Winter is officially here!
Last week we had our first snowstorm of the season and saw just over 30cm of snow!
Winter weather brings some extra challenges to us all. Here are some reminders and tips that may help you, and those who are working hard to clear our streets to keep us safe. For more information on service standards, winter parking, and winter’s impacts across our municipality, visit: halifax.ca/snow
When Will My Street Or Sidewalk Get Cleared?
HRM has service standards for streets, sidewalks, and bus stops. The timing varies depending on the priority level. Wondering what priority level your street or sidewalk are?
Use HRM’s interactive maps:
Sidewalks – https://hrm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html…
Streets – https://hrm.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html…
A reminder: HRM’s timelines start when the weather ends. Please check service timelines before calling 311. With exceptional weather conditions greater than 30 centimeters or in blizzard conditions more time may be needed to complete clearing.
Overnight Winter Parking Ban
Help make it easier for plows to continue clearing snow by moving your vehicle off the street.
As per the provincial Motor Vehicle Act, the municipality is only able to call the parking ban from December 15-March 31 each year. However, as per section 139 of the MVA, a vehicle impacting clearing can be ticked / towed at any time of day, any day of the year.
This winter season, the municipality is implementing two zones for the overnight parking ban:
- Zone 1 – Central refers to Halifax Peninsula and downtown Dartmouth within Highway 111 (the Circumferential Highway)
- Zone 2 – Non-Central is a designated area outside of Zone 1 – Central.
With the introduction of the two zones, parking bans may be in effect municipal wide or just in one zone. Residents will be able to determine what zone they’re in by searching their address using the interactive map available here.
Overnight parking bans will continue to be communicated to residents via Public Service Announcements, hfxALERT, halifax.ca and @hfxgov on Twitter.
Senior Snow Removal Program
Removing snow around your property can be a challenging – or even impossible – task for many people. There is help available: the Halifax Regional Municipality provides an annual contribution of $400,000 in support of the YMCA for its Snow Removal Program for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities. The program does NOT apply to driveway clearing, but helps clear snow from steps and walkways.
To find out more about this program and to apply, please call the YMCA at 902.483.3678 or visit the YMCA online: https://ymcahfx.ca/community-initiatives/ymca-senior-snow-removal/
List of events and notices – here’s what is included:
Update:
- COVID-19 Related information
- HRM’s COVID-19 Events Recovery Program for Non-Profit Organizations
- Share your thoughts on Short-Term Rentals
- Housing and homelessness: Latest municipal update
- 2022 Volunteer Awards deadline for nominations extended
- Food Action Plan
- Council Highlights from December 7th, 2021
Items of Interest:
- RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
- Bi-weekly green cart collection resumes
- Sign up for hfxALERT
- Cogswell District Project Updates
- Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Project
- Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP)
- Seniors Care Grant
- Road Safety Dashboard
- Halifax Water Board Reports
- North End Business Association
- Viola Desmond Legacy Art Project
- 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
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
HRM’s COVID-19 Events Recovery Program for Non-Profit Organizations exists to support our nonprofit community and cultural event organizations. This one-time grant is currently open for funding applications! Details of the program including applicant eligibility, program criteria and the application, can be found here: https://www.halifax.ca/parks-recreation/events/supporting-your-event/grants
*Applications will close at 4:00pm on December 31, 2021, subject to availability of funds.*
Share your thoughts on Short-Term Rentals
Share your thoughts on proposed regulations for Short-Term Rentals (like Airbnb or VRBO) in the municipality by filling out a survey.
The survey will only be available until December 17th. Click the link to learn about the project and take the survey: https://www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/short-term-rentals
Housing and homelessness: Latest municipal update
Read the latest municipal update on the efforts to establish emergency accommodations sites in Dartmouth & Halifax [opens a pdf]: https://bit.ly/3IDWHsP
- Last week, installation begun for the 7 units going up on Alderney Drive in Dartmouth.
- The timeline for installing the 9 units in Halifax (Centennial Pool parking lot) will become clearer as the Dartmouth site gets completed.
- The municipality is currently aware of 13 encampments within municipal boundaries. Staff from the municipality and partner organizations are visiting each of these sites daily.
- During last week’s snow event, an emergency shelter was operational overnight and provided comfort kits, a meal, and provisions to shower in the facility. Individuals were offered transportation to a comfort centre. Ground Search & Rescue were visiting all locations where the municipality is aware of occupants of homeless encampments, to offer transportation to these facilities.
