Outgoing president Sandy Cross is recognized by the Region of Queens for her years of service. From L-R: Sandy Cross, Volunteer Brian Muldoon and Mayor Darlene Norman. Photo Ed Halverson

Residents braved Monday’s storm to save Seaside Community Centre.

The meeting was called after president of the Seaside board, Sandy Cross announced she is stepping down.

A new executive board was needed to keep the Centre from closing.

Fourteen people stepped forward from the crowded hall and volunteered to serve.

Having worked with the community centre for 27 years Cross described the results of Monday night’s meeting in one word.

“Relief. Relief that this place is going to see new blood and it’s going to survive.”

Seaside Centre serves the communities of Beach Meadows, Eagle Head, West Berlin and East Berlin.

According to the board’s bylaws, members of the executive must belong to one of those communities.

Cross says one of the first priorities of the new board should be to change that bylaw.

“We talked about it before, about opening it up because that will allow more people to come in with more ideas. Not only that, new blood is good.”

Cross was surprised when towards the end of the meeting, Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman came forward to read a proclamation from the municipality recognizing her long years of service to Seaside Centre.

“That was totally, that just blew me,” said Cross. “It really did ‘cause I was not expecting that at all. I’m pleased. They even got me my favourite flowers. Everyone should have this opportunity.”

Mayor Norman is glad to see so many people offer their time to keep the centre going.

“This strikes a heart in the people of this community and that’s what’s important,” said Norman. “That people came forward and rallied behind Seaside Recreation Centre.”

The new board will meet December 1 to select their executive and begin devising future plans for the centre.

Cross says while she is stepping away, she will continue to support the Seaside Centre and the new executive.

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The roll up window at Queens Place is now open. Photo Ed Halverson

Visitors to Queens Place no longer need to leave the facility to grab a snack.

The Region of Queens has come to terms on a lease with the owner of the Greenfield General Store, Stew Jenkins to operate the canteen.

It officially official opened Thursday November 18.

Jenkins says the canteen will keep regular hours and be open for special events.

“It will be a good place for people to come and have a meal or just a cup of coffee when they’re watching a game or hot chocolate or whatever.”

Jenkins had previously run the canteen and sees this as an opportunity to work together with the Region to serve visitors to the arena.

“There’s room for growth,” said Jenkins. “The last time we were sort of guessing at what we could do but now we’re working together to grow it.”

Jenkins says Joan Murphy will manage the operation, providing a menu of homemade soups and stews as well as hot dogs, hot drinks and snacks.

The municipality has been looking for someone to operate the canteen for months.

Jenkins says after a discussion with Mayor Darlene Norman, things moved quickly.

“This was a whirlwind,” said Jenkins. “We signed the papers Friday and Joan went in on Monday and started cleaning. The food order arrived later that day and [she]started stocking and then Tuesday she did a little bit of trial runs on things.”

Jenkins says Murphy will be hiring a couple of more staff to run the canteen.

He says the advantage of having a business outside of the canteen is he can pull more staff from the Greenfield General Store to help out when busy events are taking place.

“It’s a benefit it gives our staff out here, a couple of them, extra hours where they might be cut back to three or four days a week. Now they can get some part-time work in there as well,” said Jenkins.

Canteen hours and the new menu are available on the Queens Place Emera Centre Facebook page.

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Queens MLA Kim Masland. Photo Ed Halverson

The MLA for Queens has contracted COVID-19.

In a release issued Wednesday, Kim Masland confirms the diagnosis and says she is unsure how she may have picked it up.

Masland who is also minister of Public Works and House Leader, says she is fully vaccinated and is tested regularly, most recently on Remembrance Day.

She began to feel unwell Sunday and was tested Monday.

The Queens MLA was scheduled to attend the official opening of the new infant care centre at Queens Daycare Tuesday but cancelled as a precaution.

Masland received the positive test result Wednesday morning.

In her statement Masland says, “This shows how contagious this virus is and how important it is to be vaccinated and follow public health measures. I am not feeling well, but thankfully my symptoms are mild and I know that the vaccine is preventing me from becoming seriously ill.”

She expressed concerns for those with whom she has recently been in contact.

Masland says this is a reminder that COVID-19 is still with us and it is critical to continue to follow public health protocols.

She urged people to continue to get vaccinated and to stay home if they are feeling unwell.

Masland says she will continue to work with public health and requests privacy as she recovers.

Her office remains open to address constituent concerns.

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Premier Tim Houston. Photo Communications Nova Scotia

Premier Tim Houston calls recent comments by an Amherst pastor appalling and disgusting.

Nova Scotia public health officials have traced three deaths from COVID-19 back to a faith group meeting held between October 25 and 29 by the pastor of the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Amherst, Robert Smith.

In a sermon posted online November 14^th, Smith acknowledged the three deaths calling them, “part of God’s plan.”

