Latest news with #DepartmentofMunicipalAffairs
Al Etihad
03-06-2025
- General
- Al Etihad
SSEF promotes waqf project ‘Neighbours of the Prophet'
3 June 2025 10:30 SHARJAH (WAM) The Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation (SSEF) recently conducted awareness visits to several government entities across Sharjah to promote the waqf project 'Neighbours of the Prophet' and strengthen community visits aimed to highlight the waqf initiative, which focuses on supporting and empowering orphans while ensuring sustainable charitable tours included fruitful meetings with officials and staff, where the project's goals were presented, its role in reviving the waqf tradition was emphasised, and its contribution to the foundation's broader empowerment and care programmes for beneficiaries was of the SSEF, Mona bin Hadda Al Suwaidi, said, 'We are pleased with the positive response from the entities that welcomed the project 'Neighbours of the Prophet'. We believe such engagement reflects the collective commitment needed to build strategic partnerships supporting our social mission. This project is more than just a charitable endowment; it is an extension of prophetic values in caring for fatherless children.''Through it, we seek to provide sustainable support sources that guarantee a dignified life and equal opportunities for our beneficiaries. The tour is part of a wider promotional and awareness campaign to introduce the community to the waqf project and invite individuals and organisations to contribute, recognising its profound impact on empowering young people and shaping their future.'Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs, Eng. Omar Khalfan Al Shamsi, underlined the importance of supporting community initiatives and praised the waqf project launched by the foundation. Al Shamsi explained that the project reflects a comprehensive developmental waqf vision consistent with Sharjah's aspirations for sustainable charity. It reinforces the role of waqf as an effective tool to support vulnerable of the Department of Municipal Affairs, Sheikh Engineer Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, expressed his appreciation for the project and reaffirmed the department's full and ongoing support for the foundation's noble mission towards orphans, contributing to building a more stable and empowered future for Secretary-General of the Sharjah Media Council, Hessa Abdullah Al Hammadi, affirmed that hosting the project reflects the council's ongoing commitment to supporting community initiatives with sustainable impact. She highlighted that the project embodies solidarity values and represents a high humanitarian vision in caring for and empowering of Government Communication at the Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey, Hamad Sultan Al Owais, said that hosting the waqf initiative stems from the department's dedication to supporting community and charitable initiatives that promote solidarity and compassion among society 'Neighbours of the Prophet' project is one of the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation's waqf aims to provide sustainable support sources for caring for and empowering the foundation's beneficiaries in the emirate. The project's name draws inspiration from the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) saying, 'I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be in Paradise like this,' illustrating closeness to the Prophet through sponsoring orphans and meeting their needs.
Toronto Star
22-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
As ‘smallest town in Canada' empties out, former residents recall its vibrant past
ST. JOHN'S - A Newfoundland community that bills itself as the smallest town in Canada will soon be empty, and former residents say they'll never forget their joyful years living there. Tilt Cove, N.L., was once home to a thriving copper mine that attracted workers and their families from all over Canada. Now the community is home to just four people, all of whom agreed earlier this year to relocate. Shirley Severance was born in Tilt Cove in 1941. She watched the town grow when the Maritime Mining operation reopened in 1957, and she watched it shrink again in 1967 when the mine shut down for good. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW '(The company) built houses and they had a recreation centre, a curling rink and a bowling alley,' Severance said in an interview Wednesday. 'There was a hall where we used to have dances. We were teenagers, and we would go there after supper and dance to the jukebox.' 'I loved it there,' Severance added. 'I miss living there.' Tilt Cove is near the southeastern tip of Newfoundland's Baie Verte Peninsula, about 340 kilometres northwest of St. John's. The community is spread along the shores of small circular lake framed by rocky hills and a clearing that leads to the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors often take and share photos of the community's sign. 'Tilt Cove: Smallest town in Canada,' it says. 'Population: 4.' The copper mine opened in 1864 and operated intermittently until 1967. In the year before it closed for good, 436 people lived in the community, according to provincial statistics. By 1991, just 17 were left. In 2023, the few remaining residents voted unanimously to take advantage of the Newfoundland and Labrador government's community relocation policy. The program offers homeowners in towns that have voted to resettle between $250,000 and $270,000 to move away. The province made an offer to the four permanent homeowners in Tilt Cove in January, the Department of Municipal Affairs said in an email. Residents decided on a relocation date of March 31, but a grace period was offered until their new homes are ready, the department said. Discussions are ongoing about when electricity and other services in the town will be cut off. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Collette Barthe said it's sad the town has come to an end, but she understands that without the mine, there isn't much reason for anybody to stay. The 76-year-old from New Brunswick moved to Tilt Cove with her family when she was five, and they lived there until she was 16. Like Severance, Barthe recalled a vibrant social life for families and their kids. There were community barbecues and Labour Day parades, she said in an interview. In the winter, the lake would freeze over and the mining company would turn it into a skating rink and place a massive Christmas tree in its centre. 'We had it all, really,' Barthe said. 'I still miss the place. I miss the people. They were more than neighbours, they were family.' Severance left in 1974 to work in a fish processing plant in the nearby town of La Scie. She ultimately had a family of her own and moved to Nova Scotia. She now lives in Alberta, close to her daughter, Debbie Severance-Simms. Severance-Simms said she has always been amazed at how many people she has met across the country with family ties to Tilt Cove. She was 12 when her family moved away and has been back many times to visit the family home. The front steps are broken and the roof has fallen in, and it's no longer safe to go inside. But it still feels good to go back, she said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW This summer, her family members from Newfoundland to British Columbia are planning to return to Tilt Cove for an afternoon picnic, Severance-Simms said. They'll walk around the lake and down to the wharf, and they'll walk up to the cemetery in the hills where their great-grandparents are buried. 'We were truly blessed, all of us, whoever lived in Tilt Cove,' she said. 'Everyone was like a big family.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
As ‘smallest town in Canada' empties out, former residents recall its vibrant past
ST. JOHN'S - A Newfoundland community that bills itself as the smallest town in Canada will soon be empty, and former residents say they'll never forget their joyful years living there. Tilt Cove, N.L., was once home to a thriving copper mine that attracted workers and their families from all over Canada. Now the community is home to just four people, all of whom agreed earlier this year to relocate. Shirley Severance was born in Tilt Cove in 1941. She watched the town grow when the Maritime Mining operation reopened in 1957, and she watched it shrink again in 1967 when the mine shut down for good. '(The company) built houses and they had a recreation centre, a curling rink and a bowling alley,' Severance said in an interview Wednesday. 'There was a hall where we used to have dances. We were teenagers, and we would go there after supper and dance to the jukebox.' 'I loved it there,' Severance added. 'I miss living there.' Tilt Cove is near the southeastern tip of Newfoundland's Baie Verte Peninsula, about 340 kilometres northwest of St. John's. The community is spread along the shores of small circular lake framed by rocky hills and a clearing that leads to the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors often take and share photos of the community's sign. 'Tilt Cove: Smallest town in Canada,' it says. 'Population: 4.' The copper mine opened in 1864 and operated intermittently until 1967. In the year before it closed for good, 436 people lived in the community, according to provincial statistics. By 1991, just 17 were left. In 2023, the few remaining residents voted unanimously to take advantage of the Newfoundland and Labrador government's community relocation policy. The program offers homeowners in towns that have voted to resettle between $250,000 and $270,000 to move away. The province made an offer to the four permanent homeowners in Tilt Cove in January, the Department of Municipal Affairs said in an email. Residents decided on a relocation date of March 31, but a grace period was offered until their new homes are ready, the department said. Discussions are ongoing about when electricity and other services in the town will be cut off. Collette Barthe said it's sad the town has come to an end, but she understands that without the mine, there isn't much reason for anybody to stay. The 76-year-old from New Brunswick moved to Tilt Cove with her family when she was five, and they lived there until she was 16. Like Severance, Barthe recalled a vibrant social life for families and their kids. There were community barbecues and Labour Day parades, she said in an interview. In the winter, the lake would freeze over and the mining company would turn it into a skating rink and place a massive Christmas tree in its centre. 'We had it all, really,' Barthe said. 'I still miss the place. I miss the people. They were more than neighbours, they were family.' Severance left in 1974 to work in a fish processing plant in the nearby town of La Scie. She ultimately had a family of her own and moved to Nova Scotia. She now lives in Alberta, close to her daughter, Debbie Severance-Simms. Severance-Simms said she has always been amazed at how many people she has met across the country with family ties to Tilt Cove. She was 12 when her family moved away and has been back many times to visit the family home. The front steps are broken and the roof has fallen in, and it's no longer safe to go inside. But it still feels good to go back, she said. This summer, her family members from Newfoundland to British Columbia are planning to return to Tilt Cove for an afternoon picnic, Severance-Simms said. They'll walk around the lake and down to the wharf, and they'll walk up to the cemetery in the hills where their great-grandparents are buried. 'We were truly blessed, all of us, whoever lived in Tilt Cove,' she said. 'Everyone was like a big family.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
