KANA’TA DAY - JULY 1st, 2026

Enjoy various Canada Day celebrations with plenty of cultural, musical, and family-oriented events. Here’s a list of some metro events:

Free admission at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and the Halifax Citadel National Historic site.

Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Parade in downtown Halifax and Band Performances on Halifax Waterfront

Dartmouth Waterfront free concerts featuring Drumming and ANSMA artists

Free Halifax Harbour ferry crossings

Fireworks/pyrotechnics show on a barge in Halifax Harbour

More details at: https://hrmcanadaday.ca/

SUPERVISED SWIMMING BEACHES

HRM will be providing water quality monitoring at its supervised beaches at various locations throughout the municipality for July & August. However; due to a limited supply of lifeguards, HRM may have to reduce its offerings of aquatic programs and supervised beach locations. These are the local sites designated for lifeguard supervisors:

Orenda Beach – Lake Echo

Kinap Beach – West Porters Lake

Petpeswick Lake Beach – Pleasant Drive Park - Gaetz Brook

Webber’s Beach – Upper Lakeville / Lake Charlotte

Taylor’s Head Beach – Spry Bay / Taylor’s Head Provincial Park – Hwy #7

For up-to-date info on hours of supervision and latest water quality results, go to: www.halifax.ca/recreation/programs-activities/swimming/supervised-beaches-outdoor-pools-splash-pads

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE AWARENESS

Watch for blue-green algae from May to October. It is also called cyanobacteria which occurs naturally in surface waters like lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The toxins in the algae can make people sick and be fatal for pets if ingested. Blue-green algae tends to develop when a period of hot, dry weather is followed by a heavy rainfall. If you think you see blue-green algae, you should treat it as potentially toxic. Report it to your local NS Department of Environment and Climate Change office or call 1-877-936-8476. For more information, go to: https://novascotia.ca/blue-green-algae

SWIMMING POOLS & FENCING RULES

Residents with an above-ground or in-ground swimming pool are required to obtain a permit. To obtain these permits, details of pool location, fencing and security must be identified as specified in HRM By-law S-700: www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/legislation-by-laws/By-lawS-700.pdf  This applies to all swimming pools with a diameter of 11 feet or more and a depth of 2 feet or more. And they should be completely enclosed with a 5-foot-high fence. For more information, please go to: www.halifax.ca/home-property/building-development-permits/house-home-permits/develop-your-property#Swim

HRM CIVIC EVENTS 2026 GRANTS

Here is a list of local community festivities that will receive municipal civic events grants: 

TRUNK 7 MUSIC FESTIVAL

July - Porter’s Lake - Grant: $5,000

NORTH PRESTON DAYS 

July - North Preston - Grant: $6,000

LAKE AND SHORE DAYS 

August - Porter’s Lake - Grant: $5,000 

HALIFAX COUNTY EXHIBITION 

August - Middle Musquodoboit – Grant: $25,000

SUMMERTIME FAIR JULY 11th - 18th 

The Musquodoboit Harbour Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs and various community volunteers, organizations and businesses are rallying together to bring back the Eastern Shore Summertime Fair. From a Kids Parade to live entertainment shows on stage, to the Grand Parade, there will be many events and activities planned throughout an incredible week of fun for everyone to enjoy. It is anticipated that there will be many food options to choose from such as truck vendors, community groups, sports teams, and charitable organizations with BBQs and game booths to raise funds for their respective causes. Even the local food purveyors will have specials on during the week of the fair. More information at: https://musquodoboitharbour.ca/your-mhaccca/summer-fair/ 

TRUNK 7 MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 17th & 18th

The Trunk 7 Music Festival will be held again at the Porters Lake Superstore Parking Lot. Great music with plenty of bands and local talent. More details at: www.trunk7musicfestival.com