Houston didn’t hold back in his response.

“The comments downplaying the seriousness of what’s happening, the comments minimizing the loss of life are completely unacceptable and totally disgusting.”

Following an investigation, Smith has been fined $2,422, the maximum allowed under the Health Protection Act.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang shared the Premier’s outrage.

“I am both angry and frustrated,” said Strang. “People chose not to get vaccinated, they gathered with both vaccinated and unvaccinated people against existing rules, and these choices have had significant impacts upon others.”

Dr. Robert Strang. Photo Communications Nova Scotia

The faith gathering has been linked to the outbreak of COVID at the East Cumberland Lodge long-term care home. According to public health, the home has had 31 residents and 10 staff test positive for COVID-19, and two of the infected residents have died. Another death in Northern Zone has also been linked to the gathering.

Dr. Strang also announced during Wednesday’s COVID briefing that over 80 percent of Nova Scotians are now double vaccinated.

He praised Nova Scotians for the high vaccination rates but had strong words for those who choose not to get their shots.

“To those who could be vaccinated but aren’t, who are focussing only on themselves, believing misinformation and false narratives and more and more reacting with inappropriate anger, shame on you,” said Strang. “You want to share in the benefits of Nova Scotia’s strong COVID response but you’re not willing to carry your share of the work.”

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Interior of the new infant care facility at Queens Daycare. Photo Ed Halverson

Parents of infants in Queens have a childcare option for the very first time.

The Queens Daycare Association officially opened their infant care centre for children as young as four months old on Tuesday.

Chair of the association’s board of directors Scott Christian says he knows from personal experience how essential the service will be for families who are new to Queens.

“I’m new to the community, I’ve only lived here for five years and I asked people, where do infants go? Where does your baby go when you needed to go back to work? It’s largely, that gap is filled by grandma or an aunt or uncle or a close family friend. But outside of that there’s really no opportunities,” said Christian.

The association began applying for grants in 2017 to build the $400,000 infant care facility.

The work was completed though a $250,000 grant received from the province and $150,000 in private donations.

Toys wait for kids in the new play area. Photo Ed Halverson

Already, three of the eight available infant spaces are filled and Christian expects now that the doors are open the remaining spots will be snapped up.

Queens Daycare Association is also licensed to provide care for 42 children in their afterschool, toddler and pre-school programs and there are almost another 40 on a waitlist to get in.

Christian says the need for licensed childcare in Queens is obvious.

“There were other facilities in the community who got out of it because of how challenging it is to be solvent. There’s really no opportunity for for-profit childcare in rural communities, so it’s up to non-profits like ours in the charitable sector to step in,” said Christian.

Scott Christian (center) cuts the ribbon to officially open the centre as board members and invited guests look on. Photo Ed Halverson

The proverbial paint is barely dry and already Christian says the association is looking to expand.

“We are the sole provider of licensed childcare in the community and with a waitlist like that and with the demographic trends, with so many new families moving to the area and properties being bought up, and whatnot, we know that there’s just going to be an increase in need for it.”

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Photo Ed Halverson

The group running the Jack Fancy dog park in Milton wants to turn calendars into comfortable seating.

Queens Community Dog Park Association is selling calendars featuring pictures of member’s pets in the hopes of raising $4,000 towards the installation of new shaded benches along the park trail.

Association president John Simmonds anticipates the calendars will be in high demand.

“We have a lot of people in Queens County and South Shore generally, where, they’re not into smart phones and computers and what not,” said Simmonds. “They just love to have a calendar up on the wall.”

Since the dog park was officially opened last September the number of members has fluctuated between 50 and 100.

Simmonds says the park was designed for pets but has also allowed their owners to come play.

“The thing with the dog park, I’ve found, is it becomes a social gathering place for the owners,” said Simmonds. “The dog is almost an excuse for the owners to get out and have a chat with their friends and the dogs benefit as well.”

Simmonds says production of the calendar was paid for through advertising, leaving all the proceeds to go directly to the park.

They will be sold at retailers throughout Queens at a cost of $15.

A list of locations will be posted on the Queens County Community Dog Park Association Facebook page.

Anyone wishing to join can contact Angela Dixon following this link to the group’s Facebook page.

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NDP Leader Gary Burrill and MP Rick Perkins. Photo Ed Halverson

An eventful week in Nova Scotia politics.

Leader of the provincial NDP Gary Burrill announced he is stepping down as the head of his party.

Burrill was named NPD leader in 2016, winning a seat in the riding of Halifax-Chebucto in 2017, which he still holds today.

Burrill says party membership has seen a renewal with younger voters and he is stepping aside leaving the party in a stronger position than when he assumed leadership.

