Special Air Quality Statement issued for most of N.S.
There is a Special Air Quality Statement in effect for Pictou County and most of Nova Scotia. Environment Canada says that from this afternoon into Wednesday, smoke from distant forest fires may cause a reduction to air quality. Smoke from forest fires in western Canada is expected to spread over Nova Scotia this afternoon. While most of the smoke will remain aloft, some may descend to near ground level causing reduced air quality. The resulting haze will likely give the sun a reddish appearance.
Party leaders work to drum up support ahead of the upcoming Nova Scotia election
On the campaign trail, the Liberals say they will spend $69 million over four years to assist the Nova Scotia Community College in training more skilled workers. NDP Leader Gary Burrill campaigned in the Sydney area yesterday where he highlighted his party’s commitment to bolster health care in Cape Breton. The Progressive Conservatives say all Nova Scotians will have access to publicly-funded universal mental health care if they are elected August 17th. Tory Leader Tim Houston says his party will create a separate department dedicated to mental health and addictions.
Election Workers needed in Pictou East
Pictou East is looking to hire 59 workers Election Workers PLUS 22 spares for the Provincial Election on August 17th. There are a number of openings for those 16+ and 18+ depending on the position. All workers must attend paid training which will take place during the week of August 9th. Workers must also be available on August 17th from 07:00 am until 11:00pm. Interested persons should email fred.jeffery@electionsns.ca
Mary Simon officially becomes Canada’s first Inuk Governor General
Ceremony attendees look on as Governor General Mary Simon speaks after she took the oath to become the 30th governor general of Canada in Ottawa on Monday, July 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Mary Simon has officially become Canada’s 30th Governor General, and the first Indigenous person to hold the role. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Simon, an Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat, as his choice to be the Queen’s representative in Canada earlier this month, replacing Julie Payette who resigned in January. Her choice came amid a national reckoning with the country’s historical mistreatment of Indigenous Peoples, including horrific findings of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools. Simon has a home in Caribou River with her husband, Whit Fraser. (With files from the Canadian Press)
One new Covid-19 case reported in N.S.
On Monday, Nova Scotia reported one new case of COVID-19 and no recoveries. The new case is in Central Zone and is a close contact of a previously reported case. As of today, Nova Scotia has 13 active cases of COVID-19. There are currently no hospitalizations. In regards to the vaccine rollout — as of Sunday, over 1.2-million doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Nova Scotia, and with those, more than 559-thousand Nova Scotians have received their second dose.
Summer Olympics Update
Photo credit: Getty Images
***Update 10am***Weightlifter Maude Charron has won Canada’s second gold medal at the Tokyo Games. Charron, from Rimouski, Que., finished first in the women’s 64-kilogram competition.
***UPDATE 7am***Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard has won Canada’s second judo medal of the Tokyo Olympics with a bronze in the women’s under-63-kilogram competition.
Canada also defeated Mexico 3-2 to win the bronze medal in softball at the Tokyo Olympics. It’s the first medal for the Canadian team in the history of Olympic softball, which was dropped from the Games along with baseball in 2012 and 2016. Meanwhile, Canada’s Kylie Masse (Moss) has captured silver in the women’s 100-metre backstroke. Canada’s Olympic medal count is now two gold, three silver, and three bronze (8 total).
