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Volume 3 Issue 1 January 2016

Happy New Year from the Eastern Shore Cooperator!

The Puck Stops Here - Peewee Mariners Goalie Oliver Bray

Photo By Janice Hill Bray

www.easternshorecooperator.ca

Surfs Up

Extended lane & 1 side of bridge on Hwy 107 by Exit 18 (Phase 1) is

completed. Phase 2 (other side of bridge) fixed in 2016.

Seacoast Physiotherapy has reopened across from Twin Oaks

A new Eastern Shore Junior C hockey team for 2016/17?

Conrads Beach Boardwalk should be fixed by end of February

Surfs Down

A new Birches announcement is delayed indefinitely.

Students at Eastern Shore District High upset at lack of parking

Musquodoboit Valley Co-op closes for good

Littering along Hwys 7 and 107 is bad no matter what season

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News

A new rural vision for HRMs towns and villages

By Councillor Waye Mason District 7 Halifax South Downtown
While I am proud of the 2014 Regional Plan, it is not perfect, and the area I feel needs the most work is the way
the regional plan talks about rural development.
The language used in the plan creates division and confusion. The myth of rural lifestyle does not match the
reality of rural development today. Because of these
two things, rural Halifax has no idea what kind of development could be coming at them.
Rural Halifax is considered to be the area that is largely
beyond of city water or sewer, and has historically developed in a rural form, where towns were largely distinct
fishing and sometimes transportation or logging communities with their own jobs, history and identity.
We are not the only place where language that creates
that stops us from having meaningful discussion about
rural development. Ruth Miller at UC Berkley wrote an
article called Rejecting the Narrow Framework of
Urban Planning. She said that when planners call
themselves urban and city planners it excludes rural.
Another great article from 2013 said it all in its title,
How To Talk About Cities Without Ticking Off Folks Who
Don't Live There and was subtitled Because smart
growth can sound like code for the rest of you are
dumb.
In Halifax instead of a city service boundary we have
an urban service boundary, we have a Rural District
Growth Centre instead of a town, Rural Service Centre
instead of village, Rural Local Centre instead of hamlet.
This language keeps people from easily understanding
what is planned for where they live.
My second point is that the power of the myth of rural
lifestyle does not match the reality of rural development.

The problem is that most of the development is actually

exurban (or farthest suburban) growth, which is very
low density development that is auto dependent and is
entirely differently from the historic rural pattern.
So this is my third point for the most part both city
dwellers and rural dwellers have no idea what could be
coming at rural Halifax.

The regional plan calls for up to 25% of growth to happen in rural HRM. Most of that growth will happen close
in to the city and most of it will be this exurban style development. Maybe 12,000 or more dwellings maybe
25,000 or more people. I am not saying all development
in this model is wrong, but we sure are planning to enable a lot of it.
Were the planning is not adequate is in the towns and
villages. We should be planning for walkable community
forms in these centres. Why are we encouraging exurban growth that is swamping the historic communities
of HRM? Why cant we build or expand satellite towns
and villages with appropriate rural design. Rather than a
new urbanism, lets talk about a new ruralism!
It is not too late to make sure we get this right when the
next review of the regional plan happens in 2019. What
matters is getting it right and building sustainable, complete rural communities we can all enjoy.

We need you to send us articles, pictures,

stories, etc from around your community
EMAIL to:
escsubmissions@eastlink.ca

Content

Page

News.....................................................3, 4, & 5
New East River Bridge...........................................6

During our two year debate around RP5 we heard over

and over again from Rural Councillors and rural interests
that they just wanted to be left alone and that they were
tired of the city dictating what could be built in their
communities.

Community.....................................................................7

When we talk about rural development rural residents

are justifiably angry that their community will be bossed
around by the city. They dont want to be told how to
grow their village or town and dont want to lose opportunities to grow their communities.

History...11

Local Sports...........8 & 9

Opinions..............10

Councillors January Communiqu...........................12

Community............13 & 14
January Events PIN IT Up .............................................15

Easternshorecooperator.ca

News

www.easternshorecooperator.ca

Next Round Coming Up In Cell Phone Tower Fight

By Richard Bell
To fight Eastlinks tower, local residents set up the
Facebook group Stop Tower Scapes, and began vigorously organizing, including creating an anti-tower
poster and paying for highway signs with the poster.

