Routine, A Survival Tool for the Masses
Having a routine and movement are good for one’s mental health. I’m an early riser and have a pattern I like to follow. I take the dog out for her morning relief, we come in and I like to do my morning meditations, text my family (wishing them a good day), compete with my siblings in the NYT Wordle challenge we have each day, and make the morning coffee. This regular rhythm helps me to start the day in a relaxed way. It keeps me from focusing on yesterday’s bumps or imagining tomorrow’s possible disasters. A good friend of mine once said, “what comes about today is enough for any person to work on.” I believe this to be a good truth to follow.
Back to the routine. Yes, it can be mundane and to others looks boring. But it is a very individual thing, and as long as it does not take away or hurt others it is basically a good thing for a person. I do not live alone. So, my routine for a good part of the day is a combined routine for my wife and I. The more people that live in the household the more combining of routines need to be considered. However, I would not change my experience for anything. We had a young family and worked as do many others. We moved into the grown children and many grandchildren running under our feet on their many visits routine. (Now how blessed were we?) Now our grandchildren are grown and we are for the most part back into the she-and-he routine. I think that for myself, not having a routine of sorts would be chaos. Perhaps getting older makes a person more sedimentary and routine loving. (I don’t mind shifting, especially when it is for something that I enjoy.) I understand that events in our lives can shift the normal cycle of personal practice and can lead to change. Think of this as an opportunity to make a new routine regiment.
For most people, I dare say that routine is not a thought about event. I only realize it when it is broken for one reason or another. So, I ask you to think about your personal routine and life style. What does it achieve for the most part? Does it help you to live in the crazy times we are experiencing? Are you able to live one day at a time? A breach in our routines, for any reason, does not mean that the end is near at hand. When life hands you a bag of lemons, make the choice to turn it into something useful like lemonade. Resilience is about getting on and developing routine into your life as quickly as you are able to.
So, what’s my point? I believe that routine builds stability. Stability gives us a sense of who we are. This in turns helps us to be useful to others and to follow the golden rule. (Google that one!) This is my advice to you. For the most part stick to routine. It gives stability and adds normalcy to your day. This in turn gives you better mental health. Anxiety and stress cause many physical problems. We do have a choice despite the many things that may come our way. Use that to your advantage.
And now, I’ll get going on my ‘old man jog’, a very normal and crucial part of this person’s routine. It provides me with time to veg out and spend time with my personal beliefs. Oh, the happiness of routine!!!!
Peter Worden on behalf of the NQMCA
The North Queens Medical Centre Association, as with the many other volunteer organizations in our area, continues to look for people to come on board. We encourage people to be a part of the team for three years. This involves a meeting once a month (First Wednesday) and voicing your ideas for keeping our medical centre in good repair and lending a hand whenever possible. We work together on a spring and fall cleanup of the property. We are looking for a person who has book keeping experience. The books are set up electronically in excel, and our out-going treasurer is more than willing to go over the books and provide advice when needed. The new treasurer will be required to make sure the monthly bills and banking are taken care of. S/he will also be required to give a monthly report at our regular meetings and fill out the annual forms required by the government to keep our charitable status. Please consider making this a part of your monthly routine. I would also encourage others to join the group. Remember this in our changing world; our wonderful Health Centre would no longer be without the volunteers who work for the area. Thank you for your consideration. Please make it a reality. peter.worden.c@gmail.com 902-682-3122.
It's hard to believe there are only three weeks left in the North Queens Heritage Museum summer session. The weeks have gone by very fast.
If you have been checking our Museum page on Facebook you will see that we had visitors who are familiar with the House. Edwina Douglas and her sister Sylvia Douglas, and Eleanor Wambolt came to visit. Both Edwina and Sylvia were born in the house. So there would be a lot of memories for these two ladies.
The latest display at the Museum is the Woodsmen/Forestry display, "Rusty Blades and Razor Sharp Memories"{tools of the times} If you haven't been to see it, now is the time to do so before we close for the summer. A woodsman demonstration is in the plans at a later date.
