The Great Divide - The Pictou Advocate

Transcription

The Great Divide - The Pictou Advocate
News • P3
Relay ambassador announced
BREAKFAST,
LUNCH & DINNER
Entertainment • P8
Holton songwriting semi-finalist
Sports • P10
Book launch draws raves
s(EARING4ESTS
ƫ
ƫ
s(EARING!IDS
ƫ
s%AR7AX
2EMOVALƫ
s$6!7#"
0ROVIDER
PICTOU COUNTY'S WEEKLY SINCE 1893
902-382-2033 Like us on Facebook
Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Vol. 123, No. 10
OPEN 7 A.M. - 9 P.M.
91 WATER STREET, PICTOU
Price $1.20 plus HST
$R#HRISTINE*$ICKSON!U$
ƫ ƫ
ƫ
!UDIOLOGIST
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064799
www.pictouadvocate.com
Matheson retires
after nearly three
decades of ministry
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
Local residents interested in learning more about the possible amalgamation of Pictou, New Glasgow, Stellarton and
the Municipality of Pictou County packed the Holiday Inn Express in Stellarton on Monday for the Nova Scotia Utility
(Goodwin photo)
and Review Board hearing.
The Great Divide
Differences of opinion over proposed
MOU shared at UARB’s hearings
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
STELLARTON – A broad
divide between those who oppose
and those who embrace amalgamating four local municipalities was displayed Monday during a hearing on the matter.
An overflow crowd jammed
the conference room and hallway
at the Holiday Inn Express for
hearings hosted by the province’s
Utility and Review Board regarding the memorandum of understanding that proposes amalgamating the Municipality of Pictou
County and the towns of New
Glasgow, Pictou and Stellarton.
Warden Ronald Baillie, who
chairs the steering committee that
has developed the MOU in support of amalgamation, shared
opening remarks. He said the
steering committee has sought
amalgamation voluntarily and
cited the problems that have compelled the committee to act.
“We can see the writing on the
wall,” he said. “It just makes
sense to tear down the borders
that separate us and start working as one municipality with the
best interests of all our residents
at heart.”
Lawyer Harry Munro was the
first of 26 presenters the UARB
heard. He said Pictou County’s
declining tax base, aging demographic and outflow of youth
have made amalgamation urgent.
He said a cohesive planning strategy is needed to attract industry.
“We do not have the luxury of
time,” he said.
Sean Murray, president and
CEO of Advocate Printing &
Publishing, was among local
business leaders who spoke in
support of the MOU. Murray
drew on an analogy of sports
teams and how they are unable to
maintain success once they have
achieved it.
“Generally, it is because they
start playing not to lose than
playing to win,” he said. “I am a
citizen of One Pictou County and
I want to play to win.”
Pictou County Chamber of
Commerce executive director
Jack Kyte discussed the agency’s
encouragement of a review of
local governance six years ago
and its present support of it.
“Pictou County is blessed with
a diverse business community,
innovative and hard-working
people and an enviable quality of
life,” he said. “But we stumble
and lose opportunities because
we have a dysfunctional system
of six self-interested, competitive
decision-making bodies. This is a
roadblock to progress. If it does
not change, our future is not
bright.”
Rural resident Ben Gourd
expressed fear over higher taxes
in the rural municipality that may
come with amalgamation. He
said he does not want the county
to share in the responsibility for
financial difficulties that the
towns are experiencing.
Continued on page 2
SILVER ECONOMY SUMMIT
Keynote talks opportunities and ideas
By Heather Brimicombe
heatherbrimicombe@pictouadvocate.com
Gerry Pond is all about making opportunities.
This year, during his keynote
speech at the 2016 Silver
Economy Summit held in New
Glasgow, he was sure to emphasize just that, the importance of
making opportunities of the
boom in the senior population.
After retiring from a telephone company, Pond decided
he wasn’t quite done with working yet so started his own business. Since then, he shared that
he has become interested in IT
and has spent time looking into
and investing in IT companies to
boost his cash flow.
“I was looking for more
opportunities to apply IT,” he
said in his keynote address.
During his time meeting with
different people and talking
about seniors, Pond noted there
always seemed to be a negative
connotation applied when referring to the elderly population. It
is one he does not agree with.
“I want to share with you
why I’m an angry old man; I’m
not going to take it anymore,”
said Pond. He went on to talk
about not only the negativity in
the mindset of some business
people but the negative mindset
of the media, or the subtle and
not so subtle ways some media
put a negative spin on seniors.
He mentioned terms such as
'bed blockers' and referred to the
continued talk that seniors may
be a drain on the healthcare system and other negative aspects
of an aging population.
“The silver tsunami has a silver lining,” said Pond.
Continued on page 17
rating 70 Years in Busines
s
Celeb
Your Home Town
Insurance Specialist
• Home • Auto
• Commercial
• Boat • Travel
• Life Insurance
22 GEORGE ST, PICTOU
AAMUNRO.COM
Gerry Pond delivers the keynote address Tuesday at the
2016 Silver Economy Summit.
(Brimicombe photo)
We can help re-build your credit
using our huge buying power with
DOOEDQNVDQGFUHGLWXQLRQV
On-site Parts Sales including
vehicle Accessories and clothing.
(902) 485-1441
1978
902.752.4111
Janice Porter
CAIB (HONS)
JanicePorter@AAMunro.com
902-485-8551
Email: twautocentre@hotmail.com
s.EW4RIPLE#HROME3TEP"UMPERSs.EW#OMPLETE3TRUT5NITS
s.EW!FTER-ARKET0ARTS0ANELS).34/#+s.EW5SED!UTO0ARTS
s.EW&UEL4ANKSs#OMPUTERIZED)NVENTORY
2713 WESTVILLE ROAD
NEW GLASGOW, NS
(Behind Kevin’s Shell)
HAPPY HOUR
4 - 6 p.m.
Live Entertainment
WORKING
CLASS BAND
MARCH 12
Help support the
2016 PICTOU
LOBSTER CARNIVAL
$100 from every vehicle we sell
from our Pictou Location between
January and June will be given to
the 2016 Pictou Lobster Carnival
Since
& TRUCKS
OPEN MON. - FRI. 8:30 am - 5 pm
NOW OPEN IN PICTOU AT THE ROTARY!
AS LOW AS 0.9%!
WE BUY SCR
AP
CARS
T&W
AUTO & PARTS SALES
Pre Owned Vehicles
ZLWK2Q6LWHÀQDQFLQJ
NEW GLASGOW – Glen
Matheson’s life is in profound
transition.
Matheson, who has been pastor at First Presbyterian Church
in New Glasgow, has retired and
will complete his transition process with the church at the end of
March. He plans to remain in
New Glasgow and has not ruled
out providing supply ministry in
the area, but he wants more of a
break than he has enjoyed over
his 27 years ministering at the
church.
Matheson's work days usually start at around 5 a.m. and
don’t end until mid-evening.
“It’s time to hand over the Rev. Dr. Glen Matheson is
baton,” said Matheson, who is seated in his familiar post at
from Cape Breton and previous- the desk near the level
ly ministered the Presbyterian MacLean Street entrance to
congregation in Springhill.
First Presbyterian Church in
“I get five weeks of vacation a New Glasgow.
(Goodwin photo)
year and I haven’t used half of it,
but somehow I’ve managed it all
these years.”
Weeks Major Midgets and sharSheila Dempster has begun ing the players’ on-and-off-ice
assuming the day-to-day work concerns.
Matheson did, including com“It was the greatest training I
posing the weekly church bulle- could have,” he said.
tins.
He also minis“I’ve done
ters to those who
the
office
only access church
"They've
work all this
services when they
given me so
time,” he said.
need them.
“It’s been a
“I’d say 80 per
much
good transicent of people in
tion.”
the county don’t
freedom.
Matheson
attend church and
It's family,
announced
all of a sudden
last
Septhere’s a need – a
so it's
tember to the
wedding, a crisis.
congregation
Where do they
difficult to
at
First
turn?” Over the
walk away."
Presbyterian
years, they have
that he would
turned
to
– Rev. Glen
be retiring.
Matheson.
Matheson
He has spent
His ministry has
the time since
taken a physical
then helping
toll, Matheson said.
the congregaHe has knee and
tion with the transition.
back problems that cause almost
Matheson’s ministry has been constant daily pain. He had to
multi-layered. He has provided re-learn how to walk after he sufchaplaincy service for local fire fered a 70-per-cent tear to the
fighters, police services and para- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament)
medics during and after the time in his left knee.
he was a fire fighter and paraHe also recalled suffering
medic – over and above his hours of body chills from a time
church work.
when he and others helped
Part of that ministry is work- secure a boom to trap an oil spill
ing with victims of post-traumat- during a fire at a fish plant in
ic stress disorder (PTSD), includ- Caribou.
ing fire fighters on duty or traffic
“I’ve had 12 knee surgeries,”
control at crash scenes on he said. “Most days I need to
TransCanada Highway 104 and wear braces on both knees.”
elsewhere.
Matheson said he’s grateful
“Someone recently referred to the congregation for having
to me as a community chaplain,” allowed him to take on duties
he said.
outside of church.
Matheson also recalled with
“They’ve given me so much
fondness the years he was a freedom,” he said. “It’s family,
hockey team trainer for the so it’s difficult to walk away.”
WEDNESDAY
Wings Special
9 WATER STREET, PICTOU | 902 485-4500
Ceilidh Honda Powerhouse
393 Westville Road, New Glasgow 902-755-9663
mmm$Y[_b_Z^^edZW$YWšiWb[i6Y[_b_Z^^edZWfem[h^eki[$YW
www.fattonysbarandgrill.com
honda.ca
2 Community
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
The Great Divide...
Continued from page 1
From the left: MOU Steering Committee members Debbie Wadden from Pictou County Municipal
Council and Denise Taylor from Stellarton Town Council meet with lawyer Harry Munro at the
breakfast hosted by the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.
(Goodwin photo)
Opposing views with MOU
during Chamber breakfast
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
NEW GLASGOW – Mixed
views about the MOU laced a
breakfast on the subject hosted
by the Pictou County Chamber
of Commerce last week.
The chamber hosted a presentation of the case for a memorandum of understanding among
the Municipality of Pictou
County and the towns of New
Glasgow, Pictou and Stellarton.
County CAO Brian Cullen
outlined the reasons for the MOU
process: declining population,
aging demographics, lagging
economy, declining tax base and
a need for a co-ordinated
approach to improve conditions
in the county.
Amalgamation for the four
participating units will produce
more than $1 million in annual
savings, $5.5 million in cash
reserves and $69 million in capital projects over the next five
years.
A new council of 10 and an
elected mayor-at-large will serve
10 districts with about 3,000 residents each. Debt is expected to
be about six per cent.
Rick Feehan cited declining
tax assessments as a reason for
amalgamation.
“We have no choice,” he said.
“We’re going to have serious
problems if we don’t do this.”
County councillor Robert
Parker said he opposes the deal
because it’s not “fair and equitable” for rural residents.
He said the MOU figures
regarding stable taxes and revenues do not include any contingencies. “It’s not allowing for
anything going wrong,” he said.
Stellarton councillor Simon
Lawand also questioned the deal
and the process and the lack of
information shared with the
public.
“I’m not against amalgamation,” he said. “I’m against the
process. The process was too
rushed.”
The original MOU was
reached in 2014 after the previous governance and shared services study among the county
and five towns stalled and the
province pulled its share of
money to fund the study.
Pictou CAO Scott Conrod
said the current schedule aligns
itself with conducting amalgamated municipal elections this fall
and avoid having to wait a further four years.
Frank
DeMont,
New
Glasgow’s solicitor and legal
counsel for the MOU process,
said he has experienced firsthand the duplication of services
among the six municipalities.
“I make a very good living
sorting out the squabbling
between the six municipalities,”
he said. “I see myself talking
myself out of a good living. We
have to stop looking at ourselves
as individuals.”
Leigh MacBeth
stands with her son
Jake MacKean on
the deck of their
house in McLellan’s
Mountain.
Rural resident John Currie
described a “dark corner” he
feels he and others feel they are
in over the MOU proposal.
“It’s not in laymen’s terms,”
he said, while adding the voting
results of the proposed plebiscite should be binding.
Donald MacKenzie also supports a binding plebiscite verdict regarding amalgamation.
He said he polled a room full of
residents who attended a recent
meeting of county council while
it met in-camera. “In the board
room out of the 30 people there,
not one was for it,” he said.
Lorne
resident
Rose
MacDonald expressed her opposition to amalgamation.
She said regionalization of
school boards has given them
power that “trumps the will of
governments” and referred to
the local board’s decision to
close River John Consolidated
School without any intervention
by the province.
“I believe there is serious distrust here,” she said.
Marcis Balodis was among
those who said there should be
no amalgamation without all six
municipalities included. He
asked the UARB to halt the
MOU process until after the
municipal elections in the fall so
a referendum on amalgamation
could be included on ballots in
Pictou County.
Stellarton resident Gary
Stewart suggested that amalgamating four local municipalities instead of all six contravenes
the Municipal Government Act
that he said requires a complete
"Pictou County is
at its best when
we work together.
(Amalgamation)
will not solve all
the problems but
as one Pictou
County we will be
stronger inside
and outside."
– Amanda Hill
regionalization. He was among
several presenters who said
Stellarton is doing well on its
own by referring to the growing
number of tenants in its industrial park.
Pictou resident Malcolm
Houser said he attended MOU
meetings and read what has
been on its One Pictou County
website. He praised the committee members’ work and “putting the county’s best interests
before what may be best for
them personally.”
He said, “Together Pictou
County has everything it needs
to become the second strongest
economic region in the province. Our whole is greater than
the sum of our parts.”
Pictou resident Murray Hill
drew on his experiences chairing the Pictou County Health
Authority board for more than
10 years and chairing the Pictou
Regional
Development
Agency’s board for five years
and working for a decade to
develop the Pictou County
Wellness Centre.
“I assure you there are tales
to tell,” he said. “They are not
few in number, nor are they
inconsequential, and the common theme among those experiences: a tension of conflict
and acrimony, and a paralyzing, labourous inefficiency...
The opportunity cost associated
to govern our county in the
manner we have to date is the
monster in the room.”
Two former politicians
spoke on each side of the issue.
Former premier John Hamm
bemoaned Pictou County’s
shrinking population and tax
base. “Our taxes will go up
unless we reverse the decline in
our assessment base,” he said.
“The reality is that we are inextricably linked.”
Former Central Nova MP
Elmer MacKay pronounced
himself a “skeptic” on amalgamation. He questioned amalgamation with two towns left
out.
“By and large, it’s served us
well,” he said of the current
governance structure.
The most impassioned plea
for amalgamation came from
Pulse Pictou County member
Amanda Hill.
“Pictou County is at its best
when we work together,” she
said. “(Amalgamation) will not
solve all the problems but as
one Pictou County we will be
stronger inside and outside.”
She said Pictou County has
the potential to be one of the
Maritimes’ strongest economic
engines, but competition among
its communities is driving business away.
Representatives from the MOU steering committee as well as Municipal Affairs, CUPE and the
Atlantic Police Association were present at the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board hearing
Monday afternoon at the Holiday Inn Express in Stellarton. The hearing housed approximately
150 people who were interested in learning more about the possible amalgamation of Pictou,
(Harvie photo)
New Glasgow, Stellarton and the Municipality. (Goodwin photo)
UARB members grill MOU
steering committee
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
Resident concerned
with new quarry site
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
MCLELLAN’S MOUNTAIN
– What appears to be an idyllic
life is facing a potential disruption by a proposed rock quarry.
Leigh MacBeth lives with her
family almost within site of the
McLellan’s
Mountain
Presbyterian Church.
But Chapman Brothers of
P.E.I. has applied to Nova Scotia
Environment for a permit for a
quarry across the road and uphill
from the family dwelling.
They have lived on the property since 2000. MacBeth’s relatives had a camp on the site from
nearly 40 years ago.
“We have major concerns,”
she said.
MacBeth said two waterways
pass on each side of the property.
One has fish inhabiting it. She
and her partner considered a
holding pond, which she said
the Department of Natural
Resource would not allow, yet
there is the potential for run-off
from the quarry site to collect
upstream.
They also have a well dug 265
feet deep that she fears could be
contaminated.
They and their neighbours
have been told that the quarry
site is more than 800 feet from
residents and its size will be less
than four hectares, meaning it
would not be subject to a full
environmental assessment.
Quarries less than four hectares in size do not require an
environmental assessment but
are subject to an environmental
review and require industrial
approval in order to operate. The
review must be completed and a
decision made on the application
within 60 days.
Quarries are required to be
operated under guidelines that
include blasting limitations, noise
level limits, dust monitoring and
ground and surface water monitoring.
MacBeth said she is among
those who plan to intervene
through the industrial approval
period to delay or halt the project.
The area has many active and
abandoned quarries of similar
size. Truck traffic from the quarry
site is also a concern.
correction
In the caption for the photo
of the recent protest outside of
the
Community
Services
Building, that appeared in the
February 24 edition of The
Advocate, it stated that the
Bonvie family was in the process of adopting the children,
however, the family says children have already been adopted
by the Bonvie family before they
were taken away.
STELLARTON – Prior to
public input during the Nova
Scotia Utility and Review Board
hearing
regarding
the
Memorandum
of
Understanding, the UARB
questioned the MOU steering
committee regarding their submissions.
UARB questions ranged
from employment and infrastructure to equalization payments and why Trenton and
Westville did not take part in
the MOU.
Scott Conrod, project manager for the steering committee
and Pictou CAO, noted that
they expected the staff to
decrease by eight employees
which should be taken care of
through attrition and retirement. He said a transition manger would be appointed who
would engage the department
heads and could begin as early
as June.
During the transition,
Conrod explained the existing
councils would continue dayto-day governance in terms of
what was set out in the fiscal
plan for the year.
Murray Doehler of the
UARB questioned the committee on finances asking, aside
from the $500,000 to $600,000
savings per year, what are the
other benefits to amalgamation?
Conrod said from a governance perspective, the munici-
pal officials will be reduced
from 31 to 11 which will allow
for easier consensus; in the
Letter of Intent, equalization
payments will be frozen for a
five-year period; the LOI will
bring the municipal units to the
same level without increasing
the residential tax burden; and
the finances will be available to
address larger scale projects
among other things.
Roland Deveau, chair of the
UARB, questioned on the lack
of participation from all units
asking, with all of the benefits,
why did Trenton and Westville
not participate?
Conrod responded that
“certain pre-conditions the
other units (Trenton and
Westville) wanted embedded
in the MOU, the other four
units did not think were reasonable conditions...”
The question was then
raised as to what happens if
one of the four municipalities
decides to not move forward
on the MOU?
Conrod said the other three
units would be willing to move
forward and could have updated financials in a two- to threeweek period after projects and
the LOI were revisited.
It was also noted that the
big items the municipal units
are working toward include
water and sewer infrastructure
and renovations to the Public
Works building in New
Glasgow to accommodate a
regional public works system.
A concern also brought up
by the UARB pertained to the
information sessions. They
first questioned why there
have not been any more and
noted that they received input
stating there was no real consultation regarding the number of elected officials.
Lisa MacDonald, CAO for
New Glasgow and steering
committee member, noted they
were waiting for all of the
studies to be completed in
order to provide the full picture to residents, and they suspect the information sessions
will begin within the next couple of weeks.
“We found from the consultation sessions that residents
were really looking for the
whole picture,” she explained.
“We weren’t in a position
to do that earlier (because the
information was not available), but we are now.”
Doehler questioned what
frame of reference residents
have in terms of knowing if 10
councillors and a mayor are
enough and expressed concerned the new municipal leaders may not have enough time
for constituents.
Brian Cullen, CAO for the
Municipality of Pictou County
and steering committee member, noted they conducted exit
surveys at the information sessions for public input and
looked at the time commitments for councillors and
determined the public should
have adequate access to their
councillor.
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
Community
3
news ­briefs
♦
May sentencing on charges
PICTOU – A New Glasgow
woman is facing a number of
charges after several incidents
in New Glasgow.
Tracey Adele Blackie is facing one count of defrauding the
Superstore on January 8 and
one count of failure to comply,
occurring between January 8
and February 25, of which she
pleaded guilty to both charges.
Holding a photo of her
mother, who has also
battled cancer, Margie
Beck is excited to be the
ambassador for this
year’s Pictou County
Relay for life. Beck, who
has battled cancer herself, is happy to represent the fundraiser
which helps The Lodge
that Gives, where Beck
stayed during her treatments.
Blackie is also facing one
charge of theft under $5,000
and one breach of probation.
The breach count was withdrawn by the Crown on
Monday in Provincial Court
and Blackie pleaded guilty to
the count of theft.
She will return to Pictou
Provincial Court on May 11 for
sentencing on all her matters.
(Brimicombe photo)
July trial for assault
PICTOU – A 21-year-old
Stellarton woman charged with
assault had her matter called
before Provincial Court on
Monday.
Emma Michelle Halliday was
charged after an incident in The
Ponds on February 21. Halliday
was not present but her lawyer
entered a not guilty plea under
her advice.
Trial will take place July 21.
Released on recognizance
PICTOU – A Sheet Harbour
man appeared in Pictou
Provincial Court on Monday in
custody following a March 5
incident.
Patrick David MacDonald,
25, is charged with two counts
of assault, one count of mis-
chief causing under $5,000
damage and one count of being
at large on an undertaking.
MacDonald was released on
a recognizance and has had his
summary charges put over
until April 18, when he is
expected to enter a plea.
Court appoints receiver
to secure DSME assets
TRENTON – A receiver has
been appointed to secure assets
at DSME Trenton.
David Boyd of Price
Waterhouse Coopers in Halifax
was named the court-appointed
receiver and will undertake the
next steps in the process of reaping proceeds for the province
from assets at the recently closed
wind tower plant.
The Department of Business
began the process of filing for
receivership proceedings after
DSME Trenton informed the
government on February 18 that
it was ceasing operations at the
former railcar plant.
At the time the company
reported employing 19 people
and assets that included several
million dollars in cash, equipment and property.
The receivership process is
the latest in the saga that began
in 2010, when the previous NDP
government committed up to
$59.4 million to the wind tower
operation. The commitment
included $19.6 million for 49 per
cent of the company's common
shares, $36 million in repayable
loans and a $3.8 million forgivable loan; $56.3 million has been
disbursed to the company.
The company eventually
informed the government that it
could not start payment on the
repayable loans, which was
scheduled to begin in early 2018.
Dredging being sought
for Toney River harbour
TONEY RIVER – Officials
hope the harbour in Toney River
can be dredged in time for the
upcoming fishing season.
Herring and lobster fisheries
operate out of the wharf in Toney
River, which needs yearly dredging to remain accessible for fishing boats, especially when they
return to the harbour with fish.
Harbour master Jamie Craig is
guardedly optimistic but could
not confirm after a meeting with
provincial environment and federal fisheries officials if and when
work will take place.
Meanwhile, Northumberland
Fishermen’s Association president Ronald Heighton said he
hopes the dredging can be completed soon.
Heighton fishes lobster out of
Cape John, whose harbour was
rebuilt about 10 years ago and has
not required dredging since
because it’s more sheltered from
tide water. He and others fish herring and land it in Toney River,
where dockside loaders for the
fish are located.
There is also no room to dock
at Caribou Harbour, which cannot accommodate any more fish-
ing boats.
“I think they require dredging
pretty well every year,” he said.
“It’s sand and kelp that fills in at
Toney River, the way it’s open to
the Strait. We need to get them
down there right away before the
season starts.”
He also said it’s best to dredge
before lobster traps are loaded
onto the wharfs before the season
starts in late April or early May.
Heighton said the herring fishery represents a steady, vital economy for local fishermen. Last
year’s quota was 6,000 metric
tonnes, and it can go up or down
in subsequent years.
“The herring stock in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence is relatively
healthy, and we’re fishing conservatively,” he said. “Herring’s
quite important economically to
fishermen and communities.
There’s a bit of spinoff to it.”
Central Nova MP Sean Fraser
said he hopes the problem can be
solved soon. “It’s an issue in
Toney River and the whole province,” Fraser said. “The run will
impact their ability to get their
boats out in May, so if I can help
them out, I’m going to.”
New ambassador for Relay
Cancer survivor Margie Beck is new face of local event
By Heather Brimicombe
heatherbrimicombe@pictouadvocate.com
Pictou County’s Relay for
Life has a new face to tell the
story of the relay and the help
that it spreads for those undergoing cancer treatments.
This year’s ambassador for
the Relay for Life in Pictou
County is Margie Beck, cancer
survivor and advocate for the
relay and The Lodge that Gives,
which greatly benefits from the
relay.
“One of the focuses this year is
the lodge expansion,” said Susan
Kaiser-Mingo, North East District
co-ordinator for the Canadian
Cancer Society. “The reason we
asked Margie is (because) she is a
cancer survivor and she has experienced the lodge.”
As part of her duties as
ambassador, Beck will be attend-
ing team fundraisers and other
relay related events to show
support for the event.
”She's our Pictou County
face for Pictou County Relay for
Life 2016,” Kaiser-Mingo said.
With a new venue, ambassador and some fresh new ideas
for this year’s event, KaiserMingo predicts the 2016 relay is
going to be a strong event and a
lot of fun.
Beck said she is humbled to
be able to be ambassador for
this year’s event. She previously
underwent cancer treatment
and stayed at the Lodge in
Halifax during her treatments.
