Visitors swarming to Queens to beat the heat are devastating one of the best beaches in Nova Scotia according to the area’s MLA.

Kim Masland says she’s been hearing from residents that conditions around Carter’s Beach are as bad as ever.

Once the hidden jewel of Queens County, people now come from across the province to lie on its white sand and swim in the Caribbean blue waters.

Masland went to see the beach for herself and was troubled by what she found.

“I was shocked,” says Masland. “When I started to walk down the path I was overcome by the stench of a huge pile of rotting garbage into an old buoy that had washed up, before I even got to see the beach.”

She’s heard from residents with concerns about cars parking along the side of the road, creating a situation that can be dangerous for emergency vehicles to get through and a lack of proper washroom facilities that has visitors climbing over the dunes into ecologically sensitive areas to relieve themselves.

The member of the legislative assembly for Queens-Shelburne says Carter’s Beach is not being promoted in any official capacity and has largely been discovered through word-of-mouth on social media.

“But people are hearing about it and they’re coming. So, we need a balanced approach to make sure that we are looking after the eco-system that is there, and still allowing people to come and enjoy the beach. If we don’t have the proper facilities, then we’re not doing our job,” says Masland.

The Region of Queens has offered to cost-share with the province the construction of a parking lot to direct traffic away from the secondary road.

But that suggestion was rejected by provincial officials.

The Carter’s Beach Liaison Committee, composed of staff from the departments of Lands and Forestry and the Environment along with concerned residents and municipal councilor Kevin Muise, also proposed the province build permanent dug outhouses ahead of the summer 2018 season.

The Region of Queens offered to pick up the costs of having the outhouse septic tanks pumped on a regular basis, but that request too, was denied.

Masland wants the province to build a parking area to prevent congestion along the roads near the beach and to install more permanent washroom facilities.

Minister of Lands and Forestry Iain Rankin says the province has no plans to do either.

Rankin says parking issues are dealt with by the local RCMP detachment and his department’s focus is on protecting the ecologically sensitive area.

“We have piping plover habitat, we have rare lichen and moss and the list goes on and on of these things. That’s why there’s signage put up to try to keep people off those areas,” says Rankin. “We did agree to put the port-a-potties on site. We’ll continue to promote the pack in, pack out, and review any signage that we need to, to make sure the message is clear.”

Rankin says Lands and Forestry staff do come to Carter’s Beach on a regular basis to empty trash receptacles and will continue to do so.

He encourages people looking for parking and washroom facilities to instead travel to one of the other nearby beaches.

”We don’t want to add infrastructure to entice more traffic to the area. We try and promote Summerville and Thomas Raddall as the areas that have full services and allow for more recreation,” says Rankin.

Region of Queens mayor David Dagley agrees with the minister’s assessment that the services do exist in the other two parks, but says convincing people to change their habits is the real challenge.

“People make a decision as to what beach they want to visit and that’s difficult to control,” says Dagley.

He says even if non-local traffic was barred from Carter’s Beach Road people would still find their way to the beach.

“There’s access points on a number of short roads,” says Dagley. “Carter’s Beach is accessible from all ends and in the middle, and it’s unfortunate.”

The mayor says he shares Minister Rankin’s concerns about protecting the fragile ecosystem at Carter’s, which is why the infrastructure is so badly needed.

“We’re hoping for a solution soon. Because the longer this lingers, the more degradation we see in the dunes,” says the mayor.

Masland says the issues at Carter’s Beach existed before she took office and she has raised them repeatedly with the ministers involved since she has been in the legislature.

She says she will continue call on government to put the infrastructure in place.

“Step up to the plate, do your job, put in the facilities, put in the parking that we need and we won’t have to listen to me holler in the legislature every time.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

At the last meeting, council voted to go ahead with a Government For All framework.

The aim is create an action team made up of community members to address diversity and inclusion.

Mayor David Dagley says as welcoming as Queens County is, council recognizes there is still much work to do to ensure everyone is represented in their decisions and actions.

He says it’s important for members of the community to take the lead on this initiative.

“And it’s my firm belief that those that may be subject to discrimination or racism are the ones in the best position to raise the issues so that we understand. They can present their concerns in a manner that we can react to, and certainly improve.”

Dagley says the region is looking to recruit members of the Mi’kmaq, Black, LGBTQ2S+ communities among others to provide their perspectives on life in Queens.

“We need to improve, we need to change, we recognize that, and how that actually looks going forward is going to depend upon these community volunteers that are going to participate.”

The action team is being assembled now with the expectation they begin to ramp up their work in the next few weeks.

“They’re going to take a few months to get that under their belt and certainly have those discussions, and at that point, they would be ready for the diversity and inclusion coordinator to step in and assist them. We’re not looking at day-one to hire a coordinator before we get volunteers on the ground, so to speak in that committee.”

The region is also planning to hire a paid diversity and inclusion coordinator on a two-year term beginning this fall.

Dagley says the coordinator will work with the action team and present their recommendations to council.

“And a report be issued to council on a yearly basis at least, and more often if necessary, so that we can actually look at our policies, under their advise and see if we can amend to make them work better and be more inclusive to those that are living in Queens.”

Dagley expects the committee will hold meetings to get feedback from the public.

He says council has provided no agenda or direction to the action team as they want it to be completely independent and is looking forward to hearing the action team’s recommendations.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Bargain hunters coming to Queens looking for those “back of the garage finds “will have to look elsewhere this year.

The 30-mile Yard Sale has been called off, another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is coordinated by staff at the Caledonia visitor information centre.

Manager Doreen Mansfield says they reached out to previous participants to gauge the interest in holding the yard sale this year.

“Nobody was interested because they didn’t want to bring a lot of strange people into the community because they say there’s only traffic jams in Caledonia twice. One is yard sale day, the other is when there’s exhibition going on,” says Mansfield.

For the past 15 years the 30-mile yard sale has been held traditionally during the first weekend in August.

Mansfield says some years the name falls short of the area the sale actually covers.

“It runs anywhere from South Milford right straight through to Liverpool and Bridgewater, down that way,” says Mansfield. “So, it covers, probably more than 30 miles when you get right down to it.”

The yard sale is one of the major fundraising events for the Caledonia VIC.

Sellers pay five dollars to have their address listed on a map showing the locations of all the participating yard sales.

The map is widely distributed throughout the county.

Combined with the barbeque that is held at the VIC during the sale, the event raises about $1,000 each year.

The coronavirus has also cancelled their annual dinner theatre, which usually adds another $2,000 to VIC coffers each year.

The VIC will still receive some funding from the province and support from the Region of Queens municipality.

Aside from a Canada Summer Jobs student hired each year, Mansfield is the lone full-time employee as the centre relies on the 10 to 15 community volunteers to keep the doors open.

Each year, the Caledonia VIC operates from Victoria Day in May until Thanksgiving weekend in October.

During the summer months it would normally open seven days a week but because of the coronavirus they are closing Sundays and Mondays this season.

Mansfield says while she still sees some people coming from the Maritimes, the number of tourists passing through has taken a steep drop this year.

Many visitor information centres across Nova Scotia did not open their doors due to the pandemic and Mansfield says that makes the Caledonia VIC even more vital to the area.

“Our motto is we’re in the middle of everywhere. So if you’re going to Digby from Bridgewater or Lunenburg, Liverpool, you’ve got to come through here unless you go up through the number 10,” says Mansfield. “But, the Route 8 is the major route across the province on this end. So, we’re right here, catching everybody that wants to go by and here for people that want to stop in.”

