(NB-SPCA-Fund)
New Brunswick’s S-P-C-A says it is launching an urgent fundraiser to replenish its nearly empty Happy Tails Fund, which gives essential veterinary care to pet owners with financial hardship.
The organization says there has been an overwhelming demand in recent months, which emptied the fund.
Lesley Rogers, executive director of the organization, says families are facing hard choices between putting food on the table and getting medical care for their pets.
She says the fund helps avoid such decisions, and she is asking people to donate.
(The Canadian Press)
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(Atl-Measles-Children)
Three of four Atlantic provinces have released data revealing measles vaccination rates in children are below levels recommended to prevent the spread of the disease.
In Nova Scotia about 23 per cent of children were not fully vaccinated for measles in 2024, while P-E-I and New Brunswick say about 10 per cent of children were not fully vaccinated.
Newfoundland and Labrador did not respond to requests for information on vaccination rates for measles.
Janna Shapiro – a post-doctoral fellow in immunology at the University of Toronto – says communities need to vaccinate at least 95 per cent of their population to achieve a level of herd immunity, which stops the measles from spreading.
(The Canadian Press)
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(NS-Universities-Broke)
Nova Scotia’s universities are planning cuts, program reviews and tuition increases to grapple with budget shortfalls over the coming year.
The economic issues come amid a major drop in international student enrolment and a government-mandated tuition freeze for some students.
Dalhousie University is predicting a 20.6-million-dollar deficit, Cape Breton University is planning a 6.8-million-dollar deficit.
Acadia University and Saint Mary’s University are both expecting a 2.8 million-dollar deficit.
(CBC News)
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(Atl-Highrise-Firefighting)
As housing construction continues to ramp up across Canada and highrise towers pop up in Atlantic Canada, firefighters say they are worried about their ability to protect taller structures.
The Atlantic provinces Professional Firefighters Association has sounded the alarm, saying crews in Eastern Canada don’t have the resources needed to handle emergencies above the seventh floor of a structure.
Association president Glenn Miller says highrise structures present challenges because they don’t have enough staff to fight the flames or tall enough ladder-trucks to reach higher.
(CTV Atlantic)
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(NB-Garden-Poetry-Library)
The Fredericton Botanic Garden is opening a little free poetry library.
The “take a book, leave a book” library project is led by the city’s fourth poet laureate, Fawn Parker.
Parker says the project will give the community a free way to connect with poetry.
(The Canadian Press)
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