Beck noted that the day she
was diagnosed, 16 other people
in Nova Scotia also heard the
words, “You have cancer.”
According to Beck, out of the 16,
seven would now statistically
have passed away.
Lisa Smith of Pictou
County Early
Intervention reads a
book and works on
Olivia Yantzi’s vocabulary during a home visit
last week.
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
(Brimicombe photo)
Changes to early intervention
cuts waitlist, benefits families
By Heather Brimicombe
heatherbrimicombe@pictouadvocate.com
Olivia Yantzi loves playing
and helping, like any other preschool-age child her age.
However, it was not long ago
that Olivia’s mother, Sarah,
noticed that Olivia might need
some help with her vocabulary
and speech development.
Usually a call to Pictou
County Early Intervention could
result in a spot on the wait list
and after a while the child would
be accepted for the program.
However, after changes to the
early intervention system, the
wait time has been greatly
brings back memories of (Jimmy’s)
love of music.”
To date, the Jam has raised
$15,000 for a skate park in Pictou,
something that was near and dear
to George and his father’s heart.
“My father was one of the guys
that got the skate park going in
Broidy Park in the 90s. He was
always on board helping the community and Pictou really needs (a
skate park).”
The ultimate goal is to raise
$150,000 to build a small, customdesigned concert-style bowl.
“We are going to keep plugging away at it... and hopefully
one day, we’ll get it built.”
Each year the event raises
$1,000 to $1,500 so George says he
would like to see that amount
raised again this year.
“We also have an account set
up at the Royal Bank (of Canada)
felt like a mother’s warm hug,”
she said. “It was never one day a
negative experience.”
Beck hopes this year’s relay
will help the Lodge with operations and the new expansion
that is being added. According
to the latest Canadian Cancer
Society newsletter, the expansion so far is going well and that
the new wing, which will be
called the Sobey Cancer Support
Centre, will house facilities such
as a fitness room, respite day
room and space for up to 34
more guests.
“I feel really excited that I can
be a part of something that made
such a huge difference in my
life,” said Beck. “I know that
with hope the only loser in this
race is cancer.”
The Relay for Life takes place
June 11 at Glasgow Square, New
Glasgow,
Little chefs
enjoy
program
reduced and new staff have been
hired to take on the work load to
help those who need it, faster.
In all 17 independent programs, including Pictou County
Early Intervention, merged and
became part of a provincial support service for families.
“We used to have a wait list
of over a year,” said Lisa Smith
of
Pictou
County
Early
Intervention, which is now part
of Nova Scotia Early Childhood
Development
Intervention
Services.
“There were probably 300
families on the (provincial) wait
list,” said Smith. “When the
(new) structure came in, it went
Jam for Jimmy gears up for 8th event
PICTOU – The Highlander
Pub will be rockin’ Saturday night
as the 8th annual Jam for Jimmy
takes over.
The event, organized by Ashley
George, is a means of paying tribute to his later father, James
(Jimmy) George.
“(The Jam for Jimmy) is really
close to my heart,” explains
George. “It’s something I look forward to every year because it
Her own diagnosis was not
the first time Beck had to deal
with cancer in her life. She
remembered as a young girl
sneaking into the hospital and
lying about her age to see her
mother who was sick with cancer when Beck was a teenager.
When her mother was sick,
Beck said she stayed in a rooming house as well as the hospital
for a year and a half.
“You never even talked about
your mother (having) cancer; it
was just, 'she is sick',” said Beck.
“All the way through my cancer
journey I thought about how
great my mother was and never
recognized for it.”
Reflecting on her mother’s
battle with cancer compared to
her own, Beck was grateful to
have the Lodge.
“When I went inside the door
and the girl said hello it sort of
for anyone who wants to donate,
but really what we need are some
corporate sponsors to get on board
to help make this happen.”
The Jam will take place March
12 from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. for ages 19
and up with a $5 cover charge.
Entertainment includes Ashley
George, Hayley MacLeod, Niki
Veniot, Sally and Lucy, Stonehouse,
Adam MakBain and Machete,
Forest Dweller, Glen Jackson,
down to 16.”
In total, there are 52 families
in Pictou County that are helped
by early intervention. Some of
the services offered as part of
early intervention include home
visiting, information and support as well as individual program planning and transition
support and day care visits.
“It’s really hard to say where
Olivia would be speech-wise
without intervention,” said
Yantzi, who self-referred her
daughter to the program.
“It’s such an important time;
it’s really, really awesome that
we can work with Lisa; it’s made
a big difference,” Yantzi said.
James
Caldwell,
Albert
Dunnewold, Kelsey Johnston and
Mike Hiltz as well as DJ Matty
Burke.
“This will be Machete’s first
show since December; we took a
bit of a break so I could record my
newest acoustic album which will
be released April 2 at Glasgow
Square.”
There will be 50/50 draws and
the kitchen will be open.
“Everyone is welcome to come
down, it’s always a good mix of
people and a great atmosphere
with live music. It’s a good time.”
NEW GLASGOW – Little
chefs are heating up the kitchen at
New Glasgow Academy.
The Active Chefs Family
Program, hosted by Active Pictou
County After School Program and
Schools Plus, is offering a six-week
cooking class for young children.
“Every Monday, five families
come in and prepare two new
recipes each week; one is a snack
that they can eat there and the
other is a meal to take home,”
explains Brittany Lowe, after
school program co-ordinator.
The groups, consisting of a parent and child team, meet from 3 to
6 p.m. and prepare a snack like
homemade guacamole or salsa
and pita chips to eat then as well
as a meal to take home, like chicken tetrazzini or beef stew.
“We have put on the program
in the past where we just do the
snack, but in partnering with
Schools Plus, we are able to offer a
take-home meal as well; we wanted to add something extra,” she
explains.
Lowe says so far, the children
really seem to enjoy the program.
“We got really good reviews
on the chicken tetrazzini and they
thought it was cool that they could
cook the pasta in the oven and not
on the stove top.”
The program teaches about
food safety, proper temperatures
for cooking, knife safety and hand
washing.
To teach the children about
hand washing, they covered their
hands with coffee grinds and
shook each others’ hands to see
how germs can spread. Then they
washed their hands to see how
long it takes to remove germs.
The program is open to anyone.
Active Pictou County will be
hosting the program again in the
near future for anyone interested
in taking part.
4
Community
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
Central Nova MP
lauds legacy of
Joseph Howe
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
NEW GLASGOW – The
newly elected MP for Central
Nova offered his perspective of
the life and contributions of
Joseph Howe.
Sean Fraser delivered an eloquent history of Howe, the journalist, orator and statesman
who is considered by many to
be the greatest Nova Scotian.
Fraser shared with the crowd
of more than 20 people the
importance Howe’s father, John
Howe, had on his life.
John Howe was of Puritan
stock and moved to Halifax
from Massachusetts during the
exodus of United Empire
Loyalists in 1779 and shortly
after set up a printing shop and
published the first issue of the
Halifax Journal.
“His father’s background set
the shape for what Joseph Howe
would become,” Fraser said.
Fraser recounted the famous
libel trial Joseph Howe won in
1835 when he spoke for six
hours in his own defence and
was later acquitted, even though
at the time the truth of what he
had published in his newspaper
,the Novascotian, was not
deemed a defence. The charge
against Howe was for what he
had published.
“I don’t think you could
make it up today,” Fraser said
of the trial and its verdict. “The
jury deliberated for 10 minutes
and found him not guilty.”
Fraser said Howe was the
father of responsible government in Nova Scotia and
Canada, but he joined others in
citing the critical role Dr.
Thomas McCulloch played
while trying to secure funding
SOS school group,
MacFarlane nominees
for Springtide award
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
Central Nova MP Sean Fraser, right, accepts a picture of Joseph
Howe after his talk on Thursday at the New Glasgow Library.
Clyde Macdonald, left, and Philip MacKenzie present the picture
(Goodwin photo)
on behalf of the Pictou County Roots Society.
for Pictou Academy, having it
approved by the legislature and
having the executive council
negate or reduce the funding.
“Thomas McCulloch inspired
Joseph Howe to say this is not
right,” Fraser said.
Howe eventually supported
Nova Scotia’s entry into
Confederation after originally
opposing it. The result was service as an MP and his later
appointment as Nova Scotia’s
lieutenant governor, albeit for
just three weeks before he died
in 1873 at the age of 69.
Workshop shows
power of optimism
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
NEW GLASGOW – Have
you ever looked at someone
and wondered how they got to
where they are? Or marvelled
at their success? Ricky Goodall
can tell you, he has gone from
being that person who marvelled to being the person marvelled at simply from optimism and hard work.
Goodall, creator of Elevated
Wellness Centre in Halifax, is
hosting a session in New
Glasgow entitled Practical
Magick – Beyond the Law of
Attraction.
“I’ve hosted workshops in
Halifax that have been similar
and they were really well
attended, so I thought I could
do
something
in
New
Glasgow,” notes Goodall who
is originally from New
Glasgow.
He was contacted by Rachel
Francis, a former client who
works at Simply For Life, to
conduct a seminar at the business.
The session will take place
March 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.
“The concepts (in the seminar) are based on the laws of
attraction and how these concepts have come to be. These
concepts are thousands of
years old, so I talk about their
lineage and the books that
have come from these concepts.”
The idea is to use the concepts of attraction to get what
you want out of life.
“It has to do with how your
thoughts and words affect
your reality and inspire things
to happen in our lives. It’s the
whole concept the book The
Secret is based on, but it’s
expanded in this seminar.”
Goodall says it’s partially
about positivity, but more so
about optimism and seeing
opportunity.
“Negativity can help us
bring attention to areas in our
life that need change. It’s about
recognizing these negative
thoughts and belief patterns
and doing something about
them.”
He has been researching the
topic for some time which
brought him to his recently
published book.
“I have literally used these
concepts to open five businesses... and travel around the
world for free. When you
understand what you can do,
anything in the world is possible. Truly successful people
RICKY GOODALL
understand these concepts...
It’s literally information that
has created every country on
the planet."
The cost of the session is
$20 with $5 going to the Pictou
County Food Bank.
“I think New Glasgow
could really use a change of
perspective... Without industry people don’t see the opportunity to succeed. I plan to do
a number of other sessions for
this area, but this is the first
step.”
The session will also go into
basic spell casting, vibrational
matching, creative visualization, personal alignment and
more.
“When we go to church or
even to a hockey game, for
example, and they play the
national anthem for good luck,
that’s the same idea (as spell
casting). It’s really a ceremonial idea like a vision board for
bringing dreams to reality.
Everyone who takes this workshop will know everything
they need to use magick and
the law of attraction to manifest their dreams. It’s something that could benefit everyone... it works regardless of
your personal belief system.”
In April, Goodall will be
publishing the first instalment
of what is hoped to be a monthly publication entitled Elevated
Magazine.
The magazine will be a free
publication consisting of nutrition advice, vegan recipes, the
effects of negative thinking
and much more and he hopes
to have circulation in Pictou
County as well as Halifax.
“Submissions come from all
over Canada for the content
and we will be giving a portion of the advertising revenue
to Tree Canada to offset the
use of paper.”
MacLean & MacDonald
Barristers & Solicitors
Ian H. MacLean, Q.C., LL.B.
Leo I. MacDonald, C.D., B.A., LL.B (Counsel)
90 Coleraine Street, Pictou, NS 902-485-4347
Angela Macdonald of Angela’s Attic Antiques shows off the
store which is the latest business to open on Provost Street
(Brimicombe photo)
New Glasgow.
RIVER JOHN – The River
John Save our School group has
been nominated for a Springtide
Collective award.
The SOS group that tried to
keep River John Consolidated
School open is among nominees
for movement of the year. The
second annual awards for the
organization took place Tuesday
in Halifax, but results were
unavailable as of press time.
“Win or lose, to be a finalist is
just amazing,” said Sheree Fitch, a
local author who helped spearhead the two-year process to present a community hub model that
was eventually quashed by the
Chignecto-Central
Regional
School Board when it decided to
close the school in 2015.
The Springtide Collective is an
organization dedicated to bridging the gap between Nova Scotians
and their democratic institutions,
and imagining ways of doing politics differently.
It presents what it calls Better
Politics Awards for movement of
the year, as well as advocate of the
year and public servant of the
years and five different categories
for MLAs.
Pictou West MLA Karla
MacFarlane was nominated by
her legislative colleagues for rising star and legislator of the year
in the MLA section.
“I was nominated last year for
the first time and it was thrilling,”
MacFarlane said. “With two nom-
Westville hires
new recreation
co-ordinator
By Heather Brimicombe
heatherbrimicombe@pictouadvocate.com
New shop downtown
offers new services
By Heather Brimicombe
heatherbrimicombe@pictouadvocate.com
After realizing that she
wanted a change, Angela
Macdonald decided that
antiques and sales were her
new calling.
Macdonald had worked in
the insurance claim industry
for some time and was looking for something a little more
positive and upbeat as a way
to make a living.
“I just decided that I was
going to take a leap,” said
Macdonald.
Turning to her interests
and connection to antique
dealers from Truro, Macdonald
decided she would open a
new store in downtown New
Glasgow – Angela's Attic
Antiques – to sell antiques,
furniture refurbished items
and offer services as well.
The other part of the business sees Macdonald repainting old furniture with a different technique as well as offering classes on how to use the
special, Canadian-made paint
that she sells.
The antiques part of the
business has been going well
so far, according to Macdonald.
To fuel interest the antique
dealers, Steve and Zoe
Weatherbee of Truro, are helping Macdonald bring in new
pieces all the time.
“Our stock will constantly
change, people should pay
attention to the Facebook
page,” she said. There is also
opportunity for those looking
to get rid of something old, to
sell
their
antiques
to
Macdonald as well.
The painting part of the
business came from a recent
interest of Macdonald’s that
saw her painting old furniture
with a special type of paint.
“I had a great interest in
antiques and painting them,”
she said.
After painting for about a
year and a half in this style,
Macdonald is also offering
courses at the store on Provost
Street in New Glasgow to
teach others how to use FAT
Paint, based out of British
Columbia.
After her opening day last
week, business has moved a
long way from the small show
she once had in her home.
“Opening day was awesome, it was great,” Macdonald
said.
For those interested in the
classes or antiques at Angela's
Attic Antiques, you can find
regular updates by searching
for the store on Facebook.
Karla MacFarlane
MLA, Pictou West
The Town of Westville has
a new recreation co-ordinator.
During their last regular
council meeting, council members were excited to make the
announcement.
Clare Steele has been hired
to look after and plan events,
activities and recreation camps
for citizens of Westville.
Having only started in her
new role a couple of weeks
ago, Steele has already dove
right in and is looking forward
to the upcoming March Break
camps that have been planned
to take place.
“I’m hoping to continue on
the things that have been
done,” said Steele about the
camps and other activities that
residents have become accustomed to enjoying.
For now, Steele’s focus will
be the March Break camps and
after that, she plans on focus-
Office: 25B Front St., Pictou
Hours: Mon - Fri 10 am - 4 pm
ing on Volunteer Week festivities.
As for other activities
around town, Steele is full of
ideas already.
“I’m hoping to create as
wide of a variety as I can,” she
said about what is available
for activities and opportunities in the town. “I definitely
have some ideas.”
Although she cannot say
just yet what some of her
plans are, residents should
stay tuned to hear what programs and other activities
might be coming to the town
soon.
Boasting a degree in recreation and having worked with
children as a substitute teacher, Steele has all the tools she
already needs for the job. She
hopes to hear from the residents of the town about what
they would like to see happen,
and notes that she has an
open door policy.
“I want people to be proud
of Westville,” said Steele.
CAPSULE COMMENTS
with David Rowan
A new frontier in surgery is coming. The iKnife is
a device that can detect the difference between cancerous and non-cancerous tissue. It’s often difficult for
surgeons to distinguish different types of tissue by
appearance so this new tool will be invaluable for
removal of cancerous tumours in the near future.
Doctors are finding that many of their patients
research their medical problems on-line and often come to a doctor visits
armed with pages of printouts. The source of some of this research is often
troublesome and unreliable. If you are going to get information from the
internet, look for sited with “edu” in their addresses. There are too many “too
good to be true” sites out there, and most often they are.
With more and more Canadians being diagnosed with diabetes, it’s good to
be aware of some of the warning signs you might have. These include: unusually thirst, frequent urinating, weight change (up or down), extreme fatigue,
blurred vision, frequent or recurring infections, slow healing of cuts and bruises
and tingling of hands and feet. See your doctor if you are concerned.
Pregnancy requires an increased calorie intake. Usually it’s about 100
calories per day during the first trimester and 300 calories per day for the
second and third trimesters. A variety of food from all food groups is best. As
well, low-impact exercise (like walking and swimming) will help keep body
weight in check.
We encourage you to get to know your pharmacist as you do your doctor.
And we hope you choose us as your pharmacist. Add us to your healthcare
team.
FULMORE’S
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 8:30 pm;
Saturday 9 am - 5 pm; Sunday 12 - 5 pm
Front Street, Pictou
902-485-8958
pictouwestmla@bellaliant.com
inations this year, I’m humbled
and honoured. Being nominated
certainly brings some validation
that my colleagues value the work
I do.”
RJSOS was a 17-member grassroots team that, on a HUB proposal
to keep the school open, achieved a
tie vote at a school board level,
which defeated the motion for the
board to keep the school open.
“The SOS members kept on
going even after the closure and
are still trying to find ways to
make sure the community stays
healthy and strong and vital
despite closure of their school,”
Fitch said.
“So many people put their
lives on hold for the school. There
was so much heart and so much
heartbreak. We didn’t get what
we wanted, but the community is
strong for it.”
Fitch noted how the SOS experience has resonated with the
Coady Institute in Antigonish,
which is undertaking a community resource centre study in connection with River John in April
“There’s the Antigonish
Movement, and if this is the River
John Movement, that’s a good
thing,” Fitch said. “We’re still
moving forward to a bright
future.”
MacFarlane praised the work
Springtide Collective is doing to
engage different groups in its
awards process.
“It’s a really interesting organization,” she said. “The work
they’re doing to engage all demographics really is valuable.”
902-485-1600
Visit us at
www.pictouadvocate.com
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
From Market to Main Street
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
Have you ever wanted to
have a lovely catered dinner
while sitting outside on Provost
Street with only farm-fresh
items?
Well, now’s your chance.
The New Glasgow Farmer’s
Market is planning a From
Market to Main Street dinner on
August 27 where Provost Street
will be closed off and 150 people
will enjoy a dinner created by J
Conway Catering from items
found at the farmer’s market.
“The idea is to take it from
farm to table,” explains Kristi
Russell, manager of the market.
“The meal will be serviced and
facilitated from Dalhousie Street
and will be made from all local
food. We are hoping it is a really
unique and exciting event for the
community.”
The idea is to really illustrate
the connection between rural
and town, farm and market.
The event will be a sit-down
full service dinner in front of
town hall.
“We are highlighting all the
county has to offer from our
farmers and food producers,”
she says.
The event will be one of five
meal-inspired fundraisers for the
New Glasgow Farmer’s Market.
“Now that we are open year
round, we have more operational expenses, but there are also a
lot of projects we want to move
forward,” explains Russell.
The first dinner will be a lobster supper with a vendor from
the market on June 12, followed
by a barbecue on July 17, the
From Market to Main Street dinner on August 27, a market-style
Oktoberfest on October 17 and
wrapping up with a holiday-inspired dinner on November 17.
As for the menu, Russell says
they are still very much in the
planning stages, but tickets will
all be sold in advance.
“We will be selling tickets
early and they will be available
online as well as at the town hall
and at the market,” she says.
“Keep an eye on our Facebook
page for when the tickets will be
available.”
Russell notes that to her
knowledge, this is the first dinner of its kind in the province
and she is very excited to be putting it on.
The market is hosting its
grand peak season reopening on
May 21.
“We will have both buildings
open as well as the outdoor vendors so we will have all of our
vendors back to kick off the peak
season.”
There is still lots of space
available for prospective vendors and there will be a membership meeting on March 22 at 7
p.m. at the market for anyone
interested in learning more. The
cost for a table is $30 or $25 for
members.
“Right now we are really
looking for farmers, food producers and prepared foods.”
For more information visit
their Facebook page at New
Glasgow
Farmers
Market
Cooperative.
Community
5
ON GUARD
FOR THEE
Amy Schmidt has grown and
donated her hair for the third
time. Schmidt, who lives in
Sutherland’s River, sat in the
chair recently while Lisa BainGratto from the Friends salon
in New Glasgow tied off and
cut 16 inches of her hair (left
photo). Schmidt shows off
the length of hair (right
photo), which she grew in
about three years. Her hair
will be donated to a not for
profit organization in
Mississauga called Angel Hair
for Kids.
(Goodwin photo)
Tree debris causing issues
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
NEW GLASGOW – Coun.
Clyde Fraser questioned town
council as to when the town will
be cleaning the streets.
With the lack of snow lately,
Fraser noted the abundance of
garbage built up on the streets.
Town
Engineer
Earl
MacKenzie told council it is far
too early in the year to run the
street sweeper because of the
temperatures.
“We have had a lot more
plow damage this year compared to last year because we
have had a completely different
winter. We have crews working
on some clean up of things like
asphalt and some tree branches...”
Coun. Nancy Dicks questioned if the town would be
cleaning up tree branches in people’s residences as there have
been a number of complaints,
and MacKenzie said it is something they can look into.
WATER STUDY
CAO Lisa MacDonald referenced a recent letter received by
the Town of Westville regarding
the water meter study that was
completed.
She said at the recent council
that the water rate is calculated
by a formula that can change
and the UARB decided to change
to another methodology often
used in similar hearings.
“In the past, (Westville) has
exceeded the limits for water...
we were concerned with leaks
that were not addressed properly. We are happy they have been
addressing (the leaks)... they did
not come to the Town of New
Glasgow and request information from us. They sent a request
to the UARB after the water
study was already ordered.”
MacDonald went on to note
the water agreement was written
in 1996, in a context of shared
services, and in 2011, when the
meter had to be replaced, New
Glasgow bore that cost.
MacKenzie added, “There
were inaccuracies in the letter
(from Westville)... We are proud
of the water we provide...
Westville... made an assumption
the (meter) was not accurate, we
replaced it in 2011, the new meter
registers properly. That’s why
there was an increase in water
consumption, because the meter
was reading properly. At that
time they had difficulty, in my
opinion, addressing the leaks...
since then it has certainly
improved and there is a decrease
in usage... which is a great thing.
To imply the flows are wrong is
just unfortunate.”
MENTAL HEALTH UNIT
Council received a response
from the Minister of Health Leo
Glavine regarding a letter sent
in response to the extended closure of the Aberdeen Mental
Health Unit.
“In the third paragraph (the
letter) states for safe operation
it requires a full complement of
nursing and psychiatric staff...
and recruitment is ongoing,”
read Mayor Barrie MacMillan.
“In the fourth paragraph he
notes any change in mental
health services can be (frustrating) for those suffering from
mental health illnesses and
their family members.”
Coun. Clyde Fraser noted it
seemed as though the letter
implies the emergency room is
preparing to deal with mental
health patients by relocating
staff to that department.
“It’s not really adding to the
staff, just moving around.”
Coun. Trudy Vince reminded that Glavine said he would
have an announcement regarding the unit months ago and
there has yet to be any news.
“Maybe we need to reach
out to the director of mental
health... I think council agrees
this is a weak response from
the minister,” said MacMillan.
Active Pictou County welcomes new co-ordinator
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
Sally O’Neill is stepping into
her new role as co-ordinator of
Active Pictou County with a
leap.
O’Neill was previously the
trails co-ordinator for Active
Pictou County for three years
before moving on to recreation
co-ordinator for the Town of
Westville.
“I am very pleased and happy
to still be able to work with the
Town (of Westville) as a partner
with Active Pictou County along
with the other five municipal
units which share in the physical
activity leadership program.”
The Active Pictou County
program is sponsored by the
Department of Health and
Wellness and the remainder of
the cost is shared among the six
municipalities.
“Our mandate is to encourage and provide opportunity for
all citizens in Pictou County to
become more physically active,”
says O’Neill. “We take a regional
approach to that need in the
community.”
She notes the statistics pertaining to recent major surveys
are startling.
“It’s very challenging information that has come out of our
community about childhood
physical activity and obesity
rates. One of the things Active
Pictou County does is look at the
whole region and work on proj-
ects that benefit the region as a
whole like the trails system.”
O’Neill says the Trans Canada
Trail system has been a huge
opportunity for the county with
the recent push to completing
the trail by 2017, Canada’s 150th
birthday.
“It’s an ambitious, fantastic
goal.”
She says other opportunities
included increasing facility
access to local rinks and pools or
physical activity spaces like
gymnasiums by offering free
open access events.
“We have a great after school
program also which we are very
proud of. It’s free and it’s for
middle school children and is
centred around physical activity.”
O’Neill notes there are lots of
opportunities for people of all
ages to be physically active.
“I find it very exciting to be
able to work on things that make
it easier for people to choose
physical activity in their lives. I
know it’s not easy for a lot of
people, but the goal is to make it
less intimidating, make it more
accessible and make physical
activity a daily choice in people’s
lives. There’s so much potential
in so many areas. Physical activity can help with stress, mental
health and social inclusion.”
