Article by Taste of Nova Scotia

http://www.tasteofnovascotia.com

Gaspereau, N.S. – For the first time ever, a Nova Scotia winery has been named one of Canada’s Top 25 Wineries.  Gaspereau Vineyards, located in the Gaspereau Valley, south of Wolfville, has recently learned about their placing.

“We are so proud of our winemaker, Gina Haverstock and the whole team at Gaspereau Vineyards. Placing 16^th out of the 25 top wineries in this country is a first, a wonderful tribute to some great winemaking and it’s a milestone for the Nova Scotia wine industry to be recognized amongst the more established and larger wineries across the country,” says Carl Sparkes, owner of Gaspereau Vineyards.

In addition to the Top 25 award, Gaspereau entered their first ever traditional method sparkling wine, the 2009 Pinot Noir Brut, only to have it become a Gold Medal Winner in the sparkling wine category.  “I am truly blown away by this win.  This is a national competition and we were up against wineries from Ontario and British Columbia, wineries who have been making this type of wine for years.   2009 was the first year  Gaspereau Vineyards made traditional method sparkling so to get a score of 91 and win a gold medal is really, very special.” says the Nova Scotia born, European-trained Haverstock. [Read more…]

David Boyd, leading environmental lawyer, launches new book, The Right to a Healthy Environment.

News from Nova Scotia’s Grassroots

Natascia Lypny

Building on his previous book, The Environmental Rights Revolution (2012), David Boyd describes how recognizing the constitutional right to a healthy environment could have a transformative impact, empowering citizens, holding governments and industry accountable, and improving Canada’s green record. David’s new book, The Right to a Healthy Environment, makes the case that constitutional recognition of environmental rights and responsibilities would both reflect and reinforce Canadian values, much as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms confirmed and enhanced our commitment to equality. Copies of The Right to a Healthy Environment, signed by the author, will be available for purchase. [Read more…]

Health & Wellness

This year the Department of Health and Wellness will give $146,000 in grants to seven projects. The recipients are:
–Clare Organization Representing Disabilities, Clare, Digby Co., $12,000
–Schizophrenia Society Nova Scotia, Dartmouth, $17,610
–Laing House, Halifax, $27,000
–Healthy Minds Co-operative, Halifax, $28,420
–Canadian Mental Health Association Halifax-Dartmouth Branch, $12,500
–Self-help Connection, Halifax, $32,470
–Evangeline Recreation Society, Kentville, $16,000

The funds are distributed to the groups through a community organization, and the groups often have access to the organization’s staff for support.

In addition to the consumer-led initiative grants, the province recently released its first-ever mental health and addictions strategy, Together We Can: The Plan to Improve Mental Health and Addictions Care for Nova Scotians.