The Shoreline Journal and The South Cumberland News are monthly community newspapers based in Bass River, Nova Scotia, and serving the Fundy Shore/Glooscap Trail from Truro to Parrsboro and further north to Advocate Harbour.   See submission deadlines...

Established in 1994, the Journal was originally published as the West Colchester Free Press by Ken Kennedy Publications, and later renamed to The Shoreline Journal.  In January 2008 The Journal changed hands and is now under the management of  Maurice Rees.  He initiated a redesign of the paper, with the addition of several colour pages in each issue. Each monthly issue concentrates on the many community events which involve residents of all ages, from the elderly to Like us on Facebook to keep up to date along the Shoreline!the very young, and those young at heart.  A primary focus is those activities which involve students, whether it be school or 4-H club activities.

Maurice has extensive experience in the community newspaper & advertising field, and has been running several businesses in Maitland for the past few years. 

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Features

The Shoreline Journal understands that rural communities want to know about news and events in their communities, so that's our focus, the things that directly affect our subscribers, sponsors and customers.  Watch for items like: 

Rees' Pieces (Publishers) Letters to the Editor Community Calendar
Heritage Notes Sports Events Classified Ads
Senior Affairs Nature Notes Credit Union News
MLA Activity Report Community Centres Fire Brigade
Favourite Pet Photo Parish News 4-H Clubs
Kitchen Korner Poems & Photos Obituaries
Front Page Briefs    

plus notes from many communities and organizations such as:

Bass River, CCJS Student Council, Chiganois, Debert Elementary, Debert Legion, Great Village, Londonderry Council, MacCarell Villa, Masstown, Onslow Belmont, skating clubs & other groups


Rees' Pieces - Februaryy 2025

Worry, agony, harm, Eventually Success

What we didn’t want to see, occurred on January 20th. Yes, Donald Trump is President, United States of America. For over 18 months we worried and fretted hoping it would not happen. But it has. Now we have to take other actions and for our own health accept the facts and not get ulcers. As the headline says, YES, we will still worry, but let’s force other thoughts into our brain. Positive thoughts what we can do to make things better is what is needed.

Let’s promise and help each other to do so……stop wringing our hands in frustration, but get rid of the white knuckles and use the same energy to create situations, which will un-trump Trump. You know we can do it. Think back about 80 years when our forefathers, grandfathers, maybe even our fathers went over the beaches at Normandy and changed the war.

Read the full editorial...


 

RECC: Colchester/Truro on hook for $1.629-Million loan

By Maurice Rees

Whether they like it or not, Colchester and Truro are on the hook for $1.629-Million to provide the Central Nova Scotia Civic Centre Society, the volunteer board charged with operating the RECC a loan of $1,629,846 to re-pay approximately $1.29-Million, $48,000 in unbudgeted legal and auditing expense, plus accumulated interest for Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) funding from the Federal Government issued during Covid pandemic. The matter was brought before Council during its January 16th committee meeting in an information memo from Dan Troke, CAO.

In speaking on the matter, Councillor Sherry Martell, council member to the board, along with Mayor Christine Blair, said the request is for a loan. In her explanation, Martell indicated the county and town really have no choice, because until the bill is paid to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for $1.29-Million funding granted to the society during CoVid19 emergency funding, the RECC will be prohibited from accessing additional federal government for capital repairs or applying for other grants for events as they occur.

During its 12 years in operation RECC has been able to access funding for several major events including World’s Junior Hockey and large curling bonspiels. Martell added without such event funding, or capital repairs RECC would not be able to contribute to local economic growth and condition of the facility would falter over time.

As bad as the situation is one saving grace is Colchester and Truro do not have to go searching for $1.629-Million. Since RECC opened almost 12 years ago, the municipalities, who own the facility have been creating a RECC capital reserve fund. Each municipality has a separate Special Reserve Fund for other municipality unbudgeted expense or emergencies. Major Blair when asked about the matter stated Colchester has been contributing $200,000 annually to a RECC Capital Reserve Account. She didn’t know the exact balance as of January 2025, but it is believed to be in vicinity of $900,00, which would cover Colchester’s half ($850,000) of the $1.629-Million loan request, if the capital reserve fund could be used for this purpose.

To get precise data from the county and town, CAO’s Dan Troke, Colchester and Mike Dolter, Truro were in meetings and unavailable for comment when this story was being written. The next day both returned calls. Troke and Dolter are non-voting members to the volunteer RECC society board.

Entire transcripts of Troke’s information memo to Colchester council and copy of the Volunteer Board’s letter to CAO’s Troke and Dolter are printed adjacent to this article. The information memo stated in 2024 a CRA auditor determined the RECC facility was not eligible for the funding. The society has appealed the decision, but it will take some time. Meanwhile CRA is applying interest to the outstanding amount.

