View of Halifax town clock from below, on a sunny Day.

Call for nominations for volunteer awards, welcome Cathie O’Toole, more

In this issue

My Council Update includes a call for volunteers award nominations (deadline Friday), welcoming HRM's new CAO Cathie O'Toole

Public Meetings and Hearings has info on meetings starting in 2023. Roadworks has shrunk down to winter levels of work.  Community Events & Information has some new updates on programs and events.

Councillor Update

Hello all,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful holiday.

I’d love to see some more nominations from the neighbourhood for this year’s Volunteer Awards, but the deadline is tomorrow for nominations (Friday January 6)

We currently have no nominations for this district, though I know some people love leaving it till the last minute.

Do you know an exceptional volunteer or group of volunteers who have made a difference in their community? For the past 25 years, the Halifax Regional Municipality has been recognizing the extraordinary contributions of adults, youth, and groups who volunteer their time and skills to provide services and programs across the municipality.

Nominating someone for a Volunteer Award is a great opportunity for you to show appreciation for the work volunteers do to build stronger, healthier, and more supportive communities. Award winners are honoured during National Volunteer Week (April 16-22, 2023) at a ceremony and banquet with Mayor Mike Savage and Regional Council.

If you think a volunteer or a group of volunteers deserves recognition for the difference they make, please complete a nomination here: www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/volunteering/volunteer-awards

I am so excited that Cathie O'Toole has returned to HRM to take over as Chief Administrative Officer of Halifax.

Ms. O’Toole brings with her more than three decades of leadership and public sector experience – most recently as the General Manager of Halifax Water, a role she has held since 2019. From 2011-2019 she was the Director of Corporate Services/CFO for the municipally-owned water utility.

Prior to joining Halifax Water, she worked with the Halifax Regional Municipality for 10 years in a variety of roles including Director of Finance/CFO and Director of Infrastructure and Asset Management.   For full details, visit: https://fal.cn/3uqio

I am very confident Cathie will be a huge asset and look forward to working with her.

The municipal overnight winter parking ban is in effect annually from December 15th to March 31st. The ban is enforced from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. during declared weather events and snow removal operations only. Sign up for hfxALERT notifications to receive important updates from the municipality, including Winter Parking Ban notifications.

For more information on service standards, winter parking, and winter’s impacts across our municipality, visit our website or keep up to date on clearing operations and municipal service updates via @hfxgov on Twitter.

Thanks and talk soon!

Waye

Public Meetings, Hearings & Engagement

Halifax Regional Council – Halifax City Hall, Council Chambers
If you want to read reports coming to Regional Council (posted mid-day Friday prior to the Tuesday meeting) or to check the agenda. Upcoming meetings

  • Tuesday, January 10, 10 am
  • Tuesday, January 24, 10 am

Agendas here: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/agendas-meetings-reports?category=127

Budget Committee – Halifax City Hall, Council Chambers
If you want to read reports coming to Budget (posted mid-day Friday prior to the Tuesday meeting) or to check the agenda. Upcoming meetings

  • Wednesday, January 18 10 am
  • Wednesday, January 25 10 am

Agendas here: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/agendas-meetings-reports?category=127

Halifax & West Community Council – Halifax City Hall, Council Chambers
Community Council meets on Tuesday evenings alternating with Regional Council. Please check the webpage here for agendas (usually available a week before the meeting), locations, and times.

  • Tuesday, January 17, 6 pm (if required)

Agenda here - https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/agendas-meetings-reports?category=140

Regional Centre Community Council – Harbour East Marine Drive Room, Alderney Landing
Community Council meets on Tuesday evenings alternating with Regional Council. Please check the webpage here for agendas (usually available a week before the meeting), locations, and times.

  • Wednesday, January 25, 6pm (if required)

Agenda here - https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/agendas-meetings-reports?category=140

Halifax Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee & Design Advisory Committee
The Nova Scotia government has suspended the meeting of planning advisory committees and most forms of public engagement on planning for three years, ending April 2025.

Information about how to watch or participate in virtual meetings can be found on the agenda pages. Please confirm meeting dates and times on our website as dates and times are subject to change.

Public hearings
Public hearings are published 2-3 weeks before they take place. There are no public hearings posted at this time. A list of upcoming hearings can be found here: https://www.halifax.ca/business/planning-development/public-hearings

Case 23617 – Halifax Regional Council is giving consideration to proposed amendments to the Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law for Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains, and Upper Sackville.  The proposed amendments are to make changes to the land use policies and regulations for the Upper Hammonds Plains Land Use Designation and GU -1 (General Use) Zone. These changes are arising out of a review process that Regional Council directed HRM staff to undertake for the Upper Hammonds Plains Designation and more details of this project and proposed amendments can be found on Shape Your City Upper Hammonds Plains Zoning Review page (link below).  A public hearing will be held by Regional Council on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in Halifax Regional Council Chambers at 1841 Argyle Street. All oral and written submissions will be considered at that time. Get additional information about this case.  Find out how to speak at the public hearing.

Case 24045 - Application by Clayton Developments Limited to make changes to the Beaver Bank, Hammonds Plains, and Upper Sackville Municipal Planning Strategy and Land Use By-law to enable development on smaller lots in a residential subdivision off Daisy Drive in Beaver Bank, referred to as Carriagewood Estates. The public hearing will be held on January 24, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at Halifax City Hall (Council Chamber), 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS.  View the staff report. This notice was posted to this site on Friday, December 16, 2022 in accordance with the requirements of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.

