Hello District 16 residents,
I hope that you are enjoying our mild weather. We actually got our outside decorating completed for a change prior to the cold weather arriving!
Since my last update to you, our new Regional Council has met again, our Community Council has met, and our various Standing Committees have resumed. I was very pleased and honoured to be elected as Deputy Mayor during our last Regional Council meeting. This is for a one year period and I continue to remain as Councillor for Bedford-Wentworth, and you remain my priority.
The link to the Agenda for our next Regional Council meeting is below. I have provided you with some of the announcements made by HRM and by HRP over the past week. I have also provided a link to the new video staring Mayor Mike and regarding the HRM Grand Parade Christmas Tree!
Bedford Lions Tree Lot Open
Please be advised that the Bedford Lions Club Tree Lot is now open on the Bedford Hwy. It is located on the Bedford Hwy, opposite Bedford United Church. They now accept payment by Debit in addition to cash.
Grand Parade Tree Story & Lighting Video
https://www.halifax.ca/recreation/events/halifax-christmas-tree-lighting
Public Service Announcement
Free 15-minute parking to facilitate curbside pickups and delivery
Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 2, the Halifax Regional Municipality will be providing 15-minutes of free parking at paid parking locations for the month of December.
The purpose is to facilitate short-term pick-ups and loading while providing more flexibility for business owners and customers. This option is available through both the HotSpot app as well as the on-street pay stations. Residents can input the amount of time they will be parked in a parking zone, and the first 15-minutes will be automatically free.
This work is being done in a continued effort to support businesses during COVID-19 restrictions.
For more information, visit halifax.ca/parking
Public Service Announcement: Update on municipal seasonal events
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, there are a number of changes for annual holiday celebrations and commemorations organized by the municipality. As with all aspects of COVID-19, these events may be subject to change depending on public health and group gathering regulations.
Halifax Christmas Tree & Menorah Lighting
The in-person tree lighting ceremony at Grand Parade Square is cancelled for this year. The tree is in place and decorated, and a virtual Christmas tree lighting video will be shared on the municipality’s Youtube page on Saturday, Nov. 28, premiering at 8 a.m.
Further, a holiday projection and light show at Grand Parade Square begins on Saturday, Nov. 28 until Friday, Jan 1. Residents who wish to view the lights show must abide by all public health protocols, including physical distancing of 6 feet (2 metres). For the full schedule and details, visit the website.
The in-person Menorah lighting ceremony is cancelled for this year. The Menorah will be lit in Grade Parade from Friday, Dec. 11 until Friday, Dec. 18.
Dartmouth Tree Lighting
The in-person Dartmouth tree lighting event is also cancelled for this year. In its place a variety of holiday illuminations will be on display in downtown Dartmouth throughout the month of December. Residents must maintain a physical distance of 6 feet (2 metres). Full details will be available online by Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Halifax Explosion Memorial Ceremony
The 103rd in-person memorial ceremony of the Halifax Explosion is cancelled. Wreaths will be placed at Fort Needham Memorial Park commemorating the tragic loss of life on Dec. 6, 1917 and honoring the resiliency and recovery of those who survived the explosion. Mayor Mike Savage will address citizens virtually on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 9 a.m. on the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Facebook page.
New Year’s Eve
A studio broadcast of the New Year’s Eve show will be held this year. There will be no in-person outdoor gathering due to current COVID-19 regulations. More information, as well as an artist announcement, will be made in December.
For more information on all of these events, visit halifax.ca/events
Public Service Announcement
Response to COVID-19: Update to facility bookings and recreation programming
The Halifax Regional Municipality continues to monitor and respond to the rapidly evolving effects of COVID-19. The following is an update on municipal services.
As directed by the province, new public health guidelines will take effect in the Halifax Regional Municipality inside the boundaries of Hubbards, Mount Uniacke, Elmsdale and Porters Lake.
HRCE school bookings
The municipality coordinates facility bookings for all Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) schools for community and extracurricular school use. Following the province’s announcement today, bookings at all HRCE sites within the affected area are cancelled as of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26 until at least Thursday, Dec. 10.
There are no changes to school bookings within the municipality that are outside the affected area. There remains a number of COVID-19 regulations in-place for community bookings for participants. Full details of these regulations and HRCE facility bookings can be found online.
Facility bookings, rentals
No Rentals at municipally-owned recreation facilities, community centres, arenas and sports fields in the affected area will be cancelled as of 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, and all bookings will be suspended until at least Thursday, Dec. 10.
For residents who have a booking that has been canceled, staff will be in touch in the coming days regarding the status of your account. We ask residents to wait to contact staff as they continue to help support ongoing service adjustments related to preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Recreation programming, partner facilities, gyms & pools
Musquodoboit Valley Recreation Office – Programs only
Sheet Harbour Recreation Office – Programs only
Several recreation facilities within the municipality are operated by community boards. All partner facilities located within the affected area will close. Those located outside the affected area may remain open. Residents are encouraged to contact partner recreation facilities directly for an update on operations.
While facilities are closed, residents are reminded to use REC at Home which offers a variety of activities that you can enjoy with your family – from arts and crafts, to at-home workouts.
For more information on municipal services during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit Halifax.ca/coronavirus.
With the closure of municipal recreation centres, pools and gymnasiums in the affected area, all recreation programming is cancelled for the rest of the fall season in those facilities. A further announcement on winter programming will be made in consultation with public health.
Municipal staff will begin contacting fall registrants on next steps. Your patience is appreciated during this time.
The following recreation centres will remain open:
Musquodoboit Harbour Recreation Centre – Rentals, fitness centre and programs
Halifax Regional Police Media Release: Winter safety tips for motorists
With winter weather just around the corner, Halifax Regional Police is sharing some basic winter safety tips for motorists.
Make sure your vehicle is prepared for winter weather: winter tires, extra windshield washer fluid, a shovel, a bag of salt or sand in case you get stuck, a snow brush and an ice scraper are all a must.
Plan ahead by checking the weather forecast and road conditions. Allow extra time to reach your destination if the conditions are going to be bad.
Before you hit the road, clear all snow from the roof, hood, license plate, windows, mirrors, lights, turn signals and cameras of your vehicle. Scrape/defrost your windshield if necessary.
Don’t drive distracted; keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
Adjust your speed, leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you and remember not to accelerate or brake too quickly when the roads are slippery.
Be mindful that winter conditions also create challenges for pedestrians who may walk in the road way to avoid snow-covered or icy sidewalks.
Think before you park on the street. When and where you park in the winter can have a big impact on clearing streets and sidewalks, which in turn, can affect road safety. In Nova Scotia, vehicles can be towed any time during the day or night, any day of the year, if they are interfering with snow-clearing operations, as per Section 139 of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act. In addition, Halifax has an overnight winter parking ban that is in effect from December 15 until March 31; however, it’s only enforced during declared weather events and clearing operations. When the ban is enforced, it restricts any on-street parking between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. and vehicles in violation of the ban will be ticketed and/or towed.
To help you make responsible parking choices, you should ask yourself:
- Is it snowing or will to start to snow before I’m ready to leave?
- Is the overnight parking ban currently being enforced?
- Will my vehicle create a safety issue if I park here?
- Will parking here make the road impassable?
- Are snow operations underway in the area?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, don’t park on the street.
Please contact me if you have questions or ideas. I encourage you to safely support our local businesses and small businesses, if you are able.
Tim