Latest news with #HammondsPlains
CTV News
08-08-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Nova Scotia fire ban impacting revenues for campgrounds
Many campgrounds are feeling the impact of Nova Scotia's ban on entry to the woods. Piles of firewood sit unused in sheds across Nova Scotia, as a provincewide fire ban continues to impact summer plans and bottom lines. At Woodhaven RV Park in Hammonds Plains, staff says the ban has made a significant dent in their seasonal revenue. 'Firewood we purchase every year and cut and split is available for purchase as well, we are losing on that revenue as well,' said Emily Siepierski, who works at the campground. With campsites still nearly full, the business has had to rethink how it serves customers. Siepierski says they've stocked up on alternatives. 'We do have propane firepits available for rent and purchase,' she said. 'We had purchased a while ago 10 fire pits and we have put an order. So we have a few left.' At LaHave River Campground, owner Jamie Lee Arseneau says guests are disappointed and some are cancelling their reservations altogether. 'Having to have hard conversations when people who connect campfires with camping now can't do that, many of whom are upset and would cancel their reservation based on that,' she said. 'So we have been seeing an influx of cancellations.' In a statement, CEO of the Boys and Girls Greater Halifax Club, Tracy Durke-Jones, said the fire ban 'has had real impact on summer programs like ours, which often rely on natural spaces for outdoor learning and recreation.' Dry weather is compounding the problem. At Woodhaven, staff say the lack of rainfall has forced them to shut down some services. 'We're on a well here in Hammonds Plains,' said Siepierski. 'In order to conserve the essential resource that water is, we've closed our laundromat.' Firewood Woodhaven RV Park in Hammonds Plains says it's been impacted by the fire ban in Nova Scotia. (Source: Hafsa Arif/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
‘We want to do our part': How a Nova Scotia campground is ensuring guests follow the burn ban
There's a fire ban in place across nova scotia due to the dry conditions. It's been hot and dry across Nova Scotia for July, which has prompted the government to implement a provincewide burn ban. This means no campfires, bonfires or brush fires. It's welcome news for Woodhaven RV Park in Hammonds Plains, N.S. 'After experiencing the wildfires in 2023 less than a kilometre away, looking back, it's pretty serious and it was devastating at the time,' said Emily Siepierski with Woodhaven. Camp site A campfire site is pictured at Woodhaven RV Park in Hammonds Plains, N.S., on Thursday, July 31, 2025. (Stephanie Tsicos/CTV Atlantic) 'We want to do our part to keep our beautiful province and campground safe.' Signs have been put up around the park letting guests know of the burn ban, including one on the front door where guests check in. 'We do provide all of our guests with the notice that there is a provincial fire ban on. We do checks every 15 minutes in the afternoon,' said Siepierski. Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency (HRFE) has been closely monitoring conditions. 'It's hard. You can't predict Mother Nature, but right now, we're looking out 10 days and there's no significant rain forecasted,' said HRFE Wildfire Mitigation Program Manager Kara McCurdy. 'Having the ban in place is helpful.' Reducing risks Aside from following the burn ban, McCurdy said there are other ways residents can help reduce the risk of fires. 'Make sure you're watering any plants that are really close to your structures because even dropping a cigarette or any hot material in those types of fuels will quickly ignite and spread to the structures,' she said. 'Refrain from using anything hot on trails and wilderness areas or provincial parks or federal parks, and if residents are outside enjoying activities, that they're really cognizant of anything that might spark.' The province said the ban will remain in place until the end of wildfire season, which is Oct. 15, or until conditions improve. The fine for violating the ban is $25,000. During the provincewide ban, residents are still allowed to use non-woodburning devices, like charcoal and gas barbecues and gas stoves. 'A huge part of camping is roasting marshmallows, singing songs around a campfire, and we want to be able to ensure all of our guests enjoy their stay here, so we do have propane fire pits available for rental and purchase,' said Siepierski. 'Keep those memories alive.' Conditions across the Maritimes Elsewhere in the Maritimes, burning is allowed in both New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island between certain hours. 'There have been some wildfire calls this year that follow previous years' trends,' said a spokesperson with the P.E.I. government in an email to CTV News. 'Residents are always encouraged to use caution whenever they do any outdoor burning to ensure that fires remain under control.' A spokesperson for New Brunswick's Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development said the province 'has been fortunate' not to have any major incidents so far. 'However, our wildland firefighters have been busy deploying to help with wildfires around the country including Newfoundland and out west,' said the spokesperson. Burn restrictions are updated daily at 2 p.m. First at Five: Sparking Concern First at Five: Sparking Concern For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
National Post
10-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
This Canadian city is planning its sixth Stanley Cup parade since 2007. It has no NHL team
Article content This year's Cup champion, the Florida Panthers, has 100 days with the Stanley Cup, from the night they won it, June 17, until the NHL's opening night in early October. Article content One of the breakout stars of this year's Panthers is Halifax's Brad Marchand. He won the Cup in 2011 with the Boston Bruins, but chose to celebrate with smaller events at Halifax City Hall and a visit to the local children's hospital. Article content 'He didn't have a parade,' Pritchard said. 'Not a lot of them do actual parades. The community has to get that going and Halifax has been great at it.' Article content The 37-year-old right winger, who hails from the Halifax suburb of Hammonds Plains, deserves a parade, according to Jason Wilson, who teaches a course about hockey in Canadian history at the University of Guelph. Article content 'Marchand has proven himself to hockey fans everywhere. He has even convinced long-suffering Leafs fans like myself that he's the real deal,' said Wilson, co-author of Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup. Article content 'His commitment to focusing on the game and shredding — though perhaps not altogether — his sometimes-bizarre non-hockey play on the ice, is a declaration of maturity. When you consider the Four Nations Cup and this past Stanley Cup playoffs, I think there's an argument to be made that he has to be included among the top five most impactful players of 2025. An impact that surely has the good people of Hammonds Plains, N.S., planning a parade route for their ice warrior.' Article content Article content Marchand scored six goals in five games for the Panthers during the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, including game-winning goals in both of their road wins, to help Florida take their second straight championship against the Edmonton Oilers. Article content 'Brad doesn't have a date picked yet' for his personal day with the Stanley Cup, Pritchard said. Article content That begs the question: should Halifax throw Marchand a parade? Article content 'It takes more than one guy to have the parade,' Pritchard said, 'the community's got to get behind it.' Article content Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore sounds keen on hosting a Marchand parade. Article content 'Brad Marchand is a hometown legend and now a two-time Stanley Cup champion and Halifax couldn't be prouder,' Fillmore said in an email. Article content 'As mayor of Halifax, I'd love to welcome Brad home to celebrate this incredible win, with the Cup, of course. We're in early discussions at the city about how to help make that happen. It's entirely up to him, but if he's game, we'd be thrilled to host him here in Halifax this summer.' Article content
CTV News
13-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
School bus catches fire in Hammonds Plains, N.S.
A school bus caught fire in Hammonds Plains, N.S., on Thursday. The Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Association says crews responded to the fire and quickly brought it under control. There were no reported injuries. Lindsey Bunin, communications officer for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, said the school bus driver noticed smoke coming from under the hood Thursday afternoon. The driver stopped the vehicle on Carnoustie Drive and moved the children to a safe location. The front end of the bus caught fire, according to Bunin. 'The children remained calm and followed the driver's lead in a very scary situation,' Bunin said in an email. 'We are grateful to the driver, school leaders and families for handling the situation with great care. 'HRCE's Transportation Team is working closely with the bus provider, Southland, to understand why this happened. An investigation is now underway.' More to come… For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
13-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Dramatic video captures school bus explosion in Hammonds Plains
Chase Valiant was in the middle of making an afternoon snack when his day took a dramatic turn. "I was just making guacamole, going about my day, and I heard a big bang," he said Friday, a day after the incident. He rushed outside his home, located on a quiet street in Hammonds Plains, N.S. only to find a school bus engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke permeating the air. "I was shocked, and I was just thinking, hoping, that everyone had gotten off the bus," he said. The bus, which was taking elementary students home from Hammonds Plains Consolidated School, was evacuated shortly before the bus caught fire on Thursday afternoon But Valiant didn't know that at the time. It was only after he got confirmation that nobody was on the bus that he moved closer and started taking video. In doing so, he captured another big bang on camera, documenting the moment when the front of the bus exploded again, sending flames, smoke and debris soaring. It took some time before the fire was extinguished, he said, and crews were still cleaning up the scene on Friday morning. "A bus exploding," said Valiant. "Can't say I've ever heard of that happening." Students remained calm, says principal In an email, Lynn Corkum, the school's principal, told parents the bus driver pulled over on Carnoustie Drive and safely evacuated the students after noticing smoke coming from the engine. "They remained calm and followed the driver's lead in a very scary situation," said Corkum. "I am proud of everyone involved." RCMP in Halifax say they responded to a report of the incident at around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday. There were no injuries due to the fire itself, but one youth suffered minor injuries during the evacuation. Lindsey Bunin, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, said the incident is being investigated, "We are grateful to the driver, school leaders, and families for handling the situation with great care," she said.
