Author Archives: admin

Nova Scotia Nature Trust ‘Marching in’ to save more Backlands 6Mar2024

Dear Friends of the Backlands, This is such good news for our mission to protect the Backlands. As you will read below, the Nova Scotia Nature Trust has a campaign to protect 17 acres of treasured land near Purcells Pond. … Continue reading

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Backlands Coalition Response to the Housing Accelerator Fund Proposed Amendments 16Feb2024

Backlands Coalition Response to the Housing Accelerator Fund proposed amendments Regarding the Suburban Development Requests: Our position reflects our values The mission of the Backlands Coalition: to ensure no loss of wildlife habitat in the Backlands and to preserve them … Continue reading

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Today: Halifax to consider signing The Montréal Pledge – Cities United in Action for Biodiversity 12Dec2023

It’s item No 15.1.4 on the Agenda for today (Dec 12, 2023) Motion: That Halifax Regional Council: 1. Suspend the rules of procedure under Schedule 5, the Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee Terms of Reference, of Administrative Order One, the … Continue reading

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Northwest Arm Infill 4Dec 2023

By: Cathy Vaughan Reprinted with permission from Chebucto News Besides healthy sea breezes, the Northwest Arm has gifted HRM citizens with beauty, peace, recreation, fishing and transportation. This popular, well-loved public waterway is now facing a complicated dilemma with the … Continue reading

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Williams Lake Dam Repairs Preliminary work begins 4Dec2023

  From the Williams Lake Conservation Company: Dear Members and Friends of the Williams Lake Conservation Company: We’re excited to update you on the long-standing issue of the Williams Lake Dam! Build Nova Scotia has issued the following public service … Continue reading

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Virtual (online) public participation is now possible at in-person HRM meetings 15Nov2023

So writes Matt Stickland in The Coast “One of the recurring complaints about citizen participation at municipal meetings is that it’s hard—logistically and practically taxing—to speak at public meetings. It’s hard for people who work the 9-to-5 grind to speak … Continue reading

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A natural analogue for “Sponge Cities”: “Whaleback Barrens” in the Halifax Backlands 5Nov2023

On Nov 2, 2023, I happened to view a CBC TV News item item about “Montreal… building dozens of ‘sponge parks’ to soak up excess rain I was struck by one scene in particular, of a linear sponge park alongside … Continue reading

Posted in Conservation, Recreation, Trails, Watershed | Comments Off on A natural analogue for “Sponge Cities”: “Whaleback Barrens” in the Halifax Backlands 5Nov2023

McIntosh Run Watershed Association submits comments to the Regional Plan Review 25Oct2023

In June of this year, HRM Planners submitted a draft of the Municipal Regional Plan and asked for feedback from the community. That consultation period was concluded on Oct 27, 2023. McIntosh Run Watershed Association (MRWA) submitted  comments to the … Continue reading

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Backlands Coalition submits comments to the Regional Plan Review 27Oct2023

In June of this year, HRM Planners submitted a draft of the Municipal Regional Plan and asked for feedback from the community. That consultation period is now over and the Backlands Coalition has submitted detailed comments to the planners. Our … Continue reading

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Towards a combined Conservation/Fire Management Strategy for the Backlands 26Oct2023

Yours Truly (David P) talked about Fires, Conservation and Fire Management in the Halifax Backlands in an online presentation to the Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society on Oct 29, 2023. The presentation is available on YouTube and the slide deck … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Conservation, Fire Ecology, Geoffrey Grantham | Comments Off on Towards a combined Conservation/Fire Management Strategy for the Backlands 26Oct2023