A group of first responders has set the lessons they’ve learned on the job to music.

The Shorelines is a band made up of three paramedics and a pair of volunteer firefighters based in Liverpool and Bridgewater.

After playing shows up and down the South Shore for the past few years the band is ready to release their first album.

Guitarist and vocalist Andrew Dixon says the theme of the recording echoes what they see on the job everyday.

“Positivity and perseverance and, being paramedics, we always say, you never really know somebody until you see what they’ve been through, where they’ve come from.”

In fact, the band first came together as a result of a fellow paramedic’s battle with cancer.

Some of their co-workers had organized a barbeque to support Jody Cook, a paramedic based out of Bridgewater, and asked if the guys could put a band together for the event.

“We just kind of strung some instruments together and played some music and it worked out okay. So we started playing together and writing some songs and the rest is, kind of like, three years later, we’ve got a record.”

Unfortunately, Cook died from her cancer but her struggle inspired the group to write the song “We Will Fight On”.

They’ve taken inspiration from other aspects of their work, penning the tune, “I’ve Got Your Back” which discusses the importance of PTSD awareness for first responders.

A portion of the CD sales will be donated to programs that help support first responders and military personnel living with the disorder.

Dixon says music introduces you to a different spectrum of people and can be a great outlet for whatever is weighing on your shoulders.

“We have stressful jobs so sometimes it’s nice just to get together and jam and not think about work, and not think about stressors that pop up in your head. So this is a really good stress reliever for a lot of paramedics.”

The Shorelines Album

The band has seen some change in members, but the line-up now consists of Andrew Dixon, Jordan Porter, Jordan Richards, Joel Hurtubise and Kirk Comstock.

The album was recorded by Rick Boutilier at Flat Hill studios in Broad Cove and contains eight blues and rock-inspired original songs.

It will be available Saturday June 27 as a physical cd or on most sites where you buy online music.

A full list is available on the Shorelines Facebook page.

Dixon says they’re looking forward to bringing the music to a live audience once the restrictions around COVID-19 are lifted.

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

A Mill Village group is looking to the past to keep people entertained during COVID-19.

Catherine Croft is one of the people working to establish the South Shore Drive-In at the Mill Village Fire Station.

Croft says she has watched the toll the pandemic restrictions have taken on people’s mental health and wanted to be able to provide a venue for people to maintain connections in a safe way.

“A lot of people suffering from depression, this was a way that we could still be a community and see our neighbours but still stay within the safe guidelines the government has requested us to do.”

Croft says watching a movie from their cars allows people to gather together and feel part of something without having to put one another at risk from the coronavirus.

This is not the first time Croft has been associated with a drive-in.

Between 2011 and 2014 she helped run the drive-in at the Mill Village Consolidated School with the proceeds going to buy school supplies and provide funding for school lunches and trips.

The lessons learned from that experience have paid off when trying to make the new drive-in a reality.

In particular, Croft says engaging the community has built up a level of excitement.

“We’re overwhelmed with the amount of people that have messaged, that have wanted to donate, that have wanted to help and volunteer as they see that this is just something wonderful that can happen to our community.”

Croft says the group hasn’t applied for any funding from government and is getting the drive-in off the ground through private donations and sponsorship from local businesses.

Those local business owners will see their ads displayed on the new 20 by 40 foot screen being installed at the Mill Village fire station at 1519 Old Highway 3.

The group has also just picked up a new FM transmitter so movie-goers can tune in to the audio from their cars.

Croft says the drive-in will offer local community groups the opportunity to sell concessions during their movies.

“A lot of non-profits are finding it hard to fundraise, they can use us to do that with. That’s kind of, what we want it to be about this year.”

Croft says they’ve already begun marking off the 50 to 60 spaces for their opening on July 4.

And to involve the community even further, the public will be able vote on which film will be shown opening night by voting on the South Shore Drive-In Facebook page.

The Mill Village location is temporary as Croft says her group has come to an agreement with the Hank Snow society to build a permanent installation that could accommodate up to 200 cars in the Hank Snow museum parking lot.

She hopes to raise the $9,500 needed to erect a screen frame through ticket sales and sponsorships in order to move to their permanent home this summer.

Tickets for the drive-in cost $10 per car and are only available at the gate beginning around 9:00pm.

The South Shore Drive-In will open July fourth and will show films every weekend throughout the summer.

For more information you can follow this link to the South Shore Drive Facebook page.

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

Federal help is starting to roll out for seafood harvesters and processors.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced two programs supporting the industry Wednesday.

The Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund will provide $62.5 million to small and medium-sized enterprises to help get through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lions-share of that funding, $38.1 million will go to the Atlantic provinces and be administered by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

It will support businesses to increase their storage capacity for frozen and live seafood and allow plants to invest in personal protective equipment as well as make operational changes necessary to protect their workers.

The fund is retroactive to March 15.

The Prime Minister also announced the Canadian Fish and Seafood Opportunities Fund has been revamped to focus on raising awareness of seafood products within Canada.

When the program was first launched in 2018 its main focus was expanding the export markets.

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Bernadette Jordan says with export markets drying up because of COVID-19, the industry needs to look to its own backyard.

“That’s where the money is, is in the live lobster market. So, making sure that we were able to step up and provide funding that’s going to help deal with the challenges faced without the export market.”

The almost $43 million program is being cost shared 70%-30% between the federal and provincial governments, respectively.

Not-for-profit organizations such as industry associations and Indigenous groups focused on marketing the fish and seafood sector can apply.

The money can be used to conduct research, develop branding and support promoting the sector both domestically and internationally.

Minister Jordan says workers have not been left out as government has already announced support for harvesters and made changes to the Employment Insurance system to get them through this tough time.

“Is it going to make them whole? No, it’s not going to replace the income that they made last year in the fishing sector. But it is going to make sure that they’ve got what they need in order to continue to have a livelihood.”

Jordan says the half a billion dollars invested by the Liberal government is the largest amount injected in the sector since the cod moratorium.

“And we’re going to continue to see what happens as we go forward, how long it takes for export markets to open again. When the markets are like this year, we know that it is challenging, but we want to make sure we’re there to support the industry throughout the whole COVID timeframe.”

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

Nova Scotians are being warned the risk of wildfire is at dangerous levels.

The province has had days of near-record temperatures and low humidity causing a complete burn ban to be issued for the entire province.

Kara McCurdy, the Fire Prevention Officer for Nova Scotia’s Department of Lands and Forestry says so far this year, the province has seen 95 wildfires burning 628 hectares.

That’s 10 more fires and 500 hectares more than this time last year, numbers which McCurdy finds frustrating.