We would like to thank everyone who helped at the Strawberry Pancake breakfast on July 1st. It was a success all around.Thank you to Adrian and Sarah VanDyk for the donation of the beautiful hanging basket for ticket sales that was won by Birdie Fiddes. Also thank you to Birdie and Wayne for their donations to the Museum. The tickets for the BBQ and the BBQ itself are still on display at Mary Lake Home Hardware. Be sure to pick up your tickets for a chance to win this beautiful BBQ which will be drawn for the last day of the Exhibition. Tickets will also be on sale all week at the Exhibition.
We will be selling Strawberry Shortcakes at the Exhibition as well as our publications. The Museum will be closing on August 31. Thank you to all who visited, took the tour, and donated. We appreciate all that you do to help us keep the Museum going.
Thank you to our Curator, Nicki Allen and our student, Owen Westhaver.
THE MOON IS THE FIRST MILESTONE ON THE WAY TO THE STARS. IN ALL THINGS OF NATURE THERE IS SOMETHING OF THE MARVELOUS.
Until the next edition.Be well Marilyn Woodworth, Secretary, North Queens Heritage Society
Queens Family Resource Centre offers a weekly community playgroup. Monday mornings 10:00-11:30am, starting Oct 2, 2023, at the Church Vestry, 1888 Hibernia Rd. (opposite the post office). Everyone welcome! For more information please contact the Centre 902 354-7176 or our website www.southshorefamilyresource.org
The North Queens Business Hub, located in the back of the Firehall, offers a spacious Boardroom for meetings and workspace. Access to WiFi, various business services, bathroom and kitchenette is available. For more information, bookings, become a Co-op Member or to join our Board of Directors, contact info@nqbusinesshub.com or call (902) 682-2154
“Making Memories on Music Mondays for Seniors” Launched by Queens County Transit
As we continue to recover from the pandemic those living in social isolation are finding it harder than ever to reconnect with their community. Queens County Transit as an important infrastructure within Queens that continues to strive to support those living in isolation. We provide a link to reconnect them to their community through affordable and accessible transportation and outreach programs.
Despite todays seniors living longer and being more active, many still suffer from social isolation. The older population are the most at risk because many may not be driving anymore or mobility issues may hinder there ability to easily access regular vehicles. QCT has accessible vans and our fleet of drivers are trained to assist you with your transportation needs.
Queens County Transit has received funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. The funds will be used for a program called “Making Memories on Music Mondays for Seniors”
The year long program began on April 3rd and will continue every other Monday thereafter except on Holidays. Seniors can enjoy an afternoon of music and social interaction. The program is free and coffee and treats will be served. Seniors from anywhere in Queens County can call Queens County Transit at 902-356-2670 for a free drive to the event. Gather a van load of your friends and come out and enjoy an afternoon of fun and socializing.
The free musical afternoons will be held from 1:00-3:00pm at rotating venues throughout Queens. The rotation of venues will be in this order:
Liverpool Legion
West Queens Recreation Centre, Port Mouton
Westfield Community Hall, Caledonia
Mill Village and District Fire Department
If the day of the event lands on a holiday we will skip that venue.
The funding also provides funds to pay an honorarium to entertainers so if you or your band would like to be put on our entertainers list please contact QCT at 902-356-2670. The Program is a federal grants and contributions program whose goal is to support projects that help improve the well-being of seniors and foster social inclusion and engagement in their communities.
“We are proud of our project, funded through the New Horizons for Seniors Program. Queens County Transit is excited about the opportunity to reach out to more Seniors from all parts of our county.
Thanks to this funding QCT continues to make a significant difference in the lives of seniors in our community.” Call QCT at 902-356-2670 or email-info@queenscountytransit.ca for details or to book your ride. You can also follow us on Queens County Transit Facebook.
Did you hear the good news?
