HRM COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM

The HRM Community Grants Program provides aid to registered non-profit organizations and charities throughout the municipality to help with their endeavours. The program provides annual cash grants to registered non-profit organizations and charities located throughout the region. There are two grants available – a project grant of up to $5,000 or a capital grant of up to $25,000. 

The program has seven funding categories, which include the following: community arts; diversity and accessibility; environment and climate change; emergency assistance and neighbourhood safety; community histories; leisure; and recreation. Applicants must indicate the category which best matches the funding category.

Applicants should review the guidebook prior to applying. https://cdn.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/business/grants/2026-community-grants-program_guidebook-web.pdf . First-time applicants are encouraged to contact municipal staff prior to submitting an application. The application deadline is Tuesday, March 31st. More information can be found at: www.halifax.ca/business/doing-business-halifax/community-grants HRM Grants Guidebook & Applications can be obtained from a HRM Service Centre or by email: nonprofitgrants@Halifax.ca or call: 902-497-0479. For more details: www.halifax.ca/community-grants

PROFESSIONAL ARTS GRANTS PROGRAM

HRM is now accepting applications for the 2025/26 Grants to Professional Arts Organizations Program. This program supports the operating and artistic capacity of producing and presenting art organizations in the region that advance the profile of the local arts sector, with an overarching goal to foster broad public access to public art. There are two funding streams: operating assistance and project assistance. The municipality provides up to three-year funding agreements towards the operating funds of eligible groups and annual funding agreements supporting distinct artistic projects. For more information about the program or to discuss your project or eligibility, groups are invited to book a virtual meeting, contact Lindsay Cory, Community Developer (Public Arts), at 902-456-8384 or by email: lindsay.cory@halifax.ca
To learn more and apply, visit our HRM Website ( www.halifax.ca/parks-recreation/arts-culture-heritage/opportunities-artists-art-organizations ) The deadline for the applications is Tuesday, March 31st.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BEGINS MARCH 8

It’s time to “Spring Forward”. Be sure to set your clocks ahead one (1) hour on Sunday, March 8th. And please check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. For more information on this, visit: www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/fire-prevention-safety/smoke-alarms

ESGSAR SEEKS NEW MEMBERS 

The Eastern Shore Ground Search and Rescue ( ESGSAR ) will be hosting a New Members Recruitment Night on Tuesday, March 24th at 7 PM at their facility at #5688 Hwy # 7 in Head of Chezzetcook. 

This is a great opportunity to join with some dedicated community volunteers and develop some lifesaving skills and survival tips. And learn how to conduct search missions. For more information about this organization, please visit their website : www.ESGSAR.org 

For an application form, contact: esgsar.mchair@gmail.com

OPEN-AIR BURNING: MARCH 15

Normally open-air burning season begins on March 15th. There is an online fire index that ensures everyone knows the risks of wildfire in all areas of the province each day: www.novascotia.ca/burnsafe/ . The map will show green, red, or yellow in each county to let us know if it is safe to burn, unsafe to burn, or safe with restrictions. The map and recorded phone message will be updated daily. Call Burn Safe toll-free 1-855-564-2876. These changes affect brush burning on domestic properties, such as rural residential lots, woodlots, fishing camps and cottage lots. However, commercial or industrial brush burning still requires a permit from a DNR&R office. Be sure to follow all instructions, rules of conduct and be respectful of your neighbours when you want to burn. Please be careful when burning.

COMMUNITY SURVEY ON POLICING

The HRM Board of Police Commissioners has engaged Narrative Research to conduct a Community Survey on Policing. The goal of this survey is to gather insights and feedback from community members 18 years of age or older about their perceptions, experiences, and suggestions on policing in the Halifax region. As part of the process to solicit public input on important policing-related topics, the HRM Board of Police Commissioners is inviting community members to complete the survey at this link - https://www.narrativeresearchsurveys.ca/S2/87/2556709/ Results of the survey will be reported quarterly, in addition to a report and final presentation to be delivered to the Board of Police Commissioners in Fall 2026

FIREARMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM

As part of its long-standing commitment to tackling gun violence in Canadian communities, the Federal Government has banned more than 2,500 makes and models of assault-style firearms since May 2020. The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) was developed to provide an option for eligible businesses and individuals who own these prohibited firearms to comply with the law. Those who choose to participate in the program may receive compensation subject to availability of program funds. Gunowners must declare their intent to participate in the compensation program by March 31st, 2026. Following the declaration period, eligible participants will be able to schedule an appointment for the collection of their firearms by the Halifax Regional Police (HRP) in the Spring. Compensation will be coordinated and administered by the Federal Government. While participating in the program is voluntary, compliance with the law is not. Businesses and individual firearm owners must safely dispose of or permanently deactivate their assault-style firearms before the amnesty period ends on October 30th, 2026, or risk criminal liability for the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm. All participating HRP officers will be working on overtime shifts paid for totally by the federal government. This format ensures there will be no impact to front-line service or investigative policing. For more information on the ASFCP, visit: www.canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html

ENGAGE NS - QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY

On February 23rd, 2026, Engage Nova Scotia and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing launched the largest Quality of Life population survey in North America, delivering invitations to 412,000+ residents across the province to share their experience of life in Nova Scotia. The survey period will be until mid-April. This survey is a groundbreaking opportunity to help improve quality of life in our communities and covers a range of topics including health, affordability, public safety, access to recreation, experiences of loneliness and discrimination, belonging to community, trust in institutions, and more. For municipal governments in particular, this survey represents a unique opportunity to gather data about topics impacting residents, including notable strengths and/or challenges in comparison to provincial averages. If enough residents participate, the resulting analysis will provide reliable data sets to compare experiences across neighborhoods, villages, and counties within a single municipality, as well as differences in experiences based on demographics (age, sex, income, race, etc.). Please sign up for Engage NS survey and quarterly newsletter to get project updates and opportunities, upcoming events, and wellbeing research and resources. www.engagenovascotia.ca



CANADA CENSUS 2026

The next Census of Population will take place in May 2026. To support this important project, Statistics Canada is hiring for supervisory and non-supervisory positions. Approximately 32,000 jobs are available across Canada! They are looking for local people to help them collect accurate data in your community. These data are vital for planning and evaluating programs and services such as education, health care, childcare, housing, emergency services, roads, public transportation and job training. More details about census jobs can be found at this website: www.census.gc.ca/jobs