The loan request will be on the agenda at the monthly meeting on Thursday, January 30th starting at 6:00 pm

In addition, the Shoreline Journal spoke to Scott Fraser, Colchester’s Director Community Services to get accurate financial data. Fraser confirmed the balance of the RECC Capital Reserve Fund, as of March 31, 2024, the balance was $909,000. He indicated if the loan request was approved by council at its monthly meeting on January 30th, in all probability, the capital reserve would not be used for the loan proceeds.

From an accounting perspective, he felt it would be appropriate to get the approximately $850,000 (Colchester’s 50% of loan request) from the county’s Special Reserve Fund (SRF), which has a balance of $9.1-Million and is more appropriate for this type of circumstance. The SRF exists for the municipality to handle unbudgeted expenses and emergencies.

Fraser confirmed the loan request was not a surprise, because the RECC’s audited statements (year ending March 31, 2024) had recognized the obligation. In a later conversation with Truro’s CAO Mike Dolter, it was learned Truro has both reserve accounts, but Truro’s balances are not as large as Colchester’s.

In the conversation with Dolter, he said the loan request will be on the agenda for monthly meeting of the Committee of the Whole (COW) later this month and then to full council public meeting on Monday, February 3rd at 1:00 pm. He also confirmed it is his understanding from the society’s letter the CRA claimed repayment, accumulated interest and unbudgeted legal and accounting expenses totalled $1,629,846.

In terms of refund, $183K in HST refunds have been withheld by CRA and have been applied to the account. If Colchester and Truro approve the loan request of $1,629,846, by clearing the debt, it will put the RECC board in a position to receive back and additional HST returns and also apply for other capital or event grants when major events are being sourced.

The volunteer society board’s letter to the CAO’s it stated 1.29-Million in wage subsidy during CoVid19 pandemic was received, but with interest has grown to $1,629,846 with accumulated interest. Furthermore approximate $183K in society paid HST has been applied to the outstanding balance causing further financial hardship for the RECC.

In addition, unbudgeted expenses of $48,000 has accumulated due to additional legal and auditor fees relative to the filed notice of objections.

The Society, under the direction of a Tax Lawyer remains confident that the notice of objection will be successful, but it will take several months. Not included min the letter, but reaching out to Colchester and Truro for the 1.629-M loan will pay the debt to CRA, stop additional interest charges and put the RECC society in a position to apply for capital repair grants, if needed, and for major special event grants if events are in the offing. In the loan request, the society has suggested an interest rate of 1.5% be applied to the loan if approved by Colchester and Truro.

 


Leggitt and Whalen Receive Colchester Courage Award

By Maurice Rees

 

Greg Whalen (L), a former RCMP member, and Nigel Leggitt (C), Chief of the Valley-Kemptown & District Fire Brigade, and a Medical First Responder are smiling not because they both enjoy a game of pickup hockey, but during a game they were able to save the life of John Guinan, a fellow pickup hockey player on March 8, 2024 at RECC. Quick action, performing CPR and preparing an AED to sent shock volts brought Guinan back to life after being dead for an estimated seven minutes. Guinan has fully recovered. This photo taken immediately after Mayor Christine Blair (R) presented Nigel Leggitt and Greg Whalen with the Colchester Courage Award at council committee meeting in council chambers on January 15th. See complete details in accompanying citation transcript. (Colchester Photo)

On behalf of council Mayor Christine Blair read a citation while presenting the Colchester Courage Award to new fellow Councillor Nigel Leggitt and former RCMP member, Greg Whalen for their quick action and heroic efforts for saving the life of fellow pick-[up hockey player, John Guinan on March 8, 2024 at the RECC. Leggitt and Whalen were honoured on January 15th in Colchester Council Chambers prior to the start of Colchester Council Committee meeting.

The citation reads as follows:

On March 8th, 2024, the regular Friday noon hour pickup hockey crew were playing at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre as they usually do every Friday. It started off like most any other Friday pickup hockey game until something happened that drastically changed a few moments into the game.

Long time player, John Guinan, had just skated behind the goal net and suddenly dropped straight down to the ice. Fellow player, Nigel Leggett, seeing how John dropped very quickly to the ice, along with a few others, came to John's rescue and turned John onto his back. Nigel immediately noticed that John was gasping for air which in his mind was a clear sign that John was in a state of cardiac arrest. Nigel, the current Chief of the Valley-Kemptown & District Fire Brigade, and a Medical First Responder, has been on the giving end of many sets of compressions over the years. The good news with this group of friends is that they talked about what they would do if this exact event ever occurred. They had pre-planned and put medical protocol in place for this exact moment in case the plan ever needed to be put in motion.

