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 English Follows French

  L’émission de radio francophone d’Halifax, Trois Beaux Canards, animée par Leighton Steele et Daniel Robichaud, a reçu le prix de la meilleure diffusion spécialisée en 2007 pour sa couverture du décès du travesti Lulu LaRude, comédien populaire d'Halifax (écoutez, MP3).

 Cette année, TROIS BEAUX CANARDS reçoit une mention honorable aux 2009 Community Radio Awards dans la catégorie de PROGRAMMING EXCELLENCE - DOCUMENTARY de l'Association Nationale des Radios Étudiantes et Communautaires pour le montage 'A Tale of Acadie, entrevues avec les conteurs Poitevins' (2008 CKDU, CHMA) 12min

 Écoutez l'Extrait!  Listen to the clip (MP3)

 Hosted by Leighton Steele and Daniel Robichaud, the “Trois Beaux Canards” show features Francophone music and culture on CKDU 88.1 radio station from Dalhousie University. The program received CKDU's Best Specialty Broadcast Award in 2007 for it's documentary on the life of the late Lulu Larude, a fixture of Halifax nightlife (listen, MP3).

 This year the show has received honorable mention at the National Campus and Community Radio Association's (NCRA) National Community Radio Awards in the category of Programming Excellence - Documentary, for it's broadcast entitled "Tale of Acadie: interviews with Poitvin storytellers"

Program Website // Site officiel

http://3beauxcanards.com

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Insight into low-energy, low-cost public access solutions for the Halifax Regional C@P Site network

< Linutop has had mixed reaction at our site. The size and "all in one" package seems to impress people the most. What I hear the most, and I agree, is that it's sluggish - especially with video. The children that use our site usually jump on Youtube to listen to music while they chat on MSN and Facebook - and maybe even play a game online at the same time. And they quickly figure out when a computer is slow and switch to another.

I did have one user who jumped on the Linutop to send email and for basic surfing and didn't even notice that she wasn't on a Windows machine. >

An Asus EEEpc also entered the picture.  Having used the Asus netbook extensively in our daily office operations for over a year, we were impressed by its performance.

This EEEpc runs on the factory installed Ubuntu, however in order to obtain maximum performance, we have broken out of the <user friendly> GUI and now run a normal version of Ubuntu. The processor is overclocked and many features have been tweaked for performance.

Despite having gathered the attention of the manufacturer directly through our Facebook Group, it seems that support for this generation of EEEpc is limited, and the manufacturer has already moved on to differant projects.

For the purposes of testing the EEEpc netbook, we used it with the solid state 3M MmPro 110 LED Projector, seen in the photo.  Both the EEEpc and the LED projector have stellar performance - but the limited support removes it as a contender.

The next two systems that we tested was the WIN Enterprises PL-1030 with the AMD Geode LX 500Mhz Processor and the FitPC 2. Photo: (smallest) FitPC2, (middle) Linutop 2, (largest) PL-1030. 

 The Win Enterprises PL-1030 is by far the most robust thinclient we tested. Performance is great, fast system. 

This system is by far the best fanless/diskless thinclient we have seen but the price makes it prohibitive, landed here it is over 800$. 

Nonetheless, we dissembled the 1030 to show you it's innards. Everything about this computer is designed to make it last, from a sealed case and heavy metal chassis, this one is made for though commercial applications.

Here are some images of the PL-1030 chassis.

Finally we received the FitPC 2 for testing.

 
Manufactered by CompuLab, FitPC 2 is the ultimate Green computer.  Our test model was the FitPC2 Linux which comes standard (as a MiniPC) with a Intel Atom Z530 1.6GHz processor and 160 GB hard drive.
At idle this thinclient is rated at 1 watts, and a staggering 8 watts at peak performance. The energy savings alone will soon pay for itself. In addition, fit-PC2 has no hazardous substances and at 313cc / 370g is so small that electronic waste is negligible.

The Fit-PC2 body is industrial-grade, die-cast aluminum with no venting holes. The body itself is used for heat dissipation. fit-PC2 ability to withstand a high level of shock, vibration and extreme temperatures - depending only on the type of disk used - with an SSD, fit-PC2 is one of the most rugged PCs for industrial and automotive applications. As a thinclient, the unit is noiseless and heatless, and truly solid-state.

In terms of price, FitPC as tested was under 400$, and as a stand-alone thinclient, would be under 200$ per unit. This is the first in our research that fits our goal for price.

Drawbacks include no VGA output (DVI only), and as a PC is is not solid state (it uses a spinning drive), and the lack of a standard SD card reader (though any USB card reader will circumnavigate this drawback).

After speaking with Stephen Kelly, the projects retained consultant, it appears that FitPC 2 is "the one" that best meets our original targets of low energy consumption, low price, and no moving parts.

