A DAY IN DARTMOUTH

Hello everyone!

Just providing you with an update! It’s been a little while (not too long).

As we live through the middle of winter (I know some of you are relaxing in the nice sun elsewhere – more power to you), there have been lots of developments lately in all of Halifax and HRM.

Firstly (not too long ago), Halifax’s Metro Transit bus drivers went on strike. So no bus service for everyone (including yours truly). It has been over two weeks with no agreement between the city and the Amalgamated Transit Union (who represents the drivers and other skilled workers in the bus garage). Currently, the issue isn’t about salaries for the bus drivers; it’s about scheduling the bus drivers. The drivers have had to pick their schedules (those with seniority in the organization). The city (Metro Transit administrators) wants control on assigning schedules and shifts to the drivers. One rumbling that occurred during the beginnings of the transit strike is that bus drivers last year worked overtime – each driver earned roughly $30,000. It seems the city wants to control the amount of overtime to control costs. At least it’s the sort of rumbling going through City Hall. Looks like it’s going to be a long strike – a no-win situation for everyone.

Secondly, there are events to commemorate the sinking of the ship, “Titanic.” This year marks the 100th anniversary of the tragic event. Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia have announced the various activities for the occasion. For more information on the commemoration, you can check it out here.

Last (but not least), I’ve been going through the vast amounts of video footage for the past month. It’s more like “cleaning up house” for me. I’ve managed to view some footages of Dartmouth. The excursion to Dartmouth was one day of exploring the community. As a result, I’ve edited the Dartmouth videos and produced a new episode. You can take a look here

Well, that is all for now. There will be more info on plenty more events throughout 2012.

Have a great one!

NEW EPISODE: THE ROTUNDA

Hello! I have made another episode of Halifax Landscape HD available for viewing. This video is the follow-up to Episode 33 (Hemlock Ravine Park).

The Rotunda (or The Music Room) is the only surviving structure of the Prince’s Lodge estate. It’s designed and built by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (Queen Victoria’s father). Prince Edward had a fascination with round buildings. St. George’s Round Church in Halifax is another example of his fondness with the round design. The Rotunda sits above the shoreline of the Bedford Basin. The environs gives us a glimpse of the Duke of Kent’s romantic side with his mistress, Julie St. Laurent during his stay in Halifax. The grounds of the Rotunda were used for outdoor musical performances organized by the Duke.

The Duke of Kent left Halifax around 1800. Prince’s Lodge fell into disrepair much later in the later 1800s. The railway tracks separated the Music Room from the rest of the Prince’s Lodge grounds.

The Rotunda stands to this day and is maintained by the City of Halifax.

BREAK & PARK

It’s still “the dead of winter” (the end of January). I’m sipping my cup of tea to pass the time. Yesterday’s rainy weather melted the snow in Halifax. The snow is almost gone (for the moment). There’s still some remnants of the white stuff with dirt and other crud. There’s still a couple more months of winter. Later this week, more snow is scheduled to arrive.

Everyone told me when I came to Halifax that I had better get used to the Maritime weather (rain falling sideways et al). To be honest, I’m still not used to the weather here after almost 6 years. Being used to growing up in around the Toronto area, weather had been the last thing on my mind when I moved here. Well like I mentioned above, a couple more months left for winter.

Amidst the winter blues, I know a lot of you out there are looking forward to the coming warm weather. I have been going through my vast collection of videos I recorded. Videos show luscious greenery; blue sky and the warm sun. People walk and run about enjoying the warm spring air or the hot summer conditions. Dogs happily running on the grassy fields. Plus the smell of grass or the ocean air.

One place I recorded with my trusty camcorder is Hemlock Ravine Park. It’s a great park to take along a picnic lunch and hike the various trails. Interestingly enough, this park is once the summer retreat where Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent (Queen Victoria’s father) spent away from the city with his then-mistress Julie St. Laurent.

Halifax was during the late 1700s a strong garrison port. It was too hot during the summer for the Duke of Kent and his mistress. So they would ride towards Bedford and enter their summer retreat called, “Prince’s Lodge.” Prince’s Lodge was owned by Sir John Wentworth (former Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia). Wentworth allowed the Duke of Kent to use his property as a getaway (he couldn’t say “no”). Prince Edward modified Wentworth’s cottage house and added some more buildings (like stables and the Rotunda on the shore of the Bedford Basin).

After the Duke’s departure from Halifax during the early 1800s, Sir John Wentworth got back his property and lived there during the remainder of this life. The buildings eventually fell into disrepair and demolish except for the Rotunda.

The Rotunda still stands in its original spot. You can take a good look at it whenever you’re driving along the Bedford Highway. This and Hemlock Ravine Park are the legacies of Prince’s Lodge.

Hemlock Ravine Park is the newest episode. It’s available here for your viewing pleasure.

That’s all for now. Sunny skies ahead!

‘Til we meet again!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I would like to take the time to say, “Happy New Year” to you all. 2011 had been a year of challenges. It’s also a year of new beginnings on my end.

I’m looking forward to 2012 with lots of challenges; a lot of stuff to learn.

Have a great time! I’ll look forward to seeing you all in 2012.

Thank you.

THE OVAL RINK REDUX

Hi everyone! Here in Halifax, there have been some concerns that the region wouldn’t be receiving a White Christmas. During the past few weeks, the city had received nothing but mild weather during the late Fall/early Winter season. As the ground felt soft, the snow wouldn’t last long towards X-mas. However, that sentiment has changed.

Just yesterday morning, Halifax received about 10-15 centimetres of snow. Not only is this perfect going into the holidays, it’s an appropriate backdrop for a scheduled event held at Halifax Common.

