NEWS

Hello neighbours! Happy African Heritage month!

Sorry for the late email this month, I’ve been holding off waiting on some public hearings to be announced and engagements to be confirmed, but there is nothing on the board yet for the month! I think February really is for snow days and hot chocolate, and not meeting on planning or other issues. There is one first look at a proposed redevelopment on Almon Street, see details below.

Next month Moving Forward (the new transit plan), will have a new draft available, and the long awaited Integrated Mobility, Green Network, and Centre Plan public engagements will be announced. So, enjoy this time off, because it will get really busy next month and into summer!

Since today is a snow day for many folks, let me share the service HRM standards with you. Keep in mind it stopped snowing around 10am today.

SERVICE STANDARDS

P1 Roads: 3 hour turnaround times and clear 12 hours following end of snowfall.

P2 Roads: Center line cuts for access after 10cm accumulation and cleared within 24 hours following the end of snowfall.

P1: Main Arterial Sidewalks, cleared within 12 hours following end of snowfall.

P2: Transit Sidewalks, cleared but snow covered within 18 hours following end of snowfall.

P3: Local Sidewalks, cleared but snow covered within 36 hours from end of snowfall.

Not sure what priority level your street is? Click this link http://www.halifax.ca/Snow/StreetPriorityFinder.php

PUBLIC MEETING

Midtown North Development Idea Fair

Feb 24, 2016 3-5pm and again at 6-8pm |Maritime Hall, Halifax Forum

This is a developer lead meeting – “Westwood Development will be hosting an Ideas Fair for a large site at the corner of Almond and Robie Streets. The project is called Midtown North and it offers a significant development opportunity in the North End of Halifax. Please share your big ideas and tell us what you’d like to see here. The developer is interested to hear from everyone: residents, start-ups, small businesses, community groups and organizations.” To RSVP please visithttp://wspengage.civicly.io/midtown-north

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Downtown Dartmouth Food Crawl

February 12, 2016 5-7pm| Downtown Dartmouth

The talented chefs of Downtown Dartmouth are getting ready for the second annual Food Crawl. Bring a group of friends and try out the many different locations offering delicious food specials – all $10 or under. For more information, please visithttps://www.facebook.com/events/1503058293336096/

Halifax and West Community Council

February 17, 2016 6pm | Halifax Council Chambers

The next meeting of the Halifax and West Community Council will take place on Wednesday, February 17th at 6pm in Council Chambers at City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street. Please visithttp://www.halifax.ca/commcoun/west/ for Council agenda and minutes.

African Heritage Month

February is African Heritage Month and you can celebrate at a variety of events happening around the region. For a full listing of events, please visit https://ansa.novascotia.ca/african-heritage-month. Below are a few highlights:

An Evening Celebrating Black Women in Canada

February 11, 2016 6-8:30pm | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

Come out for a special evening of storytelling and music in celebration of the indefatigable spirit of black women in Canada. This free event will be hosted by spoken word activist and Halifax’s Poet Laureate 2013-15 El Jones. For more information and to register for the event, please visitwww.celebrateblackhistory.ca

African Heritage Month: Community Music Showcase

February 17, 2016 7pm | Halifax Central Library

A celebration featuring stars from the local African Nova Scotian music community. For more information, please visit www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca

African Dance and Drum Workshop

February 20 2016 2:30pm | Bedford Public Library

Annual African Heritage Month Service and Reception

February 28, 2016 10:45am| Cornwallis Street Baptist Church

Coldest Night of the Year 2016

February 20, 2016 4-8pm | St. Andrew’s United Church

The Coldest Night of the Year is Out Of the Cold’s annual family-friendly five-kilometre walk to raise money for The Ark. Ark is a drop-in centre for street-involved and homeless youth aged 16-24 that offers daily meals, showers, laundry facilities, and support services. Please visit www.coldestnightoftheyear.org/locations/ark for more information or to sign up a team. All ages are welcome.

Winterlude: Fine Arts Parents Associations (FAPA) Fundraiser

February 27, 2016 2-4pm | Dalhousie SUB

FAPA’s annual major fundraiser, Winterlude, features a musical performance, basket auction and dance and is a celebration and showcase of the vocal and instrumental talents of the Halifax All-City Music program. The event is to raise funds to support the All City Music programs with workshops, scholarships, instruments, and more. For further information, please email FAPAhrm@gmail.com

Activities on the Oval

There are so many great reasons to visit the oval this winter season! The new pavilion building is officially open and offers free skate, helmet, and snowshoe rentals, washrooms, and a place to warm up. There are public skates daily, so check out the activities schedule to plan your visitwww.halifax.ca/skateHRM