**** CNS Media Release
Government Invests in Richard Preston Centre of Excellence
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The government is investing $1.7 million to support the expansion of an important community hub serving the African Nova Scotian community of Halifax’s north end.
The funding for the Richard Preston Centre of Excellence at New Horizons Baptist Church will create additional spaces for tutoring and mentoring programs, youth programming, community services and gatherings, as well as other amenities.
“Community hubs have the potential to improve the lives of community members through various activities, programs and services,” said African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Pat Dunn. “It is the leadership of community organizations like New Horizons Baptist Church, the African United Baptist Association, and the Richard Preston Centre of Excellence who strive to make a positive difference for people through their culturally focused initiatives and projects.”
Work on expanding the centre, a non-profit society of the church has been underway. The estimated total cost of the project is $3.8 million.
The Province’s investment will also fund information technology infrastructure to engage youth, a new kitchen and a refurbished hall. All spaces will be accessible, with construction including a street-level lift in front of the church, an interior lift to access all levels, and an updated interior throughout.
The funding announcement can be viewed on YouTube at these pages:
— New Horizons Baptist Church: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9TmlQb69E-861l5x0M9tA
— Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvhchr5qdce12SScEvKGiPw.
Quotes:
“As a member of the African Nova Scotian community, I cannot express the positive impact that church halls, community centres and recreational facilities have made in my life. The Richard Preston Centre of Excellence will be a space for personal growth and well-being for its community members for many generations to come.”
– Dwayne Provo, Associate Deputy Minister, African Nova Scotian Affairs
“New Horizons Baptist Church believes that the love of God means ministering to the whole person. As our non-profit arm, the Richard Preston Centre for Excellence facilitates programming from education upgrades to mental and physical health awareness clinics to life skills workshops. We are excited and grateful for this funding that affirms 190 years of the spiritual and social work of the church and builds on the church’s legacy far into the future through the Richard Preston Centre for Excellence.”
– Pastor Rhonda Britton, New Horizons Baptist Church
“This building project has been a very long process. The vision of renovating and expanding to accommodate space for education and the Richard Preston Centre for Excellence has been a dream of New Horizons Baptist Church members for many generations. It saddens me that many who contributed to this project are no longer with us, however it warms my heart to see our shared dream finally become a reality.”
– Cynthia Jordan, Chair, New Horizons Baptist Church building committee
Quick Facts:
— New Horizons Baptist Church was founded by Reverend Richard Preston in 1832
— Pastor Britton is the church’s first female pastor
— New Horizons Baptist Church is known as the “Mother Church” of the African United Baptist Association and has been a landmark institution in the African Nova Scotian community for almost 190 years
— the African United Baptist Association was founded by Reverend Richard Preston in 1854 and is comprised of 19 historically Black Baptist churches across Nova Scotia
Additional Resources:
African Nova Scotian Affairs:
— website: https://beta.novascotia.ca/government/african-nova-scotian-affairs
— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanNSAffairs
— Twitter: https://twitter.com/OfficeofANSA
New Horizons Baptist Church:
— website: https://newhorizonsbaptist.ca
— Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewHorizonsHfx
— Twitter: https://twitter.com/newhorizonshfx
African United Baptist Church Association: https://www.aubans.ca/web
Count Us In: Nova Scotia’s Action Plan in Response to the International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015-2024: https://ansa.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/dpad-action-plan.pdf
Province Invests in Energy Efficiency, Low-carbon Economy
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The Province is investing $9 million in six projects that support energy efficiency and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
These investments from the Green Fund support goals enshrined in the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 53 per cent from 2005 levels, generate 80 per cent of electricity from renewable sources, and reach 30 per cent electric vehicle sales, all by 2030.
“Nova Scotians want us to take action to address the climate emergency and adapt to climate change,” said Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “By helping Nova Scotians, businesses and industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we are collectively doing our part to secure a more sustainable and cleaner future.”
The investments include $5.5 million for four programs by Efficiency One, the non-profit administrator of Efficiency Nova Scotia:
— $1.5 million for three years for the Off-oil Retrofit Incentive Pilot, which requires all oil heating equipment and the oil tank to be removed and replaced with an electric-based heating system
— $1.5 million for three years to expand the Industrial On-site Energy Manager Program, which provides energy management support, to include larger electricity consumers
— $1.5 million for two years for the SolarHomes for Not-for-profits Program to expand rebate eligibility to include churches, food banks and other registered non-profit organizations
— $1 million for two years for the Apartment and Condo Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Program to provide incentives for installing smart charging stations in new and existing condominiums and apartments.
