Congratulations on the Government's Legacy Project of which I only recently became aware. I feel, however, that the Government has to be careful lest this initiative and the selection process relative to Protected Natural Areas be seen as based on purely political motives, rather than genuine ecological concerns. To my mind, the process itself is flawed since it mixes several different objectives and criteria which may or may not be compatible, i.e. what have culture and recreation, or indigenous reconciliation got to do with protecting biodiversity? It seems designed to permit the Government to claim, for political purposes, that the maximum amount of land has been "protected." Your announcing that Shepody Mountain would be protected long before the deadline for PNA site nominations and prior to the conclusion of the selection process lends credence to the belief that political concerns trump ecological ones.
The following letter to Honourable Mike Holland was sent to Connecting Albert County in response to articles in this issue (posted at ConnectingAlbertCounty.org/environment). We have invited Mr. Holland to reply in our March issue. Honourable Mike Holland,
Congratulations on the Government's Legacy Project of which I only recently became aware. I feel, however, that the Government has to be careful lest this initiative and the selection process relative to Protected Natural Areas be seen as based on purely political motives, rather than genuine ecological concerns. To my mind, the process itself is flawed since it mixes several different objectives and criteria which may or may not be compatible, i.e. what have culture and recreation, or indigenous reconciliation got to do with protecting biodiversity? It seems designed to permit the Government to claim, for political purposes, that the maximum amount of land has been "protected." Your announcing that Shepody Mountain would be protected long before the deadline for PNA site nominations and prior to the conclusion of the selection process lends credence to the belief that political concerns trump ecological ones.
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by Kelly Taylor Tele-Drive and Urban/Rural Rides depend on volunteers to provide transportation for those in the community who do not have access to transportation either because of physical, geographic or economic barriers. Many of our volunteers are retired people who want to give back to their community and who recognize that everyone needs a little help at times. Some say they volunteer now because the day may come when they are no longer able to drive, and they want to make sure this service is there to help them if needed. By Jim Kitts
We are thrilled by the community support we received in 2020. It was a nerve-racking challenge pulling The Old Church Farmers Market forward with our friends and neighbours. Health concerns sidelined several of our customers and vendors, and halted our out-of-province tourist income altogether. Your support and purchases of our food, art and crafts saw us through and kept our doors open. Fundy Farms: local harvest and the Backyard Herbalist kept going after Thanksgiving even when the rest of us gave up, and I’m not wholly convinced they are out of the picture yet. They will have planted their new earth-battery greenhouse by the time you read this. Dear friends,
As we move into a new year, it is hard not to reflect on the year that has passed. Every year has its challenges, but 2020 brought circumstances that none of us shall ever forget. Some of us experienced hardships we could not imagine, others were scared for our loved ones… Most of us saw our businesses change, for better or for worse, but through it all, Albert County has shown that it has strength in its community. The Forest Dale Home Foundation was formed 10 years ago as a registered non-profit charitable organization. The foundation members are all volunteers from the community who are dedicated to helping residents have a fulfilling life during their stay at Forest Dale Home.
The foundation runs independently from the nursing home’s operating budget. While necessities are mostly covered by government funding, funds required to provide enhancement to the lives of the residents must come from another source. We endeavour to provide these funds. As New Brunswick begins gradually opening back up, the business community of Alma would like to extend a welcome to residents across the province interested in visiting our area to experience all we have to offer. Here in Alma, social distancing is almost a way of life. We’re a village of only 200 year-round residents next to a national park that offers wide open spaces for hiking and recreation. Alma is the perfect spot to get away from it all, and to remind yourself of what many of us have forgotten: the beauty and wildness of New Brunswick's coastal communities.
