Rural Atlantic Canadian Development Thread

[kirjtc2]

Minto to get new community college
Published Monday March 8th, 2010
Satellite campus | Mechanical engineering will be taught
A1By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

An NB Coal maintenance facility and offices in the Minto Industrial Park will be converted into a satellite campus of the New Brunswick Community College.

The new facility will receive its first students this fall.

No details were available on the cost of the project or how many students will attend, but the official announcement will be made later this week.

"You can tell all the world I am a very happy fellow with what is going on there," said Eugene McGinley, Liberal MLA for Grand Lake-Gagetown.

"It's a positive way of trying to restore the economy there and create employment and activity."

The Grand Lake region has been hard hit by the news that coal mining will stop this spring and the local coal-fired power generating station will be shut down when its operating licence expires in June.

The generating station opened in 1931 and is NB Coal's only customer.

The high-sulphur coal mined in the region can no longer be used for environmental reasons.

"You could see that something had to be done to try to lessen the blow there," said McGinley.

"I have always been in favour of some kind of satellite system of the community college going out here. There will be an influx of students and teachers."

He said the new community college will specialize in mechanical engineering. The timing is good because mechanical and industrial trades are being re-established in high schools, he said.

The Liberal government set up a redevelopment committee for the region after the announcement that the coal mining industry and the power plant were shutting down.

"I sat in on the meetings that set up this redevelopment committee made up of businesspeople in the Minto and Chipman areas, councillors from each of the villages and some representation from Business New Brunswick," said McGinley.

He said too often action committees are formed and studies done and then they're never heard from again.

"This time these people have done a great job," said McGinley.

"What they have come up with now is the idea of a satellite of the community college being set up at the site of the NB Coal machine shop."

He said there's a lot of work that has to be done on the refurbishment and there will be significant involvement of the private sector.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/c...article/976626

[David1gray]

a few pictures of the dalhousie mt. wind turbines taken by me tonight

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...or-expansion/1

Strait Area Transit gets funding for expansion

Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

More residents in Inverness County will have access to public transit with the help of provincial funding of $130,000 announced today to buy an accessible van and expand service for Strait Area Transit.

“This service will provide safe, accessible and affordable transportation for more people in Inverness County,” Ramona Jennex, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, said in a news release. “This is a positive step towards building a greener, healthier, and more sustainable environment.”


...

[David1gray]

an article from the news, new glasgow on the new jail.

New Glasgow – It will likely be another two weeks before a decision will be made on the location of a new correctional facility.
Justice Minister Ross Landry, who is also the MLA for Pictou Centre, says his staff is almost finished narrowing down the list of possible sites.
“I understand one or two have been eliminated for various reasons,” Landry said Friday.
The Justice department was looking at a total of seven sites, including four locations in Pictou County. All four of those locations are in Pictou East, says MLA Clarrie MacKinnon, and three of those are in Westville.
“I’m very hopeful one of those four sites will be selected,” he said. “It means 110 jobs, it means the relocation of 40 or more workers transferring from elsewhere. When you look at the jobs involved, with a good number requiring training, it could benefit NSCC Pictou campus, it could have a major impact on other entities as well.”
MacKinnon said he’s had indications that if the jail is constructed in Westville, developers are interested in moving into the town as well.
“I’ve had a letter indicating if the jail comes to Westville, there will be more development in the private sector. They’re looking at some real possibilities,” MacKinnon added. “This could go right from pizzas to overnight accommodations.”
Landry couldn’t say Friday if any of the sites eliminated were in Pictou County, but did say he expected to see a list of the top choices on his desk within the next two weeks.
From there, Landry will consider the options and make his decision.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...till-pending/1
also, a sign for a studio 6 franchise opportunity has been posted as you get off the highway at the alma/westville irving

[MonctonRad]

Albert gas to heat Metro (Moncton) homes?
Published Wednesday March 31st, 2010

PetroWorth signs letter of intent with Enbridge NB to bring natural gas from Albert County to Moncton
By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff

For the first time in a few decades, natural gas may once again flow from the depths of Albert County and into Metro Moncton homes.