“We gained a member in the election and now it’s the case that every single member of our caucus is someone who has come there since I became leader our party,” said Burrill. “I think now is the right time for us to renew ourselves, also in leadership, so that we can build on these strengths and be prepared to put our program before the people in the next election.”

The party will meet in the coming weeks to decide how the process to replace Burrill will unfold.

Burrill says NDP members will select his replacement within the year.

He says he looks forward to working with whomever is chosen and intends to continue to represent constituents in his riding.

“I will be right there. I won’t be 10 feet from our new leader or from the rest of our caucus. I am deeply immersed in our project and mission to form the next government of Nova Scotia. But I think it is my responsibility to choose the moment when it is best for us to renew ourselves in leadership as we move towards that goal, and I think that the moment for that is now,” said Burrill.

On the national stage, newly elected Member of Parliament for South Shore-St.Margaret’s Rick Perkins has made his way into Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s shadow cabinet.

Perkins will be the official opposition’s chief critic on Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

The first-time MP says it’s an honour to be chosen from among 118 caucus members to hold the government to task.

“I’m a kind of an elbows-high kinda guy,” said Perkins. “I’m not a shrinking violet so, I go into the corner with my elbows high and I dig the puck out and that’s what I plan to do for the fishermen in our community.”

Perkins says he will get to work on the file right away, going to bat for fishermen being asked to repay the Fish Harvesters Benefit, working to resolving the moderate livelihood fisheries and preparing for the launch of lobster season in a couple of weeks in two of the country’s most profitable grounds in LFAs 33 and 34 on Nova Scotia’s south shore.

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Seaside Centre. Photo Damien van den Berg

The Seaside Centre in Beach Meadow needs a to find a new board of directors after President Sandy Cross announced she will step down from her role November 30.

Currently, Cross is the only executive at the community centre and says it can’t continue to operate as a one-woman show.

“Well, if nobody steps up on the 22 of November, when we have the special meeting, then we have to look at selling off the stuff that’s in the building and then selling the building,” said Cross.

The public meeting is being held in a last-ditch attempt to recruit community members to form a new board.

The Seaside Centre currently provides rental space and regularly hosts quilters, crafters, fitness classes, yoga, and a cheer team in addition to sporadic special events and suppers.

Cross is also concerned as the centre is more than just a recreation hub, serving as a centre where residents can fill water jugs, take a shower or do laundry in the event of an emergency.

The province handed over Seaside Centre to the municipality in the 1990s when it stopped being used as a school.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says if the centre goes up for private sale, there’s nothing the region can do.

“There’s no clause in the agreement that reverts this property back to the municipality,” said Norman. “You and I know people are willing, very willing, to purchase beachfront property.”

After being involved with Seaside Centre since 1994, Cross is hopeful the community will rally to keep it going.

“Bring in new ideas and new blood, new set of hands and feet because there is so much potential for that building,” said Cross

The public meeting will be held 6:30pm November 22 at the Seaside Centre for anyone interested in volunteering.

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Photo Ed Halverson

The public can once again attend Remembrance Day ceremonies this year.

The events were limited to invited guests in 2020 due to restrictions around the COVID pandemic.

Chairman of the poppy fund for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 38 Louis Landry says ceremonies will go ahead this year but all events must take place outside.

“The Liverpool ceremony was always held within the theatre with a wreath-laying session out at the actual cenotaph after the ceremony,’ said Landry. “Because of COVID this year, we’ve decided not to have it indoors, we’ll have everything outdoors as we did last year.”

COVID protocols have been relaxed but Landry says anyone attending one of the nine services being held across Queens County will need to wear a mask and follow the six-foot social distancing rules.

Landry says the legion banquet that would traditionally follow the ceremony has also been canceled.

Instead, people are invited to stop by the legion following the ceremony to speak veterans and members.

Anyone wishing to enter the legion will need to show proof of vaccination before entering.

A complete list of Remembrance Day ceremonies and locations is available on the Legion Branch 38 Facebook page.

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Four new Western Zone SANE nurses. Photo Shana Vidito

Four nurses are joining the Sexual Assault Nurses Examiner program in the province’s Western Health Zone.

The SANE program launched in Yarmouth two years ago to provide victims of sexual assault access to medical and forensic services.

It has since been adopted in all four health zones across Nova Scotia.

Western Zone SANE coordinator Shana Vidito says the service is dedicated to caring for and providing choices to victims of sexual assault.

“They can come in and just receive medical attention. Which is us looking at their wounds and then in addition, or not, they can choose, they can add on, if they want to do a SAFE kit of a rape kit,” said Vidito. “That process involves gathering all that evidence that’s on their body, maybe taking pictures, taking DNA swabs, documenting physical injuries and collecting that for the RCMP, should they decide to hand it over to the RCMP or store it with the SANE program.”

The SANE program is available to people 13 years and older within seven days of an incident.

