VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH 

National Volunteer Week (NVW) pays tribute to the millions of Canadian volunteers who donate their time and energy. This year, NVW is from April 19th – 25th and the theme is: “It’s Time to Applaud this Country’s Volunteers”. To help say ‘thank you’ to volunteers, Volunteer Canada has developed programs to access resources and products that can be attained through their website:  https://volunteer.ca/  or by Twitter at #NVW2020 or on their Facebook page: @VolunteerCanada There is plenty of information and ideas on how to foster more volunteerism in our communities. In our own area be sure to contact “Volunteer Halifax” at  http://volunteerhalifax.ca/   that links people with local non-profit community organizations, supporting persons with disabilities, new Canadians, corporations and professionals to connect to organizations in and around the municipality, helping individuals develop skills to advance their careers, and developing knowledge resources that support effective and efficient volunteer capacity. Connect with them through e-mail at  info@volunteerhalifax.ca   Each year, the Mayor and HRM Council recognize the extraordinary contributions of individuals and groups who volunteer their time and skills to provide services and programs in our communities. Due to a publication ban, this year’s list of HRM Volunteers is embargoed until mid-April, so I will provide a complete list of those honourees from our district in my May 2020 newsletter and they will be posted online at  www.halifax.ca/volunteerservices/  

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED 

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services (HRF&ES) is constantly recruiting volunteer firefighters for the various communities in our district area. For more details, please contact Beth VanGorder at HRM Volunteer Firefighters Manager at 902-490-5611 or by email:  vangorb@halifax.ca  

Lawrencetown ( Stations 19 & 20 )
Lake Echo / North Preston ( Stations 21 & 22 ) 

Chezzetcook ( Station 23 ) 

Musquodoboit Harbour ( Station 24 ) 

Ostrea Lake ( Station 25 )
Oyster Pond ( Station 26 )
Sheet Harbour ( Station 28 )
Moser River ( Station 29 )
Tangier / East Ship Harbour ( Stations 30 & 31 ) 

Three Harbours / Port Dufferin ( Station 33 ) 

Mushaboom ( Station 34 ) 

More information about HRF&ES Volunteer Firefighter recruitment, please refer to the link:  https://www.halifax.ca/about-halifax/employment/work-halifax-regional-fire-emergency/volunteer-firefighter-recruitment  

HRM TAX BILL DUE DATE APRIL 30th 

HRM sends out its tax bills to all property owners twice a year. The Interim bill was mailed mid-March and is due on Thursday, April 30th. The final bill will be due October 31st. If you have any inquiries about your tax bill, please call the Halifax Contact Centre at 311 or go on-line to  http://www.halifax.ca/taxes/index.php

CELEBRATE 50th EARTH DAY 

It will be a half-century since April 22nd was declared as Earth Day. Back in 1970, it mobilized millions of citizens to lobby for the protection of the planet. The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event. Now, this movement is asking people to join its “Climate Action” by organizing a local/global clean- up campaign. https://cleanup.earthday.org/  Sign up and spotlight your local clean-up events by tagging it on social media with @EarthDayNetwork and use the hashtag: #GreatGlobalCleanup  Let’s show them how beautiful our communities really are! 

EARTH DAY –  On April 22nd , we mobilize—digitally.

At Earth Day Network, the health and safety of volunteers and participants in Earth Day events is our top concern. Amid the recent COVID-19 outbreak, we encourage people to rise up but to do so safely and responsibly—in many cases, that means using our voices to drive action online rather than in person. 

With this in mind, Earth Day Network is postponing its live 50th anniversary Earth Day event.  Instead,  April 22  will mark the first Digital Earth Day, a global digital mobilization to address the most urgent threats to people and planet.

Digital Earth Day will use some of the world’s most innovative digital media platforms to mobilize millions in a collective call for climate action. The coordination will deliver an Earth Day unlike any other in history.

In the face of a challenge that unites us all, whether it be coronavirus or our global climate crisis, we cannot shut down.  Instead, we must shift our energies and efforts to new ways to mobilize the world to action.

The first Earth Day was the biggest civic engagement demonstration the world had seen. The 50th anniversary of Earth Day will take mobilization to the next level. We’ll be in touch with ways you can participate in the coming days.

Together,

President, Earth Day Network

PICK-ME-UP LITTER CAMPAIGN 

This spring, the NS Adopt A Highway (AAH) program will be kicking off its 2020 cleanup season with the Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up: the province’s largest litter reduction initiative. Registration opens on April 1st at  www.nspickmeup.ca  or by calling 1-902-843-3553 or on-line via e-mail to  info@nsadoptahighway.ca  . AAH will provide groups with everything needed to run a successful litter clean-up event including supplies, information on how to coordinate your event and a data card to track results and be sure to post ‘before & after’ photos of your pick-me-up locations and post to social media using the hashtag #GladToCleanUp . 

DOG LICENSES: NEW or RENEWAL 

HRM requires all pet owners to license their dogs annually by April 1st. The licensing year runs from April 1st to March 31st. Pet owners are required to apply for a license within 10 days of obtaining a dog. HRM also offers a “LIFE-TIME” registration that also requires your pet to have a micro-chip for easy identification purposes. There are discounted license prices for seniors, as well for any dog that has been spayed or neutered. There is no fee for Special Aid Personal Assistance Service Dogs. But there are rates for any dog that is deemed to be registered as ‘Dangerous”. 

License Type: One Year

Unaltered : Standard – $50  or Senior – $25

Spayed Neutered : Standard – $15 or Senior – $7.50

License Type : Life Time

Unaltered : Standard – $200 or Senior – $100

Spayed Neutered : Standard – $75 or Senior – $37.50

Service Dog : N/C – No Charge – Free 

Dangerous Dog : One Year – $100 or Life Time – $300

Replaced Tag: $5 

You can license your dog or have its license renewed either in person at any HRM Customer Service Centre or at select veterinary clinics, or by mailing a completed licensing form with the correct payment to: HRM Dog Licensing, PO Box 1749, Halifax NS B3J 3A5 or for license renewals only with a credit card by calling the HRM Contact Centre at 311 or 1-800-835-6428 (NS toll-free). Pet owners found to be in violation of HRM By-Law A-700 licensing regulations may be issued a warning notice, or be issued a Summary Offense Ticket of $237.50 or greater; and/or could have their dog seized by Animal Services and face further prosecution in court. For more information:  https://www.halifax.ca/  home-property/animal-services/getting-a-dog-licence 

NS COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD 

The NS Lieutenant Governor’s Community Spirit Award celebrates the power, strength, and diversity of vibrant communities across our province. It profiles their achievements and increases their visibility through a formal recognition program. Up to four Nova Scotian communities are honoured each year. Recipients are chosen by a selection committee based on community applications that best fit the award’s criteria. Communities selected for the award promote citizen engagement, civic pride and a positive outlook on the future. Successful communities are honoured through celebration and recognition. The Lieutenant Governor attends a community celebration, presents a hand-crafted award and unveils a sign to display in the community. There is province-wide public recognition through the media. Applications for the 2020 Lieutenant Governor’s Community Spirit Award Program will be accepted from April 6th until the deadline, midnight May 15th, 2020. Applications received after this date will not be considered. More details can be obtained from program co-ordinator: Nancy Sheppard:  nancy.sheppard@novascotia.ca  Phone #: 902-424-7642 or go on-line to this web-link:  https://cch.novascotia.ca/investing-in-our-future/community-spirit-award