THE BEDFORD BASIN REPORT

Deadline approaching for Disaster Assistance Program

Dear Friends,

I hope you are enjoying the fall weather as we wend our way toward Hallowe’en.

I want to remind everyone who experienced flooding on July 21st that the deadline to apply to the province’s Disaster Assistance Program is fast approaching. I asked a question about this issue in the House of Assembly this past week, and the Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Office indicated that if you do not have all your documents, you should still apply — you can add more documents later.

I’ve been working to assist Bedford residents who lost housing following the floods. It’s been very difficult for many, in part because there are few places for people to rent if their home was so badly damaged that they cannot live in there now. I want to thank Team Rubicon for their extraordinary help during this time. This volunteer organization made up of veterans and other volunteers stepped in to assist homeowners with the cleanup of their homes after the flooding, and I am so grateful for their help during this time.

I continue to press the provincial government to purchase the Union Street homes that were badly damaged. In my view, this is a safety issue — a number of residents barely escaped the flooding with their lives. You can see more of my work on this on my Facebook or Instagram pages.

Learn more and apply before October 31st

Join an agency, board, or commission

The biannual call for applications for Nova Scotia’s many agencies, boards, and commissions (ABCs), which provide advice and services in a wide range of areas, including health, policing, agriculture, education, culture, environment, transportation, professional regulation, and more are now open.

Serving on one of the ABCs can help you grow personally and professionally while making a real impact on your community.

All Nova Scotia residents are invited to apply and people from diverse communities are encouraged to apply so ABCs better reflect the province’s population.

Learn More

The Housing Crisis

📌 The government has released a five-year housing plan, unfortunately, there is little detail and little evidence of a strategy. While the province says it will spend $1 billion over the next five years, that actually represents a cut from current spending. Read more...

The Healthcare Crisis

🏥 Earlier this week, NS Health released the number of Nova Scotians on the Need A Family Practice Waitlist. The list is supposed to be released by the first five days of the month but has only been released at random times each month. Read more...

Accessing Grants and Rebates

🏡 The Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) is now open for 2023. The HARP helps eligible Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. Read more...

⚕️ The annual Seniors Care Grant program, which helps with expenses that allow them to stay in their homes longer and improve their quality of life, is open for applications. The program has increased to $750 from $500 this year. Read more...

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Community Spotlight

Celebrating Durga Puja

The last few weeks have been very busy in Bedford, with many community events underway. I was delighted to spend a Friday evening recently here in Bedford at separate celebrations by the East Coast Bengali Society and the Sharodia Society as they marked Durga Puja.

This annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga, and it’s also celebrated because of Durga's victory over the shape shifter, Mahishasura.

Together we celebrated the victory of good over evil — although Durga Puja is also a harvest festival celebrating the goddess Durga as the motherly power behind all of life and creation. I’m always honoured to participate in the celebrations our Bedford residents mark, and I thank the two societies for including me this year.

What's on in Bedford Basin?

🧦 It's Socktober! Help grade six students at Rocky Lake Elementary are collecting new socks to donate to people experiencing homelessness. You can drop off new socks at the school during school hours right up until October 31st. Read more...

🎅 The annual Light Up Bedford Parade will get underway on Sunday, November 19th at 5:45, rain or shine. This always fun event is a kick-off to the holiday season here in Bedford. Read more...

🎉 Fort Sackville Foundation (the board the governs the activities at Scott Manor) will hold A Scott Manor Christmas. There will be a few of our favourite things — carolers, bands, and brown paper packages tied up with string. Read more...

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