O’Neill says there are a number of goals she would like to see
accomplished in the coming year
including increasing the number
of people participating in physi-
cal activity opportunities (particularly those with challenges to
participation, such as financial,
or physical barriers) and increase
awareness of free or low-cost
opportunities for physical activity; increased participation in the
county-wide
Afterschool
Program; increase the amount of
funds secured from provincial,
federal and non-government
sources; continue to support the
development of the Pictou
County Trans Canada Trail
Route and achieve connection
goals by 2017; and work with
municipal partners to increase
the active transportation options
available in Pictou County.
“As we approach our fiscal
year-end, we are looking closely
at the specific actions under each
goal and making some exciting
plans for 2016-17. I’m especially
excited by the progress made on
the Trans Canada Trail, and the
increasing interest I’m seeing in
outdoor activity. The great outdoors is one of our biggest assets
in this region.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Pictou County Military
Museum and The Advocate are teaming up to
present 'On Guard for Thee',
a series of profiles of some of the local men and
women who have served this country in times of
conflict. The project is the brainchild of Vincent
Joyce, founder and president of the Pictou County
Military Museum, who has generously supplied
all of the photos and military records
of the individuals who will be featured weekly
in The Advocate.
This profile and many others are available
for purchase as a fundraiser for
The Pictou County Military Museum. Discs
of the military profiles that have already
appeared in The Advocate can be purchased
for $25. Each CD contains 80 pictures and
profiles, 40 unit pictures and military
poems. Contact The Military Museum at
396-2194, 2020 Queen Street, Westville.
#WelcomeRefugees
Concerned about the refugee crisis
and want to get involved? The following groups
and individuals can help:
CAiRN (Communities Assisting Refugees Now):
Mary-Beth Moriarity at Pictou United Church (Phone: 902485-8081). Email: pictouunited@eastlink.ca.
Rebecca McKenna (Phone: 902-485-1417). Email: r.mckenna@ns.sympatico.ca. Facebook: www.facebook.com/CAIRNCommunitiesAssistingRefugeesNow
Alta Munro, al.alta@bellaliant.net
Nanda Shirke, Pictou County Multicultiral Association (Phone:
902-695-6383). Email: nandashirke@gmail.com.
Safe Harbour, pictoucountyrefuge@gmail.com
Meeting the homecare needs of the community...
in homes, hospitals and care facilities.
• Housekeeping
• Transportation & Errands
• Post-Op Care • Respite Care
• Meal Preparation • 24 Hour Care
• Palliative Care • Companionship
• Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
• Medication Monitoring
Authorized Provider with Veterans Affairs, WCB and Personal Insurance
1-888-851-4777
www.earthangelshomecare.ca
Flexible, compassionate, respectful,
bonded caregivers.
6
Opinion
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
“Now or never”
is here and now
Two opposing visions of
Pictou County were on display
this week.
They have been described
for all to see at hearings hosted
by the Nova Scotia Utility and
Review Board regarding the
memorandum of understanding that proposes amalgamating the Municipality of Pictou
County and the towns of New
Glasgow, Pictou and Stellarton.
Citizens, professionals, business leaders and retired politicians have shared their views.
They side with the status quo,
or with forming a new governance structure that would
reduce council membership by
a third.
Both sides cite the report on
Nova Scotia’s rural economy
delivered by the commission
chaired by Ray Ivany called
“Now or Never” as reason to
either resist or commit to
change.
Of all the words written and
spoken during presentations to
the UARB on Monday evening,
one word that went missing
was change.
Change is happening and
the question essential to this
MOU exercise is what we in
Pictou County are prepared to
do about it.
Trust – or the lack of it – was
an undercurrent that flowed
through Monday’s discourse.
Those opposed to amalgamation aren’t buying what the
MOU’s proponents are selling.
They say the MOU steering
committee has not shared information on which to judge the
value of amalgamation in a
timely fashion. Whether or not
it’s true, those 20 scheduled
information sessions the steer-
ing committee plans to host
will be crucial.
There are those whose minds
are so made up that the facts
only get in the way. Here’s one.
Pictou County has lost nearly
10 per cent of its population in
a census period of 30 years.
That’s a relatively equal portion
of exiting young people, declining jobs, aging demographic
and eroding tax base.
Most of the people in the
room on Monday won’t be
around in 30 years. The two
youngest presenters Monday
may be. Members of Pulse
Pictou County, whose age
range is between 20 and 40, see
those 30 years and contemplate
retirement or preparation for it
– and whether or not they want
to do that here or elsewhere.
Speakers on Monday drew
on the experiences of amalgamation elsewhere in Nova
Scotia and across Canada, how
hard it is to undo it once municipalities have done it.
It bears repeating, what has
happened elsewhere does not
count for much. Every amalgamation and regionalization is
unique and can only be measured on its own merit. So it is
here: a Pictou County problem
requiring a Pictou County solution.
Much has been said about
how Pictou County rallies during a crisis. What is required
here is a unity of purpose before
a crisis, while there is an opportunity.
Those who have co-authored
and support the MOU have a
message. Amalgamation is not
a leap of faith. It’s a confirmation of faith. It is now or never.
Steve Goodwin
VISIT US ON
The Pictou Advocate
The Advocate Letters Policy
The Advocate accepts only signed letters, no pseudonyms are accepted.
To verify authenticity, writers are requested to submit
their daytime telephone numbers.
We reserve the right to edit letters but do so only for
length, proper grammar, spelling and good taste. Please
keep letters to 250 - 300 words, or less.
We reserve the right to not publish letters.
The opinions expressed in any Letters to the Editor are
the opinions of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Advocate.
Deadline for letters to the Editor is Thursdays at 5 p.m.
EDITOR
Jackie Jardine
902-759-0307
editor@pictouadvocate.com
FLASHBACK
♦
AERIAL VIEW
The aerial view of Pier C in the 1970s shows the activity on the Pictou Waterfront.
(Submitted by the Pictou Historical Photograph Society. Go to www.pictouphotos.ca/NovaStory.ca to view these and 1,800 more Pictou photos.
Check out their Facebook page.)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
◆
Mark Women's Day with gender equality
To the Editor:
The United Nations first celebrated International Women’s
Day on March 8 during
International Women’s Year in
1975. Since then, this date has
become an opportunity to raise
awareness and have open dialogue regarding women’s rights,
gender equality and the need for
more women in fields such as
politics and business. This day
provides an opportunity for discussion about issues and situations that prevent gender parity.
Statistics show women who
work make up a large percentage
of minimum wage earners. At the
same time, working women are
also more likely to have only part
time hours, earn less than their
male counterparts, and be the
heads of single parent families.
Circumstances such as these,
result in more women living
below the poverty line. We as a
society, must strive to make education and career opportunities
more available and visible to
women. We must encourage a
culture shift through progressive
policy regarding parental leave
and childcare.
Gender equality cannot be
achieved by women alone. It is
imperative that men join the discussions and speak out regarding
equal opportunities for women in
their lives. Men must also recognize the need to participate in
roles that have traditionally been
considered “women’s work” and
be more accepting and encouraging of the men who take on these
roles, especially childrearing.
More women are needed in
public office and in policy making positions. While I do believe
women are becoming more
involved and more vocal about
important issues, a quick search
of the local municipal politicians
in Pictou County shows 32 male
councillors and only nine female
councillors. Clearly we have a
long way to go for equal representation between men and
women in Pictou County.
This International Women’s
Day, celebrate by purposefully
promoting gender equality.
Karla MacFarlane, MLA
Pictou West
Toll will help stop highway deaths
To the Editor:
As you are aware, I have been
pushing for the twinning of the
deadly stretch of highway
between Sutherland’s River and
Antigonish. This 37.8 km stretch
of highway has seen 14 fatalities,
along with more than 333 accidents since 2009.
The facts do not lie. We need
action now. Therefore I am ask-
REPORTER
Steve Goodwin
(902) 301-0724
steve@pictouadvocate.com
ing that all provincial parties lay
aside their political rhetoric and
support this vital project.
Although it appears that the
Province of Nova Scotia is in
financial crisis at the present
time, we must ask ourselves:
How many more people have to
die, get injured or be permanently disabled before this road
is fixed? How many more first
REPORTER
REPORTER
Heather Brimicombe
902-301-1653
Debbi Harvie
902-301-5997
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
heatherbrimicombe@pictouadvocate.com
responders have to suffer from
PTSD because of these horrific
accidents? How many more families have to celebrate holidays
without their loved one? I can
list off many names of families
permanently scarred from the
horrific crashes on this stretch of
road. We have lost far
Continued on page 7
Town can be
viable member
of new
municipality
To the Editor:
If it doesn't amalgamate,
the Town of Pictou will
have to dissolve within five
or six years.
The reason for this: to do
all the things required to
survive as a town, taxes
would have to be raised to
unsustainable levels. There
will be no option.
Under provincial law,
the municipality of Pictou
must accept us. This means
the county would have to
take over financial and
operational responsibilities
for the current town of
Pictou.
If we amalgamate the
way the MOU model suggests, the long term debt
and operational costs of
Pictou stay within the unit
of Pictou. This means the
Town of Pictou will NOT
have to dissolve. It will be a
viable member of the new
municipality.
Bob Naylor
Pictou
REPORTER
ADVERTISING SALES
aaroncameron@pictouadvocate.com
silviaschaaf@advocatemediainc.com
Aaron Cameron
902-759-7141
Silvia Schaaf
902-301-2554
SUBS CRIBE NOW!
Published each Wednesday by
Advocate Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd.
21 George Street, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0
Phone: 902-485-8014 Fax: 902-752-4816
www.pictouadvocate.com
Publisher: Fred Fiander
fredfiander@advocatemediainc.com
Office Hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
2013
CCNA
BLUE
RIBBON
Mail this form with payment to:
The Advocate
PO Box 1000, 21 George Street, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0
Name:
Address:
CANADIAN
COMMUNITY
NEWSPAPER
AWARD 2013
Copyright 2016. Editorial and advertising published in The Advocate may not be reproduced in any form
without prior approval of the publisher. The views and opinions in the newspaper by contributors and/or
correspondents do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the management. Not responsible
for the safety or condition of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064799
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
Circulation Department,
PO Box 1000, 21 George St., Pictou, NS B0K 1H0
circdept@advocateprinting.ns.ca
“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical
Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.”
Phone:
We accept:
Amount enclosed:
Cheque/MC/VISA
The Advocate Subscription Rates
Nova Scotia rates:
3 month subscription - $11.00 + 1.65 = $12.65
6 month subscription - $20.00 + 3.00 = $23.00
1 year subscription - $38.00 + 5.70 = $43.70
2 year subscription - $72.00 + 10.80 = $82.80
Pre-Approved Withdraw - $3.45/month
NB, NL and ON rates:
1 year subscription - $50.65 + 6.58 = $57.23
PEI rates:
1 year subscription - $50.65 + 7.09 = $57.74
Rates for the rest of Canada:
1 year subscription - $50.65 + 2.53 = $53.18
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
◆
Seniors Secretariat was
safeguard for seniors
To the Editor:
Back in 1980, our own Jack
MacIsaac, then minister of
Social Services, established the
“Seniors Secretariat,” a crossdepartment committee of ministers and deputy ministers
from the departments of
Community Services, Health
and Fitness, Municipal Affairs
and Housing.
The Secretariat looked out
for senior citizens. It provided
input on real issues and had
teeth. While it could have been
strengthened had its CEO been
allowed to attend the regular
“Deputy Ministers” meetings,
it worked. This Pharmacare
fiasco wouldn’t have been rubber-stamped if the Secretariat
had still existed.
What happened to the
Secretariat? Well, actually, the
beginning of the end for the
Secretariat started in 2007 when
then leader of the Opposition
Stephen McNeil negotiated
with the MacDonald minority
government to establish a
“Department of Seniors”. Yes,
the same Stephen McNeil. Small
world, isn’t it?
Ultimately, after a couple of
years of co-existing with this
new department, the Secretariat
faded away. It lasted 30 years
but couldn’t survive Stephen
McNeil’s new plan! What a loss.
Department staff work hard but
not being at the policy development table must make it difficult to influence other departments (no Secretariat, no teeth).
Sadly, it turns out that
McNeil's 2007 move was just a
preview of what he would do as
premier:
(a)
attempted
Pharmacare ambush; (b) seniors
expo funding – cut; (c) seniors
art gallery funding – cut; (d)
remarkable seniors award –
gone; (e) reduced Department of
Seniors staff from 11 to five.
Common sense has not been
the hallmark of the McNeil
Liberals and without a safeguard
like the Secretariat, the McNeil
Liberals have thrown the book at
seniors. It has to stop.
As he ponders his next move,
I hope the premier reflects on
Winston Churchill's famous
statement: “The farther back you
can look, the farther forward you
are likely to see.”
Tim Houston
MLA Pictou East
Don't give up if town votes
against amalgamation
To the Editor:
Pictou councillor Bob Naylor
in his letter writes, "If it doesn't
amalgamate, the Town of
Pictou will have to dissolve
within five or six years." I get
it. Bob and the Pictou Council
have given up the fight and
have decided to surrender.
There is nothing so inevitable as change and it's a constant
battle to keep up with it. How
did Pictou get a defeatist council? As I read the letter, I think
back to my days on council and
how things have changed.
Actually, we came to office on a
tide of change.
I first won my Pictou Council
seat in 1979 as did the new
mayor, our Pictou postmaster
Ernie Jordan who took over
from Clarence MacCarthy. We
had an immediate problem.
Our town clerk had accepted a
job as town clerk with Bedford
and his deputy clerk, Penny
MacKenzie, did not want his
job so we had to twist the arm
of a very reluctant junior office
clerk, David Steele to take it on.
The only one with any previous
town leadership experience
was Dan Currie who had been
deputy mayor under Clarence.
A former deputy mayor and
a town lawyer (both now
deceased) spotted our lack of
council experience and called
us all to a meeting where they
offered a solution to the problem. We could bring the town
issues in a pre-meeting with
them each month where they
would tell us how to vote and
then we could pass the appropriate motions at the council
meeting. Deputy Mayor Currie
was scandalized by this undemocratic suggestion and called
an immediate "No way!" Still, I
learned later that some previous councils in Pictou had actually been run this way. They'd
all meet with the business community at the Gentlemen's Club
in Pictou to make the decisions
after which the mayor and
councillors would march off to
pass the motions as decided in
an official Town Council meeting.
Well, our council didn't
operate that way. But we certainly were open to and encouraged our local town leaders like
Jim Ferguson, Bruce Murray,
Bob Naylor, Jock deCoste and
others to share their advice
with us which was at least
always listened to and carefully
considered. We were a "can do"
council and together with our
community leaders, our council
took on a leadership role as we
all began to rebuild our downtown.
Together, we all worked on
Jock deCoste's plan to trans-
form our then rundown and
avoided waterfront (then inhabited by 'The Track Gang',
drunks and ruffians) into the
superb tourist area it would
become. Our council provided
the town government leadership needed with these community leaders to develop the
deCoste Centre; to establish the
Ship Hector replica with its
interpretive centre; to refurbish
the old wharf behind the
deCoste Centre and establish a
downtown marina to attract
visiting tourists to our area.
We also worked with them
to establish the new Justice
Centre, to reposition the RCMP
building in that location and to
fill in the area with restaurants
and tourist kiosks.
When I look at the Town of
Pictou or of any town, I see two
separate but connected bodies.
One is the formal town corporation, the body incorporated
under provincial legislation
which has a town building,
staff and administration and
which answers to a board of
directors that we call our mayor
and council. The other body is
all the people and businesses
that reside or operate within
the town's municipal boundaries.
I find that our present town
councils are doing a pretty fair
job at providing the required
leadership to their body corporate. However, they seem to
ignore or have forgotten their
responsibility to provide that
leadership in developing the
larger municipality. So often at
community meetings, I see
folks scratching their heads and
asking why there are no municipal councillors attending, taking an interest and offering
their community leadership.
Is that their job and are they
shirking their duties? I really
don't know. But I do know
this. They are the people that
their community has elected to
be its leaders. They are the
people that the community
accepts as its leaders. So if they
don't do it, it won't get done!
To Councillor Bob Naylor I
say, do not give up on us if
Pictou voters decide not to
enter amalgamation. Instead,
exercise your community leadership to establish a Pictou
town development commission
made up of community leaders
young and old, to work with
the council. Then, work with it
in acting to take advantage of
the many opportunities and
local ideas of our youth to
restart our town's growth and
development and to restore
Pictou's past vibrancy.
Ralph Ferguson
Pictou
Opinion
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
7
Some prescriptions for education not supportable
To the Editor:
What is this report "We Choose
Now – A Playbook for
NovaScotians"? There has been
sparse attention paid to it and
even less critical analysis. It is a
106-page report from a 15-member
panel of "engaged Nova Scotians."
They entitled their report "We
Choose Now..."
presumably
selecting the Ivany option of
Now/Never.
The first two sections of the
report deal with pre-school education and the "cradle to career"
path. The goal of offering a sound
pre-school experience is laudable,
but the suggestions on how to get
there, as seen by One NS, reads
like a fairy tale.
A significant recommendation
in "The Early Years" section is
made at page 17; they recommend
that NS pursue the use of "social
impact bonds" as a way of reducing the risks associated with being
the primary funder of this program. Social impact bonds (SIBs)
like the one used in the Utah High
Quality Preschool Program were
featured and the involvement of
Goldman Sacks (GS) and a private
partner foundation was seen as
important.
GS set up the bonds so that
they would pay out based on 95
per cent of the annual dollars
saved by this miraculous preschool program, as a result of
avoiding special and remedial
programs for identified students.
GS used the PPVT, known as
the Peabody, as the instrument for
predicting students likely to be in
need of special and remedial assistance. The problem? The Peabody
has no such predictability! This
claim sounded 'sketchy,' so I set
about finding any assessments of
this program.
Here is the reference: a
November 3, 2015 New York Times
article by Nathaniel Popper with a
title that speaks for itself: "Success
Metrics Questioned in School
Program by Goldman". Here's a
sample of findings: "...questions
have emerged about whether the
program achieved the success that
was claimed;" The NY Times "...
quickly identified a number of
irregularities..."; "Goldman said its
investment had helped almost 99
MOU committee must be transparent
with figures relating to amalgamation
percent..." "Most programs yield a
reduction of closer to 10 or 20 percent"; An early childhood expert:
"Here they seem to have either
performed a miracle, or these kids
weren't in line for special education
in the first place."
This report asks us to get
behind their direction for the next
10 years. It suggests that education
will have to put considerable faith
in volunteers, community-led initiatives, private foundations,
wealthy philanthropists and
schemes like 'pay for success'
models where social impact bonds
are employed. Some of the prescriptions for education are just
not supportable!
Scott Adamson
Ardness
To the Editor:
Last week a letter from the
MOU committee was published
in both local papers. I first
thank Warden Baillie, who is
the chairman of the Pictou
County Wellness Centre (I
assume from Warden Baillie’s
letter that trading credentials is
a new business etiquette), for
his clarifications on the MOU
and the Letter of Intent in
response to my recent letter to
the editor.
The intent of my letter was
to encourage the MOU committee to provide their citizens
with full disclosure to allow an
informed decision. The alternative, I fear, is likely to be an
acrimonious and divisive battle
leading to the plebiscite.
The MOU committee could
go a long way to avoiding this
division by being forthright
with the facts. Ultimately the
goal of the committee should
be to allow the citizens to make
their decision. The goal should
not be for the MOU committee
to get their way at any cost –
they were elected to exercise
vision, not tunnel vision.
With respect to the equalization guarantee, the information contained in my letter is
not mine – the MOU commit-
tee has included these calculations on page 12 of their
November 20, 2015 report
which is filed with the NSUARB
as Exhibit 15 and is publicly
available. For some reason,
unlike all other committee
reports, as of today, I cannot
locate this document posted
on the One Pictou County
website.
The report states: “Given
the differing results from the
change in structure, any
municipalities that currently
receive equalization and seek
to pursue structural change for
their communities will be
penalized in terms of future
equalization funding decreases. Barring a change to the
program that introduces structure neutrality to the calculation, this shortcoming is likely
to continue going forward. To
address the disparity in this
case, and similar to commitments made in recent dissolutions, the following table lays
out a proposal for structure
neutral equalization transfers
from the Province to the amalgamated unit for the next five
years.” (Table omitted)
“As can be viewed in the
above table, in the absence of
provincial agreement to main-
tain the equalization freeze for
these units upon amalgamation, the new municipality
would experience a total loss of
revenue of $8,447,420 over a
five-year period. This is a significant loss of funding that
would have a material impact
on taxes. The new amalgamated unit would have to increase
both its residential and commercial tax rates by 6.89¢ to
recover the loss.”
The committee continues to
ignore the fact that the amalgamated municipality will
receive a significantly lower
amount ($1.7 million per year
lower) once the five years have
expired. The above quote states
that the loss of funding would
have a material impact on taxes,
and that overall rates would
have to increase by almost
seven cents. Putting it off for
five years is good, but it is still
likely to happen (their report
states that the disparity is likely
to continue going forward).
The question now is how
does this reconcile with the
MOU pre-condition of no material increase in county tax
rates?
An even bigger question is
why has this never been publicly acknowledged by the
MOU committee?
With respect to the capital
funding, the committee’s math
is a bit off – instead of $15.2
million, only $13.1 million LOI
money is for capital, with the
other $2.1 for amalgamation
expenses – which will only
occur if amalgamation goes forward. The committee is absolutely correct in agreeing with
me that the funding is significant and is also correct in stating that there are no guarantees
grant applications will be
approved. That is why I characterized the capital money as
new funding attributable to
amalgamation.
Obviously the MOU committee is aware of the significance of uncertainty in the capital grant process, and yet the
warden and the MOU committee, in promoting the $69 million capital spending, have
failed to mention that the touted spending relies in part on a
further $12.9 million of assumed
– not guaranteed - grants above
the LOI funding. It would seem
that the $69 million may – or
may not – happen since there
are no guarantees for the $12.9
million. Why was this not disclosed?
I again call on the MOU
committee to provide citizens
the facts they deserve in a clear
straightforward manner. Let
the citizens decide based on
facts, not based on deception.
Brian White
New Glasgow
Toll will ...
toll roads in Nova Scotia, however, you cannot criticize considering the low number of deaths
that have occurred on the
Cobequid Pass since it was
opened in 1997. Three people
have died on this road since 1997
compared to almost 50 deaths 10
years prior of it being built. There
are very few things that people
have to pay for in this world
today, for example, water, parking, ferries, bridges.
People will have the choice of
an alternative route if they do
not wish to pay the toll. I understand that other roads and bridges are also in need of repairs but
it’s hard for a province with a
limited tax base to not consider
another way of paying for new
infrastructure that is needed
sooner than later. How is this
province supposed to grow with
two-lane main thruways? In the
long run, tolled highways will
pay for themselves.
Tonight, when you sit down
to dinner with your family, I
would like you to look at your
family. Imagine what it would
be like if one of them was missing because they have become
one of the fatalities that could
have been prevented if these
roads had been twinned.
Joe MacDonald
Chief, Barney’s River
Fire Dept.
Continued from page 6
too many people to these deadly
100 series highways in Nova
Scotia. This has to be stopped
now – not in five, 10 or 25 years
when the province might see a
balanced budget.
You may not like the idea of
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
MARCH
BREAK
MONDAY - SUNDAY
KIDS EVENTS!
101 MACGREGOR AVENUE, STELLARTON, NS
902-695-4FUN
www.funtopiaplayground.ca
See our facebook page
for the full event schedule!
SCHOOL AGE DAYCARE
AVAILABLE!
Cash only.
DAN THOMPSON
Tax & Bookkeeping Services
• Electronic Tax Filing • Photocopy & Fax Services
• Monthly Bookkeeping • Personal & Business Returns
1796 Main St., Westville
902-396-4668
Indoor Playground
Down To EarTh arT GallEry
& fine framing ~ Since 1996
Quality, Creative Custom Picture framing.
All work guaranteed forever. Wide range of price options.
240 Main St., Antigonish, Next to the Royal Bank.
902-863-3255, www.downtoearth.ca,
www.facebook.com/downtoearthart
BLAINE MACLANE
EXCAvAtIoN ltd.
Licensed
and Insured.
s
Over 30 Year
Experince.
blainefmaclane@eastlink.ca
902-922-3233
216 MacLellans Brook Road
“We do the work when you need it done”
Contractors: Paving Construction Demolition & Marine
• Land clearing • Septic systems, tanks and repair • Dug wells • Ponds • Mulching
• Rock shore production • Concrete & asphalt saw cutting & core drilling • Foundations
• Driveways & Roads • Paving • Screening • Topsoil/Gravels • Jack Hammering
• Crushed Gravel • Hydro-Seeding/Hay Mulching • Fill • Sand
ADVERTISING DEADLINE IS 5 P.M. FRIDAY
8 Arts & Entertainment
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
Song-writing semi-finalist
Holton
has two
songs
in ISC
By Aaron Cameron
aaroncameron@pictouadvocate.com
Singer songwriter Dylan
Holton has just been announced
to be a semi-finalist in the
International
Songwriting
Competition for a pair of his
songs, “Yes She Does” and
“Weight of the World”.
So recent is this news that
Holton – who is currently doing
the cruise circuit somewhere off
the coast of Australia – only
learned of his good fortune when
contacted for comment.
