PROVINCE DOWNLOADS ROADWAYS

On June 1st, approximately 300 lane kilometres of local roads will be transferred from the Province of Nova Scotia to the municipality in two areas (Areas 1 and 4). The first impacted area (Area 1) includes roads within Boutilier’s Point, Ingramport, Head of St Margaret’s Bay, Lewis Lake, Hubley and Upper Tantallon. The second area (Area 4) includes roads within East Preston, Lake Echo, Mineville, and the western areas of Lawrencetown. As of June 1st, HRM Department of Transportation & Public Works (TPW) will be the new service provider for general and winter maintenance to these areas. As a part of that road download, the stormwater / ditch maintenance service will be provided by Halifax Water. Property owners in Areas 1 and 4 “may” become stormwater customers of Halifax Water if any runoff water comes off your property and discharges into any stormwater infrastructure downstream from your residence. Halifax Water will notify all property owners whether or not they will become customers. New stormwater customers in these areas will not be billed until early 2023.

To learn more, visit  www.halifaxwater.ca/stormwater-expansion. Both provincial and municipal DTPW staff have been preparing for a seamless transfer so residents should not experience any disruptions in services throughout the transfer period. Citizens can visit Explore HRM at  www.halifax.ca/home/maps/explorehrm  to view information related to this transfer of roads, and to determine whether they are located in one of the impacted areas (Areas 1 and 4). Residents may use the search bar to enter their civic address. The ExploreHRM data sets are subject to change before the June 1st transfer date.

HRM LAKEWATCHERS PROGRAM

HRM has launched a new Lake Water Quality Monitoring Program called “LakeWatchers”, which will conduct environmental monitoring in 76 lakes across the municipality. The purpose of the program is to collect data, such as pH levels, to inform future actions to maintain or improve a lake’s health. The data will be publicly available through future staff reports to Regional Council and through the municipality’s Open Data Portal:  https://catalogue-hrm.opendata.arcgis.com/  Data collection will take place twice a year through internal sampling (e.g. sampling done by staff or contractors) and/or trained community teams (LakeWatchers). HRM will leverage existing water quality community groups and also welcomes new volunteers to collect data to support the program. The LakeWatchers Program is separate from regular water quality testing done for the HRM supervised beach/ swimming sites. This program will run every summer from July 1st to August 31st. To learn more about how you can help, visit:  www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/energy-environment/lakes-rivers/lakewatchers

ENVIRONMENT WEEK:  

JUNE 3rd – 9TH

During #CanadianEnvironmentWeek (CEW) there are many special dedicated days to heighten the awareness of various environmental causes such as World Environment Day (June 5th) and World Oceans Day (June 8th). For more information about CEW, go to:  www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environment-week.html. 

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. Other ways to celebrate include:

• Take a nature hike

• Join a group dedicated to conservation

• Create a bird or butterfly habitat

• Visit a nature sanctuary or botanical garden

Be sure to use #CanadianEnvironmentWeek to share on social media with your environmental awareness posts.

WHERE ARE THE ILLEGAL DUMPS?

HRM is not responsible for removing illegally dumped material from private property. Any impacted property owner can place the dumped material roadside for collection on their regular garbage day or make their own arrangements for the material to be removed from their property. With the revised HRM Solid Waste regulations about illegal dumping with the “reverse onus” clause now in effect, the municipality will be embarking upon an educational and enforcement program about waste diversion and alternative disposal methods for example to small quantities of Construction & Demolition (C&D) materials can be placed by roadside as part of the regular residential collection.

Furthermore, HRM is seeking specific location information of various illegal dump sites that plague our communities throughout the region. Please send me an e-mail with photos and precise information such as closest civic address or GPS Co-ordinates. HRM is even looking at social media websites and apps such as  www.litterati.org  to map out and create an inventory of dumpsites. From this collected data, HRM will work with the Province to formulate a clean-up strategy. For more details, go to:  www.halifax.ca/home-property/garbage-recycling-green-cart/illegal-dumping

NS LITTER PICK-ME-UP REINSTATED

Now that Covid-19 restrictions have been relaxed, the NS Adopt A Highway has reinstated their community clean-up programs. Check their website:  www.nsadoptahighway.ca/register-a-clean-up/  or social media for information on their litter pick-me- up programs. They are accepting new registrations now. So, if you wish to schedule a clean-up or

have any questions, please email them at

info@nsadoptahighway.ca

NSHCC OLD HOME – KINNEY PLACE

UPDATE:

Due to unexpected construction delays because of supply chain issues, the grand reopening ceremony of the Old NS Home as the new Kinney Place will be postponed until further notice. Please stay tune for status updates.”

On Sunday, June 26th Akoma will be officially reopening the Old Home as the renewed Kinney Place as an intergenerational community hub with an all-day breakfast café, hair salon with aestheticians, seniors drop-in centre and various offices. There were plans to commemorate the original opening of the NS Home for Colored Children 100 years ago, but the Covid-19 pandemic reduced that to a virtual ceremony instead. More information at:  www.Akoma.ca  or Facebook: Akoma Family Centre / Holdings Inc.

HRM 2022 CITIZENSHIP AWARDS

Every 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. This year the following students from our district were bestowed with this honour:

• Oyster Pond Academy – Calliauna Arnold

• Marine Drive Academy – Ryleigh Muir

• Ross Road School – Ryley Brightman-Kennedy

• Gaetz Brook Junior High School – Seth Burbridge 

Great efforts by these outstanding students!

GRADUATION CONGRATULATIONS

I want to congratulate the Class of 2022 Graduates in High School, Community College, and University. Even though the Covid-19 Pandemic disrupted your school year somewhat, you had the opportunity to stay in school and finish the academic year in person with your classmates. May each of you find your own path in life that leads to many successes and the best of luck with your future endeavours.

LAST MINUTE REC RENTAL BOOKING

HRM is expanding its online rental booking services for recreational rental facilities. This service increases residents’ access to indoor and outdoor facilities while also making the process more convenien.As of May, residents can book last-minute rental spaces online for all-weather sport fields, recreation centre gymnasiums, and outdoor sports courts (including basketball, pickleball, and tennis courts) for individual and group use. Last minute bookings for ice rentals was launched in February with participating arenas including Sackville Sports Stadium, Lebrun Arena, St. Margaret’s Centre, Zatzman Sportsplex, RBC Centre and HRM 4-Pad. For more information and to access the booking system, visit   www.halifax.ca/lastminute