Exploring the woods, meadows and beaches of Albert County brings me joy and peace, as well as improved mental and physical health. I must admit that, in many ways, I am and have always been, terrible at sticking to the trail. As a child, when my family went cross-country skiing during the long Manitoba winters, I constantly created pile-ups of skiers. Every time I saw animal tracks, scat or anything interesting (and I find the natural world to be full of amazing sights), I would stop or veer off the trail. Whoever was behind me would often end up on my skis or falling. I still stop constantly. The sound of a grouse drumming, the wonderfully earthy sweet smell of woods in the autumn, the meandering path of a periwinkle, a cluster of bouncing snow fleas in the hoofprint of a moose, the sparkle of waves: every time I go outside, I experience something wondrous. In Exploring Our Trails, writers share their personal stories about how trail use has influenced their lives. We use the term ‘trail use’ to refer to the non-motorized use of wild areas. This includes fat biking in Fundy National Park, strolling along an isolated beach, a weeklong backpacking trip, and even bushwhacking–finding your own path. The COVID-19 pandemic that the world is currently experiencing parallels a similar reality of 100 years ago. Over 1918-1919, the Spanish Influenza, which began in Kansas, eventually claimed hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. The virus spread from one infected individual to the Fort Ripley Military Base as American troops were preparing to embark for military duty in Europe (shortly after the USA's late entry into World War I).
The Hillsborough Public Library is one of the earliest public libraries in the area. Preparation of a history of the library is in its final stages. A few details are still eluding us after scouring Village records, the minutes from the library’s board meetings, local newspapers such as the Albert Star and The Albert Journal, and the memory banks of residents of the village and beyond. We are now seeking the assistance of the general public.
By Dorothy (DeMille) Steeves
The following article was written by Dorothy (DeMille) Steeves (1917-2017), mother of Idella Lazar (a regular contributor to Connecting Albert County). She raised four children (the first two born within a year--Idella and her sister are the same age for ten days each year!), and worked alongside her husband doing farm chores, milking, haying and cleaning out the barn even when she was in her 80s. Idella writes, “You've heard the song that they don't make them like that anymore? Well, that was my mom!” By Jim Liar The alternative title of this story is “Olivia’s Flying Outhouse” for reasons that will appear. Like the tides in front of the house, your life, your times and your fortunes come and go. Trouble is, sometimes your tide goes out so hard and so far you find yourself stranded in the weeds unable to return. This is a story of one of those strandings and how a personal art, something we all have if we look deeply enough, came to the rescue. By "Jim Liar"
Hey Boomer, this is why you need to join a farmers’ market… or start one. To illustrate, let me continue the story from last month. During the first year I lived on “The Island,” a large fishing resort plunked down in Lake Huron, we cut ice with a team of horses and a big work gang, just like everybody else had done forever. The second year, maybe 1964, we turned a very long page in history that had begun when the modern horse was brought to Canada. by Anna Holdaway It all began right around the time of the first Santa parade of 2019. As we turned into our rural driveway there it lay, all prettily packaged in pink plastic, a large bundle of colourful commercial flyers. How strange I thought. Many years ago when we used to have our own mailbox, there was a period when flyers would periodically appear in it along with my then frequent personal mail. I remember mentioning to our friendly mail lady that I preferred not to receive flyers and that’s all it took. I never received one again. Why would someone suddenly start throwing them into my driveway now? And if they kept doing it, what would I do about it? by Idella Steeves-Lazar
