How it’s Going

The Strategic Plan has moved from visioning to action. Council has approved the Plan. The potential actions items identified in the Strategic Planning Workshop will now move from the strategic planning process to the budgeting process planned for early 2026. Regular progress updates will be shared to keep residents informed on how goals are advancing and how each initiative contributes to building a strong, resilient, and sustainable community. Visit the Budget Highlights Page for more details.

The Municipality is committed to transparent reporting, ongoing community engagement, and continuous improvement as we move the Strategic Plan forward. You can find related information below.

How it Started

Council initiated the Strategic Planning process to establish a clear vision and set priorities that will guide the Municipality over the next several years. The process began with a review of current services, community needs, and emerging opportunities. Input was gathered from Council, staff, and the public to ensure the Plan reflects the values and aspirations of our community.

This foundational work helped identify key themes, challenges, and long-term goals, providing direction for the development of a comprehensive Strategic Plan. Information can be found below on the process.

Take the Survey – Feedback on First Draft of Strategic Plan

The survey will remain open until 5:00pm on November 10, 2025.

Join an in-person session

  • September 13 from 12 pm to 2 pm at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, located at 119 Old Birchtown Rd, Shelburne
  • September 16 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Lockeport Fire Hall, located at 67 Hall Street, Lockeport
  • September 17 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the CGC Firehall, located at 1634 Shore Rd, Gunning Cove
  • September 18 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Shelburne Community Centre, located at 63 King St, Shelburne
  • September 18 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Shelburne Community Centre, located at 63 King St, Shelburne

These are all drop-in sessions. This means:

  • We’ll start with a short welcome, but there’s no pressure to arrive right at the beginning.
  • Just come at any time during the event.
  • You’re welcome to stay for the whole time or just drop in for a few minutes.

If possible, please RSVP here so we know how many people to expect, but it’s also totally fine to just show up.

These events are family-friendly and welcome children of all ages! There will be fun and engaging activities designed especially for kids to enjoy.

If you need any accessibility accommodations, please email Nicole Blades at nicole.blades@municipalityofshelburne.ca.

Come as you are and share what matters to you.

Are You a Youth (Ages 13–18)?

We want to hear from you too.

Learn more about See It My Way: Photo Prize Draw below under “Youth Involvement”.

Or

Join a Focus Group at Your School. We’ll be visiting schools to talk with students about their experiences, ideas, and hopes for the future. Stay tuned for more details from your school!

Your feedback helps us:

  • Set priorities
  • Make important decisions
  • Invest in the things that matter most to you

We will report back and show how your input shaped the final plan.

We’re Working to Create Safer, More Welcoming Spaces for Everyone

Everyone is welcome! We want residents to feel included and heard in municipal processes and decision-making.  We’re listening.

We’re just getting started, and you are part of every step.

  • September: Join us for community engagement events and help shape the big ideas.
  • October: We’ll share a draft plan so you can see how your input is coming to life and tell us if we’re on the right track.
  • November: The final plan will be ready. This will guide what we do and how we invest over the next four years.

Your ideas help build what comes next. Let’s shape the future of our municipality together!

See It My Way: Photo Prize Draw

Are you between 13 and 18 years old and living in the Municipality of the District of Shelburne?

We’re working on a plan for the future of our community, and we want to hear from you. Share a photo that shows what life is like for you, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw.

This is your chance to show what matters to you and what you’d like to see change.

Things to Know:

Deadline – September 21 at 12 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST) 

Who can participate – Youth ages 13 to 18 who are residents of the Municipality of Shelburne.

How to participate

  1. Take a photo that tells a story about: What it’s like to live in MODS; What you hope to see in the future; or What challenges you face living here.
  2. Fill out the form at https://form.simplesurvey.com/f/s/MODSYouth
  3. Upload your photo.

Rules

  • One entry per person.
  • You must take the photo yourself.
  • Do not include people’s faces.
  • Your photo must:
    • Respect others. This means the photo must not contain something rude, mean, or hurtful to others, like bad language, rude gestures, or anything that makes fun of someone’s identity, race, gender, religion, abilities, background, etc.
    • Respect privacy or safety standards. This means the picture must not show something that should be kept private or could put someone in danger, like showing someone’s personal information (like their address or phone number).
    • Not show illegal or unsafe behaviour. This means the picture must not show someone doing something that is against the law or not safe, like using drugs, stealing, or doing dangerous maneuvers.

Prize Draw

  • Everyone who sends in a photo that is approved will be entered into a draw to win one $50 gift card to a local business. The winner will be able to choose if they want a gift card from TLC Pharmasave or Locke’s Lifestyle Sporting & Outdoor Adventure.
  • The winner will be picked randomly after the deadline (September 21).
  • Prizes will be announced on September 30th, 2025.
    • If you win, you’ll receive an email to notify you. Please check your spam folder.
    • The winning photos and first names will be shared on this website.
  • Prizes are non-refundable and cannot be redeemed for cash or credit.
  • No cash equivalent is available.
  • No substitution of prizes is permitted.
  • The Municipality of Shelburne reserves the right to substitute the prizes with another prize of equal or greater value.  
  • If, for any reason, the Municipality cannot run the activity as planned, the Municipality of Shelburne reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the prize draw. 

Privacy

  • Selected photos will be featured in:
    • Our upcoming Municipal Strategic Plan Report, due out later this year
    • Social media
    • Municipal website 
    • Public spaces (like the library or municipal building) 
    • And other municipal reports
  • Your photo will be credited with your first name and age, unless you ask to stay anonymous. No other personal details will be made public.
  • We will collect your contact information only to manage the activity, and we will keep you posted about the prize draw.
  • We will not share your personal information with anyone else or use it for any other purposes.
  • All photos and contact information will be handled in line with the Municipality’s privacy policy and applicable privacy laws.

Thinking about the future can sometimes feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. If this activity or anything else is bringing up strong emotions or making you feel upset, you’re not alone.

Click here for a list of youth-friendly mental health resources available in our community. There are people who care and are ready to support you.

We’re inviting everyone in the community to share their thoughts about the future of our municipality, and as a thank you, we’re holding a prize draw for two $50 gift cards.

Two Chances to Win:

  • One prize draw for people who complete the survey (online or in-person) – See link under “Ways to Get Involved” tab.
  • One prize draw for people who attend an in-person community gathering – See session information under “Ways to Get Involved” tab.

How the Prize Draw Works:

To keep your feedback private and honest, your survey responses will not be linked to your name, email, or phone number.

At the end of the survey or in-person session, we will invite you to enter your contact information separately (in a different form). This allows us to contact the winners without connecting personal information to your responses.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent Strategic Planning community sessions and survey.  Information gathered has been compiled into a ‘What We Heard Summary’.  While participation was limited, the input we received was valuable and meaningful.

The ‘What We Heard Summary”, along with other factors, will inform the first draft of the Municipality’s Strategic Plan. The first draft will be presented at a Special Council Meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 6:00 pm in the Municipal Council Chambers.

Another opportunity to share your thoughts is coming October 30, 2025. You will be able to submit feedback on the first draft. See “Ways to Get Involved” for details.

We encourage you to take part in the upcoming engagement opportunities, so your voice is heard and the full range of community perspectives are captured. Your opinion matters, and we truly want to hear from you.

Strategic Plan -What We Heard SummaryDownload