The Broad Cove Beach Lands are now owned by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg and stewarded by the Association. After 23 years of advocacy, the lands adjacent to Broad Cove Beach were expropriated by MODL in 2025 and a ten-year Stewardship Agreement between MODL and the BCCA was signed at the AGM on January 24, 2026. This paper, dated April 10, 2026, sets out the shared vision, what to expect at the beach in the coming months, and how we got here.
A shared vision
The Broad Cove Beach Lands (PID 60592581), owned by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) and stewarded through an agreement with the Broad Cove Community Association (BCCA), remain an important shared community and environmental asset. Current efforts reflect a collaborative approach between the municipality and the community association, with a focus on maintaining public access, supporting responsible use, and ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of this valued coastal landscape.
Working together, MODL and BCCA are advancing a shared vision for the Broad Cove Beach Lands focused on three key priorities: conserving the property’s sensitive geographical, biological, and environmental features from further deterioration; ensuring the area remains accessible to the public for responsible, regulated day use; and establishing clear measures to prohibit overnight camping and other forms of misuse in order to protect both the habitat and the safety and well-being of the surrounding community.
What to expect in the coming months
Community members and visitors to the Broad Cove Beach Lands can expect to see a few coordinated improvements led by MODL and BCCA. MODL will replace the current community-managed garbage bins with municipal bins and assume responsibility for their regular collection, and will also remove select dead trees that pose potential safety risks. Together, MODL and BCCA will install welcoming signage that encourages enjoyment of the beach while clearly communicating municipal bylaws and appropriate land use. BCCA members will also work with local contractors to place rocks that define parking areas, helping to protect marram grass and sensitive coastal habitats. Additional amenities such as portable washrooms, Mobi-Mats, and other accessibility or visitor enhancements are planned and will be introduced as funding becomes available.
The background story
The BCCA started this process 23 years ago in response to repeat requests from concerned community members looking for solutions to protect our treasured community beach lands. Since then, we have been advocating at both the municipal and the provincial levels of government to clarify ownership and work together to provide a legal framework that would continue to encourage beach usage while restricting activities that can cause habitat destruction.
Our vision: conserve this property’s sensitive geographical, biological and environmental features from further deterioration; ensure this property remains accessible to the public for regulated day use; and have a means to prohibit overnight camping and other abuses to protect the habitat and security of the community.
Key highlights from the past two years
- In August 2024 the BCCA received disappointing news from the province indicating they were not willing to engage further in the Broad Cove Beach Lands’ appropriation pursuit.
- On September 17, 2024, we were encouraged when MODL agreed to pursue expropriation of the Broad Cove Beach Lands, with the expectation that we would continue to obtain council approvals along the journey. Once expropriated MODL would own the land, and BCCA would enter into a formal stewardship agreement with MODL.
- On October 30, 2024, BCCA met with MODL Chief Administrative Officer Tom McEwan and Mayor Bolivar Getson. MODL confirmed they were initiating the appraisal of the land and asked the BCCA to review MODL’s Open Space Strategy with the goal of selecting a category that best fits Broad Cove’s needs (regional, destination, neighbourhood, parkette, conservation land and sports).
- On November 28, 2024, the BCCA Board made the decision to pursue the Conservation Land category as it aligned most closely with addressing identified Broad Cove community concerns.
- On January 14, 2025, BCCA presented to MODL council our vision of the land becoming a Conservation Area.
- On February 10, 2025, MODL advised BCCA that council approved moving forward with the expropriation of the lands adjacent to Broad Cove Beach.
- On April 2, 2025, MODL confirmed that Berrigan Surveyors had prepared a new survey and legal description for the property, forwarded to MODL’s lawyer for the application for expropriation.
- On April 30, 2025, MODL submitted the application for expropriation to the courts.
- In early September 2025 MODL shared with us that it had received title to the lands adjacent to the Broad Cove Beach from the courts. These lands are now owned by MODL.
- On January 13, 2026, MODL council approved the stewardship agreement as written and voted to move forward with the signing.
- On January 24, 2026, MODL and BCCA signed the Stewardship Agreement during the BCCA AGM at the Broad Cove Hall.
— Shelley Scott, Chair, Broad Cove Community Association
Download the full paper, including the Stewardship Agreement (PDF)