“I often think of the Star Trek episodes with the Borg in them. We must assimilate them,” said Coun. Robbie Zwicker June 27, referencing the fictional alien race that forcibly transformed individuals into drones.
“We're still a bit of a different community, right? We've got a massive area rate that no one else has. We've got street lights and sidewalks. We're different.”
The former Hantsport mayor issued a plea to his fellow councillors June 27 asking to have the 'Town of Hantsport' signs remain standing for a while longer.
The town officially dissolved its charter July 1, 2015 and became a district within the Municipality of West Hants.
“The 'Town of Hantsport' signs have been under attack since Randy Matheson, from our last council,” said Zwicker, noting he offered, somewhat facetiously, to put small quotations around the word 'town' if that would appease the council of the day.
Now, the issue is back in the spotlight.
“There's movement from staff to have them removed and replaced with something with the West Hants brand. I know, as George Jones said, 'someday my day will come,' But I just don't think today is the day,” said Zwicker.
He said the community is still healing from the industrial collapse which led to the dissolution. The signs in question are hand crafted signs that include the word 'town'.
“The former town of Hantsport has been through a tremendous period of change over the last few years. It went from a proud town bustling with industry to busted industry,” said Zwicker.
“I think this small gesture of tearing down Town of Hantsport signs would be very detrimental to the community,” he continued. “The community is healing, and it’s healing because of the infrastructure, the great works we're doing. The parks are looking great. Volunteer groups like HMCC are stepping up big time to provide services to our community. It may seem like a trivial and insignificant thing, but for a lot of people, it's very bothersome.”
Cathie Osborne, the chief administrative officer for West Hants, said the municipality is not 'tearing down' signs. They have asked the historical society if, when the signs are removed, they would like to keep them.
“It's not being done in any malicious way,” said Osborne.
The CAO said the former town hall is being used by the municipality's public works department and as such, the large wooden sign out front is no longer relevant. Another sign in the community has rotting posts, while another one is located where roadwork is currently being done and will need to be moved anyway.
“We're not throwing them in the garbage; we're not repurposing them. We're offering them to the historical society for their use,” said Osborne.
She said the existing signs are so unique that “there's nothing we can do to amend it to reflect that it's the community of Hantsport as opposed to a town.”
Warden Abraham Zebian recommended staff prepare a signs policy that they can roll out countywide, and until the policy is ready and accepted, Hantsport's signs should remain standing. Councillors voted unanimously in favour.
