This update was posted in the morning of April 28, 2020. The situation is changing by the hour. Please check the Canada, Nova Scotia and Halifax websites for the most up to date information.

You can also check out my COVID-19 resources, with information on current Government Response, Individuals & Families, Business as well as Links to Resources including key social media to follow.

Hi all, sorry for the delay in this newsletter. I was pretty flat out yesterday and just couldn’t get to a newsletter before I stopped for the day. It was the kind of day where I was very pleased Xtreme Pizza is delivering and takes payment online!

Two non-coronavirus items first:

HRM is pleased to announce that Sue Goyette will become the municipality’s eighth Poet Laureate. Sue will officially begin her three-year term tomorrow, April 29, as an ambassador and advocate for literacy, literature and the arts. I met Sue years ago when we were on a CBC panel early one morning in the old Studio H about the “future of Halifax” to talk about arts and culture. She is great, and I am really excited about her appointment. More here: https://halifax.ca/recreation/arts-culture-heritage/poet-laureate

Halifax Regional Council meets today (April 28) for a Virtual Regional Council meeting starting at approx. 1 p.m. The agenda & link to the live stream can be found here: https://halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/april-28-2020-halifax-regional-council-special-meeting then:

Click “Regional Council Live Webcast”

Click “Watch on the web instead”

Click “Join anonymously”

Thursday and Friday this week will see a lot of moving trucks coming in and out of the district, as it is one of our two “student moving days.” I raised the concern about movers and folks not being able to maintain 2m distance with the province several weeks ago, and at this point Public Health has not issued any additional orders or guidance.

HRM is aware that there could be more (illegal) garbage curbside than ever and is geared up to handle that, this year it is garbage collection on Monday. I have noted a lot of families coming over the last month to collect their university age adults, a lot of mums and dads with masks and gloves and concerned looks trying to get their kids home, so I hope that we don’t see all that much in terms of mess and congestion. Given social distancing requirements residents need to think about how they are going to walk around their neighbourhoods on Thursday and Friday.

Applications for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy are now open. Eligible employers will receive a subsidy of up to 75% of an employee’s weekly earnings for up to 12 weeks. Learn more: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-wage-subsidy/cews-how-apply.html

COVID-19 results should be 48-72 hour turnaround. Public Health let us know that if you are waiting longer than that call 902-481-5800 PRESS 9 and leave a message on the COVID line. Include full name, health card number, date of birth, date/location of testing and your phone number. They should be able to get back to you on the same day.

Heritage Gas has work in District 7 on Jubilee Road (between Cambridge and Oxford) starting next week. Heritage Gas and HRM agree it is in the best interest of the public to complete this work now while the state of emergency is in place due to high traffic volumes and impact on the busy intersection. The decreased volumes will allow Heritage Gas to complete the work during a weekday period. Work is 4 days starting Tuesday May 5. One lane of traffic to be maintained at all times; traffic signals at Jubilee/Oxford to be turned off during work.

Additional road closures to be aware of are Pepperell between Vernon and Robie and Blowers between Argyle and Barrington.

Finally I thought this video was lovely and I wanted to share it with you: