View Full Version : The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread
mmmatt
Nov 30, 2007, 8:16 PM
?? What 9-story government building?
I read an interesting tidbit in the paper last night...did you guys know that we have the " 3rd largest Christmas parade in Canada" !?
That's insane...great...but insane!
Jason
Really!? thats awesome...I wonder how they measure that? maybe the ammount of floats...I dont think it would be possible to accurately count the spectators.
PS: 900 posts! :D
Alberta Bound
Dec 1, 2007, 1:32 AM
I read an interesting tidbit in the paper last night...did you guys know that we have the " 3rd largest Christmas parade in Canada" !?
That's insane...great...but insane!
Jason
I live in the third largest city in Canada (5th largest CMA) and we didn't have a Christmas parade. It was cancelled due to the sheer volume of downtown construction/development causing street closures. :koko:
westcoast604
Dec 1, 2007, 1:49 AM
I live in the third largest city in Canada (5th largest CMA) and we didn't have a Christmas parade. It was cancelled due to the sheer volume of downtown construction/development causing street closures. :koko:
Thats retarded. Vancouver has much more downtown construction than Calgary, yet the Santa Claus parade, paraded on..
mylesmalley
Dec 1, 2007, 5:40 PM
I went to the Fredericton Santa Claus Parade. It was pretty bad. They had it on the North Side, for some reason. Traffic was terrible, and it wasn't all that long at all.
ErickMontreal
Dec 1, 2007, 5:51 PM
Gaming corporation sees New Brunswick as prime property
DAVID SHIPLEY
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Saturday December 1st, 2007
Appeared on page A2
The Great Canadian Gaming Corporation thinks a casino in New Brunswick is a good bet.
"We feel we bring a great mix of gaming and entertainment to the table," said Howard Blank, vice-president for corporate communications with the Richmond, B.C.-based firm. "You folks have a good tourism market with your proximity to the U.S."
Blank said Great Canadian's executive management team began looking at New Brunswick after the provincial government announced their responsible gaming strategy on Nov. 8.
Blank said the $1.5 billion publicly traded company is considering submitting up to three proposals in front of the provincial government. The province has requested proposals from private companies to build a single gambling venue as a major tourist attraction.
Proposals will be evaluated by KPMG LLC, a global business consultancy. Proposals are due by March and a final decision will be made in May. A winning bidder will be expected to have their facility open by May 2010.
The approved bid will have between 400 and 800 electronic gaming devices, 12 conventional table games and a mix of a poker area, keno, off-track betting and a lottery ticket kiosk. The potential businesses are also being asked to consider spin-off operations such as a horse track, a hotel, performance theatre, convention centre, restaurants and other recreational facilities.
Blank said Great Canadian's 15 properties in Canada and the U.S. - including Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax - offer a variety of entertainment, from gaming to theatres and lounges to horse racing.
"Live entertainment at (Casino) Nova Scotia has become a big hit."
Great Canadian has not determined a location for a casino and will consider Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton - even though the mayor of the Capital City has rejected the notion of casino in his community. The company has two options when it comes to Fredericton, he said.
"One, you can skip (Fredericton), or two you can show (city hall) the proposal and say 'this is what we have in mind and did you realize it's this?'"
Many people have misconceptions about what modern destination gaming facilities offer, Blank said.
"I think people believe casinos are often dirty, smoke-filled, crime-ridden properties, when nothing could be further from the truth," he said.
Modern casinos offer a mix of dining and entertainment options, he added.
"My favourite thing is to watch people come into our facilities and literally get that 'wow' look on their face (and say), 'I had no idea this was all here.'"
Each facility is tailored to the needs of its host community, said Blank.
Executives from Great Canadian will tour the province as part of the process of putting their proposal together, he said. In addition to Great Canadian, several other local and out-of-province organizations are considering putting in casino proposals. Groups in Saint John and Moncton have already come forward with plans to build multi-purpose complexes that include gaming.
kirjtc2
Dec 1, 2007, 9:02 PM
I went to the Fredericton Santa Claus Parade. It was pretty bad. They had it on the North Side, for some reason. Traffic was terrible, and it wasn't all that long at all.
