Royal Tour: Prince Charles & Wife Camilla Arrive In Halifax

They rolled out the red carpet as Prince Charles and his wife Camilla touched down in Nova Scotia. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrived in Halifax shortly after 6:30pm last night for the start of a four day visit to Canada. Public events will take place throughout Monday in Halifax. An official "Welcome" ceremony will be held in the city to start the day. Prince Charles will also plant a tree in Halifax Public Gardens. It will be rooted right next to a tree planted by his grandfather in 1939. That's when King George VI planted a tree to mark the Royal families first visit to Canada. Later in the day, Prince Charles and Camilla will be presented with three coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint commemorating the 75th anniversary of the first visit by the Royal family to Canada. They will spend a portion of the day in Pictou County then move on to Prince Edward Island and finish their tour in Manitoba on Wednesday.(Photo: Justice Minister Peter MacKay, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and Premier Stephen McNeil await arrival of members of the Royal family).

Here's CKBW/HANK FM's Steve MacArthur on the arrival on Prince Charles and Camilla

Award Created For Best Wines

The best in Nova Scotia wines will be recognized by the lieutenant governor's office. Wineries are being encourage to submit their very best wines to be considered for a new award. The award is called the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Nova Scotia Wines. An independent panel of experts will select three to five wines as the best in the province. The winner will be picked through a blind selection. Winning wines will be announced in July and recognized at Government House in a special ceremony.

No Injuries After Major Fire At Milford Lodge

There has been a major fire in Annapolis County which has completely destroyed the historic Milford House Lodge. Roughly 75 firefighters responded early this morning. More than 20 cabins near the lodge had been rented out for the long weekend but there are no reported injuries. There had been a fire at Milford Lodge back in 2000 but it was then rebuilt.

Committee Appointed To Develop Dementia Strategy

Several health professionals and a family caregiver are among a large committee tasked with developing Nova Scotia's first strategy for people with dementia. The province has appointed 17 members to be part of the group. The executive director of the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia, Lloyd Brown and Ruby Knowles, executive director of Continuing Care at the Department of Health and Wellness are the committee co-chairs. The dementia strategy initiative was first announced in January. It aims to improve access to services, provide support for caregivers, and ensure people affected by dementia can remain independent for as long as possible. The strategy will be delivered to the minister next spring.

Royal Tour: Prince Charles Makes First Halifax Stop In 30 years

It will mark his first visit to Halifax since 1983. Steve MacArthur is covering the Royal Tour.

The following streets near Grand Parade will be closed from 7 a.m. until noon, Monday, May 19:

-- Barrington and Argyle, between Duke and Prince streets

-- Carmichael, from Grafton to Argyle streets

-- George, from Granville to Barrington streets.

Itinerary for event at Grand Parade:

The official party and The Prince of Wales will give remarks, then the couple will lay a wreath at the cenotaph and sign guest books before a walkabout. This will be the only time His Royal Highness will give remarks during his stay in the province.

The Royal Couple will tour the Halifax and Region Military Family Resource Centre, which will be open to military families only. They will meet with groups that provide support to military families, participate in a Victoria Day Military Family Festival, watch a youth ball hockey game, and take part in a coin presentation and plaque unveiling.

Tour of Public Gardens:

The Prince of Wales will tour the Public Gardens at 12:30 p.m., where he will learn about the history of the gardens and its role in the city, and the restoration of the Jubilee Fountain. He will attend a bandstand concert, and meet members of the Dahlia Society and other groups. His Royal Highness will plant a tree beside an oak tree planted by His Royal Highness's grandfather King George VI in 1939. A set of coins honouring the 75th anniversary of the 1939 Royal Tour will be presented to His Royal Highness by the Royal Canadian Mint.

Tour of Northbrook Community Centre:

The Duchess of Cornwall will tour Northbrook Community Centre at 12:35 p.m., where she will have a private meeting with a family who has benefited from Alice Housing programs and tour the centre. Her Royal Highness will proceed outside to a community barbecue and do a walkabout during Family Fun Day celebrations.