“And with the fire causes being 100 percent human caused, we just feel like folks aren’t heeding our warnings.”

She says the department doesn’t want to see a repeat of the May 22 weekend where 28 fires burned 495 hectares.

“Conditions this weekend will be the exact same with high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds which are going to bring the fire risk into extreme.”

McCurdy says the burn ban means no campfires, open pit fires, brush clearing or backyard chimineas.

“Anything that you can put wood in to burn is banned during this condition.”

McCurdy says the only exception to the burn ban is campfires in authorized enclosed pits in provincial campgrounds.

“They’re a little more supervised and they’re constantly maintained. The areas are cleared around them because they maintain the campground sites. And they’re always cleaning out the fire pits once the camper leaves for the day.” So there’s not that extra amount of ash sitting in that campfire pit.”

McCurdy cautions people trekking into the woods to be careful when disposing of lit cigarettes.

She also encourages ATV riders to be aware of stopping near tall grass or brush, which can also be lit by their exhausts.

McCurdy says the wild fires don’t just take a toll on the forests but on local volunteer fire departments.

She says they are the backbone of the wildfire program, often bringing 10 to 30 firefighters and their trucks out of their communities to attend the fires.

“You know if a structure fire or something else comes in, a motor vehicle accident, they’re stretched thin, they’re not going to respond as quick, so people really need to think about that stuff.”

McCurdy says in many cases, forest fires can last days tying up resources and people.

“And a lot of these guys and gals work full time. So, being a volunteer, they may not be at work and they may not be getting their wages as they normally would.”

McCurdy says to lift the ban the province will need to see a few days of sustained gentle rain to soak into the ground.

She says a heavy rainfall just runs off and doesn’t do anything to dampen the ground.

McCurdy is reminding people to check the Nova Scotia Burn Safe website everyday at 2:00pm for the latest conditions.

To report illegal burning call 1-800-565-2224 and for wildfires call 9-1-1.

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

Nova Scotia has eased its COVID19 restrictions.

For the first time since the state of emergency was declared, children can now play on playgrounds.

Premier Stephen McNeil also announced groups of up to ten people are now permitted without social distancing.

People are not required to be exclusive but they are strongly encouraged to maintain a consistent group.

However, social distancing rules are still in effect for gatherings up to 50.

The 50-person limit applies to social events, faith gatherings, sports and physical activity, weddings and funerals, and arts and culture events like theatre performances, dance recitals, festivals and concerts.

McNeil says this is the news Nova Scotians have been waiting for.

“You can finally get that log awaited hug from your grandchild, a parent or a close friend.”

The premier reminded Nova Scotians they still need to be vigilant.

“And let’s not forget the other core principles. Washing your hands, good hygiene and wearing a mask when you feel it is necessary, and definitely when you can’t maintain physical distancing.”

Nova Scotia currently has two active cases of COVID-19 and hasn’t had a new case in nine days.

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

Fire departments across Nova Scotia are the latest group to take fundraising efforts online due to COVID-19.

A weekly 50/50 draw has been set up, with half the funds going to fire services and the other half going to the winner.

Captain John Long with the Liverpool Fire Service says about 35 percent of their budget comes from community fundraising efforts.

“And right now because of COVID-19, this is our only fundraiser. There’s nothing else we really can do. We had our Chase the Ace but that’s on hold until we can get people back in the hall.”

Long says the money from these events, and now the 50-50 draw, pays for training, equipment such as boots, pant and jackets, new breathing apparatus, right up to the purchase of new trucks.

The draw is organized by the Amherst Firefighters Association and so far, over two-dozen departments from across Nova Scotia have signed up.

From the Rafflebox site you can choose which department will receive the money.

Long says when you follow the link to the draw from the Liverpool Firefighters Association Facebook page, the Liverpool department is already selected as the default choice.

The first jackpot given away June 4 saw almost and eleven and a half thousand dollars split between the fire departments and the winner.

That amount more than doubled last week to over $25,000.

The draw scheduled for Thursday night is on track to come close to that amount again.

Long is hopeful people in Liverpool will get behind the draw.

“Oh, it’ll help, the more people that get involved, for sure. And as I said, the percentage from this area, or that is designated to Liverpool will come back to us.”

Click here to link to the 50-50 draw page.

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

Anyone looking to burn of those “COVID-19 pounds” is in luck as Queens Place Emera Centre is preparing to reopen part of the facility Monday.

The first phase will offer members the chance to use the fitness centre and track.

The number of participants who can use the facilities at one time will be limited to 15 for the fitness centre and 25 for the track.

Director of Recreation and Healthy Communities Meaghan Roberts says the fitness centre has removed duplicate machines and rearranged the equipment to ensure social distancing can occur.

Roberts says staff will be cleaning throughout the day, but guests will have to do their part as well.

“We ask that each person, before and after they use any equipment, that they wipe it down with the provided disinfectant. Members will have their own spray bottle to carry around with them while they are there. Then when they are done with it at the end of their time slot then we disinfect all the disinfectant bottles before we give them out to other people.”

Members can sign up to one of six 90-minute time slots to use the fitness room between 8:00am and 6:30pm.

If someone were to just drop in looking to exercise, they could join the current time slot, but it may already be full to the 15 person capacity, so Roberts advises phoning ahead to book the spot.

The track will be available for drop-in use as staff estimates the 25-person limit will meet the demand and the social distancing requirements.

Roberts says the reopening plan is rolling out in a cautious and manageable pace for patrons and staff to adjust to the new procedures.

“In order to move beyond, we all need to work together to safely get there. And obviously, we’re looking for everyone’s feedback as we go through these and we’ll take everything into account. But at the end of the day, we do have to follow the protocols that are provided by public health.”

Roberts worked closely with staff from public health to develop the plan that would allow Queens Place to reopen.

She says each public facility across the province will proceed in its own way, as every facility is different.

There are no set timelines on when they might open up the rest of Queens place.

Roberts stresses that it’s up to everyone to make each phase of the reopening work before they can think about moving onto the next.

“As we go through any parts of our reopening it’ll be continuously evaluated and we’ll change based on what works and doesn’t, because of course, we’re not going to get it perfect. But you also have to see how the people coming in are going to react.”

She hopes if anyone sees something that isn’t working, or has a suggestion on how things could be improved or perhaps just has questions around why things are operating in the way they are, they will talk to the staff.

“People are really quick to jump to social media and I just feel like we all need to work together in this and it’s always better to have a conversation directly with people and allow them the opportunity to hear what you have to say.”

Roberts says staff at Queens Place will start booking timeslots Wednesday for Monday’s reopening.

