Menu

Natalie Chiasson

About Natalie Chiasson

Natalie Chiasson is a multimedia journalist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She graduated from the Radio/Television/Journalism program at NSCC, and is passionate about community, culture, and storytelling. Contact her anytime at ChiassonN@radioabl.ca.

Posts by Natalie Chiasson:

Rose Window 3

Digby community needs public votes to save the Trinity Anglican Church’s historic stained glass window

, , , , ,

A 150-year-old church in Digby, Nova Scotia is at risk of losing one of its most historically significant features, and advocates are now asking for the public’s help to save it.

The Trinity Anglican Church was named a top 12 finalist in Canada’s Next Great Save competition. Advocate Greg Turner says they’re hoping to restore the church, which he describes as “a rare piece of Atlantic Canada’s architectural history.”

“The church is a National Historic Site,” Turner explains. “It was built in 1878, and it’s a cornerstone of Digby’s heritage and identity, and this Rose Window is a really prominent feature in the church on the South Wall. It’s one of the most spectacular stained glass pieces in Trinity, and it’s now in danger.”

According to Turner, an engineer’s report indicates a loss of integrity around the window and inside plaster coming away. Turner says it’s stabilized but needs repairs soon. He notes the Rose Window—also known as the Children’s Window—is key to protecting the south wall and entire structure.

“It’s one of the first things you see when you drive in, and when you go inside it becomes illuminated as the sun shines through it and it really highlights the stained glass features of the church,” Turner says. “It’s essential for worship and celebrations, concerts, civic events.”

He wants to ensure the symbolic artwork continues serving Digby for generations, noting “it’s pretty important for the church itself and for the community.”

Competition sponsor Ecclesiastical Insurance is funding the $50,000 grand prize and reinforcing its commitment to protecting Canada’s historic places. Second- and third-place winners receive $10,000 and $5,000.

Turner says the church was “built by the community back in 1878. The Gothic Revival Architecture style is by Stephen Earle, and there are not too many buildings in Atlantic Canada that follow that architectural design. Public voting opened yesterday and runs until April 24th, so hopefully we can make our way to the top.”

Canadians can vote once per day at nextgreatsave.ca. Turner also invites the public to an open house on Saturday, April 18th to see the architecture firsthand.

KINGS FELLOW PROTEST

Call for change at King’s ahead of possible strike

At the University of King’s College, faculty fellows and students rallied over working conditions in the Foundation Year Program (FYP).

Faculty Fellows—a small group of eight on-campus union members who handle about 70% of teaching and marking—say they face low wages and short, non-renewable contracts of about three years. While they form close bonds with first-year students, frequent turnover brings new instructors every few years.

One Faculty Fellow, Veronica Curran, says their union is now in the final phase of conciliation talks on Tuesday after months of negotiations.

A rally led by students was held in solidarity, concerned about losing tutors mid-term. First-year Alexandra Rose says the fellows make university “life-changing” despite rising costs.

Rose says, “I came all the way from Ontario to Kings, like people come from all over the country. And they come because these people are experts at what they do, and they’re the only ones who dedicate their time to doing this program where you move through all of history. And it’s expensive to do university and it’s getting harder and harder, but the teachers actually make it worth it.”

Rally organizer Mia Colle pointed to disruptions like delayed feedback when tutors leave. Curran added: “These are often the teaching staff who make the closest bonds with first-year students who often are cited as the reason students want to study at King’s, they’re not given permanent positions.”

Curran said fellows earn the lowest pay among full-time faculty in Atlantic Canada and are seeking contract renewals, fair wages, and capped class sizes. She recalled a student speech:

“Just to give you an example. One student said that during the student strike while they were not attending classes they were keeping up with their readings and they realized in that moment that the foundation year program is not about the texts, but it is the fellows, the teachers. It would not be foundation year program without fellows. And it was very touching to hear that because we we really pour our hearts and souls into this job, and we love the students as well.”

Students and fellows say the rally is key to protecting the program’s close-knit structure, but if an agreement isn’t made, the strike could happen as soon as Wednesday.

PXL_20260406_153121432.PORTRAIT

Easter with Souls Harbour: 3 new locations, 600 eggs, and thousands of meals

, , , , , , ,

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission is celebrating Easter with three new locations across Nova Scotia, as Dartmouth, Yarmouth, and New Waterford host their first Easter meals for those in need, helping thousands feel supported during one of the organization’s busiest weekends of the year.

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission Easter meal April 6, 2026. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

In Dartmouth, staff say they expect to see about 50 people a day. Guests find their seats, receive raffle tickets, and are served either plated or buffet‑style depending on location.

“If you don’t have a place to go have a big family dinner, you come and have your big dinner with us,” says Chief Program Officer Marni Yuke.

The “SoulsMobile”; Souls Harbour Rescue Mission mobile unit. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

The Souls Harbour’s Mobile Mission team, along with CARE’s team, are bringing Easter into encampments. Yuke says teams dyed about 600 eggs at their downtown location for Easter weekend, calling them “protein power Easter eggs.”

