VETERANS’ WEEK OBSERVATIONS

Each year, from November 5th - 11th , hundreds of commemorative ceremonies and events will take place across our country to commemorate Veterans Week. These will be opportunities for all Canadians to recognize the contribution our Veterans and Military personnel have made and to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of Canada. Please remember them at the 11th hour, on the 11h day, of the 11h month in your own special way. Be sure to buy a Poppy and take a timeout to observe a two-minute moment of silence. 

We Shall Remember Them! Lest We Forget!

2024 HRM VOLUNTEER CONFERENCE

The annual Volunteer Conference is an opportunity for volunteers to connect, celebrate and learn relevant skills to build stronger volunteer capacity throughout the municipality. Delegates representing a variety of organizations and causes will participate in two training workshops, networking activities, a keynote speech and a seated meal. This year’s workshops will cover topics such as: 

Basic non-profit financial management; 

Burnout; 

Co-generational volunteering;

Gender diversity; 

Engaging youth; 

Public speaking; 

Fundraising; 

Marketing and promotions;

Newcomer and immigrant experiences in the volunteer sector; 

Community events; 

Volunteer recruitment and retention; and

Working with different personalities. 

Friday, November 15th, from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, at the Delta Hotel by Marriot Dartmouth at 240 Brownlow Avenue in Burnside.

Register: Using course code 00095610, Registration can be done online at www.halifax.ca/myREC or call the registration line at 902.490.6666.

For group registration or if you are having trouble registering contact Darren Hirtle at Darren.HIrtle@halifax.ca or 902.476.1184

Cost: $35 – early bird pricing (until October 21st) or $50 – regular price (starting October 22 nd). The deadline to register is Monday, November 4th.

2025 VOLUNTEER AWARDS

Each year the Mayor and Regional Council recognize the extraordinary contributions of outstanding individuals and groups who volunteer their time and skills to provide services and programs in our communities. This annual event puts a spotlight on amazing people who give of their time in our municipality.

There are three categories in which to nominate deserving volunteers: Youth, Adult, or Group. 

Please note that volunteer nominations for 2025 will open on Wednesday, November 13th and close 5:00pm on Wednesday January 8th, 2025. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to volunteerhelp@halifax.ca.

SENIOR SNOW REMOVAL PROGRAM

There is a snow removal program available to seniors (65 years of age or older) and for persons with disabilities throughout all areas of HRM. You must reside in a single dwelling home that you own or rent. Its mandate is to provide a resource to clients for the removal of snow for safe access. The program offers assistance to clear snow from front steps and walkways, ramps and access to fuel tanks and/or firewood. The program does not apply to the clearing of driveways.

The program is limited to those households with a combined total income not exceeding $35,000. The program is NOT available to landlords. 

To make more enquiries about this program, please call 311 HRM Contact Centre or the YMCA at 902-483-3678. Or go to these web-sites for further details: 

www.halifax.ca/transportation/winter-operations/senior-snow-removal and/or https://ymcahfx.ca/snowremoval/ 

The registration process is “First Come, First Served” due to the demand for this program. All previous year’s clients should be called directly to ensure their renewal in the program. Once we meet our maximum capacity, then the program will be closed, and new applicants will be placed on a waitlist. All applicants placed on the waitlist will be contacted if a space opens up for them in the program. It is important to note that only applications with proper documentation will be considered for the program. Completed applications may be faxed to 902-423-8530 or e-mailed to: ssr@halifax.ymca.ca or can be mailed or dropped off in person to: 

YMCA Senior Snow Removal

Community YMCA, 2269 Gottingen Street

Halifax, NS B3K 3B7. 

Download forms at:

https://ymcahfx.ca/wp-content/uploads/SRP-Details-and-Application-Form-2024-2025_Alex-Jackson.pdf

TRADE-IN MACPASS TRANSPONDER FOR STICKER

Drivers still using the hard-shell MACPASS to cross Halifax Harbour bridges (HHB) will have until the end of the year to switch their transponder for the more efficient sticker version. HHB announced it was phasing out the aging hard-shells transponders by December 31st, 2024 as part of efforts to upgrade its tolling system to provide the best possible service. Completing the swap is as simple as navigating to www.mymacpass.com and requesting as many stickers as required. The sticker(s) will be mailed within three business days and the customer can then complete the swap transaction online in less than 10-minutes. Before placing a new sticker in vehicles, users are reminded to activate new stickers and deactivate their hard-shell transponders. The swap does not impact any other aspect of user’s account. An offline option for getting stickers is by visiting the MACPASS Customer Service Centre at 471 Princess Margaret Boulevard in Dartmouth (below the MacKay Bridge Plaza). 

Deactivated hard-shells can be recycled by passing them to any bridge attendant, or take them to the MACPASS Service Centre, or dropping them off at special bins at Access Nova Scotia offices in the HRM.

WEST PETPESWICK SOLAR FARM REDUCED

Due to NS Power utility constraints, Solarbank Inc. is required to adjust the size of their proposed community solar project. The project capacity will be reduced from a 7 MW to 2.2 MW. For the most recent updates and additional information about the Community Solar Project, please visit their website at: 

https://www.airenewable.ca/community-solar/west-petpeswick-solar-project/

OFFSHORE WIND UPDATE

The Committee for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia has continued to focus on writing the Draft Report in September. Posting of the Draft Report to the Registry is planned for mid-October in order to incorporate additional feedback that has been received from participants. The Committee is committed to delivering a comprehensive and accurate report which will allow for a more meaningful public comment period. A 60-day public comment period will commence immediately after the report is posted. This time provides an opportunity for all participants of the Regional Assessment to provide their comments and feedback on the Draft Report. The Final Report will be submitted to the Federal Minister on January 23, 2025. All information about the Regional Assessment is available on the Regional Assessment Registry page. https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/83514?culture=en-CA

HRM CIVIC EVENTS GRANTS

HRM Civic Events administers two different event grant programs: the Marketing Levy Special Event Reserve (MLSER) Grants and the Regional Special Events Grants. The MLSER Grant program provides financial support for non-profit organizations to host large scale special events in Halifax Regional Municipality that support and promote tourism and business development. Funding for the MLSER Grant program is generated from the hotel tax that applies to overnight sleeping establishments. The program has four funding categories: Distinguished Events, New Events (Emerging), Signature Events and Major Hosting Events.

The Regional Special Events Grants program provides financial support for non-profit organizations that host events which foster positive community development, celebrate heritage, arts and culture, build bridges between diverse populations, enrich quality of life for residents and improves civic pride in the Municipality. To be eligible for funding, events must be open to the general public to attend, held within the geographical boundaries of the HRM and be fourteen days or less in duration. The program has four funding categories: Community Celebrations, Established Community Events, Significant Anniversaries and Cultural Events & Showcases.

The application deadline for these grants is November 30th, 2024 for events starting after April 1st, 2025. For more information, contact Program Contact: Shari Dillman, Events Grants Administrator at 902.497.3729 or by email: dillmas@halifax.ca 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

My thanks and appreciation to all of you that voted for my re-election to be the HRM Councillor for District 2. I feel blessed and it will be my honour to serve you once again in this capacity. I will continue to provide this monthly newsletter and use social media tools such as my and HRM web-pages, X, Instagram and Facebook sites to keep you informed. I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead. Hopefully my endeavours over the next 4 years will earn and retain your respect and gain the confidence from those that did not vote for me. I want to acknowledge the campaign effort by the other candidate Will Gilligan. Your vote of confidence in me will reinvigorate my commitment to you all. Thank you once again.