More information on the guidelines is available on the Queens Place Facebook page.

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

Residents of Queens Manor can now get closer to their loved ones.

Protections that had been in place across the province to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 have been eased, allowing residents to interact with others without the use of a barrier.

Executive Director Andrew MacVicar says this is the news residents and staff have been waiting for, but reuniting families is not as easy as throwing open the doors to the facility.

“While I would love to say outdoor visitation starts Monday, and it’s the same visiting hours as it was pre-COVID and you just come on up and we get your loved one, and we bring them out to see you, it can’t work that way.”

Without a vaccine, the coronavirus is still a threat and precautions developed with the provincial health authority must be followed to ensure everyone’s safety.

People are already accustomed to the rules around wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and proper hand sanitizing, but a long-term care home needs extra precautions in place to allow visitors.

All visits for the 61 residents need to be scheduled ahead of time and Queens Manor will offer eight time slots Monday to Friday between 1:00pm and 5:00pm.

MacVicar is aware many people want to come on weekends to see their loved ones, but while everyone learns and adjusts to the new way of doing things, Queens Manor has to limit visitations to the weekdays.

“I want to stress that this is our entry point. This is an opportunity for us to go through this work in progress and work out the kinks without compromising safety. That’s the most important thing.”

Each resident can welcome up to two visitors at time to join them under a canopy in the back courtyard.

Queens Manor Courtyard ready to welcome visitors

MacVicar says the staff is working to ensure the reception area is an enjoyable place to spend time with loved ones while still adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines.

“We’re lucky our courtyard is gorgeous and there’s plants everywhere and the sounds of birds and spring and summer, it’s great. In the actual visitation area, we’re going to add more plants and things to make it more pleasant.”

MacVicar says there will be a staff member present during the visits to help people follow the protocols.

“As you can imagine, you’ve got residents and their loved ones who haven’t seen each other in three months. So there’s going to be that innate reflex to want to give hugs and kisses and touch one another and unfortunately, we have to be the bad guys in the middle and ensuring that that doesn’t happen, which is a very challenging thing for us to do because we want it to happen, but it’s just not safe right now.”

While long-term care homes were off-limits, Queens Manor had set up window where residents could communicate by phone with friends and family on the other side of the glass.

MacVicar says that will still be an option for those who don’t yet feel comfortable meeting in person.

He is glad to see restrictions easing to allow family members a face-to-face experience with their loved ones.

And from a mental-health perspective, MacVicar says nothing is more important to the residents.`

“Nothing is going to match the day when we can say, come on in and give your loved ones a hug.

Follow this link for information on how to set up an appointment or review the protocols at Queens Manor.

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

The wheels on the bus are again going round and round Queens.

Queens County Transit began accepting passengers Monday.

The service focuses on seniors and low-income households, providing rides to clients to help get them around the community.

Manager Tammy LeBlanc says COVID-19 forced Queens County Transit to rethink how they would serve their riders.

Instead of transporting people, they began bringing pharmaceuticals and groceries to their clients.

“People were putting in their grocery orders, and we were still doing the deliveries and it was free of charge. We’d just drop them on the doorstep and leave. But, we continued to help as much as we could.”

Now that services are opening up, LeBlanc says people are looking to get out to their appointments.

Transit staff have been reaching out to clients to let them know they are again taking riders.

Leblanc says part of that conversation is filling people in on the precautions the company and riders must take to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Cleaning the vehicles prior to and after each client. The clients are to wear masks. If they don’t have their own, we will provide you one. They’re to sit on the passenger side of the vehicle as far back as possible and proper hand hygiene is absolutely necessary.”

LeBlanc says anyone who requires an assistant to get around will be permitted to travel with them in the transit vehicle, but otherwise, ride-sharing will not be allowed.

And people who are sick will be asked not to travel.

Queens County Transit began in 2018 through the efforts of the Queens Care Society.

Since that time, the y’ve provided rides to doctor’s appointments, grocery and other shopping trips, as well as a weekly run for the food bank, delivering supplies to Caledonia.

The number of people using the service has grown to 500 clients each month.

That total dropped off sharply over the past three months to just 50 deliveries or 10 percent of their normal workload.

LeBlanc says the service is not in danger of shutting down.

She says Queens County Transit receives amazing support from not only the community, but from the Region of Queens and the provincial government, in particular.

“The provincial government has really vamped up and are helping us wherever we need. They’re working with us on an individual basis. They want to ensure that rural transit survives.”

LeBlanc says the cost of a trip varies on the distance, the destination and the client’s ability to pay.

And there are many subsidies available to help offset the price of transportation.

LeBlanc says in addition to their paid drivers operating the QCT branded vehicles, they have two volunteer drivers in Liverpool, two in Greenfield and one in Caledonia.

She says Queens County Transit is always looking for more volunteers willing to help provide transportation, especially in some of the more ‘out of the way’ locations in Queens.

Now that some of the restrictions have been eased, LeBlanc says everyone is looking forward to reconnecting with their clients.

“The staff here are wonderful. They do go above and beyond in helping and we really build relationships with our passengers. We’re doing our best to get them where they need to go.”

To contact Queens County Transit for a ride, or to volunteer, call 902-356-2670 or click here to go to their webpage.

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

Long Term Care homes will once again welcome visitors beginning Monday.

Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang announced they were lifting some restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 among some of the province’s most vulnerable population.

Precautions will need to be taken and rules around social distancing will also need to followed.

Premier McNeil urged Nova Scotians to be patient for just a little longer.

“I know this is not exactly what you were hoping for, and we understand your craving for that long-awaited hug, we’re not there yet. But sitting in the fresh air and a visit with your loved one is a good first step. And if we properly do this and keep everyone safe, we will be able to get that hug when the time is right.”

To keep residents and visitors safe, homes will need to ensure visits only take place outdoors with a maximum of two visitors at a time.

Visitors will be screened for COVID-19 when they enter the facility and must wear a mask and maintain a distance of six feet from others.

Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 or who are self-isolating will not be permitted to enter a facility.

And all visitor information will be logged in order to track any potential outbreaks of the coronavirus.

Dr. Strang says his department has set minimum guidelines for allowing visitors in to each facility, but it will be up to the individual long-term care homes if they choose to insist on stiffer restrictions for visitors.

He says each facility will determine the best way to provide a safe visiting experience for the residents and their guests.

“So again I ask Nova Scotians, I know they want to visit their relatives, we want you to be able to do this. But we need your patience for these facilities to be able to manage this on top of everything else they’re doing to care for all of the loved-ones that are under their care in their facility.”

Strang says the ability to further loosen restrictions will be determined by the data they gather before the end of the month.