The four new recruits will bolster supports at regional hospitals in the Annapolis Valley and South Shore bringing the total number of SANE nurses covering that area to 20.

Vidito says everyone working in the SANE program providing frontline support are experienced nurses, taking on this role on top of their day-to-day responsibilities.

“They’re doing this above and beyond their regular jobs which is incredible in these COVID times because these nurses are burnt out and these nurses are just so dedicated to the work, they’re incredible,” said Vidito. “They’re just amazing people.”

Vidito expects the new additions will join the regular rotation of SANE nurses in December.

Anyone wishing to receive confidential and non-judgemental support for sexual assault from a SANE nurse can do so by calling 1-833-577-SANE (7623) anytime.

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Sailboats line up along a dock at Brooklyn Marina. Photo Ian Clark

Brooklyn Marina is thriving during the pandemic.

The organization just released their annual report which shows the number of people involved with boating has increased dramatically in the past year and a half.

Membership is up from 69 in 2020 to 86 this year, while the number of docks being used has also risen from 47 last year to 63 in 2021.

Marina president Ian Clark says people were tired of being stuck at home and were looking to get outside.

“The pandemic has really seen recreational boating really take off in the past one and a half to two year and I think basically, what it came down to is that, people were tired of isolated and literally, they wanted to get out, you know, a breath of fresh air,” said Clark.

He says they’ve reached capacity at their docks however, members can still bring boats and launch them on a daily basis. Anyone wishing to find a permanent home for their boat needs to get on a wait list.

Clark is not surprised the marina has become so popular.

“The area around Brooklyn Marina is fantastic,” said Clark. “The fact that you’ve got a fairly sheltered bay on the open ocean. But the other thing of course, is you’ve got Coffin Island which you can go and visit.”

Clark says some of their members have been with the marina since it’s founding almost 25 years ago.

He says having people in the organization who know the history is an amazing resource and he’s equally excited about many of the new faces he is seeing.

“Getting people coming in from different communities or even out of the province is that, they have had membership at marinas elsewhere and come up with ideas that we’ll take a look at.”

Clark says those ideas are welcome now that many of the pandemic restrictions have been eased and the marina can return to hosting more social events.

“We’ve got a really good bunch of people on the marina board who are constantly coming up with great ideas. 2022 is going to be pretty exciting.”

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One of the test holes at Kejimkujik Seaside. Photo Ed Halverson

Parks Canada and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia are working together to preserve Mi’kmaq heritage before renovations begin at Kejimkujik Seaside Park.

The park has been closed since October 20 to repair infrastructure damage as a result of Hurricane Dorian.

Some trails will be repaired, and others rerouted.

Parks Canada and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, as represented by Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO) along with Boreas Heritage Consultants have planned all aspects of the archaeological dig together to ensure the Mi’kmaq perspective is at the forefront.

KMKNO staff archaeologist Kait MacLean says it’s important to preserve and protect Mi’kmaq heritage.

“One of the ways that we can protect Mi’kmaq heritage is to locate it. We know that Mi’kmaq people were here, we know that Mi’kmaq people would have used this landscape. Being able to protect that heritage before infrastructure goes in is really important to us. The work that we’re doing with Parks Canada allows us to have that Mi’kmaq perspective into how the work is planned and how it is undertaken,” said MacLean.

A 10-person team from Boreas Heritage consultants is digging test holes at five metre intervals along the proposed trails to ensure nothing of significance is being disturbed.

Archaeologists Rebecca Dunham and Kait MacLean at Keji Seaside. Photo Ed Halverson

Parks Canada Terrestrial Archaeologist Rebecca Dunham says construction crews won’t have to wait too long to begin their work.

“Things are moving along pretty quickly. Probably will be another couple of weeks. If something is found though, things change. They’ll be more tested required and that may prolong the actual testing timeline a bit. It will be a few weeks anyway,” said Dunham. “The construction crews will move along as the archaeology is completed. It will be a progressive process.”

MacLean says by working together, Parks Canada and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia have ended up with what she calls, better archaeology.

“Through this process we’ve found sites in areas where Parks [Canada] previously wouldn’t have necessarily thought were high risk areas or would’ve necessarily looked,” said MacLean. “I think that’s a real positive outcome of this, is that we’ve been able to see real achievements from it. We have found sites that previously would’ve been unrecorded. I think that’s a great success.”

Crews will continue to work on the trails through the end of the year.

Keji Seaside is expected to reopen in January.

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Photo Ed Halverson

Meals on wheels is coming in hot to North Queens.

At the start of November, the VON program expanded from a frozen meal service for people who have trouble leaving home to include a hot lunch delivery service.

Community support services program coordinator Heather Kelly says the program has evolved from its initial purpose of serving people who struggled to cook for themselves.

“Nowadays, the program is sort of expanding to people that don’t have time or don’t have time to get out,” said Kelly. “For them, it’s just easier to have a meal delivered to them.”

