News Release
Mayor Kelly Says HRM Returning to Normal
(Monday, September 17, 2001)-- Halifax Regional Municipality is returning to normal today after the last of the more than 40 U.S. bound international flights diverted here last week took off over the weekend.
Mayor Peter Kelly said this morning that his Office and many other HRM business units continue to receive telephone calls, cards, letters and e-mails from individuals and groups around the world thanking the residents of HRM for providing food and shelter for the more than 8,000 passengers diverted here in the wake of terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Mayor Kelly said the municipality's Emergency Measures Organization Operations Centre was de-activated at about noon on Saturday and the 18 facilities used as emergency shelters for the stranded travellers were shut down and handed back over the weekend to the Halifax Regional School Board, the Canadian military, Exhibition Park, two universities and local churches, etc.
The Mayor again extended thanks and appreciation to HRM employees, volunteer individuals and groups, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Government of Canada and all those residents of the community who responded so generously in terms of time and effort to this herculean event.
He said "We not only met our objectives, but in many cases we exceeded them. I have never been so proud to be a Nova Scotian and a member of this community as I have been during the past number of days."
Now that the emergency situation has passed, Mayor Kelly said the community and its residents are beginning to return to their daily routine.
"Although we are ever mindful of the horrific situation in the United States and what is happening in other parts of the world, the people of H-R-M realize that it is important for us to get on with our lives. Naturally, we will never forget the terror and trauma of the past week, but we realize that getting on with our lives is all part of the healing process, " he said.
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Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
