ARICHAT - Community development on Isle Madame, a new era for COVID-19 rules and several items from Richmond Municipal Council's recent Committee of the Whole meeting dominate the proceedings for this week's edition of TELILE 24/7. 

Up first at 1:36 is a recap of loosened restrictions announced a few days earlier by Premier Tim Houston and Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Robert Strang. Today (February 28) marks the end of proof-of-full-vaccination requirements of Nova Scotians attending such "non-essential discretionary activities" such as visits to restaurants and licensed establishments. March 7 will see the accelerated launch of Phase 2 for Nova Scotia's reopening strategy, which will result in several restrictions being eased or eliminated altogether, en route to the targeted dropping of all gathering-limit rules for the province by March 21.

Next, at 6:19, we'll hear from several Richmond municipal councillors about complaints regarding internet and cellular service in communities as diverse as Dundee, St. George's Channel and Grand River, along with Warden Amanda Mombourquette's proposal to approach the Cape Breton Partnership to set up a follow-up meeting with Bell Aliant concerning internet issues for county residents. 

This week's feature interview kicks off at 16:25 as TELILE 24/7 host Adam Cooke chats with the president of the Arichat Community Development Association, Rachelle Samson. Fresh off the group's annual general meeting, Samson has confirmed that her group is preparing an application to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) to secure funding for a major park and playground project the ACDA is developing near Ecole Beau-Port. Richmond County has already contributed $7,500 to these efforts, while a successful year of community fundraising through such means as a weekly Chase The Ace draw has generated a further $30,000.

Road maintenance and safety dominates the next portion of this episode, beginning at 32:37 with concerns raised by District One councillor Shawn Samson about vehicle traffic at the entrance-exit points of both Ecole Beau-Port and the Richmond Municipal Building itself, followed by a discussion at 38:29 about the condition of specific roads in Point Tupper and Evanston by Deputy Warden and District Three councillor Melanie Sampson, leading into a broader look at the county's application for provincial funding to improve secondary or "J-class" roads in different parts of the municipality. 

At 45:16, we wind down our municipal council coverage as Sampson and DIstrict Two councillor Michael Diggdon make a pitch for the canteen area at the Richmond Arena to be considered for a new temporary home for the Louisdale Food Bank, to buy the organization time as it attempts to find a permanent base.