VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH

National Volunteer Week (NVW) pays tribute to the millions of Canadian volunteers who donate their time and energy. This year, NVW is from April 15th – 21st and the theme is “ Celebrate the Value of Volunteering: Building Confidence, Competence, Connections and Community ”.

To help you say ‘thank you’ to volunteers, Volunteer Canada has developed programs to access resources and products that can be attained through their web-site: https://volunteer.ca/ or by Twitter at #NVW2018 or on their Facebook page: VolunteerCanada. There is plenty of information and ideas on how to foster more volunteerism in our society.

In our own area be sure to contact “Volunteer Halifax” at https://volunteerhalifax.ca/ that links people with local non-profit community organizations supporting persons with disabilities, new Canadians, Corporations and professionals connect to organizations in and around the municipality, helping individuals develop skills to advance their careers, and developing knowledge resources that support effective and efficient volunteer capacity. Connect with them through e-mail at: info@volunteerhalifax.ca or via the major social media outlets such as Facebook, Google+ &Twitter.

Here are some other websites you can explore for more volunteer recognition items and ideas: www.recreationns.ns.ca/volunteer-recognition-items-2/ & www.halifax.ca/volunteerservices/

Each year the Mayor and Regional Council recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and groups who volunteer their time and skills to provide services and programs in our HRM communities. Due to a publication ban, this year’s list of HRM Volunteers is embargoed until mid-April, so I will provide a complete list of those honoured from our district in my May 2018 newsletter.

4-H CLUB INFO MEETING: April 11 ^th

There will be another Information Meeting about setting up a possible 4-H Club for the area from Preston to Musquodoboit Harbour on Wednesday, April 11 ^th at 7 PM at the Henry G. Bauld Centre at 35 Wilfred Jackson Way in Westphal. (That’s on Main Street / Highway #7 across the road from the NS Black Cultural Centre.)

The four H’s stand for: Head, Heart, Hands, Health. It is an exciting and fun program for young people. 4-H is an organization dedicated to the personal development of youth while providing a positive impact by volunteering in our communities. Most importantly, 4-H projects encourage members to ‘Learn to do by Doing’. More info about this program at:

https://novascotia.ca/agri/programs-and-services/educational-resources/4h/resources/family-guide/

EAST PETPESWICK HILLS HEARING

There will be a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 24 ^th at 6PM at City Hall for Case #21281 to receive input on a proposed 10 lot development on the east side of Scots Lake in Musquodoboit Harbour known as East Petpeswick Hills. These are 10 hectares/25 acre lots that will have private road access.

https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/180320rc1421.pdf

NO MORE MARRIAGE LICENCES

Effective April 1 ^st , HRM will stop issuing marriage licences on behalf of the Province. Transitioning this Provincial Vital Statistics service back to them will help reduce red tape for the citizens applying for a marriage licence. There are three Access NS locations in Metro: Baker Drive in Dartmouth; Horseshoe Lake Drive in Halifax; Sackville Drive in Lower Sackville. Licences can also be issued at the NS Business Licensing Office on Barrington Street in Halifax.

LET’S CELEBRATE  48 ^th EARTH  DAY

Why don’t we use a plastic bag to pick up some other discarded plastics on Sunday, April 22 ^nd because this year’s theme is “End Plastic Pollution”. More details about this campaign can be found at:    https://www.earthday.org/.

This spring, the Clean Foundation will be kicking off the 2018 cleanup season with the Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up: the province’s largest litter reduction initiative. Registration is now open at www.nspickmeup.ca or by calling 902-420-3474 , or Toll Free: 1-855-736-3474 or by e-mail: info@clean.ns.ca.

The Clean Foundation will provide groups with everything needed to run a successful litter clean-up event including supplies, information on how to coordinate your event and a data card to track results.  Be sure to post ‘before & after’ photos of your pick-me-up locations and post to social media using the hashtag #GladToCleanUp .

LONG-TERM AQUATIC STRATEGY

HRM is seeking public input to help develop recommendations to meet future aquatic needs throughout the region. Residents are encouraged to take part in a short online survey on important issues related to indoor and outdoor community pools, competition aquatic facilities, supervised beaches, and splash pads. The survey can be found at www.halifax.ca/surveys  and will be available until Monday, April 30 ^th . Results from this survey will help the municipality create a Long-term Aquatic Strategy. Thanks for your insight and input.

HRM TAX BILL DUE DATE  APRIL 30 ^th

HRM sends out its tax bills to all property owners twice a year. The Interim bill was mailed mid-March and is due on Monday, April 30 ^th . The final bill will be due October 31 ^st . If you have any enquiries about your tax bill, please call the Halifax Contact Centre at 311 or go on-line to: https://www.halifax.ca/taxes/index.php

HRM TO KEEP MOOSELAND HALL

The Mooseland Hall is a former schoolhouse converted into a community centre and fire hall. HRM decommissioned the fire station operation in 2013, leaving the Mooseland & Area Community Association (MACA) operating the facility for their own use. HRM Regional Council chose not to declare the property as surplus and have instead directed staff to enter into a 5-Year lease with the MACA for the building at 4032 Mooseland Road. Annual operating costs will be the responsibility of the MACA;   HRM will provide capital maintenance.   https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/180306rc1416.pdf

YOUTH ADVOCATE EXPANDING

HRM is expanding the Youth Advocate Program (YAP) into the communities of North Preston, Cole Harbour and Lower Sackville. YAP helps prevent youth aged 9-15 from engaging in anti-social and criminal behaviors by giving them the opportunity to work with professionals in the community, in all facets of life, to find the strength, support and encouragement to make good decisions for their future. The expansion of the YAP in North Preston will replace the “Souls Strong” program that was a federally-funded pilot project that has concluded. In addition to the YAP, the North Preston Community Centre will continue to incorporate successful components of the Souls Strong pilot project to continue to build upon its progress in the community such as extended evening hours of operations and other community outreach initiatives. For more information about the YAP and other ways to help at-risk youth in the municipality, visit the HRM Web-site at : https://www.halifax.ca/recreation/programs-activities/youth-programs-services/youth-advocate-program