ARICHAT - The head of the Cape Breton Transgender Network is grateful for the support she and her colleagues have received at the Nova Scotia legislature in the run-up to Transgender Day of Remembrance. 

Veronica Merryfield was among those asked to speak at Province House by NDP MLA Lisa Lachance - the province's first transgender MLA - in the run-up to the November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance. 

Speaking to LJI journalist Adam Cooke at the Telile Community Television studio in Arichat, Merryfield noted that visibility is still important for the transgender community as it mourns its losses from the past year. She pointed out that she and her fellow members of Cape Breton Pride and their supporters received verbal abuse from passing motorists outside the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's main municipal offices in Sydney, during the CBRM's official Pride ceremonies this past August. 

Merryfield also expressed concern with the actions of provincial governments that have challenged protection for transgender or non-binary students whose identities are known to the school system but not to their parents. New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has threatened to call an early election on the issue after losing the support of several cabinet and caucus members this past spring. In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe used the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian constitution to override the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in terms of protection of students' identities within that province's school system. 

The remainder of this week's edition of TELILE 24/7 is dedicated to the Fall Awards Dinner and Gala held by the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce on November 15 at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. Along with traditional businesses, the evening's honourees included the Richmond County Literacy Network. Celebrating a quarter-century of operations this year, the organization was inducted into the chamber's Club 25.

Other recipients of this award included the Port Hawkesbury-based businesses Snow's Econo-Print and City Print, as well as the Mabou River Inn. The latter business started its life as a youth hostel at the former Mary's Hill Home in Mabou before transforming into the rental-accommodations operation that exists today.  

The Farmer's Pantry, a coffee shop based in St. Peter's, received the chamber's Rising Star New Business Award. Another local provider of coffee and sweets, Martin's Fine Bakery, received the Immigrant Entrepreneur Award. The bakery's co-owners, Martin and Gabi Baumann of Big Harbour Island, Inverness County, accepted this honour. 

Another Inverness County business, The Corner Store by Miss Brenna, achieved the Export Achievement Award for their success in marketing the Love Cape Breton clothing and souvenir line. As well, the Mabou Farmers Market picked up the chamber's Excellence in Business Award. The weekly market at the Mabou Athletic Centre includes fellow winners Martin's Fine Bakery and Miss Brenna among its 98 vendors, which attract a weekly average of 2,000 visitors during the summer and fall months. 

The chamber also honoured Davina "Apol" David, an employee of Scotiabank, Papa's Pub and McDonald's in Port Hawkesbury, with its Customer Service Award.