Latest news with #NovaScotia
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Marine Atlantic passengers still waiting for promised rate cuts from new federal government
Passengers waiting for the Marine Atlantic ferry say they're also waiting for Prime Minister Mark Carney to follow through on a promise to cut travel rates. As part of his platform, Carney announced that his government would lower the costs for passengers on Atlantic ferries, including Marine Atlantic, by at least half. He called ferries critical to Atlantic Canada and the national economy in a post on X. Owen Collins, who's from Newfoundland and sailing to Nova Scotia, said rising costs on the ferry have limited his ability to travel. "You come once a year instead, and now maybe it's twice a year, you know, because it's that expensive. It's crazy, really," Collins told CBC News from the ferry terminal in Port aux Basques. Randy Jones of Ontario uses the ferry to access the province for sightseeing. He believes lowering the rate would lower the barrier for many others to do the same. "You have to think about whether you want to go over there with the cost of everything else," he said. "We all want to go someplace, and to get to Newfoundland and just to see the beautiful province, it should be done. It should be dropped." Marine Atlantic ferries also serve as a key entry point for goods and heavy equipment to Newfoundland. Louis Brideau, a trucker riding the ferry from Quebec, said the cost hurts his business. He had planned to depart on Thursday, but delayed his trip a day because it ultimately saved him money. A lower rate would have been much more beneficial, he said. "They keep promising stuff, and … they never do anything, you know? And it's hard on people," Brideau said, adding he feels Carney hasn't lived up to his promises. But Beth Townsend and Abby Nowakowski, from Ontario, made it a point to visit Newfoundland's west coast based on another Carney promise that was followed through on. The Canada Strong Pass, which was announced in April and came into effect on June 20, made admission to Gros Morne National Park free. Townsend hopes the federal government follows through on a cut on ferry ticket prices. "My interpretation of that was that they were kind of catching up and trying to do a lot of things with the new cabinet and everything, and maybe this is something that they're hopefully just going to get to in time," Townsend said. "But hopefully people can hold them accountable." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
2 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Increase in dog bite incidents prompts Wolfville park to limit off-leash hours
Social Sharing After an unspecified number of incidents involving off-leash dogs at Reservoir Park, the Town of Wolfville, N.S., is running a pilot project until January that will limit the hours dogs can be off-leash. The changes mean dogs must stay on leash between 10 a.m. AT and 7 p.m. each day. Previously, there weren't any restrictions. Wolfville Mayor Jodi MacKay said when she received a call from an emergency room doctor telling her she was seeing more cases of dog bites coming from the park, MacKay said she knew something had to be done. MacKay said the town gathered feedback from community members for a couple of months. "We heard a lot of just negative interactions [with off-leash dogs]," she said. MacKay said she does not know how many incidents there have been and how severe they were. People who don't comply with the new rules can be fined between $100 and $1,000. MacKay, who owns a five-year-old schnauzer named Mac, said people who want to share feedback about the pilot project can do so by scanning QR codes located throughout Reservoir Park. David Steele is a member of a naturalist group and often walks at the park. "I've had excited dogs come racing at me and jump on me," said Steele. "I'm a fairly sturdy fellow, but not everybody who walks here is, so I can understand why that could be quite threatening and even dangerous for some of the people who use the park." Off-leash debate divides Wolfville dog owners 11 hours ago Duration 1:42 A park in Wolfville is changing the rules around taking dogs off-leash. It comes after reports of an increase in dog bites. As Giuliana Grillo reports, dog owners are on different sides of the fence on the issue. Steele said it isn't just dogs that can be found at the park. He said most of his interactions with pets there have been positive, but the few that aren't can be especially dangerous for children and elderly people. Doug Watling of Kentville, N.S., is not pleased with the change. He frequently drives to Reservoir Park to let his dog, 13-year-old Hannah, off-leash. "One of the things that made the park charming is the fact that dogs were off-leash and got to engage and interact with people," he said. "We'll be coming here far less often, trust me."
