Latest news with #Halifax
BBC News
an hour ago
- Business
- BBC News
Leek residents react to NatWest and Halifax bank closures
Shoppers and business owners have bemoaned the "terrible" loss of two high street banks and the impact it could have on their Halifax and NatWest branches in Leek, Staffordshire, closed on 4 June and Monday respectively with both firms citing the ongoing trend of customers moving to online banking Angela Golding, who works at the town's Delia Metcalfe store, the closures have had an effect on both the shop and its older customers."We like the cash because it stops the card machine fees. Older people like to give cash to their grandchildren. Everybody needs cash and we all use it," she said. "It's terrible to lose two banks, especially the NatWest, and it has a knock-on effect on everybody. It's such a shame to have that building go to rack and ruin."Stephen Lanza, who runs Mosaic Boutique in Sheep Market, said the bank closures were "shocking" to him, as his store preferred cash over credit or debit card transactions. "You know what you are spending when you use cash. What people don't realise is when you pay by card the retailer is not even getting the full amount," he Allan Clarke, 75, said he was "not very happy" about the closures, having been with NatWest since he was 16 years old."You used to be able to go and see a bank manager, now we can't even get in the building," he Furmston said there was a second NatWest branch in the town at one point and now there were none, adding: "It's just a shame." A Halifax spokesperson said more than 20 million customers now used its apps and had "more flexibility than ever for their day-to-day banking".It said users could also use telephone banking, visit a community banker or use any other Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland said banking had "changed dramatically" in recent years with rising demand for mobile and online firm said it took the decision to close branches "very seriously"."We'll always work hard to guide and support you through the changes and find the best way to serve you from now on," it added. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Missing Nova Scotia siblings' grandmother reveals family secrets as mom stays silent
Six weeks after the mysterious disappearance of two young children, their Nova Scotia grandmother believes that her 'babies are gone.' Lilly and Jack Sullivan vanished from their Lansdowne Station trailer home, located 88 miles from Halifax, on the morning of May 2, prompting an extensive search in the surrounding area, including the dense woods near their home. The siblings were last seen with family members in public on May 1, according to the National Post. Since the children went missing, authorities have received nearly 500 tips related to the case. Belynda Gray, their paternal grandmother, has since shared her heartbreak in an interview with CBC News, revealing secrets of her fraught relationship with the children's mother. Gray's son, Cody Sullivan, is the biological father of six-year-old Lilly and four-year-old Jack. Gray explained that Cody and the children's mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, had been in a relationship for about three years before the children's mother decided to end it, citing 'relationship problems.' She claims they were already in little to no contact and was unable to see them for two years after her son and ex daughter-in-law broke up. Now she fears she will never see six-year-old Lilly or four-year-old Jack again. 'My heart tells me these babies are gone,' she told CBC. 'I just want them back. These are everybody's grandchildren. They're not just mine now. It does seem like the whole world cares.' While the investigation continues, the children's mother has stopped speaking publicly, citing police advice not to no longer engage with the media. Following Brooks-Murray's estrangement from the children's biological father, she sought sole custody of the children. Her decision prompted Cody to withdraw from the situation entirely, Gray said. 'When she did that, he said that he was done. He just didn't want any part of it,' Gray told CBC, adding that Brooks-Murray had also confided in her that she 'wasn't happy.' Despite the strained relationship between the parents, the devoted grandmother maintained a strong bond with Brooks-Murray at first. She said the children would often visit her whenever she asked. However, that changed when Brooks-Murray moved in with her new boyfriend, Daniel Martell, who shares a young daughter with Brooks-Murray. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has conducted thorough searches of the home, surrounding grounds, outbuildings, septic systems, wells, mineshafts, and culverts, according to police. Gray and her son Cody have both been questioned by police, as part of a broader investigation that has formally interviewed 54 people, some of whom were subjected to polygraph tests. Martell, the children's stepfather, also underwent a polygraph test and spoke to CBC News about the ordeal. He revealed that police had directly asked him whether he was responsible for the children's deaths, adding that he felt 'extremely nervous.' Martell said he had volunteered to take the test and had even encouraged authorities to search his property early in the investigation. An officer later informed him that he passed the polygraph test, he told the Canadian news outlet. Martell also hinted that there was 'more evidence than what the public knows,' but said he was not allowed to provide further details. He also confirmed that Lilly's blanket had been found on the first day of the search, although this information had not yet been released by police. The blanket was reportedly discovered near a child-sized boot print in the pipeline area. Authorities remain dedicated to uncovering the truth behind Lilly and Jack's disappearance. Sandy Matharu, the lead investigator from the Northeast Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit, emphasized the careful and thorough approach being taken. 'We're accessing, evaluating, and analyzing a significant volume of information from a variety of sources. We have a very coordinated and deliberate approach to make certain all information is meticulously scrutinized, prioritized, and actioned to ensure nothing is missed,' Matharu said. 'We're committed to doing what is necessary to locate Lilly and Jack and advance the investigation, which may take longer than we all hoped.' Brooks-Murray and Martell believe the kids went out a sliding back door of the family's home while they fed their baby. Police are reportedly working on the assumption that the children, who are both autistic, wandered off, but their stepdad said he feared they may have been abducted. Brooks-Murray explained that she and Martell thought the children were playing, and they snuck away the short time the couple were occupied. 'We always make sure that we're out there with them, watching them, and they happen to just get out that sliding door, and we can't hear it when it opens,' she said. 'They were outside playing, but we weren't aware of it at the time, and the next thing we knew it was quiet. 'We get up and look outside. We're looking everywhere, yelling for them, and I instantly just called 911. I just had the instinct I needed to call.' Brooks-Murray said her children may have mild autism but were friendly, contrary to rumors online claiming they were non-verbal. 'They're both really happy-go-lucky children. They're so sweet. They talk to anyone. They'll talk your ear off. They will speak to anyone in a store, everyone. They're just extremely sweet kids,' she said. The distraught mother questioned why an Amber Alert wasn't issued, but police said there was no reason to believe they were abducted. Martell told CBC News that he was frightened the children were taken by a stranger. A reward of up to $150,000 (Canadian funds) is being offered by the Nova Scotia Department of Justice to anyone with information about the disappearance of Lilly and Jack.
CBC
9 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Imports and exports up at Port of Halifax last quarter: report
These are busy days at the Port of Halifax. Amid uncertainty around tariffs, first quarter exports are up 13 per cent, while imports are also up almost 24 per cent. Watch Tom Murphy's interview with Paul MacIssac of the Halifax Port Authority.
Globe and Mail
10 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Missing Nova Scotia children were assessed by child welfare agency months before disappearance
Nova Scotia's child protection agency investigated the living conditions of Jack and Lilly Sullivan months before their mysterious disappearance in early May – a case file that has been reviewed by the minister responsible for child welfare. Scott Armstrong, Nova Scotia's Minister of Opportunities and Social Development, confirmed in an interview that the agency had a file on the children prior to their disappearance, but said it would be inappropriate for him to discuss the agency's findings. With Jack and Lilly still missing and a police investigation underway, it's not the right time to dissect the agency's prior involvement, Mr. Armstrong said. 'We have no idea where those kids are and we should be focused on helping them and finding them and supporting this family,' he said. Asked whether a review has been ordered into his agency's prior interaction with the children, he said: 'As minister, I've seen a report. I'll talk to that. I've personally seen the report. I asked for it,' he said. 'I'm aware of how our department was involved in this.' He added: 'I think we should be focused more on those kids than we are on looking to blame somebody.' Mr. Armstrong said there may come a point when the agency's involvement with the children is deserving of more scrutiny, but now – seven weeks into their disappearance – is not it. Daniel Martell, who was in a common-law relationship with the children's mother and was living with them when they went missing, told The Globe in an interview in May that a social worker with child protective services visited the home several months ago. The visit was prompted by concerns that had been relayed by someone at the children's school and related to their developmental delays, Mr. Martell said. The children's mother, Malehya Brooks-Murray, said she had 'no comment' in relation to child protective services' involvement with Lilly and Jack. Mr. Martell has said he had nothing to do with the children's disappearance and has nothing to hide. 