John's gear was quickly removed and Nigel immediately started CPR on John while Greg Whalen, (a former RCMP member) made his way to grab the AED. Greg quickly returned and began to prep the AED while Nigel continued chest compressions. Another player was calling 911 and giving all the details to EHS and Truro Fire Service, who were both on route to assist and transport John to the hospital. As Greg applied the pads, Nigel looked over to Greg and as their eyes locked momentarily, they both shared a knowing and grim understanding that this was not likely to end well. As Nigel continued CPR, the AED sprang to life and indicated that a shock was advised and forthcoming. The players, (turned first responders), stepped back to allow the AED to deliver its shock. As John's body jumped in response to the volt delivered by the pads, John shortly after responded and it appeared that his heart was back into a normal rhythm. John suddenly regained consciousness and opened his eyes. John was awake and speaking by the time EHS arrived.

 This was an intersection of skill, planning, readiness and caring. John died and came back to life in a matter of 7 or 8 minutes. He was transported by ambulance to the ER at Colchester Hospital in Truro, then transferred to the Cardiac Care Unit in Halifax. Miraculously, John has made a full recovery.

This whole event seemed like an eternity but lasted about 7 minutes from the time of collapse to the regaining of consciousness. This all happened so quickly but it also was treated immediately by Nigel Leggett and Greg Whalen who had taken the time to train and know how to perform CPR and use an AED.

If it were not for the quick thinking and vast knowledge of Medical First Aid, CPR, and Training with an AED, by Nigel Leggitt, Greg Whalen, and the others present, John Guinan would probably not be alive today.

Each year in Canada, an estimated 60,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital. Most cardiac arrests happen in public places or at home. Only 1 in 10 survives, meaning 90% of cardiac events do not end favorably. Survival rates can double if someone takes fast action, performs CPR, and know how to use an AED such in this case where Nigel Leggitt, Greg Whalen, and the others contributed to saving the life of John Guinan.


Flames break through the roof at the home of Gail and Dave Wilson of Belmont. (Harrington Photo)

It was thought the fire may have started in the basement of the home but it didn’t take long for the flames to engulf the house. See more photos and the story on page 14.  (Harrington Photo)


Front Page Briefs - January 2025

 

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Premier Tim Houston was in Boston for the December 5 lighting of the tree donated to the city for the support following the Halifax Explosion. While in Boston, Premier Houston met with Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston, on how to leverage and strengthen partnerships in the U.S. Nova Scotia also hosted a reception prior to the tree lighting to promote and showcase the province and its exporters, including those from the agri-food and beverage sectors, to key stakeholders. The Canada-U.S. trade relationship is an area of focus for provinces, territories and the federal government, and premiers discussed this with the Prime Minister on November 27.

The first session of the 65th General Assembly of the Nova Scotia Legislature convened, for one day only, for the election of a speaker and appointment of a deputy speaker or speakers. The session began at 3 pm. Danielle Barkhouse, PC MLA for Chester-St. Margaret's, was elected as speaker of the house. She previously elected to the role last September prior to the November election. John White, PC MLA for Glace Bay-Dominion, was chosen as the deputy speaker of the house. 2nd and 3rd deputy speakers were Marco MacLeod, Pictou West and Tom Taggart, Colchester North. The Progressive Conservatives, led by Premier Tim Houston, entered the swearing-in ceremony with a supermajority, scoring 43 of the 55 total legislative seats in the provincial election last month.

Former Halifax mayor Mike Savage was sworn in Friday as Nova Scotia’s 34th lieutenant-governor during a ceremony at the provincial legislature. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Savage’s appointment as the King’s representative in Nova Scotia in October. Arthur J. LeBlanc, who had held the viceregal position since 2017. Savage’s late father John Savage, was Liberal premier of Nova Scotia in the 1990s.

The Honourable Dave Ritcey was been named Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage and Minister of Gaelic Affairs following swearing in ceremonies December 12th. He is also Minister responsible for the Heritage Property Act He was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River in a by-election in 2020 and was re-elected in 2021 and 2024. Prior to becoming an MLA, Mr. Ritcey worked as a business development manager, food service manager, and a sports management executive.

The Glooscap ATV Trail Riders Club, formerly the Colchester Five Islands Club is looking for Volunteers to sit on the board. Currently, there are vacancies for vice-president, secretary and trail coordinator. Inquires can be sent to Tom Kennedytomandjude@eastlink.ca


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 THE SOUTH CUMBERLAND  NEWS February 2025

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Upcoming Deadlines and Publishing Dates

Issue Deadline Published
October 2024 September 17, 2024 September 25, 2024
November 2024 October 22, 2024 October 30, 2024
December 2024 November 19, 2024 November 27, 2024
January 2025 December 9, 2024 December 17, 2024

 


Read our special 4 page Portapique pull-out section from our May 2021 issue...

 


Like us on Facebook to keep up to date along the Shoreline!Maurice Rees, Publisher
The Shoreline Journal
Box 41, Bass River, NS B0M 1B0
PH: 902-647-2968; Cell: 902-890-9850