Bell Atlantic will be throwing the next punch in January

in the seemingly never-ending fight by phone companies
to locating cell towers on or near the famous beaches of
Lawrencetown.
The rules of this fight are heavily titled in the direction of
phone companies. In Canada, the federal governments
Industry Canada - Spectrum Management & Telecommunications has complete control over the licensing and
location of cell phone towers,
In a toothless sop to the concept of public input, Industry Canada does allow municipalities to conduct a
public consultation process. In Halifax, phone companies must go through a Telecommunications Application process. In most cases, HRM will hold a public consultation. Then HRM staff reviews the application and
submits recommendations to the local Community
Council. The Community Council in turn sends its recommendations on to Industry Canada. But heres the kicker:
Industry Canada is free to completely ignore the Community Councils recommendation.
Bell is following in the footsteps of another telecom
heavyweight, Eastlink, which started fighting in January
2011 to locate a 76.5 metre tower at 185 Leslie Road in
Lawrencetown. HRM staff and what was then the Marine Drive, Valley and Canal Community Council recommended against the Leslie Road site.

On March 31, 2014, a new contender jumped into the

ring. Bell Atlantic submitted an application for a 75metre tower off Three Fathom Harbour Road in Three
Fathom Harbour. Bell said demands from summer
visitors were straining local capacity, especially with regard to 911 emergency calls. Bell offered to also solve
Eastlinks problem by sharing its tower with its competitor.
On October 29th, 2015, the Harbour-East Marine Drive
Community Council finally held a public consultation on
Bells application. Bells consultant said the growth in
traffic, especially during the summer, was straining its
network and raising concerns about 911 coverage for
cell phones.

Opponents countered with many of the same concerns

that had floored Eastlink in the two previous rounds,
starting with the intrusive effect that a tower would
have along a coastline celebrated for its beauty. There
were also concerns that the tower would cause a drop in
property values, and questions about the adequacy of
existing regulations against electromagnetic radiation.
The next round in this fight starts no later than January
12th, the deadline for Bells response to the concerns
raised at the public hearing. HRM staff will then prepare
a report with recommendations to send to the HarbourEast Marine Drive Community Council, which will in turn
send its recommendation on to Industry Canada.
For updates about the status of this fight, see the Facebook page Stop Tower Scapes. The HRM Planning page
for the Bell proposal (Case # 19207) is located at
http://www.halifax.ca/planning/applications/
Case19207Details.php.

Liberals Delaying Plan for Replacing The Birches

By Richard Bell
The Liberal provincial government continues to delay
settling the future of The Birches Home for Special
Care. Last summer, Health and Wellness Minister Leo
Glavine announced that the department would issue an
RFP for bids to replace The Birches and operate the new
facility.
But Glavine has now retreated from what was shaping
up to be a controversial move. In an interview, Audrey Engbersen, the executive director of The
Birches, said she had been told that the government
was not going to put out an RFP at all.

Industry Canada responded by asking for further dialogue between Eastlink and HRM. Eastlink then proposed another site, off Crowell Road, Once again, HRM
staff and the Community Council opposed this site. Commenting on the Crowell Road site, HRM staff wrote:

The Cooperator submitted two questions to Minister

Glavine: first, was his department going to issue an RFP
to replace The Birches; and second, if not, what were
the components and timeline for an alternative plan for
replacing the aging facility

Staff is of the opinion that Eastlink has not identified an

alternative to the originally proposed Leslie Road site
that is less intrusive on the community values sought to
be protected, as the proposed Crowell Road site is on a
higher contour of land and closer to the Lawrencetown
Road and beach. Staff believes the tower is not compatible with the community character, that the scenic views
are materially adversely affected and that the landscape
aesthetics are diminished by a visual incursion in the unobstructed scenic view.

In response to these two questions, a spokesperson for

the department released the following statement on
January 6, 2016:
We know that The Birches has infrastructure needs,
and we are working with its management to assess
what those needs are. We anticipate the assessment
will be complete in the spring.

As The Cooperator reported in November (Are the Liberals Going to Privatize The Birches?), Glavines announcement meant that the nonprofit that has owned
and operated The Birches would be thrown into competition with out-of-province for-profit nursing home corporations. The potential privatization of The Birches
was consistent with the Liberals controversial proposals to privatize the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Land
Registry, and the Registry of Joint Stocks.
People can share their concerns about the fate of The
Birches by contacting Health and Wellness Minister Leo
Glavine at (toll-free in Nova Scotia) 1-800-387-6665.