CBC
2 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
How this Kentville salon is a safe haven for 2SLGBTQ+ clients
Farrah Ferguson will never forget the feeling of pure joy they felt when they shaved their head for the first time. "I looked in the mirror and I said, 'Oh my God, I look so cute,'" said Ferguson. "That was the moment of, 'Oh wow, this is really how I want to express myself.'" They said for years, people would discourage them from having anything but long locks, which is why when Bridge Beauty Bar opened in downtown Kentville, N.S., last year, Ferguson became a returning customer. "There are a lot of places you can go to have hair and esthetics done in the valley, which I'm sure they all have their own merits. But as gender-diverse people …not everybody always feels safe going into a traditional salon or barbershop," said Ferguson. "Some people are afraid of how they will be perceived, whether there will be assumptions made about who they are and how they present," they said. "So it's really important to be able to walk in somewhere and know, 'I belong here.'" When Mel Hiltz, a trans and non-binary hairstylist, opened the Bridge Beauty Bar in January 2024, that's exactly what they wanted to achieve. The salon fosters a safe space for clients, while breaking down gender norms in the beauty industry by providing gender-affirming haircuts and services. Hiltz said one of the best feelings is being able to give someone a haircut that allows them to express who they truly are. "It is probably the most rewarding part of my job," said Hiltz. Hiltz moved from Halifax to the valley as an effort to bring more queer-owned businesses to rural Nova Scotia. "I think one of the biggest worries going into any new space as a trans or non-binary person is that you're going to get misgendered, or you're going to be judged," said Hiltz. In hopes of erasing this worry for their clients, Bridge Beauty Bar has implemented a number of practices, including asking for the client's name and pronouns ahead of an appointment. Staff also share their pronouns with clients, and are thoughtful about the language they choose. For example, they might use terms like "soft" or "flowy" to describe someone's hair, instead of "feminine," said Hiltz. The salon is also equipped with gender-neutral washrooms and offers pricing based on the time spent in the chair, as opposed to having different prices for men and women. The Dresscode Project These efforts are all part of an initiative called The Dresscode Project, a campaign to create safe spaces in salons for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The group was founded in Toronto by hairstylist Kristin Rankin, and has over 500 member salons and shops in North America, including six in Nova Scotia. There's a directory on its website where clients can locate businesses associated with the project. There are several criteria to become a member of The Dresscode Project, but most notably, the salon must choose at least one day per year to offer free haircuts to 2SLGBTQ+ clients. "This fun, and often life-changing event allows those to see themselves for the first time, helping to shift their gender dysphoria into euphoria," says the website. Hiltz and their staff hosted this year's event on Wednesday, to coincide with the annual Valley Pride festival. They provided free haircuts or waxing services to about 25 clients. Hiltz said for their first client of the day, it was her first gender-affirming haircut. "We were both almost in tears by the end of it," said Hiltz. Client Kiran Awrey, emphasized how significant these offerings are, as they too have had experiences in the past at salons where stylists assumed their gender and what style they'd want. "The hairdresser's kind of inputting what they think would look good or pretty on me when … I wasn't going to look like a woman necessarily," said Awrey. Awrey is now a loyal customer at Hiltz's salon, but said the business represents something more than a place to get haircuts. "[To] continue now into their second year is also really important for the community to see that queer business and queer people thrive here. It's just heartwarming to see that there's kind of this beacon for us," said Awrey.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
Rising Atlantic tourism brings international visitors to Peggy's Cove
Peggy's Cove is enjoying steady traffic as the summer tourism season gets underway. With the help of Friday's sunny conditions, Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia was full of new and old visitors taking in the breathtaking views. 'Today we took the ferry over from Saint John to Digby and came over here,' says Paul Elder. 'My wife and I, we both teach in Pennsylvania. We have our summers off and we wanted to check out Canada and see what the Maritime provinces had for us.' Restaurants at the popular attraction says they've seen an influx of American visitors. 'It's been busy. Busier than last year, for sure. The number of people that have come from the United States has been a shock. I thought it'd be down but it's been great,' says John Campbell, the owner of The Sou' Wester. Whether it's a pitstop or their final destination, people from all over the world flocked to Peggy's Cove. 'Costa Rica is more 'touristy.' This is a nice, peaceful place where you can come live, have your family sit down, have a coffee,' says Costa Rica resident Chris Eddy. Interprovincial visitors also explored the iconic site on Friday. 'I actually love this place. I love the lighthouse. I love the views and the thing that makes it better is (being) here. I'm with all my family and friends, and it's just surreal. It's awesome,' says Yax Patel, a visitor from Kitchener, Ont. Peggy's Cove Tourists flock to Peggy's Cove on a sunny summer day. (Source: Vanessa Wright/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
13 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Nova Scotia enjoying strong season for berries so far
A combination of rain and sunshine has produced an abundance of berries in Nova Scotia. The strawberry fields in Wolfville, N.S., were busy Friday. 'They're the best,' says Patti Swinimer. The early season fruit seems especially good when you go to the fields and get them yourself. 'I find that it's more fun to pick your own strawberries and they just last longer than at the local grocery stores,' Madison Dawe says. It seems there are plenty of them. The combination of timely rain and sufficient sunshine has produced an abundance of berries. Jordan Eyamie, president of Horticulture Nova Scotia, says typically the first strawberry harvest yields about 1,000 quarts a day, but this year, they topped more than 6,700. 'The season is exploding,' says Eyamie. 'I would think that this season is going to be a good season, fingers crossed, because for strawberries at least, the past two years have been really rough.' Peach and cherry trees Peach and cherry trees are pictured. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) Other provinces have been dealing with a fungus called Neopestalotiopsis (Neo-P). There is no known cure for the disease, which can spread quickly and affect all parts of the plant. Eyamie says fortunately it has not been found in Nova Scotia. Cherries are also susceptible to fungus but like strawberries, Peter Elderkin's crop is looking good. 'It's like a puzzle and the pieces so far are fitting together quite well and so far so good,' Elderkin says. Ladder A picker's ladder is pictured. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) Still, he's keeping a close eye on them after losing half his harvest last year. 'So far, so good, although like last year, we had that one big rain storm, and that came right in the middle of cherries and it just destroyed the crop of cherries,' he says. Elderkin's cherries will be ripe within the next 10 days. His attention will then turn to peaches and apples, both of which look to be on the verge of producing quality crops. Cherries Peter Elderkin's cherries are nearly ripe. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