Yesterday, the city of Halifax unveiled a permanent skating rink – The Emera Oval. It is rebuilt with the equipment and amenities needed to be a permanent skating destination. Originally, the Oval was constructed as a venue for last year’s Canada Winter Games – speed skating events. It was initially a temporary place for the duration of the Games. The general public used the facilities during the winter season. Everyone really enjoyed skating there (see Episode 24)

A group called, “Save The Oval” wanted the city of Halifax to designate the Oval as a permanent skating rink for the general public. Recently, Emera Inc. (the parent company of Nova Scotia Power) and Molson-Coors donated $900,000 to designate the Oval as a permanent site at the north area of Halifax Common. More donations were given to the Oval by Skate Canada.

Friday Dec. 23 marked the unveiling and the grand opening of the new Emera Oval skating rink at the Molson-Coors Plaza. At the opening festivities, Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly, Joachim Stroink of Save The Oval, Chris Huskilson (President and CEO of Emera Inc.), Brian Harriman (VP Atlantic, Molson-Coors Co. Ltd.) and Jane Macmillan (World Figure Skating Association, 1990) kicked off the event with the grand opening. With fresh snow on the ground, the new permanent Oval is truly a gift to the people of Halifax to enjoy. It’s indeed a White Christmas after all.

My gift for the holidays to you is a new episode of yesterday’s grand unveiling of the Emera Oval. It’s now available to watch here in case you have missed the festivities.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

Thank you.

GRANVILLE MALL

Granville Street in Halifax of the Victorian era was a part of the active financial district. It was lined with various shops which was very close to the market area near the harbour.

The northern stretch of the street was one of particular interest. Called Granville Mall, it’s a pedestrian-only shopping area. The historic facades of buildings of the Victorian period are beautifully preserved. They retain stories of the Granville Street that was once part of the height of a dominant Maritime port of British North America. Before these buildings, the original wooden structures have burned down during the Granville Street Fire of 1859.

Granville Mall now features various bars, restaurants, clothing stores and galleries. Located close to the harbour, it is one of downtown Halifax’s a top tourist spot.

You can view the video here.

Enjoy.

LEBANESE FEST

With winter fast approaching (yes, we had a big snowstorm last Wednesday (Nov. 23rd)), sometimes it’s good to yearn for the good summer weather to take our minds off the snow. It’s also good to look back and reflect during the summer months of 2011.

Part of the annual summer tradition in Halifax is the Lebanese Festival. Halifax’s Lebanese community hosts a big celebration filled with dancing, music, food and fun. The party is a taste of the vibrant Lebanese culture at its finest here in Nova Scotia. The event is held at the Olympic Community Centre in Central Halifax. The community centre is also the church hall for St. Antonio’s Antiochal Church.

What’s more? A new video is available at the Episodes page. You can watch it here.

Enjoy!

P.S.: By the way, my apartment used to be close to the Olympic Community Centre. I could always smell the wonderful Shawarma, Beef and Chicken Kefta. Yum!

I’M BACK!

Hello everyone!

I suppose you have been wondering about my long absence from the day-to-day activities of this podcast.

Well, my life have been very busy since the last time I have announced the previous episode to this podcast (Episode 29: Greek Fest). I have never imagined that it would be busy during the middle of the summer of 2011.

For starters, my day-job in the animation scene in Halifax had been nothing but serious work. It occupied a lot of my time; working during the evenings and weekends. While I cannot say much about the duties I have been working on (I’ve signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement – very standard in my line of work), the projects would potentially lead to more steady work; more potential growth to Nova Scotia’s animation industry.

The other important development is the purchase of a house. My girlfriend and I made the move from an apartment to our very own home in the Halifax peninsula area. It’s an exciting time for us. Plus, it’s also very hectic. We had to get everything sorted out in terms of the paperwork, etc. We moved into our house back in August. I can’t believe that I have made the jump to become a new homeowner. It’s definitely a new chapter in my life!

Amidst all of the craziness in my life, I’ve received an encouraging comment on the Halifax Landscape HD YouTube channel. One commenter had been enjoying the podcast so much and cannot take my absence any longer! This person’s comment have given me more motivation to look back at the video footage I recorded this past year/previous years and produce more episodes.

So there you have it! That’s the story of my life so far in 2011!

One thing I have reflected about Halifax Landscape HD is that it’s been 2 years since I started this podcast.

TWO YEARS!

My, how time flies…

So, I’ll be releasing a new episode this week. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

HAPPY AUGUST LONG WEEKEND

Hello. At this time, it’s the August long weekend. I acknowledge that in different provinces there are different designations for the August long weekend (please forgive me for not being familiar with each and every one of them). Here in Halifax, it’s called, “Natal Day” – a celebration of the two communities of Halifax and Dartmouth. In Ontario, it’s called, “Simcoe Day.” I would like to extend to everyone around the country a happy and safe long weekend!

By the way, some of you have been wondering about new podcast videos. Well, I do apologize to everyone for not updating as often these day. I have been doing some filming around Halifax. I have been really busy this summer. I have been putting extra long hours at work – helping to produce kids shows for CBC Kids. As well, I recently bought a house. I’m in the process of packing everything for the big move.

After the move, I will post new podcast videos. I do have some new stuff to share with you. I hope you all understand that moving from an apartment to a house is the biggest change I have experienced.

Once again, I hope you all have a great weekend!

HAPPY JULY 4TH

I would like to take this time to say, “Happy July 4th” to our American neighbours. This holiday is the occasion when the Thirteen Colonies declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776 – outlined in the Declaration of Independence. The United States have been especially helpful to the city of Halifax during the Halifax Explosion in 1917. Every year, Nova Scotia sends a Christmas tree to Boston – symbolic gesture to never forget their generosity during the Explosion.

Cheers!