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Jessica Laing

About Jessica Laing

Jessica Laing is a news reporter for Acadia Broadcasting who graduated from the journalism program at Humber College (now known as Humber Polytechnic). She is based in the Port Hawkesbury area of Nova Scotia and is an award-winning photographer. Contact Jessica at LaingJ@radioabl.ca.

Posts by Jessica Laing:

Square Roots photo

A new vendor market may start in Port Hawkesbury

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A local produce provider is getting crafty to continue supplying nutritionally healthy food to Port Hawkesbury and the surrounding community.

Square Roots Port Hawkesbury is requesting to use the Civic Centre in-kind on a Wednesday each month to hold a Community Market including artisans and other vendors instead of their Saturday sale on their own.

This solution is their preference rather than raising prices or relying on donations going forward.

One of the Community Managers, Michele Tabensky tells us why they want to have a larger vendor presence after funding for leftover produce was cut earlier this year which caused markets in the Quad Counties to pause for a couple months.

“We have to absorb the cost of anything that’s not sold. So that plays a factor on our bottom line, because we’re not-for-profit, so when we start losing in sales, then it makes it really hard to continue,” she shared.

She explains how the Town will benefit from the market that could start as early as June.

“It will help with increased foot traffic on during the quieter seasons at the Civic Centre. It’ll help not only Square Roots provide nutritionally healthy food to the community, but it will also help vendors within the community get their wares for sale, so help income for their households. It’ll bring some community spirit to the town, as well.”

She’s hopeful by having other vendors selling with them that will raise their visitors and sales to everyone in the community.

Her and the other Community Manager, Yvonne MacDonald emphasize that Square Roots is for everyone to benefit from, regardless of your income or location because everyone deserves fresh and healthy produce.

They say the more they sell, the more they can help local groups and people in need with food security by giving away the leftovers.

Together, they started Square Roots in Port Hawkesbury in March 2025.

People can preorder 10-pound bags of mixed produce for $10 that include 2 pounds of carrots, a large onion, 4 apples, 4 oranges, and the remainder in potatoes.

They also take preorders for bulk items if anyone wants a large quantity of any given produce.

The Community Managers say the produce is grown locally in the valley or sourced by farmers when anything is not available depending on the season.

They announced at the council meeting that they have provided 25,000 pounds of produce to the Port Hawkesbury community since last year.

Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton is confident that the Town will be able to help as the request goes through the motions with council.

moose

Moose conservationists meet with developers of wind farm in Antigonish

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There’s a last-minute meeting happening Wednesday afternoon over a proposed wind farm project in Antigonish, just one day before it could get approval from the province.

The Moose Conservation Association of Nova Scotia (MCANS) has been desperately trying to stop the Eigg Mountain Wind Farm project over concerns of what it will do to the moose population and will now meet with the company behind it.

The group says Renewable Energy Systems (RES) wants to get a sense of how this project can work with them as well as other stakeholders. However, MCANS is holding firm on its stance that it’s in the worst possible place.

The MCANS which has been pushing to stop the project and went as far as to start a campaign urging the public to help.

The farm would have 22 turbines producing up to 154 megawatts of power to be completed in 2028.

The MCANS is concerned as the proposed location is in a heavily moose populated area full of wetlands and old forest growth areas.

Their treasurer, John Fillier wants to attend the meeting to find out how such an obviously poor location could have been chosen and who made that decision.

He questions if the decision was based purely on wind strengths in the area with little foresight or concern for its effects on resident moose.

church bell recovered

Church bell stolen from Antigonish County found destroyed

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Violation and betrayal are being felt by the Cape George community after their church bell was found smashed into pieces.

Community member Kate MacEachern made it her mission to find St. David’s United Church’s bell after retrieving Holy Rosary Church’s bell that was taken from Ballantyne’s Cove a year ago.

She shares with our newsroom both bells were stolen by the same thieves from the churches that are 1.7 km away from each other.

“It’s one thing to be so morally bankrupt to rob a church, a churchyard, sacred ground. But it’s something entirely different to take that [bell] into a barn with witnesses and smash it to smithereens,” she expressed.

“I have no idea how low a person can possibly ever be in their life to think that that is acceptable or funny or that they’re ever going to get away with it.”

MacEachern says she heard it was purposely broken down very fast to try to ensure that it was never recovered after her pursuit the other bell last year.

According to her, the thieves made a very good attempt to scrap it in different loads, but she had already contacted all the scrapyards in the area and received a big load of pieces from one metal scrapper, while some other pieces were handed to her directly.

She says it was awful to see the historical bell that was a gift to the church from St. Ninian’s School smashed into so many pieces.

“We did recover about 95% of it. We’ve started reconstruction basically just to see how much is actually still missing and presumably will probably never be seen again,” shared MacEachern.

She says the bell gave a sense of community and safety which is everything the area residents stand for.

