New Brunswick is currently preparing for province-wide amalgamation of local governments, which will culminate in municipal elections in November 2022. In the meantime, oroposed names for all 77 local governments and 12 rural districts, which were created through the modernization of the local governance system, have been announced. 

The communities of Blacks Harbour, St. George, Back Bay, Bonny River, St. Patrick, Utopia, Pennfield, Seeyles Cove, are Beaver Harbour are merging to become one district, which has been known until this point in time as "Entity 53."

"We narrowed down the finalists for name choices for Entity 53," said Village of Blacks Harbour Mayor John Craig at the regular May village council meeting. "The names Eastern Charlotte, Coastal Charlotte and Charlotte East made the shortlist."

Ultimately, Eastern Charlotte received the most votes and is therefore the name that has been chosen for Entity 53. 

Eastern Charlotte is one of the regions in the province that is experiencing one of the most dramatic changes to local government during the amalgamation period with 6,700 residents soon to be considered under the umbrella of its name. Elections will be held in November to elect a mayor and a full council, meaning that towns and villages in this region that currently exist will be dissolved in the fall with one new council representing the whole being elected in November of 2022. 

Mayor Craig has already announced that he plans to run for Mayor of Eastern Charlotte this fall when the new entity elects a brand new council. In the meantime, fascilitator Greg Lukes will be assisting the current local governments in Eastern Charlotte with the amalgamation process.