There are still family pets that are in the care of the Nova Scotia SPCA weeks after the wildfires across the province. Sarah Lyon says there are families that are still trying to find pet-friendly places to live. And throughout the ordeal, she says there isn’t a big enough way to thank all of the people who stepped up to help. She also says the pet reunions have been heartwarming. Lyon adds they could still use donations and volunteers to help keep the animals safe and loved.
Jun 15, 2023•6 min
Anger still percolates through the community around Bridgewater, fifteen years after the murder of 12-year-old Karissa Boudreau. Sherri Aikenhead was working in the Nova Scotia Department of Justice when Penny Boudreau pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of her daughter. She vowed to someday tell that story and she has in her new true crime book called Mommy Don’t: From Mother to Murderer / The True Story of Penny and Karissa Boudreau . This week marks the fifteenth anniversary of the cha...
Jun 13, 2023•3 min
The joy in seeing his classmates is undeniable. And the struggle of being apart from them is only part of the concern Lian’s parents have. They’re also worried about him falling behind the longer school support workers are off the job. HIs father, Kevin Cunningham, shared a video of him waving to the kids on the bus recently and how much he's missing his routine. And he shares his thoughts on the value of inclusion and the role Educational Program Assistants play in the education of the 600 stud...
Jun 12, 2023•17 min
More than 130 members of the legal community in Canada are asking the Prime Minister to deny an extradition request from France. It centres around a 69-year old Lebanese Canadian university professor. Dr. Hassan Diab was convicted in absentia in a trial held in France earlier this year where he was sentenced to life in prison. It was for the 1980 bombing of a synagogue in Paris that killed four and wounded 46 people. Dalhousie Law Professor Robert Currie is among those people calling on the gove...
Jun 09, 2023•16 min
As more people are allowed to return to their homes, others are finding out they don’t have a home to return to. And the impacts of the wildfires will be felt for months and years to come. United Way Halifax has launched a fundraising appeal that has already collected more than $800,000. And that’s before the Friday night concert event at Scotiabank Centre. Deborah Page with United Way talks about the ways they will be helping people. And Matt Mays describes how it came together and why he and o...
Jun 08, 2023•13 min
It may sounds contradictory, but it’s a sign of the times. Nurses across the country have been working short and that means long hours and cancelled vacations. That is putting pressure on the people charged with caring for us when we need them the most. Linda Silas is the president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions. They are currently gathered at a convention in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She took some time to reflect on the challenges in health care and offer suggestions on ...
Jun 07, 2023•18 min
Many of the men and women on the front lines of the wildfires wouldn’t call themselves heroes. They are doing the job they signed up for and have a sense of pride in that and helping their friends and neighbours. The Tema Foundation says they knew that their tagline might not be the one that First Responders would chose themselves. But Colleen Kamps says it’s about helping the helpers and that’s how many people in this province feel about the job they’ve done. She’s a Registered Psychotherapist ...
Jun 06, 2023•15 min
Our homes are where we feel safe and secure. And when they are threatened, or destroyed, it can be devastating emotionally. This week, thousands of Nova Scotians were given orders to pack up and leave their homes immediately. And that is something Dr. Simon Sherry says will have an impact on people for years to come. He is a clinical psychologist in Halifax who says providing support through family and friends is crucial in these early days. And he says offers comments on the parallels to the re...
May 31, 2023•13 min
It’s a referral and resource service that’s been available to Nova Scotians for about a decade. And it’s not one that many people are familiar with. Ashley Mitchell is the Director of Service Delivery for 211 Nova Scotia. What kind of information do they supply? She says just about anything you would Google for local help, their call takers can probably give you information about. And she says they’re ready to help in the aftermath of the recent wildfires.
May 30, 2023•10 min
Imagine a knock on your door from someone telling you to gather your stuff and go because a wildfire is headed your way. It’s a scenario that played out for hundreds of homeowners in the Halifax area in the last twenty four hours. And while there may be fewer people living in Shelburne County , they are dealing with a wildfire that’s ten times as large as the one in HRM. Sam Brannen posted a video to her social media page recently as she was capturing what could have been the last images of her ...