Eastern Shore Cooperator

Twitter: @escooperator
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/easternshorecooperator
Web site:
www.easternshorecooperator.ca

News

Porters Lake C&D Dump Reaches Ottawa

By Richard Bell
The controversy over the proposed rezoning of a site on
Highway 7 in Porters Lake for use as a construction and
demolition processing site has now reached the halls of
Parliament in Ottawa.
In his first major remarks before Parliament on December 8, 2015, newly elected Liberal MP Darrell Samson
(Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook) specifically mentioned
the issue. In his speech, he said that wanted to talk
about five key issues related to the recent throne
speech, one of which was a clean economy and a strong
economy.
Samson then noted that the two main environmental
issues that are important in my riding are the Lake Echo
dumping site and the Fall River quarry projects. In both
cases my constituents feel that these projects will have a
negative impact on their lives. What kind of pollution
will it bring? What effect will it have on the water, property value, noise, etc.?
Samson did not answer his own rhetorical questions. But
Deb Day, the chair of Concerned Residents of Porters
Lake, Lake Echo, Preston and Mineville, said that while
the organization had not yet met with Samson, they
were very pleased to hear Samson express their concerns on the national stage.
We havent heard anything from the city about the rezoning appeal, Day said. But her members have been
busy digging up stories about problems with C&D sites in
other places, both in the province and in the U.S. For
example, it took a total of 11 fire departments and 2 million gallons of water to bring a fire under control at a
C&D site in Pictou County between August 5 and August
16, 2010.
Day said that as Concerned Residents has learned more
about the multiple problems C&D sites can produce,
they have become increasingly convinced that it is time
for a comprehensive C&D plan involving all 3 levels of
government.
We would like to get municipal, provincial and federal
authorities working together to develop a strategic perspective on how to deal with C&D waste, Day said. We
need a strategy that benefits everyone, the whole province, not just HRM.
For more information about the controversy, there is a
Facebook page (Concerned Residents of Porters Lake,
Lake Echo, Preston & Mineville), a website
(www.nodumponhwy7.org), a Twitter account
(www.twitter.com/nodumponhwy7), and an email address, concernedresidentshwy7@gmail.com.

UPDATE from Concerned Residents via Facebook

Here is an update for those who could not make it to the
Informal Community Conversation on January 12

3. Please don't stop writing the letters. We can even do

that after the Public Meeting occurs.
HERE IS THE IMPORTANT THING:

1. HRM municipal planners are hoping to schedule their

Public Meeting some time February/March. We will be
posting information here, through our website, and
email list as soon as we have the dates.
2. The municipal planners had requested additional information from Kiann Management. Those documents
are expected to be posted on the HRM website with the
other documents pertaining to the application. Again,
we will let you know.

T
H
A
N
K
Y
O
U

When the meeting date is announced, make your plans

to be there. Get your name on the list to speak, and
show up. If you can't, let us know. Your voice will never
be more important than at the Public Meeting and again
at the Community Council meeting when the vote occurs.

New East River Bridge

East River Bridges Celebrated

by Janice Christie
An estimated 500 people walked across the 60 year
old East River Bridge in Sheet Harbour to commemorate the closure and to celebrate the opening
of the new East River Bridge on December 17th.
The weather was perfect as residents of all ages including seniors, children and infants joined in this
community's historic event. All of the area's officials
were
Present: Senator Tom McInnis, MP Sean Fraser,
MLA Lloyd Hines, Councillor David Hendsbee, Sheet
Harbour and Area Chamber of Commerce President
Robert Moser, and Event Co-ordinators Susan
Boutilier and Jody Taker.
Prior to the official ribbon cutting the officials had
an opportunity to speak to offer congratulations
and praise to the residents, various levels of government and the construction workers at every level
Photos By Janice Christie

who successfully built the magnificent new bridge

described as a critical link for the Eastern Shore between Halifax and Cape Breton.
SHEET HARBOUR: East River Bridge Ceremony
Opening Remarks by Susan Boutilier
"At a suggestion from a local resident, the Sheet Harbour and Area Chamber of Commerce and Civic Affairs
were pleased to lead a committee to organize a walk
and celebration to commemorate the opening of the
new bridge. I am delighted to have you here to participate and thank you all for coming.
After requesting and receiving permission to name the
latest bridge, the overwhelming response was to have it
remain the same The East River Bridge.It will be sad to
see the steel-arch of the almost 60 year old current
bridge, with its engineering ties to the Angus L MacDonald in Halifax and the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver, disappear, but the new bridge, for safety

considerations, is a much needed successor and has

been designed for a 75 year service life. With the total
cost of the project being approximately $19 million, it
has brought work into the area which has helped our
local economy.
I am happy to welcome our own Senator Tom McInnis,
our newly-elected Member of Parliament Sean Fraser,
our MLA the Honorable Lloyd Hines, Minister of Natural
Resources and our Councillor David Hendsbee, Halifax
District #2, Mr. Ed Tawill, Project Coordinator for Dexter
Construction and Mr. Tim Jordan, Project Engineer with
the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
Renewal.
So let us celebrate both bridges as we walk across the
old one to say Goodbye, and then the new one to say
Welcome.