Coast II Coast Gas Station in Caledonia is now open! Summer Hours, as posted, are 6:00am to 9:00pm
A message to the North Queens community from the North Queens Fire Association
This fall the NQFA is launching a new initiative. Times have changed and in order to continue to serve the community in the best possible way, we are introducing a new way for you to volunteer your time and talents to the work of the NQFA. Many of you already support the NQFA and this support is deeply appreciated. This new initiative is hoping to expand on this support and channel it into specific areas that have become more in need of active participation. The working title for the new group we are hoping to form is NQFA Firefighters Auxiliary. There are many different ways you can be part of this new group. All are important to keep the NQFA running smoothly. We are inviting you to come to a public information session on September 12 at 7pm at the NQ Firehall that will be chaired by our Chief, Chris Wolfe. At this time we will expand on our vision for this group and the important role it will have in the future of our NQFA.Please come out and take part in the conversation.
The South Shore Flying Club has enjoyed a busy Spring and Summer so far. We have completed our Annual Highway Clean-up along 5kms of Highway 210 adjacent to the Airfield. During the unfortunate Wildfires in Nova Scotia, we were busy providing refueling services for Fire Spotting Aircraft that were based out of Debert. They made frequent stops as we were centrally located along their route of flight. We were glad to help out.
We hosted a fly-in Breakfast on the 15th of July and although the weather wasn’t great for flying, we had quite a number of folks who drove and enjoyed a delicious meal. We were able to sell lots of raffle tickets for our upcoming BBQ on September 16th. We are raffling off a chance to win one of 3 Flights over Queens County. Tickets are $5/ each and we have sold quite a few so far. One of the Flights will be in a Floatplane!
We have recently gained some new members as more and more folks are moving to the South Shore. The Airport is getting busier which is Great News! Also coming on the weekend of September 6-8 RC (Radio Controlled) Flying. Come out and watch with the Family! Also recently, there is a Company called Tidekite, who have been teaching “ Land Sailing” with their specialized carts. Basically, a windsurfer on wheels. They are always looking for new “ students”. Until next time…Fly Safe!
ABOUT THE SOUTH SHORE HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE SOCIETY
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is patient-centered, coordinated care that aims to relieve the suffering and improve the quality of life for patients who have a life-limiting illness/diagnosis. Palliative care focuses on a holistic approach to treat the impact that an illness has on the patients and their families and is often provided in addition to clinical care which focuses on the illness or disease.
Examples of palliative services may include:
∙ Pain management
∙ Personal support services (meal preparation, home cleaning, wound cleaning & dressing.)
∙ Psychological and bereavement support
∙ Respite and caregiver support
What is Hospice?
Hospice is available towards the end-of-life when the decision is made to stop curative and life-prolonging treatments. Generally, a patient receiving hospice care has been given the prognosis of less than 6 months to live. Hospice provides all the same service as palliative care, but focuses strictly on comfort and quality of life, rather than treatments of the disease or illness.
Most of the time, palliative and hospice care can occur anywhere, and patients may choose to receive treatments at home, in a hospital, in a long-term care facility, or another place of their choosing. About the South Shore Hospice Palliative Care Society
The South Shore Hospice Palliative Care Society was incorporated in 2019 by a group of citizens with a vision for quality and compassionate end-of-life care for the residents of Lunenburg and Queens Counties. Through the generosity of our donors and in partnership with the Nova Scotia Health Health’s Palliative Care Team, we support and promote compassionate care for individuals and their loved ones who are living with life limiting illness.
Programs
Beacon of Hope Fund - Supports patients and families who are able to remain at home but have unmet financial needs. Applications may be made through the South Shore Palliative Care Team.
Solace Fund - Supports the spouse or caregiver of palliative care patients who have died, for whom it would be beneficial, but financially difficult to obtain personal grief counselling on their own. Applications can be made through the Palliative Care Team, social worker, or nurse working with the family.
Beacon Programs
Cooking for Care provides those who have experienced a significant loss with a comfortable place to come and prepare a meal together with people experiencing similar loss.
Coffee Club for Widows provides widows with the opportunity to get together socially every week with other widows.