They alternate sides of the river each year.
I marched in it when I was 9 or 10 years old, the first time it was on the north side I think. Went from under the bridge to Brookside Mall. Haven't been back since.
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 11:22 AM
I was browsing the T&T website this morning and I saw something that made me very happy! An add for the Moncton Museum that had the new logo for the city on it...now Im not sure if this is the final version or not (they said in the paper a while back they were still polishing it), but here is what they had up:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/newmonctonlogo.jpg
I love it personally...much better than just the coat of arms (lame) haha. :D
mylesmalley
Dec 3, 2007, 1:21 PM
I'm not sure I quite get it, but it looks good. I know from experience, it's a royal pain in the ass to design an effective logo. I like the Downtown Moncton Inc. one, too. Every town has a skyline logo though.
JasonL-Moncton
Dec 3, 2007, 2:22 PM
The logo is interesting...don't quite get it but...it's interesting.
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 2:31 PM
Heres the article in the paper talking about the logo:
A brand new Moncton
New logo offers a new image for the Hub City
By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday November 28th, 2007
Appeared on page A10
You may have seen the ads or the red, green and blue swooshes of the new logo. But you probably haven't heard or seen much about the City of Moncton's new brand.
That's intentional, says Paul Thomson, the city's director of communications and the de facto brand manager for the city. Slowly rolling out the new logo, the new slogan -- our Tide is Rising-- and the marketing of the city that goes with it is all part of building momentum, just as the city is doing.
The city is moving cautiously but ever forward, as inexorably as the Fundy tides surge up the Petitcodiac each day, because developing a brand identity for the city is no frivolous matter. Instead, it's a key part of gaining the notice of everybody, but especially the 25-44 year old demographic that's upwardly mobile and earning $70,000 or more per year, the group that offers us the best chance of reversing population decline and keeping our economy moving forward.
"We're competing with every other city to try and attract this group," Thomson said, adding that the economic development playing field has changed in recent years. "Before it was go out and get the business. Now it's go out and get the people and the business will follow."
The logo and the slogan, as the most visible aspects of branding the city, came about after extensive consultation with focus groups in different cities and with community and business leaders here.
Thomson said the final product came about out of several considerations. They wanted something that put us back in touch with the river, something that was truly Moncton's, something that wouldn't disappear two years from now, and like the marketing of the city to come, something that reflected how the city stood apart from other communities.
"If it isn't truly Moncton's, we don't want it," Thomson said.
Though the city's Resurgo coat of arms won't disappear completely, it's hoped the new logo will provide both the sense of timelessness and yet the contemporary feel the sicle and beehive on the city crest just don't offer anymore.
Is there a particular symbolism to the three strokes of colour or the shape of the logo? The colours can be taken to roughly represent the city's passion and spirit with red, the importance it places on the environment with green, and the importance of water and returning our attention to our river with the blue. Some see a person in the shape, or sea birds like you find on our wetland marshes or even the bend in the Petitcodiac River reflected in each brushstroke. The point however is that the logo avoids being too prescriptive. Instead, it's flexible and adaptive, something for which Moncton has become famous.
kwajo
Dec 3, 2007, 3:32 PM
Is there a particular symbolism to the three strokes of colour or the shape of the logo? The colours can be taken to roughly represent the city's passion and spirit with red, the importance it places on the environment with green, and the importance of water and returning our attention to our river with the blue. Some see a person in the shape, or sea birds like you find on our wetland marshes or even the bend in the Petitcodiac River reflected in each brushstroke. The point however is that the logo avoids being too prescriptive. Instead, it's flexible and adaptive, something for which Moncton has become famous.
Damn, and I was going to say that the three strokes were supposed to represent Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.