Community
Local Refugee Sponsor Still Waiting
By Richard Bell
The organizers of this falls effort to sponsor a refugee on the Eastern Shore are well on the way to
meeting their fundraising goal, and are hoping to be
able to select a family soon. But theyre concerned
about signs that the effort to meet the Prime Ministers goal of bringing in 25,000 Syrian refugees is
overwhelming the ability of the Immigration Department to service other refugee programs.

Blanchette had good news on this front as well:

The Superstore gave a donation in gift certificates
for food, Blanchette said, but they also said
theyre open to employing someone when the time
comes. And we heard from Murphys Campground
that theyd take someone on for their 21-week season this summer.

Weve raised almost three-quarters of our goal,

said Adrian Blanchette of the Musquodoboit Harbour St. Philip Neri Cath. Church & United Church of
Canada Refugee Sponsorship Committee. Were
working under the BVOR (blended visa officer referral) program. Immigration had been publishing a
weekly list of refugees whove been cleared for entry by the United Nations and by Canada. Thats the
list we would select from, but Immigration hasnt
published that list for over a month. Were worried
that immigration officers are so overwhelmed they
are ignoring the program were working in. [The
Cooperator asked the Immigration Department for
comment, but did not receive a reply.]

Blanchette said that one of the most remarkable

things about his groups experience was the absence of negative remarks, even after the recent
terrorist attacks in Paris and the U.S. I havent
heard a negative remark from anyone for weeks,
he said. All of the negative
vibes have gone away. We all
know there are millions of
displaced people out there,
we cant change that. But we
can change the world for one
family. We can inject a bit of
loving and caring in the
world, instead of bombing
them more efficiently.

But despite the slowdown, a family may arrive suddenly. Weve been told it could happen very
quickly, once youve put in an application, which
weve done, Blanchette said. I heard of one group
that found out their family was in the country when
they got a call telling them their family was at the
airport, just waiting for someone to come and pick
them up.

To volunteer or contribute,
send an email to shorefuge@gmail.com, or call 902889-3086. For more information, go to the groups webpage, https://
stphilipnerirefugeecommittee.wordpress.com.

Blanchette said that he was encouraged by the outpouring of support. All of our seven teams are up
and working on housing, clothing, furniture, and
personal effects. Weve found doctors and dentists
and eye doctors. Weve got an email list of 54 people whove signed up as volunteers. And Im getting
almost daily emails asking about how to donate.
Under the BVOR program, the sponsoring group has
to put up $29,700 to get a family of four through
their first year in Canada. But after that, families are
expected to support themselves.

Submissions
Deadline is
January 28
escsubmissions@eastlink.ca

Time to book your Annual Servicing now

that the cold weather is here again!
$116.99 includes nozzle and oil filter.

Local Sports

www.easternshorecooperator.ca

Eastern Shore High School Sports Scene

ESDH has a strong sports scene. Weve listed the schedules below in case you
would like to catch the action.

Girls Basketball Schedule

Home Games Played at ESDH Gym
January 22 at 6pm: Halifax Grammar @ Eastern Shore
February 1 at 6pm: Sacred Heart @ Eastern Shore
February 3 at 4:30pm: Eastern Shore @ Dartmouth
High
Playoffs Start February 8

Boys Basketball Schedule

Home games played at ESDH Gym
January 18 at 5:30pm: Armbrae @ Eastern Shore
January 19 at 5:30pm: Eastern Shore @ Sackville High
Playoffs Start February 1
Division 2 Boys Basketball standing as of January 8
Pts
Pts
Wins
Losses
against scored
Lockview
6
1
331
362
Grammar
4
1
166
228
Fountain
3
1
221
267
Armbrae
3
2
305
306
ESDHS
3
4
237
272
Cole Hbr.
1
4
298
241
Sackville
0
6
368
293

Boys Hockey Schedule

Home Games on Wednesday 7pm at ES Arena
January 17 at 1pm All Star Game @ Sack Arena
January 20 at 7pm: Lockview @ Eastern Shore
February 4 at 5pm: Eastern Shore @ Cole Hbr
Playoffs Start in February

ESDHS Sports Photos by Jill Bellefontaine: Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Basketball ,
bottom photo: Sledge Hockey ESDHS vs Halifax Grinders

Local Sports - In The Rink

Eastern Shore Mariners Peewee A wins GOLD at the

Bluenose 50th Anniversary Tournament in Amherst.
The team was undefeated in their 4 games, outscoring
the opposition 37-5.
The PWA team will be competing in the International
PW tournament in Quebec in February. Have Fun!!

