The Federal Government has proclaimed February 15 ^th  as National Flag of Canada Day. In 1965, fifty-five years ago, the old Red Ensign Flag with the British Union Jack was replaced with the Red Maple Leaf. To know more facts about our nation’s flag and/or other official symbols of Canada, go to:  https://www.canada.ca/en/canadianheritage/services/official-symbols-canada.html   

And be sure to wave our own Provincial and Municipal Flags too! Heritage Day is the third Monday in February each year is set aside as an annual reminder of our storied past and an opportunity to honour the remarkable people, places and events that have contributed to this province’s unique heritage. This year’s date is February 17th. So please enjoy the day! More info at:  https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/   or  https://novascotia.ca/lae/employmentrights/NovaScotiaHeritageDay.asp   

February 2020 will mark the 36th year Nova Scotians have celebrated African Heritage Month. The 2020 theme is “Ties that Bind: Faith, Family and Community”. It will pay tribute to African Nova Scotians and their long legacy and history, an important part of NS culture and heritage. This aligns with the aims of the United Nation’s International Decade for People of African Descent (DPAD). The goal of DPAD is to strengthen global cooperation in support of people of African descent as they strive for full inclusion in all aspects of society. Our Province has over 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities, dating back over 400 years. These communities have a unique and rich legacy of resistance, resilience and triumph that needs to be shared with all. The Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs (ANSA) provides event listings as an information sharing service. Check out the ANSA web-site for its calendar of special community events and functions at:  https://ansa.novascotia.ca/calendar  . Events are subject to change. To update any program date or event details, contact  ansa_newsletter@novascotia.ca   or by to fax 902-424-7189. Or check out their Facebook Page: Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs.

The African Nova Scotia (ANS) History Challenges is a collaborative initiative of the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI) and various partners in education from across the province. The goal of these challenges is to encourage discussion about ANS history in our schools. All students and teachers are invited to participate. Submissions will be accepted up until Friday, February 7th. Awards include prizes, gifts and bursaries totalling up to $3,000. More info at:  https://dbdli.ca/community-youth/the-2020-african-novascotian-history-challenges/

The Southeastern Community Health Board (SECHB) will be hosting a “Celebrating Community Wellness” event on Tuesday, February 25th at 6:30 PM in the NS Black Cultural Centre at Main Street / Hwy #7 on Cherry Brook Road. There will be a showcase of local groups and grant presentation of Wellness Funds to this year’s recipients. For more information, contact SECHB Co-Ordinator:  monique.mullins-roberts@nshealth.ca   or call 902-460-6869

HRM has an ice thickness testing program during the winter season, but there may still be noticeable thin ice and open water in many lakes across the region. Throughout the winter months, ice thickness reports for lakes tested by the municipality will be available to the public at any time by calling 902-490-3577 or 311 for the HRM Citizen Contact Centre. Reports are updated weekly at this web-site pending weather conditions:  www.halifax.ca/recreation/programs-activities/skating/ice-thickness  . More than 100 lakes, mostly in the urban core, are tested regularly by HRM Parks and Recreation staff. There are 8 tested sites in or near our district area. They are: Lake Loon, Lake Major, Long Lake in North Preston, Nelson Lake in East Preston, Lake Echo by the Community Centre and McCoys Pond by Churchlake Drive in Lake Echo, Porters Lake and Middle Porters Lake. The municipality reminds all citizens to ensure ice conditions are safe, and to exercise extreme caution when walking, skating or participating in other outdoor events on frozen lakes this winter season. For more information about Ice Safety Tips, please visit the Canadian Red Cross web-page site:  http://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/swimming-andwater-safety-tips-and-resources/swimming–boatingand-water-safety-tips/ice-safety

HomeWarming helps Nova Scotians living on a low wage save money on heating bills and feel more comfortable in their homes. For free, no catch! HomeWarming offers no-charge energy assessments and home upgrades to income-qualified homeowners. If an efficiency audit discovers that upgrades will help reduce heating and power bills, they will be installed at no cost to the homeowner. Clean Foundation and Efficiency Nova Scotia are working together to offer low-income homeowners these free energy efficiency improvements. Clean looks after electrically heated homes, while Efficiency NS takes care of houses with non-electric heat sources. The program is supported by NS Power and the NS Government. Interested homeowners seek more information at  www.HomeWarming.ca   or you can speak confidentially with a Service Advisor about program eligibility by e-mail:  outreach@homewarming.ca   or by calling: 902-818-1926 or Toll-free 1-877-434-2136. There is No Application deadline.

The Provincial Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) provides help to lower-income Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. You qualify for this program if you pay a heating bill for either fuel oil, propane, or electricity at your current residence and meet ONE of the following criteria:

• live alone with an income of $29,000 or less;

• live with others and have a combined household income of $44,000 or less;

• receive Income Assistance from the Department of Community Services, OR;

• receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement from Service Canada.

If your personal or financial situation has changed since last year, you still may qualify. Examples of changes include becoming widowed, getting divorced or legally separated, losing your job, or having the custody of your children change. To find out if you qualify, please contact Service Nova Scotia by phone: 902-424-5200 or Toll-free at 1-800-670-4357. You can find the HARP 2017-18 application form at:  http://novascotia.ca/programs/heating-assistance-rebate-program/  .

Rebates range from $100 to $200. You must apply by March 31st. Send your completed and signed HARP application form, heating bill or receipt, and any other required documents to: NS Heating Assistance Rebate Program, PO Box 641, CRO Halifax, NS B3J 2T3 or fax it to 902-428-2164.

The North America Indigenous Games (NAIG) will be the largest multi-sport and cultural event ever held in K’jipuktuk / Halifax and Nova Scotia from July 12–18, 2020. There will be 5,250 participants from 756 First Nations across Turtle Island (North America) to play 16 sports, at 21 venues in HRM, Millbrook and Debert. But they will need the support of volunteers to make the Games possible. This will be a tremendous opportunity to highlight Indigenous athletes and youth, while showcasing our community and Mi’kmaq culture. NAIG needs 3,000 volunteers. You can make meaningful and long-lasting friendships during the process. Get Involved! You may contact them at:  info@naig2020.com  and, look at their website for details:  www.naig2020.com