EMANCIPATION DAY- AUGUST 1

In 2021, all MPs in Parliament voted unanimously to recognize and celebrate August 1 as Emancipation Day. This day marks the anniversary date when the British Parliament abolished slavery in the British Empire back on August 1, 1834, and to recognize the heritage and contributions Canada’s people of African descent have made and continue to make.

LAKE AND SHORE DAYS RETURN

The resumption of Lake and Shore Days in Porters Lake will be occurring from August 11 to 13. There will be a trivia night, car show, food truck rally, adult dance, teddy bear picnic and a washer toss tournament. More details can be found on their Lake and Shore Days Facebook page and their website at www.PLCSA.ca . It’s great to see some new volunteers stepping up to help out to reorganize this community celebration.

MOOSELAND FAMILY DAY – AUGUST 12

The Mooseland & Area Community Association is planning on hosting a Family Fun Day on Saturday, August 12 (rain date: Sunday, August 13) at the Community Hall #4032 – Mooseland Road. Check out their Facebook page for more event details.

43rd SANDCASTLE DAY – AUGUST 13

The 2023 Annual Clam Harbour Beach Sandcastle & Sand Sculpture Competition is on Sunday, August 13.

Remember to be safe and stay well! Bring along sunscreen and water. For more details, visit: www.halifax.ca/parks-recreation/events/clam-harbour-beach-sandcastle-competition .

NATIONAL ACADIAN DAY – AUGUST 15

Across our country, August 15 is recognized as National Acadian Day. This is a time of celebration for the Acadian community which is also the religious feast day “The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – the patron Saint of the Acadian people. Be sure to drop by L’Acadie de Chezzetcook Museum and Information Centre at 79 Hill Road in West Chezzetcook. They will be hosting a Kitchen Party and other celebrations on Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13. Check out their Facebook page and/or their website: www.acadiedechezzetcook.ca for more information and hours of operations.

HRM COMMUNITY EVENT GRANTS

The following Community Events & Celebrations received HRM Special Event Civic Grants:

$1,000 – Lake & Shore Days – Porters Lake

$1,500 – East Preston Field Rec Day (Aug. 26)

$3,500 – Trunk 7 Music Festival

$4,000 – Emerging Lens Film Festival

$5,000 – Black History Month Association

$6,000 – North Preston Days

$25,000 – Halifax County Exhibition Days

HRM COMMUNITY MUSEUM GRANTS

The following Community Museums received HRM Project Capital and Operational Grant Funding (OGF):

Sheet Harbour & Area Heritage Society / MacPhee House - $3,295 OGF + Property Tax Seniors, Relief $864 & $10,260 in Rent Waiver

L’Acadie de Chezzetcook - $5,492 OGF + Property Tax Relief $3,274

Musquodoboit Harbour Heritage Society / Railway Museum - $8,787 OGF + Property Tax Relief $1,342

Cole Harbour Rural Heritage Society / Farm: $4,563 Project Grant & $17,574 OGF + Property Tax Relief $4,957

Lake Charlotte Heritage Village / Memory Lane: $5,000 Project Grant & $23,066 OGF + Property Tax Relief $10,280

AED REGISTRY MAP

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen at any time, to anyone, at any age and in any location. By immediately performing CPR and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), you provide the patient an increased chance of survival. Following cardiac arrest, every minute that passes without the use of an AED lowers the patient’s chance of living by 7 to 10 per cent. Ideally, an AED should be administered within three to five minutes. Public access defibrillator (PAD) programs have been increasing in popularity over the past few decades with the goal of increasing AED quantity and usage in their specified areas. To view the NS AED Registry map, visit www.nsgi.novascotia.ca/EHS-NS-Volunteer-AED-Map/ . Get your place of business or community facility put on the map: www.savelives.ns.ca/registration/ .

HOW WELL IS YOUR WELL WATER?

Approximately 46 per cent of Nova Scotians rely primarily on groundwater from dug or drilled wells for their private supply. Private well owners are responsible for ensuring that their wells are constructed to provincial standards and for testing their water regularly to confirm that it is free of any natural or man-made impurities. It is recommended that you test your well twice a year for Bacterial Contamination and every two years for Chemical Analysis. For your bacteria test, ask the lab for a Presence/ Absence (PA) test for total coliform and E. coli bacteria. This test costs about $30 to $50. For a chemical contaminant test, the cost can range from $200 to $300 but that depends on what chemicals and/or heavy metals you are wanting to be tested for. More information can be found at: www.novascotia.ca/nse/water/drinking.water.asp .

AID FOR INADEQUADE WATER SUPPLY

With another hot summer and little rainfall, the level of ground water supply is more challenging for rural residents with on-site wells to access. HRM can offer some assistance to rectify the problem. There is a bylaw whereby landowners that are experiencing inadequate water supply on their properties can now apply to the municipality to assist with the financing of drilling a new well or seek other water supply alternatives such as adding a cistern for a storage reservoir. Basically, you are taking out a loan from HRM that places a lien on your property like any other local improvement charge (LIC). This is a similar arrangement for the Solar City Program. More information about this program, including application information can be found at: www.halifax.ca/home-property/property-taxes/inadequate-water-supply-program . If you need further help completing the application form, you can e-mail: bylawc1000@halifax.ca or call 3-1-1 or 902-490-4000.

‘GO HERE’ PUBLIC WASHROOM ACCESS

There are many individuals who benefit from increased washroom accessibility. These include individuals with various conditions that cause incontinence issues, such as certain neurological disorders and cancer. Pregnant women and young children are groups who also benefit from the ‘GoHere’ program. The ‘GoHere’ Washroom Access Program employs innovative practices by utilizing a three-pronged strategy: business outreach and storefront signage; a digital and dynamic app designed to find accessible washrooms before leaving your home; and an access card, to raise awareness when Canadians face questions regarding their medical considerations and accommodation needs. The program helps create communities that are understanding, supportive and accessible for Canadians with disabilities that cause incontinence. This would be a great opportunity to get our local businesses and community facilities listed as a good place “to go”. Interested in volunteering with GoHere? Fill out a volunteer application form: www.crohnsandcolitis.ca/Get-Involved/Volunteer-with-us/Volunteer-application-form and indicate that you are specifically applying for the ‘GoHere’ Washroom Access Program. If you would like additional information or have a question, please email them at: gohere@crohnsandcolitis.ca 

DISTRICT BOUNDARY HEARING RESET

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) gave notice that the public hearing and evening session for the municipality’s 2022 District Boundary Review application (Matter No. M10924), originally scheduled for May 31 had been postponed due to the recent wildfires. The NSUARB has rescheduled the public hearing session for the evening of Thursday, September 7 starting at 6:30 p.m. at NSUARB Offices, 1601 Lower Water Street, 3rd Floor, in Halifax. The deadline for speakers to register at the original hearing was May 10, therefore there will not be an opportunity for additional speakers to register to speak at the rescheduled hearing. Further background information on the HRM 2022 District Boundary Review study can be found online at www.halifax.ca/boundaryreview .