Madisyn Dominix, Age 5

This is Madys 2nd year involved in the Eastern Shore IP
ALL Girls Minor Hockey League
and she absolutely loves it!!
Special thanks to all the
Coaches

Jackson St-Hilaire of the Eastern Shore Atom A Mariners

Photo By Michele Henneberry.

We would love to publish your sports photos. Please

send to escsubmissions@eastlink.ca or send via our
facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/easternshorecooperator/
We are always interested in
sports stories as well, past or
present.
Please contact us if you are
interested in helping to
cover sports along the Shore

Opinions

10

www.easternshorecooperator.ca

Association for the Preservation of the Eastern Shore: Response to New Aquaculture Regulations
By Wendy Watson Smith
The provincial government cannot continue to say that
the recently presented aquaculture regulations, as they
refer to ocean based salmon/trout feedlots, reflect the
implementation of the Doelle-Lahey report. The Doelle Lahey report was a comprehensive report that was built
with extensive input of all parties affected by this industry.
From the start of the writing of these regulations the
spirit of the Doelle-Lahey report has not been implemented. The Doelle-Lahey report called for an ongoing
Regulatory Advisory Committee that included coastal
communities. Coastal communities are not represented
on this committee. We are the people who have to live
with the destructive nature of this industry. We are the
communities who are left with dead zones in our harbours, and whose lobster and wild catch fishery is displaced. The few, part-time low paid jobs are all that we
can expect from this industry. Our communities have a
vision of development that includes the lucrative lobster
and shellfish fishery and tourism that are dependent on
a pristine environment.

The minister states that there is more transparency in

the new regulations, but the requirements for a public
meeting is the same as the old regulations whereby a
proponent, along with the government come in and tells
us what they are going to do. This is not what we consider to be meaningful consultation.
The new regulations have missed the basic premise that
there had to be a fundamental overhaul of the regulations which took the concerns of citizens at face value.
In the Doelle/Lahey proposals there was the ability for
communities to have input into the licensing, enforcement, and monitoring process, including revocation of
leases. Communities would have been part of the assessment of whether there was a net community socioeconomic benefit from the proposed operation. This is
not the case in the governments new regulations. In the
Doelle -Lahey proposal there was to be an assessment of
the applied for site that was to be much like an environmental impact study. This is missing.

The regulations are based on the industry regulating itself, and communities will still be in the dark when it
comes to disease outbreaks, medications and antibiotics
used, escapees of feedlot salmon into the wild, and
stocking densities."
Tax payers in our communities will still be heavily subsidizing an industry that destroys our harbours, threatens
the lobster and wild catch industry, tourism and our
clean waters.
Wendy Watson Smith
Association for the Preservation of the Eastern Shore
Spokesperson
Contact:
wendy.watsonsmith@gmail.com
902 225-9896 or 902 477-0918

FUTURE OF THE SHORE response to Jean McKenna's comments

By Sue Higgs
You say the CCVA haven't been secretive. Then how
come I'd never heard of the Association until I read
about it in The Cooperator?
You say Mr Bell is using scare tactics to frighten
people off the idea of a campus. But then, your own
words are You can be sure of one thing, if you listen to those opposed, there will be no new
school... Isn't this a scare tactic? Or even a threat?
You say our community includes Grand Desert,
Chezzetcook and Porter's Lake. Then why do I need
transport to get to these areas from Musquodoboit
Harbour?
You ask the naysayers to envision seniors walking to
watch a game, use a fitness facility or meet in a
cafe. But they can do all of that now by using the
fitness centre at HRM, watching a game at the ice
rink across the road and visiting one of the many
cafes thriving in the Harbour and all within walking
distance.

You say this says it all I will not say where I am

from, that doesn't matter... But I think it matters a
great deal. It's usually people who don't live in the
community that have no interest in it's future.
Yes, these facilities need updating and/or replacing.
But please don't move them out of our village as I
fear it will begin the ringing of the death knell for
many local businesses run by local people. All of
whom count on passing trade from both directions
on the No. 7, including the lunchtime throng of
young people from the school.
Sue Higgs
Concerned Musquodoboit Harbour Resident