FitPC 2 is only four inches by four inches, less than one inch thick. It is easily mounted to the back of any LCD Monitor, completely eliminating those bulky PC's and tangled cords. Our test unit is currently installed at theHub Halifax for further testing by patrons in the IT community. The photos shows the installation of the thinclient.


The Greening of Lake Echo C@P begins here.  The critical part of the process was to first identify a thinclient that suited our needs. The next episode now involves careful deployment, optimization and testing in a real-life C@P Site.

Enter our second consultant, IT Greening expert and owner of tintedGreen Technologies, Mike Lovell - a proven leader in Green IT Solutions.

We can save energy by replacing old generation PC's with thinclients - but we can eliminate many more ongoing costs with virtualization of the software through a dedicated server. Green computing is not just about becoming more environmentally friendly. It is also about using Green Computing technologies that can benefit an organization's Information Technology (IT) and solve real problems. Using virtualized workstations can save on hardware, software, and energy.

Virtualization removes the computing power from the end-terminal, which gives us a rare opportunity to recylce ailing PC's as "terminals" - which will communicate with the mega-powerful server. Even the operating system is on the server! This changeover to terminal can be done as simply as inserting a pre-formatted USB key, and restarting the computer. Instantly, the old againg PC will come to life as a powerful, open source public access kiosk. 

This eliminates all the need to software license renewals, amd on-site technical support.

Our guinea-pig for this new concept of virtualized kiosks rather than stand-alone PC's is the Lake Echo C@P Site located in the Lake Echo Community Center.

The greening of Lake Echo C@P will begin with a comprehensive energy audit. In order to properly measure the success of this new system, we need to be able to know precisely the energy consumption of the C@P site both before the refit, and after. This IT Greening Study will provide concrete data on the kilowatts hours economised.  Extensive further savings will be noticed when usng the USB reformat for old computers (rather than purchasing new ones) as well as in the low cost of the thinclient, under 200$ per unit.

Once installed and fully tested in Lake Echo, we will begin to migrate other sites onto the new virtualized environment. What this means is that although the server will be located in Lake Echo, any site in our network can log into it - as easy as inserting a USB stick and turning the power on.  Instantly, an operating system will provide you with all the basic functions of public access to the World Wide Web.

The greening of Lake Echo C@P will include thr retrofit of it's current public access PCs to all-new energy saving LCD monitors and FitPC clients.

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Marc Robichaud to receive Retail Innovator Award

TIM-BR MART DEALER’S GREEN MARKETING EFFORTS RECOGNIZED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER

Monday, June 15, 2009 (Calgary, AB) –  It’s no secret within TIM-BR MART that Marc Robichaud of U.J. Robichaud TIM-BR MART in Meteghan Centre, Nova Scotia is ‘greener’ than most. And now he’s being recognized on both sides of the border. Today the company announced that Robichaud, a 5th generation retailer, will receive the North American Retail Hardware Association’s (NRHA) Retail Innovator of the Year award in the ‘Green Marketing’ category.

Over 10 years ago, Marc felt strongly that taking the company in an environmentally friendly direction could define them in the decades to come. Since then, he has worked to carve a niche for the company as leaders in ‘green’ and has been recognized locally, provincially and now internationally for his efforts.

Robichaud’s approach to being an eco-minded business is all-encompassing and doesn’t stop at the wide variety of future-friendly products he stocks on his shelves. He’s implemented store policies and practices (like ‘no idling’ for the delivery fleet and using wood scraps as a heat energy source for on-site buildings), he employs online selling and marketing tactics, and of course, walks the talk himself outside his store—literally—during his daily walks to work and a whole host of other personal practices that are green. Marc has become a ‘go-to’ person for customers, organizations and businesses seeking green speakers, and even the local radio station (they’re considering having him host a series of environmental clips on-air).

Marc’s view on eco-consciousness conveys a long-standing awareness: “I think my generation understood at an early age that we would have to create the change we wanted to see. We did not just wake up one day and say, ‘hey, we have to do things differently,’ but we grew up thinking that way. We realized that the planet could not survive if we did not treat it with more respect.”

A key plank in Robichaud’s multi-pronged eco-strategy is EnerGrade, a TIM-BR MART initiative which helps customers improve the energy-efficiency of their home. Marc and his team grabbed onto this program quickly and established themselves as the destination for people looking to undertake efficiency projects. They now help customers all the way from project planning, to home energy audits (essential to access government grants) to the project completion; he has also embraced EcoChoice, TIM-BR MART’s designation for products that are better for the environment.

“Marc is a fantastic Ambassador in bringing our retail environmental initiatives to life,” commented Steve Stremecki, Vice President, Retail Services at TIM-BR MART, adding: “He shows what can happen when a retailer chooses to see things a little differently and sticks to a vision and path. What’s admirable is Marc is trending to the future in a family business that’s over 140-years-old. To walk that balance between history and change—and be successful at it—that’s ‘retail innovation’.”

