NORTH RIVER, N.S.
North River and area will no longer be considered a dry community following a plebiscite vote on Tuesday.
Colchester County residents in District 8 have voted overwhelmingly in favour of permitting the sale of alcohol in the area. The unofficial results of the plebiscite are 180 yes votes, 26 no and one spoiled ballot.
“For a plebiscite, I thought it was a good turnout,” said returning officer Lorraine Dawson. “It was steady throughout the day.”
Of the 1,263 eligible voters, 207 participated in the plebiscite, which represents slightly more than 16 per cent.
The official results will be available on Thursday but Dawson said she expects the initial numbers to stand.
“Everything balanced,” she said.
The plebiscite included residents on the east side of the North River, Central and North River, Upper Brookside, McCallum Settlement, Nuttby, Earltown and Upper Kemptown.
The exact wording was: “Are you in favour of the sale of liquor in your municipality in accordance with the Liquor Control Act?”
It was one of three plebiscites held in the province on Tuesday. Electors in Annapolis County Municipal District 3 voted 90 yes and nine no while electors in District 4 in that region voted 134 yes and 28 no.
There are still more than 100 communities across the province that are registered as “dry” through legislation dating back to the days of Prohibition.