Yuke says, “I think it just brings a smile to their face. We pass out hard‑boiled eggs and food and things all the time, but this is just a unique way to bring a different smile to them and brighten their day in a fun, loving way.”

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission Easter eggs April 6, 2026. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

According to organizers, Souls Harbour currently serves about 12,000 to 15,000 meals a month across Nova Scotia, with many guests relying on daily meals and demand rising as food costs climb.

“We are watching our food bills go up, you know, substantially,” says Yuke. The organization is stretching every dollar by buying in bulk, planning simpler menus, and relying on donations of food, clothing, and funds. However, Yuke says inflation isn’t stopping Souls Harbour from providing the best quality possible.

“We’re trying to make our portion sizes a little bit bigger because we know people aren’t eating as much potentially at home,” she explains. “We’re trying to be very intentional about what we’re buying and then buying in big bulk quantities … so that we can make the food go further even though the cost of food is going up.”

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission Easter meal April 6, 2026. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

Souls Harbour also cuts waste by serving flexible, buffet‑style meals and using staff knowledge of guest preferences.

Yuke says that staff and volunteers know their guests very well, so if they know who’s coming in they can plan ahead. “The volunteers and the staff know so‑and‑so’s here, they’re not having any potatoes, and so we know not to put potatoes on their plate because we don’t want to waste where someone else can eat it.”

She adds that at every location, guests can take home extras such as bread from donations.

“Cobs is a big supporter of us so we pick up bread donations every night and we spread them among the locations,” Yuke explains, “so that if they come and eat a meal with us, but they also can take some bread home or other food items, it’s not just one meal—it’s usually a meal and something to go just to get through till the next day.”

Black Bear

Limpy the Bear to be relocated from Hammonds Plains to Shubenacadie

, , , , ,

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says wildlife staff plan to move a well-known bear in Hammonds Plains to a new home in Shubenacadie

Limpy the Bear, a familiar presence in the community for nearly 15 years, will undergo a medical assessment and be cared for in his new home.

DNR says a live trap was set earlier this week in the White Hills area, however as of Saturday, the bear has not been captured.

Officials say the move will be made out of caution after a growing number of sightings and interactions with residents raised concerns, despite the bear showing no signs of aggression.

A Regional Biologist with DNR, Shavonne Meyer, says, “the idea of removing the bear at this stage is to have it be a much more controlled situation than what could be a crisis situation later.”

She adds, “the bear has not actually done anything overtly aggressive, but the continued reports and interactions in the community have kind of reached a threshold risk of too close for comfort to allow.”

The relocation is intended to reduce risk and ensure the safety of both residents and the bear as he transitions to a more controlled environment.

PSD Becks

IPV-related incident leads to firearms arrest in Eastern Passage

, , , , , ,

An 18-year-old man has been charged with multiple firearms offences following what officers say was a “fast-moving intimate partner violence-related situation” in Eastern Passage.

Police responded to a report of a masked man outside a restaurant on Cow Bay Road at around 8:40 p.m. on March 31. It was later determined that he was known to an employee.

The HRP Canine Unit located the man, who was wearing gloves and appeared to be hiding a weapon in his pants. During the investigation, officers found a loaded rifle, ammunition, and a prohibited magazine, which were seized.

When the man attempted to escape, police dogs caught him, and he was arrested with assistance from RCMP officers.

A search warrant was later executed at a residence on Romkey Drive, where officers seized a loaded handgun with a prohibited magazine, two long guns, ammunition, two RCMP patches, and body armour.

RCMP Sgt. Mark MacPherson said, “Given the weapons involved, this incident had the potential to be much more serious, and the teamwork on scene played a critical role in preventing harm.”

In addition to 15 firearms-related offences, the man is also charged with possession of body armour without a valid permit and possession of police shoulder patches. He also faces charges related to incidents in December and January involving the same victim.

The man remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on April 23.

Screenshot 2026-03-18 at 9.32.22 AM

N.S. issues RFP for removal of abandoned railcars near the Walton River

, , , , , ,

The province wants to remove four concrete-filled railcars left near the mouth of the Walton River after a string of failed tidal energy projects in the Bay of Fundy, and is now looking for qualified contractors to take on the job.

According to the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), the 42’ x 9’ x 15’ railcars now pose a navigational hazard and are an eyesore to locals. Their team is overseeing the safe, environmentally responsible removal of the obstructions along with any remaining debris.

In a letter to Acadia News, FORCE Executive Director Lindsay Bennett says Occurrent Power, formerly Big Moon Power, was the latest company attempting to harness the Bay of Fundy’s tides. They planned to use the railcars as gravity bases to anchor a paddlewheel-style tidal device to the seabed.

Bennett says the railcars were originally intended for deployment at the FORCE test site in Minas Passage, where tidal technology is demonstrated and monitored. Occurrent abandoned its project after encountering debris from an earlier failed tidal venture by a previous operator.

