Heritage Task Force to Hold Public Meetings

Nova Scotians will have the opportunity to help a task force develop recommendations on a heritage strategy for the province.

The Voluntary Planning Heritage Strategy Task Force will conduct a series of public meetings around the province between Nov. 7 and Nov. 24.

The task force will consult with Nova Scotians to find out what they value most about heritage including the aspects of it they want to see celebrated and protected. Some of the things the task force may consider, for example, include: all types of archives; historic places and buildings; museums; natural heritage; and language, folklore and traditions.

"We want to learn what heritage means to Nova Scotians and what they value most about their heritage," said Maureen Reid, chair of the task force. "And we want to hear their ideas and suggestions on how to protect and advance heritage in the future."

After hearing from individual Nova Scotians, stakeholder organizations and experts - the task force will issue an interim report before the end of March 2006 containing their preliminary recommendations. The public will then have an opportunity to provide input to the interim report before a final report and recommendations for a heritage strategy will be presented to government later in the spring.

A discussion paper on heritage is now available online at www.gov.ns.ca/vp .

Written submissions can be made online at www.gov.ns.ca/vp; e-mailed to [email protected]; faxed to 902-424-0580; or mailed to Voluntary Planning, Suite 600, 1690 Hollis St., Halifax, N.S., B3J 3J9. All submissions must be received by Thursday, Dec. 15.

Following are the meeting locations across the province. All meetings take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The task force members in attendance will make introductory comments before hearing from individual speakers. The session will conclude with an open discussion as time permits.

Monday, Nov. 7 Cheticamp -- Centre Acadien, 35 Baron Rd.

Tuesday, Nov. 8 Kentville -- Kentville Fire Hall, 463 Main St.

Wednesday, Nov. 9 Membertou -- Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, 50 Maillard
St. (off Alexandra Street in Sydney) Annapolis Royal -- Annapolis Royal Fire Hall, 5 St. Anthony St. Lake Charlotte -- The Cookhouse, Memory Lane Village

Thursday, Nov. 10 Church Point -- Amphitheatre B34, Universite Sainte-Anne, 1695
Route 1 Sherbrooke -- Lion's Hall, #7996 Highway 7

Tuesday, Nov. 15 Shelburne -- Osprey Arts Centre, 107 Water St. Baddeck -- Alexander Graham Bell Museum, 559 Chebucto St. Truro -- Glengarry Inn, 150 Willow St.

Wednesday, Nov. 16 Pubnico -- West Pubnico Fire Hall, #897, Route 335 Amherst -- Lion's Club, 9 Electric St. Port Hawkesbury -- Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, 606 Reeves St.

Thursday, Nov. 17 Yarmouth -- Yarmouth County Museum, 22 Collins St. Parrsboro -- Parrsboro Fire Hall, 235 Willow St.

Tuesday, Nov. 22 Dartmouth -- Black Cultural Centre, 1149 Main St. Lunenburg -- Fire Hall, 25 Medway St. Antigonish -- St. Ninian's Place, 120 St. Ninian St.

Wednesday, Nov. 23 Liverpool -- Legion Branch 38, 64 Henry Hensey Dr. Halifax -- Holiday Inn, 1980 Robie St. Canso -- The Lion's Den, 98 Queen St.

Thursday, Nov. 24 Stellarton -- Museum of Industry, 147 North Foord St.

For more information on the public meetings contact Voluntary Planning at 902-424-8648, toll free at 1-866-858-5850 or visit the website at www.gov.ns.ca/vp . Meeting dates and locations will be advertised in local papers.

Voluntary Planning is an arm's length board of the government of Nova Scotia mandated to engage Nova Scotians on the important policy issues for our future.