Latest news with #AnnapolisValley
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
N.S. Apple Blossom Festival organizers hoping for clear skies this weekend
The grey skies are an indication of what the weekend weather will be like for the 91st Apple Blossom Festival in Annapolis Valley, N.S. With a full slate of events, organizers are hoping for the best but say rain isn't the end of the world. 'There's lots of people that I hear that this is the time they come to the valley, for sure it's when they want to come home,' Apple Blossom Festival vice president Stacey Vries says. 'Last year we had rain and honest to gosh the parade was crazy busy, people standing there with their umbrellas.' They'll be visiting during an unfortunate trend of soggy weather. This weekend will be the ninth straight with measurable rainfall. Stacey Vries Stacey Vries, vice president of the Apple Blossom Festival, checks the weather on her phone. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) 'It's kind of a bummer,' says New Minas resident Brent Patterson. 'If I could schedule it for Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night, I would,' says CTV News Atlantic Chief Meteorologist Kalin Mitchell. Mitchell notes there's a reason the Maritimes is stuck in a wet weekend pattern. 'We typically have a run in with a weather system every four-to-seven days, so you can see how if you get onto a pattern where we start to see low-pressure system on a Wednesday and then maybe another one arriving for the weekend, that could repeat for a number of weekends on end,' he says. According to Mitchell, the last precipitation-free weekend was March 22 and 23. 'There's not a lot you can do about it but really the only time most people have to get things done,' says Patterson. Despite the forecast, valley residents don't think the weather will put a damper on festival activities. 'Most people are pretty adaptive. They just adapt to the weather and they still take part in things so I think it'll be all right,' says resident Colin Hines. The Apple Blossom fireworks are scheduled for Friday night. Saturday's parade set to go rain or shine and it's recommended to pack an umbrella. The festival wraps up on Sunday. Apple blossoms Apple blossoms in Annapolis Valley, N.S., are pictured. (Source: Jonathan MacInnis/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘We have had a fair number of cancellations': N.S. small-business owner fundraising to stay open
Norah Galea picked up embroidery during COVID. That pass time is now a full-time business with three employees. 'We sell a lot of apparel mostly, accessories as well,' said Galea. Business was good; however the U.S. tariff situation has put a kink in her deliveries. Galea estimates up to 60 percent of her product is sent south of the border. 'Suddenly having 60 per cent of your customers needing to decide whether or not they want to keep their items, it's pretty detrimental. We have had a fair number of cancellations which I don't blame anybody for. I think it would be really difficult to budget a certain amount and then have it increased by a third,' she said. Galea's business operates on pre-orders, meaning her customers have already paid a set price for their items. Some orders now date back to October. 'Because of the quantity of those orders we would not be able to invoice people manually for an additional customs clearance. It would just be impossible,' she said. Knock Thrice An entrepreneur in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley says a possible Canada Post strike and tariff uncertainty has left them with little choice but to start a fundraiser to stay afloat. Galea believes the orders that are going out are being slowed by Canada Post. While they're not on strike, the union's no-overtime policy is cutting into delivery times. There are more delays and costs for the items heading to America. 'So, Canada Post will bring everything to the border and they have to do all the declarations and that costs time and money. So that's where that unexpected cost comes from,' said Galea. By her calculations Canada Post is charging an extra $10 per order to do that. UPS adds an additional $15 U.S. per order. 'Now, every single order that needs to have paperwork could be processed so that's where the shipping cost is coming in and that's separate from the tariffs.' For the most part, those are charges Galea has been covering. Like other business owners, she is trying to diversify her market and is looking at establishing warehouses in Europe and Asia. She has also resorted to fundraising to help her stay afloat during turbulent times. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Former N.S. teacher charged with historical sexual assaults
Social Sharing A former teacher at an exclusive private school in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley is facing allegations of sex offences against a youth more than two decades ago. Roderick Alexander MacDonald, 48, has been charged with sexual exploitation, invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault. He was a teacher at King's-Edgehill School in Windsor, N.S., at the time of the alleged offences. MacDonald is now living in British Columbia. In a news release issued Thursday, Nova Scotia RCMP said they were first contacted in November of last year. The alleged offences occurred on and off the King's-Edgehill campus between 2000 and 2002. In January of this year, MacDonald was served a summons in British Columbia to attend court in Nova Scotia. He is scheduled to appear in Nova Scotia provincial court in Windsor next month. RCMP said there is no information to suggest there are additional victims.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival kicks off Wednesday
The 2025 Apple Blossom Festival is kicking off this week in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. The festival has been held since 1933 and has since grown to national and international acclaim. This year's opening ceremonies will be held this Wednesday followed by events throughout the week continuing into Sunday. Some of the events guests can expect are the Kentville ghost walk on Thursday, orchard bloom walks on Friday, the children's parade on Saturday and a blossom vendor market on Sunday. 'My first Apple Blossom I came, and it was really lovely to see the whole community come together, especially downtown Kentville on parade days,' said Erica Gillis, president of the Apple Blossom Festival. 'Just seeing so many people, they are all having a good time, was something that really struck home with me on something that I wanted to be involved with.' The blooming apple blossom trees are the main highlight of the event, celebrating the start of spring along with the apple cultivation season. 'They're still out and they're still just as beautiful as always,' Gillis said. More information on the festival's schedule and events can be found on the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival website. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
What to expect from this year's Apple Blossom Festival
Crystal Garrett speaks with one of the organizers of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival to get details on this year's event.