PetroWorth Resources Inc., a junior oil and gas exploration company based out of Toronto which has exploration rights on 41,000 acres (16,500 hectares) of land in Albert County, announced yesterday that it has signed a letter of intent with Enbridge Gas New Brunswick to construct a 22-kilometre (14-mile) pipeline from PetroWorth's Rosevale lease acreage to Enbridge's natural gas distribution system, which serves Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview.

"This is our next big step in getting into production mode," PetroWorth president Neal Mednick told the Times & Transcript from his Toronto office yesterday.

PetroWorth has two existing wells in Rosevale, just west of Stoney Creek, where natural gas once fed into Metro Moncton, but hasn't in over 60 years, a press release announcing the deal says.

Both PetroWorth and Enbridge say this latest development is another sign that New Brunswick's natural gas and oil potential is only just being tapped into.

"I believe onshore eastern Canada in general is going to become like a whole new frontier for Canadian oil/gas exploration," says Mednick. "But right now, in that context, the focus really is New Brunswick."

Just this week, the province announced Southwestern Energy Company's successful bid on 2,519,000 acres (1,018,000 hectares) and commitment to spend $47 million over three years on oil and gas exploration in New Brunswick.

Two companies, Corridor Resources and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, are now producing natural gas from the McCully Field in the Sussex area. There is also a small amount of oil being produced in the Stoney Creek Field.

With the addition of Southwestern Energy, there are now 11 companies exploring for oil and natural gas on almost 1.5 million hectares of land in New Brunswick.

"Because Corridor (Resources) has had that success in the Sussex area, it's really started to tell the market, 'OK, there is gas in the ground in New Brunswick, and you can bring it to market,'" explains Dave Charleson, general manager of Enbridge Gas New Brunswick.

PetroWorth and Enbridge's nine-page letter of intent is another positive step forward, Mednick says.

"The big challenge for us is getting this gas to market, so we've been sort of going back and forth with Enbridge for quite a while now, and now we've come to, I think, some very agreeable terms, a framework for a final agreement to get this pipeline built that will allow us to get into production and start generating cash," he says.

An exact route the potential pipeline might take from Albert County into Metro Moncton wasn't available yesterday, but Charleson says the companies are still early in the development stage.

The pipeline will enable PetroWorth to transport natural gas from its existing E-08 and A-08 wells, pending a successful frac completion at A-08.

If frac completion is successful, construction of the pipeline from Rosevale into Enbridge's system could begin, taking four to six months to complete.

Assuming there are no hiccups along the way, Mednick says gas could start to flow in the first half of 2011.

Once the pipeline is operating, PetroWorth will tie in additional wells from locations within its Rosevale lease.

"Historically, (shale gas) been very, very difficult to produce, but with modern technology, modern fracing methods ... companies have had great success, particularly in the United States, with producing shale gas," Mednick says. "And what you tend to get is a lot longer life out of the reserve."

Mednick says that's why so many companies are jumping on board, particularly in New Brunswick.

"It appears that there's a lot of companies now becoming convinced that New Brunswick has a real good shale gas opportunity."

Natural Resources Minister Wally Stiles was unavailable for comment yesterday, but earlier this month told the Times & Transcript that at an oil and gas exploration conference in Houston, Texas, companies approached him, excited about prospects in the province.

With this week's addition of Southwestern Energy, there are now 11 companies looking for gas and oil in New Brunswick, mostly in the southeast part of the province, right now.

"It's nice to have natural resources that are produced in New Brunswick and is sold to New Brunswickers," Mednick says.

Charleson says the letter of intent with PetroWorth carries with it many positives.

For starters, it should help lower the commodity cost. Enbridge purchases its gas from the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, the bulk of which comes from Sable Island. Some also comes from Corridor Resources' McCully Project in Sussex.

With the Rosevale operation being so close, it will cut down on transportation costs, and will strengthen the security of the natural gas supply.

It would also stimulate more exploration and development by PetroWorth.

"If they're now available to bring that gas to market, it justifies further investments in exploration, so that helps in terms of introducing more gas into the New Brunswick market," Charleson says.

