is a co-founder and chair of Hear! Here! Society, a musical presenters group that produces classical and jazz music concerts. Belle has two adult daughters, Samantha and Laura, and two grandchildren. Her daughter Sarah died in infancy.
Current Committee Appointments
Audit Committee
Committee of the Whole
Planning Advisory Committee
Doctor Recruitment
Heritage Advisory
Mariners Centre Nominating Committee
Yarmouth & Area Industrial Commission
Solid Waste Park
Waste Check
Western Counties Regional Library Board
Contact Information
Councillor Gil Dares
In Office: First Elected 2020
This is Gil's second consecutive term on Town Council, having been elected in 2020 and again in 2024. Gil is no stranger to community involvement and leadership. Gil has served on numerous boards and committees and continues to represent Yarmouth as a director of regional and provincial organizations.
Following a career in the RCMP, Gil was engaged as the General Manager of the Mariners Centre for 10 years. His commitment to the community has been recognized at the provincial, national and international levels. His knowledge of municipal politics has certainly been enhanced by the fact that his spouse served on Town Council for 21 consecutive years.
Gil has championed a variety of causes and looks forward to participating in discussions and decisions that will make Yarmouth the very best that it can be.
Current Committee Appointments
Committee of the Whole
Communities in Bloom
Deer Management Strategy Working Group
Heritage Advisory
Mariners Centre Expansion
Planning Advisory
Solid Waste Park
Waste Check
WREN LOC
Yarmouth Airport Corporation
Contact Information
Cell: 902-740-5125
Email: Gil.Dares@townofyarmouth.ca
Councillor Wade Cleveland
In Office: 2016 - present
Wade was first elected to Council in October 2016, again in 2020, and is now serving his third term as Councillor for the Town of Yarmouth, having won a seat in 2024. Wade has previously served on the Town’s Planning Advisory Committee as a citizen and continues to serve now as a Council member.
Wade is involved in many local projects including The World Junior Hockey Tournaments, Nova Scotia Music Week and Yarmouth Mariners Hockey. He was also the past President of Four Corners Housing Co-op.
Current Committee Appointments
Audit Committee
Committee of the Whole
Deer Management Strategy Working Group
Lake George Watershed
Planning Advisory
Yarmouth Water Utility
UNESCO Biosphere
YASTA
Contact Information
Phone: (902) 774-2943 (cell)
Email: councillor.cleveland@townofyarmouth.ca
Facebook: Wade Cleveland
LinkedIn: Wade Cleveland
Deputy Mayor Steve Berry
In Office: May 2019 - present
Steve is the youngest member to join Yarmouth Town Council after first winning a seat in the May 2019 by-election, and then cruising to his first full term with a win in the 2020 election. At the November 12th council meeting and swearing-in, Steve was elected Deputy Mayor.
A proud Yarmouthian, Steve has a strong connection with our youth and has worked at Yarmouth High for the last 15 years. Steve’s community involvement includes being a founding member of the Jstrong Fund, Maple Grove School Advisory Committee, Restorative Justice, YCMHS Safe Grad, Yarmouth CoEd Softball League and volunteers whenever needed. A strong believer that the key to moving forward is working together with our strongest asset, the people in our community.
I promise to stay a humble and true community minded person who listens, working hard to represent the public’s best interest.
Current Committee Appointments
Committee of the Whole
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Lake George Watershed Advisory
Mariners Centre Board
Public Transit
REMO Executive
Yarmouth Recreation
Waterfront Advisory
Expenses
Contact Information
Phone: (902) 746-3731
Email: councillor.sberry@townofyarmouth.ca
Selected Acts – NS Legislature
The Province of Nova Scotia confirms the establishment, responsibilities and powers of its municipalities and towns through the Municipal Government Act (MGA), enacted in 1998 and amended many times since then.
Beyond the MGA, there are many pieces of provincial legislation that direct and influence how the Town of Yarmouth operates and delivers services to our residents. Below are just a few examples of legislation that affect the Town of Yarmouth. The list is not exhaustive and official versions of the legislation should be sought through the Province of Nova Scotia.
Municipal Government Act of Nova Scotia (PDF)
Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (PDF)
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act