Tour of Halifax Seaport Farmers Market:

A visit to the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 will be the last stop of the day in Halifax. The Prince of Wales will tour the market at 1:15 p.m. and will meet with vendors, a youth farmer and young entrepreneurs. He will be joined by the Duchess of Cornwall for performances by local musical artists, and meet with urban farming groups, including Hope Blooms, before proceeding to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 to join in a tea with war brides and Second World War veterans.

Shelburne: ER Closures At Roseway Hospital

Some local residents could be forced to go to a different hospital over the Victoria Day long weekend. The emergency department at Roseway Hospital in Shelburne will be closed beginning at 7pm on Saturday. Emergency services will be available beginning at 8am Sunday morning. Meanwhile, a doctor will be available on Monday. The closure was caused by unexpected unavailability of a physician. Shelburne area residents requiring emergency services should visit the nearest open emergency department or collaborative health centre. The public is reminded to dial 911 in the case of a health emergency or 811 to speak to a registered nurse.

Kentville: Woman In Serious Condition After Violent Assault

A 50 year old man has been arrested following a pair of violent assaults in the Annapolis Valley. Police say a 41 year old woman has serious injuries after she was badly beat inside her home in Kentville. She needed to be transferred to hospital in Halifax for treatment. A 41 year old man - also at the home - suffered injuries but they were less serious. The incident happened around 10pm on Friday night. Mounties say charges will be laid in the near future.

N.B. Woman Killed In Water Mishap

A 66 year-old New Brunswick woman is dead after an incident on the water last night. The woman was using an inflatable dinghy in Marshville, Nova Scotia. Police say she got caught in the current and changing tides which began carrying her out into the Northumberland Strait. Fire crews, paramedics and the Canadian Coast Guard were each called in to help but by the time they located the woman she was unconscious. The woman - believed to be from Moncton - was later pronounced dead at a hospital in New Glasgow. Police in Pictou County are not releasing her name or any other details. They are trying to make sure the family has been notified.

Canadian Mint Remembers First Royal Visit

The Canadian Mint is out with three collector coins celebrating the first Royal visit to Canada in 1939. That's when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth began a 29 day visit across Canada. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the reigning monarchs first steps on Canadian soil. Mint spokesperson Alex Reeves says the stars aligned for the mint when they rolled out the coins just before another Royal visit.



The Princes and Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have stops planned in Nova Scotia, PEI and Manitoba over the next few days. They arrive in Halifax on Sunday evening.

Police: Don't Leave Pets In Vehicles In Warm Weather

Tis the season to not leave your pets unattended in vehicles. RCMP are asking motorists to leave their pets at home or at a neighbours house if they're travelling on a hot day. Sgt. Al LeBlanc says it doesn't take long before tragedy can strike.




Police encourage people to call them with a license plate number and vehicle description if they see a pet unattended in a vehicle.

Yamouth Ferry Completes Maiden Voyage

The NovaStar ferry has docked in Yarmouth following a successful maiden voyage from the United States. Passengers on the NovaStar were greeted in the town with music along with residents and town officials. The NovaStar left Portland last night and arrived at 8am this morning in Yarmouth. Mayor Pam Mood says it is something she will never forget. She called it a significant moment for the province. The new 161 metre ferry is expected to make daily round trips until November 22.

Lunenburg Fisheries Museum Of The Atlantic Re-Opens

A heritage hotspot in Lunenburg is set to re-open just in time for the long weekend. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic will open its doors Saturday after it was closed for several months while workers replaced the building's foundation with new concrete. The province's Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage made the announcement. Minister Tony Ince says it's an essential piece of Lunenburg's proud maritime heritage. The majority of exhibit space will be open as well as the restaurant and gift shop. The In-Shore Fisheries section will be closed while workers put the interior back together. However, there is expected to be minimal disruption for visitors. Over the next few weeks, some of the larger exhibits and boats will be put back into the museum. The museum will have about 6,000 square feet of additional exhibit space when work is completed later this summer.

