ICE & SNOW WINTER MAINTENANCE
The NS Dept. of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal is now known as the Dept. of Public Works (NSDPW) which does most of the snow removal, ice control and winter road maintenance services in District 2. Our local NS Highway Depots are in West Chezzetcook at and Spry Bay. If you want to e-mail any roadway concerns to the attention of the NSDPW Operations Contact Centre, please send it to: DPW-OCC@novascotia.ca or call 1-844-696-7737. The DPW-OCC will log it, assign a service request ticket number and will send it to the appropriate supervisor. The Province also has an on-line “plowtracker” tool that allows citizens to track snowplows on a provincial zoom-in map app: http://novascotia.ca/tran/winter/plowtracker.asp Or you can see current highway conditions by going on-line to their roadside camera website: https://novascotia.ca/tran/cameras/ Drivers can also get up-to-date road conditions across Nova Scotia by calling the SNOW-line: 1-800-307-SNOW (7669) or 511 or 1-888-432-3233 or 902-424-3933 or just go on-line at: http://novascotia.ca/tran/winter and click on the Road & Weather Report Icon Button. The SNOW-line is updated regularly at 7 AM, 1 PM and 5 PM or more frequently in case of a major storm event. Or you can follow them on Twitter @NS_DPW. If you should have any concerns or complaints about snow removal service in your area that is served by NSDPW, then please contact your respective MLA offices: Eastern Shore MLA: Kent Smith at 902- 989-3772 ( kent.smith@novascotia.ca ) or Preston MLA: Angela Simmonds at 902-433-1494 ( angela.simmonds@novascotia.ca )
With respect to the communities of North Preston, Westphal, and almost all of the Lawrencetown subdivision streets, these areas are done under the auspices of HRM with a Performance Base Contracted Out Service provider. If you have any concerns about HRM Snow and Ice Control winter road maintenance, please call 311 or e-mail: contactus@311.halifax.ca or myself. For information about HRM Winter Road Maintenance, please go to: www.halifax.ca/transportation/winter-operations. So be sure to have proper tires and emergency supplies kit on hand in your vehicle. Please drive carefully this winter season.
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 on this site pending weather conditions:
More than 70 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 McCoy’s 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-site: http://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/swimming-and-water-safety-tips-and-resources/swimming-boating-and-water-safety-tips/ice-safety
NATIONAL FLAG DAY & HERITAGE DAY
The Federal Government has proclaimed February 15th as National Flag of Canada Day. In 1965, fifty-seven 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
And be sure to wave our own Provincial and Municipal Flags too! Heritage Day is the third Monday in February each year is set aside as an annual reminder of our storied past and an opportunity to honour the remarkable people, places and events that have contributed to this province’s unique heritage. This year’s date is February 21st. So please enjoy the day! More info at: https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/ or https://novascotia.ca/lae/employmentrights/NovaScotiaHeritageDay.asp
Heritage Day 2022 will honour the Landscape of Grand Pré to mark the 10th anniversary of it becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site. Let’s celebrate the rich heritage of this landscape which features an exceptional traditional agricultural settlement still in use today and an iconic place of memory for the Acadian diaspora.
38th NS AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH
February 2022 will mark the 38th year Nova Scotians have celebrated African Heritage Month. This year’s provincial theme: “Through Our Eyes: The Voices of African Nova Scotians” , recognizes the longstanding history of people of African Descent in the development of Canada. This theme explores and examines the effects of anti-Black racism, and honours the voices of African Nova Scotians who blazed the trail for change. African Nova Scotians are a distinct founding people in Nova Scotia who have been a key part of the province’s culture and history since 1605. They 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 community events and functions at: https://ansa.novascotia.ca/calendar. Events are subject to change especially during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To update any program date or event details, contact ansa_newsletter@novascotia.ca or by fax: 902- 424-7189. You can also check out their Facebook Page: Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs.
6TH ANNUAL HBFF22 – FEB. 24TH-27TH
The Halifax Black Film Festival (HBFF) is a dynamic, refreshing and audacious festival whose ambition is to encourage the development of the independent film industry and to promote more films on the reality of Black people from around the Globe. The HBFF is glad to celebrate diversity within the Black communities through films that matter.
More details: https://halifaxblackfilm.com/ #HBFF22
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: outreach@homewarming.ca or by calling: 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 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.
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 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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