The Enbridge general manager points out that government also collects royalties from the project.

"So we see a number of benefits that ultimately help the natural gas industry in New Brunswick," he says.

Enbridge has 10,300 customers in New Brunswick. The number of customers specific to Metro Moncton was unavailable yesterday.

PetroWorth has interests in almost one million acres in nine separate exploration permits on Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

The history of oil and gas exploration in New Brunswick goes back to the early 1900s. Oil and gas exploration leases were being issued to various companies such as the New Brunswick Gas and Oilfields Ltd. and the New Brunswick Petroleum Company around the turn of the century.

A 30-mile pipeline was later constructed through Coverdale (Riverview) and across the Petitcodiac Bridge where the four-inch line was then extended to Mechanic Street in downtown Moncton, ending at the gas, water and electric lights plant.

Another pipeline was attached to the old Gunningsville Bridge and supplied heat and light in Moncton homes and businesses for decades.

[David1gray]

The two ships sitting in Pictou Harbour waiting to be dismantled


on the far right


all photos taken by me

[Dmajackson]

Fertile ground for development
'Open-to-business attitude’ has paid off for Bridgewater
By BEVERLEY WARE South Shore Bureau
Thu. Apr 8 - 4:54 AM

BRIDGEWATER — Bernie Dockrill did his homework before deciding where to build a high-end apartment complex.

He studied every town in southwestern Nova Scotia and the Annapolis Valley, looking at demographics, population projections, zoning regulations and the availability of land before settling on Bridgewater.

"There is no other place I can think of in Nova Scotia that has the attractiveness of Bridgewater as a real estate investment, as a place to live and a place to retire," the commercial real estate broker and developer said Wednesday.

Ida Scott, Bridgewater Development Association manager, said Bridgewater is seeing unprecedented development in the residential and commercial sectors.

Housing values have shot up more than 10 per cent in this town over the last four years and, at a time when many small towns are worrying about dwindling populations, Bridgewater is seeing an influx of new residents, Scott said.

Population growth hit 4.2 per cent in 2006, when the provincial average was just 0.6 per cent. The municipal tax rate has not gone up but the tax base has — 16 per cent over the past five years, which amounts to more than $2 million, she said.

Dockrill said he thinks Bridgewater is doing so well because of its natural geography, amenities and the support of municipal staff and politicians.

"The attitude of staff and council is leagues ahead of most towns in Nova Scotia. They have a proactive, open-to-business attitude," he said.

Dockrill and his partner Pat Sulllivan are building the first of what they hope will be a two-phase project called South Ridge at Bridgewater. Once finished, it will be the largest apartment complex in town.

They plan to open the initial three-storey, 27-unit building, with its meeting and exercise rooms, air conditioning, underground parking and wooded walking trails, by December.

They expect to put up five buildings. The first two will be rentals while the last three will be condominiums.

Once finished, the apartment building will add to the seven per cent increase in homes and apartments Bridgewater has seen over the past five years, Scott said.

There are two other new apartment complexes in Bridgewater. Both were filled before they opened.

Scott said the development association is responsible for much of this growth. It sold 18.7 hectares which are now being developed as an expansion to the Glen Allen subdivision and worked with the town and developers to extend Glen Allen Drive and municipal services.

The developer for that project sold 10 homes before a shovel even went in the ground and the road has spurred construction of single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses.

The association also turned over eight hectares in that area to the town. It now houses a new field house, with an indoor soccer pitch and walking track, and will soon be home to a skate park.

Most development permits have been for new construction, such as an office complex on North Street, one of the main roads coming into town, but the growth isn’t all about brand new business coming to town.

"Some of our existing businesses are feeling comfortable enough to expand," said Scott.

The expanding businesses include Michelin and Lawton’s Drugs.

She said the town has also done its part by encouraging local businesses through initiatives such as its sustainability plan, which encourages people to "buy local."

And the town has more than $400,000 in the bank and concrete plans to beautify the riverfront and draw people to the downtown business district.