The NRHA’s Retail Innovator Awards are intended to honour the outstanding achievements of owners and managers of independently owned hardware and building supply stores in both Canada and the U.S. Marc Robichaud will receive his award at the NRHA’s annual conference in San Antonio, Texas next month.

In business since 1967, TIM-BR MART represents more than 740 Dealer locations across Canada, over $2 billion in annual purchases and over $3.4 billion in retail sales. TIM-BR MART’s focus is to be the buying group of choice for independent retailers, commercial dealers and manufacturers in Canada by combining their volume and purchasing at the lowest cost, understanding the needs of their Dealers, and offering a menu of value-added services. To learn more about TIM-BR MART, visit www.timbrmart.ca.

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photo accompanies release

For more information:

Aimee Feaver                           

aimee.feaver@timbrmart.ca      

website: http://ujr.ca       

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 Never Before Released!

The photos were a gift from Louise Soucy, a well-known reporter, radio host and restauranteur (Chez LaVigne, among others) in Nova Scotia.  Before moving away from the country for her retirement in the early 2000's, she handed me this treasure and said, "keep it well".

Soucy was a reporter for Radio-Canada at the time of the event, the recreation of the arrival of Champlain at Port-Royal, circa 1978. These candid photos show a rare glimpse of former Canadian Prime Minister and Icon of all things Canadiana.... Pierre Elliot Trudeau, accompanied by two very young sons. 

After nearly a decade of hanging onto these, I have decided to post them online. 

Merci beaucoup Louise, tu me manque profondement..... 

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Pictures of the ill-fated HMCS Chicoutimi being towed out of Halifax

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Sadly the CBC doesnt allow anyone to embed their video. 

So, here it is:

http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/news/features/gordon-2-fire090501.wmv

This is a CBC TV crew forced to leave their equipment behind and flee from the fire

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What you are seeing are the forest fires raging through the communities of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The area is Herring Cove, communities west of the rotary, Purcells Cove Road, all the way down to York Redoubt and Fortress Rd. April 30th 2009.

 These photos were taken at 10pm.

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Photo Caption: all tiers of area management teaching their salespeople

how to best serve customers.

Dear Telus

       I have been a loyal client for nearly a decade. To this effect, I am thoroughly pleased to write to you today, as I am convinced that you value any feedback from such a long-tenured patron.

        Since I have been using my Blackberry Pearl, my trackball has failed twice.  Both times, I was well treated and settled for a swap unit.  

        I would like to point, however, that in both of those experiences I remained without a functional phone for seven to ten business days, never the two to five as the clerk had promised. 

        My luck never fails, and so my trackball failed today again.  I was right across the street from a privately owned Telus store in the downtown, but, alas, I will spare you the details of the unethical bullshit they fed me over there. My real misfortune started when it dawned on me that your corporate store would surely be quicker to solve my irritation. 

     As you may have guessed, I was not taking kindly to being told that my only option was to get, yet another swap unit. This would have been the fourth phone (original phone, first swap, second swap, ..and) I received in one year, and I was also aware that I would be without a working phone for seven to ten days without reimbursement.

    There was a lot of noise in the store, but, how lucky is it to walk into a store and all levels of area management are standing in the middle of the salesfloor? (see photo)

    The salesperson options were limited. It is not your policy to replace trackballs of on-warranty phones, and all the boss's boss's were standing right next to her. But this was no ordinary case.

    Were you really just going to send me a fourth phone and make me wait a week?  I asked to speak to the next level of management (area manager). I point out the fact that I used your Blackberry Phone to take the above photo, I'll get into the mechanics of that later. 

    The salesperson approached her manager but was refused, then placed me on the phone to speak to "Client Care".  Now, to be honest, I would have been pleased to speak to anyone in any capacity to help me.

     All I really wanted was for the salesperson to replace my trackball, which from my online research, takes about twenty seconds to do.  It's far less costly than a refurbished phone, I would have not went a week without service and, you guessed it, you would have a slightly less frustrated patron.

    Let me refer you again to the above photograph. Who you see here are all tiers of area management, teaching their salespeople how to best serve customers. To my misfortune, this was a very loud and enthusiastic conversation, and I couldn't hear a damn thing on the phone.

    I covered my ears struggled to communicate with the person on the other end of the phone, which, allegedly, may have been able to provide an amiable conclusion to all this fracas. 

  After several minutes of struggling to hear the person I finally had to ask the other salespeople to be a quiet. In fact I simply said it loud enough for everyone within standing distance to understand that I was having difficulty listening to the phone. 

