Halifax Explosion Memorial Ceremony
Due to Covid-19 virus concerns and public health measures 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 and I will address citizens virtually. You will be able to find the video on the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Facebook page..
List of events and notices – here’s what is included:
Update:
- Response to COVID-19:
- Nova Scotia announced new measures
- Halifax Mobility Response – Streets and Spaces
- Centre Plan Package B Engagement
- Windsor Street Exchange Project and potential community benefit Africville
- Winter 2020-21 Preparation
- Update on Libraries
- The 2020 Halifax Christmas Tree Lighting (a special virtual event) and Holiday Projection Show
- Playing Field Strategy Survey
Items of Interest:
- HRM Budget Survey
- RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
- Sign up for hfxALERT
- Road Safety Dashboard
- Halifax Water Board Reports
- North End Business Association
- Quinpool Road Business Association
Contact me:
Phone: 902-579-6975
Email: Lindell.Smith@halifax.ca
Website: www.LindellSmithHfx.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindellSmithHFX/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindellSmithHFX
311 – HRM’s Call Centre
HRM’s call centre is open 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm weekends to respond to routine inquiries and complaints from HRM residents. Please use this service since it helps HRM keep track of issues that are of concern for residents (missed solid waste pickup, sidewalks not cleared, transit info or complaints, etc.) For more information please visit http://www.halifax.ca/311/
Please send your feedback on issues before Community Council and Regional Council – and on any municipal issue. If you would like to send your comments to all Regional Councillors please email the Clerk’s Office (clerks@halifax.ca) so that your comments are shared and are part of the public record.
If you would like to send events or information to be possibly included in my e-newsletter, please email with the subject line “E-Newsletter”
Update:
Covid-19 Related Information
We have witnessed over the last two weeks the growing number of Covid-19 cases in Nova Scotia. The government of Nova Scotia announced new measures to help control the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Some of these measures include Nova Scotians being asked to avoid non-essential travel in and out of western and central HRM (which is defined as HRM from Hubbards to, and including, Porters Lake and the communities up to Elmsdale and Mount Uniacke in Hants County).
- Gathering limit in public is now no more than five (or up to the number of members of an immediate family in a household)
- mandatory masking now applies to common areas of multi-unit residential buildings, such as apartment buildings and condos
- restaurants and licenced establishments are closed for in-person dining but may provide take-out or delivery
HRM 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. Recreation programming, partner facilities, gyms & pools. 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.
More information here: https://www.halifax.ca/home/news/response-covid-19-update-facility-bookings-recreation-programming
There are many resources available to residents stay updated with the constantly changing information and measures taking place to control the spread of Covid-19 and to help residents stay informed and safe. I will list some below:
- Covid-19 Alert app: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-alert.html
- Covid-19 self-assessment https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/
- COVID-19 testing and online booking, https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/symptoms-and-testing/
- Government of Canada https://canada.ca/coronavirus
- Province of Nova Scotia https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
- Halifax Regional Municipality https://halifax.ca/coronavirus
Response to COVID-19: Halifax Mobility Response – Streets and Spaces
The first phase of the Halifax Mobility Response plan began earlier this week with the widening of sidewalks in high traffic areas, traffic signal modification and the implementation of temporary loading spaces for businesses in downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. Learn more about these changes, here.
HRM Meetings/Updates
Windsor Street Exchange Project and potential community benefit Africville
As part of the The Windsor Street Exchange Project , Halifax Regional Municipality would like to explore potential community benefits for the Africville community as it is in close proximity to the large project. individuals interested in lending their voice to this conversation are asked to complete an online survey available here.
This survey includes 18 questions and may take 20-30 minutes to complete. You can skip questions you do not wish to answer. The survey will be open until 5 p.m. December 14, 2020.
https://www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/windsor-street-exchange-project
Centre Plan Package B
HRM is currently in the process of completing Centre Plan Package B is the second part of the Centre Plan that will replace all of the existing established residential zoning in Dartmouth inside the Circumferential, and Peninsula Halifax, create new zoning for Park and institutional areas, and update the Downtown Halifax Plan.
To still be able to gather feedback from residents, the Centre Plan team has created a series of surveys. Fill out the surveys and provide feedback here.
Planning staff are also available for small virtual meetings with neighbourhood groups. To schedule a meeting in November or December, please e-mail planhrm@halifax.ca.
Winter 2020-21 Preparation
When and where you park in the winter can have a big impact on clearing streets and sidewalks during a winter storm. Residents are reminded to secure off-street parking for the winter months so that snow plow operators can safely and efficiently clear the streets and sidewalks. As in previous seasons, the overnight winter parking ban will be in place from Dec. 15, 2020 to Mar. 31, 2021. The ban will be enforced between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., during declared weather events and extended clearing operations. Residents are also reminded that in addition to the overnight parking ban, Section 139 of the Nova Scotia Motor Vehicle Act states that tickets can be issued and vehicles can be towed any time, day or night, if they are parked in a manner that interferes with snow clearing.
