School Support Staff Holding Strike Vote, Today

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Support staff with the Cape Breton Victoria Regional Centre for Education is holding a strike vote, today.

The move comes after the membership voted 52.7 per cent to reject the latest contract offer.

CUPE Local 5050 represents about 1,100 non-teaching staff at area schools.

They include janitors and bus drivers as well as maintenance workers, teacher assistants, secretaries and library clerks.

The union says the main outstanding issue is wages.

The workers have been without a contract since March 31st of 2015.

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Regional Councillors Scheduled To Discuss Portable Signs At Today’s Council Meeting

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Councillors will discuss recommendations from staff on dealing with portable signs at this afternoon’s general committee meeting of Regional Council.

Councillor Jim MacLeod has been leading the charge against what he calls the visual clutter created by the signs.

He says he plans to introduce a motion to accept the recommendations.

They include removing any portable signs illegally placed on municipal property within 30 days of a council motion.

The issue paper also talks about the possibility of permits or licences for new signs, inspections of new signs and enforcement and education.

This afternoon’s meeting starts at 1:30 at City Hall in Sydney.

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Case of North Sydney Woman’s Demolished Home Due Back In Court, Today

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The case of a North Sydney woman suing the Regional Municipality over the demolition of her home is due back in court, today.

During a court appearance in April, Sylvia Dolomont asked for an adjournment after she said she was going to represent herself.

Her Campbell Street home was demolished in October of 2017 after the municipality got a number of complaints about odours coming from the property and health concerns about rodents.

Dolomont admits the inside of the home was less than ideal and she’s a hoarder.

Meanwhile, municipal lawyer Demtri Kachafanas expressed concerns in court in April about the case dragging on.

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Paul McCartney Recognizes Eskasoni Teen’s Version of “Blackbird”

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

Beatles legend Paul McCartney has recognized a version of the group’s song “Blackbird” sung in Mi’kmaq by an Eskasoni teenager.

Grade 10 student Emma Stevens’ rendition went viral about a month ago.

Stevens travelled to Africa last week where she performed the Mi’kmaq honour song at the United Nations-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.

She also spoke about the Red Dress movement that’s meant to bring attention to missing and murdered indigenous women.

 Meanwhile, McCartney commented on Stevens’ version of Blackbird during a recent performance.

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Update on Emergency Dept. Closures

Written by Bobby Nock. Posted in Local News

The provincial Health Authority says some doctors have come forward to cover shifts at the Glace Bay Hospital’s Emergency Department next month, but the Emergency Department will still be closed for much of June.  

Earlier today, the health authority said a closure was scheduled from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning, with another closure starting Tuesday afternoon and continuing for the rest of the month.

It now says the Glace Bay Emergency Department will be open for day shifts on Monday, Tuesday and Friday of next week, as well as on Wednesday, June 26^th.

The day shift runs from 7 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.

The health authority says a lack of doctor coverage is the reason for next month’s closures.

An update on the schedule for July will be provided later in June.

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