   The cluster of management , who had watched the entire drama unfold, were unmoved and continued their loud banter. I had no choice but to hang up on "Client Care", and to that person, I apologize. Your voice was barely audible over the racket in the store. 

    All I wanted was for my trackball to be changed. YouTube it. This uncomplicated proceedure takes less than 20 seconds. I felt terrible for the salesperson, her manager's refusal to speak to me must have been humiliating. I left without a solution and with a humbled salesperson behind the counter. 

    Sometimes my luck does work for me though. It happens that the right-side button on this damn Blackberry is programmed to pull up my camera, and without a trackball I managed to take your picture, with your phone, that you wouldn't fix.

    Remember though that every person in this photo was aware that the solution to my problem was easy, logical, and inexpensive (and possible, right then and there, no questions asked). Every person in this photo also acutely knew that the manager had horribly shamed the salesperson. Moreover, each of the managers in this photo, smiled and posed for my photograph. None of them offered any assistance.  

    If their impression of best serving a customer is "posing for the photographer", what are they doing teaching the salespeople?

    Bravo! Telus, Bravo! 

Update: Mar 25 2009

  I called today to try to send this post to Telus Client Care (Loyalty).  Mike, from Toronto, was not interested in even receiving this documentation. I asked Mike, from Toronto, if there was any record of this post on my account, since they ARE client care, and every tier of management is in the photo.  Not only is it not documented, Mike, from Toronto, systematically refused to let me send it to him, or his manager. Mike, from Toronto, systematically refused to place me in contact with Karen Skerry, area manager corporate stores atlantic canada, seen in the above photo.

  All I get is the same rhetoric: I can pay for a new Blackberry, which Telus graciously offers a voucher for 200$ which hardly covers the cost of the device, or I can wait another 7 to 10 days to get the fourth phone in a year.  Telus is NOT offering compensation for the two previous service interuptions which amount to 14-20 days in the past year, waiting for new devices to arrive, nor are they offering compensation for the 7 to 10 days it would take to receive a new Pearl, should I have aquiested to their policy. 

  I explained to Mike, from Toronto, that it is possible, that in the millions of customers that Telus has, that sometimes some client experiences surpass the ordinary for which policies are written.  On the millions of clients, it is inevitable that SOMETIMES the policies in place just don't cut the mustard.

 Telus.... just send me a trackball.   Is that REALLY too much to ask? 

Final comment!  What is even cooler, is that the minute I got off the phone with Mike, from Toronto... Feedjit recorded a hit... you guessed it... from Toronto!   ...I wonder if it was Mike?

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Communiqué de presse

P@C lance la chasse au trésor moderne pour engager la jeunesse de la Nouvelle-Écosse

Halifax (N.-É.) 22 octobre 2008 – Le Halifax Regional Community Access Program, en collaboration avec le département du Développement économique et le Programme d’accès communautaire de la Nouvelle-Écosse, ont développé la première édition limitée de la pièce de géomonnaie P@C à être émise en Nouvelle-Écosse.

Dévoilée aujourd’hui le 22 octobre, la pièce de géomonnaie fera partie de la chasse au trésor mondiale connue sous le nom de Geocaching, qui consiste à utiliser la technologie du géopositionnement par satellite (GPS) pour rechercher un contenant (appelé cache ou geocache). Seulement 250 pièces de géomonnaie seront émises parmi plus de 26,000 geocaches à travers la Nouvelle-Écosse. Chaque pièce métallique est bilingue et dispose d’un numéro de repérage gravé au laser. Une fois déployée, les chercheurs d’aventure pourront contrôler le voyage des pièces à travers le monde en utilisant la base de données en ligne.

« Ce sport unique encourage un style de vie sain et la pratique d’activités par les jeunes qui jouent un rôle important dans la formation de nos communautés. Cela contribue par le fait même à la prospérité future de notre économie », selon Monsieur Angus MacIsaac, ministre du Développement Économique. « Le Geocaching est une autre façon de démontrer que les résidents de la Nouvelle-Écosse font preuve d’innovation à travers nos sites d’accès communautaires, en considérant la qualité de vie de nos générations futures ».

Un joueur peut placer une cache n’importe où dans le monde, définir exactement son emplacement en utilisant la technologie GPS et partager ensuite l’existence et l’emplacement de la cache en ligne. L’objectif est de localiser des contenants cachés à l’extérieur et partager vos expériences avec d’autres personnes via Internet. Beaucoup de geocaches en Nouvelle-Écosse contiennent des éléments historiques et sont situées dans des secteurs d’intérêts comme des parcs, littoraux, chutes d’eau et même dans des villes fantômes.

