I hope you and your family have been enjoying all the special events going on this week.
I'd like to begin by thanking you, on behalf of regional council, for the patience and support you've shown these last 17 months, as HRM staff worked diligently to re-commission the damaged Halifax wastewater treatment plant.
Your understanding attitude made such a difference to all of us as we, too, were as disappointed and frustrated as you were.
Happily, the Halifax facility was successfully brought back on line just a few days ago, joining the already-operational new plants in Dartmouth and Herring Cove. By the time you're reading this, I have every expectation that the quality of water in our harbour and at metro beaches will be the best it's been in generations.
All that remains now is for the water to get a little warmer, and then you and I can go for that celebratory swim I've been promising!
***
It will be another month before regional council has the opportunity to initiate the next stage of the Boundary Review process.
As you may remember, the law requires municipalities re-examine their electoral boundaries every eight years. This ensures the boundaries keep pace with population shifts which, in HRM's case, reflect steady growth over the last decade. (We are now at 400,000, and counting!)
The process began last winter with seven public meetings and now the review committee's recommendations are ready for Council's consideration. Among the recommendations are: that Regional Council downsizes by three members, from 24 to 21, including the Mayor; that there should be four Community Councils of five Districts each; and that these Community Councils be granted more autonomy.
We had hoped to discuss the recommendations last week; however, the review has had to be postponed until August 3.
***
Did you get a chance to hear Michael Cook speak when he was here, the other weekend? Michael's with a non-profit organization called City Repair and he came to HRM from Oregon to spread the word about an initiative which creates a sense of social belonging.
Called Placemaking, it helps people overcome the physical and social isolation of modern life through innovative ways which create community-oriented spaces, literally. This, in turn, fosters in people a sense of being connected and can increase the community's overall feeling of safety, to name but a few benefits.
Some of the examples Michael mentioned included: painting murals on the surface of local intersections; building benches and tea stands; and erecting street "cupboards" where neighbours can exchange unwanted toys or books. I think many of us who heard Michael speak were impressed with how little it might take to reconnect people and create a sense of "ownership" in neighbourhoods.
I'm pleased to report that HRM is already exploring ways to implement some of these ideas here. In fact, discussions are underway with residents of a metro neighbourhood for the creation of a roadway mural in their area.
I'll keep you posted.
***
And finally, on a personal note, it looks like that vegetable garden which my young friends and I planted recently here at City Hall isn't going to be big enough.
The youngsters are from nearby St. Joseph's Children's Centre and they tend the garden during their regular outings to the Grand Parade. Come fall, we plan to donate everything to the Parker Street Food Bank.
So far, we've planted tomatoes, beets, green beans, potatoes and herbs. The problem is, we have plants and seeds left over so we'll have to branch out into a second bed.
C'mon, kids, nap time's over; let's get digging again!
Reach me at kellyp@halifax.ca or on my personal website www.peterkelly.ca or by phoning 490-4010. You're also most welcome to join me on my Facebook or Twitter pages. Or talk to me on my blog at http://mayorpeterkelly.wordpress.com/.
