End of year!
As we prepare to welcome in the new year, we want to reflect on the year we are leaving behind
Below is a list of some of the good and the bad we have covered this year. And as always, we look forward to providing you all with coverage in the new year!
Have a safe and happy new year!
1. Good - Giving to those in need! Raising food, funds, and toys for those struggling, police and fire events such as the Q104 Toy Drive supported by HRFE and Cop Shop events showcased our first responders and communities compassion as events such as these continue to grow and set bars higher every year!
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2. Bad - Wildfires - Multiple large forest fires, from Bayers Lake to Lake George, Long Lake, and other large fires in the province resulting in property loss and evacuations, brought in wildfire firefighters from across Canada and other parts of the world while smoke caused widespread warnings and advisories, destroying a great deal of forest, wetlands and more.
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3. Good - Events - From the Fire and Water Cultural Festival at Alderney Landing to Hal-Con, and everything in between, a lot of fun was had as these fun events brought out communities to mingle, geek out, and have fun.
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4. Bad - Drought - A very dry spring followed by an even drier summer lead to concerning issues, such as environmental impact to health concerns. This drought blanketed the entire province.
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5 - Good - Halloween went ahead! It may come to a shock for many, but I love Halloween! And despite rough weather, it cleared just enough for the magic of trick or treating! And the build up to that spooky day was so much fun! From Clown Houses on Spring Ave opening their incredible yard for the public to everyone to enjoy once again, to dog park costume fun, Witches dances and amazing fun and spooky yards decorated to get your attention, we are already looking forward to next years!
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6 - Bad - The disappearance of Lily and Jack Sullivan. These two young children went missing in Pictou County in early May, leaving police to bring in multiple agencies to assist in a search that has left a province stunned. Little to no information about the disappearance and the sheer lack of clues has left many heartbroken.
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7 - Good - Progress towards saving Dartmouth Cove - When a proposed infilling of Dartmouth Cove With construction rock was first learned years ago, HRM residents immediately began to fight back! The cove, sporting green space and trails around its edge, would eventually see development after the infill, and those concerned with environmental impact were not ok with this. The project needed both federal and provincial approvement, and when Transport Canada Green lit the project, all seemed loss. But increased pressure from residents and HRM councillors stopped the project until amendments were made by the developer, once again obtaining a green light from Transport Canada. But in a twist, the Province allowed the HRM to introduce bylaws that could stop the infill. However, the city now has to prove their bylaws would not impede on federal laws, so for now the project appears to be stopped, but there could still be hurdles in the near future. (we are paying attention to a possible play from the developer to possibly move forward with road construction in the area)
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8 - Bad - Tent cities, homelessness and the cost of living. Living in tents has been a heartbreaking resort throughout the HRM and beyond, resulting in some fires and dangerous conditions for those in that situation. Meanwhile, rent, groceries, power bills and more continued to climb, causing financial Insecurity for many already struggling to make ends meet.
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9 - Good - Hope for Wildlife (and MARS) - Despite weather conditions shutting down the yearly open house, we want to acknowledge Hope and her incredible team for staying the course and continuing to educate and protect our precious wildlife. No matter the size, from scales to feathers, Hope and her team deserve a big thank you for all they do! And a big thank you to MARS who continued to rescue injured and stranded marine animals across the province, including a beached young pilot whale whose rescue was captured on our camera in Cow Bay in November. Dedicated members of MARS play an important role in not only marine animal rescue but also in documenting environmental factors leading to marine animals in distress, including possible pollutants, fishing gear and boat strikes. Thank you!
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10 - Bad - The NSP hack! Informing customers that their personal information was stolen in a cyber hack was not what customers were expecting! The list of those affected continued to grow late into the fall, while NSP lobbied the NSUB for rate increases.
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11 - Good - Sticking with the animal theme, we are glad to have been able to showcase some of the many adorable Adoptables from the NS SPCA Dartmouth shelter and we look forward to continuing to highlight some precious fur babies in need of a forever home in the new year!
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12 - Bad - Political turmoil. From a rift between HRM mayor vs councillors over bike lanes and traffic to the Houston government and the rift with the Sipekne’katik First Nation over cannabis rights and sales, there were times where it seemed that internal problems could overshadow the needs of public governing.
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13 - Good - Camp Courage - The First Responders Society is an incorporated non-profit company established by firefighter Andréa Speranza, in January 2006, for the purpose of introducing young women and gender-diverse youth aged 15- 19 to careers as first responders. This past incredible year saw multiple camps, inspired from the home grown program, expand, with two former campers turned mentors going to BC to kick off a very special opening camp. And this upcoming year, our own Camp Courage will be turning 20!
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14 - Bad - Crime - Shootings, arson and homicides along with other criminal activities continued through the year in HRM
There were so many events that took place over 2025. What are some of your memorable moments not listed?
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Personal note - The loss of my families beloved Zookie, our special kitty and favourite Caturday weather girl, continues to cause ache as we try to cope with her loss. Thank you to the Metro Animal Emergency Clinic for their kindness and compassion.
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