This year, Heritage Day celebrates Elder Rita Bernard Joe.

Elder Rita Bernard Joe was a highly respected Mi’kmaq poet and author, and was appointed as the Poet Laureate of the Mi’kmaq Nation in 2005. She was born in 1932 on the Sipekne’katik First Nation, formerly known as Indian Brook, in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Joe began writing poetry in her 40s, drawing inspiration from her Mi’kmaq heritage and her experiences as a residential school survivor. Her poetry is known for its deeply personal and reflective nature, and explores themes of identity, loss, and cultural heritage.

Over the course of her career, Joe published several books of poetry, including “I Lost My Talk,” which was inspired by her experiences at the residential school. The title poem of the book is one of her most well-known works, and has been widely celebrated for its powerful message of resilience and cultural pride.

In addition to her work as a poet and author, Joe was a dedicated community activist and advocate for Indigenous rights. She worked to preserve the Mi’kmaq language and culture, and was involved in the development of educational resources for Indigenous communities.

Joe passed away in 2007, leaving behind a powerful legacy as a poet, author, and advocate for Indigenous rights. She continues to be celebrated as a significant voice in Indigenous literature and culture, and her work continues to inspire and educate readers around the world.

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Groceries

Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Costco and Walmart are closed. Gateway Meat Market in Dartmouth will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Booze

NSLC: Closed, but agency stores will be open.

Garrison Brewing: The downtown Halifax location will be open from noon to 7 p.m., while the Quinpool Road location will be open from noon to 11 p.m.

Propeller Brewing: The Halifax and Dartmouth locations will be open from noon to 8 p.m.

Nine Locks Brewing: Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Moosehead Cold Beer Store: Open from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Private liquor stores are all open.

From HRM:

Solid Waste Collection and Facility Hours

There will be no garbage, organics or recyclables collection services on Monday, February 20.

Curbside collection normally scheduled for Monday, February 20 will instead occur on the preceding Saturday, February 18. Residents are reminded that collection services can begin as early as 7 a.m. To guarantee collection, residents are asked to place materials curbside prior to 7 a.m. on collection day.

The Otter Lake Waste Management Facility and Materials Recovery Facility will be closed on Monday, February 20, but will be open during regular hours on Saturday, February 18.

The Household Special Waste Depot in Bayers Lake will be closed on Saturday, February 18, but will be open on Saturday, February 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sign up for weekly reminders and service alerts, or print a calendar customized for your address here.

Halifax Transit Bus and Ferry Services

Halifax Transit buses will be operating on holiday service schedules on Monday, February 20. Detailed holiday service schedules for conventional buses can be found here.

The Alderney ferry will be operating on holiday service schedules on Monday, February 20. There will be no Woodside ferry service on Monday, February 20. See the holiday service schedule for Alderney Ferryhere.

For the most up-to-date information on service disruptions, residents can visit halifax.ca or follow @hfxtransitalert on Twitter.

Parking

On-street paid parking will be free on Monday, February 20. Motorists are reminded to abide by other posted signage, including no stopping, accessible parking spaces and no parking zones.

Recreation Facilities, Programs and Services:

Many recreation facilities will be closed on Monday, February 20. Residents are advised to call ahead to their respective facility for operating hours and program information. Contact information for municipally operated facilities can be found online.

The Emera Oval will be closed beginning Saturday, February 18, and is tentatively scheduled to re-open on Sunday, February 26. This closure is to facilitate long-track speed skating events, which the municipality is hosting as part of the Prince Edward Island 2023 Canada Winter Games.

During this time, long-track speedskaters will be coming to the Emera Oval to compete, while athletes in other disciplines are competing in Prince Edward Island. Residents are invited to attend speed skating events and cheer on athletes from across Canada.

Customer Contact Centres

In-person Contact Centres will be closed on Monday, February 20, and will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, February 21.

The 311 Contact Centre will be operating on regular hours on Monday, February 20, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Residents may contact 311 by phone, or by emailing contactus@311.halifax.ca. For more information on Customer Contact Centres, click here. 

Other Events

Residents are encouraged to take part in events throughout the municipality celebrating Nova Scotia Heritage Day:

• Attend the Nova Scotia Heritage Day flag raising and proclamation reading on Friday, February 17, beginning at 9 a.m. at Grand Parade. Enjoy hand drumming by Muin Paul and a reading by local poet Killa Atencio.
  
• Visit the Province of Nova Scotia online for a complete list of Nova Scotia Heritage Day celebrations and online resources.
  
• View the Halifax Public Library’s curated online collection of stories and poems by Rita Joe.