Hot meals will be provided off the regular menu at the Hollow Log café for a cost of $6 per meal, subsidized by the VON.

Volunteers pick up the meals each day at 11:00am and spend two hours delivering to homes around North Queens.

Kelly says making regular contact with people in their homes can be a lifeline for some.

“When we deliver everyday to somebody’s house that sort of indicates that there’s somebody that’s home all the time, they don’t get out a lot,” said Kelly. “Which is great, because then they have a visit everyday from somebody that will become a familiar face to them, a familiar, friendly face, and somebody that’s basically checking on them everyday to make sure that they’re okay.”

Kelly says the hot meals launched November 1 to 14 clients but has capacity to serve 25 people.

Anyone interested in volunteering or making use of the Meals on Wheels service can reach out to her by e-mail at heatherkelly@von.ca or phone 902-350-2971.

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Legion poppies. Photo credit: Ed Halverson

The Canadian Legion hopes eased pandemic restrictions means more money in their poppy fund this year.

Poppy Fund Chairman at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 38 in Liverpool Louis Landry says their fundraising efforts were hamstrung in 2020 when volunteers were not permitted to solicit donations in person.

“Last year we were kind of handcuffed because of COVID,” said Landry. “[We] couldn’t actually go out and raise any monies, other than to deposit the poppy boxes in local businesses.

He estimates about $10,000 was raised during that campaign, roughly half the amount they would normally take in.

Landry says that $10,000 went to good use over the past year as the legion bought a TV for Hillsview Acres, wheelchairs for the hospital and gave money to the food bank to provide meals for veterans and their families.

Landry is optimistic the return to in-person poppy donations will see an increase in giving.

In fact, he has already seen the difference.

“Myself and a friend were at the Superstore on the opening day, that was Wednesday, for three hours and we probably raked in close to $500.”

Landry is also hoping the easing of restrictions will also mean a greater turnout at cenotaph services this Remembrance Day.

The public is once again invited to attend services this year after they were closed to everyone but officials and participants in 2020.

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Main Street, Liverpool. Photo Ed Halverson

The South Queens Chamber of Commerce is dusting off an old idea in the hopes of bringing more focus to the current members.

In recognition of small business week, Executive Director Heather Kelly began posting profiles of small business owners to Facebook.

Kelly says the profiles were part of a photo project completed ten years ago by Katy Hopkins and Stephen Cooper to showcase some of the businesses.

“All of these businesses are, basically, still operating in Queens County, which I thought was really great too,” said Kelly. “The longevity of it all was a really great piece to highlight.”

Until recently, the photos occupied the walls of South Shore Opportunities office.

When that organization downsized their space, the pictures found a new home with the Chamber of Commerce.

Kelly says most of the businesses she profiled aren’t high visibility, main street style enterprises.

South Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Kelly. Photo Ed Halverson

They’re people who have carved a niche in the market and could work from anywhere and choose Queens.

“It just goes to show, you know, being able to work here in Queens County, work remotely, work from home, that sort of thing and they all love doing business here. [It’s a] great place to live, that’s why they’re here,” said Kelly.

She would like to see the excitement created for the businesses and chamber of commerce by the profiles to continue.

“I would love to do this project again, highlight some new businesses and do this type of thing every year on an annual basis.”

Kelly is pleased to say that going forward, the photos will be publicly displayed at Work Evolved on Main Street.

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Photo Ed Halverson

Special interest groups looking to increase the tax burden on their neighbours may have to pony up first in the Region of Queens.

Council discussed a new policy at their last meeting to levy a $250 fee for special interest groups looking for an area rate.

Mayor Darlene Norman says the fee will only be charged if council decides to take the area rate request to a public meeting.

Norman says anytime a public meeting is called it involves staff time, paperwork, and advertising and, just like any business, those costs need to be recovered.

“We need to be that, because the more we give away, then the more the taxpayer pays for things that may not be pertinent to them,” said Norman.

An area rate is a tax paid by property owners within a set district of the municipality.

Community groups can ask the region for an additional percentage to be added to a property tax bill to be turned over to that group and used within the community.

Council also talked about a change to the policy to allow homeowners who do not make Queens their permanent residence, 365 days a year, to also vote on proposed area rates.

There was some discussion about how absentee owners would cast a vote but in the end Norman says the answer came down to doing what was practical.

“You would have to physically, be present, in order to vote at such area rate meetings,” said Norman.

Council will vote on the motion at an upcoming meeting.

*A previous version of this article indicated council has already passed the motion. In fact it was discussed and will be voted on at an upcoming meeting.

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Contributed by Terrena Parnell

A Christmas tradition is returning to Liverpool.

The 11^th annual Liverpool Fire Department Christmas parade is scheduled for November 28.

