Please see below for Entity 51 news, information, and FAQs.
The Naming Committee affirms “GRAND BAY-WESTFIELD” as the recommended name for the governing body of Entity 51. For details, visit here.
In November 2021, the Province of New Brunswick released a White Paper on Local Governance Reform. As a result of the modernization of New Brunswick’s local governance system, the neighbouring communities of Grand Bay-Westfield and a portion (55%) of the Local Service District (LSD) of Westfield West will be amalgamated. Until a community name is determined, these two communities are known as Entity 51.
The Town of Grand Bay-Westfield and a portion of the LSD of Westfield West recognize the importance of keeping residents informed. This page will be updated as information becomes available.
The Province has assigned a facilitator to guide the two communities through the process. A Transition Committee has been established and is comprised of:
Glenn Hawkins, Transition Facilitator (Government of New Brunswick appointed)
Brittany Merrifield, Mayor for Grand Bay-Westfield
Erin M. Toole, Deputy Mayor for Grand Bay-Westfield
Louis Gigou, LSD of Westfield West
Robert Donner, LSD of Westfield West

History of boundary changes (select map to see full size)
Public Notices
December 12, 2022 – Councillor-Elect Keri Burpee sworn in as a member of Town Council. For details, visit here.
September 20, 2022 – Virtual information sessions for Grand Bay-Westfield Ward 2 local government by-election candidates. For details, visit here.
May 25, 2022 – Proposed entity names reflect strong ties to nature and history. For details, visit the GNB news release here.
May 4, 2022 – The Naming Committee affirms “GRAND BAY-WESTFIELD” as the recommended name for the governing body of Entity 51. For details, visit here.
May 2, 2022 – Voting results for the naming of Entity 51 to be announced at a Naming Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. For the notice, visit here.
April 12, 2022 – Voting details for the naming of Entity 51. For the notice, visit here.
April 7, 2022 – Naming Committee recommends consultation process for ceremonial Indigenous name. For the notice, visit here.
April 6, 2022 – The Naming Committee of Entity 51 determines names to be included on voting ballot. For the notice, visit here.
April 5, 2022 – A Naming Committee of Entity 51 Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed lived on the Town’s YouTube channel by visiting here.
March 29, 2022 – The Naming Committee of Entity 51 extends appreciation for your submissions of name ideas for Entity 51. For the notice, visit here.
March 28, 2022 – A message from the Entity 51 Transition Facilitator regarding the Naming Committee meeting of March 24, 2022. For the notice, visit here.
March 23, 2022 – A Naming Committee of Entity 51 Meeting was held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed live on the Town’s YouTube channel by visiting here.
March 18, 2022 – A message from the Entity 51 Transition Facilitator to clarify Local Governance Reform information. For the notice, visit here.
March 14, 2022 – Infrastructure funding for 14 projects in southwestern New Brunswick. For the Government of New Brunswick news release, visit here.
March 9, 2022 – The Naming Committee of Entity 51 wants to hear from you – Submit your name ideas for Entity 51. For the notice, visit here.
March 2, 2022 – A Naming Committee of Entity 51 Meeting was held on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed live on the Town’s YouTube channel by visiting here. Draft minutes of meeting are available here. The PowerPoint presentation is available here.
March 1, 2022 – Naming Committee Members of Entity 51 Appointed. For the notice, visit here.
February 24, 2022 – Entity 51 website launched. For the notice, visit here.
February 17, 2022 – Town Council and Local Service District (LSD) Transition Committee Representatives approve naming process of Entity 51. For the notice including a recording of the Council meeting on the Town’s YouTube channel, visit here.
Naming Process (select chart to see full image)

May 25, 2022 – Proposed entity names reflect strong ties to nature and history. For details, visit the GNB news release here.
May 4, 2022 – The Naming Committee affirms “GRAND BAY-WESTFIELD” as the recommended name for the governing body of Entity 51. For details, visit here.
May 2, 2022 – Voting results for the naming of Entity 51 to be announced at a Naming Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. For the notice, visit here.
April 12, 2022 – Voting details for the naming of Entity 51. For the notice, visit here.
April 7, 2022 – Naming Committee recommends consultation process for ceremonial Indigenous name. For the notice, visit here.
April 6, 2022 – The Naming Committee of Entity 51 determines names to be included on voting ballot. For the notice visit here.
April 5, 2022 – A Naming Committee of Entity 51 Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed lived on the Town’s YouTube channel by visiting here.
March 29, 2022 – The Naming Committee of Entity 51 extends appreciation for your submissions of name ideas for Entity 51. For the notice, visit here.
March 28, 2022 – A message from the Entity 51 Transition Facilitator regarding the Naming Committee meeting of March 24, 2022. For the notice, visit here.
March 23, 2022 – A Naming Committee of Entity 51 Meeting was held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed lived on the Town’s YouTube channel by visiting here.
March 18, 2022 – A message from the Entity 51 Transition Facilitator to clarify Local Governance Reform information. For the notice, visit here.
March 9, 2022 – The Naming Committee of Entity 51 wants to hear from you – Submit your name ideas for Entity 51. For the notice, visit here.
March 2, 2022 – A Naming Committee of Entity 51 Meeting was held on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting can be viewed live on the Town’s YouTube channel by visiting here. Draft minutes of meeting are available here. The PowerPoint presentation is available here.
The Naming Committee of Entity 51 was comprised of:
Erika Kelly, Grand Bay-Westfield
Jon Taylor, Grand Bay-Westfield
Rob Wilson, Grand Bay-Westfield
Keri Burpee, LSD of Westfield West
Robert Donner, LSD of Westfield West
Mayor Brittany Merrifield, Grand Bay-Westfield (Transition Committee)
Deputy Mayor Erin M. Toole, Grand Bay-Westfield (Transition Committee)
Louis Gigou, LSD of Westfield West (Transition Committee)
Residents, businesses and organizations within the boundaries of Entity 51 had the opportunity to participate in this democratic decision-making process.
Guiding Principles for Geographical Naming (Government of Canada) – Visit here
Frequently Asked Questions: Updated December 19, 2022
Please Note: Local Governance Reform (LGR) is a Provincial initiative. The FAQs are updated based on information provided to the Town by the Province.
Resource links
Local Governance Reform – Timeline and Milestones
Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB) – Municipal Reform Questions and Answers
Local Government and Rural District Advisory Committee Elections: November 28, 2022