History

11

WHAT PART DID SILVER PLAY IN THE WELCOMING OF OUR ANCESTORS BABIES?
By Maelissa Watson
In this technological age, parents are not worried
about superstitions surrounding childbirth. The immediate christening of the baby, or christening the baby
at all, much less the supernatural signs or omens of
other eras. Their parents and grandparents were familiar with these beliefs. Still we are a part of all that
we have been. The Celtic (Scotch and Irish) pioneers
in Nova Scotia held many beliefs and customs that
date back several centuries from pagan times to midtwentieth century. A German writer said The past is
never dead, in fact its not even the past. These superstitions were followed in the Canadian Maritimes.
The Irish poem The Stolen Child by W.B.Yeats 18651939, memorializes the anxiety and fear of a child being lured to perpetual bliss in the fairy underground
magical world.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery hand in hand
For the worlds more full of weeping than you can understand.
Non-believers in Yeats mythology say it was crib
death, not being lured away by the fairies. Still non
believing mothers put an iron tongs over the babys
cradle to ward off spirits. The Scottish and the Irish
both worried about changelings. Changelings are
fairy babies that can be exchanged for the newborn,
hence the immediacy of having the baby baptized.
Unlike today, when we say what a beautiful baby, in
yesteryears, it was obligatory never to utter those
words in case the fairies overheard and came to steal
the baby. Furthermore, precautions were taken not to
move the baby from the house and to keep it hidden
from the fairies. In Scotland the cradle should be
made of rowan wood and have iron nails, as these
were amulets against magic.
In ancient Scotland there was the Howdie who assisted the mother prior to birth. The name stems from
an old Scottish term for handy woman. She also
functioned as a midwife and her role was to educate
the parents on the rituals that would keep mother
and baby safe. In the house, all mirrors had to be
turned with reflecting surface hidden so the babys
soul would not be captured by evil spirits. Baby
should be placed for its first sleep in a new cradle.
Give the mother an herbal cocktail of rowan berries

from the rowan tree which traditionally was considered sacred and warded off the Evil Eye and dark spirits. The Howdie must bury the afterbirth, and a tree
should be planted on that spot.
Giving the baby a silver coin was customary and designed to bring good luck. Observations were made
how the baby reacted, called hanselling. If the baby
grabbed the coin, he would become miserly, a
scrooge. If the baby dropped the coin he would be an
irresponsible spendthrift.
The emphasis on the christening mug and silver came
with the Victorians. The Protestant Reformation in
Scotland had disavowed pagan practices but the Victorians adopted the luck of silver and added it to wedding ceremony, a lucky sixpence in your shoe; coins
then were real silver. Silver spoons and cups were
considered something of value and a keepsake for the
baby. Hence we hear maxims such as he was born
with a silver spoon in his mouth, and it later embraced the middle class not just royalty and lairds.
This custom of giving sterling silver, silver baby

rattles, and teething rings where the baby left his

tooth print in the soft metal, were continued until mid
-twentieth century.
It is this writers opinion although not found documented, that the silver cup mirrored importance
placed on cups in ancient pagan rituals. Trust and
community bonds were reaffirmed when our ancestors drank from the communal cup. The Druids used
drinking vessels, the Scottish the Celtic Quaich, a shallow two-handed drinking cup. Northern Europeans
drank from an animal horn. The worlds most celebrated cup is the Holy Grail. Ancient historian translations claim that this was the cup used by Christ at
The Last Supper and later by Joseph of Armalthea to
catch Christs blood at the crucifixion. It features Arthurian myth and countless legends imbued it with its
great power. Should it be re-discovered at Oak Island, Nova Scotia, we may have occasion to examine
it. A baby who receives a christening cup as a gift reflects beliefs and customs from our ancient past.
These customs symbolize a bygone era of the luck of
silver, indeed, traditions of a bygone era of Canadian
life.

Community

13

Life and Death on City Council: A Vital Decision

By Wyn Jones
Some disconcerting facts for the New Year. We pay our
seventeen local HRM councillors on average a higher
salary than most other cities in Canada. But most of the
time, Council shows little sign of the forward, innovative
thinking we see in more progressive Canadian cities.
But oh my, get out of the way when the Council does
decide to act! Led by Councillor Linda Mosher (Halifax
West Armdale), our Councillors took up an issue this fall
thats been burning up (our stomachs) for decades:
What should be the OFFICIAL food for HRM?
As you may have heard, the Council in its infinite wisdom
chose to anoint the humble donair. It was a close call.
Only the heroic tie-breaking vote from Mayor Savage
saved us from the embarrassment of being an official
foodless city.
Like you, I felt a great heave of peristalsis sweep through
my innards at the elevation of the donair. I am hoping
that Councillor Mosher will follow up her legislative legerdemain by persuading Council to designate December
8th as Donair Day, with a statutory holiday on which
we can all stand around with sauce and grease running
through our fingers.
Because after all, the average donair does contain close
to four thousand calories, almost double the recommended total daily caloric intake for a healthy Nova Scotian. Add to that the extra sauce so beloved by donair
aficionados, and the calorie count heads for levels of
Please call 911 now proportions.

