On today's Tantramar Report:
Affordable rental housing is an issue throughout the province with widespread reports of low vacancy rates leading to higher rent. David Gordon Koch takes a look at the situation in Sackville, and speaks with Douglas Murray, a resident on the hunt for affordable housing, and ACORN NB spokesperson Peter Jongeneelen about the situation province-wide.
Also: We’ll listen in on a discussion about the impending forced amalgamation of Sackville and Dorchester at town council, as one resident asks councillors, “what can be done?”
Plus, CHMA’s daily news and information briefs:
Drew Nursing Home outbreak
Nine residents at the Drew Nursing Home have recently tested positive for COVID-19, according to Linda Shannon, executive director of the facility. Some of those residents are fully recovered, she said on Tuesday in an email. Shannon said there have also been 13 positive cases among staff members, and all but two of them are now back to work. There have been no deaths associated with the latest cases, she said. A spokesperson for the Department of Health didn’t respond to queries from CHMA about the situation at the Drew Nursing Home.
Mount Allison’s active case count down to 6
Mount Allison has six active cases of COVID-19 in its community according to results of rapid tests self-reported to the school. One person is living in residence, and the other five people are students, staff or faculty who live off-campus. Since last week, an additional 9 new cases have been self-reported to the school, for a total of 92 cases since January 3rd. That number also includes cases from individuals who are not presently on campus or in Sackville.
Council to consider approval of $92,500 in grants
Sackville town council will be asked to approve $92,500 in community grants at their meeting next week. Community, arts, and sports groups applied for nearly $120,000 in grants, a number that has dropped for the past two years running. The grants range in size from $500–for the Sackville Golf Club’s junior program, to $8500 in operations funding for Sackville Minor Hockey.
Climate Change week events today and tomorrow
It’s Climate Change week in the Tantramar Region, and EOS Eco Energy is presenting a series of talks and workshops all week to celebrate. Today at noon, EOS director Amanda Marlin is hosting a virtual tour of community-based natural infrastructure projects in the Tantramar Region such as rain gardens, green roofs, and food forests. Tomorrow night at 7pm, Sackville’s climate change coordinator gives an overview of Sackville’s various climate and sustainability plans. Registration is online at the EOS Eco Energy website.