February 8th, 2010

HALIFAX - Interested in turning your urban yard into a rural idyll? Always wanted a piece of the country right here in the city?
On Wednesday at Halifax Hall, city staff are hosting a public information meeting regarding backyard laying hens and a proposed amendment to the Peninsula Land Use By-law. Following this meeting, the proposal will undergo a detailed review and staff will prepare a report to be tabled at Peninsula Community Council. If you're interested in the growing urban farm movement, this is the place to make yourself heard.
WHAT: Public information meeting regarding urban laying hens
WHERE: Halifax City Hall, 1841 Argyle St
WHEN: Wednesday February 10th at 7 pm
photo by Mark Lamovsek
February 7th, 2010

ST. JOHN'S - This should be a great opportunity for the community to gather, and discuss issues surrounding development in St. John's. The expert panel should give everyone a useful insight into ways we can ensure St. John's grows into the vibrant city we all want it to.
This event is being organized by the good people at HappyCity.ca, who also organized a public forum on smart growth and urban sprawl last April. They have an online forum on their website to promote discussion regarding growth, and development in St. John's as well (just in case you can't make the meeting).
Also, be sure to contact your members of council to let them know how you feel about development in St. John's. Hope to see you all at the forum on Monday. If you can't make it, fear not. I, Andrew Harvey, will be reporting back here, on Spacing Atlantic about all the goings-on.
Guest Speaker: Elena Patarini, Architect
Panel: Bill Mahoney, Strat Canning, and Dave Hopley
Moderated by Keith Storey
The panelists will discuss urban planning; the economic incentive to follow a municipal plan; and the current and past environment for a business owner in downtown St. John's. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
There is no charge for the event, and all are welcome! (Note: space is limited!)
WHAT: Smart Growth in Downtown St. John's: A public discussion about planning and development
WHEN: Monday, February 8th, 2010, 7-9pm (Tomorrow!).
WHERE: Foran/Green Room, St. John's City Hall
COST: Free
WEBSITE: Happy City
photo by Tim Heath, member of the Spacing Atlantic flickr pool
February 5th, 2010

MONCTON - While driving towards Salisbury along the Riverview side of the Petitcodiac River I noticed some peculiar sign-age under the acronym LAPPA, imploring all who cared to read it to keep the causeway connecting Moncton with Riverview closed. Having become familiar with the plight of the river myself over the years, the sign struck me as odd. It was my understanding that the general consensus amongst concerned citizens was that the gates should be opened in an effort to restore the river. So, as with anything of particular interest to my life, I Googled it. Before we get to my findings, a little background information if you will.
The causeway was constructed as a means of connecting Moncton with the quickly expanding town of Riverview and, as is the case with many NB municipalities, foresight was a word not found in the City of Moncton’s dictionary. The causeway essentially pinched off the river, causing a massive buildup of silty sediment directly downstream. The river's tidal bore, once world renowned and allegedly surf-able, was reduced to little more than the trickle of an 80 year man with kidney stones. As can be imagined the local ecosystem was affected and the fauna — fish in particular — that had once flourished soon vanished. A new ecosystem has since grown in its place, namely that of Lake Petitcodiac, a fresh water headpond that amasses upriver of the causeway.
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Victoria Row, Charlottetown
by Martin Cathrae, from the Spacing Atlantic flickr pool
The Nova Scotia Archives is pleased to share photos showcasing the changing faces of urban centers in Nova Scotia. You can learn more about the archives and explore thousands of photos, textual records, maps, art, and more on their website.

Bird's eye view of Africville, showing its location on Bedford Basin, with north end Halifax and the Narrows in the background.
Selections from Bob Brooks' Photographic Portrait of Africville in the 1960s.
Bob Brooks created his photographic record of Africville, mostly in black and white, between about 1962 and 1965. His work appeared in Time Life, The Star Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek, McCall's, Harper's, Maclean's, Chatelaine, The London Times, Paris Match and National Geographic. Continue reading this post