“My Internet access is so limited
out here I didn’t even know I was a
semi-finalist in the ISC,” Holton
said. “That’s very cool for two of
my songs to be selected. There are
some big names in the judging
process which is exciting.”
When on dry land, Holton is
“proud to be calling Pictou
County home once again” after
spending a couple of years in
Los Angeles, a time that at the
very least gave him a story to tell
in the from of his unexpected
appearance in a Conan O'Brien
sketch while attending a taping
of the comedian's TBS talk
show.
Holton flew to Australia in
January to hook up with the
cruise ship which began its tour
on February 3. He'll be performing on ship until June 13.
It is Holton's first time to sea
in nearly two years due to his LA
commitments and found the
offer of a gig in Australia impossible to resist.
“It’s always nice to head right
DYLAN HOLTON
back home after a long stretch
like that to regroup,” Holton
said. “It always goes by so fast,
too, so I’m taking advantage of
everything while I’m out here.”
Holton said that barring his
iPhone he neglected to bring any
recording equipment with him
this time at sea but is happy
enough to play and support his
recent album “Jar of Sunshine”
for the moment. The album's title
also doubles as the name of his
original show on ship.
“For that specific show I have
a main stage area with a listening
room experience,” Holton
explained. “I love to story tell
during the show and give a
glimpse of inspiration to my audience. That’s where my passion
lies while I'm performing out
here.”
Other days, Holton may perform his set outside on deck and
take in the scenery but his other
“main” venue on ship is more of
a bar setting where he plays cover
material and gives it his own particular twist. As the audience
becomes more familiar with his
own material through the cruise
he finds it's his own songs that
become requested more, which
certainly helps pack the room at
his mainstage show.
“No matter what part of the
world I perform, it’s always going
to be a new audience or at least
someone in the crowd who will
be hearing me for the first time,”
Holton said. “Therefore, I always
just take the same approach when
performing. Before performing
out here, I did question if this part
of the world would be accepting
of my music and my spin on classic songs, and its been pretty
overwhelming so far.”
In terms of other entertainment, Holton said there is a pop
duo, a piano bar and Broadway
style shows, one of which –
“Getaway Island”– he's even
been roped into.
A performer's work day,
Holton said, starts around 5 p.m.,
which gives him all day for personal time with gym, steamroom,
and sauna access. At port he's
able to get off ship and explore if
he so chooses.
Holton cited his Canadian
accent as being a challenge but is
happy to report that it hasn't led
to any communication barriers
either in conversation or song
among his Aussie and Kiwi peers.
Money, however, has provided
expected confusion.
“Their bills are all the same
colour as we have in Canada,”
Holton said, “except they are different amounts. Like their 20 dollar bill is red, verses our 50, and
their $100 bill is green, verses our
20.”
Dylan Holton will be cruising
until June 13 and in the meantime
is an International Songwriting
Competition hopeful.
Learning more
with your library
Sometimes people have to
take risks to fight for what they
believe in – whether it is someone
like Canadian suffragist, reformer, legislator and author Nellie
McClung (1873-1951), or a more
contemporary feminist organizer
like Gloria Steinem (1934-present). As the world celebrates
International Women’s Day
(IWD) on March 8, you don’t
have to search far to come across
women who have taken risks by
challenging gender stereotypes,
and sharing their views on gender equality.
For those looking to build an
IWD reading list, a good place to
start is Inspiring Women: a celebration of Herstory, edited by
Mona Holmlund and Gail
Youngberg (2003) with the foreword written by renowned
Canadian author Margaret
Atwood. With this book, readers
can follow the ebb and flow of
women's history carried along by
a roster of impressive, courageous
and inspiring women.
Another one is The Nova
Scotia Nine: remarkable women,
then and now (2014), inspired by
portraits from Halifax artist Jo
Napier with the accompanying
stories written by Joanna Wise.
The women from the ‘Nova Scotia
Nine’ featured in the book (and
the collection) include: MarieHenriette LeJeune (Granny) Ross,
Anna Leonowens, Edith Jessie
Archibald, Mabel Bell, Margaret
Marshall Saunders, Muriel
Duckworth, Aileen Meagher,
Viola Desmond and Rita Joe.
Visit your local library, browse
our collection online or in person
and read more about women
who have changed the course of
history in a variety of formats.
March Break + Library
= free family fun!
This year’s March Break offers
a variety of free activities for children of all ages. For most locations, pre-registration is required
since space and supplies are limited. Pick up a flyer available at
all library locations or download
one at www.parl.ns.ca.
At the Library
HOLLY MACLEAN
is community outreach
assistant for Pictou County
Pictou – Scientists-to-be will
have the luck of the Irish with
Shamrock Science taking place on
March 15, 2 p.m. To register for
this activity, or for others call
(902) 485-5021.
New Glasgow - Wednesday,
March 16 at 3 p.m. join the staff as
they lead a Kirigami session.
Kirigami is a variation of origami
that includes cutting paper. This
program is ideal for children ages
eight and above. To register for
this program, or any of the others
at the New Glasgow Library, call
(902) 752-8233.
Stellarton – In addition to
events and programs happening
over March Break, kids and families can also stop in and build
their own tinker toy on Thursday,
March 17 from 12 to 8 p.m.
River John – Families looking
for creative inspiration can stop
into the River John Library for
Artisans Day, Thursday, March
17 between the hours of 2 and 5
p.m. to chat with local artists like
Margaret Earle, Thelma MorrisFogarty and Margaret Jones and
learn about painting, spinning,
jewellery-making, 3D printing
and more.
Trenton – Drop in and get
creative at the library’s craft table
during open hours, Tuesday to
Saturday.
Westville – Things will be getting messy at their Art Attack
session on March 18, 2 p.m. To
pre-register call (902) 396-5022
(space and supplies are limited).
Delta Generators bringing blues to the Whitetail
By Aaron Cameron
aaroncameron@pictouadvocate.com
Look out blues fans because
the Pictou County Blues Society
has a hot one coming at you.
Hailing from Boston, Mass.,
the Delta Generators have earned
their blues cred alongside the
likes of Robert Cray, Three Dog
Night, James Cotton, Jimmie
Vaughan, Johnny Winter and the
Fabulous Thunderbirds and will
be bringing the goods to the
Whitetail Pub in Westville on
March 12.
In addition to being a Blues
Society presentation, the show
will also support the Pictou
County Food Bank and attendees
are asked to bring non-perishable
food items.
Featuring the vocals and harp
of Craig Rawding, Jeff Armstrong
on drums, and brothers Charlie
and Rick O'Neal on guitar and
bass respectively, the Delta
Generators began gathering
awards, accolades and nominations straight out of the gate following their formation in 2008.
The band went on to win the
Boston Blues Society's Blues
Challenge the same year which
led to them taking part in the
International Blues Challenge in
Memphis in 2009 where they
placed in the top 10.
The band's debut album, Devil
in the Rhythm, meanwhile netted
the Independent Music Award
for Best Blues Album in 2009.
The band currently has three
albums to their credit including
their most recent album Get on
the Horse which was nominated
for 2014's Independent Music
Awards Blues Album of the Year
and they are on the verge of
releasing their fourth album.
For Get on the Horse the band
upped their game from lyrics,
songcraft, and even enlisting producer David Z who has mixed a
Working Class Band
returning to county
By Aaron Cameron
aaroncameron@pictouadvocate.com
PICTOU – Working Class
Band, a beloved Nova Scotian
bluesy soul and R&B band
with a Pictou County connection, is making their return to
Pictou County .
The band will play a fourhour set starting at 7:30 p.m.
on March 12 at Fat Tony's in
Pictou. The group will also be
shaking the stage at this year's
Pictou Lobster Carnival on
July 9.
The band first came to life
in 1978 and is based in
Antigonish. Today, just the
Barbados-born and raised
Hugh Clarke (vocals and guitar) and Brian Steeves (drums)
remain from the original line
up which has been augmented
throughout the years by a
number of musicians including current new boy and
Pictou County resident, keyboardist Dave Pos.
“I am thrilled to be playing
with this band and proud to
be part of their return to Pictou
County, which has been my
home for over 25 years,” Pos
said.
The group has five records
to its name including their
most recent album, 2014's
Home Again, which was
recorded in the band's
Antigonish rehearsal space,
mixed in bassist Jamie Spark's
studio, and mastered in
Memphis, Tennessee.
Pos said the collective
influences of the band are
very far ranging but said that
in addition to their original
material they typically cover
artists such as Stevie Wonder,
pair of Grammy-winning albums
by Etta James and has worked in
some capacity for an impressive
range of artists from Prince to
Eric Clapton.
Sonically the Delta Generators
are most definitely blues but with
traces of soul, rock, Americana,
and funk. “Spider Bite”– a massive sounding track from Get on
the Horse – seems to have been
die-cast in the heaviest of Led
Zeppelin moulds while a song
like “Blood Sugar Baby” sees
them shift from the blues resulting in a funky Prince-like track
which is a bit more Minnesota
than Mississippi-delta... but
works quite well none the less.
For their upcoming but as of
yet untitled album, the Delta
Generators opted to fan fund the
project through a pledgemusic.
com campaign and enlisted engineer David Minehan – a man
arguably best known for his current tenure with indie icons the
Replacements.
The Delta Generators' stop in
Westville will be the second date
of something of a mini-Canadian
tour organized by the Pictou
County Blues Society and the
Tantramarsh Blues Society in
Sackville, N.B.
Katie MacDonald with the
Pictou County Blues Society said
when looking for talent to book,
the Delta Generators won over
the PCBS with their energy and
indescribable feel.
“We kind of know what people
here like to hear now,” she said.
The PCBS also took note of the
band's lengthy accolade list and
their prominent use of the harmonica.
“I think in Pictou County we're
so used to it from the '70s and '80s,
(those) bands all had harmonica
players and that feel for music gets
people grooving a bit better,”
MacDonald said. “They like to see
a good harp player.”
Michael Jackson, BB King, Bob
Marley, Santana and ZZ Top.
The band's own sound,
meanwhile, is a very clean,
crisp blues sound with a flicker of '70s funk, rock and soul
with
flavour
enhancing
horns.
For additional information
about the band or to hear their
music check out workingclassband.com.
JACKPOT50
$ ,
8 000
ONL
Y
Jarrett Kinney, left, and Don Butler exchange banter during one
of the skits featured on Saturday at the 19th annual Wintertime
Revue at the Lismore Community Hall. The dinner theatre presentation was a virtual sellout on both Friday and Saturday
evenings and Sunday afternoon, with proceeds from the event
(Goodwin photo)
going toward maintenance of the hall.
Lace up and you could start
something
big
Big Brothers Big Sisters
6B
NE
BIG W GAM OOK
GER ES
PRI &
ZES
!
$
IN
NUMBERS
OR LESS
Get your cards while they last!
KIN CA$H- 6,324
$
Mini-Jackpot - 2,500
$
1 KIN
CASH
BALL IN
It takes a team to raise a child. Dress up and come out with YOUR team made up of family,
friends or co-workers to Bowl For Kids Sake and support Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“Join the Team!”
presented by:
By supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters you are helping
kids in your community get matched with a Mentor.
PL AY!
IN
15
NUMBERS
OR LESS
Pictou County’s BIGGEST PRIZES!
6 PM Thursdays • Channel 10
You can Now Listen to the game at www.kinsmentvbingo.com
April 9th
Our Goal 60,000
$
April 9th
• Get friends, family, co-workers
together to form a Team.
• Go to www.bowlforkidssake.ca to register or
Call: 902-752-6260 to get a package.
• Come out and have a Great time.
Honorary Chairman,
Sean Fraser, MP
The Advocate
March 9 , 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
YOUR HOROSCOPE
for the week of
March 6 to 12, 2016
THE LUCKIEST SIGNS THIS WEEK:
GEMINI, CANCER AND LEO.
ARIES
You may have a sudden flash of inspiration
about your professional future. You succeed in putting aside your fears and concerns and dive into something you’re passionate about.
Brought to you by:
Daily Specials
Soups, Salads
Sandwiches
Breads, Rolls
Cookies, Squares
and more
CROSSWORD
TAURUS
The invitations are flying in from all directions. You are a popular person, both at
work and in your circle of friends. You
expand your customer base at work.
GEMINI
You should get the green light from your
financial advisor to acquire a property or
finance a project close to your heart. Your
future will meet your expectations.
CANCER
You organize a last-minute trip. You need
to recharge your batteries and take the time
to think about certain situations that are
worrying you.
LEO
You develop your full potential by overcoming new challenges. Whatever your
goals are, you put all your heart into attaining them in spectacular fashion.
VIRGO
You may be considering the possibility
of getting married. At work, refrain from
getting involved emotionally in order keep
your head during negotiations.
LIBRA
You need to take some action where your
love relationship is concerned; a change
of routine will suffice. A short training session at work brings new opportunities and
income.
SCORPIO
You might be seen as a hero for saving
someone from a difficult situation, or it
could just be that you took the time to listen. The person involved will be eternally
grateful.
SAGITTARIUS
You might hear about a birth in the family.
You come across a golden opportunity in
the form of a home that is perfect for you.
CAPRICORN
The thought of changing vehicles tempts
you, or you are invited to go on a trip. At
work, you may be involved in negotiations
with people who don’t speak English very
well.
AQUARIUS
You find solutions to all your financial
problems. At work, you’re given the opportunity to climb the ladder and obtain a
substantial salary increase.
PISCES
There is lots of action in store for you. You
treat yourself to some shopping and take
advantage of the opportunity to change
your wardrobe and give yourself a new
look.
Coffee Break 9
HOURS:
Mon - Wed: 9 am - 3 pm
Thu - Fri: 9 am - 4 pm
31 Front Street, Pictou
902-382-3002
ACROSS
1. Gosh!
4. Papa’s partner
8. “How do I love
____?”
12.Pussycat’s
pal
13. Snoozing
14. Sacred
15. Act as a
pal to
17. American
Beauty, e.g.
18. Unwell
19. 66 and 1
21. Slender
24. Drenches
25. Forest
27. Smoker’s
receptacle
31. Select
32. Outdated
34. Skating-rink
surface
35. Harbor town
37. Darn again
39. Former
Italian money
40. Cincinnati
baseball team
41. Breathe
Enter for a chance to win a weekly prize from Canapé Cafe & Bakery.
This week’s prize: 2 daily specials
WINNER: Eric LeBlanc, Pictou
Complete this week’s crossword puzzle and mail or drop it off at
The Advocate office with your name, address and phone number.
The first correctly completed puzzle drawn wins the prize.
Entries must be received no later than Monday at 12 noon.
Prizes may be claimed at The Advocate office, 21 George Street, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0.
leftover
20. Alternate
21. Duos
22. Optimism
23. Tad
24. Debris
26. Ruin
28. Puff up,
as bread
29. Served
perfectly
30. Certain
evergreens
33. Stops
DOWN
36. Aircraft
1. Clump
38. Bungles
2. Flock female
41. Data
3. North Pole
42. Name word
helper
43. Garden tube
4. Parcel
44. Appeared
5. Biblical brother 45. Impersonated
48. Pinch
6. Fellows
49. Camouflaged
7. Gettysburg
50. Unpurified
____
metal
8. Lunge
51. Bowling
9. Holler
number
10. What ____ is
new?
11. Sight organs
16. Melon
44. Horseless
carriage
46. Lunch hour
47. Photo
52. Circuit
breaker
53. Part of ETA
54. Strong anger
55. Individuals
56. Moved
quickly
57. Place of
retreat
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE ANSWERS:
10 Sports
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
Pictou County
SPORTS
Send scores, reports and sports items to Steve Goodwin at 485-8014
or email steve@pictouadvocate.com
•
ON THE ICE IN PICTOU
Nicholson’s history speaks volumes
By Steve Goodwin
SPORTS BRIEFS
◆
Nighthawks
host tourney
steve@pictouadvocate.com
PICTOU – A two-volume
account of ice sports in Pictou
proved to be a hit on Sunday during its official launch at the
McCulloch Heritage Centre.
“I was overwhelmed,” author
Jim Nicholson said. “It was a great
turnout.”
On the Ice in Pictou is a historical account of reports and photos
dealing with hockey and other ice
sports that include curling, skating
and ringette. Nicholson also has
references to ice fishing, horse
races and ice boating.
“I’m interested in looking at it
from start to finish,” said former
hockey star Gary Fraser. “Jim put
a lot of work into it.”
The first volume traces events
from 1811 to 1955 and the second
from then to the present. Nicholson
was also able to feature the 201516 Pictou Academy female hockey
team in the second volume.
More than half of the 300 published copies were sold.
“I’m glad I did the two volumes,” he said. “Both seemed to
be of interest to people.”
Some copies were given to
groups, including five two-volume sets each from the publisher
and Nicholson to the McCulloch
NEW GLASGOW – The
Pictou County Under-15
Nighthawks will host a
10-team female volleyball
tournament on March 26 and
27 at New Glasgow Academy.
It will follow a scheduled
tournament this weekend in
Antigonish.
The Nighthawks went 12-0
in their pool that consisted of
five other U-16 teams during a
Super Series tournament on
Friday and Saturday.
Left photo: Jim Nicholson, left, hands copies of his two-volume history of On the Ice in Pictou to Mark Babineau. Right photo:
Nicholson signs copies of the volumes for Wally Daley.
(Goodwin photo)
Heritage Centre, one to the Pictou
County Sports Heritage Hall of
Fame and one to Mark Babineau
– a connection between now and
the era of senior hockey in Pictou
that ended in the mid-1950s.
“This was a big thing to me, to
be involved with this,” Babineau
said. ”It was a great honour to
play with the guys back then,
especially Tic Williams."
Wally Daley, a self-described
Pictou hockey rink rat, said he was
glad Nicholson was able to complete the project.
“It was a long time coming,” he
said. “Jim spent a lot of time in the
rink. He’s such a great guy.”
Former junior and rural
league start Ron Muise also
attended the launch.
“It brings back a lot of
memories,” he said. “Jim was a
great mentor to a lot of kids”
Several people express their
appreciation for what they feel is
an invaluable perspective on life
in Pictou through sports.
“It shows how much history
we have, how important it is to
preserve it,” Hall of Fame volunteer Barry Trenholm said.
Local artist and historian John
Ashton recalled Nicholson working on the project 10 years ago.
“The dedication he put into it is
unbelievable,” he said.
Michelle Davey praised
Nicholson’s contributions to the
heritage centre before the time he
was composing the book.
“Jim is a great researcher,” she
said. “I’ve called Jim many times
– he has such a great memory.”
SCHOOL HOCKEY
Academy brings back piece of history
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
PICTOU – Sixty-nine years.
That is how long it has been
since Pictou Academy had a
female hockey team.
The school’s first and only
recorded all-female hockey team
existed in 1947 and there has yet to
be another one, until now.
Coach Jim Sloan says they have
a full complement of players, 16,
from grades 7 through 11.
“We have definitely benefited
from the Subway Selects program,” says Sloan. “It has been
very successful.”
Sloan notes that female hockey
has been growing in popularity.
“In a school of 140 students, to
be able to ice (a female) team
shows what female hockey in the
area has done.”
Sloan coached female hockey
at Northumberland Regional High
School a number of years ago and
wanted to develop a team when
he began teaching at PA.
“There seemed to be a lot more
teams to play against a few years
ago; now we have North Nova
Education Centre, Antigonish, PA
and Dalbrae.” But that doesn’t
stop the team from playing as
much as they can.
Members of the newly formed Pictou Academy female hockey team pose for a group shot during
practice. From the left front: Cassie Clarke, Kaila Reid, Hailey Nichol, Leah MacDonald, Jenna
Ferrara, Carly Smith and Kenzie Reid. Back: Jim Ryan, assistant coach; Tina Johnston, manager;
Charlotte Musick, Meghan MacCarthy, Jenna Reid, Lauren Quann, Biancia Burgeois, Thea Waller,
(Submitted photo)
Kenzie Ells, Emma MacKeil, Abby Munroe and Jim Sloan, coach.
“We get as much ice time as we
want, but we try to play just
through the week because all the
players play on a Subway Selects
female team.”
Aside from the aforementioned
teams, PA has also gone head to
head against Hants East and North
Colchester high school teams.
“There seems to be a lot of
support, especially early on
when we played our first game
against North Nova (Education
Centre). We tied them 1-1,
which was a huge boost for
them. It really helped to grow
their confidence because North
Nova is a good team.”
The PA female team plays
only exhibition games, although
they are taking on the losing
team between Dalbrae and
Glace Bay to see if they move
on to provincials April 1
through 3 in Bridgetown.
Sloan is happy to finally
have the right number of players for a team.
“It’s something I’ve thought
about the last three to four
years, but we never seemed to
have quite enough players.
Now we have just the right
amount and there were no cuts,
everyone made the team.”
They even had a couple of
games where girls who aren’t
on the team or who don’t typically play could come out and
give it a try.
Sloan is hoping to have the
season expanded a little next year
with more tournaments, including
one hosted by PA around
Christmas time.
“We have a seven-win, twoloss and one-tie record for the
season... I think they (the players) are happy; they seem to be
embracing it now. We go out
usually on Mondays, and play
mostly games, but sometimes
we have practices.”
Sloan says what is great
about having a female high
school hockey team is, “the
girls get to finish their hockey
career in minor hockey and can
continue to play at another
level as a graduate.”
He says they have the option of
playing with the Selects until
midget level and then can go on to
play high school and possibly university hockey.
“It’s another avenue if they
want to continue to play.”
MINOR HOCKEY
Structural committee schedules meetings this week
NEW GLASGOW – A structural committee struck to develop a structure to consolidate
Pictou County minor hockey
into one organization has scheduled a series of meetings
throughout the area.
All parents from both recreational and competitive hockey
are being invited to offer their
input and advice regarding the
committee’s initial recommendations and proposals.
Times for all meetings are
from 7 to 9 p.m.
Thorburn parents are invited
to the Thorburn Consolidated
school cafeteria on Wednesday,
March 9. New Glasgow and
Stellarton are invited to the
Wellness Centre on Thursday,
March 10. Similar information
will be presented at all meetings
followed by a time for questions, discussion and suggestions.
Trenton was scheduled to
host a meeting on Tuesday.
Pictou has already hosted a
meeting, while a meeting is
being planned for Westville following March Break.
Hockey Nova Scotia has
mandated that all hockey associations within Pictou County
are to be consolidated into one
organization for the 2016-17
hockey season. The structural
committee has been meeting to
develop and recommend an
organizational structure for a
new county executive, as well as
to discuss fundraising strategies
for the new organization.
The structural committee
has scheduled meetings with
the local area organizations to
present those recommendations and ideas for the membership’s information and discussion. The committee will
also be encouraging volunteers from around the county
to become members of the
new executive.
Local athletes
head south
STELLARTON – Four
members of Pictou County
Athletics are leaving today for
two weeks of track and field
training in Florida with
Athletics Nova Scotia and the
Chebucto club from Sackville.
Lauren Quann, Eric Hughes,
Tatum McLean and Kaelan
Schmidt are accompanying the
other athletes on the training
through March Break.
Crushers test
Woodstock
The Pictou County Weeks
Crushers
will
host
the
Woodstock Slammers at 7 p.m.
on Thursday at the Pictou
County Wellness Centre in
their last home game of the
MHL season.
The Crushers will visit the
Yarmouth Mariners tonight in
a game postponed from last
week and will visit the Truro
Bearcats on Saturday in their
last regular-season game.
Garrett Lambke scored twice
and Taylor Davis added a goal
and three assists as the Crushers
whipped the Valley Wildcats
7-1 last Thursday at home in
their only game last week.
Michael Dill, Benji Curtis,
Mike Lyle and Alex Bonaparte
also scored for the Crushers, who
outshot the Wildcats 40-24.
The Crushers are in third place
in the Eastlink Division and could
finish anywhere between first
and fourth in their last three
games. They trail the Wildcats
and Truro Bearcats by three
points and lead the South Shore
Lumberjacks by two points.
Metro ousts
AAA Selects
Metro Boston Pizza and the
ProCresting Penguins will
contest the Nova Scotia Female
Midget AAA Hockey League
championship.
Metro advanced to meet
the Penguins despite a 2-0 loss
to the Northern Subway
Selects on Friday.
Katelyn Pentz and Annika
Mason scored power-play goals,
while Katie Henderson collected
the shutout for the Selects.
Metro clinched the series on
Saturday with a 3-2 victory.
Katie Dunn and Kaila Reid
scored the Selects' goals.
Josie Chisholm assisted on
both goals, while Katelyn
Pentz had one assist.
2016 TOYOTA RAV4 LE FWD
WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
LEASE FROM
$151
70 Lawrence Blvd.
Albion Power Centre, Stellarton
semi-monthly plus tax
60 month term, 0 down
902-752-4171
www.anchortoyota.ca
ZFREVT AM
FINANCE FOR
0.99%
for 48 months
Earn Aeroplan® Miles on
every new vehicle purchase.
* see dealer for details
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
Sports 11
JUNIOR HOCKEY
Scotians advance, start
showdown with Miners
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
Runners bolt from the starting line on Sunday during the annual Pictou County Hypothermic Half
Marathon that started and finished at the community hall in Little Harbour. About 200 runners
took part in the race that is tabbed as a local community event to promote health and wellness
during the cold winter months. It is also timed six weeks before the annual Boston marathon in
(Brimicombe photo)
April.