'I'm keeping the story alive and keeping everyone's hopes up, not just my own,' Mr. Martell told The Globe in May. He also said Ms. Brooks-Murray had no involvement in the disappearance either: 'I know Malehya has nothing to do with anything.' Child welfare authorities investigate when a report of suspected abuse or neglect is received by the agency. In Nova Scotia, every person has a legal obligation to report concerns of suspected abuse or neglect of a child. The law stipulates that teachers and other childcare workers have an added duty to report. The disappearance of Jack and Lilly has prompted one of the largest ground searches in the province's history. Ms. Brooks-Murray told police that Lilly, 6, and Jack, 4, wandered away from their home in Lansdowne on May 2 while she and Mr. Martell, her then common-law partner, were sleeping. Earlier that same morning, around 6:15 a.m., she reported both children would be absent from school, according to Mr. Martell. He told The Globe Lilly had a cough and Jack was kept home as a precaution. The RCMP's major crime division, involved since day two of the search, has since seized electronic devices from the children's home, conducted polygraph tests, analyzed hours of video footage from the road outside their residence, and searched septic systems and abandoned mineshafts in the area. So far, the children appear to have disappeared without a trace. The division, whose primary role is to investigate foul play and homicides, has repeatedly said there is no evidence the children were abducted. The day after the children were reported missing, Ms. Brooks-Murray left her home in Lansdowne. She cut off contact with Mr. Martell and later changed her Facebook status to single. Nova Scotia and Ontario are the only two provinces without a Child and Youth Advocate. Both provinces rely on provincial ombudsmen to impartially investigate complaints related to child welfare; however, those watchdogs are also responsible for reviewing many other agencies and departments. The role of a Child and Youth Advocate is dedicated to advocating for and protect the rights of children. The office may also review and investigate deaths or injuries of children receiving government services. More than a year ago, Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative government introduced legislation to create a dedicated office that would be an independent voice for the rights of children, but the initiative has not moved forward. Mr. Armstrong said he is 'personally committed' to creating such an office, and hopes to be able to share more details in the fall. The minister also said his department is taking steps to reduce the workload of child welfare staff, including improving recruitment efforts for new social workers and adding administrative roles to reduce paperwork done by front-line employees. On Thursday, the province announced a reward of up to $150,000 for anyone who comes forward with information about the missing children.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Nova Scotia creates more child-care spaces for Eastern Shore
A group of children are pictured playing outside. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia) The government of Nova Scotia will spend approximately $1.9 million to help create 72 new child-care spaces in the Lake Charlotte area of the Halifax Regional Municipality. 'It supports parents in the workforce, strengthens our communities and gives children the best possible start in life,' said Kent Smith, minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. 'That's why we're committed to expanding access to childcare options close to home.' The spaces will be at a new centre on Highway 7 that will be operated by the YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth, said a Thursday news release. This is the 12th project announced under the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's major infrastructure program. Funding is provided through the Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Nova Scotia signed a five-year extension to child-care agreements worth more than $1 billion, said the release. With more than 2,500 spaces in 41 communities, the president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth said they are the largest provider of licensed, non-profit childcare in the province. 'Opening a new YMCA child-care centre in Lake Charlotte is part of our commitment to supporting families close to home,' said Brian Posavad. 'Since 2021, with support from the Province, the YMCA has created 1,056 new child-care spaces, representing 20 per cent of all new childcare in Nova Scotia.' The province has created almost 7,000 new child-care spaces since 2021, said the release. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
