Councillor Bob Harvey District 20

Councillor Bob Harvey
District 20
Lower Sackville
Halifax Regional Municipality
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS 2009
Once again we salute our volunteers, in so many
organizations, who make our community a caring and great
place to live. In the spring, the Lake District Recreation
Association hosted its 30th Volunteer Dinner at which the
following organizations celebrated their volunteer nominees
for this year.
Acadia Recreation Club - Don McLellan; Anchor Industries
Society - Cheryl Rose; Beacon House Interfaith Society Maisie MacKay; Bedford/Sackville Mental Health Clinic - Barb
Seyffarth; Canadian Cancer Society - Mary Marson; Cobequid
Community Health - Christopher Weir; Fultz Corner
Restoration Society - Larry & Cathy Heighton; Girl Guides of
Canada, Carter Area - Tina Joudrey; Kinsmen Club of
Sackville - Greg Flemming; Kinnette Club of Sackville President Tracey Flemming; Lake District Recreation Association - George Matthews; Lakeshore Curling Club - Co-Chairs Erin Edmunston & Trendal Hubley-Bolivar; RCL Calais Branch
162 Ladies Auxiliary - Geraldine Davis; RCL Calais Branch
162 - Ron Waddleton; Riverview Community Recreation
Association - Bob Legere; Sackville-Bedford Meals on Wheels
- Irene Ferguson; Sackville Blazers Hockey Club - Linda
Hodgson; Sackville Beaver Bank 50+ Club - Sarah Brown;
Sackville Community Band - Claude Lachance; Sackville
Legion Seniors Club - Douglas Veith & Ralph Ward; Sackville
Lions Club - Sandy Dean; Sackville Lioness Club - Jeanne
MacDonald; Sackville Minor Baseball - Frank Dunn; Sackville
Minor Hockey & Ringette Association - Bill Brown; Sackville
Rivers Association - Karen & Andrew Stadnyk; Sackville
Seniors Advisory Council - Frances Newell; Sackville Sports
Heritage Foundation - Ken Barrett; Second Lake Regional
Park Association - Michael Gray; Springfield Lake Recreation
Association - Roy White; Scotia Nursing Home - Rick
Rodgers; Wallace Lucas Community Centre - Cindy Parsons;
Summer 2009
VOLUNTEER AWARDS
In addition, the HRM recognized volunteers, from across
the municipality, including the three listed below from Lower
Sackville. All of our community’s volunteers are examples of
Gandhi’s words that “The best way to find yourself is to lose
yourself in the service of others.”
John Doyle
Shirley Sanford
Sackville’s 2009 Volunteer of the Year, David Peverill, was
recognized for his many years of working for the betterment
of his community. On July 1st he rode in style in Sackville’s
Canada Day Parade.
Tara Hill
District 20 Newsletter
IMAGINE FEWER OF OUR SCHOOLS
There are ten schools in Lower Sackville. The Halifax
Regional School Board has undertaken a consultant led
planning process to deal with the challenges of declining
enrollment, shifting populations and aging infrastructure. The
report with recommendations has been presented to the
school board and a report based on the consultants’ work is
being prepared for consideration by the board later this year.
Each scenario, which looks ahead to the school year
2018/2019, is based on an average overall school capacity
utilization of only 56% and sees the number of Lower Sackville
schools reducing by three to seven schools. They also
recommend in each scenario that Millwood High and Sackville
High be combined at Sackville High School. In both scenarios
Gertrude Parker and Centennial Elementary schools are
closed. The variations between the two alternative
recommendations involve in one case the closing of Leslie
Thomas and in the other Hillside Park. To make either
recommendation work, extensive renovations to some of the
remaining schools would be required. Decisions by the board
are a long way off and in any case a closure decision would be
considered only after a lengthy public process.
Summer 2009
HRM CITIZENSHIP AWARDS
Each year council is pleased to recognize the achievements of
outstanding young citizens who contribute leadership to school
life and their communities. In June the accomplishments of
forty-five grade nine students were celebrated at a reception
at City Hall including three from Lower Sackville.
Congratulations to all.
Michelle Brake of Leslie Thomas Jr. High
BUDGET 2009
Council approved Operating and Capital Budgets in the spring,
representing a 3.6 % increase over last year. The tax rate remains the same and the revenue from it will fund capital works
and services which cost three quarters of a billion dollars. Local capital projects include road, and in some cases, sidewalk
construction on Skyridge Ave., Prince Street, Realty Ave.,
Balsam Circle and the resurfacing of sections of some major
roads such as Sackville Drive and Cobequid Road. As well,
there is money set aside to repair the track at Metropolitan
Field and do a study into its future as a competition track along
with Beazley Field. Playground upgrades and replacements
will be taking place at Hillside Park and Caudle Park schools.
A plan is being developed under the HRM Streetscape project to enhance the aesthetics of the bridge on Sackville Drive
near Riverside Drive and in future years bring further improvements to our main commercial street. Lake District Recreation
Association received a grant of $100,000 this year from an
allocation in last year’s municipal budget, to purchase a new
zamboni for the Sackville Community Arena and to carry out
some needed electrical upgrades. Intersection improvement
tenders have been issued for Glendale Drive at Sackville
Sports Stadium and Riverside Drive and Glendale Drive as
part of the budget.
Christy Knox of Cavalier Drive School
Ben Hoskins of A.J. Smeltzer Jr. High
BEDFORD SACKVILLE LITERACY NETWORK
The Bedford Sackville Literacy Network, located at 800
Sackville Drive, provides FREE instruction to adult learners
who would like to improve their reading, writing, math and
computer skills. They offer one-on-one tutoring and small
classroom instruction. If you would like to improve your skills,
or would like to volunteer your time as a tutor, please call:
869-3838.
District 20 Newsletter
HRM BY DESIGN
Council recently approved a new development approval
protocol for the downtown area of Halifax. This approval came
after an exhaustive three year public process. It encourages:
defined and distinct downtown districts, increased
opportunities to live and work downtown, protection of our
built heritage, new and improved open space anchors and
connections, great streets, civic pride, pedestrian friendly new
developments and a transit and active transportation friendly
downtown. The new development approval process features
a Design Approval Committee of professional experts and
citizens and quicker turn around times for development
applications. It should be noted that several development
proposals under the former rules and policies are yet to be
concluded.
SACKVILLE DRIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Our active business association has had a number of
successes this year including the popular Heritage
Calendars, a marketing strategy to encourage Sackville
residents to shop locally, new Welcome to Sackville Signs and
a facade improvement program to assist businesses.
Evidence of the viability of Sackville as a commercial and
economic center can be seen in the many developments
taking place along Sackville Drive and the Cobequid Road
including a new, soon to be opened, Access Nova Scotia
Office.
FULTZ HOUSE MUSEUM SUMMER 2009
Why not help the Fultz Corner Restoration Society celebrate
its 30th Anniversary this summer by visiting the museum and/
or attending a special event. The museum is open to visitors
every day in July and August from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The
famous and well attended Tuesday Teas are on again until
September 29th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at a cost of $5.00; a
great opportunity to socialize with old friends and meet some
new ones. Remember to reserve your ticket ($10.00) for the
Sackville Heritage Dinner set for Wednesday, October 7th at
the Sackville Legion at 6:30 pm. To learn more about these
and other events check out: www.fultzhouse.ca
Summer 2009
SACKVILLE SPORTS HERITAGE HALL OF FAME
New inductees to the Sackville Sports Heritage Hall of Fame
late last year included: Robert Bayer, the first president of the
Lake District Recreation Association which has been making a
difference in this community since 1971 by developing
recreational facilities for the community like the Sackville
Community arena; John(Jim)Collins who for more than half
a century has been active in boxing circles developing many
local amateur boxing athletes; Lewis Kelly Jr. who retired as
a MASCAR champion in 1993 and was, in his day, one of the
most accomplished drivers seen on tracks throughout the
Maritimes and the late Glen Slauenwhite who was an
outstanding organizer and dedicated volunteer in the
community whose leadership played a key role in the
development of Metropolitan Field, Sackville Leisure Centre
and the Sackville Sports Stadium. The community is proud to
salute the contributions of this year’s inductees. A young
athlete, Nkem Ezurike, a local soccer star who has
participated as a member of Canada’s National Team in New
Zealand, was also honoured. Congratulations to the Sackville
Sports Heritage Hall of Fame Board of Directors and
President Bill MacDonald. Hall of Fame displays may be
viewed on the concourse of the Sackville Sports Stadium
arena.