« Nous voulons encourager toutes les régions de la province à s’engager dans un usage en ligne qui va au-delà de l’écran d’ordinateur, favorisant des habitudes de jeu saines et des styles de vie actifs », affirme Daniel Robichaud, directeur exécutif du Halifax Regional C@P Association. « Cet engagement concorde exactement avec l’initiative de brancher les Canadiens et de faire du Canada le pays le plus branché au monde! ».

Plusieurs communautés de la Nouvelle-Écosse ont déjà exploré le Geocaching et la technologie GPS, y compris Terence Bay qui a tracé les coordonnées d’affaires et des points de repère directement sur Google Earth et Cole Harbour qui a téléchargé ses informations sur Wikipedia en créant de nouvelles occasions promotionnelles et économiques pour la communauté. Pour plus d’informations sur ces deux projets GPS, visitez : http://www.hrca.ns.ca/geocache/index3.html.

Des dispositifs communs de GPS utilisés pour le Geocaching sont inclus dans les Blackberries, téléphones cellulaires et autres systèmes portatifs. Ceux-ci se connectent avec des technologies en ligne, y compris Google Earth, Google Maps, Picasa, Youtube and Wikipedia. Plusieurs versions de chasse au trésor en ligne existent actuellement, y compris le Geocaching, Waymarking et Letterboxing.

Le Programme d’accès communautaire (P@C) est une initiative du Gouvernement du Canada administrée par Industrie Canada qui aspire à fournir aux Canadiens un accès public abordable à Internet et aux compétences nécessaires pour utiliser cet outil efficacement. Avec l’effort de plusieurs partenaires dont le gouvernement fédéral, les gouvernements provinciaux et territoriaux, groupes communautaires, agences sociales, bibliothèques, établissements d’enseignements, organismes de services sociaux, installations de loisirs et petites entreprises, le P@C aident les Canadiens partout où ils vivent et tire profit des opportunités qui émergent dans la nouvelle approche globale de la connaissance basée sur l’économie.

Pour plus d’informations sur la pièce de géomonnaie 2008, visitez http://geo.hrca.ns.ca.

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Contacts pour medias anglophones :

Erin McGuire, Sonic Entertainment Group (902) 492-0960 / erin@sonicentertainmentgroup.com

Contacts pour medias francophones :

Daniel Robichaud (902) 406 3120 admin@hrca.ns.ca

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MEDIA RELEASE

C@P launches modern day treasure hunt to engage Nova Scotia's youth

(Halifax, NS) - The Halifax Regional Community Access Program (C@P), in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development and Nova Scotia C@P, have developed the first Limited Edition C@P GeoCoin to be released in Nova Scotia.

Unveiled today, October 22, the coin will be part of the hi-tech global treasure hunt known as Geocaching, which uses Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to find hidden geocaches. Only 250 coins will be released among the over 26,000 geocaches throughout Nova Scotia. Each individual copper and metal alloy C@P GeoCoin is bilingual and features a laser engraved tracking number. Once deployed, adventure seekers can monitor its worldwide travels using an online database.

"This unique sport encourages healthy lifestyles and activity among youth who play an important role in building communities, while contributing to the future prosperity of our economy," says Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Economic Development. "Geocaching is another way that Nova Scotians are demonstrating innovation though our community access sites, while considering the quality of life of future generations."

A player can place a geocache anywhere in the world, pinpoint its location using GPS technology and then share the geocache's existence and location online. The objective is to locate hidden outdoor containers and share your experiences with others via the internet. Many Nova Scotia geocaches contain historical context and are located in areas of interest such as parks, shorelines, waterfalls and even ghost towns.

"We want to encourage all regions of the province to engage in online usage that goes beyond the computer screen, fostering healthy gaming habits and active lifestyles," says Dan Robichaud, executive director of the Halifax Regional C@P Association. "This engagement is an ideal fit with our Connecting Canadians initiative to make Canada the most connected nation in the world."

Several Nova Scotia communities have already explored geocaching and GPS technology, including Terence Bay who plotted the coordinates of businesses and landmarks directly onto Google Earth and Cole Harbour who uploaded its information to Wikipedia creating new promotional and economic opportunities for the community. For more information on Terence Bay and Cole Harbour's GPS projects, visit: http://geo.hrca.ns.ca

Common GPS devices used in geocaching include, Blackberries, cell phones and other handheld systems. These connect with online technologies, including Google Earth, Google Maps, Picasa, Youtube and Wikipedia Several versions of online treasure hunts exist, including Geocaching, Waymarking and Letterboxing.

C@P is a Government of Canada initiative, administered by Industry Canada that aims to provide Canadians with affordable public access to the internet and the skills they need to use it effectively. With the combined efforts of the federal, provincial and territorial governments, community groups, social agencies, libraries, schools, volunteer groups and the business community, C@P helps Canadians, wherever they live, take advantage of emerging opportunities in the new global knowledge-based economy.