FEMALE HOCKEY
Red Wings top Selects 3-1
to win bantam AA banner
PICTOU – The Cole
Harbour Red Wings scored
twice in the third period in
their 3-1 victory over the Pictou
County Subway Selects on
Sunday at Hector Arena to
capture the Hockey Nova
Scotia Female Bantam AA
championship.
The Red Wings took a 1-0
lead in the second period and
led 2-0 before Selects’ leading
scorer Mariah Linehan’s wrist
shot from right wing found the
far top corner to get the Selects
back in the game.
The Red Wings outshot the
Selects 20-14.
It was the second meeting
between the two teams. The
Red Wings handed the Selects
their only other loss by edging
them 3-2 on Saturday. Linehan
and Lindsay Smith scored the
Selects’ goals.
In other preliminary action,
Linehan and Jenna Reid scored
in the Selects’ 2-1 victory over
Glace Bay.
Linehan and Reid each
scored twice in the Selects’ 4-2
triumph against TASA.
Eva Wornell scored both
goals for the Selects as they
Scotians' Brandon Duff circles the Pirates goal for a centring
attempt during the second period of their game last Wednesday
in Trenton. The Scotians won the game 7-1.
(Goodwin photo)
and their third goal with 1:40 left
in the third period.
The Scotians outshot the
Pirates 30-22, with Brandon
MacDonald getting the win in the
Scotians’ goal.
The Scotians retook the lead in
their series with the Pirates as
they scored five goals in the second period last Wednesday and
went on to a 7-1 victory.
The teams played a scoreless
first period, but the Scotians took
advantage of a porous Pirates
defence to take command of the
game.
The Scotians’ offence was well
distributed, with Troy Disipio
scoring twice and Joshua Hartley,
Matthew
Oldfield,
Adam
Downey, Liam Murphy and
James Murphy also scoring.
The Pirates stalled the Scotians’
advance on March 1 with a 4-3
overtime victory in Port
Hawkesbury.
The Scotians led 2-1 in the
second period but needed Ryan
Dunfield’s second goal of the
game late in the third period to
force overtime. Hartley got the
Scotians’ other goal.
BASKETBALL
Lightning win U-12 boys title
Eva Wornell of the host Pictou County Subway Selects controls
the puck beside the Cole Harbour Red Wings goal in the second
period of their championship game on Sunday in Pictou. The
Red Wings won the game 3-1.
(Goodwin photo)
edged the Halifax Hawks 2-1.
The results left Cole
Harbour with a 3-0-1 record,
while the Selects were 3-2,
Glace Bay 2-2, Halifax 1-2-1
and TASA 0-4.
BASKETBALL
Raptors sweep to gold medal
LYONS BROOK – The Pictou
County Raptors Mini Boys
Basketball team took the gold
medal at the 2016 Basketball Nova
Scotia Mini Boys D6 championship they hosted from Friday
through Sunday at West Pictou
Consolidated School.
The Raptors clinched the gold
medal with a 45-16 victory over
TRENTON – The Pictou
County Scotians have advanced to
the next round of the Nova Scotia
Junior Hockey League playoffs.
The Scotians will face the Glace
Bay Miners in the league’s Sid
Rowe Division series after eliminating the Strait Pirates with a 5-3
victory on Friday in Port
Hawkesbury to take their best-ofseven division semifinal series
four games to two.
The Miners and Scotians will
open on Saturday in Glace Bay,
while the Scotians will host the
second game on Sunday. The third
game will be in Glace Bay on
March 16 and the Scotians will
host the fourth game on March 20.
The Miners are slated to host the
fifth game on March 23, while the
sixth and seventh game dates have
not been determined.
The Miners have waited almost
a week to find out who their opponents would be after sweeping the
Cumberland County Blues in four
straight games.
Riley Cameron and Matthew
Papineau scored barely a minute
apart in the first period to give the
Scotians a 2-0 lead.
The Pirates answered with
one goal later in the period, but
the Scotians scored three more
times barely two minutes apart in
the second period on two goals
by Jordan Yochoff and one by
Liam Murphy to give them a 5-1
lead.
The Pirates scored their second goal late in the second period
the Halifax Hurricanes on Sunday
afternoon. They opened on Friday
with a 37-25 victory over the
Dartmouth Lakers. The Raptors
downed the Fall River Rebels
41-11 on Saturday and defeated
the Cole Harbour Rockets 37-13
on Sunday morning.
Coach’s choice awards went to
Caden Ross, Jud Gunning, Cejay
MacKenzie and Tyler MacLean.
Cohen Ross was named tournament most valuable player,
while Bryden MacDonald was
named a tournament all-star.
The Hurricanes won a tiebreaking formula against the
Rockets and Barrington Thrashers
to advance to the championship
game against the Raptors.
NEW GLASGOW – Jack
Skelton was named tournament
most valuable player and
Nathaniel King was named a tournament all-star as the Pictou
County Lightning captured the
Basketball Nova Scotia mini-boys
Under-12 Division 4A championship by defeating the Dartmouth
ABA Celtics 55-45 on Sunday in
the championship game.
The Celtics took a nine-point
lead in the second quarter but the
Lightning struck back with a 19-8
run in the third quarter.
Jamual Izzard led the
Lightning with 12 points, and
Roman Smith had a solid defensive game with six steals. Seth
Fraser won the hustle award with
six points and 10 rebounds.
Hudson MacGregor was the
Lightning’s player of the game.
King netted 12 points and
Skelton was player of the game
with nine points, 17 rebounds
and four steals as the Lightning
got an early lead in their first
game on Friday and never relinquished it in a 35-30 victory over
Members of the Lightning stand with the provincial banner
they captured in Under-12 boys basketball.
(Submitted photo)
the Halifax Hurricanes.
Izzard had a strong defensive
showing with three steals. Roman
Smith won the hustle award.
King meshed 17 points and
Izzard added eight as the
Lightning defeated the Cole
Harbour Rockets 44-35 on
Saturday in a game that was
delayed due to the snowstorm.
Skelton had 12 rebounds and
two steals.
Kalan Sharpe won the hustle
award.
Izzard had 10 points as the
Lightning jumped out to a 22-2
lead against the St. Margaret’s Bay
Slam en route to a 33-17 victory in
their semifinal match. Clark Smith
won the hustle award.
MANAGING YOUR MONEY
ALLAN
Slaunwhite, CFP
allan.slaunwhite@investorsgroup.com
Front row, from left: Aidan Tingley, Cohen Ross, Jordan Cameron
and Caden Ross. Back: coach Maureen MacDonald, Bryden
MacDonald, Braydon George, Tyler MacLean, Jud Gunning and
(Submitted photo)
Cejay MacKenzie.
How do we serve you?
Let’s Count the ways.
CHARCEY
Henderson
charcey.henderson@investorsgroup.com
CRAIG
Mercer, CFP
craig.mercer@investorsgroup.com
• Financialandbusinessadvisory
• AccountingandAuditing
• Taxcomplianceandplanning • Successionandestateplanning
new glasgow | 610 East River Road | B2H 5E5 | T +1 902 752 8393
partner
Wade Taylor, CA
principal
Michael Corkum, CA
senior managers
Kim Livingston, CA
Kelly LaLande, CA
Bradley Barkhouse, BComm
Nathan MacLeod, CA
audit • Tax • advisory
www.grantThornton.ca
JERRY
McGuire, CFP
jerry.mcguire@investorsgroup.com
GERRY
Mercer
gerry.mercer@investorsgroup.com
Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd
This ad prepared by:
ryan edwards
Making retirement financially sustainable
One dictionary definition of “sustainable” is “able to be
maintained” – and it’s something we hear often these days,
mostly in relation to maintaining the ecological balance of
our world. That’s the big picture of sustainability but, on a
very personal level, sustainability is of vital importance to
you. Will your retirement income be sufficient to sustain
the lifestyle you want for all the years of your retirement?
Here are some things to consider as you try to ensure
your financial life is sustainable throughout your retirement.
• Decide when you want to retire If you choose to
retire earlier than age 65, you’ll have fewer years to save to
retirement and more post-retirement years to fund. If you
choose to retire after 65, you can opt to enjoy the tax-saving,
income-building advantages of your Registered Retirement
Savings Plan (RRSP) until the end of the year in which you
turn 71 – and you can further extend RRSP benefits after 71
by continuing to pay into a plan for your spouse who is
younger than 71.
• Decide on your lifestyle What you want to do and
how you want to live in retirement will dictate its cost. Stay
close to home and your costs may be lower. Travel regularly
and your costs may escalate. You may choose to add to your
income by continuing to work full- or part-time, on a contract basis, or even by starting your own business.
• Add up your income from all sources Take stock of
every post-retirement income source, including personal
savings, company pensions, investments held in your
RRSPs, Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), non-registered
investments, and government sources such as the Canada
Pension Plan, Québec Pension Plan (CPP/QPP) and Old
Age Security (OAS).
• Add up your costs Estimate your retirement
spending requirements in three categories:
1. Essential expenses that can’t be reduced.
2. Discretionary expenses you can control.
3. Additional expenses such as healthcare that
typically come along with aging.
Calculate the income you’ll need to cover your essential
and discretionary retirement costs as well as the additional
income you’ll need to cover the ‘extra’ expenses of aging.
• Bridge the gap If there is a shortfall between what
you need and what you have, you should determine the level
and frequency of income you will need via withdrawals from
your registered and other income-producing investments –
and keep in mind that your retirement could span 40 years
or more.
• Reset your strategy If your estimated withdrawal rate
is not sustainable based on projected returns from your
current savings and investments you should reset your
income strategy or reset your retirement plans.
And before doing anything else, talk to your professional advisor – the sustainability expert who can help ensure
your retirement income will maintain for all your retirement years.
This column, written and published by Investors Group Financial
Services Inc. (in Québec – a Financial Services Firm), and Investors Group Securities Inc. (in Québec, a firm in Financial Planning) presents general information only and is not a solicitation to
buy or sell any investments. Contact your own advisor for specific
advice about your circumstances. For more information on this
topic please contact your Investors Group Consultant.
MIKE
MacKean, CFP
michael.mackean@investorsgroup.com
JOHN
McLean
john.mclean@investorsgroup.com
LARRY
Turner
larry.turner@investorsgroup.com
TRUDY
Vince
trudy.vince@investorsgroup.com
P: 902-752-2390
F: 902-752-2370
535 East River Road
New Glasgow
12 Sports
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
Joel Jacobson has
been a 'Bright Spot'
J
oel Jacobson, a colleague of
mine at The Chronicle
Herald for many years, has
been a dear friend for a long, long
time. Probably longer than either
of us care to admit.
We're now both well into
retirement from the provincial
daily – and better off, I'd say,
because of the major labour
troubles that have forced the
paper's skilful reporters and
editors to the picket lines.
Fortunately, we continue to see
each other frequently to talk
about sports, our families and
the other things that guys discuss over lunch.
Like myself, Joel has loved
sports all his life and, on the fun
side, he and I are competitive franchise owners in fantasy hockey
and baseball leagues.
But it's for a completely
different reason I'm talking
about him here.
You see, Joel is one of those
valuable people who can't let go of
helping out in the community, one
of those folks who seems to be
everywhere.
He's a true volunteer.
And anyone who looks around
the Halifax-Dartmouth scene can
see how volunteers play a very
significant, very important role in
their activities.
Four and a half decades ago,
before I even knew him, his primary duties weren't at ball fields,
hockey arenas or basketball courts.
Back then, he worked with his
father in the family's clothing store
on Halifax's Gottingen Street.
But sports had been in his heart
since childhood.
He just couldn't stay away forever and, in a significant career
move, he took on a communications position with the Nova Scotia
Voyageurs, then a franchise in the
American Hockey League. He
loved the job and loved becoming
associated with sports people.
Before we knew it, he became a
reporter at the Herald. Not long
after that, he started producing a
daily column, Bright Spot. And
indeed, it really was a bright spot
– a must read for Nova Scotians.
He wrote on many subjects, and
wrote them well.
Work wasn't his only commitment.
He joined local organizations, including the Halifax
Canadian Progress Club. That's
when he really came to the
fore. The club adopted King's
Meadow, a home for adults
with mental disabilities near
Windsor, as its prime project.
Two of the early believers in a
fundraising idea were Joel and
his close friend Jackie Yablon,
who was similarly involved in a
family business. Together they
proposed a sports celebrity dinner as a way of raising funds for
King's Meadow.
It wasn't easy. First they had to
convince fellow Progress Club
members that it was a feasible
way to proceed.
I remember the first
announcement that a dinner
would be held at the Hotel
Nova Scotian. I had become the
Herald's sports editor just a
month earlier. In my column
the next day, I called it a super
sports event. Indeed, that's
what it turned out to be. Joel's
and Jackie's proposal was an
instant winner.
It succeeded because, from the
beginning, they went after major
sports celebrities to highlight the
front table. Joel's first phone call
tracked down baseball pitcher
Ferguson Jenkins at his Ontario
home and he quickly agreed to
come to Halifax.
And guess who else was a
guest at the inaugural dinner?
None other than baseball star
Pete Rose. Yes, the same one
who still gets into the headlines – but not the hall of fame
– all these years later.
That first dinner was in
February 1973. Some naysayers in
the Progress Club wondered if it
Hugh's Highland View
HUGH TOWNSEND
A New Glasgow native and
Nova Scotia sports journalist
for almost 60 years.
ght1967@gmail.com
was just a one-time success.
How wrong they were.
Just recently, the annual sports
dinner was held once again. It was
the 44th consecutive year for the
event, and it's bigger than ever. It
still attracts headliners to its head
table, and still sells out every
year.
Consider the calibre of superstars that have come to dinner.
Hockey's Gordie Howe,
Maurice (Rocket) Richard,
Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky,
Bobby Hull, Ken Dryden,
Mike Bossy, Phil and Tony
Esposito, Frank Mahovlich
and Darryl Sittler; baseball's
Brooks Robinson, Rod Carew,
Maury Wills, Duke Snider,
Warren
Spahn,
Bobby
Thomson, Andre Dawson,
Carl Yastrzemski, Gary Carter,
Tim Raines, Bob Feller, Lou
Brock and Joe Carter; basketball's Oscar Robinson, Bob
Cousy, Julius Irving and
Dennis Rodman; football's
Angelo Mosca, Joe Thsismann,
Russ Jackson, Sam Etcheverry,
Tony Gabriel and Mike
Clemons; boxing's Floyd
Patterson, Archie Moore,
George Chuvalo, Joe Frazier
and Larry Holmes; wheelchair
sport's Rick Hansen; auto racing's Bobby Unser; and horse
racing's Ron Turcotte.
Meanwhile, Joel's still at it.
After serving as co-chairman
with Yablon each of the first three
years, he's still helping the effort in
whatever way he can.
Jacobson's volunteering doesn't
start and end with the dinner. Not
by a long shot.
For many years, as a member of the organizing committee, he has coordinated the
media's involvement with the
AUS basketball championships when they're held in
Halifax. He has done the same
anytime the national tournament has come here. He loves
basketball, and being around
basketball, so that's certainly
not work to him.
Later this month, the CIS hockey championships are being held
at Scotiabank Centre and, of
course, Joel is working on the
organizing
committee.
He
wouldn't have it any other way.
In another ongoing volunteer
effort, he helps the Nova Scotia
Sport Hall of Fame in several
ways, most particularly with its
newsletter and annual induction ceremonies.
I'm sure long-time Pictou
County readers of The Chronicle
Herald, like those across the province, can relate to Joel Jacobson's
byline. He wrote about so many
people, from communities large
and small, that most Nova
Scotians would have known
many of his subjects.
But if I asked him to comment about his own efforts, I'm
sure he'd shy away just as
quickly as when I approach
him with a trade offer in our
fantasy leagues.
But, admit it or not, he's
been a “Bright Spot” on the
provincial scene ever since he
left the family's clothing business to enjoy the challenging
world of journalism.
www.pictouadvocate.com
BASKETBALL
County players in alumni tourney
SYDNEY MINES – Aron
Ashton is about to realize his
wish to form a team that includes
Pictou County players for an
alumni basketball tournament.
The team has been assembled
for the fifth annual Simon
Chaisson alumni tournament
being played from March 18 to
20 in three facilities in the Cape
Breton Regional Municipality.
It will be the biggest year yet
for the tournament, which started with six men’s teams in 2012.
Now there are 17 teams in three
divisions; Men’s Under-35, and
men’s and women’s 35 and
over.
Ashton is currently a health
educator in Cape Breton and
resides in Sydney Mines. He is a
former East Pictou Blue Eagle,
having graduated from East
Pictou Rural High. Years of trying to bring together enough
former Blue Eagles for a team
morphed into a search for players from elsewhere to complement the East Pictou alumni
Ashton could assemble.
Ashton will be joined on the
team by fellow EP alumni Brad
MacGregor and Allan Hines, five
Antigonish players and two
alternates. It is among four teams
in the men’s 35 and over division.
“This tournament has grown
in popularity over the years and
this year we’ve reached a manageable capacity, based on the
fact that it is led by volunteers,”
Ashton said. “Having graduated
from East Pictou, it has been a
goal of mine to register a team
from East Pictou but with the
consolidation of schools, finding
the players that would represent
specifically the EP Blue Eagles is
very challenging, so I went for
one better and decided to reach
out to my buddies from the New
Glasgow men’s league and guys
that I competed against during
my high school years. I am really
trying to grow this tournament
to the far reaching levels of the
province and ultimately, all over
Canada.”
Ashton’s research has shown
the Simon to be the biggest co-ed
alumni basketball tournament in
Atlantic Canada, and potentially
the biggest in Canada.
The tournament honours the
memory of Simon Chiasson, who
was well respected in his community and who quickly made a
name for himself in the basketball community as a player,
coach and organizer. His grass
roots approach to basketball
began many years ago and leading many camps, not to mention
initiating a men’s recreation
league in the 1970’s in Sydney
Mines.
Proceeds from last year’s
event went to Community Cares
Youth Outreach in Sydney
Mines. This year, the event will
raise funds and awareness for
the Whitney Pier Boys and Girls
Youth Club of Canada.
the second annual Ship Hector
Scottish
Heritage
championship took place last
weekend in Pictou. top left
photo: annika Murray, right,
of Green Hill stands with Beth
nicholson, presenter of the
Jeana
english
Memorial
award. top right photo: this
year’s winner of the debbie
robson Memorial award was
erin Gilfoy. left photo: the
winners of Jeana’s jig dance
competition in memory of
Pictou county dancer Jeana
english were, from left: erin
Gilfoy, Zoe Macisaac, drea
Shepherd and emma Hines of
Pictou county and Madison
(Brimicombe photos)
Hunt.
BASKETBALL
Lightning take silver medals in U-12 final
NEW GLASGOW – The
Pictou
County
Lightning
secured silver medals last weekend in the Basketball Nova
Scotia Mini Girls Under-12
Division championship.
The Windsor Shooting Stars
Spring hoop
league slated
STELLARTON – The Pictou
County Basketball Association is
offering its second annual spring
league.
Spots are limited, with two
hours of formal registration starting at 6 p.m. on March 12 and 13 at
the Pictou County Wellness
Centre.
Players can access pclightning@eastlink.ca to pre-register.
The league is for girls in grades
4 to 6, boys in grades 4 to 6 and
girls and boys in grades 2 and 3.
Games will be played at G.R.
Saunders School and Nova Scotia
Community college gyms in
Stellarton and at Pictou Academy.
Pictou county Special olympics
athlete daniel Martin captured
two gold medals for team
nova Scotia at the canadian
Special olympics Winter
Games in corner Brook, n.l.
on Saturday. Martin won gold
in the 800-metre and 1,600metre snowshoe races. team
nova Scotia had 35 athletes
competing at the Games and
took home a total of 27 medals (13 gold, eight silver and
six bronze).
(Submitted photo)
defeated the Lightning 35-32 in
overtime to take top honours.
The player of the game award
went to Emily MacNeil and the
hustle award went to Jesse Maxner.
Ashley Arbuckle was named to
the tournament all-star team.
In the semifinal game the
Lightning defeated the first seed
Halifax Slam 32-27. Player of the
game went to Chelsea Campbell
and the hustle award went to
Kelsey Douthwright.
The Lightning defeated the
second seed Sackville Storm
34-33 to get into the crossovers.
Player of the game went to Sarah
Fast and the hustle award went
to Mattea Miller.
The Lightning lost to Oxford in
their first game 36-32.
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
Community 13
Eclectic spring lineup
for Glasgow Square
NEW GLASGOW – Glasgow
Square has announced a spring
lineup that includes everything
from music to dance and everything in between.
“We are very excited to host
such an eclectic and high calibre
line up for the spring season, “
says Carlton Munroe, Program &
Events manager for the Town of
New Glasgow.
“The Square is going to be
bursting with music, theatre and
dance. We are proud to offer top
notch East Coast talent along with
local performances and talent that
rivals the best in the province.”
Kicking off the new season on
April 2 is singer-songwriter
Ashley George of Pictou who is
releasing a new acoustic CD, “The
Puzzle,” in a performance at the
Green Room.
The first show on the theatre
stage is ECMA winning singer,
songwriter, musician and educator Erin Costelo, who will be
accompanied by the North Nova
Education Centre Choir in a special presentation on April 9. A
donation from proceeds of the
show will go to support Pictou
County Safe Harbour and CAIRN,
for Syrian families coming to
Pictou County.
May opens with the return of
award winning comedian Mike
MacDonald on May 6. Heather
Rankin, one of the most recognizable voices and faces of East Coast
music ever, also returns to the
stage in May. Rankin will co-host
the ECMAs in Sydney next
month, then hits the road for a
Alysha MacKenzie and Gillian Wyatt learn how to make apple crisp and sweet and sour pork
from Bambalina Cameron, a food mentor with the Kids First Food Mentoring program.
Heather Rankin, left, and Lacey Morrell
series of shows in May with Kim
Dunn, including a stop at Glasgow
Square on May 11.
Pictou County Pop Classics
takes to the stage May 13 with
more than 40 local musicians collaborating to produce a tribute to
the 1970s that will feature more
than 40 classics from the decade
known as the ‘golden age of
vinyl’.
Pictou County’s own Lacey
Morrell will perform at a CD
release show on May 19 for her
new recording “Heartland,” produced by JP Cormier.
On May 25, the “finest band in
the land,”, the Stadacona Band,
returns to perform a mix of standards and contemporary music
in support of Carmichael Stewart
House Museum. May 27 and 28
marks the sixth annual Miss
Carla’s Dance Recital, with three
performances over two days.
June opens with a show for
guitar fans – Honky Tonk Blues
Night on June 2, featuring three
of the most exciting guitarists in
Nova Scotia together – Christine
Campbell, John Campbelljohn
and Ryan Cook.
The season wraps up with
New Glasgow Youth Theatre
Society’s production of “Alice in
Wonderland – Urban Edition” on
June 3 and 4, with the second
performance on night two, a dinner theatre.
Tickets for all performances
may be purchased at Glasgow
Square Box Office.
Cadets are closer to ship shape
By Aaron Cameron
aaroncameron@pictouadvocate.com
The RCSCC Admiral Murray
87 Sea Cadets are one step closer to being ship shape, following a meeting on March 1.
Leading into the meeting,
the sea cadets faced the need to
create a Navy Branch League a
sponsorship body to oversee a
number of things including
recruitment and fundraising
initiatives. The meeting also
analyzed the need to restructure the corp's chain of command as current commanding
officer, Lt. Kenneth Penny, will
be relocating from Truro to the
South Shore making his ability
to remain involved with the
New Glasgow-based outfit dif-
ficult.
As a result of last week's
meeting, Lt. Melissa Carrigan
will be stepping into a CO role
with the 87 Sea Cadets while
Erik Kowalski, Jenelle Walsh,
and Chris Samborski stepped
forward with intent to create
the Navy Branch League.
The absence of a Navy
Branch League for the 87 Sea
Cadets was previously established by Lt. Penny to be hand
in hand with the decline of
cadet numbers. The 87 Sea
Cadets currently sit at 12 members where 40 cadets is more in
line with membership norms.
While the meeting was
attended by a number of interested parties, including two
members of the Rotary Club
which sponsors the cadets,
By Steve Goodwin
steve@pictouadvocate.com
PICTOU – Extending water
and sewer lines to Magic Valley
Fun Park remains uncertain.
County Council is still awaiting Department of Environment
approval of an extension of the
current line to where Pleasant
Valley intersects Route 4 in
Green Hill so that its application
for a permit from the Department
of
Transportation
and
Infrastructure Renewal can be
processed.
Council has also been waiting for a formal proposal from
the theme park’s owners to
extend it to their property.
New Glasgow residents Bill
and Celeste MacNeil own the
operation and have sought
access to water and sewer services to improve their water
supply and further develop the
park.
Coun. David Parker said
there have been informal discussions, but no formal proposal
has been received.
In his recent report to council
on behalf of the property ser-
vices committee he chairs,
Parker said the matter will
require further meetings before
proceeding.
The extension’s estimated
cost is $195,000. Besides water
and sewer lines, the extension
would require an extra booster
station to extend the water line
to the theme park property in
order to achieve sufficient water
pressure.
“It’s up to the developer to
make a proposal, but we haven’t
heard from them,” he said.
Bill MacNeil said previously
that his son Brad could excavate to the end of the property
closest to the road if the county
would extend the line that far.
He said he has not contacted
the county office and, over time,
has been weighing his options
regarding the park’s future.
