Roundup: 8 clear days, day-camp details, Seaport area reopening, improving Internet access, small biz finds new markets
Nova Scotia hasn’t confirmed a new case of COVID-19 since June 9, according to the latest update. There are just two active cases of the disease in the province, both in hospital. Overall, the province has had 1,061 confirmed cases and 62 deaths.
Even so, government urges people to remain cautious. “Strictly adhere to the public health order and directives,” says yesterday’s press release. “Practise good hand washing and other hygiene steps, maintain a physical distance of two metres… from those not in your household or family household bubble and limit planned gatherings of people outside your household or family household bubble to no more than 10.”
Plans for summer day camps
HRM is sharing more details on what its summer day camps will look like. The camps will run July 13–Aug. 28, with morning and afternoon sessions. (A child can’t register for both). “The half-day camp option allows the municipality to maximize the number of participants while following public health protocol,” says the press release. Camps are $50 per week.
Camps are open to children between the ages of six and 12. Campers will be placed in small groups of seven participants with one camp leader. Registration opens June 23 for July camps.
“Camps for pre-school aged children will not be offered this summer due to difficulty maintaining physical distancing requirements for this age group,” the press release says.
Improving Internet access
Work is underway to enhance Internet access around the province, according to officials from Develop Nova Scotia. “We now have proposals in and our team is actively reviewing, scoring, and doing the due diligence,” says spokesperson Deborah Page. “We expect to be in a position to start announcing those in August.” She adds that Develop Nova Scotia is working with Internet service providers to find ways to speed up the projects, which include preparing some 260 km of lines. Jake Boudrot has the story in The Reporter.
Seaport Market reopens
The Halifax Seaport area on the waterfront, home to the farmers’ market and various seasonal small businesses, is reopening. “We have space and that is a valuable commodity during this period of social and physical distancing,” says Allan Gray, president and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority, in a press release. “There is an opportunity to try new things this year that we haven’t been able to explore previously because of the demands on the property that come with a busy cruise industry.”
In the first phase, the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market building is reopening. Some food vendors with permanent stalls and storefronts are open for pick-up only Wednesday–Sunday. To create a welcoming seaside setting for customers to enjoy their market meal and take in the Port of Halifax, the cruise seawall will begin opening to the public starting Friday, June 19. The revamped Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market begins on June 27, operating outside on Saturdays. It starts with pre-order pick-up only, with the potential to add additional Market days as required.
How one small business adapted to the pandemic
COVID-19 forced most salons and spas into hibernation but Ahead of Hair Health and Beauty Retreat in Pictou found a way to carry on, falling back on its retail offerings. “We created an online store about a week and a half,” says Kayla Sutherland. “We heard a lot of great feedback… People were just thrilled to be able to still support local.” She tells Jackie Jardine more about how the business successfully adapted in this Pictou Advocate story.
From the archives: Remembering the Bill Lynch shows
For generations of Maritimers, the Bill Lynch shows were a rite of summer. But few know the carnival barker’s fascinating life story. In this reader-favourite story from the Halifax Magazine archives, we look back at his childhood on McNab’s Island and how he built a merry-go-round into a carnival empire.
Need to know
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This story was originally published in Halifax Magazine.
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