Art as a Part of Healing is a program offered periodically that helps channel grief into the creation of something special. The program is facilitated by a Creative Wellness Practitioner or local artist.
Education Programs supports and fosters increased hospice/palliative care literacy through in-person and online educational opportunities and events.
GRIEF WEEK SEPTEMBER 23rd- 30th
Contact Us:
South Shore Hospice Palliative Care Society
821 King Street, Unit 7 (902) 527-0000 office@southshorehospice.ca www.southshorehospice.ca
Community Events
Follow us on Facebook for more resources and events
Westfield Hall
Card parties - 1st Monday of each month
Seniors club - 2nd Wednesday of each month
October 8th -ATV Rally
14th-crib tournament
Nov.4th-penny Auction
December2nd- Basket Auction
Early bird Friday, Dec1st
Caledonia Firehall
Pleasant River Hall Card Parties
Sept. 11th at 7pm.
Oct, 9th, 7pm
Nov.20th, at 7pm
Dec.18th at 7pm
Contact Debbie Fancy 902-685-3855
Sept 10- Xmas Penny Auction, 12-3pm. Early tickets Sept. 8th, 6-8pm, Sept 09, 12-3pm & Sat night 6-8pm. Draw at 3pm on Sunday.
Cards at 7pm
Sep 26th
Oct 24th
Nov 14th
Nov 28th
Dec 12th
Dances & Music
45 tournaments at 7 pm
Sep 7th, 14th, 28th
Oct 19th , 26th
Nov 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
Dec 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
Halloween Dance, Oct 28th, 9pm-1am, 19 yrs and over, ID required
Hillbilly Band - Nov. 5th 2:00-4:00pm
First Karaoke night - Nov 25th , Time to be posted
Karaoke- News Years Eve, Dec 31st , Time and info to be posted.
Darts
Friday nights, beginning Oct 20th at 7:15pm
To play contact Judy Merry
Keji Craft Sale
Nov 18th, 9:30am - 1:30pm
Tables $10 902-682-2073.
It has been a chaotic summer! The severe weather has forced the wildlife we study, as well as our staff and volunteers, to deal with some extreme conditions. We hope you enjoy hearing about our latest projects and if you would like to learn more or see upcoming events you can check out our website www.merseytobeatic.ca and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@merseytobeatic).
Bat researchers are looking for your reports of bats, especially those in ‘weird’ spots! Bats are usually found roosting in trees and buildings but sometimes these furry critters can be found curled up in unusual places, such as patio umbrellas, wood piles, tarps, you name it! We are looking for your help to keep track of the strange places bats roost. Keep an eye out for bats and report them to www.batconservation.ca or 1-866-727-3447. By reporting bats, you contribute to our understanding of this species at risk so that we can support their recovery across Canada!
Monarch Butterflies
Researchers have been busy conducting surveys for a plant vital to Monarch Butterflies, Milkweed. So far things have been a little different than last year, much of the Milkweed was disturbed in the recent floods and Monarchs’ numbers are low. Luckily, after some careful searching, a few young caterpillars were found and research efforts will continue to monitor these graceful butterflies. To join the survey project, visit MTRI’s website and click Get Involved.
Fall Kespukwitk Municipal iNaturalist Competition
This year we launched our biggest Kespukwitk (Southwest Nova Scotia) iNaturalist Competition ever! So far, we have hosted the spring and summer competitions and from Sept. 11-24, we will host our autumn one. These are friendly competitions between the municipalities of Kespukwitk to see who can collect the most wildlife observations with the free iNaturalist app. To join, all you must do is log onto iNaturalist and take observations in Kespukwitk during the competitions. Naturalist is a free app and webpage that allows anyone to ID wildlife and it uses that data to support conservation projects and wildlife research. During each competition, we will host guided nature walks around the region to get you out and inspired by the biodiversity around us! We will also have prize draws of wildlife guides, cards, swag and outdoor gear to help you on your next adventure.
