Rural high speed internet service assured

Some people in North Queens are already on broadband with EastLink, part of a trial run at wireless broadband using the basic infrastructure set up by TDC Broadband, now out of business. So far, it only covers those customers who were previously with TDC.

Paula Sibley, communications specialist with EastLink, told me customers in the Caledonia area on the trial will continue to receive the service free, until the company completes processes for service and billing. People not on the trial and anxious to sign up have been waiting for the trial period to end and regular service to begin, so that they can get on board too.

She said she appreciates the fact that others in the area are excited about obtaining high speed service. She said EastLink is working on plans to build up the network here and in the other counties in light of the new contract from the province, and that launch of those services will begin by spring. She said people should watch the EastLink website for information on times.

When Premier Rodney MacDonald made the announcement in Lunenburg County last week, he said that providing broadband to Nova Scotians regardless of where they lived would improve the lifestyles of everyone. There are more than 200,000 in the province without the service.

The initiative will cost over $74-million, with the provincial government providing $20-million, the federal government $15-million and the companies themselves $40-million. Angus MacIsaac, minister for economic development, said access to high-speed internet would help communities be more attractive to new business, skilled workers and young professionals, "who can raise their families in the comfort of rural communities with many of the same advantages as urban centres."

It was good to see this statement from MacIsaac. Urban people often cannot understand why people prefer to live in small towns and villages, and the broadband initiative will go a long way towards making rural life even more attractive.

One night last week, more than 150 people gathered at the Legion Hall in Caledonia to celebrate 10,000 hours of time donated by 235 people in the province to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, and to the natural world around it.

The occasion was the annual banquet staged by Kejimkujik and the Friends of Keji, the park's support group. The event featured speeches, awards and a great turkey buffet prepared by the Legion ladies. Among those speaking was Acadia University academic vice president Tom Herman, who spends a great deal of time at Kejimkujik doing research into Blanding's turtles, and who also guides a variety of young researchers as they begin their careers in science.

Dr. Herman spoke of the importance of volunteering and mentorship to the park, and passed out both gold and platinum category paving stones to those who put in large numbers of hours at Kejimkujik. The stones, with names engraved, are used to pave a Walk of Honour trail near the Visitor Centre.

Harry Delong, park superintendent, told those gathered that it was interesting to see such a wide variety of people from all over southwestern Nova Scotia at the event, from children to senior citizens. He read a message from the Parks Canada Executive Board in Ottawa, which said that the kind of volunteering done at Kejimkujik was key to the success of programs at the park.

He also read a message from Linda Frank, field unit superintendent for this region of Parks Canada, who thanked volunteers for their efforts at the protection and preservation of one of Canada's national treasures. Harry Delong noted that the 10,000 volunteer hours at the park were over twice as many hours as registered at any other national park in Canada.

Volunteers, who work throughout the year, are involved in such projects as piping plover guardianship, eastern ribbon snake protection, a project on rare Atlantic coastal plain flora, protection and propagation of the Blanding's turtle, plus studying and counting common loons and brook trout.

Volunteers are also involved as campground hosts and in rehabilitating the campgrounds. The campground hosts camp at the park for periods of time and are on call to welcome other campers, provide information and answer questions. People who want to be involved in any of the volunteer activities should contact the park or check the Friends of Keji website.

- Tom Sheppard can be reached at twsheppard@gmail.com