“I can’t say it enough, the next two to three weeks are critically important to see what the impact of our first steps in recovery have been.”

Strang also announced he would be self-isolating for the next two weeks as he has to travel to New Brunswick to receive minor cancer treatment that is unavailable in Nova Scotia.

He assured Nova Scotians he would continue working from home, studying the epidemiology and making plans for the summer and fall.

Premier McNeil called Dr. Strang an essential service in Nova Scotia and his plan to self-isolate the ultimate example of practicing what you preach.

“His decision to self isolate shows his integrity and how much he cares about the health and well-being of all Nova Scotians. Dr. Strang on behalf of all Nova Scotians, I want to wish you well.”

McNeil announced because Dr.Strang will be unavailable, the province would suspend the COVID-19 briefings for the next few weeks, but would continue to provide updates.

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

The Liverpool community is rallying to make graduation memorable for the class of 2020.

Precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have forced schools across the province to re-think how they recognize graduates.

At Liverpool Regional High School, students need to book a time slot between June 23 and 25 to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas along with any bursaries or scholarships.

A photographer will be on hand to capture the moment and only four people from within the student’s bubble will be allowed to attend.

Social distancing requirements severely limit how graduates can interact on a day that would normally be full of camaraderie and close contact.

But the Liverpool community has come up with a couple of creative ways to make the event special.

Primrose Lane, Yumi M Photography and Details Event & Design Studio have partnered to provide free prom photos at Fort Point on June 23.

Grads can book an appointment to get dressed in their prom dresses and sharpest suits and have their pictures taken between 2:00pm and 7:00pm and each student will come away with two photos to mark the occasion.

The grand finale is being held at Queens Place on the evening of June 25.

Graduates will gather, standing six feet apart in the parking lot to be recognized in a drive-by celebration.

Students will stand in the parking spaces while the public acknowledges them from within their own vehicles as they cruise past.

The event is being organized by Melissa Robinson and Charmaine Stevens.

Robinson, who is also Vice President of the South Queens Chamber of Commerce says unanimous support from the Region of Queens, the Chamber of Commerce, RCMP, Queens County Fire Departments, EHS and Ground Search and Rescue have allowed the event to come together so quickly.

Robinson says under the circumstances this is the best way to bring the graduating class together.

“This is just, kind of, the secondary option for them where they can still stand six-feet apart, together, and share their accomplishment.”

Robinson says Queens County Ground Search and Rescue will be on hand to ensure both the students and public follow social distancing requirements.

Robinson’s daughter Katie is part of the 2020 LRHS graduating class.

She is pleased to see how people have rallied for the graduates.

“I was actually really nervous that we weren’t going to get a celebration. But I knew that the community would come together and do some sort of celebration for us in the end and I’m really happy with what they decided to do for us.”

No one would’ve predicted this is how the 2020 school year would end.

And Katie Robinson is grateful for the work being done to make their graduation memorable.

“For us, it means a lot to have the community support and to be able to have them see all the success we have accomplished and graduating is a really big deal.”

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

A third of the graduating class at Liverpool Regional High School will be receiving scholarships this year after donors jumped to contribute $21,000.

The LRHS Foundation moved their fundraising efforts online this year when the annual auction was cancelled due concerns around the coronavirus.

Teacher Claudine LeBlanc h as organized the fundraiser for the past few years and was determined this year’s graduates wouldn’t miss out.

“It sort of did my heart good to print off the final tally sheet of the donators [sic] and have a look and some of the names of former graduates and former teaching staff. So, yeah, it took the whole community.”

The foundation raised enough money to provide scholarships for 21 of the 65 students graduating from LHRS this year.

LeBlanc says she heard from businesses and community groups who were all willing to contribute to the fund.

She says the community has supported the scholarship program so long, it’s now become a legacy.

People just assume they will be going to the auction each year.

“And instead this year, they’ve just sort of paid it forward. They said if we were coming out to the auction we would’ve spent a hundred dollars, so why not just make the cheque out for that.”

Leblanc was surprised to see where some of the donations were coming from.

“Kids that just have recently graduated that I would’ve thought, oh, I don’t even know that they’re working, and they put in $25 or $10. All of that adds up to a lot of money.”

Now that she’s seen how successful the online effort has been, Leblanc says it could join the auction as part of the foundation’s fundraising efforts every year.

She says it’s easy to click and donate and it gives people the opportunity to donate who couldn’t before.

“Former graduates who are up north, out west, wherever they are, could just click on Facebook, [and] make a donation even though they can’t be physically here in Liverpool the night of the auction.”

LeBlanc says the LRHS Foundation has awarded over 400 students almost half a million dollars since it started 22 years ago.

She says students who have been awarded scholarships will find a letter from LHRS Foundation in their diploma package with instructions on how to claim the money once they have enrolled in their post secondary school in the fall.

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

A pair of local business owners were cautiously optimistic as they reopened their doors Friday.

General manager at Lane’s Privateer Inn, Susan Lane says it will be a struggle for many people to be comfortable with idea of going out to eat.

“I think it’s going to be difficult to get the trust of people. They’ve been told to stay the blazes home for the last three months. I think it’s going to take a lot for people to get the confidence to go back into restaurants.”

To help stop the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus, the province had ordered restaurants, bars, hair stylists, gyms and others businesses to close March 19.

Provincial health officials have been working with restaurant associations to develop protocols that allow them to operate while keeping customers and staff safe.

Businesses received a long list of instruction including ensuring customers keep two metres apart and not sitting at the same table unless they’re with members of their bubble, sanitizing surfaces between patrons and asking anyone showing signs of coronavirus to leave.

Lane says to meet regulations, they’ve removed almost 70 percent of their seating.

“It’s a 1798 inn so we don’t have big spacious areas. We have little, narrow, windy hallways.”

Susan Lane in Lane’s Privateer Inn main dining room

Lane hopes that may work to their advantage as they have several smaller rooms including the bookshop and café that will allow them to seat people at a comfortable distance.

However, even with that additional space, and a patio that will open as the weather improves, they will only be able to seat 40 to 50 people when they would usually welcome 150.

Lane has heard from the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia to expect revenues to be 30 percent of normal.

She worries how the business will survive when profit margins in the restaurant industry are already thin.

“It’s only five percent. For every $100 we make, if everything goes perfectly perfect, we make five dollars. So, it is incredibly tight.”

Manager and Co-owner at Hell Bay Brewing Company Melanie Perron is facing similar challenges.

She says they will be looking to capitalize on their patio space to make up for fact they can only accommodate fewer than ten people inside.