Photo Contest
Southwest Nova Scotia is a biodiversity hotspot in Canada! Keep an eye out for local wildlife and submit your photo to the MTRI Wildlife Photo Contest! Send us your best wildlife pictures from within Southwest Nova Scotia between now and the end of September for a chance to win a prize pack. Send your submission, no more than 5 photos please, to contests@merseytobeatic.ca
Please submit your name, the date the photo was taken, and where it was taken with your submissions. All wildlife species submissions are welcome! Our judges will decide the winner based on wildlife diversity, photo quality and photographer inclusivity (we will not only pick professional photos). Good luck everyone!
Library Box
We want to empower young people to be connected and engaged with the natural world. To help do that, we are announcing our free youth Library Box program. You can stop at our field station, 9 Mt Merritt Rd, Caledonia (next to our big sign), and sign out books for young people on nature, wildlife, conservation, science, twoeyed seeing and more! Our Library Box also has activities, resources on food security, and features local and indigenous authors!
A big thank you to the Wellness Grant from the Nova Scotia Health Authority. If you would like to learn more or support our Library Box you can email info@merseytobeatic.ca or donate through our website.
Medway Community Forest Cooperative
There have been some memorable days marking or treating trees at Snowshoe Lake, Four Mile Stillwater and Sixth Lake Wilderness Areas with our newest trained Hemlock Heroes. The photos captured some of those events. Additionally, Harold and Diane Clapp (among our most seasoned volunteers) completed several days of tree marking at Sixth Lake, Digby County. They graciously accommodated the Strike Team at their cabin, which greatly facilitated treatments in this more remote setting. The Hemlock Conservation Strike Team at MCFC has continued to perfect their skills with a more recent focus on Pollard’s Falls, located on the Shelburne River in western Lake Rossignol area. They have worked undaunted through some very heavy rains and a long siege of hot, humid days.
As my work in launching this program is drawing to a close, I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished in a short time. Over 2000 trees have been treated since we began in May. I am turning over the reins to a new Project Coordinator soon to take this program to new heights. I will remain engaged behind the scenes, continuing to treat hemlocks among other aspirations, as we continue to race to save hemlocks. It has been wonderful meeting each of you and working with many of you. I expect to continue to see many of you in the forest in the coming years! Thank you to all for your valuable assistance thus far.
Stay tuned for more events and ways you can assist hemlocks on the Hemlock Heroes webpage, Medway Community Forest Coop!
Sincerely,
Donna Crossland MScF Hemlock Conservation Project Coordinator Medway Community Forest Coop
902 349-4103
Hemlock Hero Updates
Dear dedicated protectors of hemlock forests!
Many of you have been asking for an update about our Hemlock Hero program.
We’ve fallen a bit silent after having worked hard to update and launch the program. There are new dates and events coming your way shortly so keeping checking the Hemlock Heroes signup page at the Medway Community Forest Coop website!
Your help will be needed to protect hemlock forests this fall until early December. We expect the work will be challenging as we rush to achieve treatment targets before winter sets in. Hemlock Heroes to the rescue?! On the roster is some tree marking assistance at the Sixth Lake portage, which will require canoeing to the site (potentially similar to our experience at Sporting Lake but without the long portages)! There will be some tree injection days in other protected areas, too. We are presently sorting through new challenges of how to integrate your assistance with tree marking and using the new ‘data apps’ with our GIS license. Gone are the days of writing data in little notebooks! We will introduce you to our more modern approach to tracking our hemlock treatments. There have also been some modifications to how we approach basal bark applications and integrating your assistance.
Establishing this new program comes with unique challenges, but we are progressing!
Our 7th annual Forest Market took place on August 27th We host this event to showcase local talent, traditions, artists, producers, foragers, and organizations around a diversity of values stemming from the woods. The aim of this market is to not only feature wonderful local vendors, but to also increase an awareness for nontimber forest products and value-added wood products.
To learn more about the Forest Market Fair and our amazing local vendors, visit www.medwaycommunityforest.com/events/forestmarket-fair
Medway Community Forest Co-op is happy to once again attend this year's Annapolis Valley Exhibition on August 17 and 18th. The Exhibition which received over 45,000 visitors last year, has been running since 1926 and showcases local famers, musicians and community events! Swing by our booth to learn more about our work and maybe pick up a T-shirt or one of our hats!