“We need good water and
we need more people,” he said.
“There’s a lot of things to consider.”
He said the presence of geese
on the property has also been a
problem.
Magic Valley opened in 1971
and expanded in 1984. It is
open daily during the tourist
Food mentoring provides variety
By Debbi Harvie
debbiharvie@pictouadvocate.com
PICTOU – The sweet smell of
apples and cinnamon wafted
through First Presbyterian
Church in Pictou as apple crisp
sat warming in the oven.
On the menu was sweet and
sour pork with rice and apple
crisp for dessert.
The occasion? The Kids First
Food Mentoring program. Once a
week for a six week period, selected mothers bring their little ones
to the church while they learn
about food preparation and make
a delicious meal to take home.
The program is new to Pictou
and Kids First selects a handful of
women they feel would benefit
from a healthy cooking class for
their families to take part.
Bambalina Cameron is one of
the food mentors for the pro-
there was a notable absence of
cadet parents in attendance.
John Philips with the
Regional Cadets Support Unit
explained that the organization
of a sea cadet corps requires
“two streams”– a military
stream and a civilian stream, in
the form of a Navy Branch
League. The non-existance of
an NBL for the 87 Sea Cadets
meant that the cadets had no
civilian oversight while an
additional workload and set of
responsibilities were being
placed on the CO.
Tuesday, March 15, at 6:30
p.m. will see an additional
meeting detailing the formation of a Navy Branch League
with Philips stating that all
with an interest in taking part
are welcomed to attend.
Water line extension project
to Magic Valley remains stalled
season.
It markets itself as Nova
Scotia’s original and largest privately owned themed family
amusement park.
It is located on more than 25
acres and includes eight amusement rides, a pool, waterslides,
boats, a train ride, an 18-hole
mini-golf course and a storybook village.
The Green Hill extension is
among several projects in various stages of advancement.
Parker reported a preliminary design has been completed
for the Smith’s Lane sewer
extension in Abercrombie.
Drawings for the Hopewell
wastewater extension are also
complete.
Alternatives have been discussed for advancing the second
phase of the sewer project in
Plymouth and MacLellan’s
Brook.
Parker said Elshirl Road and
parts of River Road and
Plymouth Park Road in
Plymouth and the start of
MacLellan’s Brook Road before
the first lift station have been
identified as potential service
areas.
Visit www.pictouadvocate.com
for more news
(Harvie photo)
gram.
“I used to go to Kids First
(with her children) and then I
became a child development
worker there. Then the opportunity came up to become a food
mentor,” she explains. “I love it, I
love what we do here and that
people are taking this knowledge
home and using it.”
This particular program consists of one-pot meals that can
easily be transferred to a slow
cooker.
Alysha MacKenzie learned
about the program through
Facebook and Gillian Wyatt
learned about it through attending Kids First.
“I was excited to learn to cook
new food, it was something different for my family,” says
Wyatt.
The best part for both was that
the program is completely free.
“It’s amazing that we get to
come for free, we learn and there’s
child care while we are here and
the teachers are wonderful,”
notes Wyatt.
MacKenzie says she is getting
a lot out of the program.
Wyatt adds, “There’s a lot of
information aside from just the
meals, we learn about refrigeration and freezing food and food
preparation and safety.”
Cameron adds, “We pick a
different topic each week to
review.”
Both agree that the menu that
day was the best so far. “It’s always
something nice and it’s really nice
to have that variety and get to take
it home,” says Wyatt.
All of the food preparation is
done at the church and then the
meals go home with the women
for their families.
“I enjoy the socializing,” says
MacKenzie, adding it’s somewhere they can take their children
and have them looked after while
they learn something new.
Teams prepare to hear
this year’s question for
the annual Challenge
NS. This is the second
year that the Nova
Scotia Community
College Pictou campus
has taken part in the
province wide team
challenge.
(Brimicombe photo)
14
Community
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
March Break
F
rom science fun to sports,
insects to books, there is
truly something for everyone of
all ages in Pictou County this
March Break.
Take your best shot and get
active with “Sportstatistic” at the
Museum of Industry during the
annual school closure, March 12
to 20.
Shoot for goal at a soccer net
and slam-dunk the competition
with basketball hoops. Set a personal best during a dryland-training boot camp challenge obstacle
course.
You shoot, you score in the
museum's fast-paced knee hockey
game, and fun is par for the course
on the mini-putt golf course.
Children aged five and under
can get in the game and enjoy
colouring tables, Lego and soft
building blocks in the museum's
small kids area. They can also
build and decorate their very own
cut-out sports jersey.
Museum visitors will see lots
of local sports memorabilia like
vintage goalie masks, trophies,
baseball gloves and photos of athletes from the past, including New
Glasgow’s women’s hockey team
in 1900.
Don’t sit on the sidelines this
March Break. If you’re a sports
fan, the Museum of Industry
wants you on their team!
On the museum's roster this
March Break are the following
activities:
►Sports Stations
►Basketball
►Soccer
►Boot Camp Obstacle Course
►Mini Hockey
►Mini-Putt Golf Course
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Visitors will also be given the
opportunity to design their own
team logo and colours, then decorate a cut-out sports jersey to take
home.
►Lego Table Play, Build,
Imagine!
►Kid’s Train Always lots of
fun.
►Sports Treasure Hunt –
Search the galleries for clues and
answers to win a prize.
New this year is the Virtual
Sandbox. Build mountains and
valleys, rivers and lakes and
watch as the topography changes
as visitors move the sand picture.
There is also a Small Kids Area
for children age five and under.
WesTVILLe
LIBrAry
Other events are happening all
March Break long at various venues in Pictou County.
At the Westville Library, children can enjoy Games Fun with
the Xbox One and board games.
Drop into the library during open
hours March 15 through 19. Stop
by the library to play games ‘old
school' with some family board
games or with the library’s Xbox
One.
sTeLLArTon
LIBrAry
Magazine Scavenger Hunt
from Tuesday, Mar 15 to Saturday,
March 19. A hide and seek game
with magazines will take place
everyday and kids will be given a
sheet with a list of things to find in
magazines. They'll cut them out
and glue them to paper. Stop in
and get creative with a special
magazine collage. For info call the
library.
rIVer John
LIBrAry
Drop by and join the staff at
the River John Library all week
long for March Break activities.
There will be a new craft each
day! For more information, please
contact the River John Library
(902) 351-2599.
neW GLAsGoW
recreATIon
New Glasgow Recreation is
hosting a March Break Camp,
March 14-18 at the North End
Recreation Centre this year with
leaders preparing themed activities each day from 8:30 a.m.-4:30
p.m. for children ages six to 11
years. The camp is designed to
give children fun-filled days and
to provide parents who are working during March Break with a
new option for activities for their
children to participate in. Contact
(902) 755-8363 to reserve your
space -$30 per child.
TrenTon
LIBrAry
Join the staff at the Trenton
Library all week long for March
Break activities with a new craft
each day.
ToWn oF
WesTVILLe
The town of Westville is hosting a March Break Camp from
March 14 to 18 running each day
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for ages
five to 12. Those interested in
signing up can register by calling
902-396-1500 or emailing bevheighton@westville.ca. The camp
costs $50 per child and involves
both indoor and outdoor activities,
weather
permitting.
Registration is open until the first
morning of camp.
oTher
eVenTs
The Pictou County Women's
Resource & Sexual Assault Centre
in New Glasgow is offering a selfesteem March Break camp for
girls ages none to 12 years old. For
additional information, contact
the centre by phone at 902-7554647 Monday through Friday, 9
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday, March 14
►Bouncy house and balloon animal sculpting are in
store for visitors to Funtopia,
Stellarton, running 1-5 p.m.
►Mystery Monday at the
Fisheries Training Pool in
Pictou 1-3 p.m. $2. What kind
of sea creatures are lurking
about? Dive in, find out. Daily
prize draws.
►Newfoundland
Insectarium in the centre court of
the Highland Square Mall,
New Glasgow.
Tuesday, March 15
►Things are going to get
slimy at the Westville Library
with Slimy Science workshop
starting at 2 p.m. Be prepared
to get messy as you make your
scientific and gooey creation
come to life.
►Marshmallows and toothpick shape building are in store
at Funtopia, 1-4 p.m.
►Triumphant Tuesday at
the Fisheries Training Pool in
Pictou 1-3 p.m. $2. Collect your
clues and go on a treasure hunt.
Daily prize draws.
►Newfoundland
Insectarium in the centre court of
the Highland Square Mall.
►Maker Break 10-11 a.m.
New Glasgow Library. Suitable
for ages three to eight, registration is required.
►St. Patrick's Day puppet
shows 'The Leprechaun's Gold'
and 'Luck of the Irish' (registra-
The Museum of Industry in Stellarton will be displaying items loaned by the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame during
March Break. Viewing some of the items, from left, are: Andrew Phillips, the museum’s curator of education and public programs,
(Goodwin photo)
Erika Smith, curator of collections and Hall of Fame volunteer Barry Trenholm.
tion required), 1-2 p.m., Pictou
Library.
►Shamrock Science (registration required) 2-4 p.m.,
Pictou Library.
►Slimy Science (all ages,
drop-in), 2-3 p.m., Westville
Library. Be dressed for some
mess and get inventive.
►Lego Challenge at the
Stellarton Library all day. Drop
in, for all ages with a special
Star Wars theme.
Wednesday, March 16
►Minecraft Mania at the
Westville Library, 2 p.m.
Explore and build your own
Minecraft paradise.
►Enjoy movie day and
popcorn at Funtopia, 10 a.m.
and 3 p.m. for minors.
►Wild Wednesday at the
Fisheries Training Pool in
Pictou 1-3 p.m. $2. Music, races
and obstacles. Daily prize
draws.
►Newfoundland Insectarium in the centre court of
the Highland Square Mall.
►Claymation day camp at
New Glasgow Library from
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with
lunch break from 12-1 p.m.
Children will make a short
claymation/stop-motion animation video. Registration is
required. Suitable for ages
eight and up.
►Karigami at the New
Glasgow Library, ages eight
and up. Registration required.
►Fingerprint art at the
Stellarton Library.
►St. Patrick's Day craft 2-3
p.m. Pictou Library.
Thursday, March 17
►Westville Library presents a special St. Patrick’s Day
storytime and craft, 2 p.m.
►It’s costume and jersey
day at Funtopia. Wear one to
win a prize.
►Thrilling Thursday at the
Fisheries Training Pool in
Pictou 1-3 p.m. $2. Test yourself; take the Swim to Survive
Challenge. Daily prize draws.
►Mariokart tournament
hosted by EB Games runs 11
a.m.-1 p.m. at the former
Panhandler store at the
Highland Square Mall.
►Inflatable obstacle course
1-3 p.m. at the Canadian Tire
Court at the Highland Square
Mall.
►Techie Thursday at the
New Glasgow Library with 3D
printer, MaKey MaKey and littleBits 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-2
p.m. Suitable for ages eight and
up. Registration required.
►Build your own tinker toy
at Stellarton Library. Drop in
all day.
►Minecraft Fun at the
Stellarton Library 12 p.m. and 1
p.m. Registration is required.
►Artisans Day at the River
John Library, 2-5 p.m.
►St. Patrick's Day bingo
and scavenger hunt at the
Pictou Library, 2 p.m.
►St. Patrick's Day Family
Storytime at the Westville
Library, 2-3 p.m.
►March Break PJ Party at
the Pictou Library, running
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 18
►Channel your inner artist
on canvas with Art Attack at
the Westville Library, beginning at 2 p.m. Registration must
be done in advance as space
and supplies are limited.
►Visitors to Funtopia can
have their nails painted as well
as their face, 2-4 p.m.
►Friendly Friday at the
Fisheries Training Pool in
Pictou 1-3 p.m. $2. Bring a
friend for free. Mystical light
swim. Daily prize draws.
►Kids Story Time hosted
by Coles. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. in the
Canadian Tire Court at the
Highland Square Mall.
►RAZZMATAZZ
children’s entertainers will perform at 2 p.m. in the Canadian
Tire Court at the Highland
Square Mall.
►Jack McRabbit arrives at 4
p.m. in centre court at the
Highland Square Mall.
►Munsch Mania at the
New Glasgow Library 3:304:30 p.m. Registration is
required for the play, some
stories, crafts and games. For
ages four to eight.
►Star Wars Party at the
New Glasgow Library 6 p.m.
Ages six and up.
►Beading Day at the
Stellarton Library. Drop in all
day.
►MaKey MaKey for ages
eight and up at the Stellarton
Library.
Registration
is
required.
►Easter Egg decorating at
the Pictou Library, 10:30-11:30
a.m. Registration is required.
►Easter Craft Creation at
the Pictou Library, 2-3 p.m.
Registration is required.
Saturday, March 19
►Enjoy a glow-in-the-dark
party at Funtopia, 11 a.m.-12
p.m. for ages five and under,
2-3 p.m. for ages six and
older.
►Minecraft with Matt at
the New Glasgow Library. 11
a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-2 p.m. Ages
six and up.
►Learn to Knit at the New
Glasgow Library, beginning at
2:30 p.m. Suitable for all ages.
►Imagination Saturday at
the Stellarton Library as well
as the libraries in Westville
and River John. Drop in all
day.
►Easter Party at the Pictou
Library, 2-3 p.m.
Sunday, March 20
►It’s PJs with Elmo at
Funtopia, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Pictou County
REAL ESTATE GUIDE
OPEN HOUSES
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Results Realty Atlantic Inc.
902-752-7227
232 Acadia Street New Glasgow
12-1 pm
89 Marsh Road Coalburn
1:30-2:30 pm
Sunday, March 13, 2016
J F MacIvor Properties
902-755-4250
17 MacLaren Avenue, New Glasgow
Sunrise Brokerage & Sales Ltd
1-844-376-HOME
24 Belmont Avenue, Stellarton
2-3 pm
1:30-3 pm
Results Realty Atlantic Inc.
902-752-7227
222 Washington St, New Glasgow
1-2 pm
11 Kestrel Ridge, New Glasgow
1-2 pm
10474 Sherbrooke Rd, Priestville 2:30-3:30 pm
177 Shore Road, Merigomish
3-4 pm
249 Faulkland Street, Pictou
4-5 pm
Sunday, March 13, 2016
HLM Realties Limited
902-752-8335
372 Mark Road, Riverton
1-2 pm
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Results Realty Atlantic Inc.
902-752-7227
10 Summit Ave, New Glasgow
1-2 pm
201 Cedar St, New Glasgow
2:30-3:30 pm
124 Cedar St, New Glasgow
2:30-3:30 pm
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Results Realty Atlantic Inc.
902-752-7227
16 Faulkland Street, Pictou
1-2 pm
254 Willow St, New Glasgow
2:30-3:30 pm
TO SEE MORE OPEN HOUSES AND
PROPERTIES FOR SALE
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
WHERE TO FIND THE PICTOU COUNTY REAL ESTATE GUIDE
WESTVILLE – Scotiabank • STELLARTON – Scotiabank • New Glasgow – MacIvor
Realties, Coldwell Banker, Sunrise Brokerage, Central Home Improvement Warehouse,
Proudfoots, HLM Realties, Scotiabank West Side, Abercrombie Video and Convenience
• Trenton – Cornish’s Variety • Pictou - HLM Realties, Proudfoots, Sunrise Brokerage, The Advocate
Always online at www.pictouadvocate.com
To Advertise in our monthly Pictou County Real Estate Guide contact us at 902-485-8014.
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
adventures
Community
15
• March Break Hockey Tournaments •
March Break minor hockey
tourney starts Saturday
Debert at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday
and 9 a.m. on Sunday. The top
two teams will contest the championship game at 2 p.m.
The Bantam B and C divisions
will be contested on Monday and
Tuesday.
Championship games will be
played for the Bantam C title at
4:45 p.m. and for the Bantam B
banner at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Teams from Trenton and
ARE YOU A
NEWS HOUND?
Do you have an interesting photo you’d like to submit to the paper?
If so e-mail your hi-resolution photo, along with a brief description,
your name and phone number to editor@pictouadvocate.com
Westville are in the Bantam B
Division.
Atom B and Peewee C teams
will play on March 16 and 17.
Trenton is among four teams in
the Peewee C Division. Teams
from Trenton, Stellarton, Thorburn
and Westville are among those in
the Atom B Division.
Novice teams in various divisions will wind up the tournament
from March 18 to 20.
March Break Camp
in New Glasgow
$30 for the week
Sign your children ages 6-11 up for CAMP
at the North End Recreation Centre
Phone (902) 755-8363 for details
www.newglasgow.ca
FUN events happening
all week at the
New Glasgow Library:
Maker Breaker!
485-8014
Crafts, Claymation, Kirigami, Techie Thursday,
Munsch Mania, Star Wars Party, Minecraft & Learn to Knit
Visit www.parl.ns.ca for times/details
Pictou Fisheries Training Pool
TRENTON – The annual
March Break minor hockey tournament will be played in three
segments this year, starting with
the Midget C Division on Saturday
and Sunday.
The host Trenton Steelers will
play a double round-robin format
with teams from Antigonish and
Debert. Trenton is playing
Antigonish at 9 a.m. on Saturday
and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday and
March Break Fun
at the pool
Daily Toonie Swims: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
MYSTERY MONDAY
TRIUMPHANT TUESDAY
WILD WEDNESDAY
THRILLING THURSDAY
FRIENDLY FRIDAY
DAILY PRIZE DRAWS
March 14
What kind of sea creatures
are lurking about?
Dive in, Find out.
March 17
Test yourself; take the SWIM
TO SURVIVE Challenge.
March 15
Collect your clues and go
on a treasure hunt.
March 18
Bring a friend for free.
Mystical light swim.
March 16
Music, races, obstacles
Check it out and get
moving.
Enter and Win
COOL STUFF !!
FOR DETAILS CALL DONNA AT THE POOL 902-485-5301
16 Classifieds
Classifieds
The
Advocate
The
Advocate
March
2016
March
9,9,
2016
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION: BULLETIN
Branch #16, Pictou, NS
Legion Entertainment for Members and invited guests.
N.S.L.C. ID’s upon request
Every Monday Night Bingo:
Mini Bingo
Reg. Bingo
Starts at 7:00 p.m.
Starts at 7:45 p.m.
JACKPOT $650 in 54#’s or less
BONANZA $800 in 50#’s or less. BOTTLE $0+
Executive Meeting: Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Karaoke with Mike Lees: Thursday from 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. Admission - $3
Pre-teen Dance: Friday from 7 - 9 p.m. Admission - $2
Chase the Ace: Friday 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Steak Darts: Saturday 2 - 4 p.m. Meat Roll: Sunday 2 - 4 p.m.
APARTMENT
FOR RENT
TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT:
Quiet country setting, central
Pictou County, five minutes from
town. Includes FSWD. $560,
plus utilities. Call 902-456-4594
or 902-861-1537.
NOW RENTING
NEWLY RENOVATED
TOWN HOUSES
with decks
ONE MONTH FREE
2 and 3 Bedroom units
AVAILABLE
Laundry facilities on site
RENT STARTING AT $525
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact 902-485-4997
FOR RENT
Pictou: One bedroom, heated
furnished, centrally located.
902-921-0468
APARTMENT
FOR RENT
Beautiful executive
apartment located less
than ½ km from rotary in
Pictou. Must see!
$1,200/month, includes
all utilities, snow removal,
landscaping, heat and lights.
Available March 1.
902-396-6685
APARTMENT
FOR RENT
Two bedroom apartment,
ideal for a senior, in a one
level building on
Palmerston St., Pictou.
Four appliances included.
Rent $700/month
plus security deposit.
No pets. Available March 1.
Phone: 902-485-3491
BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES
NEW EXCITING MINI VLT'S.
Produce Buckets of Cash
Monthly. Attracts Customers Like
Money Magnets. Locations
Provided.
Ground
Floor
Opportunity. Full Details CALL
NOW 1-866-668-6629. Website
WWW.TCVEND.COM
CAREER TRAINING
H E A L T H C A R E
D O C U M E N T A T I O N
SPECIALISTS are in huge
demand.
Employers
want
CanScribe graduates. A great
work-from-home career! Train
with Canada's best-rated program. Enroll today. www.canscribe.com. 1.800.466.1535.
info@canscribe.com
www.pictouadvocate.com
www.pictouadvocate.com
GIANT FLEA MARKET
ABERDEEN SHOPPING CENTRE, NEW GLASGOW
(Former Central Supplies Building - 72,000 sq. ft.)
INDOOR/OUTDOOR
- EVERY SUNDAY -
Vendors 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. • Shoppers 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Private and commercial vendors welcome. Vendors may leave goods on site.
ALL TABLES $12
For info and booking: (902) 695-5631
FOR SALE
If you have a
story idea or would
like media coverage
REFORESTATION NURSERY
SEEDLINGS of hardy trees,
shrubs, & berries for shelterbelts
or landscaping. Spruce & Pine
from $0.99/tree. Free shipping.
Replacement guarantee. 1-866873-3846 or www.treetime.ca.
SAWMILLS from only $4,397MAKE MONEY & SAVE MONEY
with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimensions. In stock
ready to ship. FREE info and
DVD. www.NorwoodSawmills.
com/400OT 1-800-566-6899
Ext:400OT
HEALTH
CANADA BENEFIT GROUP- Do
you or someone you know suffer
from a disability? Get up to
$40,000 from the Canadian
Government. Toll-free 1-888511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/free-assessment
Do you have a DISABILITY?
Physical or mental. We can help
you get up to $40,000 back from
the Canadian Government. FOR
DETAILS check out our website:
disabilitygroupcanada.com or
CALL us today Toll-Free 1-888875-4787.
EMPLOYMENT
PETERS BROS. PAVING, south
Okanagan paving company
seeking experienced paving personnel (Min. 3 years) for their
highway division throughout BC.
Relocation allowance may be
available. Competitive wage
$20.00 to $30.00 per hour plus
benefits, full time seasonal.
Please send resume to petersbros@shaw.ca
TRAVEL/
VACATION
SERVICES
SAVE 30% on our Heart of the
Arctic adventure. Visit Inuit communities in Greenland and
Nunavut aboard the comfortable
198passenger
Ocean
Endeavour. CALL FOR DETAILS!
1-800-363-7566 or visit: www.
adventurecanada.com
(TICO#04001400)
WANTED TO BUY
ANTIQUES: Pantry cupboards,
tables, old furniture, military items,
musical instruments, old books,
old toys, ship paintings and other
old paintings and old advertising
signs, etc. John Marshall Antiques.
Call, write or visit 65 Provost Street,
New Glasgow, NS B2H 2P5. 902755-4055. Email: john.marshall.
antiques@gmail.com
RESERVE
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
10 AM-2 PM
EXHIBITION
PANCAKE BRUNCH
FOR RENT
Three bedroom duplex(s), large yard,
near elementary school. Pets welcome,
non-smoking. $635/month, plus utilities.
Maintenance skills an asset.
Now accepting applications.
Please call 902-485-4433 for application.
at your event
call Steve at
(902) 301-0724
NOTICE
The Annual Meeting of the
Lyons Brook Community Hall
will be held Tuesday, March 22,
at 7 p.m. at the hall.
Everyone welcome.
DISTRICT 5 RATEPAYERS MEETING
Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m.
Bethel Presbyterian Church Hall, Scotsburn
1. Councillor’s Report
2. Municipal Service Grants
(submit in advance)
3. MOU/ Amalgamation Questions
Signed, Councillor Robert Parker
902-925-2240
DISTRICT 3 ANNUAL
RATEPAYERS MEETING
will take place 7:00 p.m. at
Caribou Fire Hall March 15TH 2016.
RCMP will be present to discuss rural policing
issues in Pictou County and answer any questions.
Service Grants will be addressed.
St. Patrick’s Dance
March 12th 8 p.m. - 12 a.m.
Music by Mike Lees
Shared Lunch $5.00/per person
For more information phone
902-485-5790
Sadie Helen Rae
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
Branch #16, Pictou, NS
The family of the late Sadie Helen Rae, Lyons Brook/Valley View
Villa wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to all family members
and friends for the kindness and support following the recent loss
of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister.
Legion Entertainment for Members and invited guests.
N.S.L.C. ID’s upon request
To everyone who offered condolences by visits, phone calls,
HPDLOVIRRGGRQDWLRQVDQGÀRZHUV\RXUFRPIRUWLQJZRUGV
and kindness will never be forgotten.
To place a
CLASSIFIED AD
call 902-485-8014
Special thanks to family Doctors Gordon Young and Cheryl Smith
for their care over the years.
7KDQN\RXWR(+6'U(ULF6PLWK(56WDIIWKÀRRU7&8VWDII
and Valley View Villa staff. Jacqueline and Philip from Palliative
Care, your compassion and support was greatly appreciated.
5HY-LP:HEEHU&RRN\RXUEHDXWLIXOVHUYLFHPDQ\YLVLWVDWKRPH
at the hospital and the Valley View Villa was greatly appreciated.
In Memoriam
FLEURY
In loving memory of Harold Fleury
who passed away March 10, 2004.
His smiling way and pleasant face are a pleasure to recall,
He had a kindly word for each and died beloved by all.
We hope to meet him some day, we know not when.
To clasp his hand in the better land never to part again.
