Close up of the Hybrid car electric charger station. Photo AdobeStock

The province’s electric utility wants to give drivers of electric vehicles another reason to stop in Liverpool.

Nova Scotia Power has approached the Region of Queens about installing a charging station on municipally owned property in downtown Liverpool.

The Nova Scotia Power website shows a single charging station at the Sobeys in Liverpool. The next nearest opportunities for EV drivers to charge up are locations in  Bridgewater or Shelburne.

The utility would like to install the charging station around the Visitor Information Centre on Henry Hensey Drive along the Mersey River.

Mayor Darlene Norman says as any local resident will tell you, that parking lot is prone to flooding and staff are working with NS Power to find a more suitable location.

“Richard Lane, our Economic Director is taking the lead on this, and it’s somewhere around, somewhere on municipal property in the Liverpool, Main [Street] area,” said Norman.

The new service will come at no cost to Region of Queens taxpayers as NS Power plans to pick up the tab on the entire project.

Mayor Norman didn’t say when the proposed charging station could be operational.

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Security camera photo of vandal. Photo courtesy RCMP

Queens District RCMP continues to investigate mischief at the Liverpool tourist bureau.

Between the evening of January 8 and early morning hours of January 9, someone had vandalized the building with various forms of graffiti.

A photo of a person believed to be involved in the incident was released to the public in the hopes of identifying them.

RCMP investigators have since learned that, later that morning, on January 9 a dark-coloured sedan with Ontario license plates parked at the tourist bureau. The driver exited the vehicle and met with another man who approached on foot. RCMP say the two people had a discussion, expressing the same hateful language that had been spray painted on the tourist bureau.

The driver of the vehicle is described as being in his early 20s with dark hair.

The man who was on foot had a beard.

Investigators say this act of mischief is consistent with being motivated by bias, prejudice or hate against an identifiable group.

Anyone with information, or dash camera footage of the area on January 10, is asked to contact the Queens District RCMP at 902-354-5721.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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Liverpool Visitor Information Centre. Photo courtesy Region of Queens Municipality

The 2SLGBTQ+ community has been targeted by vandals in Liverpool.

Sometime Sunday evening someone spray painted hateful graffiti over the rainbow painted steps at the visitor information centre along Henry Hensey Drive.

Mayor Darlene Norman is disappointed anyone would deface a symbol of inclusion and welcome with hate.

Norman said it’s, “horrible that member or members of our community or people within our province or country would publicly display their hatred toward the 2SLGBTQ+ community is simply a sign of hatred and that is definitely what we are not in our community.”

The vandals also etched hateful graffiti in the panes of glass at the VIC.

Norman says RCMP have been informed of the vandalism and are investigating.

Members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are calling for more action for instances such as this.

Commenting to QCCR, Chair of Lunenburg Pride Steve Ellis said, “These acts of vandalism are disgusting and need to be investigated by the RCMP as a hate crime; full stop. The stairs are beautiful and a shining example of visibility for our community. We at Lunenburg Co. Pride condemn these acts. We will continue to speak out against any hateful actions or words against our community and this only motivates us to be even louder in our vision of an inclusive space for everyone on the South Shore and beyond.”

Mayor Norman says the offending graffiti has already been painted over and staff are looking into whether the glass can be repaired or will need to be replaced.

She is more concerned about the impact this act will have on the community.

“We can expend money to put in new windows, replace glass, fix glass, scrub paint but what we cannot fix is the damage that has been done by people in our community who have seen this or know of it or have been exposed to this,” said Norman.

She says the Region of Queens has prioritized diversity, inclusion, and accessibility and will continue to do so.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact Queens RCMP.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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