2023 Northern Hardwood Conference
Last week, MCFC was pleased to attend the 2023 Northern Hardwood Conference in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The conference gathered industry professionals to share and learn innovative management practices to keep our forests healthy and productive for generations.
With the fall just around the corner, MCFC is getting ready for a return to active forestry operations on the license area. Staff have been busy planning harvests and completing biodiversity monitoring in support of our Species-atRisk (SAR) Birds Beneficial Management Practices partnership with Dr. Cindy Stacier from Dalhousie University and the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute (MTRI). We’re eagerly waiting to learn where SAR birds are making their homes in and around our license area so that we can plan accordingly in implementing our harvesting and silviculture work.
This fall we anticipate undertaking several harvests in the Northfield area of MCFC’s license with a range of harvest prescriptions including commercial thinning, group selection and irregular shelterwood. We will also soon be posting additional upcoming harvests for public feedback as well as announcing the date for our Fall Operations Tour, so stay tuned to MCFC’s website and social media for more information.
Greetings and happy August from all of us at the Community Food Resource Network and Muriel’s Closet!
The summer has been busy but before we talk about that, let’s talk about what is happening in September at CFRN! The Community Food Resource Network is finally set to have an open house. That’s right, after nearly four years, we are going to welcome you all into our building for a tour, a talk and some nibblies. If you wonder why the delay, well COVID hit within just a few months of us opening our doors and life as we knew it changed. Seriously, we opened in mid December, 2019 and locked ‘er up in mid March, 2020. Now is the time to welcome you all into our facility. Mark this date on your calendar: Sunday, September 10, 2-4pm. We hope you can join us.
Back in June we thought we’d try an experiment to see how Muriel’s would do if we opened weekly. While it has been successful, it is a lot of work and a lot of time involvement from our amazing volunteers. If the volunteers are willing we will continue in September, however, after that we will go back to our regular bimonthly opening. Muriel’s is a lot of fun, isn’t it ☺ A special thank you to everyone who stops by our garage and donates items. Without you, well, Muriel’s wouldn’t open. All funds raised at Muriel’s Closet go back into CFRN to support our clients.
Our hamper program has wrapped up for this year. In order to run this program we must receive a grant and, to date, we’ve been very fortunate. This was our largest grant ever and we able to offer 304 hampers. We hope those of you who received one enjoyed it. This hamper project ran from May until mid August. How did your garden grow this season? Personally, my pepper plants on the deck drowned but my tomatoes are about 6 feet tall. Our garden at CFRN has been pretty good. So far, we’ve harvested 70 heads of lettuce, lots of peas and a huge amount of green and yellow beans. The bugs found our cucumbers – twice, so we won’t be harvesting any of those, unfortunately. I hope you remember us if you have an abundance of crops this year. We are always so excited to give our clients wonderful fresh produce, even if we don’t grow it ourselves.
If you are interested in becoming a member or volunteering at CFRN or Muriel’s Closet, please get in touch with me via Facebook, email ddawe@ns.sympatico.ca or cell/text 902-682-7742. You can also reach out to any of our members. To become a member of the Community Food Resource Network you must sign a confidentiality agreement and there is a yearly fee of $5. Before I sign off for another few months I’d like to remind you of the various ways you can support our work at CFRN. Financial donations can be made via e-transfer to resourcenetwork9868@gmail.com, mail to PO Box 113, Caledonia B0T1B0 or cash or cheque at our building any Monday morning 8:30-11.
Be kind to each other…
Until next time, Dianne
Huskins, CoordinatorThe Southwest Nova Biosphere Region Association continues to work towards recognition of the biodiversity and unique characteristics of Southwest Nova. Are you aware of a property that is being maintained in a way that protects the plants and animals that are living there? Nick Hill , our project coordinator, would like to hear from you. An example of such a property might be the lands in the watershed around Lake George in Yarmouth County that are owned by the Town of Yarmouth. The lands are held to protect the quality of the municipal water supply and will remain undeveloped for that reason. Another example is a large family owned acreage in the Lake Annis area of Yarmouth County. It was the wish of the landowner that these lands be preserved as a nature reserve. This has been accomplished. The lands are still family owned with a covenant that restricts development into the future. The taxes on the lands are paid by the province. Both of these are examples of land areas that add to the total area of lands where biodiversity is protected.
We are happy to announce that we have been successful in receiving a second grant under the 2-Billion Trees program. This grant will involve planting 250,000 trees in the biosphere over the next three years. Shayla Nickerson and Adam Deveau will be busy working on this project. Sites for this stage of the program have been selected but watch for invitations in the future for additional tree planting sites. We are delighted again to be hosting an intern through the Canada Conservation Corps. Sheridan Haral will be with us until the first of September. She has skills in photography, design and layout that she brings with her. She is assisting in the field and in the office with both projects. The Canada Council for UNESCO and Destination Canada have announced a project that will create an Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor. VARDO creative is collecting data and preparing a report that will help guide us drawing attention to UNESCO areas as tourist destinations. A survey has been launched to help gather information from the public to assist with the project. That survey can be accessed here
Please consider filling out the survey and sharing your ideas to help boost tourism within the Southwest Nova Biosphere Region.
New! Geocaching Hiker Challenge Badge
Explore the beautiful Region of Queens with our Geocaching Badge! Each geocache is hidden in and around different facilities, parks, and trails in Queens County. Find 6 of 10 geocaches to qualify for the badge; locations can be found on our website
https://www.regionofqueens.com/municipal-services/recreation/programs-calendar/geocachi ng-hiker-challenge-series
Don’t forget to bring a swag item to trade once you find the cache and make sure to write in the logbook! Some caches are small, some are large. For a full description of what to look for at the different locations, visit our website. The badge is free, supported by Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.
Hike Bags
Hike Bags can be loaned out from Region of Queens through our Equipment Loan Program. Bag includes: First aid kit, 1 Tackle Box (see activity section for use), 1 Drawstring bag inside, 4 Flag Poles (see activity section for use), 4 Pieces of String (see activity section for use), 1 Information on Tick Safety, Packing for a Hike, map of Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and 1 Activity Sheet. Fun for the whole family! Get out and explore the beautiful region. They are available all year round and will have Ice Grippers for the winter season.
Contact Kimberly Halliday, Physical Activity Coordinator, 902-354-5741 to book a hike bag or learn more!
Contact Your Council Members Whenever you have questions, concerns or suggestions about the work of Council, or Municipal programs, services, infrastructure or something else the Municipality is doing, please reach out to your elected officials. Council members can direct you to appropriate Municipal staff to provide an answer or they may be able to provide you with the information you are looking for. Contact numbers for Council members have recently been updated; these are their cell phone numbers:
Councillor Kevin Muise District 1
Councillor Ralph Gidney District 2
Councillor Maddie Charlton District 3
Councillor Vicki Amirault District 4
Deputy Mayor Jack Fancy District 5
Councillor David Brown District 6
Councillor Carl Hawkes District 7
902-350-0982
902-350-6851
902-350-2598
902-350-6157
902-350-4169
902-350-4338
902-354-8037
Mayor Darlene Norman - 902-354-3453(office)
902-350-3274(cell)
Tax Exemptions for Municipal Taxes
During budget deliberations, Region of Queens Municipality’s Council requested changes to the tax exemption amount and household earning threshold to aid those in lower income situations, considering the increased cost of many things. A new tiered system based on a range of total income levels has been put in place, with higher rebates available to eligible applicants. Rebate Total household Income:
Up to $300.00 $25,001 to $30,000
Up to $350.00 $20,001 to $25,000
Up to $400.00 $0 to $20,000
There is still time to access the exemption. More information is available on the Municipality’s website: www.regionofqueens.com/municipal-services/finance/property-taxes