Heart of Halifax

Downtown Halifax

District 12

Town Clock Granville Mall Halifax Mural

—councillor dawn sloane

Latest News:

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Metro Transit Service for Natal Day, Buskers & Special Concerts

(Wednesday, July 28, 2010) Halifax, NS - Metro Transit will offer extended service on the Alderney Ferry to accommodate citizens attending Natal Day Weekend celebrations, 2010 Halifax International Busker Festival and special concerts. The Woodside Ferry will offer regular service. Conventional bus routes will be supplemented as required by passenger demand.

The extended Alderney Ferry service includes:

Friday, July 30:

Regular weekday service*

Saturday, July 31:

6:30 am - 2:00 pm (every 30 minutes)

2:00 pm - 12:00 am (every 15 minutes)*

Sunday, August 1:

10:00 am - 12:00 am (every 30 minutes)*

Monday, August 2:

7:30 am - 12:15 pm (every 30 minutes)

12:15 pm - 6:15 pm (every 15 minutes)*

6:15 pm - 12:00 am (every 30 minutes)

Friday, August 6:

6:30 am - 7:00 am (every 30 minutes)

7:00 am - 9:30 am (every 15 minutes)

9:30 am - 12:00 pm (every 30 minutes)

12:00 pm - 10:00 pm (every 15 minutes)*

10:00 pm - 12:00 am (every 30 minutes)

Saturday, August 7:

6:30 am - 2:00 pm (every 30 minutes)

2:00 pm - 12:00 am (every 15 minutes)*

Sunday, August 8:

10:00 am - 12:00 am (every 30 minutes)*

Sunday, August 15:

10:00 am - 7:30 pm (every 30 minutes)*

*Service frequency will be adjusted as needed to meet passenger demand.

For more information on Metro Transit bus and ferry services, visit www.halifax.ca/metrotransit.

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Contact : Tiffany Chase

Metro Transit 902.490.5057

Barrington Street Planer Patching - Phase 1

(Tuesday, June 1, 2010) - Commencing today, Tuesday, June 1st and continuing through until Friday, June 4th (weather permitting) there will be road construction taking place on Barrington Street, from Prince Street to Sackville Street. During this time there will be stop and go traffic between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. Motorists should expect delays and are requested to find alternate routes if possible. HRM apologizes in advance for any inconvenience these delays may cause.

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Halifax North Common Electrical Building Construction

May 19, 2010 - Beginning today, the Halifax Regional Municipality will be carrying out construction work on the Halifax North Common near the corner of Cogswell Street and North Park Street. This is the first phase of the North Common park improvements approved by Council earlier this year.

The work means permanent power for special events such as concerts and the Canada Games Long Track Skating Oval and involves the construction of a small building to house electrical equipment. Power will be brought to the site, underground, from the median on Cogswell Street.

Work will be carried out over a nine-week period and is expected to be completed mid-July 2010. HRM will work to minimize the impact of construction in this busy area. However, during the course of construction, parking on the westbound side of Cogswell Street will be restricted and a portion of the public sidewalk on the north side of Cogswell Street will be closed. As the work

progresses, there will be lane closures on Cogswell Street. Additional announcements will be issued about the closures once the dates have been determined.

For additional information visit http://www.halifax.ca/RealPropertyPlanning/Common.html

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Contacts:

Deanna Wilmshurst

HRM Infrastructure and Asset Management - Communications

phone: 490-1454; email wilmshd@halifax.ca

Carolle Koziak Roberts

Infrastructure & Asset Management - Real Property Planning

Ph (902) 490-1037; email robertsc@halifax.ca

Public Gardens Geese Named!

total of 171 ballots were entered.

Winner: Name of Girl Goose "Flora" submitted by Cheyenne Hardy, Dartmouth, age 9.

Winner: Name of Boy Goose "Finnegan" submitted by Sylvia Driscoll-Sangster, Halifax, age 10.

Each winner will receive a gift certificate from Uncommon Kids and a personally autographed copy of Gracie the Public Gardens Duck.

The consolation prize, drawn at random from all entries, is a felt goose donated by Uncommon Kids, and goes to Cole Norris, Spryfield, age 9.

Arrangements are underway for a presentation to the winners. Announcement to follow.

HRM Central Library Moves into Design Phase

(March 31, 2010) - Regional Council voted last evening in favour of two motions that will allow the Central Library to move forward.

Regional Council approved a funding strategy to finance HRM’s portion of the cost to build the Central Library. Core funding has already been committed by the federal government through the Build Canada fund in the amount of $18.3 million, and the government of Nova Scotia in the amount of $13 million. HRM’s funding contribution is $23.7 million. Under the funding strategy, HRM’s portion of the Central Library project will be primarily generated through the sale of lands adjacent to the Central Library site - parking lots on Queen Street and Clyde Street. Total project funding from all three levels of government is $55 million.

Last evening, Regional Council approved a recommendation to award the tender for Architectural Consulting Services to Fowler Bauld & Mitchell Ltd. - the highest scoring of four proposals reviewed by the selection committee.

“This is a vote of confidence in our downtown,” said Mayor Peter Kelly. “It will boost revitalization efforts, increase the commercial tax base and ultimately stimulate growth of the local and regional economy.”

Fowler Bauld & Mitchell (FBM) will be the primary point of contact for the project’s design phase for staff from HRM and Halifax Public Libraries. They are a well established local architectural firm in practice in Atlantic Canada since 1917 with recent experience in public building architectural consulting including Citadel High School, Dalhousie University’s new academic building and the Cobequid Community Health Centre.