But Perron is concerned as the patio will also see a drastic reduction in numbers from 118 customers to just eight tables.

“We’re supposed to cut our capacity by half. But then people have to come in in their bubbles and by themselves, so I’m not really sure right now, how many people will actually fit out there.”

Perron says Hell Bay is fortunate to have had the support of the community as they continued to offer bottle sales throughout the pandemic.

But she says a large part of their business dried up as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

“It’s been challenging to say the least, because the majority of our sales are with bars and restaurants. Sending kegs out would probably be about 60 percent of our actual sales. So not having bars or restaurants open has definitely diminished those.”

Hell Bay also sells their products through the NSLC and had begun the process of rebranding from bottles to cans just as the pandemic took hold.

Perron says she and her partner Mark Baille couldn’t afford to keep the three part-time staff they would normally have employed and have had to run the business entirely on their own.

Keeping up with sales, brewing, packaging and delivery has been a struggle for the pair.

“This whole thing has made us have to reinvent our business, probably four times in the last three months because of the rules and regulations and what we can and can’t do. So, yeah, it’s been a lot of work.”

Perron says Hell Bay qualified for some of the government programs aimed at helping businesses through COVID-19.

However she feels tax relief from the various levels of government could have been more helpful than the programs that are currently in place.

“My thing with the government support is it’s a loan. It’s a loan to pay back the government. Because if you think of all our major bills, are all government bills: HST, GST, payroll remittance, so it’s like you’re taking a loan from the government to pay the government. So to me, it’s a double-edged sword.”

Susan Lane agrees it would be better if HST remittance and property taxes could be deferred to help people in the industry get back on their feet.

“Those are daunting cheques in the best of times, but knowing that those are coming, it’s hard, it’s very difficult. We could always do more.”

Despite that, Lane says overall, she is impressed with the programs being offered by the provincial and federal governments.

“Under the circumstances everybody is doing all they can.”

It’s that community support that both Lane and Perron feel will get their businesses through what they anticipate will be a rough summer tourist season.

“For any restaurant in Nova Scotia, everyone knows the summer is the only time that you really make your revenue. It’s a huge blow. It feels like a farmer has lost its entire crop is how it feels this year.”

Lane says because we can’t travel far this summer, it’s a great opportunity to explore your own province and support your local independent businesses.

“Even though it might be convenient to go through the drive-through remember that it’s the small guys that are supporting your sports teams and your local festivals and events, using their very last dime to do it.”

Lane and Perron are grateful for the support the community has shown through the pandemic.

They hope to see people return now that their doors are open again.

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

Fundraising efforts for the Queens Universally Designed Play Park have stalled because of the coronavirus.

The group behind the park celebrated a $100,000 contribution from the province last month, but since then, grants have dried up.

Chairperson of the fundraising committee Debbie Wamboldt, says the group had expected to get close to their goal after applying to a wide range of organizations who provide grants for projects like this.

“We began to get email and letters from funders saying because of COVID-19 we’re not funding for an indefinite amount of time. So, we were pretty devastated.”

The universally designed play park is built around the seven principles of design, which ensures the equipment and space is accessible to people of any ability or age.

The fundraising group is now looking to the public to help push them towards their $450,000 goal.

They’ve set up a GoFundMe to help cover the $150,000 they still need to make the park a reality.

Wamboldt says they understand times are hard for people right now.

“We’re not asking our community to fill that bucket. We’re looking for any help that we can get. You know, five dollars, we’re happy.”

Wamboldt says they will be pursuing more funding opportunities from the various levels of government once their programs open again in the fall.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused headaches for fundraising, Wamboldt is hopeful that having to abide by social distancing restrictions has given people an appreciation for the challenges the autistic and others face every day.

She says not being able to go where you want or take your children to a play park has opened people’s eyes to the struggle faced by people with special needs.

“Because of COVID, I think we’re all experiencing what that’s like. For people like myself, and our family, and people with disabilities and special needs, that’s everyday life.”

Wamboldt is grateful for the support shown by the community, sponsors and all levels of government to get their vision this far along in a short period of time.

She still hopes to break ground at the park by next spring in order to have it up and running by summer of 2021.

That timeline may be ambitious, but Wamboldt says she and her team are determined to see this through.

“I’ve said that since the beginning, I won’t give up until this park is a reality. So, you have to just evolve as things evolve and keep going and keep trying.”

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

A Liverpool woman is asking the public to leave her rocks alone.

In the past few weeks, Jane Stevenson has been painting rocks and leaving them in Pine Grove Park for people to discover.

She has been posting pictures to her Queens County Rocks! Facebook page and encouraged others to do the same

Stevenson says she spent a lot of time making crafts with her children when they were younger.

Now that her kids are grown and she has retired, Stevenson thought rock painting would be a good way to help lighten the mood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The kids were loving it. There’s not many things I’m good at, but I’m good at doing this and coming up with ideas for kids. [I was] a stay-at-home mom, you know, I did it forever. I did for my kids and their friends.”

Stevenson had set up a display of stones and was surprised when they began disappearing.

“The note I left on a rock, it said, please leave the star stones in the park for the exhibit. Well, that stone was taken too.”

Photo Credit: Jane Stevenson

Stevenson was unaware there are other groups across the province who paint rocks and leave them in public places for people to take home.

She sees how they could mistake her rocks for one of those but doesn’t understand why someone would take something that was clearly marked and part of a display.

Stevenson had made plans for an event called June Bugs to display bug-themed rocks.

Along with the rocks, she had installed fairy doors at the base of some of the trees, but those too, were taken.

Stevenson decided to cancel the event when she determined she couldn’t count on the rocks remaining in place.

“I stuck another door up the other day and went back a day later and most of the stuff was gone that I had put there. At which point, I said, that’s enough.”

While she is frustrated June Bugs will not go ahead, Stevenson says she has other ideas.

Since calling off the event Stevenson has partnered with Sky Parnell to create Pine Grove Pets – a scavenger hunt with a social media slant.

She says Parnell came up with the idea to hide a picture of a bear called Baxter in the park for people to find.

After locating the bear they should take a selfie with it and post the picture to the Queens County Rocks! Facebook page.

Everyone who posts will be eligible for a draw to receive a participation prize.

Most importantly, Stevenson says participants need to hide the bear again for the next person to find and enjoy.

Stevenson hasn’t given up on the idea of building a public exhibit in the woods.

She hopes in the future, to get the Region of Queens involved with creating another display for people to enjoy at one of the municipal parks.

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

As the province prepares to reopen much of the economy Friday, Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr Robert Strang are reminding people that the requirement to maintain six feet of distance from others hasn’t changed.

Strang says those rules apply when shopping in stores or seated in restaurants.