Mansfield says some people have decided to go ahead with their yard sale plans and the Caledonia VIC is happy to post those on their Facebook page.

But as for the 30-mile yard sale, she looks forward to coming back bigger and better next year.

*A previous version of this story incorrectly indicated the Caledonia Visitor Information Centre is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It has been changed to reflect the correct hours. Apologies for the error.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Liverpool’s Salvation Army Thrift Store has shut down.

The shop would sell donated items and use the money to help people in need throughout Queens County.

Their doors have been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spokesperson for the Salvation Army, Captain Jamie Locke says shuttering the location wasn’t an easy decision but they needed to consider the drag it was creating on their resources.

”A Salvation Army Thrift Store is intended to have a two-fold purpose,” says Locke. “One of supporting community with a low-cost shopping experience and the second, and perhaps a very important element of Salvation Army Thrift Stores, is they raise funds in support of our community and family services programs.”

Locke says without income, it’s difficult to keep their programs available.

“If a thrift store is not performing and able to raise funding for our community and family services then we simply just cannot continue to operate it.

Locke didn’t have the number at hand, but says any employees would have been let go and volunteers will be redirected to the Salvation Army’s other charitable work in Queens.

The Salvation Army provides people with help finding food, clothing and housing.

Locke says it seems their organization really comes to the front of people’s minds when they operate their kettle campaigns and toy drives at Christmas.

“At Christmas we’re able to provide support through food hampers and also toys for children at Christmas. We’re quite grateful to the community of Liverpool for stepping up every year.”

Locke assures residents the Salvation Army isn’t leaving Liverpool.

He says new officers have been appointed to take on leadership of the Salvation Army church and community family services.

“Majors Wayne and Betty-Ann Pike will be joining the leadership team of the Salvation Army team in September,” says Locke. “We’d also like to say thank you to Captains Dennis and Mary Mayberry for their work in the community and wish them well as they move on.”

Locke understands closing the store is a loss to the community but is hopeful residents who can, will continue supporting their charitable efforts by shopping at the store in Bridgewater.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Protesters gathered outside the office of the province’s Justice Minister Mark Furey in Bridgewater to demand he call a public inquiry into the shooting deaths of 22 people in April.

Families of the victims have called on the provincial and federal governments for an open and transparent hearing into the events of April 18 and 19.

Last week, Furey and Canada’s Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced a three-member panel headed up by former Chief Justice of Nova Scotia J. Michael MacDonald will conduct an independent review instead of a public inquiry.

That didn’t sit well with protest organizer Laurie Scott says who says she put the event together to show support for the families.

“They deserve answers. They deserve an open public inquiry. A review is Mark Furey and Bill Blair paying their cronies an exorbitant amount of taxpayer’s money to tell them exactly what they want to hear. That is not what the families deserve and want.”

Family members, lawyers and politicians have spoken out publicly against the review process for being too secretive.

A public inquiry would have powers like a court of law to compel witnesses to testify under oath.

All records and testimony would be available to the public, and anyone with a specific interest could apply for intervenor status and would be allowed to cross-examine witnesses.

The review panel has no power to force people to testify, there will be no intervenors, documents presented will remain confidential and the proceedings will only be made public if the panel decides to do so.

The review panel has also been told their work cannot impact any of the ongoing investigations in any way.

Tom Webber travelled with members of his family from their home in Wyse’s Corner near Dollar Lake to speak for his son Joey at the Bridgewater protest.

They want to know how the killer was able to make his way from Portapique to where the 36-year-old father of three was shot close to the family home.

“On Sunday, of course, it happened to my son. That’s the following day. So they’ve got a lot to explain there. He seemed to be just taking a Sunday drive, killing people on his way.”

Mark Furey was not in attendance and his King Street office was locked.

Calls to his both his constituency and ministerial office asking why he was not present were not returned.

Webber says he is not surprised the Justice Minister was a no-show.

“There’ll be a lot of questions put to him that he maybe, won’t want to face.”

The protest drew a crowd of around a hundred people including the leaders of both opposition parties.

The NDP have called on the McNeil government to resume sitting in the legislature to debate the merits of the review versus a public inquiry.

Leader Gary Burrill didn’t mince words when asked how he felt about the review.

“In my judgement, if the government’s reasoning about this review panel were subjected to the scrutiny it requires, it would not stand up. It would wither before scrutiny because their arguments are contradictory and hypocritical and false.”

Both Burrill and PC leader Tim Houston agree, the provincial and federal governments need to change course and move from a review to a public inquiry.

Houston says he has promised to launch a public inquiry into the shootings if his party forms the next government of Nova Scotia.

“This is the worse mass murder, shooting situation in the history of the country. If this doesn’t require an inquiry I don’t know what the standard would be. It has to happen and certainly something I have promised the family members that I would push for and continue to push for.”

Protesters plan to keep up the pressure on government as another protest was held in Halifax Monday afternoon and an online petition launched Friday calling for a public inquiry already has close to 15,000 signatures.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Nova Scotians will be required to wear masks indoors beginning July 31.

Premier Stephen McNeil announced the new measures alongside the province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang at Friday’s COVID-19 update.

Strang says as he goes out and about he is seeing more people adopting mask use.

“I want to thank Nova Scotians who remain mindful of the public health measures that we all need to do to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are proving that we are capable of adapting to our new normal.”

Strang says the package of washing hands, social distancing and wearing masks is proven effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and in order to continue protecting each other, Nova Scotians need to become accustomed to wearing masks.

“Before the second wave of COVID arrives, and in all likelihood it is coming sometime in the fall, we need to be prepared. And part of that preparedness is making mask-wearing much more of a habit and making it the norm for most Nova Scotians.”

The new rules apply to any public spaces in buildings but not to private areas such as offices, classrooms, labs or residences.

Anyone going to a restaurant must wear a mask while entering, exiting or moving through the space.

Dr.Strang says diners don’t need to wear a mask while eating or drinking but they’re expected to remain seated at their own table and not move around the restaurant.

As was the case with mandatory mask use on buses, Dr. Strang says there are no penalties for those who choose not to wear a mask.

But not wearing a mask could limit a person’s ability to go where they please.

“I believe and I have confidence that the vast majority of Nova Scotians will do the right thing and will wear a mask when it’s required. People should also be aware that businesses have the right, themselves, to refuse entry or to refuse service to people who are not wearing a mask when they’re required to, but always with the allowance for the small number of people with valid reasons for not wearing a mask.”

While he wants everyone wearing masks, Strang encouraged Nova Scotians to be kind when dealing with someone who is not wearing one.

“If people see somebody who is not wearing a mask, don’t make a judgement. You don’t know what that person’s medical history is. You don’t know, maybe they have a disorder that they can’t wear a mask, so don’t make a judgement. We all need to support each other in a positive way. I really believe that if we follow that approach, that is how we are going to get people to cooperate with each other. Taking a strong, heavy-handed, enforcement approach is not going to work in something like this.”

Premier McNeil says wearing masks as part of a daily routine is the added protection required to open up the province to the rest of Canada.

“Opening up to the rest of the country is something we’re going to have to do. We need to learn to live with COVID until there is a vaccine. We can’t stay closed forever. Our families need to reunite and our economy needs to ignite.”

McNeil acknowledged it’s not a popular move right now but pointed to the losses being felt in a tourism industry that is worth $2 billion annually to the province as reason to open our borders.

