We the undersigned call on the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and the Government of Canada to immediately pause current negotiations around HRM’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) application and embark on the development of a better plan for meeting the pressing need for housing in HRM.

Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia Public Forum on the Halifax Regional Municipality’s plan for the Housing Accelerator Fund attracted an enthusiastic audience of over 120 people to hear how it threatens built heritage and fails to address the problems that it has been stated as solving.

New board members sought. Deadline to submit a letter of interest is May 6, 2024.

HTNS urges council to take a stand against the demolition of this example of a late-Victorian worker’s cottage. The building is critical to understanding the story of Holy Cross Cemetery and the lives of lay people who worked for religious institutions during the 19th and early 20h century.

HTNS asks HRM council to engage in more public consultation regarding their Housing Accelerator Fund plan and seriously consider how it will promote demolition of heritage buildings and through that reduce available affordable housing, harm the environment and negatively impact tourism.

HTNS believes residents need more time to respond to the HRM’s Accelerator Program Proposals. These proposals are arguably the second largest revision to municipal planning policy after the Centre Plan itself and the public needs time and opportunity to review them and respond. Everyone in HRM deserves a voice in how our city will evolve and change to meet the needs of a growing population.

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia has sent a letter to Mayor Michael Savage and Members of Council regarding our strong belief that the municipality should appeal the ruling in Dalhousie v. HRM regarding 1245 Edward Street. This Decision strikes a blow against all third-party heritage registrations in Nova Scotia and will jeopardize the protection of heritage assets across the province.

Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is very concerned at the precedent set by the November 21, 2023, Decision of Justice Rosinski regarding the third-party heritage designation for 1245 Edward Street. It has the potential to have province wide implications that could put built heritage at risk.

HTNS asks why when we have many dozens of people facing the prospect of spending the winter living in tents have heritage buildings like the former Bloomfield School, St. Patrick’s School and the Halifax Memorial Library been allowed to sit empty?

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is extremely disappointed the Provincial Court in Kentville did not take the opportunity to provide a strong message to deter illegal demolition of registered heritage properties when it rendered its judgment against the developer who demolished a provincially registered heritage property without permission.

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is adding its voice to the many well-informed and concerned parties who have spoken out against Bill 329. This proposed bill threatens to undercut heritage protection in the HRM.

On May 25 2023 an Op-Ed written by HTNS was published on the SaltWire Network stating that we believe HRM failed to adequately protect the important heritage resources that the Centre Plan itself noted existed in the Robie-Cunard corridor.

On February 20th 2023, Nova Scotia Heritage Day, the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia sent the following letter to the Premier and all Members of the Legislative Assembly requesting that urgent action be taken to strengthen the protections of Nova Scotia’s built heritage. We look forward to the response of the Premier, Ministers and Legislators to our letter and working with them to protect our built heritage.

HTNS congratulates the Société Vieille Maison Association on moving forward as a finalist in Next Great Save, and encourages the public to vote for for them in the next stage of the competition.

The Pictou Gingerbread Heritage Christmas Contest, co-sponsored by HTNS, was a huge success. Contestants were invited to create a replica of a Pictou heritage building out of gingerbread to highlight the importance of local built heritage through a fun seasonal activity.

HTNS is very concerned over the pending re-zoning application for lands around Fort Edward National Historic Site in Windsor Nova Scotia which, if passed, would forever change the landscape around a site of significance for a wide range of communities.

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia has partnered with the Association of Nova Scotia Museums to present an online course in Facilities Management. Gain the skills you need to tackle the challenges of being the caretaker of a historic structure, including maintenance and conservation, security and much more.

The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is delighted to welcome our Board of Directors for 2022-2023. They were voted in at the Annual General Meeting on June 23, 2022 held at the Cambridge Military Library in Halifax.

Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia (HTNS) is increasingly disturbed by the razing of late Victoria and Edwardian houses in what could be a future Heritage Conservation Area or a series of heritage streetscapes in Halifax. The most recent building at risk is an intact – if recently neglected – late Victorian house at 1245 Edward Street.

The Province has a responsibility to enforce its laws.