Nova Scotia opens COVID-19 vaccine bookings to ages 5-11

The province says parents and guardians of children aged five to 11 can now book their child’s COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Government said in a news release this morning that children will receive Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, which is currently the only one approved in Canada for this age group. Families are being encouraged to schedule an appointment for their child as soon as they are able. It takes a minimum of 10 weeks for a child in this age group to be fully vaccinated (the eight-week interval between doses, plus two weeks after the second dose). N.S. will have enough pediatric COVID-19 vaccine and appointments to provide every child aged five to 11 their first dose by the end of 2021.  Appointments for the vaccine must be made online or by phone at 1-833-797-7772.

 

Emergency Support Provided to 56 Non-Profit Recreation Facilities

From left, Edwin Buttle, Manager, Ivor MacDonald Memorial Arena; Pat Dunn, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage; and Wayne Buttle, former Manager, Ivor MacDonald Memorial Arena (Photo credit: Communications Nova Scotia)

The provincial government has announced just over $1 million from an emergency support fund to help recreation facilities owned and operated by non-profit organizations adapt to the ongoing impact of COVID-19.  A total of 56 facilities across the province are being supported, with the one-time grant amounts ranging from $1,000 to $50,000.  The province says the facilities have faced lost rentals and cancelled events, increased cleaning and maintenance expenses, staff layoffs, and a limited ability to fundraise.

COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Non-Profit Recreation Facilities Grant Recipients

• Al MacInnis Sports Centre – $10,000.00
• Amherst Curling Club – $10,000.00
• Annapolis Community Pool – $10,000.00
• Antigonish Arena – $50,000.00
• Atlantic Division Racing Centre – $5,000.00
• Baddeck Curling Club Society – $10,000.00
• Bicentennial Gym – $30,000.00
• Bluenose Curling Club – $15,000.00
• Bras D’Or Yacht Club – $20,000.00
• Bridgetown Memorial Arena & Bridgetown Centennial Pool – $15,000.00
• Brookfield Curling Club – $15,000.00
• Canso Curling Club – $5,000.00
• Central Nova Equine Park – $5,000.00
• Chedabucto Curling Club – $10,000.00
• Chester Yacht Club – $30,000.00
• Dannie Seaman Baseball Field – $1,000.00
• Dominion District Recreation Complex – $40,000.00
• Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex – $1,000.00
• East Hants Sportsplex – $40,000.00
• Emera Centre Northside – $50,000.00
• Frank Rudderham Family YMCA – $5,000.00
• Glen W Smith Community Pool – $40,000.00
• Glooscap Curling Club – $5,000.00
• Hansport Memorial Community Centre – $20,000.00
• Hardwood Lake Girl Guide Camp – $15,000.00
• ICE Gyms – $40,000.00
• Ivor MacDonald Memorial Arena – $40,000.00
• Lawrencetown Exhibition Youth Arena – $15,000.00
• Lawrencetown Pool – $5,000.00
• Liverpool Curling Club – $15,000.00
• Mayflower Curling Club – $40,000.00
• Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club – $30,000.00
• Middleton District Arena – $20,000.00
• Milford Recreation Association – $20,000.00
• New Waterford District Community Center – $20,000.00
• Newport and District Rink – $15,000.00
• Northside Community Pool – $50,000.00
• North Shore Recreation Centre – $10,000.00
• Osprey Archery Indoor Range and Shooting Grounds – $1,000.00
• PCSR Clubhouse – $5,000.00
• Petpeswick Yacht Club – $1,000.00
• Pictou Yatch Club – $1,000.00
• Pisiquid Canoe Club – $10,000.00
• Richmond Cheer Athletics Gym – $10,000.00
• River John Recreation – $5,000.00
• Scotia Park – $1,000.00
• Shelburne Country Arena – $15,000.00
• The Appledome – $50,000.00
• Todd Hill Farm – $30,000.00
• Truro Curling Club – $5,000.00
• Ummah Masjid and Community Center – $10,000.00
• West Colchester United Arena – $15,000.00
• Westville Curling Club – $10,000.00
• Westville Miners Sports Center – $15,000.00
• WM Sobey Indoor Sports Complex – $5,000.00
• YMCA of Cumberland – $50,000.00

 

Andrea Paul re-elected chief of Pictou Landing First Nation

Chief Andrea Paul won re-election in Pictou Landing First Nation’s band election on Thursday.  She won over two other candidates, Hubert Nicholas and Tonya Francis.  Elected to Council are  Jonathan Beadle, Jenny Fraser, Haley Bernard, April Nicholas, Dominic Denny, and Marsha Mills.