As I understand its noble history, the donair began life as

a simple, nourishing street meal in Turkey. The doner
kebab, as it is properly known, hit Nova Scotia shores in
the early 1970s. To suit the Nova Scotian craving for
sweetness, purveyors concocted a sauce by blending
together an unholy mix of evaporated milk, vinegar,
powdered garlic and sugar--the evaporated milk was just
not sweet enough.
But why choose the donair as our official food, you
might ask. This is a food item that has not travelled well
through the rest of Canada. The Montreal Smoked on
rye, The Peg perogie, even that other great concoction,
Le Poutine, have all become beloved across the land.
Some of the major fast food chains even include these
items as part of their Canadian menu content.

But not the donair. Why did we not consider the Lobster
Roll, or our delicious Fish Cakes, which have the advantage of supporting our local fishing industry as well as
being tasty and nutritious while still going well with a
beer al fresco?
If our Council fails to reach a consensus on anything else
over the next twelve months, we can abide happily in
knowing that the Donair is ours alone. We can only
suggest that once each year, preferably on Donair Day,
they can all bend proudly forward outside City Hall with
foil-wrapped donairs in hand, sauce running down their
chins, and accept the kudos they so richly deserve.

14

Community

Gerald Hardy Memorial Society celebrates 20 years

by Deanna Currie and Janice Christie

The Gerald Hardy Memorial Society celebrated

their 20 year anniversary with an Open House on
Saturday.
Among the many visitors and guests
were:
Back row L to R : Susan Foote, Linda Fleet, Gladys
Westhaver, Betty Ann Hartling, Debbie Zwicker,
George Hape, Janet McKinnon, Kenny McKinnon,
Christie Fraser and Bill Armsworthy.
Front Row : Alisa Jollymore, Ian Rafuse, Candice
MacKean, Deanna Currie and Gervaise Currie.
(Janice Christie photo)

The clients, staff and Board of Directors of The Gerald

Hardy Memorial Society were pleased to host an Open
House to celebrate twenty years of success recently in
Sheet Harbour. The celebrations began early in the day
with the opening of the Thrift Shop offering hourly specials. Cake and refreshments were offered to guests
from 1-3 pm.

GHMS is a member of DirectioNS Council for Vocational

Services Society which is a non profit organization representing 29 agencies through Nova Scotia, who assist
and support member organizations in delivery of services promoting abilities and inclusion of persons with
disabilities in their everyday activities of their community.

For a fundraiser the Society partnered with Scotiabank

who sold tickets at the Bank during November. $1020
was raised of which $510 went to the lucky winner,
Susan V. Boutilier. Scotiabank matched the Society
amount of $510 bringing the Society's share to $1020.
Susan generously donated half her winnings back to the
Society. The Door prize of a Christmas Skate Hanging
decorated and beautifully made and donated by Kim
Kenney was won by Robin Kenney.

The Society is partially funded by Nova Scotia Department of Community Services; donations and through
social enterprise, Cascades Thrift Shop, contracts and
fundraising. The Society employs a fulltime manager,
Deanna Currie, and 2 part-time employees: Administrative Assistant, Christie Fraser and Program Assistant,
Alisa Jollymore.

The Gerald Hardy Memorial Society is a local charity incorporated in October 1995. It was named for a young
man, Gerald Hardy Jr. whose disability was the direct
result of a brain injury. GHMS is a non-profit organization offering social and work place skills and experience
to adults with intellectual disabilities and mental health
concerns. The mission of The Society is to assist adults
learn meaningful life skills within Society or through
community placements. There are currently eight clients
attending.
The Society began as the need was identified and interest of concerned families and residents at the closing of
the local chapter of Canadian Association for Community
Living. Its first home was in Bluewater Building.... moved
a few places in community and now is located at 22657
Hwy 7, Sheet Harbour.

Deanna has been with The Society since October 1,

1999. She attributes the success of the Society to clients
and former and present staff; along with the guidance of
the 10 member volunteer Board of Directors. Deanna
has witnessed much growth over the years of Society
and the development of clients abilities.
The Gerald Hardy Memorial Society proudly houses and
administers the Rainbow Food Bank, a much needed
service in the communities from Ship Harbour to Ecum
Secum. The Rainbow Food Bank, has been a member
agency of Feed Nova Scotia (formerly known as Metro
Food Bank) since 1996.
Throughout the years, clients have enjoyed learning
skills as cooking, sewing, making crafts, built garbage
boxes, fundraising, hosted card parties, daytrips to various venues from New Glasgow, Eastern Shore and Halifax and Dartmouth. All were activities that enriched
their lives immensely and prepared them to where the
Society has evolved today.
continued on page 15

January Pin It Up
Eastern Shore Garden Club meets the second
Tuesday of every month at the Lions Club, 89
East Chezzetcook Road at 7pm. All are welcome.