There is also $3.5 million for two programs administered by the Clean Foundation:
— $2 million for three years to extend the Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) and Mi’kmaq Energy Training Pilot, which was launched in 2021 and trains people from under-represented groups to become energy advisors and clean energy tradespeople
— $1.5 million for three years for the Next Ride Electric Vehicle Engagement Campaign Program that allows people across the province to learn about and test drive an electric vehicle.
Quotes:
“Nova Scotia is committed to having 80 per cent of our electricity needs filled by renewable energy by 2030. We’re pleased to see programs that help with things like upgrading buildings to become more energy efficient, reducing energy bills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These changes together will help us get to where we need to be.”
– Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables
“Clean Foundation is pleased to be a recipient of these Green Fund investments. They will support Nova Scotia’s transition to a low-carbon economy through education on electrified transportation and by creating a career path in the energy efficiency industry for participants from racialized and Indigenous communities.”
– Scott Skinner, President and CEO, Clean Foundation
Quick Facts:
— the Green Fund is revenue collected under the Province’s cap-and-trade program
— companies in the program that do not reduce their greenhouse gas emissions must buy allowances at auction, with that money set aside to be reinvested in climate change initiatives
— auctions in 2021-22 raised $44.9 million
— this is the last installment from the $44.9 million for this fiscal year
Additional Resources:
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
Efficiency One: https://www.efficiencyone.ca/
Clean Foundation: https://cleanfoundation.ca/programs/
Enhanced Funding for Research and Innovation
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The government is adding $25 million to the Research Opportunities Fund to invest in more research and innovation happening across Nova Scotia.
The fund is managed by Research Nova Scotia. The additional funding will be used to support research opportunities in Nova Scotia linked to government priorities like economic growth, population growth, health innovation and mental health.
“An investment in research is an investment in job creation, healthcare solutions and business innovation and puts Nova Scotia on the map as an ideas and solutions hub,” said Becky Druhan, acting Minister of Advanced Education. “This investment will support our researchers in creating new technologies, medicines and strategies that will help solve Nova Scotia’s biggest challenges.”
Examples of projects supported by the Research Opportunities Fund include:
— tracking COVID-19 in wastewater
— 20 other COVID-related projects, such as the supply chain for personal protective equipment, mental health, socio-economic impacts, vaccine development, treatments and other topics
— climate change adaptation and resilience
— the use and storage of solar energy and improving the manufacturing of solar energy technology
— the sustainable bioeconomy, such as developing state-of-the-art advanced ceramics for healthcare, clean technology and marine use.
Quotes:
“This announcement illustrates the government’s recognition of the critical role research plays in finding solutions to overcome our province’s biggest challenges. The additional investment in the Research Opportunities Fund will help ensure continued support for research projects that help mitigate the effects of climate change on our region, promote sustainability and resilience in our traditional industries, and support the health and well-being of Nova Scotians.”
– Stefan Leslie, CEO, Research Nova Scotia
“At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Research Nova Scotia convened our research team and key government stakeholders to help shape the direction, scope, and scale of our provincial COVID-19 wastewater surveillance program. Our research has enabled proactive and preventative COVID-19 health and economic response measures Throughout the project, RNS has been an important catalyst that has opened ideas and shaped projects for the broadest possible benefit to Nova Scotians.”
– Graham Gagnon, Director, Centre for Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University
Quick Facts:
— this investment brings the total provincial contribution to the fund to $54 million since its inception in 2019
— Research Nova Scotia was established in 2018 through provincial legislation (Research Nova Scotia Corporation Act) as an independent entity governed by a 12-member board of directors
— the board includes representatives from Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions, government (provincial and federal), and the private sector
— Research Nova Scotia co-ordinates provincial research investments, attracts research funds from partners and federal funders, and supports Nova Scotia researchers who are developing new technologies and solving real-world problems
— Research Nova Scotia’s mission-oriented strategy focuses on four key areas: sustainable bioeconomy, climate change adaptation and resilience, healthy people and healthcare systems, and improved quality of life for Nova Scotians
Additional Resources:
Research Nova Scotia website: https://researchns.ca/