The man who managed to fix the bell from Holy Rosary Church is doing some research to figure out the best plan moving forward and the trustees for St. David’s United Church are having a meeting this week to discuss which option or direction they’re going to go in, stated MacEachern.

She says a few people did get paid for sharing information, but the actual reward she posted was not given out.

brown moose on brown grass during daytime

Moose association needs urgent support to save habitat in Antigonish County

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The Moose Conservation Association of Nova Scotia (MCANS) is urgently trying to stop a proposed wind farm in Antigonish County that could be days away from getting the green light from the province. 

Environment Minister Tim Halman is reviewing an Environmental Assessment (EA), which if approved, would give the go ahead to the Eigg Mountain Wind Farm as early as Thursday.

The MCANS president Al Muir says it is detrimental to moose population and that they’ve launched their Harvey’s Last Hope Campaign to give a face of one of the moose that will be affected in the area.

“We’re trying to do is draw attention to Harvey’s plight up there and have people call the minister of the environment to be a voice for Harvey,” Muir explains.

The campaign was developed after the public comment submissions section on the EA was closed last week.

“We don’t know why this site was even considered because it’s probably one of the most sensitive areas in the province. The fingers of the protected area go right up through the middle of this project.”

The Eigg Mountain project would have 22 wind turbines to produce up to 154 megawatts of power near Connors Mountain Road and would not be the only one in the area.

Muir says there are five more, including:

  • Eigg Mountain which is being reviewed
  • Glen Dhu which is already up and running
  • Beaver Mountain which is in the tower erection stage
  • Sugar Maple which has entered the environmental assessment comments stage
  • Yellow Birch which is another proposed location

According to Muir, the cumulative effect of a large number of towers are having an even more profound effect on the moose in general.

Muir says Eigg Mountain is the largest pocket of remaining moose in the in the Pictou Antigonish Highlands and this proposed wind farm would be in wetland and old forest growth areas which would be disastrous for the moose.

“We understand the public’s appetite for green energy, but we cannot ignore the effect this project we’ll have on resident moose like Harvey in this incredibly sensitive area, so we just want the public to convey that message to the minister,” said Muir.

He’s encouraging you to write or call Minister Tim Halman with your concerns about the Eigg Mountain site before the decision is made on Thursday, April 9.

We reached out to the company behind the project for details on why they chose this location. 

Doctor with a stethoscope

New doctors in Guysborough County

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Physician recruiting momentum is building and efforts are paying off in Guysborough County.

Nova Scotia Health’s Physician Recruitment Consultant, Sarah-Marie O’Toole shares with us an internationally trained physician started in Sherbrooke in December, and they are hopeful for a new local one soon.

“We do have a North Nova family medicine resident graduating this spring. So, they’re heading into their exams in April, so wish them luck and they are hoping to return to their hometown of Guysborough to start practice by the summertime,” she says.

In addition to the physician candidate finding the right practice, she says their whole family including a partner, children, and pets need to find the right fit for them in Nova Scotia.

“We’re not taking our foot off the gas, so we continue put in effort to meet the healthcare needs of Nova Scotians and people in the Guysborough County area. We have a dedicated plan and a strategy for physician recruitment,” she expressed.

O’Toole tells us the Physician Assessment Centre of Excellence started last year where internationally trained physicians come to Halifax to be supervised and assessed.

She encourages you to follow their “More than Medicine+” accounts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, if want to be part of their success, see where there are new doctors, or know somebody who’s going to medical school.

firefighters' gear

Port Hood welcomes a new fire chief & thanks former volunteer

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The Port Hood Volunteer Fire Department is welcoming a new Fire Chief.

The new chief, Shaun MacDonald has been with the department for six years and was Deputy Chief for the last four years.

He says taking the position last week was a natural progression and he looks forward to helping out with community functions.

“Well, it’s a big void. Donald Beaton had 26 years in as a chief, and he’s going to remain as a firefighter,” commented MacDonald.

“I’m sure that’s a lot of knowledge there that’s leaving the position, but he will help me with anything that’s happening in the future and make it an easy transition.”

He adds Beaton was probably one of the longest serving chiefs he’s aware of and he did a great job giving his time and commitment.

Beaton assisted with fires and accidents for 26 years as chief and a total of 42 years as a firefighter with the department.

He says he’s staying on as a fireman, but it was a little hard to change positions.

“I’d like to thank you at the community and all the firemen for putting up with me for 26 years. I think I was very fair to them all and I did my best for them and the community, so I left them in good shape when I did step down,” stated Beaton.

He adds that the new Chief Shaun MacDonald is retired, so he has lots of free time needed for the volunteer role.

virtual urgent care - doctor virtually

Virtual Urgent Care can reduce wait time to see a doctor

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Nova Scotia Health officials are reminding you of a service that can speed up seeing a doctor for an illness or injury by hours.

Virtual Urgent Care has been available at hospitals for nearly two years and can support more people using it.

Director of Integrated Rural Health in Eastern Zone, Andrew Heighton explains you will still be seen in-person by a registration clerk who will help you through the whole process and a registered nurse.

“You will still receive an assessment if required. You can still get a prescription, you can still get x-ray, bloodwork, req’s, if it’s deemed necessary,” he says.

Patient, Chris Cooke being examined by Registered Nurse, Colin Graham while seeing Dr. Jan Sommers virtually. PHOTO: JESSICA LAING/ACADIA NEWS 

Guysborough Memorial Hospital Site Lead, Michelle Myers says the service is available to anyone over 12 months old with a valid NS health card.

“There’s a lot of stuff that we can do on site. It’s only the provider who’s virtual,” she shares.

Heighton says provincially only 1,000 to 1,200 patients a month use virtual urgent care, while Guysborough Memorial Hospital only gets about 10 to15 patients per month when they can support 10 to 15 per day.

Nova Scotia Health staff pose for a group photo at Guysborough Memorial Hospital. PHOTO: JESSICA LAING/ACADIA NEWS 

This service is available at various hospitals across Nova Scotia during scheduled daytime hours, even if their Emergency Department is closed or by calling 8-1-1.

For more information including hours and hospital locations that offer virtual urgent care, see their website.

Seven Communities Volunteer Fire Department

Man sentenced for Hadleyville firehall break-in

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The man who broke into a fire department in Hadleyville has been sentenced.

The Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service says Brent Chisholm pled guilty in Antigonish court yesterday.

They say he received a 90-day conditional sentence order and 12 months probation.

There were a slew of conditions including not take any alcohol and drugs or possess weapons.

He’s also been ordered to not be within 100 meters of the Seven Communities Fire Department.

Chisholm was also charged a restitution order for $1,054.

Project Cinderella

Become Cinderella by finding your prom dress for free

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Do you or someone you know have prom coming up, but cannot afford a dress?

Project Cinderella can help.

The organizer that is supplying prom dresses for free and they’ve had a lot of generous donors so far. 

Youth Support Worker Chelsea Sylliboy says there’s about 100 dresses in various sizes and colours to choose from in their dress drive for its second year.

They are holding an Open House on Monday, March 30th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Eskasoni Youth Access Building.

“Just seeing the need that there are girls in need of dresses. Some girls might not be able to afford them, especially in today’s economy, and I thought if you have the chance to do something positive, why not? There’s not enough kindness in the world today,” she expressed.

“It feels amazing just seeing the girls come in, try dresses on, and like the looks on their faces, the way they light up. It almost had me and my coworkers in tears. We were so happy for them.”

She has already matched 15 girls with their prom dress this year.

Sylliboy tells us there’s about 100 dresses in various sizes and colours to choose from.

“Just show up, try on as many dresses as you want, and if you find one you like, you can leave with it and wear it to prom and enjoy it. I hope everybody finds something that they like,” she explained.

Last year, she said the local high school principal made a social media post asking for donations for a couple of girls in need of a dress and she thought she could help and it started from there.

Dresses can also be dropped off or picked up at the Eskasoni Access Youth Space from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Moose in Velvet feeding in the wilderness

Wind farm would interfere with moose habitat and population

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Moose conservationists believe the proposed Eigg Mountain Wind Farm in Antigonish County is the worst possible place.

According to the website for the project it would be near Connors Mountain Road and is expected to have 22 turbines to generate up to 8 MW of power each, along with two to three towers. The company behind the project, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) has submitted for an environmental assessment (EA).

However, the president of the Moose Conservation Association of Nova Scotia objects to the EA. He told our newsroom wind turbines create flickering as well as light and noise issues that could drive moose to leave their ideal habitation, putting survival at risk.

“We’ve identified the area around Eigg Mountain as being the highest concentration of moose in this particular part of the province in those highland areas. So, it’s because you have the wetlands, because they’re so important to the moose. It’s vital that we protect this area,” he expressed.

Muir said wetlands and old growth forest areas need to be protected as they are primarily food sources for moose.

“From the Moose Conservation Association’s perspective, this particular area is so ultra sensitive to a project like this. Standing alone, it’s probably the worst place in the province to put one of these things,” he concluded.

He explained the government has a legislative requirement of a recovery plan for the mainland moose to sustain population, and if this development is allowed to go forward it will end the project.

RES is actively looking for public input on the design with a goal to have construction to start in 2027 and be operational in 2028.

“A lot of people welcome wind energy developments and we’re not anti-development. It’s just that a lot of these are being placed in areas at high elevations where there’s the only places where moose are left in the province, and this of all those areas,” he clarified.

Muir said the province should strongly consider adding Eigg Mountain to the wilderness area that already exists there.

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