Transport Canada ordered Occurrent to remove materials from the bay, but the company filed for insolvency in 2024, leaving railcars and hazardous debris behind. The project, announced in June 2023 to explore Bay of Fundy tidal energy, collapsed after the company faced about 1,300 tonnes of turbine debris from a previous bankruptcy.

The province is now seeking qualified contractors with marine salvage or heavy civil experience to submit proposals by April 17 at 5 p.m. ADT. The selected contractor will remove the roughly 300-tonne railcars and clear all remaining debris.

Future development of the Bay of Fundy

Bennett says tidal stream energy “remains an active and growing renewable sector—both in Canada and globally.”

In November, Nova Scotia approved two new tidal energy projects at the FORCE site, giving contracts to Eauclaire Tidal and Orbital Marine Power. Together, they can generate up to 16.5 megawatts using as many as six floating turbines.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada approved both projects under the Fisheries Act. They’re the first to follow Canada’s new “staged approach,” a step-by-step system developed with Natural Resources Canada to protect the environment while giving investors more certainty.

The approach allows projects to begin with one device and expand in phases based on monitoring under the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act.

Each developer may install up to three turbines in Minas Passage, and Bennett says Seach 2.4-megawatt unit can power about 2,000 homes.

PXL_20260401_141550666.PORTRAIT.ORIGINAL~2

Expansion at Bedford healthcare facility aims to reduce strain on ERs

, ,

A healthcare facility in Bedford is expanding its care capacity with 110 new beds for those who don’t need acute care but still require support.

The expansion at West Bedford Transitional Health helps bridge the gap from hospital to home for those aged 18 and older, easing pressure on busy emergency departments.

Premier Tim Houston toured the new wing Wednesday alongside healthcare workers and partners. He says the facility has saved more than 27,000 acute care bed days since opening in December 2024, freeing up hospital space for patients who need it most.

Premier Tim Houston greeting patients at West Bedford Transitional Health. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

“It’s not just the only one [transitional health centre] in Atlantic Canada, it’s the only one in Canada. And the rest of the country is looking at what we’re doing here to help people transition back to home in a safe, efficient way,” says Houston.

The expansion is operated by Shannex, a Canadian company that provides a range of care options for seniors. The company says this new phase will expand both capacity and the types of patients served.

President of Shannex, Jason Shannon. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

President of Shannex, Jason Shannon says during the first phase, “we had patients come from over 14 different tertiary care centers around the province from every different department you can imagine in the health system.”

Multipurpose rehabilitation room and apartment suite at West Bedford Transitional Health. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON

The facility has served hundreds since opening and now includes a total of 178 suites with private bathrooms, rehabilitation gyms and smaller therapy spaces, transition-to-home apartments, shared living areas, outdoor rehab activities, and classrooms for community programming.

Patients work to regain independence with support from the Nova Scotia Health Community Outreach team.

Premier Tim Houston with Dr. Christy Bussey speaking about new wing at West Bedford Transitional Health. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

The site can now accept some patients directly from the community who are assessed once admitted.

Dr. Christy Bussey says phase 2 will bring, “patients that have never been at West Bedford before, which is the patient population we’re really excited for.”

CHEESE RECALL

HelloFresh meal kits recalled in Canada over Listeria concerns

, , , , , ,

Some HelloFresh meal kits have been recalled due to possible Listeria contamination in several cheese products.

Affected products include shredded parmesan, cheese curds, feta, goat cheese, and mozzarella.

According to the Government of Canada, food contaminated with Listeria may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause illness. Symptoms may include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of additional products. The agency says it is also verifying that affected items are being removed from the marketplace.

The recall was initiated by HelloFresh, and no illnesses have been reported in connection with the affected products so far.

North York man charged in Dryden drug bust

North York man charged in Dryden drug bust

, , , ,

A 35-year-old man from North York has been charged with possession of illicit drugs for the purpose of trafficking following a traffic stop in Dryden.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), with assistance from several other law enforcement teams, made the arrest on the afternoon of March 24.

After the traffic stop on Van Horne Avenue, officers executed a search warrant at a residence on First Street, where they seized suspected illicit drugs, including cocaine, along with cash and additional evidence of drug trafficking.

The man faces multiple charges and is being held in custody as he awaits a scheduled court appearance before the Ontario Court of Justice on March 27.

clear drinking glass with brown liquid

Agropur issues recall of select milk products produced in Bedford

, , , ,

One of North America’s leading dairy suppliers, Agropur, has issued a voluntary recall of various milk products manufactured in Bedford, Nova Scotia, after a consumer reported finding a glass-like material in certain products.

The recall mainly affects 2-litre cartons of Farmers brand milk, as well as Québon chocolate milk and Natrel lactose-free chocolate milk with best-before dates between March 24 and April 28.

The company says it has notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and that the situation is under control. It adds that it is working closely with the CFIA on next steps in accordance with existing protocols.

In a statement on its website, Agropur is asking customers to hold on to any affected products for pickup, and says a credit will be issued.

An internal investigation will determine whether additional measures are needed.

Load More