Roadworks Update

The following street closures or sidewalk disruptions have recently been added to the RoadWorks map

You can find out road closure details on the HRM Roadworks map:https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/streets-siewalks/RoadWorks

Cogswell Construction Project
This major construction project, one of the biggest HRM has ever undertaken, is well underway.  Construction will take three years.  More info can be found here:  https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/regional-community-planning/construction-projects/cogswell-district-redevelopment

Jubilee Road CN Bridge
CN and HRM are coordinating the rehabilitation of this bridge, which has been delayed until 2023.

Community Events and Info

2023 HRM Volunteer Award nominations are now open
Deadline Friday, January 6, 2023, | Online
Do you know an outstanding volunteer who gives back to your community? You can give them the recognition they deserve! Nominate an adult, youth, or group for the 2023 HRM Volunteer Awards. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Jan. 6, 2023  The HRM Volunteer Awards is an annual event that puts a spotlight on residents who have made a difference in their community by donating their time and skills to various programs and services. Successful nominees will be notified in March and will be invited to attend an awards ceremony during National Volunteer Week, taking place from April 16 to April 22, 2023. Let’s show appreciation for the work that volunteers do to help build stronger, healthier, and more supportive communities. Thank you, volunteers!  Nomination forms and detailed nomination criteria are available now: www.halifax.ca/volunteerawards

Winnie the Pooh Day
January 18th
This day seeks to honor the designer of the character, Alan A. Milne. Winnie the Pooh is an anthropomorphic teddy bear created by Milne. Real-life Winnie was a female black bear that belonged to Harry Colebourn, who was from Winnipeg, Canada. He brought her to England, where he served during World War I. Winnie's permanent residence became the London Zoo where Milne visited her with son Christopher.

International Holocaust Memorial Day
January 27th
This day commemorates the millions of Jews and minority groups killed in the 1930s and 40s. The Holocaust was one of the most horrific genocides in history with an estimated 11 million lives lost. January 27th, the remembrance date, is significant as it was the date that Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most infamous Nazi extermination camp in Poland, was liberated in 1945. In 2005, Holocaust Memorial Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly.

HRM Community Grants Program
Open now, closes March 31, 2023 | Online
The program provides annual cash grants to registered non-profit organizations and charities located throughout the region. There are two types of grants: a project grant of up to $5,000 OR a capital grant of up to $25,000. Applicants should review the Program Guidebook prior to submitting an application, for more information please check out the website: https://www.halifax.ca/business/doing-business-halifax/community-non-profit-resources/community-grants

Applications Open for Heating Assistance Rebate Program
Open Now to March 31, 2023 |  Online
Help with home heating costs is now available for Nova Scotians living on low incomes. Applications for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) open today, October 17, for the 2022-23 heating season.
The annual program provides a rebate of up to $200 to eligible low-income Nova Scotians who pay for their own heat.
"We know that heating costs can be a financial strain for Nova Scotians, especially those with a low income," said Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services. "The Heating Assistance Rebate Program is once again here to help with home heating costs. We would encourage all eligible Nova Scotians to take advantage of the program and apply." The income threshold to qualify for the program is $29,000 for single-income households and $44,000 for family-income households.  https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-heating-assistance-rebate-heating-assistance-rebate-program

HRM YMCA Senior Snow Removal Program
Applications Open Now
The snow removal program is available to seniors (65 years of age or older) and persons with disabilities in the Halifax region who also meet the criteria below. The program applies to residential properties only – commercial properties are ineligible. Participants must reside in a single dwelling home which is owned or rented. The total gross household income of all people living on the premises must not exceed $32,000 The program is NOT available to landlords.  https://ymcahfx.ca/communityymca/ymca-senior-snow-removal/

Expanded Seniors Care Grant Open for Applications
Available Now 
Older Nova Scotians can now apply for grants to help with the cost of household chores, healthcare services and home heating. The Seniors Care Grant program provides up to $500 to help support eligible seniors to live well at home. People applying for the grant are also able to apply for a new, one-time grant of $250 to help with heating costs.  The Seniors Care Grant helps cover the costs of services such as snow removal, small repairs, lawn care, transportation, and grocery and medication delivery. The list of eligible expenses has been expanded this year to include phone and internet costs, and health services like eye exams, dental work, mental health supports, physical therapy and foot care. The new $250 home heating grant is available to eligible Nova Scotians 65 and older, including people who have already received money through the Seniors Care Grant or Heating Assistance Rebate Program in the past year. The grant is available for the cost of furnace oil, natural gas, propane, firewood, wood pellets and electricity.

More information about the grants, including how to apply, who is eligible and eligible services is available:
-- at the program website: https://beta.novascotia.ca/apply-help-household-healthcare-and-home-heating-costs-seniors-care-grant
-- by email: seniorsgrant@novascotia.ca
-- by calling toll-free: 1-800-670-4357.

Housing Clinic
Monday and Thursday Mornings | Halifax Central Library, Spring Garden Road
Welcome Housing hosts Housing Clinics for those experiencing housing precarity every Monday and Thursday in June from 9-12 am, except on June 16
https://www.welcomehousing.ca

How can we help?

311 – HRM’s Call Centre
HRM’s call centre is open 7 days a week, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 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 to residents. More info here: https://www.halifax.ca/home/311

Call my office
Call my office for assistance with your municipal issues. Please try 311 first, and when you call the office have your 311 reference number ready. Vicki Palmeter is my Constituency Coordinator. Vicki can be reached by email at Victoria.palmeter@halifax.ca or by phone at 902-490-2012.

Call or email me
I’m always available to help residents. Email is always better than a phone call, as I am often in meetings and much of the time I cannot answer the phone. If Victoria or 311 cannot assist you, please email me at waye.mason@halifax.ca or call 902.430.7822.