Wed, Apr 9, 2025: Backlands Coalition Birds Team Gathering

Posted on April 8, 2025 by admin

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Thursday Apr 10, 2025: Spotlight on Spryfield Presentation on Edible and Endangered Plants

Posted on April 7, 2025 by admin

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Backlands Suites Gallery Document available as PDF 6Apr2025

Posted on April 6, 2025 by admin

The Backlands Suites Exhibition at the Chase Gallery opened on April 3. Yesterday (April 5), there was a well-attended and much enjoyed and applauded Afternoon with the Artists.

The exhibition remains open until April 28 (2025).

In addition to Frances Dorsey’s Curatorial Statement which is available on this website, the Backlands Suites Gallery Document includes profiles of the nine contributing artists.

While there are a few copies which can be viewed at the Gallery, those are not for distribution. However, a PDF of the document is available here:

Download/View Backlands Suites Gallery Document
(PDF, 12.7 MB)

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HRM 2026-2030 Strategic Plan 2Apr2025

Posted on April 2, 2025 by admin


Project overview:
– the 2021-2025 Strategic Priorities Plan is in its last year and staff and Regional Council are developing the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan
– we are now seeking input from residents on the most recent draft content for the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan
– the plan will be fixed-term to the four-year term of Regional Council and aims to advance goals and actions that address the municipality’s most pressing issues
= to date, the project’s research phase has been completed, along with workshops with administration’s senior leadership and Councillors
– in the “documents” section of this page, you will find the draft content for the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, along with supporting information
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Reflections by Purcells Pond 1Apr2025

Posted on April 1, 2025 by admin

Writes Liv Monck-Whipp, Nova Scotia Nature Trust Stewardship Coordinator

It’s funny how time works, and it’s funny how brains work.

Almost exactly 1 year ago, I had my first field day as the new Stewardship Coordinator with the Nova Scotia Nature Trust; Joanna Skomoroski, our Stewardship Manager, took me out to the Purcells Cove Conservation Lands to look at the trail system and do some baseline surveys. It was my first day learning about this unique and beautiful place, and I was very glad to be out of the office and on the land to see the work the Nature Trust does.

I was blown away by the stark beauty of this area, made all that much starker by the late winter, early spring season with deciduous leaves not yet out. The trail provides spectacular views of the granite ridges, which pop with light green lichens, the Jack Pines and Black Spruce forests dark against the sky, and of course the pond, which is an intense blue.

And now, a year later, I find myself walking the same trail, looking for other areas where we might do some maintenance work for the many community members who use it. The cycle continues. As I take a step down on the trail, I remember vividly: that exact rock was where I rested briefly when doing some of the trail maintenance work last year.

Read more on Nature Trust Blog

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Sunday April 13, 1-4 pm: Gathering in the Halifax Backlands to Celebrate Earth Week

Posted on April 1, 2025 by admin

Please join us for a guided hike through the rugged Halifax Backlands, home to two of the Treasured Wetlands of Nova Scotia, and a lot more.  Explore this unique wilderness while contributing to real conservation science!

Learn how to use Naturalist, a free app that helps identify and log local species, adding valuable data to a community science project. Your observations will support ongoing research and conservation efforts in the region.

Expect a slow pace, moderate terrain with some off-trail hiking. To fully participate, bring a smartphone with the Naturalist app downloaded.

Register at https://ecologyaction.ca/get-involved/events/earth-day-hike

Hosted by @ecologyaction & @ourhrmalliance, in partnership with @hfxmoments, @atlanticducks, @TWNovaScotia and @backlandscoalition

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Explore the unique beauty of the Halifax Backlands though the eyes of nine talented artists April 3-29, 2025 at NS Archives

Posted on March 12, 2025 by admin

UPDATE Apr 9, 2025.
View Nine talented artists explore the unique beauty of the Halifax Backlands
Global News Video Apr 9, 2024, 5:26 mins “We check in with two of the nine local artists who have come together to bring the unique urban wilderness of the Halifax Backlands to art and nature fans in the city. The Backland Suites exhibition is on throughout April at the Chase Gallery.”

UPDATE Apr 6, 2025: Backlands Suites Gallery Document available as PDF

ORIGINAL POST

Click on image for larger version

The Backlands Coalition has a special Art Exhibit, The Backland Suites”, coming up at the Chase Gallery in the NS Archives for the month of April.

The exhibit explores the unique beauty of the Halifax Backlands though the eyes of nine talented artists.

The exhibit is curated by Frances Dorsey. Please view Frances’s Curatorial Statement in which she introduces the artists.

Please join us for an -afternoon with the artists to kick off the series on Sat Apr 5, 2025, 1-3 pm at the Chase Gallery, 6016 University Ave., Halifax.  View  Invitation Poster

Posted Mar 12, 2025

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HRM Minimum Planning Requirements 1Feb2025

Posted on February 1, 2025 by admin

Received Jan 27, 2025 from HRM:

“Since the Phase 4 What We Heard Report was presented to Regional Council in December 2023, staff have been working to finalize the new Regional Plan and full package of amendments.

“On August 21, 2024, the Province of Nova Scotia adopted new Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations. These requirements are intended to prioritize increasing housing supply in land-use planning, regulations, decisions, and development approvals under the municipal planning strategy (the Regional Plan). The legislation requires the municipality to make changes to its plans and by-laws to meet these requirements. On October 1, 2024,* Regional Council directed staff to consider the Minimum Planning Requirements as part of the Regional Plan Review process.*Link is to the Agenda. Also view Minutes and Video.
Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Halifax Regional Municipality, Regional Plan | Leave a comment

Etu’qamikejk Trail 14Jan2025

Posted on January 14, 2025 by admin

Entrance to Etu’qamikejk Trail – a “Place Where Two Sides Meet” –  by Etu’panuek (Williams Lake). View sign
The single-track trail begins just to the left of the sign.
Click on images for larger versions

NCC/HRM (Nature Conservancy of Canada/Halifax Regional Municipality) have not yet made a formal announcement about the “Etu’qamikejk Trail” in the SWP (Shaw Wilderness Park)* but the signs have been up for a few months. I have been getting questions about it, so here’s some info. about the name and the place.

– david p  
Jan 14, 2025
__________
*The Shaw Wilderness Park  formally opened in 2020. It is owned by HRM while NCC holds a conservation easement for the Park, an arrangement proposed in 2016 after the land came up for sale.  See Williams Lake Conservation Company: Halifax’s New Shaw Wilderness Park for details.

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Sunday Dec 15, 2024: Xmas Bird Count for Hfx/Dartmouth

Posted on December 12, 2024 by admin

Bald Eagle in Backlands Jan 1, 2023. Photo by Joshua Barss Donham

Next Sunday, December 15th 2024 is the date for the Halifax /Dartmouth Christmas Bird Count. Started in 1900, there are now counts being done in a number of countries, including Canada, USA and a number of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Anyone wishing to participate is encouraged to access this page (https://www.nsbirdsociety.ca/calendar/upcoming-events) and scroll down to the count(s) of interest to you.

Thx to Bernie M. of Halifax Field Naturalists for the reminder. Continue reading →

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