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MULGRAVE - Residents here were poised to have a record-setting spring and summer in terms of recreation programs and community-gathering opportunities - before the onset of COVID-19 and the accompanying social-distancing restrictions that took effect in Nova Scotia this past March.

Instead, as residents and town officials look out over a bleak schedule that will not include the traditional July festival Scotia Days or many of the activities enjoyed by youth and seniors alike, Mulgrave Recreation Director Heather Brennan has had to take a more creative approach to keep the town's population engaged, active and entertained. 

Further complicating matters was the shutdown of Mulgrave Memorial Centre, a former school building that now houses town offices and was running everything from seniors' fitness classes to indoor youth soccer programs in the site's large gymnasium, before the pandemic era arrived and scuttled these events for the foreseeable future.

With this in mind, Brennan has been designing and distributing children's activity kits through the month of April, and partnering with other Mulgrave community organizations to "think outside the box" and reach residents in creative ways.  

As an example, Brennan pointed to the distribution of Easter gift packages on doorsteps around town, as well as the Mulgrave Volunteer Fire Department's efforts to being a costumed Easter Bunny to the community's households. This spirit mirrors a December campaign that sees Santa Claus climb on board a fire truck to be taken from house to house with children's toys on Christmas Eve.