**** HRM Media Release
Municipal service level adjustments for the Natal Day long weekend
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following municipal program and service level adjustments for the upcoming Natal Day long weekend, including the holiday on Monday, August 7.
Solid Waste Collection and Facility Hours
There will be no garbage, organics or recyclables collection services on Monday, August 7.
Curbside collection normally scheduled for Monday, August 7 will instead occur on Saturday, August 5. To ensure collection, residents are asked to place materials curbside prior to 7 a.m. on collection day, ensuring they are contained and secured to prevent access for wildlife.
Garbage set out limits will temporarily be increased from six to eight bags of garbage until Friday, August 18 due to the impacts from recent flooding. Each bag of garbage may be substituted for one bundle of flood-related debris. Normal collection requirements still apply, including bundle weight (up to 75 pounds) and size (less than 4 feet) limits, and the collection of one bulky item (e.g. couch), and one privacy bag (with the remainder being clear bags) per garbage collection cycle.
Apartment buildings with up to six units will also temporarily be increased from four to six bags per unit (one dark bag per unit, all other bags must be clear)
Only two bulky items total for the building are permitted, and no flood-related demolition, construction and renovation debris.
The Otter Lake Waste Management Facility and Materials Recovery Facility will be closed on Monday, August 7 but will be open on Saturday, August 5 for regular business hours.
The Household Special Waste Depot will be closed on Saturday, August 5 but will be open on Saturday, August 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A mobile Household Special Waste Depot will be held on Saturday, August 5 at Saint Mary’s University (960 Tower Road, Halifax) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents can find more information on solid waste facility holiday hours online.
Residents can also sign up for weekly collection reminders and service alerts, as well as print a calendar customized to their address on online.
Halifax Transit Bus and Ferry Services
Halifax Transit buses will be operating on holiday service on Monday, August 7.
Both the Alderney Ferry and the Woodside Ferry will provide service on Monday, August 7.
The Alderney Ferry will operate on a 30-minute schedule, with its first trip departing the Alderney Ferry Terminal at 7:30 a.m. and its last trip departing Halifax Ferry Terminal at 11:45 p.m.
The Woodside Ferry will also operate on a 30-minute schedule, with its first trip departing the Woodside Ferry Terminal at 7:37 a.m. and its last trip departing Halifax Ferry Terminal at 8:52 p.m.
Additionally, Alderney ferry service will also be free on Saturday, August 5. Service will be provided at 30-minute intervals from 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 15-minute intervals from 12:15 p.m. to 11 p.m.
In lieu of fares, passengers are encouraged to make a monetary donation to Feed Nova Scotia. Donation bins will be available at the Alderney Ferry Terminal and the Halifax Ferry Terminal.
On Monday August 7, several bus routes will detour from the Macdonald Bridge to the MacKay Bridge beginning at 8 a.m. for the Halifax-Dartmouth Natal Day Parade. For detour information, visit halifax.ca/htdisruptions or follow @hfxtransit on Twitter.
Recreation Facilities, Programs and Services
All municipal beaches will remain open with lifeguard supervision on Monday, August 7. All splash pad locations will be open on Monday, August 7 – as well as the Halifax Common Aquatics Facility, Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool and Bedford Outdoor Pool.
For a complete list of supervised beaches, splash pads, and outdoor pools – as well as information on beach closures, visit our website.
The Emera Oval will be open on Monday, Aug. 7. A detailed schedule can be found here. Equipment lending will be open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (weather permitting).
The Sackville Sports Stadium will be open and holiday schedule can be found here.
Many municipally-operated recreation facilities will be closed on Monday, August 7. Residents are advised to call ahead to their respective facility for operating hours and program information. Contact information for municipally-operated facilities is available online.
Customer Contact Centres
The 311 Contact Centre will be closed Monday, August 7 for full service. However, urgent calls can still be reported.
In-person Customer Service Centres will be closed on Monday, August 7.
Residents may contact 311 by phone, or by email at: contactus@311.halifax.ca. Further information on Customer Contact Centres can be found online.
Parking
On-street paid parking will be free on Monday, August 7. Motorists are reminded to abide by other posted signage, including no stopping, accessible parking spaces and no parking zones.
Civic Events
The Halifax-Dartmouth Natal Day Parade will take place on Monday, August 7. The Parade will begin on Novalea Drive in Halifax at 10 a.m. and will conclude at Maple Street in Dartmouth. Residents are advised of traffic impacts resulting from the parade.
This year’s Halifax-Dartmouth Natal Day Parade will honour all municipal first responders and staff – as well as community volunteers – who have supported recent wildfire and flooding responses.
In addition to the parade, residents can also participate in the following activities taking place throughout the municipality over the Natal Day weekend:
- Natal Day Kickoff – The Crescendo Outdoor Fashion Show on Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m.
- Crescendo Main Event Concert on Saturday, August 5 at 5 p.m.
- Natal Day Harbour Fireworks on Saturday, August 5 at 10 p.m.
- African Nova Scotian Music Association Freedom Festival on Sunday, August 6 at 2 p.m.
- Natal Day & Buskers Festival’s All-Star Showcase on Sunday, August 6 at 9 p.m.
- Dartmouth Natal Day Road Race on Monday, August 7 at 8 a.m. Note: Residents are advised of traffic impacts resulting from the race.
- Lake Banook Natal Day Fireworks on Monday, August 7 at 9:30 p.m.
For more information, visit natalday.org.
The municipality is attentive to safety concerns related to fireworks and remains in consultation with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency on this issue. The municipality would also like to reassure residents that there are measures in place to ensure the fireworks used at municipal events are used in a safe manner and in accordance with relevant fire regulations.
As always, the status of fireworks for events is subject to change. Notification of changes will be shared via the municipality’s Civic Events’ Facebook page and Twitter channel.
Fire Safety
Residents are asked to celebrate safely this weekend and consider attending professional fireworks displays instead of using consumer fireworks.
Residents should also check burning restrictions guidelines (updated at 2 p.m. daily) for the latest guidance. If a burn ban is in place, fireworks will not be permitted.
If consumer fireworks are permitted, residents should select a wide, clear site that is 30 metres by 30 metres (or 100 feet by 100 feet). Consumers fireworks should also be set off away from structures, trees, dry grass, overhanging hydro lines, or tree branches.
Have a safe and enjoyable long weekend.