 

Fuel prices down slightly in N.S.

Gas and diesel prices went down overnight in Nova Scotia.  Gas prices went down by 8-tenths of a cent per litre, meaning that locally you’re paying 140.2 cents per litre for regular self serve gasoline.  Diesel prices fell by 1.1 cents per litre, putting the cost of diesel in our area at 139.1 cents per litre.

 

N.S. reports death of man in his 70s, 22 new cases of COVID-19

Nova Scotia reported another COVID-19-related death and 22 new cases of the disease on Thursday.  Health officials say a man in his 70s in the central area of the province has died as a result of COVID. The province now has 169 active cases with 17 people in hospital and five in intensive care.

 

Nova Scotia Health Outreach to offer drop-in Pfizer vaccine clinics in Toney River, Shubenacadie and Debert next week

Nova Scotia Health says Outreach Vaccine Clinics will be touring the Northern Zone next week. These clinics will be providing drop-ins for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to anyone age 12+ for their first or second dose* at Toney River Community Hall (4854 Highway 6, Toney River) – Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Shubenacadie Legion (42 Mill Village Road, Shubenacadie) Wednesday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Debert Fire Hall (34 Carter Road, Debert) Thursday, Dec. 2 from 1 to 6 p.m.

 

Province’s health authority seeks to update doctor wait-list

Photo: Shutterstock

The wait-list for Nova Scotians needing a family doctor or nurse practitioner has reached an all-time high of over 81,000 people, but the province’s health authority says the registry may not be accurate.  Starting today, Nova Scotia Health will begin contacting people on the ‘Need a Family Practice Registry’ to confirm they are still looking for a primary-care provider.  Everyone on the wait-list should receive an email, automated phone call or letter to confirm that their address, phone number and email address are accurate, so family practices can reach them when they are accepting new patients.

 

Nova Scotia mass killing helped drive high national homicide rate in 2020: StatCan

The mass killing in Nova Scotia pushed the number of homicides in Canada in 2020 to its highest level in 29 years.  A new Statistics Canada survey says 743 homicides were reported by Canadian police in 2020 — the most since 1991.  That includes the 22 victims of the rampage by a gunman that began in the community of Portapique in April of last year.  The survey says the national increase in homicides was mainly driven by “notable increases” in Alberta and Nova Scotia. (The Canadian Press)

 

Premier preparing for first international trade mission

Photo credit: Communications N.S.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is heading to the United States next week on his first international trade mission. Houston will meet with government, trade and business leaders in Washington, D-C and in Boston next Tuesday through Thursday. The premier says the trip makes sense given the province’s strong cultural and economic ties to the U-S. According to the province, Nova Scotia exported 3.8 billion-dollars in goods to the U-S in 2019.

 

Province announces new mainland moose recovery plan

Nova Scotia has created a new recovery plan to help rebuild the population of the endangered mainland moose.  This comes after a team of biologists, habitat specialists and veterinary experts was gathered by the provincial government in 2019 to develop a plan to enhance habitat for mainland moose and address threats to the animal.  The plan has also identified areas that will be considered as a core habitat for the moose, which is the specific area set aside for recovery and long-term survival.  Officials say the Natural Resource Department will conduct a survey of the current moose population and size this winter to help implement the plan.

 

Sports note:

Photo: Jansen Beadle was the Crushers 7th player last night (pictured with Vinny Stevens) FACEBOOK

The Weeks Junior A Crushers lost 5-4 to Truro in overtime last night at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.  The Crushers visit the South Shore Lumberjacks tonight.  Last night’s game was the first to take place in Nova Scotia as part of the Maritime Junior Hockey League – MHL Week of Reconciliation.

The 21st Annual Gryphons Memorial Hockey Tournament will be taking place this weekend at Trenton Rink. North Nova, Northumberland, JH Gillis, North Kings, Central Kings and Clare are taking part. Opening ceremonies will be at 6:45 tonight.