Love always, your boys and families
C & J MARTIN
Well Drilling Co. Ltd.
o/VERYEARSEXPERIENCE
o'EOTHERMAL$RILLING
o0UMP3ALES3ERVICE
o2ESIDENTIAL#OMMERCIAL
o'UARANTEED7ORKMANSHIP
o&REE%STIMATES
Stellarton, N.S.
Phone: 902-752-4172
Toll Free 1-888-377-WELL (9355)
G&G Music Store
Dealer for New & Used
Music Equipment
Monday - Thursday 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. ONLY
s$RUMSs'UITARSs!MPSs0IANOS
s#ELTIC)NSTRUMENTSs&IDDLES
s0!%QUIPMENTs"RASS)NSTRUMENTS
s$*%QUIPMENTANDMUCHMORE
EXCLUSIVE DEALER
for Lakewood, Martin
Guitars and much more
902-863-1657
ANTIGONISH - OFF HWY 7
HOW TO PLACE YOUR
CLASSIFIED AD
PLACE IT IN PERSON! at 21 George Street, Pictou
PLACE IT BY MAIL! to PO Box 1000, Pictou, NS B0K 1HO (Att: Classifieds)
PLACE IT BY PHONE! call 902-485-8014, ext. 1101.
PLACE IT BY EMAIL! to marjorie@pictouadvocate.com
Classified Advertising Rates
Up to 25 words - $9.64 (plus HST) for one issue, $12.62 for two issues and $16.06 for three issues.
Over 25 words - add 21¢ (plus HST) per word, per issue.
ERRORS & OMISSIONS
Should an error be made by The Advocate which in its judgement materially affects the value of the advertisement,
a corrected advertisement or portion thereof will be inserted upon demand without further charge “Make good”
insertions are not granted on minor errors which do not lesson the value of the whole advertisement.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY CLAUSE
The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements
beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error
occurred, whether such an error is due to the negligence of its servants or otherwise, and there shall be no liability
for non-insertion of advertisement beyond amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher reserves the right to
edit, revise, classify or reject any advertisement.
ADVERTISING DEADLINE: 5 PM Friday for Wednesday’s Publication
CLASSIFIEDS DEADLINE: 12 PM Monday for Wednesday’s Publication
Classified Ads must be paid in advance of publication. Visa, MC & Debit accepted.
A special thank you to Stewart Munro, organist and the Lyons Brook
Choir for their beautiful music and to the honorary pallbearers.
Many thanks to Tanya MacDonald for preparing the reception.
7KDQN\RXWR0F/DUHQ¶V)XQHUDO+RPH*OHQ-LPPLHDQG&UDLJ
IRU\RXUFDUHDQGJXLGDQFHDWWKLVGLI¿FXOWWLPH
The Rae and Bateman Family
In Memoriam
Joudrey
In loving memory of Donald
Joudrey who passed away
March 9, 2011.
We cannot have the old days back
When we were all together.
But secret tears
and loving thoughts
Will be with us forever.
Lovingly remembered and never
forgotten by wife Marie and family.
th
60
Anniversary
Norris and Jane
Bushell, of River John
celebrated their
60th Wedding
Anniversary on
March 3, 2016.
Congratulations
and love from
your children.
Thank You
CURL FOR CANCER 2016
The 20th Pictou Curl for Cancer held on Friday, February 26 at the New Caledonia
Curling Club, raised the amasing amount of $27,323.15. This is the highest amount
raised to date. The committee wishes to thank all the curlers who took their time to
fundraise and participate in this event, the musicians for volunteering their time and
providing a great evening of lively music and the St. John’s Ambulance personnel for
their support.
To the local merchants, your continuing generous donations of prizes and food for the
teams is greatly appreciated. A big thank you to all the volunteers who worked the
night of the curl and to the New Caledonia Curling Club for providing their support and
use of the facility.
Committee members,
George, Cathy, Vicki, Alta and Penny
2016 CURL FOR CANCER SPONSORS
Scotiabank
AA Munro Insurance
Hector Building Supplies
Sears Canada (Pictou)
Jacob’s Video and Variety
Acropole Pizza
Sobeys (Pictou)
Ahead of Hair
Lyons Brook Rite Stop
Stone Soup Cafe & Catering
Amet View Chalets
North Nova Seafoods
Subway (Pictou)
Canape Bakery & Catering
Not Your Mama’s Kitchen
Susan’s Total Esthetics Studio
Cara’s New Hairzon’s
Pictou Advocate
Tim Hortons - Wendy’s
China Boat
Pictou Fishing Supplies
Town of Pictou
Crown Pizza
Stright - MacKay
Travelodge Suites New Glasgow
deCoste Entertainment Centre
Pictou Lodge Beach Resort
Vernon d’Eon Lobster Plugs
East End Grocery
Prism Optical Limited
Proudfoots Home Hardware (Pictou) Water Street Studio
Fat Tony’s Bar & Grill
Rainbow’s End & Esthetics Day Spa White’s Custom Cresting
Glasgow Square Theatre
Royal Bank of Canada (Pictou)
Woody’s Variety
Grohmann Knives
Ruby’s Hairport
Hann Automotive
The Advocate
The Advocate
March March
9, 20169, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
www.pictouadvocate.com
Keynote ...
Garden Club group looks
forward to spring projects
Continued from page 1
He went on to reference
specific examples of companies that have taken advantage
of the aging population in
other countries and created
services and products that
cater to the elderly needs.
Some of the examples he
talked about included a site
called www.brainaid.com that
was designed to help those
who might have memory
problems ensure that they stick
to their schedules and make
appointments on time.
“This is a company that’s
starting to address some of the
issues that we find in the marketplace,” he said.
Lift Hero was another
example Pond used. This company that is based in the United
States is similar to the popular
new Uber taxi service, only it is
focused toward seniors who
may have mobility issues.
He mentioned that for this
service, many of the drivers
are millennials because,
although there are many causes
that millennials want to serve,
seniors are one that they care
about.
“We’ve got to anticipate
more in this economic opportunity,” Pond said. He referred
to things even as simple as a
battery powered pepper grinder for people with arthritis as
something that is a big help
and an opportunity to make
money.
Pond was also very insistent that one of the most important commodities and opportunities was that of knowledge
of the older population, and if
we can figure out a viable way
to collect it and put it all
together that would be a very
valuable resource.
“We have this problem; it's
an opportunity of course of
cheap arable land and a lot of
knowledge here of how to
farm it on a smaller scale without DDT and that knowledge
is diminishing,” said Pond
talking about farming as an
example of this idea. “How are
we going to get that knowledge out before these old folks
die?”
Pond was insistent that if
ideas became more focused on
the senior population, such as
this idea, that there is big
opportunities awaiting.
“There's a practical impending problem that we can apply
this process to and there are a
whole lot of other applications
we can apply this process to,”
said Pond.
Health Minister Leo Glavine
who also spoke briefly at the
beginning of the morning and
mentioned that from this conference the deputy minister of
seniors would be collecting
action items and ideas and
bringing them back to the
department to turn them into
actions that the province can
take on in order to take advantage of the aging population.
“I think the concept of the
senior economic summit is a
great one, it's timing is perfect,
especially as well as bringing
the big emerging baby boomer
cohort into these years,” said
Glavine.
“I wanted to challenge you
to be a part of a new movement,” Pond said.
The first day of the summit
also included sessions on benefits for the workplace, age
friendly community planning,
sharing knowledge and experience through mentoring as
well as travel trends and
opportunities.
Community 17
17
Classifieds
From left: Coffee Bean co-owners Antje and Scott Hoare accept a matted re-production from Clyde
Macdonald and Philip MacKenzie on behalf of the Pictou County Roots society of a photo of the
ship James William taken at the Carmichael Shipyards just days before its launching on July 14,
1908. It was touted to be the first steel-hulled schooner built in Canada. It had three masts and
weighed 490 tons. Its overall length was 146 feet, and all the steel was manfactured at Nova Scotia
Steel Works in Trenton. In the background is the tram bridge that crossed the East River. The building shown between the schooner and the bridge was known as the boat house and was located
between the present Bridgeview Square and Glasgow Square.
(Submitted photo)
Below: The Pictou Roots Society presented Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane, centre, with a
copy of a photo of Joseph Howe, who was honoured on Heritage Day in Nova Scotia on
February 15. Society members Philip MacKenzie, left, and Clyde Macdonald presented the
photo. MacFarlane expressed great admiration for Howe, who was cited for his work as a
journalist and politician and a strong advocate for responsible government in Nova Scotia during the 19th century.
(Goodwin photo)
The Westville and Area
Gardening Club met recently
with 16 in attendance.
President Bill Dewtie welcomed everyone. Minutes were
read by the secretary Anne
Palmer. The treasurer’s report
was read by Jim Notely.
Clarrie MacKinnon called
Margie Beck stating several people have registered for the annual
convention to be held in June at
the Wellness Center. They have
already collected money to help
with costs. Beck advised that
there will be a floral contest voted
on by attendees of the convention. The floral arrangement is to
be made on things found in
nature in the garden or surroundings. The items used are not to be
purchased.
The March meeting will be
held March 23 and the April
meeting will be held April 20. The
plant sale is scheduled for the last
Saturday in May.
GUEST SPEAKER
Sam Graham, superintendent
of Public Works & Water/
Wastewater Services for the Town
of Westville, was guest speaker.
He said the hanging baskets in
the town were, in the past, beautiful but a lot of work and Graham
would like to see more perennials.
The Town has applied for a
grant to hire three students to
help with ground maintenance
and his wish is that the Westville
club can mentor these students.
He and his wife hope that a butterfly garden would be not only
beautiful but an educational addition to Acadia Park. He said the
CAO of the Town of Westville
would like the town to become
more involved with Communities
in Bloom.
He suggested Acadia Park
could further be developed by
placing wooded bird houses in
some of the trees; a rock garden
would make the park a more
family friendly place to spend
some time together; a community garden could be developed
with the help of some students
who could take pride in their
work.
The past year, the town held
its first annual kite flying event
and because of its popularity
they plan on making it an annual
event.
On another positive note, the
Rotary Club of Westville plans
on putting in a splash pad in
Acadia Park and the garden club
will look into replacing some or
all of the dead trees. With regards
to these memorial trees and
bushes, Graham would like to
replace the plaques with a memorial wall placed in a central location in the park.
He would also like to have
some suggestions for a town
flower.
Margie Beck and Sam Graham
then gathered the club to discuss
future endeavors.
A sign needs to replace the
weather beaten sign located at
the recreation building on Fox
Brook Road, Westville. The flower bed located there needs to
have the soil amended. The
flower beds at the town hall have
to have the shrubs trimmed and
daylilies removed and replaced
with wave petunias. The bed
located at the top of Drummond
Road and Queen Street will need
some fertilizer and a welcome
addition would be some canna
lilies in the centre to give the bed
some height.
The Town of Westville purchased the post office on Main
Street and would like to put in
new wooden planters. The club
is in agreement that the flower
bed at the entrance to Westville
located on North Main Street has
been overrun by daylilies. These
daylilies need to be divided, the
bed needs a few less petunias.
This will work for the sign and
flower bed located at the entrance
to Westville located at the end of
Drummond Road rifle range
location.
Members said with regard to
these excess daylilies, they can
relocate them to the park for the
butterfly garden along with some
other deer resistant perennials.
Beck asked if the club would
like to, in some way, support the
Aberdeen Hospital but a motion
was made to not support the hospital presently. With all that the
town and the club are planning
for the Acadia Park project, they
feel they will be busy and may
consider the option at a later
date.
As always, the club wants to
get the children of the town
involved in gardening and they
continue to make strides to do
just that.
Submitted by Bill Dewtie
Gas opportunities report promises cure-all, despite
dismal state of natural gas industry: NOFRAC
A report on gas opportunities
for Atlantic Canada uses magical
thinking and pie in the sky promises to lure Atlantic provinces
governments to open the doors
to shale gas development and
fracking, says Barb Harris of the
Nova Scotia Fracking Resource
and Action Coalition.
The report from the Atlantic
Institute of Market Studies
(AIMS) claims Atlantic Canada
is passing up tremendous economic opportunities by maintaining freezes on fracking for
shale gas.
“These are imaginary economic opportunities,” notes
Harris, who lives in the River
John area.
“The author forgot to mention that shale gas companies
across North America are going
bankrupt and laying off thousands of people, leaving behind
abandoned wells, contaminated
water and widespread health
problems.”
She said in Nova Scotia, the
government is on the hook to
pay $100 million to the biggest
oil company in the world, ExxonMobil, to help them shut down
the offshore Sable gas field. A
recent CBC report stated that
Canada’s largest natural gas producer, Encana, showed last quarter losses of more than $600 million and plans to cut another 20
per cent of its staff this year.
The AIMS report urges
Atlantic Provinces governments
to lift bans and moratoriums on
hydraulic fracturing. Harris says
she hopes, and expects, the government to keep the fracking ban
in place.
“The reasons for maintaining
a freeze on fracking for shale gas
are exactly the same as they were
when Nova Scotia passed the
ban 16 months ago,” says Harris.
“In fact, hundreds of new independent scientific studies have
documented even more clearly
the real and significant risks to
water, public health, and the climate. The science of the past 18
months shows how wise Nova
Scotia was to ban fracking for
shale gas.”
The biggest change in that
time is that with low oil prices,
shale gas is even less economically viable than it was 16 months
ago, she said.
Along with the carrot of
claimed economic opportunities,
the report waves the threat of
If you thought The Georgetown Conference created buzz...
higher natural gas prices if
Atlantic Canada does not allow
shale gas development and
fracking.
“The report goes through the
‘gas is better than coal' song and
dance'," notes Harris.
“That’s so old, and not even
true. With the price of renewable
energy dropping rapidly, the
energy challenge for governments now is to identify and
support affordable energy
options that are in step with the
global changes required by the
climate crisis. Natural gas is not
that path.”
International experts agree
that the biggest economic opportunities of the coming decades
lie with in growth of renewable
energy technologies. Prices for
renewable energy, especially
solar, are almost at parity with
fossil fuels and dropping rapidly. As financial subsidies for fossil fuels are withdrawn, and a tax
on carbon become part of the
pricing picture, renewables are
poised to become the affordable
energy of the coming decades.
“Renewable energy is not the
distant future, it’s around the
corner. Renewables, combined
with energy efficiency programs,
are the economic opportunities
we need to embrace. Energy efficiency is a great job creator and
by far the cheapest energy solution. It costs far less to save a kw
of energy than to create it.”
“This report is a promotional
piece for the natural gas industry. It should not be taken as
anything else,” Harris concludes.
NORTHLAND SCHOOL
DIVISION NO. 61
PRINCIPAL POSITIONS
Just Wait.
Announcing
Are you looking for an educational leadership opportunity in Alberta’s north? Northland
School Division No. 61 is seeking advocates for Indigenous Education and supporters of
FNMI Language and culture to help us lead the way in First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI)
Education. Applications are invited for the position of Principal for the 2016/2017 school
year for the following schools:
Mistassiniy School is located in the community of Wabasca which is 186 kilometers north
of Athabasca, Alberta and 130 kilometers east of Slave Lake, Alberta and is a rapidly growing
community with oil sands and forestry development. Mistassiniy is a Grade 7 to 12 school
with approximately 350 students and a professional staff complement of 20.
Apply Today!
Susa Creek School is located approximately 12 kilometers from Grande Cache, Alberta
and 450 kilometers from Edmonton, Alberta. The school has a student enrollment of
approximately 50 and offers instruction in Grades K-8.
June 2 - 4, 2016, Georgetown PEI
Keynote
Candidate Qualifications:
We are looking for individuals who have successful experience in rural and Aboriginal communities, school-based leadership, can build on the current strengths of the school, and
can work towards literacy and language improvement through common Division goals and
initiatives. To learn more about Northland School Division, the positions and qualifications
visit www.nsd1.ca.
Apply at
www.thegeorgetownconference.ca
Be a part of shaping
a prosperous and dynamic future.
Chef Michael Smith
Food Network Canada Host
and Rural Entrepreneur.
Proud Sponsor
One individual. One idea. One community at a time.
1-866-447-5116
Lifetime Roofing Systems
Offer Expires
March 31, 2016
®
Find Northland School Division on Facebook and Twitter.
Please apply to: Wesley Oginski, Director of Human Resources,
Northland School Division No. 61, P.O. Bag 1400, Peace River, Alberta T8S 1V2
Phone: (780) 624-2060 Fax: (780) 624-5914 Email: applications@nsd61.ca
18 Community
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
river john news
By Anne Patriquin
River John correspondent
Well, it's the start of March.
Winter is almost over. It really
has not been a bad winter when
you compare it to the winter of
2015.
Not a lot going on in River
John these days. Just a few
reminders of Chase the Ace and
the Jam Sessions at the Royal
Canadian Legion every Friday
night. Also, every Tuesday there
is the Cafe at the Hub (in the
River John School).
Now for new news: I attended
would like to share any let me
know, the public loves to hear all
about the history of Pictou
County.
Here is a cake recipe you will
enjoy:
the play in Tatamagouche on
Thursday evening at the
Creamery that the Tatamagouche
Elementary School put on, which
starred
students
from
Tatamagouche, River John and
surrounding areas. The play was
called Annie KIDS. The students
did a fantastic job; they got a
standing ovation. Well done
everyone! I can see stars performing in the near future. I will be
watching the Academy Awards
for all of you in the near future.
I have had inquiries about stories that were told about the bootleggers of long ago. If anyone
A Love Cake for Mother
1 can of obedience
Several pounds of affection
1 pint of neatness
Some holiday, birthday and
everyday surprises
1 can running errands
"Willing Brand"
1 box of powdered "Get up
when I should"
1 bottle of 'Keep Sunny' all
day long
1 can of pure thoughtfulness
Community events
u
Wednesday, March 9
AA’s Pictou Hr. Group meets at
8 p.m. on the Old Pictou Road and
at 8 p.m. at St. Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church, Westville.
Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5),
9:30-10:30 a.m., River John Library;
10:30-11:30 a.m., Pictou Library
and 1:30-2:15 p.m., New Glasgow
Library.
Mix well, bake in a hearty
warm oven and serve to a
"Mother" everyday. She ought
to have it in big slices.
Be good and stay safe!
u
HARTSON, Chesley E. - It is with
broken hearts that the family of
Chesley Elliott Hartson, age 83, of
Pictou, announce his passing, on
February 12, 2016, at Oceanview
Continuing Care Centre in Eastern
Passage, surrounded by his children and best friend, Sylvia Keith.
Born in Phillips Harbour, Ches was
the son of the late George Hartson
and Edith Cummings. He is survived by his sister, Dolena Thorne;
his children, Susan Simpson
(Claude), Cindy Hartson (Wayne),
Margie MacKinnon (Joe), Bill
Hartson (Patricia); eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
Ches was predeceased by his wife
of 30 years, Winnie and his sister,
Maisie Davidson. Ches was a
hardworking man and held various
jobs throughout his life, retired from
Michelin, Granton, in 1991 and as
a School Bus Driver. He relayed
many funny stories of his days at
those companies. He was proud
of his work ethic and had a strong
CLARKE, D. F. “Donnie” –
Pictou. It is with shock and
sadness that we announce the
passing of Donald Fulton
“Donnie” Clarke, age 71, of
Pictou, on March 6, 2016 in the
Aberdeen Hospital, New
Glasgow after a sudden illness.
Born in New Glasgow on
September 19, 1944, he was a
son of the late Fulton and
Beulah (MacDonald) Clarke.
After working many years at
the Pictou Shipyard and Trenton
Works, Donnie embarked upon
a new adventure and went out
west to work in the camps,
where he met many and made
some wonderful friends.
Donnie prided himself in his
work and loved to be busy, and
could often be seen mowing
his lawn, washing his cars, or
going to Tim’s for an early
ToddleTime (18 months–3 yrs),
10:15-11 a.m., New Glasgow
Library.
Chair Exercises at the Durham
Community Hall (across the bridge)
with Sharon Lynch at 10 a.m. This
is a 12-week program. Silver collection. Health is wealth!
Obituaries
commitment to providing for his
family. He was a very resilient man,
shown more profoundly when ALS
became more advanced and he
continued on with each new
adjustment, always finding ways to
laugh and smile. He surprised
many in the later few years of his
life at his ability to use his iPad to
communicate.
Upon entering
Oceanview, he loved helping other
people and trying to make them
smile. Ches enjoyed hockey (playing in his younger years and an
avid Pittsburg fan in later years),
bowling (proud of his many trophies) and Newfie music. He and
his wife, Winnie, were often found
at the local dances showing their
prowess around the dance floor.
Ches was often found entertaining
people with his jokes and loved
playing tricks on fellow employees,
friends and family. We would like
to extend a heartfelt thank you to
the staff at Oceanview Continuing
Care Centre for their care and
assistance allowing our father to
pass with dignity. A graveside
service will be held on March 12,
2016 at 2 p.m. in the St. James
Cemetery, Division Road, Pictou,
NS. Following this service a
reception will be held at St.
James Anglican Church Hall,
Denoon St., Pictou. In lieu of
flowers, donations in his memory
may be made to the ALS Society
of Nova Scotia or Oceanview
Continuing Care Centre. www.
mclarenfuneral.ca †
ABC’s for Babies (0-18 months),
10-11 a.m., Westville Library and
10:45-11:30 a.m., Stellarton
Library.
morning visit with friends. He
was an avid Montreal Canadiens
fan and enjoyed showing others his collection of hockey
memorabilia. He is survived by
his loving wife, Leona (Landry);
daughter, Dawn (Bill) Gorman;
son David (Wanda), all of
Pictou. He was so very proud
of his four grandchildren, Marley
(Tom), of Ottawa; Kevin, Kaleb
and Namara, of Pictou. He is
also survived by brothers,
Russell (Emma), Brian (Jean),
Ronnie (Janice), Pictou; and
numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 2 to 4
and
7-9
p.m.
today,
Wednesday, March 9, in
McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou.
Funeral Mass will be held 11
a.m. Thursday in Stella Maris
Roman Catholic Church,
Pictou, with Father Don
Boudreau officiating. Donations
in his memory may be made to
the Heart & Stroke Foundation,
the Aberdeen Palliative Care
Society, or a charity of your
choice. We would like to
acknowledge Dr. Randy Burrill,
Dr. Gerry Farrell, and the nurses
at the Aberdeen Hospital
(Palliative Care, ICU, and
Emergency) for their care and
compassion. Donnie was
blessed with wonderful friends
and family. We could not have
made it through this difficult
time without you. Thank You.
Gamers Afterschool @ Library
(drop-in), 3-5 p.m., Westville Library,
ages 8-14.
Afterschool @ Library (ages 5-9),
3-4 p.m., Stellarton Library. Features
snacks, stories, LEGO, songs and
games.
Club Francais, 12-1 p.m., Stellarton
Library. Join us for delightful conversation, en francais! For more info
contact the co-ordinator Cynthia
Gallager at 902-754-2682 or cynthia.gallagher@gmail.com.
thursday, March 10
AA’s Pictou Hr. Group meets at 8
p.m. on the Old Pictou Road and at
8:30 p.m. the HOW Group meets
on East River Road in New
Glasgow.
Weekly Soup Luncheon, 11:30
a.m.-1 p.m. First Presbyterian
Church Hall (Pictou). All are welcome. There is no charge, however
freewill donations are accepted.
ABC’s for Babies (0-18 months),
10:30-11:30 a.m., Pictou Library.
Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5 yrs),
10:15-11 a.m., New Glasgow
Library; 1-2 p.m. at the Stellarton
Library and 1:15-2:15 p.m.,
Westville Library.
Knitting and Crocheting Group
(drop-in), 3-4:30 p.m., Pictou
Library. Bring your own yarn and
needles, patterns and written
instructions will be available.
ToddleTime (18 months-3 yrs),
6:15-7:15 p.m., Stellarton Library.
Puppetry Club (pre-registration
required), 3-4:30 p.m., Westville
Library. Learn how to make puppets and write a puppet show too.
LEGOs @ the Library, 3-4 p.m.,
New Glasgow Library.
CAMERON, Dolina (Dolly) May
Munro – 95, formerly of Westville
passed away at the Aberdeen
Hospital on February 29, 2016.
Born in Gairloch, she was a
daughter of the late Alexander
and Effie (MacDonald) Munro.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
Dolina spent most of her early
adult life in various communities
in Pictou County, moving from
Stellarton to Westville in the late
1950s. She was always active in
her church and community as
CGIT leader, choir member,
church ladies groups, Heritage
Group, Institute and others in the
Presbyterian Church in both
Stellarton and Westville. Dolina
was employed at the Goodman
Co. for several years in both the
office and alterations. A very
skilled seamstress she found
enjoyment in teaching both sewing and art classes to both children and adults, always encouraging her students to take pride
in their creative gifts. Dolina was
dedicated to her husband
George, her children and grandchildren, making special treats
and providing help and support
to family and friends whenever
needed. At age 90, she moved to
the Shiretown Nursing Home
where she made new friends. In
the winter, she worked on her
knitting, her specialty being
toques and hats for newborns.
Summer was spent in “her garden” tending to tomatoes and
cucumbers. She is survived by
her daughter Elizabeth (Rev.
Ross) MacDonald; grandchildren
Ian (Nancy) MacDonald, Paul
(Christie) MacDonald, Kent (Jane)
MacDonald,
Peter
(Pat)
MacDonald, Crystal (Pushie)
(David) Fullerton, Cameron
Pushie; seven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by
her husband George Cameron,
daughter Mildred (Cameron)
Pushie; brothers Daniel, Allister,
Milton Munro, sisters; Sadie and
Lillian (Munro) Cook. Funeral was
held March 4 from St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church, Westville.