CBC
06-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Some small Alberta villages say voting themselves out of existence may be a path to prosperity
It's a critical moment in Delia's 110-year history. And this tiny community is proud of that history and insists there is a future, even though it may seem a bit murky. In less than three weeks, residents will vote on whether Delia will remain a village with its own elected council members, or dissolve into a hamlet and become part of the surrounding Starland County, represented by one councillor who oversees a larger area. The town has seen its struggles over the years. It's had trouble attracting a chief administrative officer and candidates for the three-member council. A viability review, released ahead of this month's amalgamation vote, reveals a $9.5 million infrastructure deficit and a number of shortcomings related to meeting municipal benchmarks. 'Significant challenges' While it has struggled to hire and keep a chief administrator, it has also "faced significant challenges" submitting annual audited financial statements, according to province's Department of Municipal Affairs. The province appointed an official administrator last year to help get things back on track. The overdue financial reports were all submitted last year. The viability review's recommendations included holding a vote on the future of the village. The three sitting council members want to maintain the status quo. "Yes, we want to stay a village," said Jordan Elliott, Delia's mayor. The three are confident the village can address its infrastructure deficit without dissolving, using provincial grants and tax revenue. Residents have raised concerns about taxation, garbage collection, recycling and snow clearing if they become a hamlet. The councillors fear Delia will lose its identity if it's dissolved into the county. "There's so much to lose, no gain," said councillor Dave Smeyers. He says there are challenges as the Alberta government cuts back on funding for smaller villages. "So, we're always fighting to stay alive, but it's like community spirit, you can't put that down and you can't measure it in finances," said Smeyers. Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said in a statement to CBC News that the province is providing $820 million in funding for municipalities this budget year, an increase of $98 million from last year. "Municipalities have called for funding that is predictable and tied to provincial revenue growth, and this year's allocation of LGFF (Local Government Funding Framework) answers that call," said McIver. Delia is set to receive $200,000 in LGFF funding this year and $175,000 in 2026. Worth fighting for The councillors say there is a lot to fight for. A new $14 million school opened a few years ago, there's a library, curling rink and arena. There's a campground, volunteer fire department, cenotaph and museum. And people here are proud of Delia's history. Markers are located outside old homes and commercial buildings that tell the stories of the people and businesses that used to call Delia home. There's a plaque that honours Violet Barrs, Canada's first female mayor, appointed in 1920. The old saloon and eight-room hotel, which is now up for sale, was used in the film Knockaround Guys starring Vin Diesel and John Malkovich, It's unclear how many people actually live in Delia. The councillors believe the number is approximately 230. Last year, the province pegged it at 146. The government also lists 113 dwelling units and 21 businesses. The village recently did its own head count, but it hasn't been made public. Population is important in determining how much transition funding will be provided to the county if residents vote to dissolve. From villages to hamlets: 'There was no choice' The list of former villages in Alberta is slowly growing. An hour north of Delia, is the former village of Halkirk, which is now a hamlet within the County of Paintearth. And two hours west is where you'll find Caroline, which is now a hamlet in Clearwater County. Both villages officially dissolved into hamlets at the beginning of the year. Caroline is home to just over 500 people. It's where figure skater Kurt Browning grew up. The arena there bears the four-time world champion's name. "There was no choice, like in terms of long-term viability, there was no choice," said Barbara Gibson, the former village councillor who is now an interim councillor with Clearwater County. Gibson says with shrinking government grants and rising infrastructure maintenance and renewal costs, village council took a proactive approach and started amalgamation discussions with the county more than a year ago. She believes the dissolution was inevitable given the village's finances and future capital cost obligations. A study that looked into the community's viability several years ago came up with the same conclusion. "Do you wait and have it happen to you or do you join it and do it the way you would like to have it done?" she said. Gibson said people were concerned about the future of their library, fire hall and post office, along with snow clearing and garbage collection. Gibson has tried to reassure people that there shouldn't be a noticeable change in service levels. She said people who live in the county expressed concerns that their tax dollars would be used in Caroline, and people in Caroline felt their tax dollars