Good afternoon and what a gorgeous day at the Park!  We are blessed to enjoy our forts and their military history overlooking Halifax Harbour.

Since the release of our Petition ~3 weeks ago we have received over 1,120 signatures, 15,000 views and over 70 supportive comments.  We have received only one non-supportive comment.  Our support has come from not only Nova Scotia but from coast to coast in Canada, throughout the United States and internationally from the UK, Italy, Australia, Germany, South Africa, and New Zealand!  If you take a few minutes to scan the comments, or “Reasons for Signing,” you will see how passionate many Haligonians are to supporting history in Halifax.  We have also had excellent support on social media while our Chair has had live interviews in studios plus with CTV Atlantic and CBC at the Battery!

Regardless of HRM’s RFP, many of you have asked us to continue our pursuit of the Petition’s three Point Pleasant requests.  Hoping to discuss those petition points, our Chair agreed to meet with HRM Parks staff, MP Fillmore and Parks Canada staff two weeks ago at the Battery.  The meeting has begun dialogue with both Federal and Municipal staff as this will be a long term discussion which HMHPS will continue to lead for public input.  HMHPS is optimistic that both levels of government will move forward to end thirty years of studies, reports and neglect of our shoreline forts as noted in hundreds of past HRM Archives documents. 

As our Petition continues receiving support, we are pleased to announce these upcoming Point Pleasant Park events that may interest you, our supporters;

1.   The HRM Point Pleasant Park Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet online on May 4th.  You may wish to view its website, its new members and past meeting videos that led to the RFP.  We have been advised that all Park matters rest with this Committee and the local Councillor.  Please note HMHPS hopes to engage with the Committee and learn more about committee members and their qualifications in the absence of their online bios.  Whether this Committee of seven volunteers may decide the future of the historic Battery, with or without any public hearing or input, remains to be seen.

2.   Further to our petition campaign, please join HMHPS’ distinguished Honorary Director, Capt(N) Ret'd Tom Tulloch, MSM, CD, for a Jane’s Walk, https://fb.me/e/AUWuA7nv, on Sunday, May 7th, 2023 at 2:00 PM.  This is sure to be a thrilling adventure of tales of the park’s forts!  Tom served for thirty-seven years in the Royal Canadian Navy, retiring as a decorated Captain.

3.   A reminder that the 2023 public Battle of the Atlantic ceremony will be held on Sunday. May 7th at 1100 hours at the iconic Halifax Memorial, next to the Point Pleasant Battery.  Further details will follow.

Saving military history in Halifax, dating back to its founding in 1749, can be a daunting operation.  We have had assistance offers from many supporters to help our, and Halifax's, worthy cause.  Please contact us if you have any creative suggestions to help us convince governments that saving Halifax's history is a noble exercise and worthy investment, whether from public and/or private sector.

Thank you again for your support of Halifax’s military history and please pass on our Petition link, https://www.change.org/SavePointPleasantParkForts, for signing to whom possible.  Hope to see you at YOUR FORTs.