HENDERSON, Niron Brooklyn
“Brooks” – 101, passed away
February 29, 2016 in the
Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care
Unit, New Glasgow, surrounded
by his family and dear friend,
Philip MacKenzie. Born in New
Glasgow, he was a son of the
late John and Jessie Annie
(Gratto) Henderson. Brooks
spent his childhood with his
grandmother on the family farm
in Bayhead. As a young man, he
worked in the woods in West
Branch before returning to New
Glasgow and becoming a caretaker of the Brown School, for
over 35 years. Brooks was always
available to lend a helping hand
to many in the community.
Surviving are his children: Sheila
Wallace (Gary Johnstone), New
Glasgow; Patsy (Doug) Dickson,
Trenton; John Henderson (Pat
Larsen), New Glasgow; granddaughter, Michelle (Patrick)
Currie, Moncton; great-grandsons: Vander, Braxton, London
and Kole. He was the last surviving member of his immediate
family and was predeceased by
siblings: Alexander Duncan,
William Smith, Laura Annie, John
Homer, Harry Murray, Parker
Burton, Georgina Mae Helen and
Priscilla Ana. Funeral was held in
the R.H. Porter Funeral Home,
New Glasgow on March 4.
JORDAN, Theresa Rose – 66,
of Westville passed away on
February 29, 2016 in the
Aberdeen Hospital. Born in
Dominion, Cape Breton, she
was the daughter of Jenny
Windsor, New Glasgow and the
late Bob Windsor. In her earlier
years, she was employed by
Burns Security. Theresa is survived by her husband Sidney
and by her sons: Robert (Dawn),
New Glasgow and Sidney
(Maxine), Chilliwack, BC. She is
also survived by brothers:
George
(Brenda),
Chance
Harbour;
Bill
(Mary-Scot),
Foxbrook;
Robert
(Beth),
Egerton; by sisters: Ann-Marie
Windsor-Hall (Damian), Pictou;
Eileen Bransfield (Richard), New
Glasgow; Stephanie Arbuckle
(Wendall), Stellarton; Elaine
Smith (Blair), Trenton; Rose
MacDonald
(Andre),
New
Glasgow; Arlene Windsor, Truro;
and by grandchildren: Liam,
Ryan, Aiden, Wyatt and Weston.
Theresa is also survived by
brothers-in-law Scotty and Grant
MacPhail and godmother Ann
MacQueen and godfather Melvin
“Sonny” Windsor. She was predeceased by father Bob Windsor,
sister Charlotte and by infant
brother James Bernard. Funeral
was March 3 at Church of the
Holy Name, Westville.
LANGILLE, Alta Reid – 95,
New Glasgow, passed away
February 27, 2016 in the
Aberdeen
Hospital,
New
Glasgow, surrounded by family.
Born in Walkerville, Ont., she
was a daughter of the late
Lawson G. and Etta L. (Joyce)
Reid. She had been an educator
for over 30 years, teaching at
A.G. Baillie Elementary School,
the former New Glasgow Junior
High School, and served as principal for 13 years at the former
Pictou Landing School. Alta
enjoyed reading, listening to
music, doing crossword puzzles
and traveling. Alta possessed a
strong faith, having read the
Bible in its entirety several times.
Surviving are daughter, Jackie
Johnstone, New Glasgow; son,
Sheldon
(Susan)
Langille,
Fraser’s Mountain; grandchildren, Michelle (Gary), Laurie
(Matthew), Annabelle, Chris,
Clayton and Luke; many greatgrandchildren; several greatgreat-grandchildren; sisters,
Marion Beck, Ottawa; Phyllis
Halverson, Tatamagouche; Carol
Ann (Doug) Betts, Hilden; brother, Allison (Pat) Reid, Oshawa,
Ont.; sisters-in-law, Emma Reid,
Sydney; Florence Reid, Oshawa;
many nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was
predeceased by husband, John;
son, Ben; granddaughter, Allison
Sharpe; grandson, John Allan
Johnstone; great-granddaughter, Hannah Johnstone; greatgrandson, Jonathan Langille;
brothers, Ben, Gordon and
Kenny Reid; son-in-law, George
Johnstone;
brothers-in-law,
Willis Halverson and Clark Beck.
Funeral was held March 1 in P. &
K. MacDonald Funeral Home
Chapel, New Glasgow.
MacFARLANE, David Edward
– 72, Linacy, formerly of
Abercrombie, passed away
peacefully March 1, 2016. Born
in New Glasgow, he was a son of
the late Daniel Duncan and
Margaret
Elizabeth
(Reid)
MacFarlane. Prior to retirement,
he was employed with the former
Trenton Works. David was a
member of Local 1231, United
Steelworkers of America. An avid
outdoorsman, he greatly enjoyed
camping, fishing and hunting. In
earlier years, David owned a
hobby farm where he raised
horses. He possessed a gentleness and “heart of gold.” Surviving
are his wife, Jean MacFarlane;
daughters, Eugenia MacFarlane
(Darryl Morehouse), Blissfield,
N.B.; Davelene “Brent” Wilson,
Upper Blackville, N.B.; Bonnie
(Kenneth “Bernie”) Parent,
Fredericton; sisters, Agnes
Campbell and Florence MacLean,
New Glasgow; brothers, James
(Linda)
MacFarlane,
New
Glasgow;
George
(Nancy)
MacFarlane, Stellarton; Maynard
(Jean) MacFarlane, Abercrombie;
seven grandchildren; several
great-grandchildren; many nieces
and nephews. He will be laid to
rest in Abercrombie Cemetery at
a later date.
PURVIS, Sylvia Mae – 69, of
Woodburn Road, Woodburn,
passed away on February 27,
2016 in the Aberdeen Hospital,
New Glasgow. Born in New
Glasgow, she was a daughter of
the late Clarence and Jessie
(Green) Murray. Sylvia was a
longtime resident of Woodburn.
She was a loving wife, mother,
grandmother, sister, aunt, mother-in-law and friend. Sylvia loved
to garden, cook and decorate.
Surviving are her husband
Graham; son Graham (Jennifer)
of New Glasgow; grandson:
Nicholas; brothers and sisters:
Gloria (Fred) Reid of Linacy,
Sandy (Sharon) Murray of
Lourdes, Kenneth Murray of
Scotsburn, Barbara Robertson
of River Road, Evelyn (Ken)
Fraser of Westville, Diane (Dale)
Wallace of Pictou Landing,
Rodney Murray of Riverton,
Darlene (Gordon) Kitson of Mt.
William, Janet (Buff) Murray of
Thorburn,
Dorothy
(Don)
Lumsden of New Glasgow, John
Wayne (Bekki) Murray of
Westville; a number of nieces
and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister Margie,
brother-in-law Jim and sister-inlaw Marie. Funeral was held
March 3 from the H.W. Angus
Funeral Home chapel.
Senior's Safe Driving Course (1-4
p.m. - part 1) and March 11 (9 a.m.12 p.m.- part 2) in the Lyon's Brook
Community Hall. The program is
free to seniors aged 65 and up and
who have not previously registered
and taken the course in the last five
years (there is a $40 fee for those
who would like to repeat the program and for those under 65).
There is a $10 workshop fee for all
participants. Pre-registration is
required by phoning Lynn at (902)
485-8358. Hosted by the Lyon's
Brook Women's Institute.
Seniors Now! Speaker Series presents 'Eye to Eye - Things to keep in
mind as your eyesight ages' with
Optometrist Dr. Melanie Reid, 1:30
–2:30 p.m., New Glasgow Library.
This month, for World Glaucoma
Week, Dr. Melanie Reid from Reid
Optometry will discuss eyesight
and reasons for vision loss related
to aging. She will also chat about
things that can keep our vision
working to the best of its capability.
For info or to suggest a speaker/
topic contact (902) 755-6031 or
(902) 752-8233.
Thursday Night Book Club, 6:307:30 p.m., Westville Library. To find
out what the group is reading or for
more info call (902) 396-5022.
Book Club discusses 'Punishment'
by Linden MacIntyr, 7-8 p.m., Pictou
Library. Call (902) 485-5021 to
arrange for a copy. All are welcome.
'Learn to Colour - A Colouring for
Adults Night’ with local artist Shelia
Green, 7-8 p.m., New Glasgow
Library. Sheila Green is a local artist
and she will be offering up tips and
techniques on how to get the most
out of your coloured pencils and
your adult colouring books All are
welcome! Some supplies will be
available for newcomers to adult
colouring.
friday, March 11
AA’s Trenton 24-Hr. Group meets at
8 p.m. on Pleasant Street, Trenton
and at 8 p.m. Hope Group meets at
the Sister Catherine Steel Centre,
Lourdes.
Knitting circle, 10-11 a.m. with the
RJ Square Knitters, River John
Library and from 1-2 p.m. in the
Stellarton Library with the Stellar
Knitters.
Toddletime (18 months-3 years)
10-11 a.m., Westville Library and
10:45-11:45 at the Stellarton
Library.
Gamers Afterschool @ Library
(drop-in), 3-5 p.m., Westville Library
for ages 8-14.
Chase the Ace, Stellar Curling Club,
Stellarton, 6-8 p.m. with ticket draw
at 8:15 p.m. Building jackpot.
Chase the Ace, River John Legion.
Tickets on sale from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
with draw at 9 p.m. Proceeds to
support the River John Legion and
the River John Community HUB.
Must be 19+ years to purchase
tickets. Cash only.
Jam session, River John Legion,
7-10 p.m. All welcome.
saturday, March 12
Auction 45s, 7 p.m., New Horizons
Club, Pictou. Adm. $5 (includes
tickets for 50/50, door prize, pool
and mystery.)
Tatamagouche Legion #64 and
North Shore Rec. Centre present
The Queen of Hearts, a new twist to
“Chase the Ace”. 2-4 p.m. Draw at
4:15 p.m.
AA’s Easy Does it Group meets at 8
p.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian
Church, Westville.
Seniors Relay sale, 474 Scotsburn
Rd, West Branch, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
New items weekly. Proceeds for the
Fuel Fund for district seniors.
Saturday Morning Puppetry Club,
10:30-11:30 a.m., Pictou Library.
Crafty Saturday (drop-in) with a St.
Patricks Day theme, 11 a.m.-3
p.m., Trenton Library.
Family LEGO time @ the Library,
3-4:30 p.m., Pictou Library.
Imagination Saturday, 11 a.m.-4
p.m., Stellarton Library; 10 a.m.-3
p.m., River John Library and
Westville Library.
Old time dance Lorne community
hall, 8-11 p.m. Music by the Bible
Hill Swingsters. Adm. $6. Shared
lunch.
Pictou County Blues Society Delta
Generators at Whitetail Pub,
Westville, 9 p.m. with 50/50. Pictou
County Food Bank Food donations
welcomed.
Musical Jam Session, St. John's
Hall, River John, 7 p.m. Lunch
served.
'Laughter Yoga' session with
Shelley Ballantyne, Certified
Laughter Yoga Leader, 1:30-2:30
p.m., New Glasgow Library.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the
Merigomish School House, 4-8
p.m. Enjoy Irish music by “Off the
Cuff” and Irish food offerings available for purchase. Adm. $10. Presale only. Government IDs on
request. Tickets: L.B.R. or call
Vickie at 902-926-2556. Limited
seating.
St. Paddy’s Day dance, Pictou Fire
hall, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Cover $5. Live
band.
sunday, March 13
AA’s Hope Group meets at 12:30
p.m. at the Sister Catherine Steele
Centre, Stellarton. There is an information meeting at 2:30 p.m. at the
Pictou Detox. The Pictou Hr. Group
meets at 8 p.m. on Old Pictou
Road and the HOW Group meets
at 8:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church,
East River Road, New Glasgow.
Benefit Concert for Mary and Jason
Bezanson who lost their West
Branch home to a fire in February.
Please join us for light refreshments,
1-5 p.m. at the West Branch
Community Hall. Free will offering.
Music will be provided by River
Run, TMW and Floyd Rudolph and
Friends. There will be some jam
time also.
monday, March 14
Bingo is played every Monday 6:45
p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion,
Tatamagouche. Canteen available.
Wheelchair accessible.
AA’s Trenton 24 Group meets at 8
p.m. on Pleasant Street, Trenton
and the Hope Group meets at 8
p.m. at the Sister Catherine Steel
Centre, Lourdes.
Tuesday, March 15
ALANON Adult Children of
Alcoholics meets 7-8 p.m. downstairs at The Detox Center, 199
Elliott Street, Pictou. For more info
contact Brenda 485-8653.
AA meets at 8 p.m. at the Sister
Catherine Steel Centre, Lourdes
and at 8 p.m. at the Lismore
Community Centre, Big Book
Study.
Community Volunteer Income Tax
Program (CVITP) by appointment
only (call 902-755-6031 to make an
appointment), 1-4 p.m., New
Glasgow Library. The Community
Volunteer Income Tax Program will
be running each Tuesday afternoon
(and select Thursdays) until April 26.
Community volunteers trained by
the Canada Revenue Agency will
provide a free income tax return
assistance program for seniors and
low income Canadians to file their
annual returns. Wheelchairaccessible. Please bring all income
tax papers and receipts for income
and deductions.
The Pictou County Celiac Support
Group will meet in the Community
Room at New Glasgow Superstore,
7- 8 p.m.
Puzzle Night (all ages, drop-in), 7-8
p.m., Pictou Library.
Community Events listings
are available free of charge for
non-profits. Deadline for
submissions is 12 noon
on Fridays. Email marjorie@
pictouadvocate.com.
No phone calls.
Religion 19
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
www.pictouadvocate.com
trinity united church
Greeting at the door was
Bob MacPhee.
The Christ candle was lit
and the Lenten candle was
extinguished.
Leader for worship was
Rev. Donna Tourneur along
with special guest Shelley
Curtis Thompson, executive
director, PC Women’s Centre.
Tourneur, in a time of sharing with the congregation,
invited members to think
about the complex nature of
relationships.
She read the scripture from
Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32, the story
of the prodigal son/ forgiving
father and reflected on the
way this story can be our own.
Sorting out how to be fair and
just as well as loving is something most people in relationships are well familiar with,
she said.
St anderw's presbyterian – new glasgow
The music team of Jane
Turner Jones, Lori Miller,
Charlie Tourneur and Karen
Crowley, director of music
chose for the special music
The Prayer will Lead Us,
Lord.
Curtis Thompson spoke of
International Woman’s Day
and the growth of the Woman’s
Center here in Pictou County.
This gender specific center
was born in 1976, 40 years
ago. Information about the
services available was shared.
Through the service of women’s center they encourage
speaking out and thus give
woman a voice, she said.
There was a fundraising St.
Patrick’s soup and dessert
luncheon after worship sponsored by Trinity choir.
Submitted by Brenda Sterling
Goodwin
Worshippers were greeted
by Pat MacKay and Don
Morton.
The service opened with
the responsive reading of the
Liturgy for the fourth Sunday
in Lent.
Scriptures were read by Pat
MacKay.
The choir’s anthem was
Come Walk with Me.
Rev. Dr. Joon Ki Kim told
the children there is nothing
stronger than the love of God.
Even when we turn away from
God, we are still loved with
an enduring love.
Kim based his sermon on
the Gospel reading from Luke
15, the story of the prodigal
son who, having wasted his
inheritance and destitute in a
foreign land decided to return
home. He would say to his
father “I have sinned against
heaven and you. I am no longer worthy to be called your
son; treat me like one of your
hired hands.” Kim said perhaps the son was not truly
repentant. When his father
saw his son, he rushed to him
and kissed him. To the father,
whether the son was truly
repentant was not an urgent
concern. When we approach
God through our prayers and
repentance, we will meet him
on the road because he is running towards us.
“Our Lord invites us to the
table on which loaves, forgiveness, hope and life
abound, by saying to us ‘All
that I have and all that I am
are yours. I have been waiting
for you’,” Kim said.
The sacrament of holy communion was celebrated.
Marie Langille and Anna
Marie Galvin were the hosts
for the time of fellowship and
refreshments in the Fellowship
Hall.
Submitted
by
Shirley
Haggart
sharon st john united – stellarton
With a cast and crew of more than 50 members, First Baptist
Drama Ministry is preparing for two Good Friday dramas with
music presentations of Never Walk Alone (March 25 at 10 a.m.
and 3 p.m.). Three cast members pose during a recent rehearsal:
Brenda MacLaughlin, Neil Weber and Pat Duggan. Everyone is
invited to attend, no cost. Never Walk Alone features dramatic
scenes from the Old and New Testaments including The Woman
at the Well, Samuel and Eli, Poor Widow parable, songs of
praise including The Holy City, Be Not Afraid, You’ll Never Walk
Alone, Here I Am, Lord, a PowerPoint presentation and special
effects.
(Submitted photo)
pictou united church
The congregation on the
fourth Sunday of Lent was
greeted by John Laundon.
Steward was Jim Parker and
the ambassador was Brian
Burris.
For the reflection, the congregation was asked to “Take
the Time to Take the Time”.
Thirteen stations, which
allowed the congregation to
explore spiritual prayer practices, were set up.
During the Reflection time,
as soft music played, they
moved quietly through the
different stations. Each person
had a chance to explore prayer
practices such as: A Prayer
Wall, A Gratitude Wall,
Pondering the Cross, Light a
Light, Prayer Beads, Through
the Eyes of a Child, Lenten
Refreshment, Opening our
Eyes and Ears and several others. It was truly a spiritual
experience; a thought-filled
time of peace and quiet.
Following the service,
Christian Development hosted
Coffee Hour. At this time
Stephen MacKenzie gave an
update on the Casim family.
The update was filled with
positive happenings. The
Casim family is very thankful
for all that has been done for
them and are looking forward
to a safe future.
Submitted by Diane Vaughan
first presbyterian church – pictou
Greeter was Kathy Crober
and guest preacher was Lynne
MacKenzie from Toney River.
During this fourth Sunday
in Lent, the liturgy was presented by Anne Gratton.
Scriptures included Joshua
5:9-12,
Psalm
322,
11
Corinthians 5:16-21 and Luke
15:1-3 and 11-32.
The anthem I Believe in a
Hill Called Mt. Calgary was
sung by the choir and thoroughly enjoyed by the congregation.
The
children’s
story
reminded them that the old
phrase, “You can’t tell a book
by its cover,” applies to many
situations, including the fact
that we can’t know someone
from looking at them, we must
investigate their inner self.
This theme was carried on
into the sermon and the congregation was asked to look
‘with their heart’ into the heart
of another. God is not influenced by appearances and
neither should we, they were
told.
In Corinthians 11 we regard
Jesus differently after He rose
than He was regarded in His
flesh. Look through the eyes
of the spirit. The physical
vision does not equate to the
spiritual vision.
The offering was collected
by Alan Fraser and Dave
Munro.
Submitted by Kathy Crober
son who squandered all his
inheritance and yet was warmly welcomed by their father.
He was lost and has now been
found. Is this not the nature of
God? She asked. We seek God
for redemption to make us
new and go into the world
with love and forgiveness,
Nicholson said.
Catherine Stone, in her
Minute for Mission, spoke
about the welcoming table for
a spiritual home among the
aboriginals of Oneida.
Fight the Good Fight was
the closing hymn and Peace
Be With You the sung benediction.
Donations were given in
memory of Edie Martin to the
General Fund and the UCW
and the Furnace Fund and to
the General Fund in memory
of Orville Hines.
March 15 is the Session
meeting and March 20 is the
Board of Stewards meeting.
Submitted by Gail Kay
On this the fourth Sunday
of Lent the greeter was Greg
Giberson; Shannon MacKay lit
the Christ candle.
Rev. Carolyn Nicholson
spoke to the children of all
ages about forgiveness and
how to forgive; she said
through prayer, God will
guide us to forgive ourselves
and others.
Scriptures were read by
Gerald Romsa: Joshua 5: 9-12
and 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21.
The choir anthem, with
Melissa Muise singing the solo
parts, was The King of Love.
Nicholson read Luke 15:
1-3, 11b-32 before commencing her message titled, Our
Ministry of Reconciliation.
She said this man (Jesus) eats
with tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law of Moses grumbled. So Jesus told these people the parables of the Lost
Coin and of the Two Sons.
One son was annoyed at the
Laurie Bowron greeted
worshippers to the service
conducted by Jacquie Ross.
The Lenten reading was led
by Jeanette Johnson; Luke
15:1-3,11-32 was read by Betty
Ann Battist. Other scriptures
read were Joshua 5:9-12,11
Corinthians 5:11-21 and Psalm
32:1-11.
Announcements included a
report of a successful take out
beans and brown bread supper and a reminder of the
World Day of Prayer service
on March 11 at 2 p.m. at St
James Anglican. Mystery
“goody bags “ for a “goody
roof “ will be available till the
end of March for a donation of
$5. Advance notice was given
of a concert to be held on May
15 by the West Branch Singers
to raise money for a new
church roof.
In her sermon titled Moving
On! The Next Step, Ross spoke
of the message of forgiveness,
salvation and being reconciled
to God. But this message is
not supposed to stop with
Christians; we are to live it,
share it and proclaim it, she
said. This is the next step.
Have you taken this step? Are
you an ambassador for Christ,
she asked.
Next week the congregation will focus on the book of
Psalms as Betty Ann Battist
leads worship while Ross is
on study leave.
Submitted By Betty Ann
Battist
Religion deadline is noon
on Mondays
To submit a writeup or photo,
email: editor@pictouadvocate.
com
first united baptist – new glasgow
ed with a reminder to everyone that all believers are invited to the Lord’s table. During
Koinonia (Fellowship Hour)
church family members who
celebrate an anniversary or
birthday in March were recognized.
The music team led the
church family in singing
Victory in Jesus, Thrive,
Majesty, He is Exalted and
Shine.
Sutherland is planning an
upcoming baptism service.
Anyone interested is invited to
contact the pastor. First Baptist
drama ministry will present a
Good Friday drama with
music, Never Walk Alone, at
10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on March
25. The deacons will host an
Easter Sunday morning breakfast from 9 until 10 a.m.
Submitted by George Henaut
During the Children’s
Moment, Kim Frenette focused
on superheroes from the Bible,
sharing the story of the young
shepherd David who slew the
giant Goliath with a slingshot.
David inspires all of us to be
courageous as we reach out in
faith, she said.
Pastor Gordon Sutherland
began a new series of sermons, Journey to the Cross
and Beyond. His sermon entitled, Let’s Go This Way, was
based upon Luke 9:51-62:
“Jesus replied, ‘No one who
puts a hand to the plow and
looks back is fit for service in
the kingdom of God.’”
There is always a cost to
following Jesus, but the cost is
worth it. Next Sunday the sermon is entitled, “What a
Waste”.
Communion was celebrat-
st andrew's presbyterian – pictou
Need Your
Carpets Cleaned?
We Can Help!
Up to 300 sq ft of Carpet Cleaning
9495plus HST
$
Stellarton, Nova Scotia
C.J. Installations Inc.
(902) 752-6762
For All Your Fresh Air Needs
HRV/ERV Systems
In
New & Existing Homes
www.cjinstallations.ca
Installations
•
Sales
•
Service
Foord St., Stellarton
902-752-1267
www.SystemCare.ca
20 Community
The Advocate
March 9, 2016
The Pictou County
Shrine Club and
Shrinerettes met
recently for their regular monthly meeting.
The 2016 Philae Car
Fezeroo was in full
swing at the Highland
Square Mall in New
Glasgow. Shrinerettes
were working with the
Shriners to make this a
successful campaign.
(Submitted photo)
Mobile Foot Care
In Home Foot Care Visits
All Areas of Pictou County NS
Evening and Weekend Appointments Available
Brenda Ryan LPN
Foot Care Nurse
902-301-5887 | brendaryan30@msn.com
THERE ARE 10 WARNING SIGNS
OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Jim Mitchell, right, was
recently honoured at the
Regional Policy Session for
the Nova Scotia Liberal Party
as the outgoing regional
director. Mitchell served as
regional director for 10 years,
and is pictured here receiving
a token of appreciation on
behalf of the Central Nova
Federal Liberal Association
from Sean Fraser, MP for
Central Nova.
(Submitted photo)
Kin Week was celebrated
recently in Pictou County with
a proclamation signing by
municipal and Kin Family
leaders. From the left, back
row: Stephen Cotter, Trenton
councillor; Stellarton Mayor
Joe Gennoe; Donna Atwater,
president of New Glasgow
Kinettes; John MacMillan, president of New Glasgow Kinsmen,
and Westville Mayor Roger
MacKay. Front: New Glasgow
Mayor Barrie MacMillan;
Warden of Pictou County Ron
Baillie; Alta Munroe, Deputy
Mayor of Pictou.
Learn the other nine warning signs at
www.tenwarningsigns.ca or 1-800-611-6345
(Submitted photo)
GALA ON ICE
50/50 DRAW
KITCHEN-OPEN
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
BY OLYMPIC MEDALIST
KAETLYN OSMOND
Pictou County Wellness Centre
Wednesday, March 9, 2016 6:30 pm
Photo by Danielle Earl
Purchase your tickets at BIg Al’s Convenience and the YMCA Info Desk Tickets $10 adult | $ 5 Students