Co-chair of the organizing committee Terrena Parnell says the parade was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, but with restrictions easing this year it’s time to bring the event back.

“We felt that with the gathering limits lifted that it’s a great time to try and help people get into the Christmas spirit after the last 19 – 20 months that we’ve had,” said Parnell.

She and co-chair Diane Warner posted the notice to social media at the start of the week that they would once again organize the event and already over a dozen groups have committed to participating.

Parnell expects people will see all their favourites return this year including: marching bands, floats, community groups, four-wheelers, fire trucks and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Even though folks will be in a jubilant mood, Parnell says everyone still must practice COVID precautions including wearing masks and social distancing.

All participants walking or riding in the parade must show proof of vaccination.

Organizers are also working on providing a link to a live-stream of the parade on their Facebook page for anyone uncomfortable with being out in a large group.

Parnell and Warner have set themselves a tough task, trying to put together a parade in a month but Parnell says they are undaunted.

“The first year that Diane and I took it over, it was a month, and we had a huge parade,” said Parnell. “We’re hoping to have the same thing this year, with it just coming back after a year hiatus, we’re hoping that we’re going to have a humungous parade.”

Parnell says the community really gets behind the event with the Liverpool Fire Department, Region of Queens, and RCMP all donating time and resources to make it happen.

The parade will start from the Queens Place parking lot at 6:00pm and make its way through Liverpool before ending at Main and Market streets.

Anyone wishing to participate can contact Parnell (902-350-2762) or Warner (902-354-8177) through the Liverpool Fire Department Christmas parade page.

Parnell says she’s excited to once again be in the parade and look back on people who have come out to watch and share the Christmas spirit.

“I get to see the faces of kids and that is the most important thing,” said Parnell. “It’s all about community and it’s all for the kids.”

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MP-elect for South Shore-St.Margaret’s Rick Perkins. Photo contributed by office of Rick Perkins

The recently elected member of parliament for South Shore-St.Margaret’s will be sworn in this week.

Rick Perkins defeated incumbent MP Bernadette Jordan to win the seat in September’s federal election.

Perkins says the process to take your seat in the House of Commons after winning an election is a long one.

“Elections Canada has to certify the results in the riding first, which took about a week. Then they send it off to Elections Canada in Ottawa which takes another week or two. They actually do it by Canada Post,” said Perkins. “Then once Elections Canada have certified the result, they transfer it to the Speaker’s office in the House of Commons who then has a whole process where it has to be published in the Canada Gazette and then they schedule your swearing-in.”

Perkins will be sworn in this Wednesday.

In the month since he was elected, Perkins has been busy flying to Ottawa for orientation with other new MPs and setting up his constituency offices in Bridgewater and Barrington.

Perkins will take over the same space in Bridgewater occupied by his predecessor at 129  Aberdeen Road.

He is also establishing a satellite office in the municipal building in Barrington to service constituents in Shelburne County.

Perkins says often when an outgoing MP is vacating their office, files they had been working on will be destroyed for privacy issues and he doesn’t want anyone to fall through the cracks.

“If there were active cases with the previous MP’s office, we are totally unaware of them. So, obviously, encouraging people who had an active case to try and reconnect with the office,” said Perkins.

That can be done by contacting Perkins through e-mail: rick.perkins@parl.gc.ca or by phone (902) 527-5655.

During the election campaign, Perkins was a strong proponent for the fisheries and is set to continue his advocacy for that group in Ottawa.

In the meetings he has had with Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole, Perkins has been very clear about his desire to work on the fisheries file.

“He’s even started to call me Mr. Fish when he introduces me to people. I hope that’s done with respect, but I don’t mind being called Mr. Fish ‘cause that’s a critical industry in our community,” said Perkins. “I gather from that, that he has some idea and inclination about what I’m going to be fighting for.”

Perkins expects his offices will be online and ready to serve constituents later this week.

His swearing-in ceremony will be broadcast live on Facebook at 2:30pm Wednesday.

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Region of Queens mayor Darlene Norman. Photo Ed Halverson

The mayor of Region of Queens is cautiously optimistic about the province’s plans to tackle the housing crisis.

Darlene Norman says there are many issues to address, and the devil is in the details.

“Well, what’s good in it is they’re actually taking action. How good that action will be, who knows?” said Norman.

Last week, Premier Tim Houston and Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, new powers for municipalities and a package of supports aimed at creating more available housing.

The province is spending $35 million to support 1,100 new affordable housing units across Nova Scotia and immediately providing 425 new rent supplements.

Norman isn’t confident many of those new spaces will be made available outside Halifax.

“I guess it’s a step, but they really need to look; we need more senior housing, definitely, [there’s] a long-term waitlist for those,” said Norman. “We need more low-income housing through community services, we need more of those, and we just need more long-term affordable housing in rural Nova Scotia.”