HRM REC VAN GOES RURAL

The HRM Rec Van is stacked with equipment for a variety of activities and sports, including baseball, soccer, washer toss, giant board games, archery, axe throwing, skipping and much more! This is an unsupervised and non-registered program. Children requiring supervision must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who remains on-site at all times. The Rec Van will be visiting rural communities throughout the municipality all summer long. Check out their daily stops scheduled every Monday through Thursday throughout July and August. www.halifax.ca/parks-recreation/programs-activities/outdoor-recreation/rec-van . If you have any questions, then please contact them at: recvan@halifax.ca

HRM SENIORS RECREATION PLAN

A Senior Recreation Services Plan was first identified in the 2023-24 HRM Parks and Recreation business plan to guide programs and services for residents aged 60+. This plan was initiated in response to the significant and growing increase in the older adult population, particularly seniors aged 60 and over from the baby boomer generation. As this cohort continues to age, the municipality recognizes the need to proactively plan for changing demographics and evolving recreation interests to ensure programs and services remain relevant, accessible, and responsive to the needs of a predominantly older population. The Seniors Recreation Services Plan (2026–2030) provides a coordinated approach to strengthening recreation opportunities for adults aged 60+ across the Halifax region. Informed by engagement with more than 2,200 seniors, senior‑serving organizations, and the Seniors Recreation Advisory Group, the plan identifies major barriers including limited programming, social isolation, accessibility challenges, transportation issues, and affordability.

Here is the link to that report and plan: https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/standing-committees/260416cped1312.pdf Seniors will be able to view updates on the work being completed on the Seniors Recreation Services Plan by visiting the senior’s webpage at www.halifax.ca/seniors . If you have any questions or seek further details, then please make contact by email at: seniors@halifax.ca or by calling or texting 902-233-8129

WEEKLY GREEN CART COLLECTION 

As a part of the 2026-27 HRM Budget there will be the resumption of weekly organic green cart collection but with a revised timeframe. These changes come into effect the week of June 29th - and remain until October 2nd. These reductions in service were part of the budget reduction to keep general tax rate low and remain the same service level as the previous year. Concerns such as smelly carts, can be alleviated with some of these helpful tips to reduce that problem and other nuisances. www.halifax.ca/home-property/garbage-recycling-green-cart/green-carts-leaf-yard-material#GCTips

C&D PROCESSING SITE APPROVED

On June 16/26 HRM Council voted 4-8 against the appeal filed by the local residents that opposed Kiann Management Limited’s application for Site Plan Approval for a Construction and Demolition Processing Facility on PID 40740276, Highway #7 in Porters Lake. The applicant submitted revised site plans for consideration to address concerns raised by a previous Regional Council decision that initially turned down the proposal. The NS Supreme Court overturned that Regional Council decision and kicked the issue back to City Hall to reassess but this time without any input from Councillor Purdy and I because the judge declared we showed a “bias” towards the proposal. The revised submission included new higher fencing which has been increased in height from 1.8 metres to 2.43 metres and screening along the eastern portion of the site to increase the buffering with finished grading and physical screening produced by the fencing will help mitigate impacts on the adjoining lands. Now the matter will rest with the NS Department of Environment & Climate Change that will oversee the operational licensing approvals for the facility.

INPUT ON PROTECTED AREA EXPANSION

The NS Department of Environment & Climate Change has recently announced the expansion of several protected areas across the province, including some within HRM. These areas include an expanded 7 hectares to the Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area and an expansion of 41 hectares to Toadfish Lakes Wilderness Area. https://novascotia.ca/nse/protectedareas/wa_toadfishlakes.asp In addition, the Province has launched public consultation on several proposed new protected areas and expansions to existing sites, including four locations within our municipality:

• Herring Cove Backlands Wilderness Area 

• Expansion of Ship Harbour / Long Lake Wilderness Area 

• Expansion of Tangier / Grand Lake Wilderness Area 

• Expansion of Sackville River Wilderness Area

Public consultation is open until July 28th and feedback can be provided through the NS Provincial Protected Areas web-site. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c2ac6871cb8d4729845d5bae821e3395