For more information on the 2008 Geocoin, visit: http://geo.hrca.ns.ca

For media inquiries, contact:

Erin McGuire, Sonic Entertainment Group (902) 492-0960 / erin@sonicentertainmentgroup.com

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Chronological list of EMO updates during the 2008 Lake Echo Minesville wildfire in Nova Scotia

Updated Monday June 16th, 2008 3:07 pm:

As of 4:00 pm today the highway 107 between exit 18-19 will re-open. This marks the end of EMO operations. All highways and streets are now open. HRM Fire remains to have a presence in the area for the wrap-up of operations.

Updated Monday June 16th, 2008 12:35 pm

The remaining closed streets will be open as of 2:00 pm and residents may return to their homes, these include:

Marjorie Dr George Dr Leslie Rd (including Bastin Point Rd and Heron View) Country Lake Rd

For the first 2 hours (2:00pm-4:00pm) access will be restricted to residents only, however after that time the streets will be open to the general public.

All other opened streets are also open to the general public

Highway 107 between exit 18-19 remain closed at this time, however we expect an update later today on the opening of the highway.

Any resident who notices left over fire-fighting equipment (hoses, etc) are asked to leave the equipment where it is and fire services will be around to collect it.

Updated Monday June 16th, 2008 11:20 am Attention of Residents of Eastern Shore Impacted by the Fire

Collection and Storage of Green Cart and Other Sources of Food Regular green cart collection will be completed the week of June 16, 2008 in the Porters Lake, Lake Echo, Three Fathom Harbour, East and West Chezzetcook, North and East Preston, Lawrencetown, Conrod Settlement and West Petpeswick. Regular collection of recyclables will also be provided the week of June 16th.

Residents are reminded of the following measures to prevent the attraction of animals that have been displaced by the fire:

• place your green cart out for collection at 7 am on your regular collection weekday
• once your green cart has been collected place in a shed or garage
• remove exterior pet dishes
• remove grease from BBQ's and/or place in garage or shed
• remove bird feeders and any seeds on the ground
• waste stored outside is to be placed in garbage can with a lid
• as bears are primarily nocturnal, place your green cart out for collection in the morning
• contact the Department of Natural Resources (1-800-565-2224) whom will live trap the bear and relocate

For information call the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000.

Updated Monday June 16th, 2008 7:54 am

Residents who are returning to their homes to find that their power has been disconnected must contact NS Power at 428-6230 to have it re-connected. **Please be advised** - Ensure all appliances are turned off prior to the re-connection of power.

Updated Sunday June 15th, 2008 9:15 pm

STREET CLOSURES The following streets are still closed:

• Marjorie Dr
• George Dr
• Leslie Rd (including Bastin Point Rd and Heron View)
• Country Lake Rd
• Highway 107 from exits 18-19
• Please note that Highway 107 will not be open on Monday June 16th for rush hour going into the city (6-9am)

STREET OPENINGS

• Ponderosa Drive off of Highway 207 will be open as of 8:00 pm
• Crowel Road will be open as of 9:00pm; we ask that you use the Highway 207 to access this road
• West Porters Lake Rd will be open as of 9:00pm ; we ask that you use the Highway 207 to access this road
• The check point at Highway 107; exit 17 will move back to exit 18 at 9:00pm which means that exit 17 will be re-opened
• Mineville will be open as of 9:00pm
• Candy Mountain Rd will be open as of 9:00pm; power to the homes on Candy Mountain Rd has been turned off but there will be a NS Power truck on this street, please contact the truck driver to re-connect your power.
• Shoreline Rd will be open as of 9:00pm
• All of Highway #7 will be open at 9:00pm

The RCMP asks that you please check your residence upon returning home for any kind of a breech; if you find one, please call the complaint line to report it at 490-5016. There will be officers in the area to deal with any issues.

LAKES please stay off Lake Echo and Porters Lake; water bombers are using these lakes to access water to put out fires.

ROADWAYS Motorists are asked to pull over to the side of the road when they encounter emergency vehicles.

NEXT UPDATES The next aerial survey will take place at 6:30 am on Monday June 16th, and the next update will be at 11:00 am on Monday June 16th.

Updated Sunday June 15th, 2008 6:22 pm

STREET OPENINGS Effective immediately, the following streets will be open to local residents only until 7:30 pm (you will need to show ID with your civic address to get through the check point), they will then be open to the general public after 7:30 pm:

-Highway #7 and adjoining streets -The Wonderland Trailor Park -Highway 207; however the following adjoining roads are still closed:

-Lahey Dr -Moore Dr -Murphy Rd -Glendale -Maple Dr -Island View Dr -Leslie Rd -Heron View -Bastin Point Rd

THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE NOT YET OPEN: -Blue Rock Rd -Ponderosa Dr -Country Lake Road

There will be an aerial assessment of the area at 6:00 pm-we hope to open more areas by our 7:00pm update.

