Municipal service level adjustments for the Natal Day long weekend
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following municipal program and service level adjustments for Natal Day on Monday, Aug. 4.
Solid waste collection and facility hours
There will be no garbage, organics or recyclables collection services on Monday, Aug. 4.
Curbside collection normally scheduled for Monday, Aug. 4, will instead occur on Saturday, Aug. 2. Residents are asked to place materials curbside prior to 7 a.m. on collection day to guarantee pickup, ensuring items are contained and secured from wildlife.
The Otter Lake Waste Management Facility and Materials Recovery Facility will be closed on Monday, Aug. 4, but will be open on Saturday, Aug. 2 for regular hours of operation.
The Household Special Waste Depot in Bayers Lake will be closed on Saturday, Aug. 2, but will be open on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A mobile Household Special Waste Depot will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Saint Mary's University (960 Tower Road, Halifax - Inglis Street entrance to parking lot) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents can find more information on solid waste facility holiday hours on our website. Residents can also sign up for weekly collection reminders and service alerts, as well as print a calendar customized to their address, on our website.
Halifax Transit bus and ferry services
Halifax Transit buses will be operating on holiday schedules on Monday, Aug. 4.
Both Alderney Ferry service and Woodside Ferry service will be operating on 30-minute schedules on Monday, Aug. 4.
The first trip for Alderney Ferry service will depart Alderney Ferry Terminal at 7:30 a.m. and its last trip will depart Halifax Ferry Terminal at 11:45 p.m.
The first trip for Woodside Ferry service will depart Woodside Ferry Terminal at 7:37 a.m. and its last trip will depart Halifax Ferry Terminal at 8:52 p.m.
Additionally, Alderney ferry service will operate on a 15-minute schedule on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 12:15 p.m. until 11 p.m.
Halifax Transit is pleased to offer free Alderney Ferry service on Saturday, Aug. 2. Detailed holiday schedules by individual bus and ferry route can be found on our website.
For information on Halifax Transit service disruptions, residents can visit: halifax.ca/htdisruptions.
Recreation facilities, programs and services
The Halifax Common Pool, Bedford and Cole Harbour outdoor pools, as well as supervised municipal beaches are open. The Bayers-Westwood, George Dixon, Isleville Street, Cole Harbour, Shirley’s, Westmount and Sackville splashpads are also open.
Please check our website for up-to-date information on status of supervised municipal beaches, pool and swim schedules.
The Emera Oval will be open on Monday, Aug. 4 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Equipment lending will be available if weather and surface conditions permit. Please check our website for information.
Many municipal-operated recreation facilities will be closed on Monday, Aug. 4. Please call your local recreation centre for further information.
Customer Contact Centres
The 311 Contact Centre will be closed to non-urgent requests on Monday, Aug. 4. However, urgent calls can still be reported. Regular operations will resume on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
In-person Customer Service Centres will be closed on Monday, Aug. 4. Customer Service Centres will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Residents may contact 311 by phone, or by email at contactus@311.halifax.ca.
Further information on Customer Contact Centres can be found on our website.
Parking
Paid on-street parking will be free on Monday, Aug. 4. Residents are reminded to abide by all other posted signage and ensure they are not blocking intersections or sidewalks.
Civic Events
The Halifax Regional Municipality is inviting residents to participate in the 128th annual Natal Day celebrations.
Residents are encouraged to attend municipal and community-led events that offer a diverse mix of music, culture, entertainment and family-friendly fun.
The annual Natal Day Parade will take place on Monday, Aug. 4 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
The Halifax-Dartmouth Natal Day Fireworks will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 10 p.m. on the Halifax and Dartmouth waterfronts.
The status of fireworks for events is subject to change, with a rain date of Sunday, Aug. 3 at 10 p.m. Notification of changes will be shared on the municipality’s social media platforms.
In addition to the parade and fireworks, residents can also participate in the following municipal events taking place over the Natal Day weekend:
- The African Nova Scotia Music Association’s 20th anniversary Freedom Festival will take place on Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Dartmouth Ferry Terminal Park. There will be live performances from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., followed by fireworks.
- The 119th annual Dartmouth Natal Day Road Race will take place on Monday, Aug. 4 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- A Family Undersea Adventure Day will take place on Monday, Aug. 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at Sullivan’s Pond.
- The Lake Banook Natal Day fireworks will take place on Monday, Aug. 4 at 9:30 p.m.
Residents are also invited to attend the annual Bridgewalk on the Angus L. Macdonald bridge on Sunday, Aug. 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the Mike Cowie Band at the Halifax Public Gardens on Monday, Aug. 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit: natalday.org.
Fire safety
Residents are asked to celebrate safely this weekend and are reminded that a province-wide burn ban is currently in place.
While the provincial burn ban is in place, use of consumer fireworks is prohibited across the municipality. However, permitted professional fireworks displays, such as those planned for Natal Day, will move forward as scheduled (dependent on conditions like wind, fog or rain). These shows are conducted by licensed, insured companies that follow federal safety regulations.
Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend.