would go toward county projects. She said people asked if Caroline would disappear and lose its voice. "Are we going to be written off the map? You know, and it's not that way." She says while Caroline will lose it's five councillor positions, the community will still be represented. "With us being allowed to have one voice on county council, [that] has shown that they are not going to sweep us under the rug and they are going to listen to what we want." Economic development, prosperity Reg Dean is a longtime business owner in Caroline who's seen several heated amalgamation debates over the years. He believes amalgamation will spur economic growth. Dean, who owns a fishing, hunting and camping equipment store, says the county has much deeper pockets and will be able to service new building lots and pave the way for development. He hopes to see new utility services to develop a long-term care home near the Kurt Browning arena and an industrial business park on the east side of the community. He says a seniors lodge would attract more people to the community and he believes some people want to see that growth. "That means 25 brand new residents and that's significant in this community," said Dean. Five years a hamlet The former, troubled town of Granum, known for previous viability reviews, sustainability concerns and political upheaval, is marking its fifth year as a hamlet after voting to dissolve and join the Municipal District of Willow Creek in 2020. Mike Sherman spent nine years as mayor of Granum. The now 82-year-old was originally against dissolution, he thought the town could turn itself around. But he changed his mind and voted in favour of becoming a hamlet. He says the town was really struggling back then. "We were so poor in this town when I was mayor, that we would have enough dollars in our budget to do maybe three ... squares of sidewalk," he said. Now, Sherman says with the MD, entire blocks are getting done. There's a new park where the grain elevators used to stand and improvements have been made to water and sewer lines, street lighting, the veterans' memorial and cemetery. He says the MD is chipping away at the community's $15 million infrastructure deficit that existed in 2019. Sherman says the community has grown by about 100 people over the past few years and now stands at an estimated 500. The reeve of the MD of Willow Creek says communication has always been a priority to help residents in Granum who weren't in favour of dissolution. Maryanne Sandberg says there were a series of open houses held during the transition and the annual $235,000 levy that was brought in to help cover infrastructure projects includes a detailed list of which jobs will be completed each year. "Whether it's storm water management, whether it's sidewalks, whatever we're doing, they're always aware of what we're up to," she said. She says people who told her they weren't happy with the vote results are coming around. "Now when you talk to those same people, they don't regret it at all," she said. Converting the old town hall Sabina Wurz sees a bright future in Granum. She's opened a restaurant and purchased the former town hall office, a century-old two-storey brick building that's undergoing renovations and upgrades. She wants to convert it into a space for artists, possibly a retreat of some kind. "This is a good investment. It has been for us, there's been some struggles, but for the most part, people are very receptive about what we're doing," said Wurz. She says she's invested more than a million dollars in the former town. For her, she doesn't care if it's a town, a village or a hamlet. "This is where people reside. I don't care what name you put on it." More funding, support needed The president of the Rural Municipalities Association of Alberta says the province is not providing enough funding to support small, rural municipalities, which are struggling with less financial support from the province and rising costs. Kara Westerlund says the association strongly believes in local autonomy and keeping municipalities whole, but in some cases small villages cannot sustain themselves in the face of shrinking grants and rising costs for things such as policing. And she says those costs don't go away for the absorbing counties. "When a municipality does go down, it doesn't fix the problem by absorbing it into the larger municipality around it, it actually makes it more complicated and more difficult moving forward," she said. Westerlund says, while the province provides a transitional fee to help the absorbing municipality, it's often not enough and ends after one or two years. The municipal affairs minister says dissolutions are generally driven by municipalities and their residents, as they are in the best position to determine if it's "an appropriate option to consider." "Dissolution may be beneficial to a municipality for a number of reasons. For example, it may be more efficient to have one municipality providing many of the same services, such as emergency services and water infrastructure, to a larger area," he said. Vote set for Delia Back in Delia, the vote has been scheduled for April 23 and 24. The question will ask residents if they would like Delia to remain a village "and implement changes to achieve viability," or dissolve and become a hamlet in Starland County. The councillors want to continue the job they started, growing their community and ensuring Delia has its own voice. "The town's been around for a long time. It would be a shame to lose it all now," said Jim Adams. "Delia's really great. We have an awesome volunteer base. We're always running community events. It would be really sad to see some of that stuff change," said Mayor Elliott.
