Victoria County Water Utility Covid-19 Update

The Victoria County Water Utility recognizes that access to a clean, safe water supply is very important to ensure personal health and maintain hygiene, and for the sanitation of health care facilities, businesses and households.• We are taking actions to protect the public, our employees while continuing to provide essential services to our customers during the pandemic.

•  The Utility will be prioritizing services to ensure environmental and regulatory compliance is maintained for all supplies.
• New service installations and requests for water services to be turned on/off may be delayed and precautionary measures will be implemented for these services.
• To protect the public and our employees, public interactions will be limited for the duration of the COVID-19 response. Our response to non-essential inquiries may be delayed.

To help our customers, we are making the following temporary adjustments:

• We will be suspending disconnections for non-payment of service until July 31, 2020.
• Customers can choose to defer payment of their bills until July 31, 2020 (Please note: deferring payment will only put that payment off to a later date. To avoid a larger bill in the near future, make arrangements with us to pay something each month).
• Customers currently on pre-authorized payment plans, can request that automatic payments be suspended. They can return to the plan after July 31, 2020. Please call our office at 902-295-3669 to arrange. Interest will start accruing on August 1, 2020 on any amount that is in arrears as of August 1, 2020.

Customers experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 situation are asked please contact the Victoria County Water Utilities billing office at 902-295-3669 to discuss payment arrangements.

Mental Health Resources April 8 2020

Mental Health Resources

The following are resources provided by the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

Online Resources from Nova Scotia Health Authority

ICAN, a 12 week program focusing on anxiety. This program is now open to Nova Scotian’s to self-refer and is delivered by Strongest Families, a NS based organization. The program combines telephone based coaching and self-directed work. Information about ICAN and the link to self-refer can be found here: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus-home/coronavirus-covid-19-resources

Mindwell U is a free online challenge that takes just 5 minutes a day, and can be accessed anytime, anywhere and on any device. The Challenges teach basics in mindfulness to lower stress and increase resilience. The Challenge also teaches “mindfulness-in-action” so people don’t need to stop what they are doing to become calmer, present and more focused. Info on the program and sign up can be found here: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus-home/coronavirus-covid-19-resources

TAO (Therapy Assistance Online) TAO Self-Help is a free and private online resource that is available to all adults in Nova Scotia. It includes interactive activities and videos for people experiencing challenges with mental health or substance use. People have the option to choose topics to explore and go at their own pace.

NSHA social media pages have lots of information too:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthPromotionMHA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HealthProMHA
*NEW* Online Peer Support Groups - happening this week! Connect with your peers, with similar lived experience, in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment facilitated by our experienced Peer Supporters. https://www.facebook.com/PeerSupportNS/

STOP signs

STOP SIGNS for RESIDENTS HOMES

The Municipality of the County of Victoria is providing residents with STOP signs for their homes.

They can be found in grocery stores around the county.

Copies that you can print at home are available here: Resident Stop Signs

World Health Day

Balance

A few words from Warden Bruce Morrison

March 31, 2020
A few words from Warden Bruce Morrison:

On behalf of myself and Victoria County councillors, I would like to thank each and everyone of you.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has clearly changed the way we live our lives. Everyone, including the municipality, is figuring out how to make our world work in this new reality.
One thing is very clear: Victoria County residents and businesses are abiding by the public health protocols and making every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus.We see it in the quietness of our communities and respect for social distancing in our public facilities.

This must continue; for our friends, our neighbours and for the future of our businesses. We need, now more than ever, to continue to follow the provincial rules. We are all in this together.
      • Stay home. When you can get out for some fresh air, maintain physical distancing by maintaining a six-foot distance (the length of a hockey stick) between you and other people.
      • When you get outside, stay in your own neighbourhood. Most trails are closed and the RCMP are monitoring these sites for those who are not following the provincial rules. Again, maintain a six-foot distance with other people.
      • If you see someone who you believe is not self isolating, treat them with kindness. Perhaps they need help and are unsure where to turn. Offer to help find them the help they need. Direct them to the resources. There are ways to help from a distance.
      • Get your information from reliable sources:
Federal Government: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
Provincial Government: www.novascotia.ca/coronavirus
Victoria County: www.victoriacounty.com/covid-19/

Council commends Victoria County medical professionals, our doctors and nurses; our front-line grocery store workers and pharmacies staff, our janitorial and cleaning crews and others deemed essential by the province. These people are putting themselves at risk so that we can live in health.
Finally, thanks to our own municipal staff– from on-site Public Works staff and garbage collections crews to water utility operators and administration personnel, all are working hard to keep the municipality running in these extraordinary circumstances.

Sincerely,
Warden Bruce Morrison & Victoria County Councillors