Priorities

Community Development

Cole Harbour is a great place to live and to raise a family!  It has a strong and supportive business community, fine schools and recreational facilities, and involved residents.  But in some ways, Cole Harbour has an identity problem.  Rapid growth, fragmented political boundaries and the lack of a ‘downtown’ have contributed to this situation. Many residents of HRM don’t really know where Cole Harbour is!

So, while all of the elements of a vibrant community are in place, Cole Harbour has yet to develop the strong sense of community that is vital for improving our pride of place and reaching the full potential of our community and its residents.  The way others view us is a reflection of the way we perceive ourselves.

While many blame municipal amalgamation for our problems, I believe that we need to work to build a strong community in Cole Harbour that works within a strong HRM.  It is incumbent on us as a community to ensure we are well represented to take advantage of the opportunities that a strong HRM can afford us, and to work together to achieve our objectives.

A great number of initiatives and resources already exist to make this a reality.  HRM has a Community Development Office staffed with community development specialists who are available to assist all areas of HRM, including Cole Harbour; the Cole Harbour Parks and Trails Association is working to further develop the Salt Marsh Trail and improve other  parks and trails in the area; the volunteer Board of Directors at Cole Harbour Place are entertaining ideas for providing a 3rd ice surface to support the demand for ice time; the Cole Harbour Harvest Festival Society is organizing the Cole Harbour Harvest Festival, a celebration of our community; efforts are underway to develop an auditorium in the area to support our arts and cultural groups and to provide space in the community to hold our own high school graduation ceremonies.

Transportation

Cole Harbour’s status as a desirable ‘bedroom community’ is dependent on fast and reliable transportation links to the downtown core of HRM, the Burnside Industrial Park, the Dartmouth Crossing development, and the airport.  As Cole Harbour grows, and as the Portland Street corridor further develops, these connections to our community are threatened.

The proposed extension of Mount Hope Avenue from Baker Drive to Caldwell Road, with appropriate controlled access to other communities along the way, is a key piece of infrastructure for our area.

At the same time, this is the perfect opportunity to incorporate a bike trail from Caldwell Road to the Mount Hope interchange and beyond to the Woodside Ferry Terminal.  This will open up alternative modes of transport to the downtown core for residents of District 4 and Districts 7, and 8.

Public transit remains the best option for many residents of District 4.  The introduction of the MetroLink service from the Portland Hills Transit Terminal to the downtown core was a great improvement in service.

Youth Initiatives

For 20 years, I have volunteered in the community of Cole Harbour working with youth in youth groups such as Scouts and Guides, church groups, and in the schools. With this involvement, and as a mother of three children, I have enjoyed meeting some very amazing youth who I believe have a lot to offer our community.  I am often in awe of their talents and accomplishments all the while dealing with the many challenges they face in life.