“I’m afraid if we don’t safely open up to the rest of Canada, most of our tourism businesses will have to shut down and they employ thousands of Nova Scotians across this province. We can’t afford to lose the tourism industry.”

In a final note, McNeil asked Nova Scotians to find the courage to welcome their fellow Canadians back into the province.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia have announced a three-member panel will conduct an independent review into the mass shootings that began in Portapique on April 18 and 19.

The panel will consider the causes that led to the event, as well as evaluating the police response, how well authorities informed the public of what was transpiring, and what was done to support and engage victims, families and residents.

The panel will be chaired by former Chief Justice of Nova Scotia Michael MacDonald.

It also includes former Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and Leanne Fitch who served as Fredericton chief of police for seven years during her 34 year municipal policing career.

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair and Nova Scotia Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mark Furey have committed the agencies and organizations under their jurisdictions to cooperate with this review and provide the panel with whatever it needs to fulfill its mandate.

Those organizations include the RCMP, the Canada Firearms Program, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Criminal Intelligence Service and the national Alert Ready Program.

When announcing the independent panel, both ministers were repeatedly asked why their governments didn’t move forward instead with an inquiry with the power to compel testimony under oath.

Mark Furey says they heard from families affected by the tragedy that they wanted answers and they wanted them in a timely fashion.

“We felt that the review process itself, provided the most timely opportunity in setting up a panel and the most timely opportunity for the earliest responses.”

The three-member panel have been tasked with not only examining the actions that led up to the tragedy, but also to form recommendations for government and law enforcement agencies to prevent something like this from happening or to be better prepared if it does happen again.

The panel cannot compel those bodies to follow their recommendations, but Furey says his department will be taking their responses seriously.

“It’s the commitment of individual governments to ensure that recommendations are implemented. I think I can speak for both Minister Blair and myself that that is our objective.”

Both levels of government have heard calls for a review of this April’s events since it took place.

Around 300 people marched on the Bible Hill RCMP detachment Wednesday morning, calling again for an inquiry into the shootings.

Furey says his office and their federal counterparts needed the time to find the right process and the right people.

“That experience in judicial fact-finding, that experience in the areas of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, that experience in understanding government, provincial and federal relations, public policy, was critical to ensure that the review panel was positioned to be successful.”

The panel now has until February 28, to present an interim report, which will also be made available to the public.

The panel’s final report setting out findings and recommendations will be delivered to the ministers by August 31, 2021.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

When students return to classes this fall, they will see hand-washing stations, signs promoting good hygiene, more physical separation in the classroom and for high schools, mandatory mask use in hallways and common areas.

Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang and Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Zach Churchill unveiled the long-awaited reopening plan Wednesday.

It follows the principles laid out by Dr. Robert Strang to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as frequent hand washing, social distancing and mask use.

As with public transit, it will be mandatory for students and drivers on school buses to wear masks this fall.

Students will need to wash their hands before entering the school or classroom.

Desks will be rearranged in the classroom, but will not have to meet the two-meter social distancing rules.

Dr. Strang says the distancing can be less because of the other measures that in place throughout the school.

Should a case of COVID-19 be discovered in a school, Dr. Strang says parents will be notified by e-mail or telephone, following the procedure the health department already has in place to deal with any other communicable disease.

Dr. Strang says his department has not established any set targets that would automatically trigger the closing of a school.

“We need to look at the individual circumstances around those cases, around the unique environments that maybe happen between one school and another and apply appropriate measures.”

Strang says the health department is changing its approach to how it deals with COVID-19 flaring up in different areas of the province.

Strang says instead of issuing blanket orders for all of Nova Scotia, he will now look to assess and create policy specific to the area affected by the coronavirus.

That means Public Health may advise one school or a family of schools to close and the school may stay open if there is no reason to close.

Should the number of COVID-19 cases increase, the province may require Grades 9 to 12 students to learn from home while younger children in Pre-primary to Grade 8 will learn in school in smaller classrooms.

What the education department is calling a blended learning model aims to keep younger children in school but reduce class sizes to enable everyone to be socially distanced by two meters.

And depending on the severity of the outbreak, the restrictions may apply to a single school, family of schools 
or entire school regions.

Minister Churchill understands there will be staff members with pre-existing conditions who feel they can’t work because they are immune-compromised.

“Obviously no one is going to lose their job if they have a health issue or if they get sick while they’re teaching. They standard approach to that isn’t going to change.”

Churchill says additional protective equipment will be provided to staff by the education department if they request it.

Most school sports will resume according to guidelines established by the health department and the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation.

School clubs and music programs will also resume but assemblies and school concerts are cancelled and parent teacher interviews will be held either online or over the phone.

Grades will be given out and report cards will be issued as normal.

Dr. Strang says the epidemiology shows virus activity remains very low in the province and keeping everyone locked down isn’t good for anyone.

“We know that our children need to be in school not only for their academic learning, but also for their overall development and their emotional and psychological health. We also know that parents have faced significant challenges since schools closed in March.”

Schools are set to open September 8.

A link to the governments reopening plan is available here.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

COVID-19 is causing community groups to rethink their fundraising plans.

For the past number of years, QCCR and the Hank Snow Society have partnered to sell 50/50 raffle tickets.

The money helps both organizations with their operating costs throughout the year.

Norm Amirault with the QCCR Radio Society says the coronavirus has forced everyone to reexamine where they will get that support.

“Traditional things like bingos and chase the ace, and fundraising suppers and 50/50s, a lot of those venues or avenues don’t exist anymore. Or people are going to be reluctant to go to them because of fear of getting the virus and I can’t blame them.”

Amirault noticed other groups having success with online raffles and brought the idea to QCCR and the Hank Snow Society as an alternative to their annual 50/50 draw.

He says many of the challenges of a traditional draw are eliminated by this new way of doing business.

“Finding volunteers, getting money, making change, people having money, taking it to the bank, on and on and on. With this Rafflebox platform, basically with two clicks you can support both our organizations.”

Amirault says 50 percent of the total raised goes to the winner while they pay Rafflebox, the company hosting the online ticket sales, a small percentage off the top to manage and promote their draw.

He’s optimistic the move online will pay off for the organizations as another obvious advantage of taking the 50/50 online is the expanded reach of the draw.

Normally, the groups would be limited to selling tickets within the community but the online platform opens sales up to anyone living in Nova Scotia.

In June, Seaside FM, a community radio station in Eastern Passage awarded over $92,000 to the winner of their draw.

Amirault says it would be a dream to hit that kind of total, but he is excited to see the amounts grow over time.

“We are very hopeful that people will take a click online and look at it and buy a ticket or tickets according to their ability to do so. Again, we’re hoping that this will be a good fundraiser for us both.”

Amirault says they plan to host a 50/50 draw each month until June 2021.

Tickets for the first draw to be held August 8 are on sale now and are available by clicking the link on our website until August 6.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

A South Shore mayor is pushing the province to reinstate in-person municipal council meetings.

Towns and municipalities across Nova Scotia have been forced to hold meetings online since municipal affairs minister Chuck Porter ordered all council chambers shuttered on March 22 due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities gathers mayors and wardens from across the province on a conference call each week.

Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell says he’s raised the issue of in-person council meetings with the minister’s deputy continuously on those calls over the last six weeks.

Mitchell agrees having the ability to continue council meetings virtually during the pandemic has allowed the public to interact with the process of governance.

He says it’s better than nothing, but the virtual experience is not the same.