The easiest way to know when the parking ban will be enforced is to sign up for the municipality’s alert system, hfxALERT.
For the most up to date information before, during and after a winter storm, visit Halifax.ca/snow and follow us on Twitter @hfxgov.
Winter safety tips
- Never plow or shovel snow from your driveway onto the street or sidewalk. It is against By-Law S-300 and can cause serious problems for pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues.
- Adjust your speed. Wet roads can freeze even if the air temperature is above zero.
- Never pass a plow when it is clearing snow from the road. Whiteout conditions are often created in the front of plows which reduces visibility and increases the chance of an accident.
- Have a survival kit in your vehicle.
- Children should not play in the snow along the side of the road or anywhere a snow plow is likely to operate.
Update on Libraries
Halifax Public Libraries suspended all in person visits and adjusted services at 13 branches located in the Central Zone on Nov 25th
Borrowing
Library materials will continue to be borrowed. Community members may request specific items or ask for general selections. Curbside pick-up is available at all branch locations during the regularly scheduled open hours of the branch. Items can be returned to any branch location and all of our book drops remain open.
Curbside Services
In addition to picking up materials, Library staff are offering as much service as possible curbside. This includes printing documents, distributing activity packs for different age groups (from preschool to seniors), free menstrual products, information services, technology support, general support and referrals.
Technology Lending & Wi-Fi
The Library is lending chrome books curbside for members of the public to use either outside or to take home for the day.
https://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/support/covid19-status-of-library-service/
The 2020 Halifax Christmas Tree Lighting (a special virtual event) and Holiday Projection Show
The 2020 Halifax Christmas Tree Lighting event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 virus concerns, but you can still learn The Story of the Grand Parade Christmas Tree!
Check out the video: https://youtu.be/crnQQR6x9h0
Holiday Projection Show
The shows began on Saturday, November 28th, and finish on Saturday, January 1st, 2021. Every night of the week from 4:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. a magical holiday projection and light show will take place in the Grand Parade next to City Hall on the trees, the Christmas tree and the City Hall building. Each evening the show will take place on the hour, quarter past, half past and a quarter to the hour. Example: 5 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:45 pm
Playing Field Strategy
Help shape the municipal Playing Field Strategy by sharing your feedback through our online survey. The municipality is developing a Playing Field Strategy to guide the planning and development of playing fields over the next 15 years to meet community needs across the region.
The strategy will include an examination of:
- Sports fields – all weather and natural grass sport fields, often used for soccer, football, rugby, and ultimate frisbee, among others
- Ball diamonds – often used for sports like baseball, softball, slo-pitch, and fastpitch
Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PlayingFieldStrategy
Items of Interest:
HRM Budget Survey
Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting residents to help shape the next municipal business plan and budget by participating in a public survey. For many, financial priorities have had to shift during COVID-19. The goal of this survey is to understand where you would like to see investments into municipal programs and services in the 2021/22 budget.
This survey is being conducted online. Input regarding spending priorities will inform decisions regarding municipal service levels when developing the next budget.
For more information and to take the survey, please visit halifax.ca/citizensurvey
RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
View the RoadWorks map to see current and upcoming sidewalk and street closures.
Sign up for hfxALERT
hfxALERT is our mass notification system for the municipality, keeping residents informed about emergencies and operations updates. Sign up here
Road Safety Dashboard
Provides residents with updates regarding the actions outlined in the Strategic Road Safety Framework. Track the progress the municipality is making as we work together to accomplish our Toward Zero goal.
https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/streets-sidewalks/road-safety/road-safety-dashboard
Halifax Water Board Reports
Please find below the link that will take you to the location where all of the Halifax Water Board meeting reports are posted (with the exception of In-Camera reports
https://www.halifax.ca/home-property/halifax-water/about-your-water/board-commissioners
North End Business Association
For an update on what is happening with businesses in the north end please visit the North End Business Association http://gonorthhalifax.ca/ and sign up for their monthly email.
Quinpool Road Business Association
For an update on what is happening with businesses on Quinpool Road please visit their website: www.quinpoolroad.ca/
My other Committee and Board commitments:
Regional Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council
Regional Centre Community Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/regional-centre-community-council
Halifax and West Community Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/halifax-west-community-council
Community Planning & Economic Development
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/standing-committees/community-planning-economic-development-standing-committee
Halifax Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/h/halifax-peninsula-planning-advisory-committee
Community Design Advisory Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/a-c/community-design-advisory-committee
Transportation Standing Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/standing-committees/transportation-standing-committee
Board of Police Commissioners
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/a-c/board-police-commissioners
HRM Grants Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/d-g/grants-committee
Halifax Forum
http://www.halifaxforum.ca/
(CACE) The Council on African Canadian Education
http://www.cace.ns.ca/