Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Kimberly Ann McAndrew, a 19-year-old woman who was last seen on August 12, 1989, leaving her place of work, the Canadian Tire store on Quinpool Avenue. There was an unconfirmed report that McAndrew was later seen at a flower shop in Penhorn Mall in Dartmouth, but the...
Stairway to heaven: Free Lab addresses Citadel Hill erosion problem
by Chris Benjamin The southeast corner of Citadel Hill, at Sackville and Brunswick Streets, is significantly eroded. Climbing onto the pathway leading up the hill poses a challenge, even for the fleet-of-foot and healthy-hearted. But today, a group of nine Dalhousie architect students is solving the problem, led by Devin McCarthy of DSRA Architecture and...
Review of investigation into Holly Bartlett’s death criticizes Halifax police actions
A review of the Halifax police investigation into the death of Holly Bartlett finds that “based on the evidence presented to the reviewers,” her death was accidental. The report, however, goes on to fault the police department’s investigation, noting that the investigating officers jumped to a conclusion early on, before collecting all the evidence, and then kept...
Mainland Common may be solution to Africville dog park kerfuffle
Tensions were high at the beginning of last night’s public consultation over how to replace the Africville dog park, but as the meeting progressed dog owners and city staff seemed to zero in on a possible solution agreeable to all: A new, large and fenced dog park at the Mainland Common. To back up, former residents...
Consent is key when it comes to energy development, chiefs tell AFN
by Hilary Beaumont Consent, when asked for and granted, is a beautiful thing. But as the Assembly of First Nations heard Thursday, industry and the Crown haven’t exactly been establishing consent before plowing forward with energy development on First Nations territory. When it comes to extracting gas or developing land, chiefs and delegates voiced concern...
Do the “your speed” signs on the MacKay Bridge approach work?
Towards the end of Monday’s Police Commission meeting there was a short discussion about the value of “your speed” signs that tell drivers both the posted speed limit and the speed they are actually travelling. Deputy Chief Bill Moore cited the before-and-after experience of the Bridge Commission, which has put such signs at the approach to the […]
Tsilhqot’in ruling could set precedent in land disputes, AFN hears
by Hilary Beaumont Visitors from the Tsilhqot’in First Nation in BC enjoyed a sort of celebrity status at this year’s AFN gathering in Halifax. They received pats on the back, held their heads high, and practiced telling the story of how they appeared before the highest court in Canada. “[The Elders told me] when you...
Ghislain Picard named Interim National Chief
Ghislain Picard, the Regional Chief of Quebec and Labrador and the longest-serving chief on the Assembly of First Nations executive committee, has been named Interim National Chief of the AFN. Picard fills a seat that has been empty since the unprecedented resignation of National Chief Shawn Atleo in May. Picard was nominated for the interim position yesterday, but […]
Assembly of First Nations: reform and rebuilding
The Assembly of First Nations is meeting in Halifax this week, with 242 chiefs, or their proxies, present. The first order of business was dealing with the fallout from the unprecedented resignation of National Chief Shawn Atleo in May. Atleo resigned over criticism of his handling of Bill C-33, which dealt with education policy: some...
Mi’kmaq meet Europeans: First contact to burying the hatchet
by Hilary Beaumont Representatives of Canada and the Crown addressed the crowd at the Assembly of First Nations conference in Halifax, or rather K’jipuktuk, Tuesday morning. Premier Stephen McNeil, NS Lieutenant Governor John Grant, and Halifax Mayor Mike Savage opened the conference of about 1,000 delegates alongside national chiefs and elders. The AFN, a national...