“It detracts from what should be a more robust discussion and debate. People are talking over each other. Technology does have its limitations in terms of emotion and reading body language.”

Region of Queens Mayor David Dagley says virtual meetings make it easier on councilors as they don’t have to travel to council chambers to attend sessions.

But more importantly, Dagley says council still serves the interests of the community and provides the opportunity for citizens to be engaged.

“I listen to those that speak at council meetings. They’re the same individuals on council that would speak if we were in council chambers. And for the most part, people that listen in on our Zoom council meetings, and comment, are mostly the same people.”

Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood is president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and says she doesn’t feel strongly one way or another about in-person council meetings.

However, Mood says each municipality should be allowed to decide for themselves if they wish to hold in-person meetings.

“For those municipal units that have the ability to meet in-person, in keeping with all of the provincial protocols that the Premier and Dr. Strang have rightfully put forward, but if a municipal unit can do that, then they should have the choice.”

The minister of municipal affairs Chuck Porter says he has heard the requests to return to in-person council meetings and his staff is looking into that possibility.

“Council chambers are all a little different. We know that there are some areas where it could work probably, quite well based on the size of the chamber. We’re just working our way through that. I would say that we are moving in the right direction and hopefully it won’t be too much longer before I have more to say on that.”

It is only because of the minister’s March 22 order that councils can meet virtually in the first place.

The legislation, which lays out the rules for local government, called the Municipal Governance Act, says municipal councils must meet in person.

Bridgewater mayor David Mitchell says ideally, he would like to see a hybrid model going forward that would allow virtual and in-person participation of municipal meetings.

“We’re going to have a while where people are not comfortable meeting in person because of the pandemic. But beyond that, we want younger people running for council. They might have young families. They might have childcare issues or they might be caring for a loved one or sick themselves and not be able to attend every single meeting. Giving them the ability to do that virtually and still be part of the discussion is important.”

The municipal affairs minister says he’s wide open to looking into the hybrid virtual/in-person model.

“One of the things that we have learned is we can quite easily manage, once we get set up, to have a virtual meeting whether it be Zoom or Teams or whatever medium you use, you can manage that with the technology we have today.”

Porter says government is always looking for ways to improve how they do business.

Until the municipal affairs department comes up with a plan to allow council chambers to re-open, regional councils will continue to meet virtually.

Queens mayor David Dagley says they’re happy to proceed with whatever course of action they’re told to follow.

“I think that the important issue is that we continue to conduct business, we do it in a way that is safe for our councillors and the public and that we deal with the issues that are required to be dealt with. We’re actually finding that we can do that business either virtually or in council meeting and we will follow whatever the MGA and the minister describes that we have to do.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Anyone taking public transportation in Nova Scotia is now required to wear a non-medical mask.

During Friday’s COVID-19 update the province’s chief medical officer Dr. Robert Strang announced that effective July 24, wearing masks will be mandatory when riding municipal buses and ferries, school buses, community transit vehicles and in private taxis and shuttles.

“We’re taking this first step with public transit because it’s essential for many people. Many people have to use the bus to function in our communities. Buses are clearly a closed environment and there have been some cases linked with being on a bus.”

Drivers will also be required to wear a mask and the only exceptions will be made for children under two years of age and those with a valid medical reason.

Strang says there are no fines or punitive measures for those who refuse to wear a mask as he emphasized wearing a mask is not just about protecting yourself.

“Don’t look for excuses to not wear a mask. We have to work together to deal with COVID. We have to work together to keep each other safe. So for heaven’s sake, it’s not too much to ask people to wear a mask in places when they’re around other people for a short period of time.”

This mandate comes a day after the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK announced they are going to require all patients and visitors to hospitals and health care facilities to wear a non-medical mask effective Tuesday, July 21.

This requirement does not apply to hospital inpatients, children under two years of age, or staff working in non-clinical areas able to maintain social distancing.

Families with loved ones in long-term care have reason to celebrate as Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Strang announced changes to their directives around visitors.

Beginning Wednesday July 22, residents can now receive visitors both indoors and outdoors, staff and residents can gather in groups of ten, residents can participate in sightseeing tours and hair salons located in the facilities are once again allowed to open to serve residents.

As before, it will be up to the individual homes which of the changes they will implement.

Concerns have been raised by many people across social media that wearing a mask will create or further exacerbate lung problems.

Dr.Strang says the vast number of Nova Scotians are able to wear masks and there are very few medical reasons not to do so.

“”The Canadian Thoracic Society clearly states that there is no evidence that wearing a non-medical mask worsens a chronic lung condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease.”

He recognizes that wearing a mask can make some people anxious but says there are practical ways of overcoming that anxiety such as wearing one for a few minutes at a time in the safety of your own home.

Strang says his department will be putting together a list of coping mechanisms which will be posted to the government COVID-19 website in the coming days.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

The province will unveil their plan to reopen schools on Wednesday.

Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Zach Churchill was scant on details but says his department’s priority is to get students back into the classrooms come September.

However, he says whether or not that means a full-time return to classes for all students will depend on how Nova Scotia is coping with the pandemic in the fall.

“We don’t know what September will bring with this virus. None of us have the ability to see t hat far ahead into the future.”

Until now, the education minister would only say his department was working on three options to get students back to class: a full return to classes, online education or a hybrid model combining aspects of online and in-class lessons.

Churchill expects to have a clearer sense of the situation as August progresses.

“Our plan is basically, to get students back in school. We’re planning on 100 percent capacity with full curriculum and assessments. Then, if we have to make alternative calls because of the public health situation, we’re prepared to do that.”

The education minister says the plan has been devised by consulting with child development experts from the IWK hospital, staff at public health and the feedback from the teachers union.

Churchill says he and his staff also took into account a survey that was sent across Nova Scotia to gain feedback from parents and students about their experience this spring.

“We did have a high volume, you know, 28,000 participants. Since I’ve been in government, that’s probably the largest number I’ve seen, that I can remember anyway, that’s that replied to this form of survey.”

Churchill says the education department has ordered a stockpile of personal protective equipment and sanitizing supplies.

He says the details around what measures will be taken to maintain social distancing and other efforts to protect students and staff against the spread of COVID-19 will be included in Wednesday’s announcement.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

A master canoe builder continues to carry on the traditions of his ancestors.

Todd Labrador has been building birch bark canoes at Kejimkujik National Park since 2014.

On Thursday he will begin construction of a 21-foot ocean canoe.

Labrador makes the canoes in full view of the public where visitors can watch and ask questions.

The enthusiasm Labrador has for sharing his knowledge is obvious, but he admits, it does have one drawback.

“As far as the building process, it all depends on how much I talk. Because if I’m talking all day I don’t get much work done.”

He says a canoe generally takes about three months to complete.

A 14-foot canoe embossed with serpents Labrador built in 2014 will be on display while he works on his latest project.

Some of his previous builds found homes at the Canadian Museum of History and at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, he’s built another for the North American Indigenous Games and a university in Ontario is hoping to take possession of this year’s build once it is complete.

The process of building a canoe begins with collecting the materials.

Todd Labrador with birch bark for his build. Photo Credit: Todd Labrador

Labrador says it can take three months to find enough birch bark that is pliable and thick enough to use in the canoes.

Then he needs to find and dig up 1200 feet of spruce root to bind the canoe together.

Labrador says he begins gathering those supplies a year before the build.

“These days, it’s always a challenge to get the right quality birch bark that I need and I’m always looking far ahead.”