The FBM team includes Schmidt Hammer Lassen, a highly regarded European firm with a history of on-time and on-budget delivery. Schmidt Hammer Lassen has designed libraries and public spaces of similar scope in Denmark, the UK, Norway and Sweden..

“With the contribution of other levels of government we have an unprecedented opportunity to build a library that meets the needs of its users and contributes to the vibrancy of the downtown,” said Leo McKenna, chair of the board, Halifax Public Libraries. “With Fowler Bauld & Mitchell’s emphasis on public and stakeholder consultation combined with a comprehensive design period, we are confident that we will build a central library to take HRM well into the future.”

With the contract for architectural design services awarded, an in-depth public consultation and architectural design development process will begin. HRM, Halifax Public Libraries and the architects will immediately begin developing a plan. Details will be shared and implementation will begin this spring.

Visit www.halifax.ca/facilities/ProposedCentralLibrary.html or www.halifaxcentrallibrary.ca for more information.

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Contact(s):

Mayor Peter Kelly
490-4010

Shaune MacKinlay
HRM Public Affairs
490-6531

Marlo MacKay
Halifax Public Libraries
490-5852

Final Report on Future Use of Khyber Building Released

(Monday, March 15, 2010) - The final report, prepared by the consulting firm TCI Management Ltd., which analyzes the costs and benefits of five potential operating scenarios for 1588 Barrington Street (also commonly known as the "Khyber Building") is now available.

The report can be accessed online at http://www.halifax.ca/crca/FeasibilityReport.html. Copies are also available at the Bloomfield Centre (2786 Agricola Street); at the Khyber Building (1588 Barrington Street); or by calling 490-4083. The public survey results on the draft report and potential operating scenarios are also available online at http://www.halifax.ca/crca/FeasibilityReport.html or in hard copy upon request at 490-4083.

The next stage in this review will be the presentation of a staff report to Regional Council. Upon review, Regional Council will decide upon a preferred operating scenario and future plan for the Building. The staff report will be available on HRM’s website.

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Christine Lavoie,

Team Lead, HRM Culture and Heritage Development

490-1989, lavoiec@halifax.ca

A letter from HMCS Halifax's Captain - Why attending the Halifax 4 Haiti Concert is important!

Dear Councilor Sloane

Thank you for the kind message you posted on the ship's website. I am very happy to report that the ship's company of HMCS HALIFAX are doing superb work ashore and are providing much needed relief to the people of Jacmel. Just yesterday, one of our projects was completed: a 10 000 litre water bladder for a neighbourhood severely devastated by the quake. My work parties finished the platform - a week's work for a team of 10 - and the NGO "Save the Children" immediately installed and filled the bladder. When I walked by about an hour later, a set of six taps had been connected and the locals were filling their containers to take back "home". A great feeling of accomplishment and a demonstration that we are definitely doing something good.

I have engaged the Navy Public Affairs staff to ensure that the city of Halifax maintains visibility on their namesake ship while deployed in Haiti. Thanks to your note informing me of various fundraisers soon to take place in Halifax, I was able to participate in the Q104/KOOL FM telethon, and have prepared a short video to be showed at this weekend's event at the Metro Centre.

Until we return, keep visiting the website for daily updates on our progress.

Warm regards,

JK
M.T.J. Kurtz
Commander / Capitaine de frégate
Commanding Officer / Commandant
HMCS / NCSM HALIFAX

HRM Opens Service Dog Exercise Facility

(Thursday, July 30, 2009) - The Service Dogs of Halifax now have a place to safely exercise in a unique, accessible off-leash dog run at the corner of Rainnie Drive and Cogswell Street, adjacent to Centennial Pool.

“It is important that hard-working service dogs get a chance to exercise and have some off-leash down time, like any other dog. The creation of this small exercise facility will provide a safe, place for me to take my guide dog without the worry of losing track of her, like I might in a big park. It’s also easy to get here by bus,” said Helen McFadyen, Chair of HRM’s Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities.

An estimated 75-80 registered, professionally- trained service dogs provide assistance to people with disabilities in the Halifax Regional Municipality. They include; guide dogs for the blind, ‘hearing’ dogs for the Deaf (which alert to bells, knocking, and alarms), seizure alert dogs for people with epilepsy, and ‘special skills’ dogs trained to perform specific tasks for a person according to their disability or medical condition.

While there are other types of working animals in common use, such as dogs for drug, arson, and explosive detection by RCMP and police, or for Search and Rescue or guarding work, those dogs have access to other venues for exercise. The new Service Dog Exercise Facility offers a centrally-located, fenced area where service dogs can safely be off-leash and still remain close to their handlers.

HRM responded to a request brought forward by the Advisory Committee for a designated exercise area for service dogs.

“HRM has responded to a request for a designated exercise area for service dogs that is safe for the dogs and accessible to their handlers,” said. Blair Blakney, Capital Projects Parks Coordinator. “Preliminary research leads us to believe that this may be one of the first dog runs in North America designed and designated specifically for use by service dogs.”

The Service Dog Exercise Run will be open year-round, daily beginning early next week once signs are in place.
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Contact:

Helen McFadyen, Chair of HRM’s Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, 454-4834

Shaune MacKinlay, Manager, Public Affairs, Halifax Regional Municipality, 490-6531

Gottingen Terrace Information

Check out the Design & Prices!

Tax Reform 2010

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