“So while people may be at tables up to groups of ten, unless they can be separated by six feet while they’re at that single table, which is not likely, they have to be people from the same household or same household bubble.”

Strang says we’re not ready yet to have multiple households sit together at a single table.

He says business will have to follow the plans their industries have developed in consultation with public health officials.

He says the public has been very good about maintaining social distancing when parks and beaches were reopened and he expects that will continue as businesses open their doors as well.

“As we get out more into social settings, as we open up retail spaces and bring people back to work, I think the majority of Nova Scotians understand and have an expectation of each other and the people that are running those various settings, of working together to maintain safety.”

Premier McNeil spoke about the need to get Nova Scotians back to work.

“I know many of you are nervous, but we have to get our economy moving again. We are taking it slow, we are reducing capacity and protocols will be in place and we need everyone to follow them.”

The Premier also assured Nova Scotians testing will continue and if they see any indication the number of cases is beginning to spike, the province will take action.

He asks people to get out this weekend and support their local economy.

“What’s really important is for all of you to support your local businesses. They need you and they want to welcome you back. So think local, buy local, support local. That makes us Nova Scotia strong and Nova Scotia proud.”

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

Just as national parks begin to reopen, Kejimkujik Seaside Park is shutting down.

Parks Canada decided to close the popular hiking trail in Port Joli because of increased bear activity in the area.

The move is intended to keep distance between bears and humans for everyone’s safety.

Bears are attracted to the seaside park because the habitat is largely undisturbed and the food is plentiful.

Officials say the increase in bear activity at this time of year is not unusual and the animals will likely move away from the shore as the food supply becomes more plentiful in the forests.

The inland Kejimkujik National Park is open for day trips hiking and fishing, but camping won’t open until late June, at the earliest.

Parks Canada will keep an eye on the bears and will update the public when they feel it is safe to reopen Keji Seaside.

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

Quick action by municipal staff contained and cleaned a diesel spill in Liverpool Friday night.

A Region of Queens crew was working on upgrades to water and sewer lines on Jubilee Road next to the Royal Bank when an Irving truck, refilling construction vehicles at the job site malfunctioned, causing approximately 260 litres of diesel fuel to be dumped on the ground.

Liverpool Fire Department was called at 7:00pm and contained the spill.

Region of Queens Mayor David Dagley says municipal workers used the equipment on site to remove the contaminated gravel almost immediately.

“It was transported to our landfill site, as we normally do with oil materials and it will be tested by Irving and it will be dealt with, as necessary, according to environmental standards.”

Dagley says the spill was unable to spread because of the construction zone in which it took place.

“It’s right in the middle of a street that had been under construction. It’s all compacted, class-A gravel, very absorbent, no run-off. It’s two or three feet lower than the sidewalks around it. It’s all contained in the area where the actual spill occurred.”

Staff from the Nova Scotia Department of Environment were on site Monday and confirmed the site was properly cleaned up.

Mayor Dagley says he doesn’t believe construction on the underground infrastructure will be impacted by the spill.

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

COVID-19 may have cancelled the season, but hockey was the hot topic at Region of Queens council.

Representatives for the Liverpool Privateers appeared before council looking to change how they are supported by the region.

Bruce Inglis heads up the Liverpool Junior Hockey Association, the non-profit group operating the Privateers along with owner Jim Bottomley.

Inglis says in 2018, the team entered into a five-year agreement with Region of Queens council which provided up to $6,000 to help cover the costs of transporting players to Liverpool from a number of the universities and community college campuses around the province.

The contract also shared 50% of the revenue from ads behind the penalty box with the team.

Inglis says a year later, the region changed the deal.

“In 2019 they’d identified some inconsistencies with how contracts are allowed to be done. So they removed those things, which is a big issue. But suggested that we could use their Grants to Organizations program.”

Mayor David Dagley says after the deal was reached, the municipality learned some of the terms may run counter to rules set out by the Municipal Government Act.

The MGA restricts how municipalities can use taxpayer money to support non-profit and for-profit groups.

In March of 2019, the team received a registered letter from Region of Queens indicating they would no longer provide the transportation allowance and advertising revenue sharing.

Dagley says Queens wants to support the Privateers but they have to do so within the bounds of the law.

“It will be up to our municipal staff to determine what is non-profit, and what is for-profit in the ask, or any related activities with the team, and see how we can navigate between the two.”

Inglis says by unilaterally changing the contract, the municipality has fundamentally changed the business model of the team.

He wants the region to find a way to live up to the promises they agreed to for five years, two years ago.

And says if the region made an error when signing the agreement, it should be up for them to make it right, not the team.

“We want that certainty, so that we know that it remains, for a number of years, a viable place for Jim to have his hockey team.”

Inglis says the dedicated work of their volunteers has helped to root the team in the community.

The Privateers pull 400- 700 people to Queens Place Emera Centre each night during the regular season, a number which jumps to over 900 during the playoffs.

Inglis says participation in the toonie draws, which the team shares with the curling club, has allowed the Privateers to replace both their home and away jerseys over the last couple of years.

Inglis says that kind of fan support is the envy of the league.

“The fans didn’t come to the rink on their own. They were brought there by a lot of hard work from volunteers.”

Inglis says if the region can’t provide direct funding he’d be open to finding alternative ways to support the team,

“I think they could give the ice for free to meet the same financial obligations and I don’t believe that there are not junior hockey teams all over the country that are sharing in the revenue of advertising or selling the advertising in arenas.”

That’s precisely the model being used by the South Shore Lumberjacks at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre in Bridgewater.

According to the town’s mayor David Mitchell, the facility allows the team to sell advertising on the boards and ice-surface in exchange for a cut of ticket sales.

Under the recently signed five-year deal, the LCLC also provides the Lumberjacks a reduced price on ice-time.

Queens mayor David Dagley says the Privateers are part of the fabric of Liverpool and council is willing to find a way to support the team.

He says staff are now waiting for the Privateers to turn over the financials for review.

Once they’ve gone over the team’s books, Dagley says municipal staff will have a better idea how the region can work within the rules of the municipal government act to help them out.

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

Effective immediately, Nova Scotians can gather in groups of ten.

Premier Stephen McNeil and chief medical officer of health for Nova Scotia Dr. Robert Strang announced the change in restrictions Friday.

While easing restrictions, they reminded people to still keep six feet apart unless they are in the same household bubble.

The limitation is in place regardless of whether the gathering takes place indoors or out and an exception will be made for outdoor weddings and funerals where up to 15 people will be permitted.

The province also announced private campgrounds will be allowed to open at half capacity starting June 5 and provincial campgrounds will follow suit June 15.

