By Councillor Iona Stoddard
Welcome February – where we will have a chance to celebrate African Heritage Month and Heritage Day commemorating the military achievements of William Hall.
African Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich culture, achievements, and contributions of African Nova Scotians and communities of African descent in our region. This year’s African Heritage Month provincial theme, Our Smiles, Our Joy, Our Resilience as African Nova Scotians, outlines the spirit of perseverance that people of African Descent have demonstrated over the centuries. Check out bccns.com/ahmposter/ or your library to find opportunities to celebrate.
Municipal Budget
We are beginning the discussions around the 2024/25 municipal budget. Over the next few months, we will be closely reviewing each department’s budget in preparation for a final budget approval in April. Visit halifax.ca/budget to confirm the schedule, find out how you can give your feedback, and more about the process.
Housing Accelerator Fund
The Housing Accelerator Fund is a new federal funding program for municipalities to increase the housing supply. Regional Council applied for $79.3 million in funding in June and the Federal Government requested we implement several initiatives in order to qualify including increasing height and floor area ratio in residential, corridor, and centre zones, increasing density near universities, removing more minimum parking requirements, and more. You can find more information on our website.
Snow Clearing and Parking
Help us to get the streets cleared as quickly as possible, make sure to think before you park. Our winter parking ban can be enforced from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. during severe weather or snow clearing. Stay updated with the hfxALERT app or check out @Hfxgov on Twitter (X) for service updates.
Our snow clearing prioritizes main roads, bus routes, hospitals, and schools, but we work as quickly as possible to clear all areas for safe travel. Visit halifax.ca/snow for your area’s clearing timelines.
Community Grants Program
Our Community Grants Program is open for applications from registered non-profits until April 1, 2024. The program provides annual program or capital grants to registered non-profit organizations and charities. Access application forms at our Customer Service Centers or through our website.
*I would like to issue an apology for an error in the November issue of my Parkview News article that stated I was attending a Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Japanese War Memorial instead of the Korean War Memorial. I apologize for any confusion or offense this may have caused.