Fortunately for Labrador, he has built a strong following on social media and will often hear from people about places where he may find what he is looking for.

He says the online community is a modern version of the one his ancestors enjoyed.

“The forest was their home. But it was also their food store, it was also their hardware store, their lumber store, their materials store, their medicine store. So they were always looking when they were walking or hunting, they might see a tree that would be suitable when the season is right to harvest. So they would remember that.”

Labrador began building canoes as a hobby in 2002.

He draws on the knowledge his father passed on from watching the techniques his grandfather used to build canoes.

Labrador doesn’t use nails or screws in his construction as his ancestors wouldn’t have had them, but he isn’t an absolute purist.

He takes advantage of modern tools such as a bandsaw because it speeds up the process without impacting the final product.

“It’s quite different. I think my great-grandfather would be a little puzzled to see how I’m building canoes compared to how he built canoes.”

Labrador will be building his canoe at Kejimkujik between 10:00am and 4:00pm each Thursday through Sunday this summer.

He encourages people to stop by to watch and ask questions.

Many generations of Labrador’s ancestors lived on the land now contained in the national park.

He’s proud to be able to continue their legacy in his ancestral home.

“Well I’m sure my father, my great-grandfather are pretty pleased to look down and see what we’re doing today. And very pleased that we’re sharing this in Kejimkujik national park.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

A local forestry operation has given migratory birds a break this year.

The Medway Community Forestry Co-op introduced a silent season to stop cutting of trees over the 15,000 hectares they hold on former Bowater/Medway lands in Annapolis County during the month of June.

Executive Director Mary Jane Rodger says their aim was to help breeding migratory birds hear each other to find a mate.

“For migratory birds, where there’s the loudest dawn chorus. You have migratory birds who have made an extensive journey to Nova Scotia and they’re tying to find a mate. It’s really important that there’s silence, and that’s where the silent season comes from.”

Rodger says the moratorium on cutting has the added benefit of not destroying any nests.

The actions of the Co-op help them meet the migratory bird convention act to protect migratory birds, their eggs and nest from destruction due to wood harvesting, hunting, trafficking and commercialization.

Rodger says the silent season is now an annual event and the co-op will take advantage of the lull to collect data on migratory bird species.

She says they’ve trained a staff member to go into the forest between 5:00am and 10:00am each morning to count the number of birds and species within their license area.

The Co-op has received help from Kejimkujik National Park and Dr. Cindy Staicer from Dalhousie University to develop the methodologies used in their bird counts.

Rodger says the numbers are useful to determine a baseline for future study.

“It’s important data to gather year by year to see how populations are fluctuating. And there’s so many different variables whether it be climate change or forestry or food abundance, whatever it may be. “

Dr. Staicer is hosting a webinar at 2:00pm Tuesday to discuss migratory bird management.

To register for the webinar, click here.

Rodger says as a for-profit entity that invites membership from the public, the Medway Community Forestry Co-op is always looking for ways to get their product to market.

One of the groups they’re trying to attract is craftspeople.

But by the nature of their work, Rodger says it’s difficult to get them in one place to speak with them as a group.

The Co-op hit upon the idea of hosting a craft market to bring those artists under one roof.

This summer they will once again host their annual Forest Market to bring together those who build and create art, as well as those who forage food or otherwise create with nature.

Rodgers says there is no charge for vendors to participate and they’re not looking to make a buck out of every small venture they do.

“Generally, these are just good education and outreach events for us.”

The Forest Market will be held in Annapolis Royal on August 16.

Rodgers says they have reached out to past participants, but also hope to hear from anyone wishing to be involved this year.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Keji Seaside will reopen Monday.

The park has been closed since June 2 because of a large number of bears on the site.

Jonathan Sheppard, Superintendent at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site says they observed a high density of bears in a relatively small area, with one count showing nine bears occupying a three-kilometer stretch of trail.

“In order to maintain a really good coexistence between people and wildlife we had to ultimately give the bears some space there.”

Sheppard says the bears arrive at Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct in spring because of the abundance of food sources such as seaweed, chutes and berries but they move off once food becomes more plentiful inland.

Parks Canada has observed the bears have left but Sheppard says it’s always good for visitors to remain bear aware.

He reminds anyone coming to the park to follow three simple rules: properly dispose of their garbage in the bear-proof bins provided, keep their pets on a leash at all times and if they do see a bear, call the number posted at the entrance to the trail and let Parks Canada officials know.

Sheppard also talked about the ongoing renovations at Jeremy’s Bay Campground at Keji’s main location, inland.

Installing new power, water and wastewater systems, treatment facilities and completely overhauling the washroom and shower facilities would not have been possible with campers in the park, so the decision was made last year to close down Jeremy’s Bay for the 2020 season.

“There are almost 400 campsites in this campground. So at full occupancy, the size of that campground is not that dissimilar from a small town you might find elsewhere in Nova Scotia.”

Keji’s old washroom preparing to come down. – Photo Credit: Parks Canada

Sheppard says despite some supply issues due to COVID-19, the work is on schedule and he expects the campground to reopen as planned next spring.

When it does, the washroom and shower facilities will look completely different to returning campers.

Gone are the segregated male and female spaces.

Sheppard says washrooms that were designed for travellers in the 1960s and 70s don’t meet the needs of campers today.

“The design behind these buildings is an open and lighter common area with closed rooms for water closets and for showers. So in fact, what you end up getting is a much more private experience than you would’ve in your previous designs for older washrooms. This suits families much better. It also suits people that identify in different parts of the gender spectrum and have different identities. It also helps with accessibility question for people who have physical limitations.”

Sheppard says Parks Canada is working towards more universal design standards and these updates put Kejimkujik at the forefront of that effort.

One of Keji’s new washroom/shower facilities. – Photo Credit: Parks Canada

While the renovations are underway, park officials are also working with local partners to devise a community development plan.

The North Queens Board of Trade recently received close to $50,000 in federal funding to help position Caledonia as the gateway to Keji.

Sheppard says he’s hoping together, they can use Kejimkujik’s draw to spark economic development in the area.

He says it’s shaping up to be a busy summer despite the shut down of Jeremy’s Bay campground.

People eager to get outside after being stuck indoors by COVID all spring are taking full advantage of the day use activities at the park.

Sheppard says the hiking trails are open, canoe and kayaks are available to rent and many people are keen to get into nature by booking the backcountry camping locations.

Follow these links to the Kejimkujik page and the camping booking portal.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

The province’s chief medical officer for health has rescinded his approval of a plan that allowed senior Irving officials to travel to the United States.

Speaking at Thursday’s COVID-19 update with Premier Stephen McNeil, Dr. Robert Strang says after concerns about Irving’s plan were brought forward he decided their precautions did not meet the requirements his department has devised to keep Nova Scotians safe from the spread of COVID-19.

“The work that could’ve been done on the trips to the US could’ve been done virtually and they can do the work that is necessary for them to do once they’re back, by doing it at home and staying isolated.”

Strang says Irving was very cooperative when he explained his concerns.

He says the executives involved are now self-isolating and working from home.

In a breath of fresh air from a public official, Strang didn’t hesitate to own up to his change of mind.

“Of the hundreds of decisions that I make every week on this, I will acknowledge that I may not get everything exactly right. But I’m always happy to go back and learn from my mistakes and certainly, be looking more intensely about how we make sure that we focus only on essential travel into the province where there’s no other alternative.”