If I were to ask you what the word "school" means to you, what would you say? Homework, studying, the strap, graduation, a favourite teacher, sports, Christmas concerts, bus rides, grades, or...? I would anticipate answers such as "I hated it," "I was so glad to get out of there" or "I loved it" and so on. written by Jim Liar In the early 1960s, I was moved from New Brunswick to a cabin on the Whitefish River exactly where “Rainbow Country” was filmed later in the decade. This had once been an Indian Reservation until the pure silica discovered in the adjoining La Cloche Mountains was needed in a Sudbury smelter. Regardless, the Ojibwa, who were there at least since the Huron extermination, weren’t going anywhere. (Photo caption: Brownie snapshot by the late Robert Kitts of his then family, maybe 1964, late wife Alice (Fullerton), daughters Colleen, Cindy, Wendy and son Jim, just beginning to clear ice prior to ice cutting operations. Alice is the author of Emily of the Bend, an English/French picture book recently re-released by the family and the Steeves House Museum. The family sponsors the Alice Kitts Memorial Award for excellence in Children's writing in her memory. ) By Kat Hallett Christmas is a wonderful time of year, from spending time with family and friends to eating our weight in turkey and treats. In all the excitement it’s easy to get carried away spending money and showering our loved ones with gifts. For several years now, I’ve been trying to make sure that at least one part of every gift I give is homemade. Sometimes that’s as simple as making the gift tag or wrapping it using craft paper, twine, and greens. Lately, however, I’ve been diving deeper into DIY projects around Christmas time. Not only do I have fun doing it, but I save a little money and usually get really positive reactions from the giftees. By Idella Steeves-Lazar Christmas was magical for me in our farm family of three girls and one younger boy in Elgin. There wasn't much money for treats and presents that weren’t necessary back then in the 40s. My parents had experienced the Great Depression. I remember the outhouse and having no running water or bathroom. I remember the excitement of getting a bathtub...who would be the first to have a bath? We girls really appreciated what we received! We knew that things did not come easy and that our parents sacrificed for us. With under a year until quadrennial municipal elections, it's worth considering a broader function of municipalities and Local Service Districts (LSDs) in the region. Increasingly, initiatives of the big destinations, their partners, private interests and by community organizations and the services commission act together to shape the area.
If the role of the local government organizations on affecting regional economic and social development is not an obvious one, it should be. by Kat Hallett
This spring has felt like a rollercoaster in Albert County―and no, I’m not talking about the roads. We were teased by lovely warm, sunny days followed by snow and sub-zero temperatures well into April. It feels almost surreal to say that spring has finally arrived. It was a message forwarded to me by a Riverside-Albert farmer that spurred me to act on a national “Save our Seed “campaign instigated by the National Farmers Union. Just like everybody else, until I received this email, I had no idea my rights as a farmer to harvest, store and replant my own seeds were endangered, and that the issue had reached our federal government.
Kevin Snair of Creative Imagery from the Hopewell area has put his stamp on Canadian postage. Kevin's photo of the Hopewell Rocks at night (left) has been featured on Canadian stamps. Tracy Munson, a professional photographer from Harvey, NB, won the title of Atlantic Region's Photographic Artist of the Year at the Professional Photographers of Canada Atlantic Region's 2018 competition. 'Enchanted' and 'Flight of the Harrier' won Best in Class Awards (Pictorial/Floral and Fine Art classes, respectively). 'Enchanted' won the Award for Best General Print; it and 'Flight of the Harrier' were also chosen for Judge's Choice Awards. In her own words, Tracy Munson is a rainbow-haired, wine-drinking, nature-loving, bunny-hugging, award-winning Canadian nature and pet photographer. While living in Toronto, Tracy took every opportunity to escape the city and her rewarding but stressful job in one of the country's largest animal shelters. For many years, she traveled Canada in a tiny car with a large man, a tent, and two chihuahuas. After seeing it all, Atlantic Canada kept drawing her back and in 2018 she escaped city life for good, relocating to beautiful Albert County, NB, to pursue photography full-time. By Donna Alward My introduction to Hallowe’en here in Albert County was not a pleasant one. Many of you are old enough to remember the covered bridge that went to Harvey from Riverside-Albert. Yes, it used to be a long covered wooden bridge, but we all call it the Rainbow Bridge since it was rebuilt. We are not really sure why they made such a high arch above the river, but I've heard rumors that the architect who designed the bridge had used metric measurements and the engineer that was in charge of building the bridge misread the blueprints. So instead of centimeters and metres, he was reading it as inches and feet. |
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