FIRE INVESTIGATION The RCMP Forensic team believes that the fire started at the Wonderland Trailor Park, however, the cause of the fire is not yet known.

SCHOOLS The Halifax Regional School Board has updated information regarding school closures, exams and bus schedules on their website at http://www.hrsb.ns.ca/

Updated Sunday June 15th, 2008 2:21 pm

EVACUATIONS All existing evacuation orders and road blocks are still in effect. As of 5 pm this evening, we will consider opening certain areas to residents only-you will need ID that includes your civic address to go through the check point areas; the areas include Wonderland Trailer Park and Ponderosa Drive.

ACCESS TO RESTRICTED AREAS (FOR PETS, MEDICATION & OTHER EMERGENCIES) This process remains the same, residents must register with the Red Cross (through 490-4000 or at the shelter in Cole Harbour Place) and they will be contacted if and when access is permissible.

STATUS OF THE FIRE At this point, there is more smoke than there is actual fire; there are still larger areas burning, but they are fairly deep back in the brush. No residential areas are immediately affected at this time.

SCHOOLS The Halifax Regional School Board has announced that the following schools will be closed tomorrow:

-Bell Park -Atlantic View -O'Connell Drive

The school board will announce each day what school closures will be in effect for the following day.

Junior High and High Schools located outside the evacuation areas will remain open, however students who live within the evacuated areas are excused from writing exams. Please get in touch with individual principals to make arrangements to either pro-rate your grades or re-schedule your exam.

All Junior High and High School students who live within the evacuated areas have excused absences from classes.

Updated Sunday June 15th, 2008 12:03 pm CALLS REGARDING POLICE ALLOWING ACCESS TO RESTRICTED AREAS Police are only allowing access to restricted areas to those residents who have registered with the Red Cross and who have been contacted and informed that they can access their home.

Individuals who have already registered with the Red Cross will be contacted if access to their home is permissible. Those who have not already registered with the Red Cross should do so through 490-4000 or through the shelter at Cole Harbour Place. Once they have registered with the Red Cross, the information will be forwarded to the RCMP who will then contact the resident when access is possible.

EVACUATIONS:
THERE ARE NO NEW EVACUATION ORDERS AT THIS TIME; that includes the area of Grand Dessert-this area is not under any threat from the fire.

Updated Sunday June 15th, 2008 9:51 am

For the Porter's Lake- Lake Echo and Area

ALL CURRENT EVACUATIONS AND ROAD CLOSURES REMAIN IN EFFECT.

Crews are evaluating the situation this morning and another update will occur at Cole Harbour place at 1:00pm today.

Residents with PETS in the evacuation area are being asked to register with the Red Cross at the Shelter, or by calling 490-4000. The Red cross will call back people with information on if they can return to retrieve / check on their pet.

Information on disruptions including School Cancellations will occur later today

Halifax Fire Deputy Chief Roy Hollett says the weather is co-operating and the crews are making good progress.

Updated Sunday June 15th, 2008 9:35 am

For the TANTALLON RESIDENTS ONLY

Halifax Fire advises that Evacuated areas in Tantallon - Bailee St and Janda St can return to their homes effective 12 noon today. Access to these areas will be restricted to residents only.

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 8:20 pm

All previous closures and evacuations remain the same.

For further updates, the public is asked to call the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000. Additionally, residents that have evacuated their homes can call the Centre where volunteers from the Red Cross will track their names for those inquiring about the well being of friends and family.

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 7:40 pm

An additional evacuation centre is now open for residents that have left their homes in the Porters Lake and Lake Echo areas as follows:

St. Anslem's Church Hall
West Chezzetcook
Contact: Janet Baker, President 827-2574

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 6:00 pm

At this time, HRM Fire and Department of Natural Resources have determined that they will not be re-opening Bailee or Janda Streets tonight.

If residents of these affected streets require accommodations, they can meet representatives from the Red Cross at the Seventh Day Adventist Church after 6:30 p.m. tonight.

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 4:24 pm

ONE HOUR NOTICE FOR POSSIBLE MANDATORY EVACUATION

Saturday, June 14, 2008 Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), N.S.... Due to the spreading fire, there is a one hour notice for a possible mandatory evacuation in effect for residents living in the following areas: Carter Romans Sub Division, Beach Breeze Estates, and Haylings Acres all off the Lawrencetown Road. Halifax RCMP District and Halifax Regional Fire are asking residents living in these areas to strongly consider leaving this area as an evacuation notice may come anytime and will have one hour to vacate their residence immediately.

