Westmount, Nova Scotia
| Westmount, Nova Scotia | |
|---|---|
| — Community — | |
| Country | |
| Province | |
| Municipality | Cape Breton Regional Municipality |
| Population (2001: From Statistics Canada) | |
| • Total | 3,000 |
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) |
| • Summer (DST) | ADT (UTC-3) |
| Area code(s) | 902 |
Westmount (2001 pop.: 3,000) is a community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Located on the west bank of the Sydney River at the point where Sydney Harbour begins, Westmount faces Sydney's downtown. Neighbouring communities include Point Edward, Coxheath and Edwardsville.[1] Westmount is a suburban community and the majority of residents commute to the CBRM urban core in Sydney.
[edit] Education
There are several public schools in Westmount, as well as one post-secondary institution. These include:
- Robin Foote Elementary School (gr. P-6) on Sunnydale Drive
- Principal Donna Rankin Neville
- Vice-Principal Andy Culligan
- MacLennan Junior High School (gr. 7-9) also on Sunnydale Drive.
- Principal Redmond MacDougall
- Vice-Principal John Helle.
- MacLennan was the first public school in Nova Scotia to obtain an Internet connection, as well as produce an educational CD-Rom.
- The majority of students graduating from MacLennan Junior High attend Riverview Rural High School, in Coxheath.
- Canadian Coast Guard College
Recently Westmount has seen an addition to the community in the form of a new Montessori private elementary school. This facility has opened in a building which was formerly used as a satellite by Robin Foote Elementary to accommodate the school’s overflowing Primary and Grade 1 classes.
[edit] Government
As part of the CBRM, Westmount is represented by a municipal councilor. The current councilor for District 12, which includes Westmount, is Claire Detheridge.[2]
[edit] Religion
With the exception of a few families almost the entire populous of Westmount is Christian. The churches located in Westmount include:
- Holy Rosary Roman Catholic
- Westmount United
- Saint Aidan’s Anglican (This church was a member of St Mark’s Parish in Coxheath but was closed several years ago. It is now used as a dance school.)
[edit] Amenities and places of interest
Westmount is also home to Petersfield Provincial Park.[3] The park was formerly a private family estate and home to the 18th century Mayor of New York City, David Mathews. The grounds have been designated as a historical property and are home to the ruins of a large manor house and caretaker’s home. Canada Day festivities are held at the park every year.
The other amenities in Westmount include:
- Westmount Volunteer Fire Department
- Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 126
- East Gate #127 Masonic Hall and Seniors Centre
- The Dobson Yacht Club
- Westmount Dental Office
[edit] Notable names
People of note who live/lived in Westmount include:
- Howie MacDonald (A well known Cape Breton fiddler and Conservative candidate for the Sydney — Victoria district, during the 2004 and 2006 Canadian federal elections)[4]
- John Morgan (Mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality)
- John Newell (The Progressive Conservative MLA for Cape Breton The Lakes 1983-1988)
- David Mathews (A British Loyalist who was active during the American Revolution, and the Mayor of New York City from 1776 - 1783.)[5]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Cape Breton Regional Municipality Official Website
- The Canadian Coast Guard Official Website
- MacLennan Junior High School
- Robin Foote Elementary School
- HarbourView Montessori School
- Westmount United Church
- East Gate #127 Masonic Hall and Seniors Centre
- The Dobson Yacht Club
Coordinates: 46°8′27.3″N 60°12′36.7″W / 46.140917°N 60.210194°W