Norman is also concerned about government’s decision to extend the rent cap until the end of 2023.

During the pandemic, the previous liberal government capped annual rent increases at two percent per year.

Norman understands the need to keep people in their homes but worries extending the cap another two years will put landlords in a difficult spot.

“I’m uncertain if I would want to be the owner of rental properties, especially rental properties of places that might include fuel or other things,” said Norman. “When you look at the escalation of, just a thing of paint or a new door or a new window. I think what this will do is highly decrease the apartment owner’s willingness to do any repairs whatsoever.”

Norman says she hates the thought that anyone is homeless in the Region and thinks it’s time the municipality formed partnerships to tackle the issue head-on.

“So what do we do?” asked Norman. “Do we all bound together as municipalities down here on the South Shore and sit and think, what are we going to do and take our actions to the province? Do we need to start coming up with our solutions down here? I think maybe we do.”

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Queens Place ice surface. Photo Ed Halverson

The finishing touches are underway as Queens Place prepares to host the 2021 Curling Canada Home Hardware Curling Trials.

The top two teams in the men’s and women’s division advance to the Tim Hortons Curling Trials and a chance at representing Canada in the 2022 Olympics in China.

One of the teams hoping to punch their ticket to Beijing is Liverpool native Jill Brothers.

Host Committee Chair Greg Thorbourne says despite the local connection, organizers won’t be showing any extra support for Brothers.

“We are running a national championship and every team has the same meaning to us, as a committee,” said Thorbourne. “We can’t play favourites or anything else or we’d never host another event.”

Crews have been working to convert the ice from hockey to curling since Thursday morning.

Thorbourne says the process to create the curling sheets takes some time.

“There’s probably a 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of ice over top of the lines for hockey. What we do is we scrape that down until it’s level, perfectly smooth. Then we start putting our water on and after we have it to the thickness that we want we’ll put the white paint over that,” said Thorbourne.

After that, lines, rings and logos are either painted or stenciled in to create the curling rink.

Thorbourne says one of the top icemakers in Canada, Dave Merklinger from British Columbia has been flown in to oversee the production.

His two person staff will include a member from Port Hawkesbury and Graham Conrad from just up the road in Bridgewater.

A small army of volunteers will be supporting all aspects of the event.

The first rock will be thrown at 5:00pm Monday and play will continue through the week, culminating in the finals on Sunday October 31.^.

Thorbourne says tickets are still available by following this link.

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Premier Tim Houston announces efforts to combat the housing crisis. Photo Ed Halverson

Nova Scotia will maintain rental control until the end of 2023.

Housing advocates and opposition MLAs have been calling on the new government to extend rent control measures put in place during the state of emergency.

Premier Tim Houston announced Wednesday the measures will continue to limit rent increases to two percent per year beyond the state of emergency as part of an effort to address the lack of available housing.

Up to this point, the premier has not supported rent control but says it is necessary as a short-term solution.

“There’s been a lot of talk about rent control,” said Houston. “The long-term solution to the housing crisis does not rest in rent control. It’s been tried and it simply does not work, long-term. The only answer is more supply to meet the market demands.”

Government also announced $35 million in funding for 1,100 new affordable housing units.

The units will be based across Nova Scotia with 425 new rent supplements coming available now.

Those will be added to the 4,000 supplements already in place, each with an average amount of $327 per month.

Two months into their mandate, Houston says his government is trying to correct course on a number of issues facing the province.

“We’re on a train in healthcare and housing that’s going in a negative way. We as a government have to stop that negative momentum and then turn it the other way, in a positive way. These things take time,” said Houston.

Changes were also announced to the Residential Tenancies Act to provide protection for tenants against “reno-victions”.

Until now landlords weren’t required to provide any advance notice to a tenant who was to be evicted for renovations.

The updated legislation calls for landlords to provide three months notice to tenants in that situation.

Landlords may also have to provide up to three months rent to the tenant as composition for eviction.

The revised Act also says landlords may not charge different rental amount for tenants on month to-month or yearly leases.

Changes will come into effect once the bill has passed through the house and received royal assent.

Houston says his government is determined to be accountable to Nova Scotians and will tackle the issues facing the province head on.

“No more of government looking the other way. It’s time to act and that’s what we’re doing here today,” said Houston. “It’s a first step. It’s a big step with many parts but still only the first step.”

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Damage from vandals on the Trestle Trail Bridge. Photo Kathy Mack

Vandals damaged part of the newly completed Trestle Trail bridge in Liverpool over the weekend.

Queens Rails to Trails Association helps maintain the bridge and president Brian Hatt says a safety rail was kicked out from a viewing platform sometime Sunday evening.

“It’s the first incident we’ve experienced since we did the renovation or, restoration,” said Hatt.

Closed off and on over the past two years to allow for a complete rebuild of parts of the structure, the bridge just had interpretive panels installed in August.

