Category: Kentville

Gardiner Mines murder case

A 40 year old Cape Breton man has been charged with first degree murder in the death of a woman in Gardiner Mines Tuesday.

33 year old SaraBeth Ann Forbes was a teacher at Tompkins Memorial Elementary School in nearby Reserve Mines.  Grief counsellors have been brought in to help students and staff there.

Richard Wayne McNeil of Gardiner Mines was in court yesterday and remanded in custody until next Wednesday.  He and Forbes were common-law partners with a son.

First Nations child welfare

The Canadian Human Rights Commission released its annual report to parliament which concentrated on child welfare services on First Nations.  The report said more attention needs to be paid to the rights of children, that they are being left behind when it comes to the basic rights of dignity, safety, education and family.

Although Ottawa has promised a fix for the system, First Nations groups say no real progress has been made.