One of the oldest and most iconic courthouses in the Maritimes is closing, and people in Baddeck, N.S., are not happy about it.

The Victoria County Courthouse has been the centrepiece of the community since 1889. Now, the Nova Scotia government says the building is underused and will be closed as a cost-saving measure.

“I think it’s ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous,” said area resident Irene Nicholson. “It’s taking everything away from the community. And it’s not the first thing they took away.”
Right now, there are fewer than four sittings per month at the courthouse. Still, the decision to close does not sit well with Victoria County warden Bruce Morrison.

“It saves them money, but it costs our residents money because they have to incur the cost of travelling elsewhere,” Morrison said.

Local businesses say they worry the closure will affect the downtown business community.

“We see an increase in traffic, certainly, on court days. And that’s a big help throughout the winter especially, so it will be a negative impact for sure,” said coffee shop owner Susan Matheson.

In an email, the Nova Scotia Department of Justice explains it is consolidating seven of its 12 satellite courts, which is expected to save taxpayers some $482,000 per year. The transition will take up to six months and no jobs will be lost.

The closure of the courthouse in Baddeck will mean Victoria County residents will have to travel to Sydney. That is a little less than an hour’s drive from Baddeck, but a much longer commute for the more remote communities.

“Now people will have to travel from Bay St. Lawrence to Sydney, which is a two-and-a-half hour one-way drive,” Morrison said.

Some see the pending closure as simply a sign of the times. Others say it continues a familiar theme of rural Nova Scotian communities losing services.

“Last week, it was increasing our ferry services. This week, we’re losing our courts,” Morrison said.

“There’s nothing left in small communities. It’s all going to bigger areas. We keep losing it, piece by piece,” said resident Thelma Fraser.

Victoria County council is expected to meet on Monday to discuss the closure. Morrison said they may put forth a motion to ask the province to reverse its decision.
The building, which was built in 1869 and converted to a courthouse in 1889, will remain standing for the foreseeable future. It is owned by the municipality.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald