The Downtown Scoop: Skating Oval = Social Capital (it's a good thing!)

The Downtown Scoop: Skating Oval = Social Capital (it's a good thing!)

Skating Oval = Social Capital (it's a good thing!)

A void has been filled in the social fabric in Halifax. It consists of frozen water, hot beverages, deep fried dough, fire pits, and bleachers. The Canada Games Skating Oval is the talk of the town. It’s where every age can congregate; enjoy good old wholesome fun, exercise, and social interaction with people from all over our municipality, and beyond the municipal borders.

The venue has become the conversation on talk radio, newspapers, and social media because of our desperate need for more social capital. What defines social capital? On a Government of Canada website it explains it as:

“People and communities with good access to a diverse mix of social capital tend to be more ‘hired, housed, healthy and happy.' Although views about the precise definition of social capital differ, social capital is essentially about the ways in which one's social relationships provide access to needed information, resources and supports.


Public policy interest in social capital has grown worldwide in recent years. The concept has been linked to a broad range of issues including health, labour market outcomes, immigrant integration and diversity management, poverty and social exclusion, crime and safety, neighbourhood revitalization and civic renewal.”

In other words, citizens want the ability to be engaged in tangible social events so they may feel good about where they live. Nocturne is another great example of building social capital in our society. Positive interactions with others boost pride and restores faith in governments as well.

Moreover, this would allow for more family activities other than playing with a Wii.  Rinks are at a premium and this would allow for the rinks to be utilized more for organized hockey.

This is where Council needs to be leaders and listen to the desires of the residents. Yes, finances may try to dictate the results, but can we afford not to listen to the citizens? I have no doubt in my mind that some citizens/ Councillors/ staff will not be in favour of retaining this venue, but do they understand that with creative thinking, and the “user pay” concept that this can be self sustaining. Just think; your dollar investment could help make Halifax a more progressive and fun place to live, work, and play.

What do you think?  Email me at sloaned@halifax .ca

Money Making or Civilization Maker? The Need for the #3 Manor Bus is there

So back in the day, Council added a bus known as the Manor Bus - #3. The intent was to aid the seniors to be more mobile throughout the peninsular area as the malls and shopping areas began to develop in areas such as Mumford Road and Bayers Road away from the traditional shopping areas such as Downtown Halifax, North End ( Gottingen Street) and Quinpool Road.


Small grocery stores gave way to the big box like Superstores and Sobeys located outside of the traditional shopping areas as well. Other amenities started locating themselves to these untraditional areas as well; doctors, dentists, and government offices such as Access Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality Storefronts.

Seniors began to use the malls as gathering places to socialize or to exercise by “mall walking” instead of trying to navigate sidewalks in inclement weather.

Although the #3 Manor is not busting its seams daily, it does provide a service for which any urbanites understand. Affordable, mass, safe, alternative transportation. It was not designed to be profitable. It was designed to aid the aged and those unable to or do not drive. A public service which is affordable for those on fixed incomes, allows for transportation to the malls and medical offices we as a municipality helped establish, and fosters a good quality of life for our seniors by allowing socialization.

Socialization and independence are required for a good quality of life for our seniors. Otherwise mental and physical consequences may occur. Lack of motivation can cause depression.

Teresa Modnick and Monika White, Ph.D., (http://www.helpguide.org/elder_care.htm)

“Moderate to severe depression often accompanies physical decline and frailty. As many as 70% of institutionalized elderly experience significant depression, and the incidence in community settings is approximately 18% in the over 65 population (as opposed to 8% in the general population). Some estimates of frail elderly living in independent settings have found a 30% or higher incidence. Depression is a medical condition that affects not only quality of life, but also the way in which people take care of themselves. It is a condition that is usually easily resolved with new treatments, but untreated in the elderly, it can have dire consequences.” 

When the affordable housing for seniors was built, they were done so in the traditional areas of the peninsula. Close to all the amenities a resident would require. For example on Gottingen Street, near Sunrise Manor and Ahern Manor; there was a Dominion Grocery Store, shopping destinations like the Metropolitan, and a pharmacy. The only thing remaining is the pharmacy. Will the Province be building new seniors complexes in the near future out by these or the new commercial parks? I highly doubt it. The growth of these commercial complexes was fostered by the municipality for the sake of economic development and to keep Halifax competitive in the Atlantic Region. So it makes sense to have transit accommodating for the residents.


What is the value of this service and the municipality’s desire to repopulate the peninsular area and its need to retain citizens in the urban area? I say it’s priceless and needs to be examined without bias.  Quality of life is at stake here. If every bus route was analyzed on the basis of profit, a substantial amount of routes would be disbanded and the intent of mass transit would be threatened. I think the main issue here is the inability or lack of desire for Metro Transit to rebrand the “manor” bus as a “cross-town” transit service which services seniors, students, residents and commuters.


Rebranding and marketing of this route could make it more popular for those wanting to travel throughout the peninsula without transferring. Case and point: within HRM by Design a similar style bus/ shuttle was not only proposed but RECOMMEND BY COUNCIL, but was shot down by our past Transit Manager.


If Metro Transit and Council are not willing to reconsider this bus route, then I will be requesting that all bus routes be analyzed for their profitability and those who are not making a “profit” be axed as well.

How do you solve a problem like ours?

"Build it and they will come". "Save it and they will come". These are the two battle cries being heard currently in Halifax. Our Downtown is in transition with several developments pending and on the way. So what's the problem? HRM by Design has been adopted. This year's cruise ship visits are up to 130 with thousands of visitors roaming the streets, taking tours and excursions to Peggy's Cove.






The problem is our own citizens have given up. They have been snookered into the Western style of living. Big Box stores, driving from store to store in retail parks for bargains on white tube socks. Buying in bulk like the apocalypse is coming.






No parking, Parking Nazis, Winter Parking Bans, bad weather, too spread out, not my type of store, fear of swarming, violence, drugs, drunks, same ol same, Nothing new, too far from home, bus schedule. Sound familiar? These are the typical excuses I hear when I ask someone why they do not frequent our downtown. Very disheartening. Many of these comments are myths. Case and Point:






No Parking? Or perhaps too lazy to walk a ½ a block.






Parking Nazis? Perhaps you didn’t find a meter or parking spot geared for your needs.






Parking Bans. What are you doing Drinking and Driving? And have you ever checked out Park after Dark? 6 bucks will allow you to park from 6pm to 8am.






Too Spread out? You drive from store to store at the retail parks, perhaps you don’t realise you are wasting fuel.


I could go on, but then this blog would be 5000 pages long.


Whose fault is it that the Downtown isn’t what every one wants it to be? Well, several decades’ people vacating the peninsula, several bad planning decisions, several unfortunate mistakes that cannot be changed overnight.


How can we change this? Commercial tax reform is one solution. Making it fiscally viable for a company to be in the Downtown of Halifax or Dartmouth would be a start. We are relying on these areas to generate high taxes to subsidize other municipal infrastructure for an area as large as Prince Edward Island for God’s sake!


We need to stop the bleeding. We need to stop it now or we are in serious trouble. Taxes everywhere will rise as our downtowns decline. This will be disastrous to our economy and to your savings.


So what about the convention centre proposal? Will it be our “white knight” and save us from this tipping point? No, it probably won’t, but it will provide jobs, something new, parking, and replacements to those individuals who have given up on our downtown. Temporarily, but at least they will frequent the restaurants, hair salons, shops, destinations like the museums, hotels, and other amenities.


I’m stopping my rant here as it is time to go to sleep. Just think of what I have been saying, whether you agree with me or not. This is your downtown you need to be a part of the solution or wait for your taxes to rise.

How A Seed Can Change A Community

3 years ago, Jessie Jollymore, the nutritionist from the North End Community Clinic, told me of her idea to have a community garden for the Central Halifax area.  She wanted to teach the youth how to grow vegetables, and to change their eating habits. I thought it was a brilliant idea!  Why?

 As a child on my parents weekend farm.  I was taught the fundementals of organic gardening, crop rotation, how to weed and or thin a crop, to try eating vegtables and fruits that I probably wouldn't have if I hadn't grown them myself. I was and still am a picky eater, but I love fresh vegtables!

These skills not only gave me an education in gardening, but in patience, nurturing, and appreciation of what farmers do to make a living in our Nova Scotian climate.


There is nothing more fullfilling than growing your own food. 


Fresh vegtables taste better, have a snap!

27 youth, 15 families and many great volunteers like Mr. Loppie,Sean, Jill, Lisa and many others have grown local vegtables, herbs and fruit for their own consumption and for their neighbourhood this year.


In 2008, the gardeners made salsa and sold it to the community at special events like Go North.  It was a hit!  I personal bought a few bottles and they didn't last long! lol


In 2009, the gardeners sold their crops to the community for which I made my own salsa!  it was so delicious!


During this summer, the Black Business Initiative provided youth the opportunity to learn about being entrepreneurs by holding a week long business camp for the gardeners.  This allowed them the ability to prepare for the next step forward!  The plan was to produce a line of salad dressings from the garden's harvest.  Hope Blooms Salad Dressings.  The proceeds would go towards  local philthatropic projects, a scholorship fund for the youth who are members of the garden and a little pocket money for them as well.

The demand for the salad dressings has been incredible.  Last weekend at the Seaport Farmers Market, they sold out at 10:30am.  Jessie mentioned to me that the Wooden Monkey Restaurant, which serve local source food, wants to feature Hope Blooms dressings on the menu.  How do you produce salad dressings for the masses in Nova Scotia?  Solution: Greenhouse!

Fast forward to Today, October 6,2010 at approximately 11:00am I went down to Saint Patrick's Church and low and be hold members of our Canadian military were feverishly assembling the North End Community Garden's new endeavour!

A new chapter has been started for the North End Gardeners.  I am so proud of them all.

A seed of hope has been planted, has grown and is now blooming with success!

New Bike Means New Type of Freedom!

Last time I rode a bike, the back tire blew while I was on the waterfront in 1999.  I walked the bike home and gave it away soon after.  No, it wasn't because of the flat tire, really.  It was because of my fear of riding a bike on our streets.  Non- contiguous bike lanes, sewer grills that were bike unfriendly and the damn hills.

Flash forward to 2010.  I kept thinking I should get a bike for the summer.  Looked at them at stores and realized that bikes were cheap.  I didn't want to buy one that would fall apart after a few months of use nor did I have the cash to buy the kind I really wanted from the Bike Gallery.  What to do...? 

Decided to check out my RBC Rewards points and found out I had enough for a female mountain bike and ordered it immediately.  This sounds hokey... but as I drove around the downtown, I was envious of those pedaling next to me in my Honda.  I wanted the freedom they had!  The website said it would take 4 to 6 weeks.  4 to 6 WEEKS!  I thought, I'll never get my bike before the poor weather sets in. 

I was absoulutely surprised when the bike arrived at 10:30 TODAY! I was so excited!  It was like Christmas!!  I opened the box to find that my new bike was in 4 pieces...  OMG I'm going to have to assemble this thing?!?!  After reading the instructions and gathering all the tools I needed, the adventure began!

An hour later I was loading the assembled bike into the car to go fill the tires with air.  Back home, I donned my helmet and took off like a rocket (more like a fawlty scud missle)  Few minutes of zipping around and all went well.  Decided to ride over to CBC for an interview.  My first bike adventure! 

Since it is a mountain bike, I thought I'd try a little off road drive.  Across the Garrison Grounds to my destination ! it was a little bumpy, but I made it to the interview just in time! 

On the way home I tried another route and even drove on the street!  I have a meeting at 6:30 re: the skating oval for the Canada Games and will be cruising over to it on my bike too!  I will be posting more blogs on my bike adventures and the things I think we need to change to make biking better for the citizens of Halifax!
Cheers!

Governance versus Smaller Council

Today Regional Council discussed the thought of a smaller sized Council.  I have to say it was one of the best sessions of deliberation we have had in a while.  The Boundary Review Committee recommended Council be reduced to 20 on really no basis except for the "pressure" to do so. 

At the public meeting held in Halifax Hall this Spring, the residents in attendence from District 12 stated they didn't want a change in the number of Council but a change in the way we do business aka governance.

Governance is the activity of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists either of a separate process or of a specific part of management or leadership processes. Sometimes people set up a government to administer these processes and systems.

In the case of a business or of a non-profit organisation, governance relates to consistent management, cohesive policies, processes and decision-rights for a given area of responsibility. For example, managing at a corporate level might involve evolving policies on privacy, on internal investment, and on the use of data.

In terms of distinguishing the term governance from government - "governance" is what a "government" does. It might be a geo-political government (nation-state), a corporate government (business entity), a socio-political government (tribe, family, etc.), or any number of different kinds of government. But governance is the kinetic exercise of management power and policy, while government is the instrument (usually, collective) that does it. The term government is also used more abstractly as a synonym for governance, as in the Canadian motto, "Peace, Order and Good Government".

That quote describes the action of governance.  What needs to be changed with respect to Halifax Regional Council?  First of all the Hayward Report, which was the blueprint for amalgamation, really wasn't that great.  It laid out a basic structure for which HRM would use to govern but failed in suggesting improvements to the newly formed municipality or "Frankenstein"as I call it.

The needed changes are to the governing structure.  We have urban, suburban, and rural areas each unique and deserve to have their local issues dealt with by the individuals elected to serve their area.  This is one of the recommendations passed this evening.

HRM already has many of the required legislative powers but never envoked them, HRM Charter will need to be ammended for some of the recommendations such as the ability to envoke local area rates for capital work such as sidewalks.

As I stated at Council, the problem isn't with the size of Council but with the lack of ability to administer or govern in an effective manner. Democracy is not to be swift.  It is supposed to encourage discussion and thought.

Enough for now...  bed is calling