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NATION FLAG DAY & HERITAGE DAY

The Federal Government has proclaimed February 15th as National Flag of Canada Day. In 1965, fifty-four years ago, the old Red Ensign Flag with the British Union Jack was replaced with the Red Maple Leaf. To know more facts about our nation’s flag and/or other official symbols of Canada, go to: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/official-symbols-canada.html   Be sure to wave our own Provincial and Municipal Flags too! Heritage Day, the third Monday in February each year, is set aside for communities to celebrate local, provincial and national heritage. This year’s date is February 18th. Enjoy Heritage Day! https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/

 

35TH NS AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH

February 2019 will mark the 35th year Nova Scotians have celebrated African Heritage Month. This year’s theme is: “Our History is Your History”. It will pay tribute to African Nova Scotians and their long legacy and history — an important part of NS culture and heritage. This theme also aligns with the United Nation’s International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD). The goal of DPAD is to strengthen global cooperation in support of people of African descent as they strive for full inclusion in all aspects of society. Our Province has over 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities, dating back over 400 years. These communities have a unique and rich legacy of resistance, resilience and triumph that needs to be shared with all. The Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA) provides event listings as an information sharing service. Check out the ANSA web-site for its calendar of special events and functions at:  https://ansa.novascotia.ca/african-heritage-month. Events are subject to change. To update any program date or event details, contact:   ansa_newsletter@novascotia.ca   or  fax 902-4247189 or check out their Facebook Page at: Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs .

AFRICAN NS HISTORY CHALLENGES

The African Nova Scotia (ANS) History Challenges is a collaborative initiative of the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI) and various partners in education from across the province. The goal of these challenges is to encourage discussion about ANS history in our schools. All students and teachers are invited to participate. Submissions will be accepted up until Friday, February 8th. Awards include prizes, gifts and bursaries totaling up to $3,000. For more information, go to: www.dbdli.ca

HRM COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM

HRM is now accepting applications for the 2019-2020 Community Grants Program. The deadline for applying is March 31st, 2019. Application forms and program guidebooks are now available on-line at: www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/business/grants/CommGrantsProgram2019_Guidebook.pdf    or by calling 311 or pick one up from a HRM’s Citizen Service Access Centres or get it at my district office or by making an e-mail request to:  nonprofitgrants@halifax.ca. The HRM Community Grants Program is a centralized program that provides annual cash grants to registered non-profit organizations and charities located throughout HRM. There are two types of grants: (1) a project grant of up to $5,000 and (2) a capital grant of up to $25,000. Grants are one-time and project-specific within the following funding sectors:  Environment; Recreation & Leisure; Affordable & Supportive Housing; Emergency Assistance; Neighborhood Safety; Community History; Community Diversity; and Arts & Crafts. More information can be found at: www.halifax.ca/business/doing-business-halifax/community-grants

ICE THICKNESS SAFETY REPORTS

HRM has an ice thickness testing program   during the winter season, but there may still be noticeable thin ice and open water in many lakes across the region. Throughout the winter months, ice thickness reports for lakes tested by

the municipality will be available to the public at any time by calling 902-490-3577 or 311 for the HRM Citizen Contact Centre. Reports are updated weekly at this web-site pending weather conditions: www.halifax.ca/recreation/programs-activities/skating/ice-thickness   More than 100 lakes, mostly in the urban core, are tested regularly by HRM Parks and Recreation staff. There are 8 tested sites in or near our district area. They are: Lake Loon, Lake Major, Long Lake in North Preston, Nelson Lake in East Preston, Lake Echo by the Community Centre and McCoys Pond by Churchlake Drive in Lake Echo, Porters Lake and Middle Porters Lake. The municipality reminds all citizens to ensure ice conditions are safe, and to exercise extreme caution when walking, skating or participating in other outdoor events on frozen lakes this winter season. For more information about Ice Safety Tips, please visit the Canadian Red Cross web-page site: http://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/swimming-and-water-safety-tips-and-resources/swimming–boating-and-water-safety-tips/ice-safety

COMMUNITY WELLNESS GRANTS

The Southeastern Community Health Board (SECHB) will be hosting a “Celebrating Community Wellness” event on Tuesday, February 26th at 6:30 PM in the NS Black Cultural Centre at Main Street / Hwy #7 on Cherry Brook Road. There will be a showcase of local groups and grant presentation of Wellness Funds to this year’s recipients. For more information, contact SECHB Co-Ordinator:   monique.mullins-roberts@nshealth.ca  or call 902-460-6869 .

 

HOMEWARMING AID PROGRAM

HomeWarming helps Nova Scotians living on a low wage save money on heating bills and feel more comfortable in their homes. For free, no catch! HomeWarming offers no-charge energy assessments and home upgrades to income-qualified homeowners. If an efficiency audit discovers that upgrades will help reduce heating and power bills, they will be installed at no cost to the homeowner. Clean Foundation and Efficiency Nova Scotia are working together to offer low-income homeowners these free energy efficiency improvements. Clean looks after electrically heated homes, while Efficiency NS takes care of houses with non-electric heat sources. The program is supported by NS Power and the NS Government. Interested homeowners seek more information at www.HomeWarming.ca   or you can speak confidentially with a Service Advisor about program eligibility by e-mail to Sonia Smith : outreach@homewarming.ca   or by telephone: 902-818-1926 or Toll-free 1-877-434-2136. There is No Application deadline.

NS HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Provincial Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) provides help to lower-income Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. You qualify for this program if you pay a heating bill for either fuel oil, propane, or electricity at your current residence and meet ONE of the following criteria:

~  live alone with an income of $29,000 or less;

~ live with others and have a combined household income of $44,000 or less;

~receive Income Assistance from the Department of Community Services, or;

~ receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement from Service Canada.

If your personal or financial situation has changed since last year, you still may qualify. Examples of changes include becoming widowed, getting divorced or legally separated, losing your job, or having the custody of your children change. To find out if you qualify, please contact Service Nova Scotia by phone: 902-424-5200 or Toll-free at 1-800-670-4357. You can find the HARP 2017-18 application form at: http://novascotia.ca/programs/heating-assistance-rebate-program/    Rebates range from $100 to $200. You must apply by March 31st. Send your completed and signed HARP application form, heating bill or receipt, and any other required documents to: NS Heating Assistance Rebate Program, PO Box 641, CRO   Halifax, NS B3J 2T3 or fax it to 902-428-2164.

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