New Stamps Celebrate UNESCO Heritage Sites

Canada Post is revealing five stamps celebrating our country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They will feature two Nova Scotia sites - including Old Town Lunenburg, the Grand Pre landscape. Others sites to be recognized in a new stamp include Rideau Canal in Ontario, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump in Alberta and SGang Gway in BC. The stamps will be available in books of six. There are 17 World Heritage Sites in Canada. The site are considered by the World Heritage Committee to be of outstanding cultural or natural important.

Cole Harbour: Teen Stabbed Near High School

An 18 year old man is recovering after a stabbing at a high school in Cole Harbour. Police say it happened during an altercation at Auburn Drive High School yesterday afternoon. The teenager was stabbed in the leg and has minor injuries. A 17 year-old left the area before polce arrived. Police say they haven't been able to locate the man believed to be from East Preston. However, they say the two teenagers know each other.

Baseball: Bulldogs Gear Up For Selects Tournament

Some of the top under-15 baseball players are coming to Bridgewater next weekend. They're in town for Baseball Nova Scotia's selects tournament. Six teams will compete including the host Bridgewater Bulldogs, Halifax Braves, Tri-County Rangers, Dartmouth Arrows, Woodlawn Wildcats and Hammonds Plains A's. Games begin next Friday night, with the championship game held at 3pm on May 25th.

New Business Network Picks Up Support

Another South Shore municipal unit will join a new group striving to support small and local businesses. The Municipality of Shulburne will join the Regional Enterprise Network 2. The network also consists of the Region of Queens. The province is hoping to see six REN's formed in Nova Scotia. It's in response to the dissolution of Regional Development Authorities. The REN will consist of a business person from each municipal unit along with an elected official. All members will provide equal annual funding to support the network.

Weekend: 7 Provincial Parks Set To Open

It's the unofficial kick off to the camping season - and seven provincial parks are set to open for visitors. Some of the parks that will open beginning today, include Graves Island and Rissers Beach in Lunenburg County. Upgrades at Graves Island will give campers more water and electricity serviced sites and a new main office. Thomas Raddal in Queens County, Porters Lake in Halifax and Ellenwood Lake in Yarmouth County are each set to open as well. The remaining parks will welcome guests in June. Campers should remember dogs need to be on a leash and alcohol is not allowed in any park before June 2.

Bridgewater: Council Size To Be Reviewed

The public can soon have their say on the size of Bridgewater town council. Currently, there are six councillors and a mayor. However, a mandatory review is required this year by the province. The study is done every eight years by all Nova Scotia municipalities on the number of councillors in their area. The town will begin engaging the community in June and July with information presented through its newsletter, website and public meetings. Mayor David Walker says he's optimistic people will state their thoughts.



The last review completed by the town was in 2006. A decision needs to be made to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board by December 31.

Chester: Sewer Rates Moving To Next Step

Chester will move ahead to a public hearing to get more input on sewer rates. The municipality agreed on an equivalent dwelling unit system that will see all users pay a basic rate of $522.89, with rates increasing based on usage. It was a unanimous decision by council members. Warden Allen Webber feels it's a fair way of doing things.



Five of the six existing sewer systems in the municipality are running a deficit. Webber says with this option, they will have to pay down the debt in a different way. A public meeting to discuss sewer rates will be held on June 4th at 7pm at Forest Heights Community School.

New Webcam Launches In Liverpool

Liverpool can now be seen by anyone across the world. A webcam has been installed at the Visitor Information Centre and went live on Wednesday. The webcam is one of several located in the Liverpool area and around the South Shore on Tancook Island, Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. Region of Queens Councillor Brian Fralic came up with the idea. He says it's a good opportunity for people to see what's happening in Liverpool.



The webcam points towards the Mersey River and Privateer Park. The Region of Queens approved the webcam in this year's budget for just over $3,000, and also pays a monthly operational fee. People can view the webcam here .