"We are pleased about the growth in our community and the efforts of the Bridgewater Development Association to stimulate and initiate growth," Mayor Carroll Publicover said in a news release.

Scott said many people don’t realize the development association and its community volunteers are responsible for most of the development that’s going on around them so it’s going to boast a bit by hosting a breakfast at the Michelin Social Club on April 22 that will showcase some of their success stories. The breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. and is expected to last about two hours.

( bware@herald.ca )

[Smevo]

April 5, 2010 Cape Breton Post

NewPage, NSPI plan biomass facility
Project expected to create 150 new forestry jobs


Published on April 5th, 2010
Chris Hayes


SYDNEY — Nova Scotia Power Inc. and the NewPage paper mill announced plans Monday to build a biomass co-generation facility they say will produce three per cent of the province’s electricity needs while moving the mill away from fossil fuels.

The power corporation will invest $200 million in the 60 megawatt facility, which has a target date of late 2012 to be in service but must still receive regulatory approval from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

In July, the board rejected an earlier request to approve a biomass proposal at NewPage saying it didn’t have the authority to approve in advance “the prudency of the expenditure.”

NewPage in the plan announced Monday will be responsible for the construction and operation of the co-generation facility and be completely responsible for fuel supply.

Robin McAdam, executive vice-president of sustainability for NSPI, said the biomass facility, which will feed about 400 gigawatt hours of electricity a year into the power grid, will produce about three per cent of the province’s total electricity requirement.


...

and April 7, 2010 Cape Breton Post

NewPage biomass project raising concerns with forestry industry

Published on April 7th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A proposal by Nova Scotia Power Inc. and NewPage paper mill to produce electrical power by burning forest biomass was raising concerns Wednesday for a number of players in the forestry industry.

Wade Prest, director of the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association, said Wednesday there is no evidence to show harvesting biomass materials is sustainable and will not damage the productive capacity of the forest.

“There is no scientific evidence that says we can take all of the stem wood from the forest and not damage it,” said Prest, of Mooseland, Nova Scotia, who has supplied the paper mill for 25 years.

...

[David1gray]

alright a few updates for pictou county and antigonish

S.W. Weeks was chosen to pave 104 out to Sutherland's River. The pine tree road over pass construction has not yet begun but i drive by this area almost every weekend on my way to and from STFX. They have marked where the road will cross the river and its awfully close to the schools(east pictou middle school) soccer field. anyways another year or 2 and that will be good to go.

The new Lawton's on East River Road is nearing completion. 2 floors, being built to compete with the shoppers drug mart down the road.

4 of the possible locations for the new NS jail are in PC, 3 of those in Westville.

thats all i can think of for PC at the moment. Now of to Antigonish.

Construction on the 104 Antigonish bypass is well underway.

Also, the new Shwartz school of business building(STFX) is looking good. It is 3 or 4 stories not exactly sure on that one. Should be completed for next year. this one interests me in particular because i will be in this building.

and thats all i can think of at the moment.

[David1gray]

Roundabout work beginning next week
Published on April 13th, 2010
The News

STELLARTON – Motorists can expect traffic delays in the Stellarton area next week as work begins on a new roundabout, says the town’s deputy mayor George Megeney.
The roundabout, which is being built to accommodate a new business development park along North Foord Street, will be completed in the late summer, he said.
“People can expect traffic delays,” he said. “If there is any disruption of traffic, the public will be notified in a timely fashion.”
The roundabout will smaller than the one in Pictou but will help with the flow of traffic in the area.
He said two businesses will be building on the site of the former Heather Hotel and traffic is expect to increase in the area as the park increases in size.
The business park currently consists of one business, the Holiday Inn Express, on Lawrence Boulevard.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...ng-next-week/1

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...r-long-party/1

Nancy King - Cape Breton Post

Dance troupe Trépidanse performs Wednesday during a press conference releasing the lineup for the 2010 Festival de l’Escaouette in Chéticamp. Its members are Jenna Cormier, Kim Chiasson, Louise Larade, Kessandra Sonier and Basil Doucet.