Dr. Strang also addressed the possibility of declaring wearing non-medical masks mandatory when social distancing is not possible.

He says he will be on a call later Thursday with his federal and provincial counterparts to discuss the legal and social implications of mandatory mask use.

One of the many discussions Dr. Strang is having is with the administrators of long-term care homes.

Currently, residents can only receive visitors outside, under supervision and following strict guidelines

He says everyone involved with the care of seniors is aware the effect isolation is having on residents.

“There’s work going on to relax some of those guidelines and we’re going to be moving in the very near future and bringing that forward publicly.

Strang was also asked if he felt air travel is safe.

“If I needed to get on a plane to fly, I’d be wearing a mask and making sure I’m very careful with my hand-washing. If we look at the epidemiology of COVID-19, and we have a lot of experience now, actually flying on a plane has not been shown to be a significant driver of transmission.”

With his parting remarks before the weekend, Premier Stephen McNeil reminded people the border with the United States remains closed until at least July 21.

As the province begins its second weekend as part of the expanded Atlantic bubble McNeil encouraged Nova Scotians to get outside and explore their province.

“Of course we’ll have to follow public health protocols. Keep your distance, wash your hands, wear a mask when you can’t distance, especially inside or anytime you want. And with all of that let’s not forget who we are. Let’s be open, let’s be welcoming and above all, let’s be kind.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

The Government of Canada has announced they’ll be spending $8.3 million to address ghost gear in the country’s waters.

Lost and abandoned fishing gear, or ‘ghost gear,’ is one of the largest causes of marine litter around the world. It threatens marine animals like whales and turtles, the coastal and marine environment, and global fishing stocks and is one of the deadliest forms of plastic debris. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is funding 26 projects in Canada and around the world to help rid the oceans of this destructive litter.

The $8.3 million Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Support Contribution Program, known as the Ghost Gear Fund will support 22 projects in Canada and four internationally over the next two years. All projects fall into at least one of four categories: gear retrieval, responsible disposal, acquisition and piloting of available gear technology, and international leadership.

Each year, more than 8 million metric tons of plastic wind up in the world’s oceans.

In July 2019, DFO and the Canadian Coast Guard conducted a 3-day ghost gear retrieval operation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Over 100 snow crab traps and more than nine kilometres of rope were removed from the water over a three day period.

In a statement, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan says, “Fighting plastic pollution a priority for our government. We can’t have a health ocean or a strong blue economy if our waters are severely polluted by plastic.  The overwhelming interest in the Ghost Gear Fund demonstrates that Canadians share this priority and want to be a part of the solution. The recipients of the fund will make a significant difference domestically, and internationally, as they remove ghost fishing gear from the oceans, recycle or dispose of it responsibly. Most importantly, they are creating tangible solutions to help prevent more plastic from entering our waters in the future.”

Five organizations will benefit from the funding in Nova Scotia:

• Cape Breton Fish Harvesters Association
• Coastal Action
• CSR GeoSurveys Ltd.
• Eastern Nova Scotia Marine Stewardship Society
• Fishing Gear Coalition of Atlantic Canada

The work to increase marine protections from coast to coast to coast also includes working to rid the oceans of harmful waste.

The government of Canada has set the target of protecting 25 percent of the country’s oceans by 2025, working toward 30 percent by 2030.

Reported by Ed Halverson from news release
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

A Liverpool landmark has changed hands.

After managing the Lane’s Privateer Inn with her brother for the last 30 years, Susan Lane says they’ve sold the establishment to a family from Saskatchewan.

Lane says the Inn has passed from her grandparents to her parents and now her and her brother.

Since neither she nor her brother Terry have any children to carry on the legacy, they felt now was a good time to move it along.

“The inn is where I grew up. It was my childhood home, but it’s always exciting to venture out to see what other opportunities are out there.

Passing the inn along to another family is a dream come true for Lane.

“Something that I am very happy about is that, we come from a very strong family that’s been running the inn for three generations. To have another family come in, with young kids, really making Liverpool their home and continuing that tradition of a family-run business, I think is perfect.”

New owner, Ankur Virani has brought his nephew Milan with him from Saskatchewan to manage Lane’s.

Milan and Ankur Virani ready to welcome guests at reception

While precautions around COVID-19 have slowed their moving plans, he expects his wife and two children will be joining him in Liverpool soon.

Virani says he’s been sending photos back to his family everyday and they’re already talking about what they want to do once they arrive.

“My youngest son says he wants to swim in the river.”

Virani comes with a wealth of experience running restaurants and inns in Saskatchewan.

He is already working to expand his holdings in Nova Scotia having purchased the Victorian Inns in Wolfville and Antigonish as well as the MacKenzies and Wildwood motels in Shelburne.

Virani says the pace of life is really appealing in smaller areas.

“I’m living for the last 11 years in a small town. I like local people and local supporting.”

Visitors to Lane’s Privateer Inn and Restaurant won’t notice any changes as Virani plans to keep the operation pretty much the same.

He has retained all 25 staff that returned to work following the COVID-19 downturn.

His nephew Milan will take care of most of the day-to-day running of the inn while Ankar settles his family into Liverpool.

Milan says the restaurant will still feature all the traditional favourites that locals love, but their chef will be working to add new items to the menu.

He’s hoping the people who have made Lane’s part of their special events for the past three generations will continue to do so.

“We want to carry on the legacy of Lane’s. We are looking to meet all the people from Liverpool, Brooklyn and Milton, the communities which we serve most.”

Susan Lane was coy when asked what she plans to do next.

She says she still loves the food industry and may look to do something more on the production side of things, particularly if she can find a way to use her sommelier training.

For now, she is satisfied she is leaving Lane’s in the very best hands and looks forward to doing herself, what she has helped so many visitors do over the years.

“It’s going to be very nice to explore the province and see what everybody else has been having the privilege to see in the summers around Nova Scotia.”

Susan Lane stands outside her namesake Inn on her last day

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Nova Scotia’s latest case of COVID-19 comes from the United States.

A person travelling from the U.S. to Prince Edward Island through Nova Scotia was identified as having the coronavirus on Sunday.

They are now being quarantined for 14 days under federal authority in Nova Scotia.

Travelers arriving in Nova Scotia must self –isolate for 14 days and provide authorities an address and telephone number where they can be reached.

Premier Stephen McNeil says greater steps will be taken to ensure those arrivals are following the rules.

“There will be follow-up calls everyday for 14 days. And if we can’t locate them after three tries, police will be called in to do an in-person check to make sure that that person is self-isolating where they said they would be.”

The province’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang says people flying within the Atlantic Bubble needn’t worry about self-isolating for 14 days, even if there are passengers travelling alongside them from other provinces.

“The actual travel on an airplane has not created substantive risks in transmission of COVID-19. Having said that, I would encourage that’s certainly a place where wearing a mask is vitally important, whether you’re in the airport terminus or on a plane.”

For weeks, Strang has been strongly suggesting Nova Scotians should be wearing a non-medical mask when they find themselves in public and unable to maintain social distancing.

“I keep saying here and I’ll keep saying it again. We can’t relax. It’s not about going back to normal, where we were, pre-COVID. We have to continue to be vigilant and we rely on each of us to practice these basic preventive measures. That’s what allows us to protect each other and allows us to continue to open things up and do that safely.”

Concerns have been raised that mandating wearing a mask would step on people’s Charter rights.

Strang says that’s not the case.

