Residents of Amherst, Nova Scotia are being invited to join a conversation about hate and intolerance at a community dialogue hosted by the Amherst Police Department on March 30, 2026. The event runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and offers residents a chance to discuss safety, inclusion, and belonging in their town of approximately 9,404 people.
Chief Dwayne Pike, who has led the Amherst Police Department since March 2019, says the dialogue is meant to build on the department’s focus on community partnerships. “We rely on the relationships we have built within our community,” Pike said, according to his message on the department’s website. “Ensuring that the priorities of the community are also our priorities enables us to effectively work together to identify needs and implement solutions.”
The community dialogue comes at a time when Nova Scotia has the highest police-reported hate crime rate among all Canadian provinces, with 18.2 incidents per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 12.0 per 100,000, according to Statistics Canada data from 2023.
Amherst sits 3 kilometres from the New Brunswick border and is home to an African Nova Scotian community that has lived in the area since 1783, largely settled around the Sand Hill neighbourhood in the south end of town. Amherst also has a growing population with recent budget investments including almost $2.5 million for a new business park and $1.2 million for an accessible playground.
The police department released its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan outlining priorities around community partnerships, crime prevention, and professional service delivery. The upcoming dialogue is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships between police and residents.
Residents interested in attending can look for more details through the Amherst Police Department. Those with concerns about community relations or safety are encouraged to participate and share their perspectives with local officers.