Chéticamp prepares to host summer-long party
Acadian village marks its 225th birthday

Published on April 21st, 2010
Nancy King



CHÉTICAMP — The Acadian village will mark its 225th birthday with a summer-long celebration.

“It’s going to be an incredible summer in Chéticamp,” said Daniel Aucoin of the community’s radio station, CKJM.

Festival de L’Escaouette announced the lineup for its lengthiest season ever Wednesday, featuring music, dance and theatre celebrating the community’s rich Acadian culture at la Salle Père Anselme-Chiasson.

...

[David1gray]

Common issues should see county as a unit
Published on April 23rd, 2010
The News
BRAESHORE – Others may be afraid to use the A-word but Tom McInnis isn't.
During his keynote address to the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce at Pictou Lodge, McInnis spoke of amalgamation without hesitation.
"Pictou County is a prime candidate for amalgamation," the former Tory MLA and deputy premier said on Thursday. "There is a commonality of issues."
McInnis said he was the one who first presented the case for amalgamation in the Halifax Regional Municipality, which was eventually put in place by John Savage's Liberal government.
It has paid off for the HRM, McInnis added.
"They say tens of millions have been saved by amalgamation."
Whatever form amalgamation could take locally, or in any other region of the province, it's not likely going to come from the top, he added.
"It appears municipal units may have to make the first move. The first step is to look at the pros and cons."
That's why McInnis is in favour of the initiative of the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce to request a governance study. In fact, McInnis, president of the provincial chamber, said he would like to see one provincewide.
"The Nova Scotia Chamber of Commerce is calling on the province to have a study on municipal government across the province."
Locally, the Pictou County chamber has secured a meeting with Minister of Municipal Affairs Ramona Jennex in early June to discuss governance.
During his remarks McInnis also touched on the recent provincial budget.
The two per cent HST hike doesn't sit well with McInnis or the provincial chamber.
"A quick fix is raising taxes.… There's talk they may take it to 17 per cent (from the newly imposed 15). Most governments in the western hemisphere they reduce taxes.… If the finances were in dire straits the first thing should have been a wage freeze. Getting back to balance takes difficult decisions and they haven't been made."
McInnis stressed that the provincial government should be taking a close look at expenditures for health, community services and education which are eating up the lion's share of the budget.
"They are the elephant in the room, and it's a hungry elephant."
McInnis, a corporate and commercial lawyer, did admit that criticism is easy and said the provincial chamber has some suggestions to help the government with its finances.
"We have ideas and we will bring them forward."
The HST increase is going to impact tourism too, McInnis believes.
"It's another shot against the tourism industry."
He sees his industry – which brought $1.3 billion into the province in 2009 – as under siege.
"Their (government's) actions show disrespect for the impact and wealth of tourism."
He pointed to moves being made by various levels of government that affect tourism including the ending of the CAT ferry service and the closure of visitor information centres in Halifax and the closure of the Ship Hector and quay.
"I made a special trip to see the Hector.… It's a key tourist attraction."
McInnis said he supports the government funding jobs in major industry but "how does it distinguish between those jobs and $6 million for the CAT ferry?"
http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...ty-as-a-unit/1

[David1gray]