“There’s lots of examples of where governments, by necessity, to protect our collective good, that we put restrictions on people’s individual rights. We need to think about this carefully. But absolutely, if there’s a necessity to mandate masks, if we not able to get to where we need to be with less stringent measures, that’s something we would need to look at. And clearly, there’s precedent that we could do this from a legal perspective.”

Strang cautions Nova Scotians need to start to wearing masks or face the consequences.

“We don’t want to shut down again but if we don’t do a better job of all following these public health measures, we may end up in that situation.”

To date, Nova Scotia has 55,113 negative test results, 1,065 positive COVID-19 cases, 63 deaths and four active COVID-19 cases.

If you have any one of the following symptoms, visit https://811.novascotia.ca to determine if you should call 811 for further assessment:

— fever (i.e. chills, sweats)

— cough or worsening of a previous cough

— sore throat

— headache

— shortness of breath

— muscle aches

— sneezing

— nasal congestion/runny nose

— hoarse voice

— diarrhea

— unusual fatigue

— loss of sense of smell or taste

— red, purple or blueish lesions on the feet, toes or fingers without clear cause

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

The Member of Parliament for South Shore – St. Margarets says many Canadians still need federal aid to get through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bernadette Jordan is encouraged to see over a million Canadians come off the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit last month, but cautions, efforts to get people back to work isn’t over.

“We still have close to six million who are relying on it. So, we’re going to make sure that those people are looked after. That has always been our priority, is making sure the people who need the support get it.”

Jordan says the federal government has heard the concerns that people are unwilling to come off CERB and return to their regular jobs.

She says whenever someone applies for the benefit going forward, they must sign an attestation that confirms they are indeed looking for work.

Jordan was at Amos Pewter in Mahone Bay on Thursday, speaking about federal government efforts to assist small businesses.

Owner, of Amos Pewter Don Sheehan says having to lay off staff during pandemic was one of the most stressful times he has seen since the business was established in the 1974.

Sheehan says the Federal Wage Subsidy, providing an employer 75 percent of an employees wages up to $847 a week, was crucial in retaining 80 percent of their staff.

“And as we got further into the season we’ve added more people under that program: existing staff that we had and new staff that we would not have hired. We would not have opened our external locations if it wasn’t for the subsidy.”

Sheehan says four of the six Amos Pewter locations have reopened with the help of the Wage Subsidy and CERB programs.

He is hopeful the benefits will continue as his company copes with a huge decline in tourists.

“Importantly for us, is that this program was extended into August. More importantly is that we hope it extends beyond that. Because if not, we will have to revisit our level of operations.”

Jordan was making her first public appearance since the COVID -19 restrictions were put in place.

Through a face mask, Jordan also commented on the opening of the Atlantic bubble.

She praised the work of Premier Stephen McNeil and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Strang to keep Nova Scotians safe.

“I know that they have taken a very cautious approach to this. I think they have taken the right approach and I think that they will continue to do that and I look forward to seeing what comes in the coming months.”

Jordan also answered questions in her role as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

She says her department has seen huge uptake from small to medium-sized seafood producers looking to capitalize on the $62.5 million Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund announced last month.

But benefit and grant programs designed to assist harvesters are still getting off the ground.

“They have not rolled out yet. This is building a whole new program. It takes a little bit of time but I’m hoping to have something very soon to announce on those.”

Jordan says the Canadian government understands the need to get the county’s economy back on track and they have a plan to do it.

“The best way to bring the economy back quickly and efficiently is by getting Canadians back to work.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Canada Day festivities are moving to the small screen this year.

Fireworks and other large gatherings across the country have been called off due to COVID-19 precautions.

Manager of Events, Promotions and Sponsorships for the Region of Queens Steve Burns says while their annual fireworks display had to be cancelled, residents can still enjoy the shows online.

“The Canada Day fireworks, they’re being promoted at 10:00pm through use of your tablets and your phones. And all the information on these events can be garnered again through Heritage Canada.”

Heritage Canada is also providing musical performances by artists from coast to coast.

Burns says Queens residents can also enjoy entertainment closer to home, with online performances from Halifax’s Citadel Hill featuring Joel Plaskett, Classified and Reeny Smith among others.

He says the municipality is working to get the word out to people about some of the events they can enjoy this Canada Day.

“We’ve been promoting this, for the last, probably three weeks through the events Liverpool Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram and now just recently, through the Region of Queens sites. It’s been clear for a while how things were going to proceed.”

Burns says people will need to be creative and find new ways to celebrate Canada Day this year, safely, with friends and family.

Links to the Heritage Canada events, concerts and fireworks taking place on Canada Day can be found on the Region of Queens Facebook page.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Just because pools in the Region of Queens are allowed to open doesn’t mean they will.

Director of Recreation and Healthy Communities for the municipality, Meaghan Roberts says Friday’s announcement by Dr. Robert Strang that public pools can now open doesn’t change the decision to keep North Queens and Milton pools closed this summer.

Roberts says they’re still faced with the same issues that caused them to close the pools in the first place.

“We don’t have large pools in either place. So those public health restrictions still limit the number of people that can be there at once. They still have to maintain that physical distancing at all times, everywhere on the premises. For our locations, for example out in North Queens, you might be able to have, I don’t know, maybe four people in the pool at once and maintain their physical distancing.”

According to Roberts, it’s not just the dimensions of the pool that prevents them from reopening; finding qualified staff is also an issue.

“All training for, well, everything, was cancelled so we only had one staff that have applied to either of our aquatic locations that actually had full certification. So all the rest of them had to take one or the other of their lifeguard or their water safety instructor.”

Roberts says people may be frustrated about not having access to the pools but obviously, they couldn’t open the facilities without certified staff in place.

She says residents understand the importance of the measures being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and points to the recent re-opening of playgrounds as an example.

Roberts says municipal crews needed time to remove signs and ensure the equipment and surrounding areas were safe before allowing the kids back in.

“People are pretty willing to follow any rules. They’re just happy to get back to normal activities.”

Roberts draws the parallel with restaurants being permitted to reopen to 100 percent of their capacity but perhaps only being able to accommodate half that in order to follow the physical distancing guidelines set out by provincial health officials.

“For us, it doesn’t really change anything, the fact that you can re-open. It’s that we still are unable to follow those rules and open to the public.”

The province also announced lifeguards will be returning to monitor provincial beaches beginning July 1.

For residents of Queens accessing the nearest supervised beach means a trip to Rissers in Lunenburg County.

A complete list of supervised provincial beaches can be found on the lifesaving society webpage.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Bars and restaurants can operate at full capacity as the province further eases COVID-19 restrictions.

Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang announced along with bars and restaurants, private campgrounds can also increase their capacity and public pools are now permitted to open.

Dr. Strang was quick to point out the 100 percent capacity is based on the COVID-19 precautions that are in place and doesn’t mean the establishments can return to their pre-COVID capacity.

The province also increased the gathering limits to 250 people if an event is coordinated by a professional and held outside, or 200 attendees, indoors.

Families will still be limited to 50 people.

Dr.Strang says he understands the desire to return to normal, but we’re just not there yet.

“This isn’t about going back to our pre-COVID normal. As we open up our economy and society, we run a real risk of a COVID-19 resurgence if we don’t continue all the core public health measures.”

Dr. Strang says the new normal for Nova Scotians must continue to include good hand hygiene, practicing social distancing and wearing masks when appropriate.

“It only takes a small minority of the population to let their guard off and it puts all of us at risk. We have a collective obligation to protect each other and all of us follow the public health measures.”