HARBOUR SOLUTIONS
The flooding of the Halifax Sewage Treatment Plant in
January as a consequence of power outages and the failure of
the back up generators to keep the plants pumps
operating has been a source of profound disappointment for
the Mayor, members of council, staff and the public. Since
then a forensic audit has taken place to analyze available
data to determine the cause of the flooding. Halifax Water
and HRM are determined to return the plant to full operation in
2010 and at the same time protect the interests of
customers of Halifax Water and HRM taxpayers. Steps have
been taken, with the use of ozone generators and the ordering
of carbon air filters, to minimize odour in a couple of downtown
locations. As well, staff continue to work on implementing a
plan to divert dry weather flow to the Halifax Plant for
screening and discharge through a kilometer long pipe to the
center of the harbour, thus providing a 50-1 dilution. In the
meantime work continues to fully commission the
Dartmouth Plant and to complete the Herring Cove Plant.
What is learned from the audit will be applied to all plants to
reduce the likelihood of a similar occurrence in the
future. What we know is how improved the water quality of
the harbour was during the eight months that the Halifax Plant
operated successfully. By this time next year there should be
five sewer treatment plants operating on the harbour/basin to
greatly improve water quality. For the latest information
contact : www.halifax.ca and click on “Harbour Solutions
Halifax Treatment Plant News”.
District 20 Newsletter
SACKVILLE RIVERS ASSOCIATION
This nationally known environmental
organization continues to work to protect
and educate us about our natural
environment and in particular about the
importance of the watershed systems of the
Sackville and Little Sackville Rivers. During the
spring and summer, numerous projects have been undertaken by the
volunteers associated with this organization including river cleanups
to enhance fish habitat and the rivers’ ecosystems. Sackville Rivers
Association plays a valuable role in monitoring the rivers for siltation
issues which are a concern for the Department of Environment and
HRM staff. Remember the Sackville Rivers Association annual dinner set for September 11th.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Walking and biking continue to be
healthy activities enjoyed by an
increasing number of Sackville
residents. HRM supports this through
the building of sidewalks, bike lanes
where possible in road projects and in
supporting trail development of public
property in the community. The major trail systems include the
Sackville River Greenway Trail to Bedford along the Sackville River
and the trails at Second Lake and First Lake. The Second Lake
Regional Park Association is working to connect existing trails over
a storm sewer created wash which will allow trail users to traverse
the full length of the shoreline of the parkland. The Friends of First
Lake have received sufficient funding to continue the First Lake Trail
the full length of the east side of the lake toward Sucker Brook. It will
be possible to link up these trail systems on either side of First Lake
Drive. To enhance one of the main connections to the First Lake
Trail, improve safety at this intersection and access to the bus stop,
HRM, this year, constructed a length of sidewalk along First Lake
Drive near the intersection with Cavendish Dr.
PUBLIC TRANSIT - THE FIVE YEAR PLAN
Council has committed to a Five Year Transit Plan which will develop
the current transit system into what we expect will be one of the most
responsive public transit systems in Canada. This decision recognizes the demands being placed on the transit system by the public
for environmental and economic reasons. Highlights of the plan include a new Transit Centre on the Halifax side of the municipality to
increase efficiency of service delivery, new electronic fare collection
system, rural express transit, expansion of conventional service and
Metro-link. A decision on the proposed Harbour Link(high speed ferry
service) has been deferred until next year pending the presentation of
additional information to council. The first year of the Five Year Plan
is being funded through the fare increase which came into effect on
July 1st.
Summer 2009
HOW TO REACH ME:
Bob Harvey, Councillor
District 20, Lower Sackville P.O. Box 1749 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 3A5
488-4820 (Cell)
864-4160 (Residence)
869-4031 (Fax)
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact Numbers
Emergency (Police/Fire/Ambulance)
911
HRM Call Centre - Open seven days a week (7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m)
490-4000
Call Centre TTY/TDD
490-6645
HRM Homepage:
www.halifax.ca
Public Library, Sackville Branch
865-8653
Sackville Sports Stadium
869-4141
Water Commission - Service Calls
869-4290
Water Commission - General Inquiries and Billing Info.
490-4820
Councillor Robert P. (Bob) Harvey, District 20
488-4820
Councillor Brad Johns, District 19
476-1234
Councillors’ Office, City Hall
490-4050
Sackville Community Website
www.sackvillenovascotia.ca
Cobequid Community Health Centre
869-6100
Geoff Regan, MP - Halifax West
426-2217
Dave Wilson, MLA - Sackville - Cobequid
864-0396
Peter Stoffer, MP, Sackville - Musquodoboit Valley - Eastern Shore
861-2311
Mat Whynott, MLA - Hammonds Plains - Upper Sackville
864-5310
Donna Hubbard, Halifax Regional School Board
864-7993
Delivery Note
Due to the delivery routes followed by Canada Post, it is possible that
some of these Newsletters may appear in other Districts. Please accept
my apology for any confusion.