The HRM Community Grants Program awards annual cash grants to registered non-profit organizations located within our Municipality. The focus of these grants is primarily the provision of modest financial assistance to community-based volunteer initiatives. The 2016 Community Grants Program received a total of 104 applications for a combined total of $1,086,996.62 in funding requests. However, due to limited funds, only 60 awards for a combined total of $$457,651 was recommended.

In our own particular district the following organizations were approved for grant awards:

Residents are encouraged to participate in HRM`s Curbside Give Away Weekends – June 4th & 5th and again on October 15th & 16th.

There are some rules to follow if you wish to partake. Please go to this link for more information about how and when to put out your stuff:
www.halifax.ca/recycle/CGAW.php.

Discover the “Hidden Treasures” in your neighbourhood and our communities. Share your curbside finds on Twitter at #hfxcurbside or send in comments by e-mail at: WasteLess@ Halifax.ca or on Facebook.com/HalifaxRecycles or @hfxgov
GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS

At this time I wish to congratulate the Class of 2016 for all High School, Community College and University Students. May each of you have many life successes and best of luck in your future endeavours. Be sure to have a Safe Grad!

Each year HRM presents a Citizenship Award to outstanding Grade 9 students throughout the Municipality. The recipients are chosen based on qualities of leadership in their school and community and commendable performance in the courses in which they are enrolled.

In 2016 the following students from our District were bestowed with this honour:

Great job by these outstanding students!

During Environment Week there are many special dedicated days to heighten the awareness of various environmental causes:

For more information and details about Canadian Environment Week (CEW) visit: www.ec.gc.ca/sce-cew/ or on Twitter – #enviroweek2016.

During CEW and throughout the year we are urged to reflect on the many ways we can take action to protect and preserve our natural surroundings. Following CEW is “Rivers to Oceans Week,” which is an opportunity to work together to create an understanding of watersheds, our connection to fresh and salt-water environments and what everyone can do to protect them.

Beginning May 14th the Mobile Food Market will launch as a 21-week pilot with deliveries of fresh produce to the communities of North Preston, East Preston, North End Halifax, Fairview, and Spryfield – communities selected because they have a higher proportion of people who often struggle with food access, including seniors, immigrants, single parents and low-income families. Another consideration was proximity and accessibility to a grocery store. The food will be sold at prices comparable to discount grocery stores and will be delivered every two weeks via a Halifax Transit bus directly to these neighbourhoods.

The Mobile Food Market was made possible through funding provided by the United Way Halifax, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, Evergreen CityWorks and Doctors Nova Scotia. The Mobile Food Market is a partnership between Partners for Care, Public Health (Nova Scotia Health Authority), Halifax Regional Municipality, and the Ecology Action Centre and is supported by local community organizations and businesses including United Way Halifax, Loblaws / Atlantic Superstore and Elmridge Farm Ltd.

The following community partners are providing leadership to the project in the pilot communities:

The market is a real community affair with all of the local organizations helping to make it happen. People can shop for nutritious food, visit with their neighbours, get information on health and well-being and try out new food.

Dates for the Mobile Food Market are Saturdays :

It will be at the East Preston Recreation Centre, 24 Brooks Drive from 9:30-11:00 AM and then up to the North Preston Community Centre, 44 Simmonds Road, from 11:35 AM-1:05 PM.

For more details go to: www.mobilefoodmarket.ca or https:// www.facebook.com/mobilefoodmarket/

HRM is offering free swimming lessons, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, and junior lifeguard programs at HRM’s supervised outdoor beaches for the upcoming summer session.

Registration is required in order to take part in these classes. Registration will start at 10 AM on June 10th and will continue until classes are filled. You can register online at HRM’s “Rec Connect”: https://eservices2.halifax.ca/recconnect/Activities/ ActivitiesAdvSearch.asp or call 490-6666.

Lifeguard supervision is from July 2nd to August 31st. HRM has a variety of beaches, lakes and outdoor pools.  Our district has six locations:

All of these have some level of HRM supervision including daily maintenance and weekly water testing. For more information please call the HRM Beach Line 490- 5458 or go online to www.halifax.ca/rec/Beaches.html. Have fun in the sun and be safe when in the water.

With the hot weather finally upon us, motorists are reminded that the interiors of trucks and cars can quickly heat up, making it intolerable for pets. An animal can be overwhelmed by heat in as little as ten minutes. The temperature in a parked vehicle – even in the shade with partly open windows – can reach a level high enough to seriously harm or even kill your pet.

If you find an animal in a vehicle that appears to be in distress, follow these steps:

One of the duties of our local Community Health Boards (CHB) is to submit a community health plan to the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA). The community health plan lets NSHA know about the health of our people, communities, partners, and community service providers.

Our health is impacted by so many things. Here are some indicators from earlier health plans:

Our community health plan depends on hearing from as many people as possible. There is an online opportunity to provide input. It would be appreciated if you can take the time to complete this survey with only 14 questions. Taking part in this survey is your choice and you do not have to answer any questions you don’t want to. All of the information provided is confidential. Some of the information may be used in the community health plan but you will not be identified. However, it will help to lead discussion about the communities’ priorities and how we can create a healthier community.

The 2016 survey can be found at either of these two online links:
https:// survey.nshealth.ca/TakeSurvey.aspx or

www.chbhealthsurvey. ca

Thanks for your input!