The province is also now recommending that people wear non-medical protective face masks when they are in situations where social distancing isn’t possible such as riding a bus, or being in a mall.

Strang acknowledged by easing the restrictions, the public is at an increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus and masks can help mitigate some of that risk.

“Wearing a mask really, is a way of showing that we care about other people and we ask them to wear a mask so they can care about us. Wearing masks together is a critically important piece of these preventative tools, and it’s a very important way to clearly demonstrate how we are looking after each other.”

While the province has allowed public pools to open, use of those facilities will be limited to lane swims, exercise and swim classes so that social distancing can be maintained.

Sports teams will also be limited to gatherings of 50 people in groups of ten. Those numbers include any spectators that may be present.

Premier Stephen McNeil announced the 2020 sailing season for the CAT ferry that runs between Yarmouth and Portland has been cancelled due to concerns with COVID-19.

“We’re seeing what’s happening in the U.S.. We do not have, at that entry point, the kind of screening that we felt would be required at this time around assessing passengers, public health, all of those kinds of things.”

McNeil says the province still has contractual obligations with the ferry operator Bay Ferries but didn’t have numbers at hand to say what it will cost Nova Scotians to shelve the ferry.

The premier closed the briefing by talking about why he hasn’t worn a mask up to this point. McNeil says he’s done some soul-searching and has come to the decision he will begin.

“When someone is wearing a mask, they are protecting me and others, so I need to do the same for them.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Ice is the hot topic at Region of Queens council this week.

Several members of the public wanted to know why Queens Place isn’t planning to install ice in the rink until September.

Acting general manager of the South Shore Bantam Lumberjacks Jeremy Kini says his is one of a number of organizations relying on the ice surface being open every summer to prepare their players for the fall.

Currently, Centennial Arena, the RBC and BMO four-pad facilities in Halifax and the St. Margaret’s Centre in St. Margaret’s Bay are renting ice time and Kini says parents are making the drive to get their kids to practice.

“There’s families driving three hours to go get on the ice in the city. That’s ludicrous to me. That’s wrong. We have a number of ice surfaces in our region. I don’t understand why we can’t work together and get one ice surface open for us to work on.”

The ice was removed from Queens Place in March.

Staff decided to take the opportunity to complete necessary maintenance projects during the down time instead of closing the rink for portions of both this summer and next.

Up the road in Bridgewater, the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre also took advantage of the COVID-19 closure to undertake a major engineering project and install a new dehumidification system.

LCLC general manager Kent Walsh says it’s unfortunate because the LCLC had planned on keeping their ice surface in this summer for the first time.

Walsh says it would take about two weeks to install the ice but they’re not planning on doing that just yet.

He says there are still too many unknowns around what precautions would be required to ensure the safety of staff and participants.

“I don’t think that waiting is a bad idea, in a lot of respects. If we get another phase or two under our belt of opening up, I think it’s going to be easier for everyone to enjoy recreation.”

Hockey Nova Scotia, the body that oversees minor hockey in the province, has submitted a plan to provincial health officials through Sport Nova Scotia outlining the precautions they will be taking to get teams back on the ice this season.

A spokesperson for Hockey Nova Scotia says that plan will be revealed on a conference call with their members Tuesday night.

During the council Zoom meeting, Region of Queens CAO Chris MacNeill pointed out even after the safety issues of opening the ice to the public are addressed, there are financial and staffing implications to consider as well.

McNeill estimates closing Queens Place for the past three months has cost the municipality $300,000 in lost revenue and maintenance charges.

That amount will need to be added to the $650,000 council already budgets each year to help subsidize operations at the facility.

McNeill says finding staff who are certified to work at Queens Place at this time of year may also present a challenge as many workers book their holidays in what is traditionally a slow time of the year for the facility.

“If we want to go back to full operation, recognizing there potentially may be more use, as was suggested this morning, then we will need to cancel vacations for all those employees and I’m not sure when they’re going to get it. Because once we start back up in September/October, which is our busy season, that becomes a problem as well.”

McNeill says it’s his understanding that no rinks run by municipalities, such as Queens Place, are currently open.

But a call to Sackville Sports Stadium, the only arena run directly by Halifax’s recreation department shows that facility plans to offer ice access beginning July 6.

General Manager Greg MacIsaac says being part of a larger recreation department with more resources helped speed the process along.

“Where we are integrated within HRM Rec [Recreation], we were able to utilize the systems that HRM has in place. So when HRM presented its proposal to the NSHA (Nova Scotia Health Authority), we were able to get the go-ahead to be able to open up our rink.”

Lumberjacks GM Kini says he took a trip in to see how Centennial Arena in Halifax operates and believes a similar system could work at Queens Place.

“The players come with gloves on. They have whatever they need. They get on the ice, they do they’re session and then they walk off the opposite end. There’s no need for them to touch or do anything in terms of washroom facilities.”

Region of Queens Mayor David Dagley says it’s not as simple as that.

“That is a big difference when you have a non-profit rink and you have a municipally-owned rink and arena and fitness centre, that we operate, because Queens Place is our responsibility and we can’t abdicate that to anyone else.”

Dagley says opening a facility to the public and denying them access to washrooms is not an option.

He says the municipality would love to have the ice open but they need to know it will get enough use to justify the cost.

“Putting ice in is probably a ten to $15,000 expense and then you’re into the electricity that you require to keep the ice in. We get a bill every month which is probably $20,000, plus, per month. We just have to make sure that if we are going to provide activities, we have to be responsible to taxpayers, and all taxpayers, in that respect.”

Dagley says council has heard the concerns and staff will be contacting the interested groups to see if there will be enough use to warrant installing the ice before the end of summer.

Kini is optimistic a solution can be found that will get his team and others back on the ice in August.

“I have faith that the staff and the council in Liverpool will be able to get this facility up and running prior to September first. I really do. And as the ice goes in, they can easily show us the protocols and we will do whatever it takes to get ourselves in there and up and running.”

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

Premier McNeil has announced the creation of an Atlantic bubble.

Beginning July 3 residents of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island will be allowed to travel within the four provinces without having to isolate for 14 days.

Nova Scotia has not has a new case of COVID-19 since June 9.

The Council of Atlantic Premiers announced travel restrictions in Atlantic Canada will be eased as COVID-19 case numbers remain low in each province.

Anyone arriving from a Canadian province outside the Atlantic bubble will still have to self-isolate for 14 days and will have to obtain an e-mail from that provincial government confirming they have done so before being admitted into another Atlantic province.

The public health directives from each province must still be followed including not traveling if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene.

Each province will choose their own processes to track and monitor travelers.

McNeil says he and his fellow premiers are making the announcement now to give tourism operators time to prepare.

But the premier also notes the commerce within our region has less to do with tourism and more to do with people coming for health care and shopping.

“Whether it’s a car dealership where people in New Brunswick come to buy a car in Nova Scotia and take it home, or people just coming back and forth to do shopping, it’s an important part of that area and this will allow that to happen.”

The premier stressed it the responsibility of each Nova Scotia to look out for one another and do what they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“It’s not too much to ask of me or the rest of us, that perhaps we should be wearing that mask, when we’re out. Particularly, when we go into a confined space like a restaurant, bank, coffee shop, until we do our business and then take it of if we want to not wear it when we’re walking up and down the street.”

Premier McNeil says the province needs to continue to ease restrictions around COVID-19 in a slow, methodical way.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson