Latest news with #VirginiaHinch
Global News
2 days ago
- General
- Global News
Demolition underway at former St. Patrick's-Alexandra school in Halifax
The sounds of excavators removing debris echoed throughout Halifax's north end on Thursday as crews began tearing down the 104-year-old St. Patrick's-Alexandra school. The former school site, which had sat vacant since closing in 2010, sparked safety concerns after several fires broke out within the span of a week in March. Halifax Coun. Virginia Hinch said her constituents became increasingly worried about problems associated with the derelict structure. 'They were concerned about the premises, how unsightly it was, they were concerned about what it was attracting. They were concerned about that … It just wasn't safe to go into the building, but people were going in at their own risk due to homelessness as well,' she said, adding that she hopes tearing down the building will create a pathway for increased affordable housing access in the area. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I hope it (demolition) coincides with the community.' Story continues below advertisement Global News reached out to property owners Jono Developments regarding the next steps for the site but did not receive a response. The Halifax Professional Fire Fighters Association said it welcomes the demolition. 'Our members responded to multiple fires at the vacant structure, each of which presented significant hazards to firefighters and the public,' the union said in a statement. 'We have consistently raised concerns about the risks posed by unsecured, derelict buildings across the municipality. The timely removal of these structures is a necessary step in protecting both the community and first responders. The St. Patrick's-Alexandra site is the second former school to be torn down in Halifax's north end in 2025 — after the former Bloomfield Elementary site caught fire in February.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
‘We need to do more': Halifax considers removing one of last designated encampment sites
Cassandra Taylor and her dog, Fetty Wap, named after the rapper, live at the Cogswell Park encampment in Halifax. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) After accommodations with a friend fell through, Cassandra Taylor and her dog were forced to the streets, living at Cogswell Park in Halifax for about a month now. 'It's different, it's my first time living like this,' she tells CTV News Atlantic. 'But, for the most part, you gotta make the best of it.' Unable to make ends meet as a single person, she's worried about the future, especially because Halifax will be considering removing the site off its limited list of approved encampment locations. 'You realize how much you need a home when you don't have one,' Taylor says. She's stressed about the thought of having to find somewhere else to live. She hopes if she's told to leave, she'll also be told housing is lined up for her, but she realizes 'that's very unlikely.' The motion A motion by area councillor Virginia Hinch will be brought to council on Tuesday, asking for a staff report detailing when the site could be 'de-designated' – and that it be closed and remediated as soon as possible. 'When Council approved Cogswell Park as a designated site in July 2024, a total of eight tents were permitted to occupy this space,' the motion reads. 'The number of tents at this encampment site has since doubled. In addition to exceeding occupancy limits, there are also safety concerns on the part of residents including fire safety concerns.' Hinch says she's heard complaints from people living near the park. 'They're valid concerns, unfortunately, with safety, with the way that the park is looking; it's not at its best nowadays,' she says. According to Hinch, neighbours have also reported fires and rats at the park. The motion notes the Parkland Campus on Quinpool Road is expected to open this fall, which means Cogswell Park will fall within 50 metres of an adult care facility and will no longer meet the criteria for a designated encampment site. Parkland Campus Parkland Campus on Quinpool Road is slated to open fall 2025. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) Patrick Maubert, a program director and social worker at Brunswick Street Mission, is disappointed to hear the location could be removed. 'These are people's homes. At the end of the day, a tent is someone's home,' Maubert says. 'To be retraumatizing people by kicking them out of their homes and potentially losing their belongings… it's disappointing to hear. 'It is a bit of a head scratcher as to why now, and I think when we see growing numbers and encampments, I think we have to look at that as a systemic issue.' Maubert says while there are some options available to people, such as Pallet shelters, there still aren't enough secure spaces for people living rough. 'We need to do more' Hinch says collaboration between all three levels of government is needed because the homeless population 'looks like it's going to continue to grow and grow and grow.' 'That should be a sign that we need to do more,' she says. Hinch, who previously worked in the housing sector, acknowledges finding an affordable place to live is difficult, but says the municipality needs to take some responsibility, too. 'It falls heavily on us… We could do better for sure, the province can do a lot better as well,' she says. 'Either it's the new norm or…we do something about it.' For Taylor, her situation is made even more challenging, living with mental health and addictions issues. 'I just hope that anyone that has a home, just be grateful, because you never know when your life can get turned upside down and they could be end up living like how we are,' she says. Along with Cogswell Park, the remaining designated encampment sites are Green Road Park in Dartmouth, the Barrington Street green space and Lower Flinn Park. -With files from CTV News Atlantic's Sean Mott Cassandra Taylor Cassandra Taylor and her dog, Fetty Wap, named after the rapper, live at the Cogswell Park encampment in Halifax. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Halifax councillor seeking report on de-designation of Cogswell Park encampment
A Halifax councillor is requesting a report outlining the de-designation of the Cogswell Park encampment site, which has been open since July 2024. Councillor Virginia Hinch's motion will ask the chief administrative officer to prepare a staff report on when the Cogswell Park site can be closed. The report would be delivered to council in August. Council will vote on the motion at their meeting on Tuesday. 'When Council approved Cogswell Park as a designated site in July 2024, a total of eight tents were permitted to occupy this space,' the motion reads. 'The number of tents at this encampment site has since doubled. In addition to exceeding occupancy limits, there are also safety concerns on the part of residents including fire safety concerns.' The motion notes the Parkland Campus on Quinpool Road is expected to open this fall, which means Cogswell Park will fall within 50 metres of an adult care facility and will no longer meet the criteria for a designated encampment site. Aside from Cogswell Park, there are currently three designated encampments in the Halifax Regional Municipality: Green Road Park in Dartmouth, the Barrington Street green space and Lower Flinn Park. The municipality de-designated and shut down the Geary Street encampment in Dartmouth last month, putting up fencing around the area. As of June 20, there were 48 tents and four trailers spread across the remaining designated encampments. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