May 29, 2023•11 min
For his entire career, he’s worked in the intelligence and security community. And Phil Gurski isn’t happy with the way the issues with China have been handled. He’s an author and President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consultants. He’s spent decades in that sphere focussed mainly on terrorism but knows of the work his former colleagues have done. And he says politicians of all stripes in this country don’t get intelligence. Or at least they don’t understand what it is and why it’s import...
May 26, 2023•16 min
It was a bit of a surprise to see Hope Swinimer in court facing a charge related to the work she does helping animals in distress. As it turns out, it was dismissed after the Crown offered no evidence. For more details on the circumstances and her determination to honour that life’s work, Hope Swinimer took some time out of her day to speak about it. And the Order of Nova Scotia recipient also answers the question about whether she’d do the same thing again if the situation arises. And she discu...
May 25, 2023•16 min
COVID is still around but for practical purposes the public health emergency is over . And that is welcomed news for the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association. Michele Lowe is the group’s Executive Director. And she says it’s good for the residents and the workers, but admits there will still be infection control guidelines for years to come. As she gets set to retire from that role in the Fall, she shares the good, the bad and the lessons learned over the last three years. And she shares her...
May 24, 2023•14 min
People would still rather give blood than to serve on a jury in Canada. But finding ways to support the people who do serve is one of the goals Mark Farrant has been working towards for years. He’s part of a non-profit group called The Canadian Juries Commission . It was borne after he and other jurors realizing there were laws restricting who they could talk to in trying to deal the graphic details and images they were witness to. And Farrant says there’s a peer support pilot project underway t...
May 19, 2023•19 min
Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. It started 19 years ago to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. And this year comes at a time where hate and intolerance is on the increase. Mikaela Gorman is a queer and transgender woman. She also is former co-chair and emergency ...
May 17, 2023•17 min
A group of Canadian Veterans is enlisting a powerful weapon in their efforts to help the victims of the war in Ukraine. Canadian funnyman and sometime South Shore resident Ron James is holding a benefit concert for the Strayboar Project. While the work is serious business, James will be bringing his comedy to the Lunenburg Opera House on May 20th, 2023. The money they raise will be for civilian relief projects in Ukraine. Strayboar is a passion project by Seth Congdon, Royce Roberts, and Jim Fun...
May 12, 2023•28 min
Do you know what is the most common and costly natural disaster or emergency that affects the Halifax region? If you had to chose between house fires, hurricanes, flooding or thunderstorms, what would you answer? You’re probably wrong. Fewer than one in three households in HRM are likely prepared for an emergency or natural disaster. And this week is all about educating people about the risks and how to be ready. Erica Fleck is HRM’s Emergency Manager. And she talks about education, planning and...
May 10, 2023•13 min
Premier Tim Houston has proclaimed May 9th as Make Your Move Day in Nova Scotia. It’s a step towards a cultural shift where simple movement is valued, prioritized and increased in the province. And the Healthy Tomorrow Foundation is all about inspiring people to move more, today and everyday. Kerry Copeland is the Executive Director of the Foundation and says along with the awareness campaign, they are introducing programs in Antigonish, Lockeport, and Yarmouth. And she says it’s about improving...
May 09, 2023•12 min
Students haven’t traditional been considered full partners when it comes to the Memorandum of Understanding between the province and its 10 universities. Aside from offering suggestions and feedback, Lydia Houck says there should be more of an extensive role for the voice of students. As the outgoing Executive Director, she notes they are the primary stakeholders in the post secondary system in this province as well as the primary source of funding. The affordability of university is at stake fo...
May 08, 2023•10 min
For a lot of people, it’s the food that makes the festivity special. And it’s been booming at The Great British Shop since they opened in Halifax almost a year ago. And the owner says it’s been even busier ahead of the upcoming Coronation of King Charles III. Aaron Armstrong talks to SaltWire about food, culture, the monarchy, and why he’ll be up long before all of us on Saturday morning.