Musical Interlude Feb 14th 7:00 PM

(storm date Feb 21st)
St Denis Hall East Ship Harbour
Come on out and be entertained and enjoy delicious refreshments

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Group

Meeting, St. James Hall, Dolby Hill, Jeddore,
meets every Tuesday evening.
Weigh-in is from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.
Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.

Porters Lake Seniors Group

Wednesday 1:30pm in the Porter's Lake Community Centre. Music, games, etc. Everyone welcome! Contact: Ruth 902 827-2814.
LOVE TO DANCE?
Dance @ Petpeswick Yacht Club
featuring The "PROPHETS Band
Greating Dancing Classic Rock 60s, 70s &
80s
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Door & Bar Open: 8 pm Dance: 9 pm - 1 am
Tickets & Group Reservations: Paula @ 902
889 2435
$10/member & $15/non-member

Bingo every Monday @ 7:30 held at Sheet Harbour

Lions Centre, 183 Pool Rd.
Books 5.00, specials 1.00, cookie jar 2.00, jackpot and
Bonanza.
Canteen and gift cards. The Lions truly appreciate
your support.

15
Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers Market
Sundays 9am - 1pm
Winter Market (every 2 weeks until May)
January 24, February 7 & 21
67 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour at the Bingo Hall.
www.mhfarmersmarket.ca.
info@mhfarmersmarket.ca.
February 21 - Speedy Sunday
Workshops, a seed exchange, seed companies, prizes, and all
things gardening. Storm date next market March 6th.

First United Church Musquodoboit Harbour 2nd annual Memorial Hearts Event:
Service Feb.14,2016 @ 11:00am. ALL WELCOME.
To remember a family member, neighbour and/or
friend, register your memorial before Feb.7,2016.
For more information contact:
Edyth Shuman 902-889-2802
Melvin/Bonita Day 902-889-2884
Marion Worthing 902-889-2600
Don/Marina Withers 902-889-2874
Brenda Baker 902-845-2299
Phil Muirhead 902-889-2096

FREE Community Listings Page Submit your event on our new web site under events
Deadline January 28 for paper, anytime for online. Paper & Online - more info about the event online.
Updated List of community events on our web site www.easternshorecooperator.ca

GHMS 20th Anniversary

...Continued from Page 14
Prior to 2011, the community donated clothing and
items, which were passed on to others in need. As the
word spread, more clothes and items came to their
doors and with the closure of other second hand shops
they realized this was an opportunity to open a Thrift
Shop.
The Thrift Shop became a training program for clients to
develop workplace skills such as customer service, greeting customers, sorting, stocking and displaying merchandise and balancing cash.
In May 2011, the Society proudly opened the doors to
their Thrift Shop, a social enterprise opportunity, offering quality clothing, shoes, household items, books, CDs,
DVDs, games, toys, and craft supplies. In 2015 they realized how, over the years, everything evolved to better
serve the community and its needs. With the tremendous response from the communities with donations, in
goods and monetary, it was then the name Cascades
Thrift Shop was chosen to best describe it.

An opportunity arose to assist the Sheet Harbour and

Area Chamber of Commerce to coordinate and post
events to the Events Sign which is a beacon lighthouse
sign in the middle of Main Street. In 2014 and 2015, the
Society was awarded summer contracts doing property
maintenance at Canada Post and East Coast Credit Union.
In July of this past summer, Gerald Hardy Memorial Society was excited to partner with Seacoast Trail Arts Association to display the creative arts and crafts in the
newly opened Arts Room. All products are locally
made by talented artisans of the Eastern Shore. There is
an assortment of photography, paintings, handmade
jewellery, Christmas ornaments and chocolate lollipops,
wooden toys, knitted, crocheted, and quilted items as
well as dream catchers and wooden shelves. These are
just a few wonderful items you will find.
The Society relies upon and is very grateful to accept
monetary donations or merchandise for the Society and

non-perishable grocery items or monetary gifts for the

Rainbow Food Bank. Charitable tax receipts are provided. There is a Donation Drop Off Box at front door of
building.
The hours of operation are: Cascades Thrift Shop - Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (unless otherwise posted).
Rainbow Food Bank is open the Wednesday after the
second Tuesday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. Donations for Rainbow Food Bank may be dropped
off from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. daily.
If you or someone you know may benefit from becoming
a client of The Gerald Hardy Memorial Society, please
call or visit to discuss how they may be able to help.
Telephone 902-885-2300; Email: ghms@ns.sympatico.ca
or at 22657 Hwy 7, Sheet Harbour.
The Gerald Hardy Memorial Society looks forward to
many years of continued service and support from community.