Author Archives: admin

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

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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

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Monday Nov 6, 2023: Spryfield Community Meeting on Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

Spryfield Community Meeting – District 11 Date:  6 November 2023 Place:  Captain William Spry Recreation Centre, Multipurpose room Time:  6 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you are unable to attend, please consider completing the online survey at Https://www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/hrva ——– Extracts from www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/hrva Hazard, … Continue reading

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Be on the lookout for invasive crayfish in Halifax Area lakes 20Oct2023

This new invasive species is featured in an item in today’s Halifax Examiner’s Morning File and in an associated article by Yvette Entrmonet DFO: Red swamp crayfish trapped in Halifax area lake could have ‘severe’ impact on ecosystems. From Morning … Continue reading

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New Provincial Housing-in-HRM Legislation “risks commitment to sustainability” – Mayor Savage

The province recently announced new legislation “to get more housing built, faster, in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM)” (NS Gov News Release, Oct 12, 2023). It includes, amongst other measures: – giving the minister authority to make decisions on development in HRM without … Continue reading

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