Media Releases

Three community groups in running for ‘A’ Fresh Start Community Initiative grant

Three community groups are in the running for one of the Town of Amherst’s new ‘A’ Fresh Start Community Initiative grants.

Representatives from the Amherst Area Heritage Trust, Amherst Valentine Run Committee and the Sexual Health Centre for Cumberland County are now preparing the 10-minute presentations they will pitch to the public and council during a meeting scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Community Credit Unit Business Innovation Centre.

The Trust, in co-operation with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Museum, is seeking $2,064 to host “Art and War,” an exhibit showcasing original Arthur Lismer lithographs of the First World War.

Lismer, an Order of Canada recipient, was a member of the Group of Seven.

The event will include guest speakers from the art world who will making presentations on the lithographs.

The Amherst Area Heritage Trust hopes the event, scheduled for Nov. 16, will also bring attention to efforts to save the historic Col. James Layton Ralston Armoury and the collection of artifacts held at the Highlanders Museum that would be lost should the armoury close.

The Amherst Valentine Run Committee is seeking $4,000 in order to introduce a one-kilometer event aimed exclusively at students in the grades 4-6 range to the sixth annual Amherst Valentine Run.

The event currently holds a four run/walks that include distances of three kilometres, five kilometres, 10 kilometres and 21.1 kilometres.

They believe adding the one kilometre run/walk will attract about 100 new runners/walkers to the event, all in the grades 4-6 age bracket. They also believe providing an event for this age bracket will present kids with the opportunity to learn about team building, proper stretching and nutrition as they train together.

The Sexual Health Centre for Cumberland County is seeking $3,000 in order to host a youth engagement forum that will interest and engage youth, facility broader awareness and encourage local action on sexual health and wellness issues.

The forum would invite a high-profile speaker who would talk on the theme of technology and sexual health.

The forum is needed because statistics collected by the centre continue to show poor sexual health outcomes for youth.

Those attending the Oct. 25 meeting who are 16 years and older have the opportunity to purchase a ballot for $2. The ballot will enable them to cast a vote on the order in which the grants should be awarded. Money raised by the purchase of the ballots will be donated back to the community.

The ranking determined by the vote will then be presented to the Amherst town council, whose members will immediately hold a special session to determine the final placing of the presentations. Council has the final say on the determination of the rankings and amounts given to grant recipients.