All other areas remain under the mandatory evacuation which runs from Highway 107 south between West Porters Lake Road and Mineville Road to the Lawrencetown Road, the Wonderland Trailer Park in Lake Echo and Two Rivers Sub Division.

Highway 107 Exits 17 though 19 remain closed, highways 7 and 207.

Cpl. Joe Taplin
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Halifax District
Media Relations Officer
1975 Gottingen St.
Halifax, N.S. B3J 2H1

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 4:00 pm

HRM and DNR Fire Unit Crews are working on hot spots in the woods. We anticipate re-opening Bailee and Janda Streets within the next few hours. An update will be made at 5:00 p.m.

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 3:58 pm

Update From Media Briefing

All previous closures and evacuations remain.

The following subdivisions in the Porters Lake, Lake Echo area are being notified to evacuate within one hour:

Hayling Acres
Beach Breeze Estates
Carters Roman Subdivision

The RCMP are beginning to initiate this process and residents are strongly advised to leave on their own accord. Please ensure medication, pets, and any necessary items are taken before you leave.

Bombers and Fire-fighters continue to battle the fires.

There is another media briefing scheduling for 7:00 pm tonight.

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 12:29 pm

There has been an additional area evacuated - THE TWO RIVERS SUBDIVISION - This includes:

Deerwood Dr
Stone Creek Dr
Two Rivers Dr
Beth Court
Dempster Cres

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 11:54 am

The evacuation zone has been EXTENDED to now include Wonderland Trailer Park and Mountain View Trailer Park:

Therefore the following streets are to be evacuated:

Circle Dr
Church Lake Drive
Bashful Ave
Grumpy Lane
Mountain View Dr
River Road
Happy Drive
Kings Way
Sleepy Drive

For people who have left prescription drugs behind - You can register with the red cross by calling HRM at 490-4000 and please contact your pharmacy as well.

For people who have left pets behind - at this time people cannot enter the evacuation zone and we must continue to wait until the situation is safe.

Updated Saturday June 14th, 2008 11:10 am

The fire is still not in control. HRM Fire Services, Natural Resources, RCMP and Red Cross are responding. Available Evacuation centres are:

Seaforth Community Hall, 6060 Hwy #207
Cole Harbour Place, Forest Hills Parkway

There will be a media briefing at 1 pm at Cole Harbour Place

Updated Friday June 13th, 2008 9:50 pm

ADDITIONAL EVACUATION CENTRES OPEN FOR EVACUEES

Friday, June 13, 2008 Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), N.S....Additional evacuation centres are now open for residents that have left their homes in the Porters Lake and Lake Echo areas. The available centres are as follows:

For further updates, the public is being asked to call the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000. Additionally, residents that have evacuated their homes can call the Centre where volunteers from the Red Cross will track their names for those inquiring about the well being of friends and family.

-30-

Cpl. Joe Taplin
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Halifax District
Media Relations Officer
1975 Gottingen St.
Halifax, N.S. B3J 2H1

Updated Friday June 13th, 2008

Additional Evacuation Centre Open in Tantallon

(Friday, June 13, 2008)— An additional evacuation centre is now open for residents in the Tantallon area:

SeventhDay Adventist Church adjacent to Longers Rd., Tantallon

For further updates, the public is asked to call the HRM Call Centre at 490-4000. Additionally, residents that have evacuated their homes can call the Centre where volunteers from the Red Cross will track their names for those inquiring about the well being of friends and family.

James Campbell
HRM Corporate Communications
490-6531

Updated Friday June 13th, 2008 6:32pm

EVACUATION CENTRES AVAILABLE

Friday, June 13, 2008 Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), N.S....RCMP Halifax District are informing residents of the following evacuation centres:

West side of Porters Lake: Cole Harbour Place, Forest Hill Parkway
East side of Porters Lake: Seaforth Community Hall, 6060 Hwy 207

RCMP and Halifax Regional Fire are asking residents to keep away from the Porters Lake and Lake Echo areas due to the spreading of a large brush fire. Efforts to contain the fire are continuing.

The mandatory evacuation remains in effect.

-30-

Cpl. Joe Taplin
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Halifax District
Media Relations Officer
1975 Gottingen St.

Updated Friday June 13th, 2008 @5:27 pm

Friday, June 13, 2008 Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), N.S....Due to the spreading of a large brush fire, there is a mandatory evacuation in effect for residents living in the following areas: from Mineville Road to West Porters Lake Road and East of Highway 107 (Lawrencetown Road) including Candy Mountain Road. RCMP Halifax District and Halifax Regional Fire are asking residents living in these areas to please leave their homes immediately.

Please note, any students that were at O'Connell Drive Elementary at the time of the evacuation are now at Lakeview School in Porters Lake. RCMP are asking parents to arrive in person to pick up their children as they will not be allowing any individuals, other than parents, to pick up the students.

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