06/11/2026
We are extremely excited & proud to announce we are successful recipients of the highly competitive Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund.
With this funding we will be constructing & installing a Ground Mounted Solar Array in behind our Fire Department which will help us achieve a minimum 97% of our energy needs from the sun and thus able to reallocate the funds spent on power into what taxpayers can be proud of and that’s the building, the equipment, the gear and ultimately into the volunteers whom serve this Fire Department & Communities at large.
Over the estimated lifespan of this project the dollar savings over that time we wouldn’t have spent on Energy equals out to the cost of a basic fire truck in today’s dollars.
We could not have done this without some advocacy and support and while we have lots of folks who show us their support and pride we do want to give special thanks:
First Chaplain Mark Cress & the Smiths Cove Baptist Church, The Smith’s Cove Museum, CarStar Digby, Area Resident Ted Leighton & Lazy Bear Brewing for all helping provide letters of support for our project.
Next District 1 Councillor Joan Ross & the Municipality of the District of Digby for providing their unwavering support and providing a letter highlighting the importance of the project and how it redefines our future.
Last and that is Jill Balser, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and the MLA for Digby-Annapolis and Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Our MLA Jill Balser understood what a project like this does for a small fire departments finances and she was a very vocal champion. She knew the task, she conquered and delivered.
We also wish to Thank the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund Committee for working with us and recognizing what this project means for us today but also for our future. Having 1 less large expenditure redirected is going to be huge for us.
To all our Fans, Friends, Followers & Supporters. While this may not be a fire truck announcement that you are were hoping for we truly hope this is something you can be proud of and take joy in. We do take our Environment & Climate Change seriously and we love that we are going to become efficiency leaders. We promise a Fire Truck is top of mind and this Solar Announcement will help us achieve those dreams even faster. So stay tuned.!
Sincerely Smith’s Cove FD
News release Smiths Cove Fire Department Going Solar 11 June 2026 | 9:38 AM Environment and Climate Change Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund Download this image Provincial funding of more than $94,000 will help the Smiths Cove Fire Department in Digby County transition to solar energy. (Smiths....
