Nova ScotiaBridgewater town council is considering changes to a land-use bylaw to better meet the housing needs of survivors of gender-based violence.’It is vital that they have a place to go,’ says Mayor David MitchellMeig Campbell · CBC News · Posted: Oct 21, 2025 12:54 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoBridgewater council is considering an amendment to its land-use bylaw that aims to help survivors of gender-based violence. Some advocates say this is a good first step but more needs to follow. (The Canadian Press)Bridgewater town council is considering changes to a land-use bylaw to better meet the housing needs of survivors of gender-based violence.The town’s current bylaw defines residential care facilities, homes for special care and group homes as a “community-based group living arrangement” limited to people who have physical or intellectual disabilities. But an amendment under consideration by council would expand the definition to include survivors of gender-based violence.Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell says that while the town already has a facility for people who have experienced gender-based violence, this change would permit more facilities in the area. “It is the sad reality that across this country there is still a need for that and a growing need for a place for people to go. And so, this would allow for another location,” said Mitchell. The amendment was first proposed by the South Shore Transition House Association. In its request, the association said the current land-use bylaw lacks a definition that closely meets the needs and service requirements for housing that supports survivors of gender-based violence.Kelly Ann Hamshaw, the association’s executive director, said in a statement that the association is seeking this amendment amid plans to expand its housing and services in the town.It said the change would allow for more “flexible, inclusive approaches to housing” and could serve as a model for neighbouring communities.’A step to take away a barrier’Emma Halpern, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society, said this is a good first step for Bridgewater but she hopes more will follow. “I would say it is an important step to take away barriers, but that’s what this is. It is a step to take away a barrier, not a step to actually do anything like take any positive steps to make changes for survivors of violence,” said Halpern. Halpern said towns and municipalities should work to eliminate those barriers but also need to ensure that programs that help survivors of intimate partner violence have sufficient resources to open transitional housing. “Although this opens the door so that an organization can do that, it doesn’t provide the funding, the space, the land, the staffing, it doesn’t do any of those things,” said Halpern. “So those just have to be thought about.” A public hearing about the proposed amendment is scheduled for Oct. 27. Mitchell said these types of services are needed everywhere, a year after the province declared intimate partner violence an epidemic. “If someone is to leave that situation, it is vital that they have a place to go. Otherwise the options are few, short of returning back to that situation,” the mayor said. Halpern said she’s encouraged that these types of changes are being considered at the municipal level. “That is a really important step in the right direction. It is just a single step and we have to run a marathon to get to the end to really get some real change in this area.” MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORMeig Campbell is a reporter for CBC Nova Scotia. You can email her with story ideas and feedback at meig.campbell@cbc.ca
Bridgewater council considering bylaw change to support survivors of gender-based violence
