NATIONAL EMANCIPATION DAY - AUG. 1
On August 1, 1834, the British Parliament abolished slavery across the British Empire. Emancipation Day recognizes Canada's history of slavery, and celebrates the heritage and contributions of people of African descent. This year, the NS Black Cultural Centre, in partnership with the Government of Canada, Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs, Jamaican Cultural Association of Nova Scotia and HRM, will be hosting events to commemorate this day. Details atwww.bccns.com

HRM ANTI-BLACK RACISM GRANT
On August 1, the Halifax Regional Municipality will introduce the Anti-Black Racism (ABR) Grants Program, designed to support grassroots initiatives and projects that combat anti-Black racism. This program aims to provide funding to community organizations and individuals dedicated to creating positive change and addressing systemic inequalities. Please note priority will be given to applicants from African Nova Scotia and African descent communities, with an emphasis on grassroots, volunteer-led groups serving local residents. By empowering local efforts, the municipality aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable community. For more information, please contact ANSAIO@halifax.ca

NATAL DAY & BUSKERSFEST EVENTS
There are plenty events and activities planned for the municipal civic holiday of Natal Day from August 2 to 5. For details, visitwww.natalday.org/events.php. This year the Halifax Buskers Festival will also be occurring during this same time from July 31 to August 5. Visitwww.buskers.cato learn more. Lots of fun for all!

LAKE AND SHORE DAYS
Lake and Shore Days in Porters Lake takes place from August 8 to 11. There will be bingo, trivia night, an adult dance and beer garden, a teddy bear picnic event, a flotilla of lit-up boats and much more. Details can be found on their Lake and Shore Days Facebook Page andwww.PLCSA.ca. It’s great to see some new volunteers stepping up to help out in with this community celebration.

SHEET HARBOUR SEASIDE FESTIVAL
The annual Seaside Festival in Sheet Harbour will be held from August 9 to 18 with various events and activities! To check on their schedule of events, please refer to their Facebook page, Sheet Harbour Lions Seaside Festival for more information.

NATIONAL ACADIAN DAY - AUG. 15
August 15 is recognized as National Acadian Day. This is a time of celebration for the Acadian community. 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 August 12 and 13. Check out their Facebook page and/or their websitewww.acadiedechezzetcook.cafor more information and hours of operations.

EASTERN SHORE PRIDE WEEK
Eastern Shore Pride is a community group dedicated to growing 2SLGBTQIA+ pride on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. Over the last few years these volunteers have planned, hosted and organized various events and activities to the point of now having a full Pride Week Festival from August 17 to 25. For more details, please refer to their Facebook page: Eastern Shore Pride – Nova Scotia or their websitewww.easternshorepride.ca

44TH SANDCASTLE DAY - AUG. 18
The 2024 Annual Clam Harbour Beach Sandcastle & Sand Sculpture Competition will be on Sunday, August 18. Remember to be safe and stay well! Be sure bring sunscreen and water. For more information, visitwww.halifax.ca/ClamHarbourSandcastle

CHEZZETCOOK INLET ACADIAN CENTRE
To preserve and promote the local Acadian and Mi’kmaq culture and heritage, the Halifax – Yarmouth Archdiocese has agreed to transfer the St. Anselm’s Church and Glebe in West Chezzetcook over to the L’Acadie de Chezzetcook Society to become the Chezzetcook Inlet Acadian Centre (CIAC). It will become a performance and ceremony space as well.

While most of the religious artifacts have been removed, the CIAC Heritage Committee are donating the pews as a keepsake from the church. To access the request form, visitwww.acadiedechezzetcook.ca(please note, only one pew per household). Check their Facebook page for more details and to keep up to date on the progress of the CIAC by searching Chezzetcook Inlet Acadian Centre.

LOCAL FUNDRAISING BY RAFFLEBOX
There are various local organizations that utilize the Rafflebox platform for 50/50 fundraising, including:
• NS Ground Search & Rescue in support of the Eastern Shore & Musquodoboit Valley GSAR teams

• NS Firefighters in support of the Westphal/Cole Harbour, Chezzetcook, Oyster Pond and Upper Musquodoboit Volunteer Firefighters

• ATV Association of NS (ATVANS) in support of Sheet Harbour and Lake Charlotte ATV Clubs and the Musquodoboit Harbour Trail Runners and the Marine Riders Trails Associations.

• Royal Canadian Legion - Nova Scotia in support of local Branches:
o # 58 Courcelette – Watt Section / Sheet Harbour
o # 160 Centennial – Lake Loon
o # 161 Eastern Marine – Gaetz Brook

• Musquodoboit Harbour & Sheet Harbour Lions Clubs

• Eastern Shore Pride

• L'Acadie de Chezzetcook

More details about these fundraising campaigns are atwww.rafflebox.ca/raffles?province=ns.

VOTER INFORMATION ELECTORS LIST
The municipality will soon be mailing out postcards, to notify residents about the 2024 Municipal and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP) Election happening this fall. This postcard will provide information about how to ensure you are on the list of electors, and how to update your information if required.

Eligible residents will have until August 30 to confirm and/or update their voter details to ensure they’re on the list of electors for this fall’s Election, taking place on Saturday, October 19. Information about your voter status will be available online (www.halifax.ca/election) with assistance available via the municipality’s voter helpline (902.490. VOTE) beginning July 22 until August 30.

For more information about the 2024 Municipal and CSAP Election, residents can visitwww.halifax.ca/election, emailelection@halifax.caor call902.490.VOTE.

AID FOR WATER SUPPLY & SEPTIC
With another hot summer and little rainfall, the level of ground water supply has made it challenging for residents with on-site wells. There is a by-law 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.

This program has been expanded to include any repairs and upgrades to your septic system. Basically, this is a voluntary loan program where you are taking out a loan from the Halifax Regional Municipality that will place 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 can be found atwww.halifax.ca/home-property/property-taxes/inadequate-water-supply-program

If you need help completing the application form, please emailbylawc1000@halifax.caor call 311 or 902.490.4000 for assistance.

HOW WELL IS YOUR 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, however it is dependant 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



BE FIRE SMART THIS SEASON
A reminder to be aware of local conditions before you have a campfire or set off fireworks. March 15 through to October 15 is wildfire risk season. Help reduce wildfire risk by following the HRM Open Air Burning By-Law and respecting the provincial fire weather index map, which can be found at www.novascotia.ca/burnsafe