The rebuild was made possible by the efforts of the Queens Rails to Trails Association, private donors as well as both the Region of Queens and provincial government.

The trail is well used by locals and tourists alike and Hatt is disappointed to see someone deliberately damage part of the bridge.

“It was engineered to be safe but I don’t know there’s anything you can build that will protect against vandalism,” said Hatt.

The damage was brought to the attention of Queens Rails to Trails Association and a member was out Monday making repairs.

Hatt says they will try to reinforce the  area so it can’t be broken so easily in the future.

He asks if anyone sees the bridge being damaged to call RCMP or contact him directly.

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One of the many views along the trails at Kejimkujik Seaside Park. Photo Parks Canada

Anyone looking to enjoy the fall colours at Keji Seaside will be sadly disappointed.

Kejimkujik National Park Seaside will be closed starting Wednesday October 20 to repair damage the park suffered during Hurricane Dorian.

Site Superintendent Jonathan Sheppard says extensive trail washouts and coastal erosion from the 2019 storm has forced Parks Canada to close off the Port Joli Head Trail since it hit.

“For us it just really bought into clear picture the challenges that we face with coastal infrastructure in a time of increased, both frequency and also, intensity, of storms,” said Sheppard.

Kejimkujik received just over $1 million dollars in federal funding last year to help rebuild parts of the inland park and the seaside.

Sheppard estimates the number of visitors to Keji Seaside at between 15 and 20 thousand every year.

He says waiting until after the main tourist season had ended to begin work made sense to lessen the impact on visitors.

It also gave the park time to develop a plan that didn’t just rebuild what was already in place but one that also considers the impact climate changes will have on the visitor experience in years to come.

“We’re not just filling the potholes and putting like with like,” said Sheppard. “We are really looking at what it means to build a climate resilient trail network in a coastal area.”

Sheppard says parts of the trail will be moved further inland to avoid erosion, the routing will shift to avoid some hills, making it more accessible and some areas will be reinforced with rock to keep the trail from being washed away by storms.

This is not the first time part of Kejimkujik has been closed for repair in recent years.

Jeremy’s Bay Campground in the inland park was shut for all of 2020 to refresh facilities and infrastructure that had been used since the 1970s.

Sheppard says during that shut-down, Kejimkujik staff learned it was easier and safer to complete large-scale renovations without visitors around.

Sheppard expects work on Keji Seaside to wrap up near the end of December.

Visitors will once again be welcome to walk the trails and explore the coast early in the new year.

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Photo Ed Halverson

Fire prevention experts say people should take a few simple steps before turning on the heat this fall.

As temperatures drop homeowners are powering up their electric baseboard, cranking their oil furnaces and lighting their fires.

Captain John Long with the Liverpool Fire Department says a few precautions can keep people safe as well as warm this season.

“It’s the time of year to change the batteries in your smoke detectors,” said Long. “We’re getting to the wood burning season so make sure everybody’s cleaning their chimneys before they start that.”

Long says anyone who isn’t comfortable with heights or doesn’t have the proper equipment should look for help before attempting to clean their own chimney.

“You can do it yourself if you have the gear but it’s, I’d say better, it’s safer to have somebody else do it, especially somebody that’s trained. They’re going to do a good job and you’re going to be happier for it. I’m not saying don’t do it yourself but if you don’t have the equipment to properly do it, let somebody do it for you,” said Long.

Many people also like to tidy their yards by raking and burning their leaves.

Long says to better reduce the chance of those fires getting out of control people should take advantage of the municipality’s yard waste pick up days.

“Bag it up and put it out to the end of the road or if you’ve got a trailer, haul it to Western Head to the Region’s yard waste site. It’s free. It doesn’t cost you anything other than your time. It’s a much better option,” said Long.

Regardless how your home is heated, Long says having someone who knows what they’re doing come and check out your heating system can give you peace of mind in the cold months ahead.

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Liverpool Fire Engine. Photo Ed Halverson

The Liverpool Fire department will be more nimble in their responses thanks to a $20,000 provincial grant.

The fire service is one of 65 organizations across Nova Scotia, which will benefit from the Emergency Services Provider Fund.

Captain John Long says the department will be replacing their existing hydraulic combination cutter/jaws of life tool and ram with new lightweight battery powered models.

“It’s going to make us much more versatile,” said Long. “For that car that’s 300 meters well off the road that’s really hard to get to, this certainly makes life a lot easier.”

Long says the equipment will be ordered right away but is concerned shortages in manufacturing caused by the pandemic could delay delivery.

“But I’m not sure,” said Long. “If they have them on the shelf, within a few weeks. If they don’t, who knows?”

Long says they’ve been using the existing hydraulic tools for years.

They are still fully functional and will continue to be used until the new equipment arrives.

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