WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL 

I like to welcome all students back to school. Your education is important for you to succeed in life. All motorists need to be extra careful with students walking, cycling, commuting, or travelling by school bus. 

HRM HERITAGE INCENTIVES 

The HRM Heritage Incentives Program (HIP) provides grants for exterior conservation work for privately-owned and municipally registered heritage properties. The aim of the HIP is to encourage the preservation of registered heritage properties. The program provides matching grants of up to $15,000 for residential properties and $25,000 for commercial properties to support eligible exterior conservation work. Applications will be accepted between September 1st to December 1st, 2024 and may be submitted by email: carter.beaupre-mcphee@halifax.ca Or by mail: HRM Heritage Property Program, PO Box 1749, Halifax, NS B3J 3A5 Or in person at the HRM Planning & Development Services Counter; 5251 Duke Street, Duke Tower, Suite 300, 3rd Floor in Halifax, NS 

www.halifax.ca/home-property/heritage-properties/grants-funding-heritage-properties/heritage-incentives-program

FIRESMART WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT

There will be a FireSmart Wildfire Hazard Assessment presentation on Monday, Sept. 9th – 7 PM at the Lake Echo Community Centre. Kara McCurdy – HRM Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager will present a report done for the Ponderosa Drive area of Lake Echo and the area east of there. This study is the result of a grant application to the FireSmart Canada’s Neighbourhood Recognition Program. https://irp.cdn-website.com/b56bb8a7/files/uploaded/PONDEROSA_DRIVE_WILDFIRE_RISK_ASSESSMENT_2024.pdf 

This speaks to the general conditions in the neighbourhood and does not provide details on individual properties. To learn more about the Fire Smart program: www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/fire-prevention-safety/home-safety/firesmart . Residents can sign up for the Advanced Home Assessment through the HRM Contact Centre at 311 or www.halifax.ca/form/hrfe-firesmart . Citizens should take the FireSmart101 training at: www.firesmartcanada.ca

HRM is also planning on doing more community risk assessments throughout the municipality. One lesson that was learned from the Upper Tantallon 2023 Wildfire is the need for quicker emergency egress onto the 100 series highway where neighbourhoods and communities abut these corridors but cannot readily access them. Here are links to the reports about that 2023 Wildfire incident:

https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/240806rci01.pdf

https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/231017rci05.pdf

NATIONAL TREE DAY & FOREST WEEK

Tree Canada is encouraging Canadians to come together in appreciation of trees, their natural beauty, and the many benefits they provide. National Tree Day is Wed. Sept.25th and National Forest Week is Sept. 22nd-28th. This year’s theme is: “Two-eyed Seeing: Welcoming all knowledge to sustain our forests.” You are invited to learn more about Canada’s forest heritage and to raise awareness about this valuable and renewable resource. Forest are fundamental to our economy, culture, traditions, history and of course our future! Find out more information at www.cif-ifc.org and www.treecanada.ca

NS STR RULES EFFECTIVE SEPT. 30th

Last year, HRM made some uniform policies and regulations across the region to regulate the short-term rental (STR) market. HRM Council approved amendments to the Regional Plan, Secondary Municipal Planning Strategies, and all Land Use By-laws, aiming to ensure consistent rules for STRs. These municipal changes came into effect last year on Sept.1st 2023. However; the Province delayed implementing their rules and regulations until now. The new provincial regulations will take effect Sept. 30th, 2024. Under the new NS registration requirements all tourist accommodations and STRs will be required to provide proof of compliance to municipal bylaws and where applicable, written consent from the property owner, condo board and proof of primary residence. There will be annual registration rates ranging from $50 to $2,000 per unit depending on the accommodation type and location. Higher rates may apply to STRs in areas where the need for housing is greater (downtown urban zones). Unregistered or non-compliant STRs can be subject to fines up to $100,000. It should be noted that annual registration rates for traditional tourist accommodations such as motels, hotels and inns are not changing. And the Province intends to engage the services of external support to monitor them to ensure compliance. The provincial STR registration for the 2024-25 season has opened in mid August, so applications should be received mid-September to allow time for processing and approvals prior to the Sept. 30th deadline. More information and updates on the new NS STR regs are available at: https://novascotia.ca/changes-tourist-accommodations-registry/

HRM also made by-law amendments requiring platform operators (AirBnB, VRBO) to collect and remit the marketing levy if the accommodation has been facilitated or brokered via the Internet and the payment, compensation, or other financial benefit has taken place through the platform operator.This change came effective as of Sept.1st. These administrative changes will be communicated to STR and platform operators by HRM and it will be updated on the Municipality’s marketing levy website. www.halifax.ca/business/doing-business-halifax/marketing-levy . And HRM Council agreed to forgive fines and issue refunds for fines charged to STR operators who had $0 to remit, per monthly remittance, for the reporting periods of October 1st, 2023 to March 31st, 2024. As of April 1st, 2024, HRM resumed issuing and collecting fines for late remittances, including operators who have $0 to remit. Links to report & presentation:

https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/240326rc1512.pdf

https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/240326rc1512pres.pdf

EXPANDED WILDERNESS AREAS

Nova Scotians are invited to share their thoughts on 16 proposed new or expanded wilderness areas and nature reserves. Designating these sites will be one more step in helping Nova Scotia protect 20% of its land and water by 2030. The Province has launched an online survey on July 19th. Public input will be accepted until Sept. 20th. The survey is available at: www.novascotia.ca/nse/protectedareas/ There are 16 proposed new designations areas across NSbut 3 of them are in HRM:

• Five Bridge Lake Wilderness Area (additional seven hectares)

• Ship Harbour Long Lake Wilderness Area (additional 66 hectares)

• Toadfish Lakes Wilderness Area (additional 41 hectares)

44th ANNUAL TERRY FOX RUN

Back in 1980, Terry Fox took his Marathon of Hope through our Eastern Shore communities along Highway #7. Now we can keep his dream alive that cancer can be beaten. There will be Terry Fox Runs on Sunday, Sept.15th in Lake Echo, Musquodoboit Harbour and Sheet Harbour. Find a Run near you and register at: 

www.run.terryfox.ca or www.terryfox.org

If you can’t make it to a run, please sponsor someone who will be participating. Or you can text “terryfox” to 45678 to donate $5, $10, or $25 that will be added to your phone bill. @terryfoxfoundation #terryfoxrun #NoMatterWhat 

 CRAIG’S CAUSE 18th ANNUAL TREK

Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society will have its 18th Annual NS Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Walk – Run – Bike Trek, in support of Pancreatic Cancer education, awareness and research. Come out to the Porters Lake Provincial Park on Saturday, Sept. 28th Registration opens at 9 AM and event starts at 10 AM. This bike, walk, run trek event is for all ages and abilities. For more details about registering or donating for this event, call Toll-Free: 1-877-212-9582 or at: www.craigscause.ca