The provincial reservation line will be open June 8 and bookings will only be accepted from residents of Nova Scotia.

Pools can also now prepare to open in anticipation they will operate this summer.

The easing of restrictions comes as Nova Scotia records the first day without a new coronavirus case since March.

The premier and Dr.Strang say Nova Scotians have got the province to a place where the number of people gathering together could be increased.

McNeil encouraged people to keep it up a while longer.

“You can see more of your family members now with the gathering limit gone to ten and you can hang out together, watch your grandchildren play, but to protect them and yourself and the health of our province, no hugs, kisses or handshakes. Stay six feet apart for a little longer. If we continue to flatten the curve we will be able to lift up your spirits by taking down more restrictions.”

Dr.Strang says people have questioned why some decisions seem to contradict each other, like why Nova Scotians can go into a restaurant but not hug their grandchildren.

“We have to understand that the first step in recovery needed to be opening the economy, allowing people to get back to work. At the end of the day having a strong functioning economy, having people working, that’s an important measure that improves people’s health.”

Strang also acknowledged in order to maintain vibrant communities, people need to get together.

“We recognize that people want to get together, we recognize the soccer team wants to practice, we recognize the full church wants to get together. But we have to do this slowly and carefully.”

Dr.Stang explained why they had to push back on opening daycares.

He say the plans coming from the industry were too high-level and didn’t provide the level of detail needed to ensure the safety of the children.

He says his department is working with daycare operators to provide a blueprint that will allow them to open.

The Premier says he couldn’t hold back opening the economy any longer because people needed to get back to work to pay their bills.

He understands the 10 day gap between when business can reopen on June 5 and the scheduled reopening of daycares on June 15 will be a struggle.

McNeil is looking for businesses to step in to help by providing flexibility in scheduling.

“To please respect your employees who have issues with childcare during these ten days. We need to take care of each other. We need to be kind to each other. We need to support each other as our province tries to come back from COVID-19.

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

Kejimkujik

Beginning Monday, people can once again roam the trails and waterways of Kejimkujik and Keji Seaside Adjunct.

Like so many other services, the national park has been closed as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.

Kejimkujik will open June 1 for day trips to hikers, paddlers and anglers.

Jonathan Sheppard, superintendent at Keji says a lot of effort goes in to making the park ready for visitors.

“Opening a park is not just as simple as removing a gate. It’s about getting those services and facilities up and running. So, tradesfolks and our teams have been opening trails and putting boardwalks in and all that stuff. But when people come to the park they shouldn’t expect the kind of visit that they would have in other years.”

Picnic shelters and public washrooms will remain closed for the time being, but Sheppard assures visitors will have access to the “pit privies” or outhouses should nature call during their stay.

Sheppard says the park is following guidelines set out by provincial health officials to keep people safe and he hopes visitors will abide by those rules.

“It’s a questions of people understanding that when they’re on trails as a trail user, they respect social distancing when they’re on those trails and we’ll have some signs in place that will assist people with that”.

Keji will open six of the front country trails and three of the multi-use trails June 1.

Hiking, canoeing, kayaking and boating will be permitted, as will fishing, provided visitors have purchased a valid fishing license from one of the usual locations in Queens.

Sheppard says it’s important to reopen the park for people’s physical and mental health.

He says the park staff is encouraged by how eager the community is to return to the park.

“It’s humbling for us to see the outpouring of interest in getting back to a place like Kejimkujik because, obviously, it is so important to people and we really appreciate that and we miss having people here too. So we look forward to Monday.”

While Keji will welcome visitors for day trips, those wishing to camp will have to wait a little longer.

The park’s main camping area, Jeremy’s Bay will remain closed for the season as it undergoes planned infrastructure renovations.

Anyone who has booked in for backcountry camping this summer have had their reservations cancelled and money refunded.

Sheppard says Keji won’t begin accepting new reservations for backcountry camping until June 21 at the earliest, as they wait for instruction from the province on how to safely provide overnight stays.

Sheppard says they are taking a cautious and slow approach to reopening Keji in order to insure it is done in a safe manner.

Because this opening looks so much different than previous years, he encourages visitors to check with the Parks Canada Kejimkujik website before making plans.

“There they’ll find information on what’s opened and what’s closed and as that changes, the information on our website will be updated.”

You can link to the Kejimkujik page here.

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

Federal funding to assist charities through COVID-19 is coming to Queens.

The United Way of Lunenburg and Queens County is now accepting applications from registered charities to help community members hit hardest by the coronavirus.

Coordinator Michael Graves says the United Way is looking for established organizations within the community to identify the needs and step forward.

“They know the ones that are vulnerable, they know where the needs are. This is government money, we want to be responsible stewards of that money. We want to make sure it goes to the right people. We’re not really too interested in funding programs that might be deemed frivolous.”

The United Way of Lunenburg Queens has been allocated $180,000 from the Government of Canada Emergency Community Support Fund to distribute in the region.

Funding requests of less than $5,000 will be reviewed by the United Way board, while a volunteer panel will assess requests greater than $5,000 before sending them along to the board for final approval.

Graves is hoping to use the trust local organizations have built within the community to accomplish the federal government’s mandate of reaching some of Canada’s most vulnerable groups.

“The LGBTQ community, the Mi’kmaq community as well as the foreign workers, as an example. But, kids, youth, families, seniors, people who are vulnerable, people who are homeless. There’s a wide variety of people that they want us to focus on and what we do is we work with the partners, and the partners is the community.”

Graves would like to see applications that will carry on and help the underserved in the region long after COVID-19 money dries up.

He says the United Way has been supporting many programs in Queens already such as the Food Bank and the Better, Together Family Resource Centre.

Graves says they recently partnered with VON to identify 160 isolated seniors in Queens county.

The VON not only brings meals to the seniors homes, they sit and visit to check on the seniors to ensure they’re doing ok.

Graves says because the United Way only gets so much money each year, it’s ongoing programs like those he would like to see make use of the federal funding.

“For many organizations, we’re the difference between a good program and a great program and in a number of cases, no programming at all, like, there wouldn’t be a program if it wasn’t for United Way funding. So, we want to make sure that if we fund something, and people, and in this particular case, it’s seniors, if they become reliant on it, we want them to continue to have the ability to access the service.”

The United Way will be accepting applications from registered charities until July 17 or until the money runs out.

Groups can apply for funding on the Lunenburg County United Way website.

Graves hope some good will come out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The problems that people are facing today were prevalent before COVID-19 and they’re going to be prevalent after COVID-19. There are too many people living in poverty, with low-income that are struggling on a daily basis. What COVID-19 did was put a spotlight on what the needs are in the community.”