Upgrades needed for Hector Arena to avoid closure
Published on April 23rd, 2010
The News
The old saying,”ship shape from top to bottom,” doesn’t apply to the Hector Arena, says the chair of the Hector Rink Commission.
David Parker, a councillor with the Municipality of Pictou County, said the 37-year-old arena is in urgent need of a new floor and roof.
“The floor could fail us at anytime,” he said. “It might last another year or another five years. Nobody knows. The rink is safe, but if the floor heaves or gives way, than we wouldn’t be able to make ice. It will rupture the piping system.”
The Hector Arena is owned by the Pictou Agricultural Society funding for it comes from the town, county, users and donations. He said the building standards were not as stringent as they are now when the arena was first built, adding it was constructed on “Pictou County clay” that doesn’t have proper drainage.
Hundreds of thousands worth of upgrades have been done to the inside of the rink in the past few years, including a new Zamboni, new glass, paint and some work done to the front area of the rink which was raised through various donations, government grants and contributions from the Town of Pictou and county.
The commission is currently appealing to government again to help fund its second round of renovations which include a new floor, roof and work done to its refrigeration system to meet new environmental standards.
An aging building study is currently underway and will be completed by the end of the summer, he said. The study is needed to access government funding.
“We anticipate the floor alone will cost about three-quarters of million dollars,” he said. “This is our number one priority.”
Parkers said the arena’s roof has been patched throughout the years, but it also needs to be replaced which could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, he said, people can still use the rink if the roof is leaking, they can’t if floor heaves.
Bob Naylor, a Pictou town councilor and rink commission member, said the rink’s current state of repairs make him very concerned about the future for such a facility in Pictou West.
“I don’t know how they are going to raise the money for it now,” said Naylor, who also managed the Hector Arena for 13 years. “People are in tough times.”
He said its current state of the building is one of the reasons why he leaning towards voting in favour of Pictou being part of the proposed new wellness centre.
“ I am not all about the wellness centre because as far as I am concerned we have zero information about it, but our rink is not going to last forever. If we are going to be skating up there, we should have some say about it,” he said.
Parker said he is more optimistic about the arena’s future than Naylor.
“We really believe we will find the funds and get the upgrades we need.”
http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...void-closure/1

[Smevo]

I don't disagree with amalgamation of the New Glasgow area at all, it's kind of like Moncton area on a smaller scale. I'm always a bit wary of amalgamating everything within a county's boundaries mostly because of the CBRM experience (doing so would make the RM's area larger than CBRM's in this case). The most I would personally be comfortable with would be an area bounded on the outside by Braeshore, Central Caribou, Lyons Brook, Sylvester, Alma just inside the boudary, Pleasant Valley, Union Centre, Fox Brook, Mountville, Coalburn, Linacy, Academy, Marshalls Crossing, and Fishers Grant just inside the boundary.

Something kinda similar to this is what I'm thinking.

Image created by me in Google Maps.

[David1gray]

I support the idea of amalgamating the towns of Westville, New Glasgow, Stellarton, Trenton, and Pictou. But also to include what is shown in your map. as someone who lives in PC, i know Alma, Loch Broom, etc. are all pretty densely populated compared to other rural areas in the province so therefore should be included in this. Another question for this is would it be considered a large town, small city, or Pictou regional municipality. id prefer a small city just because we've already got 3 regional municipalities and therefore technically dont have any actual cities in NS. anyways just my thoughts

[David1gray]

Highway 106 will be repaved, and have rumble strips installed between pictou and the 104. construction will be starting soon, should be finished around the end of july. this section of the highway has been in need of repairs for quite some time.

[David1gray]

lol i guess i should find everything i want to post before sorry for the overload of posts....

one more....

i found an article at http://ecfm.ca/news.php but cannot copy it. Basically what it says is the the county itself would not be incuded in amalgamation with the towns. mainy because the county is in good financial shape and has one of the lowest debt burdens in NS.

ok maybe one more haha....

also from http://ecfm.ca/news.php from last week, say construction on the roundabout in stellarton will begin this week, which it has. also mentions that 3 businesses are prepared to set up on the former heather hotel site. for whatever reason none of these businesses seem to have been identified, atleast i cant find it. what ever they are, one of the businesses is paying for an extra lane on the roundabout. im looking forward to finding out what these businesses are.

[Smevo]

If it's done similar to the map, it should be a small city. I think the county becoming a regional municipality is more likely, but I think the small city route would be much better for the area.

Edit- Now that I see your other post, I think this has a chance of being done the right way. Just need to get the people and the province on board.

[David1gray]

the only reason that amalgamation wouldn't happen is because of rivalries between the towns, and another reason as an example, say the people of stellarton(who are the "rich" and "preppy") wont want to be associated with say westville or trenton. this is not necessarily what everyone thinks but i know there are a few people who think this way.

[David1gray]

since amalgamation in PC was brought up quite a few times in the last weeks in the news, i decided to look around and research it a bit, and came across this website http://pictoucountyamalgamation.com/?page=home