May 05, 2023•13 min
A Toronto Law firm has been hired to look into the way Halifax Police handed a protest and a shelter eviction in front of the old Halifax Public Library almost two years ago. The Board of Police Commissioners will pay $250,000 for the independent review into the way the homeless and their supporters were treated in August of 2021. Mark Sandler is a partner with Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Schwartzentruber. And he explains what their terms of reference will be, their history of similar reviews a...
May 04, 2023•11 min
For someone with a shelf full of awards, it’s special to be recognized by the people you still identify with. And for Natalie MacMaster, she’ll always be a Cape Bretoner. She’s been named the winner of an Honourary ECMA recipient of the Director’s Special Achievement Award. And she’ll be in Halifax to receive it during the event that is being held this week — the 35th Anniversary edition of the awards, festival, and conference. And she opens up about moving to Ontario 20 years ago, the power of ...
May 03, 2023•13 min
It should be a good thing. Lots of newcomers to Halifax and lots of construction cranes dotting the skyline. But there are many challenges for the housing market that have converged. And Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says people are stuck renting because of interest rates and housing prices. And construction companies are struggling to find enough labour to finish the work they’ve started. Braedon Clark is the MLA for Bedford South. He’s also the Liberal’s Housing shadow minister. He s...
May 02, 2023•16 min
Mental health and mental illness are in the news a lot these days. And that is hoping to eroding some of the stigma and prejudice people hold towards others who may appear to be different. This is Mental Health week, a social change campaign to educate the public and shift beliefs and perceptions about mental health. And this year’s theme is My Story . The Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division is bringing together four mental health champions who are using their voices in uniqu...
May 01, 2023•20 min
How likely are you to climb into the waters off Nova Scotia to get up close to a great white shark? A marine ecologist and shark researcher based is hoping it’s appealing to a lot of people this summer. Neil Hammerschlag is the owner and president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions , a Nova Scotia company offering expeditions out of Liverpool this summer. He says ecotourism is a great way to teach people about sharks by letting them get up close to the creatures, but in a way that keeps the humans an...
Apr 28, 2023•20 min
In 2002, she decided nurses needed a strong and consistent voice in this province. And that was when Janet Hazelton became President of the Nova Scotia Nurses Union. This week, she was reelected for another two year term to serve as the voice for 8,300 Registered, Practical and Nurse Practitioners across the province. She took a few minutes to talk about the increase in violence , travel nurses, the “thank you bonus” and the current contract negotiations with the province, and why she is still p...
Apr 27, 2023•8 min
Two years ago, he asked for a review of policing services in Halifax Regional Municipality. It was a system that evolved out of the amalgamation in 1996. And by 2021, there were a lot of questions about the future of policing, and not just in Halifax or Nova Scotia. Dartmouth Councillor Tony Mancini says they wanted to know if they had the right model in place for what residents wanted and were paying for. And the report that was tabled this week is calling for one of two things to happen. Eithe...
Apr 26, 2023•21 min
She has to juggle two part time jobs, her volunteer work and he social life as a contributor to the Nova Scotia economy. And the fact that she doesn’t get paid to advise government on the minimum wage is a bit ironic. Collette Robert is the employee representative on the Minimum Wage Review Committee. And this week, she was asked to give her perspective on the impact of low wages on labour shortages at the Standing Committee on Human Resources. This is her story about the challenges of increased...
Apr 25, 2023•16 min
When inflation starts taking money out of an already anemic income, something has to give. And for some people, they are cutting out prescription drugs because they just don’t have the money. It’s an ongoing issue that’s gotten worse with the affordability crisis we’ve been living with. And it seems like the drug companies are amping up their lobbying efforts as the politicians drag their feet on a national drug plan. Bill Swan is with a group called The Faces of Pharmacare . And he is currently...
Apr 24, 2023•13 min
Government help during the pandemic did more than help people get through a tough time. It also helped lift people out of poverty. But unfortunately, things have gone back to the way they were for some. And it’s gotten worse for others. The high price of food, energy and rising inflation is leaving people behind. That’s why several groups decided to hold community conversations and roundtable to discuss the cost of living crisis in Nova Scotia. Dorothy Halliday, Director of Community Cares Youth...
Apr 21, 2023•15 min
