Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier MLA Kendra Coombs recently sat down with journalist Jake Boudrot to discuss several pressing issues affecting local residents. The comprehensive interview addressed a range of topics including homelessness, energy poverty, the necessity of a child and youth advocate, the increase in newborns being referred to Unattached Newborn Clinics, and the provincial government's lack of progress towards making Nova Scotia fully accessible by 2030. Coombs also highlighted the prevalence of energy poverty, the need for protections and rent caps for tenants, and the significant number of people still on the Need a Family Practice Registry.

The family of Cody Duane MacDonald has set up a GoFundMe page and money has been offered by friends and family to get information about his disappearance.

MacDonald’s cousin Jody Scott started the GoFundMe effort in mid-May.

On the page, Scott said people have come forward to donate money and the family thought this would be the best way to help collect money to offer a reward to get information to help bring MacDonald home. If the reward is not claimed, Scott said that all funds donated will be used to support MacDonald’s family and his daughter.

Richmond County District RCMP received a report that MacDonald was last seen on Feb. 29 at around 2 p.m. in Grand Anseat a local gas station then he was at a home on Campbell Road.

Anyone with information on MacDonald’s whereabouts can contact St. Peter’s District RCMP or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers.

The provincial government is hoping diversion funding will provide support for Nova Scotians at risk of, or currently experiencing, homelessness.

In a press release issued earlier this month, the Department of Community Services announced additional funding to help people with overdue power bills, rental arrears, and other barriers to housing. This support will be provided to 14 community-based organizations including the YMCA of Cape Breton in Port Hawkesbury.

Community Services Minister Brendan McGuire said Nova Scotians are facing “real challenges” when it comes to affordability. According to the provincial government, providers will receive a total of $500,000 to be used for direct, one-time financial support with costs that create barriers to finding or maintaining housing. In addition to the one-time funding, people will be connected to other available supports and services such as housing support workers.

Among the students who attended the Provincial Heritage Fair on June 6 and 7 at Saint Mary’s University were Rayanna Wood and Ellie Cluett, Grade 5 students at Tamarac Education Centre, who did their project on “Highland Dancing.” Ruby Luciano, a Grade 5 Tamarac Education Centre student, talked about “Her Great Grandmother Hilda's Journey to Canada.” Luciano also won in the veteran category at the Strait Regional Heritage Fair which was held virtually on May 30.

All students received participation certificates and first and second place cash prizes at each grade level were awarded. In addition, awards were presented in the project categories of agriculture, aquaculture and fishery, cultural, literacy, immigration, veterans and Gaelic.

First and second-place winners included Grade 4 student Alivia Stevens of Tamarac Education Centre who delved into the “Halifax Explosion.” The Grade 5 winners were Rayanna Wood and Ellie Cluett.

In second place in the Grade 4 category were Gavin Kersten and Julian Gruszczynski of Tamarac Education Centre for their project, “Dairy Farming.”

The literacy award went to Grade 4 Tamarac Education Centre students Kennedy Harb and Bruno Dombroski for their project “Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto.”

Grade 11 Ecole Beau-Port students Alexis Samson and Clare Mombourquette are among the 2024 Conseil scolaire acadien provincial recipients of the Lieutenant Governor Medal.

They received the honour late last month from Isle Madame native and Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor Arthur J. LeBlanc during a ceremony in Halifax.

Ecole Beau-Port won the School Sport Nova Scotia Division 3 Boys Slo-Pitch championship on June 8 in the final game of the provincial tournament in Lockeport.