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 24th– 30th and the theme is: “Volunteering Is Empathy In Action”, affirming the strong connection between volunteerism and empathy. This profoundly human connection is at the heart of healthier individuals and stronger communities.
To help say ‘thank you’ to volunteers, Volunteer Canada has developed programs to access resources and products that can be attained through their website:  www.volunteer.ca  or by Twitter #NVW2022 #EmpathyInAction  #VolunteersBringHeart or their Facebook page: @VolunteerCanada .

There is plenty of information and ideas on how to foster more volunteerism in our communities. In our area, be sure to visit “Volunteer Halifax” at  www.volunteerhalifax.ca  . This organization links people with local non-profit community organizations, that support persons with disabilities, new Canadians, and helps corporations and professionals connect to organizations in and around the municipality, helps individuals develop skills to advance their careers and knowledge resources to support effective and efficient volunteer capacity. Connect with them through e-mail at:   info@volunteerhalifax.ca

Please note that our local community hall associations have a desperate need for more volunteers.

Each year, the Mayor and HRM Council recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and groups who volunteer their time and skills to provide services and programs in our communities. Due to a publication ban, this year’s list of HRM Volunteers is embargoed until mid-April, so a complete list of those honourees from our district will be in my May 2022 newsletter and will also be posted online at:  www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/volunteering

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services (HRF&ES) is constantly recruiting volunteer firefighters for the various communities in our district area:• Lawrencetown ( Stations 19 & 20 )• Lake Echo / North Preston (Stations 21 & 22 ) • Chezzetcook ( Station 23 )• Musquodoboit Harbour (Station 24)• Ostrea Lake ( Station 25 )• Oyster Pond ( Station 26 )• Sheet Harbour ( Station 28 )• Moser River ( Station 29 )• Tangier / East Ship Harbour ( Stations 30 & 31 ) • Three Harbours / Port Dufferin  (Station 33 )• Mushaboom ( Station 34 )
For more details, please call HRM Volunteer Firefighters Recruitment at 902-490-5611 or visit  www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/recruitment/volunteer-firefighter-recruitment

PICK-ME-UP LITTER CAMPAIGN

This spring, the NS Adopt A Highway (AAH) program will be kicking off its 2022 cleanup season with the Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up: the province’s largest litter reduction initiative. Registration opens on April 1st at  www.nspickmeup.ca  or by calling 1-902-843-3553 or online via e-mail to:  info@nsadoptahighway.ca

AAH 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 #EveryLitterBitHelps. More details at:  www.nsadoptahighway.ca

PARKS & REC FEES TO INCREASE

On April 1st, HRM Parks and Recreation Fee structure will be changing. These changes will affect all recreation services; programs, rentals, drop ins, voucher, and memberships fees. As a result of the fee structure changes some fees are increasing in cost while others are staying the same or decreasing.To see the full list of fee structure changes, go to: https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/recreation/programs-activities/Parks%20and%20REC%20FEE%20Changes.pdf

The updated fee structure will reflect the actual cost of providing recreation services to residents. The fee structure change is due to several factors including: that fees have been frozen since 2011; current recreation fees do not reflect actual costs of providing the service; recreation fees are well below other organizations and municipalities: and provides opportunity to support not-for-profit organizations by aligning with their fee structure and overall marketplace.

HRM PARKS & REC SUMMER JOBS

HRM Parks & Recreation department has a host of summer job opportunities for youth across the municipality. This is an opportunity to gain valuable career skills in an environment that promotes fun, health, wellness, and physical activity. There are places to work in areas of interest with children, at beach and pools and in sports, recreation, and inclusion. Most jobs offer free evenings and weekends. Application deadline for most jobs is April 24th. For more details on job postings, go to:  www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/employment/seasonal-youth-employment-recreation

HRM TAX BILL DUE DATE: APRIL 29TH

HRM sends out its tax bills to all property owners twice a year. The interim bill was mailed mid-March and is due on Friday, April 29th.The final bill will be due October 31st. If you have any enquiries about your tax bill, please call the HRM Contact Centre at 311 or on-line at:  www.halifax.ca/home-property/property-taxes

CELEBRATE THE 52ND EARTH DAY

It has been just over 50 years since April 22nd was declared as Earth Day. Back in 1970, it mobilized millions of citizens to lobby for the protection of the planet.The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event. Now this movement is asking people to join its “Great Global Clean Up” by organizing a local clean-up campaign:  www.cleanup.earthday.org

Sign up and spotlight your local clean-up events by tagging them on social media with @EarthDayNetwork and use the hashtag: #GreatGlobalCleanup. Let’s show them how beautiful our communities really are!

HRM MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES

The Halifax Municipal Archives, that opened back in 2006 is the official repository for historical municipal government records from Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford and the former County of Halifax, and also holds community records from across the region.The HRM Archives is located at 81 Ilsley Avenue in Burnside. There is free parking and 3 public transit routes bus stops just past its door.All researchers are welcome to view these records either on-line:  www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/municipal-archives   or through requests and visits to the Archives. Email:  archives@halifax.ca  or call 902-490-4643 to make an appointment. HRM Archives gladly considers donations of records that should be preserved and made accessible to the public, including documents, photographs, maps, plans, books, sound recordings, and film created by individuals, families, businesses, or community organizations active within the municipality.