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

Nova Scotia is preparing to reopen its economy with a bang.

At Wednesday’s COVID-19 update, Premier Stephen McNeil announced businesses that had been ordered shut, can once again open their doors on June 5.

Those include restaurants for eat-in customers, bars, veterinarians, gyms, cosmetology and hairstylists.

Provided they follow protocols approved by public health from their colleges and associations, other health providers such as dentistry, optometry, chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy, podiatry and naturopathy can also reopen June 5.

Physical distancing and gathering limits remain in place. People must keep two metres apart and not gather in groups of more than five.

The province has set aside $25 miilion to fund a Small Business Reopening and Support Grant to provide eligible businesses, non-profits, charities and social enterprises with up to $5,000 to help them open safely.

The premier offered more help to organizations trying to find their way in the new economy.

“Many of you have to operate under entirely new conditions and maybe even change your business model. So along with the grant, we are offering a voucher worth $1,500 to access consulting services to offer you advice.”

Anyone looking to access that advice and support to become more resilient in the coming months can go online to https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus and submit an application beginning June 1.

McNeil also announced a $230 million infrastructure fund to go towards more than 200 shovel-ready projects including paving on 100-series highways, bridge replacements, gravel road upgrades and school repairs.

He says the project will support the private sector by creating up to 2,000 jobs this fiscal year.

The premier also announced a setback in reopening childcare centres.

Initially scheduled to reopen on June fifth, they will now be delayed until the 15th as providers work with the province to ensure children can return safely.

At the end of the briefing, McNeil said there would be more announcements coming Friday about further opening the economy and social gatherings.

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

A Queens cannabis company continues to thrive despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

CEO Myrna Gillis says Aqualitas has weathered the coronavirus without having to layoff a single employee.

Gillis says 75% percent of the company’s workforce are on the production side and are operating at 100% capacity.

The remaining 25% are administrative support and Gillis says most of those are working from home.

Gillis says because Aqualitas manufactures medical-grade products they already had many measures in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“We have gloves and masks and changing of uniforms and things like that. So we have very good protocols in place and we’re happy to say that our workforce remains healthy, which is the main goal, and operations have continued.”

CEO Myrna Gillis – Photo Credit: Aqualitas

Since pandemic restrictions have been in place, Gillis says demand for their cannabis products decreased in some areas but were on the rise in others.

She says sales of some of their milder recreational cannabis containing lower amounts of THC, spiked to four times the normal amounts.

“We associated that with people being at home, you know people being at home with their kids, people just, maybe having some increased anxiety or just wanting to relax a bit more because we’re going through such challenging and different times.”

Gillis says because people have been unable to socialize, flower products that would normally be smoked and shared have dipped, while consumers have turned to cannabis oils and edibles.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Gillis says Aqualitas had enjoyed month over month growth since they hit the market last May and had been predicting to hit $10 million in revenue this year.

While it is unlikely Aqualitas will meet those targets, Gillis is optimistic they will get back on track.

Aqualitas uses a unique system of aquaponics where plants are grown in water tanks with living fish.

She says the work they’re doing may eventually benefit not just their business, but could reshape the future of agriculture.

“We’ve received hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars in research grants and have really moved the needle on aquaponics research and cultivation practices. Obviously for us, we think long term, that it will be used for sustainable farming.”

Gillis says Aqualitas has also partnered with Acadia University to research medical cannabis and vet their products before they hit the market.

She’s says establishing that partnership has opened doors for Aqualitas to work with international drug companies on trials testing the effectiveness of CBD oils in treating chronic panic, Multiple Sclerosis, as well as PTSD.

Gillis says their willingness to dive into the science of cannabis is setting them apart from the other players in the cannabis space.

“To be a supplier in those markets for product development and pharmaceutical and natural health products is a really big, big thing for us. We’re one of the few companies in the cannabis space that is actually putting a lens on active pharmaceutical ingredient production for clinical trials.”

Gillis says it’s been quite a ride so far and says locating in Nova Scotia has been key to their success.

“We were really passionate about developing a business in our own backyard and we knew that we had access to some of the best scientists and universities in the world, and an ecosystem here in this province, that really does propel innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Gillis believes Aqualitas will continue to grow as the province begins to relax restrictions around COVID-19.

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

Bookworms across the South Shore will soon be able to get their fix as public library branches are preparing to reopen across the region.

Chief Librarian at South Shore Public Libraries Troy Meyers says he and the other chief librarians in Nova Scotia will be on a conference call Tuesday with the province’s chief medical officer for health, Dr. Robert Strang to set guidelines for reopening.

While he looks forward to hearing the directives from Dr. Strang, Meyers says he and his staff are already making preparations to reopen.

“We’re just really excited to get back and open the doors. We know that there’s probably going to be a little bump in the road still, but we’re going to continue to serve people. We’re going to do it safely and securely and [we] can’t wait for it.”

The library got a jump on reopening by ordering glass dividers, like those keeping cashiers from customers at grocery stores, back in March.

But Meyers says that’s about the only similarity between the retail outlets and how the library will operate.

“We’ve made our public spaces as wide and as accommodating as possible. When people do come into a public library, it’s meant to be that free-range browsing experience. We want people to still be able to do that, so I don’t want to force people to go in a certain direction like you’ll see in the supermarkets.”

Library staff will be disinfecting surfaces and there will be personal protective equipment, wipes and hand sanitizer available for patrons.

Many people think a library is only there to offer books, but Meyers points out community programming and computer services are just as much a part of their operations.

He says covers have been ordered for all their computer keyboards so they can be wiped down and safely used by the public.

The South Shore’s chief librarian is pleased to say no library staff had to be let go because of COVID-19, and those familiar faces who feel comfortable doing so, will be waiting to greet the community when the doors reopen.

While the buildings have been closed during the pandemic, the library has continued to provide curbside book pick-up.

Meyers also believes this region may be the only one in the country still operating the bookmobile mobile library service.

He says people are grateful they can still access books and their wi-fi connection in their remote communities.

“People just say, hey, you know what, this is a lifeline for me. I don’t know what I would do just stuck in. I’m not a Netflix person. I’ve always been a reader and I’ve read everything in the house. Now that you guys are bringing me stuff, I’m going to get through this.”

Meyers reflects there likely won’t be many positives to be found in the legacy of the coronavirus but is hopeful there may be one good takeaway.

“This might be one where, people will be more respectful of each other’s space when they’re in public together and I think that’s a very good thing.”

That’s a lesson he hopes patrons take to heart when libraries once again throw open their doors in the next few weeks.

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