For more information on addressing homelessness in HRM, visit: http://halifax.ca/addressinghomelessness
2022 Volunteer Awards deadline for nominations extended
The deadline for nominations for the upcoming 2022 Volunteer Awards has been extended to December 29th (an additional 2 weeks).
Do you know an outstanding volunteer who gives back to your community? The deadline to nominate an adult, youth, or group for the 2022 Volunteer Awards is December 29th, 2021. Successful nominees will be invited to attend a ceremony and reception in the spring to receive their award with the Mayor and members of Regional Council.
To find out more information about the awards, nomination criteria and to nominate someone in your community, go to: www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/volunteering/volunteer-awards
Food Action Plan
HRM and the Halifax Food Policy Alliance have teamed up to develop JustFOOD: an action plan for the Halifax region, working towards a more healthy, just, and sustainable food system built on existing strengths and community wisdom.
They are seeking input from community members to help shape actions for positive change in the food system! I encourage you to head over to http://justfoodhalifax.ca to have your say by completing their Action Survey. #justfoodhfx
Council Highlights from December 7th, 2021
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/making-a-difference-our-region
Photo via: CFB Halifax Twitter
Items of Interest:
RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
View the RoadWorks map to see current and upcoming sidewalk and street closures.
Bi-weekly green cart collection
For green cart and garbage collection schedules, residents should either refer to the Halifax Recycles mobile or web-based app at halifax.ca/whatgoeswhere , or call 311. Sign up for weekly collection reminders, get a refresher on what goes where, check out recycling tips and much more, here. You can also download the free Halifax Recycles app on your Android or iOS device to have waste info at the palm of your hand. And don’t forget to follow Halifax Recycles on Facebook!
Sign up for hfxALERT
hfxALERT is our mass notification system for the municipality, keeping residents informed about emergencies and operations updates. Sign up here
The Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment
Phase 2 of public engagement was held in October/November 2021 the feedback gathered will be used to refine the proposed design options and make decisions on the preferred options. A third round of public engagement will be held in spring 2022 to share the outcome of the second phase of engagement and the technical review.
Learn more about the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project here
Cogswell District Project Updates
The Cogswell District is the biggest city-building projects in the history of Halifax. We are now in the pre-construction phase, which is expected to last three months. You can get project updated here.
Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP)
Help with home heating costs is available for Nova Scotians living on low incomes. Applicants for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) can apply now for the 2021-22 heating season. The annual program provides a rebate of up to $200 to low-income Nova Scotians who pay for their own heat.
Find more information here: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-heating-assistance-rebate-heating-assistance-rebate-program
Seniors Care Grant
As of December 1, the Province of Nova Scotia has a new grant program available to help our seniors.
The Seniors Care Grant will be an annual reimbursement program of up to $500 to help cover the costs of household services. It can be used to reimburse costs for such things as snow removal, home repairs, lawn care, grocery delivery, and more. It is available to homeowners and renters.
The applicant must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the program:
• They must still reside in their home
• The property or lease agreement must be in their name or include their name
• They are 65 years of age or over
• They have an annual household net income of $37,500 or less
Applicants can submit online at www.novascotia.ca/seniorscaregrant or by paper. Paper applications will be available at MLA offices as well as Access Nova Scotia Offices starting on December 1st.
Applicants have until May 31, 2022, to apply for the grant. For more information, please visit www.novascotia.ca/seniorscaregrant or call 1.800.670.4357.
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.
NEBA’S Viola Desmond Legacy Art Project
The North End Business Association, and the Viola Desmond Legacy Committee wish to recognize the accomplishments of Viola Desmond through a commemorative legacy art piece to be erected on Gottingen Street in Halifax’s North End in the summer of 2022.
Please take a moment to fill out the survey to share your feedback on how to best commerate Viola Desmond’s impact on our communities – Survey
NEBA is also looking to commission a qualified artist or artist team to create the new permanent public artwork – Learn more
Quinpool Road Business Association
For an update on what is happening with businesses on Quinpool Road please visit their website: www.quinpoolroad.ca/
https://quinpool.shop/
My other Committee and Board commitments:
Regional Council – Next meeting December 14th, Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council
Budget Committee – Next meeting December 14th, Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/december-14-2021-budget-committee
Regional Centre Community Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/regional-centre-community-council
Halifax and West Community Council – Next meeting December 15th 6:00pm, Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall
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
Board of Police Commissioners – Next meeting December 13th 12:30 – 3:30pm City Hall
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/a-c/board-police-commissioners
Halifax Forum
http://www.halifaxforum.ca/
(CACE) The Council on African Canadian Education
http://www.cace.ns.ca/