Anyway, not a bad new symbol, but it's a bit abstract [as City logos go] for my liking.
JasonL-Moncton
Dec 3, 2007, 4:40 PM
The more I think about it...the less I like it... :(
gehrhardt
Dec 3, 2007, 6:09 PM
Yeah, I agree. It looks like an Olympic logo or something. Not something I'd expect to represent a city. If you need a paragraph to try to explain how it represents the city, I don't think it's very effective. You can't put an explanation on the "Welcome to Moncton" billboards...
I'm not a big fan of Saint John's most recent logo, but at least you can guess what it means fairly easily.
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 6:30 PM
I wont post the whole story but the T&T said today that all 7,000 tickets for Ozzy (sides a couple of VIP tickets) sold out within 3 hours! Thats pretty nuts. I hope someone gets the message and brings a big rock concert to moncton again...getting a bit tired of country haha.
mylesmalley
Dec 3, 2007, 8:07 PM
I'm with you, Stu. The more I think about that logo, the less I like it. However, it does look better than the coat of arms.
It only took 3 hours to sell out the coliseum? That should put to rest any thoughts that we couldn't use a 10-15,000 seat stadium-ideally downtown.
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 8:28 PM
I'm with you, Stu. The more I think about that logo, the less I like it. However, it does look better than the coat of arms.
It only took 3 hours to sell out the coliseum? That should put to rest any thoughts that we couldn't use a 10-15,000 seat stadium-ideally downtown.
So very true...we could have bigger and better indoor acts then...I mean yeah outdoor concerts are great dont get me wrong but we live in Canada here...most of the year an indoor venue is preffered haha. Espically on a day like today. Then we could get Cirque! :)
As far as the logo goes...Its alright...I think I was just excited to see it so it seemed better at first, but now looking at it it seems too vague, like a person not from here would be scratching thier head at it...but hey maybe thats a good thing, it is modern looking for sure. I do agree with you though Myles, its much better than the coat of arms!
mylesmalley
Dec 3, 2007, 8:33 PM
So very true...we could have bigger and better indoor acts then...I mean yeah outdoor concerts are great dont get me wrong but we live in Canada here...most of the year an indoor venue is preffered haha. Espically on a day like today. Then we could get Cirque! :)
As far as the logo goes...Its alright...I think I was just excited to see it so it seemed better at first, but now looking at it it seems too vague, like a person not from here would be scratching thier head at it...but hey maybe thats a good thing, it is modern looking for sure. I do agree with you though Myles, its much better than the coat of arms!
I don't know.... I guess I just find it's awfully 'deep' for a logo. Like, the red represents our vitality, green environment...etc.
I like that idea of the three communities, actually. I don't remember what the Riverview and Dieppe flags look like. If each squiggle was the main colour on each flag or something? I don't know.
ErickMontreal
Dec 3, 2007, 8:33 PM
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/newmonctonlogo.jpg
I love it personally...much better than just the coat of arms (lame) haha. :D
I like it though at the end of the day this is hard to say what it suppposed to represent. Having said that, I find it quite modern, sophisticated and current as well. Its a big 8/10 :haha:
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 8:37 PM
I don't know.... I guess I just find it's awfully 'deep' for a logo. Like, the red represents our vitality, green environment...etc.
I like that idea of the three communities, actually. I don't remember what the Riverview and Dieppe flags look like. If each squiggle was the main colour on each flag or something? I don't know.
Well Monctons flag is the coat of arms (big surprise haha) with two blue bars...so thats the blue...
Riverview has that "great place to grow" thing which is all green, so they are green.
And of course due to thier current financial situation Dieppe is very much (in the) red! :haha:
ErickMontreal
Dec 3, 2007, 8:41 PM
Well Monctons flag is the coat of arms (big surprise haha) with two blue bars...so thats the blue...
Riverview has that "great place to grow" thing which is all green, so they are green.
And of course due to thier current financial situation Dieppe is very much (in the) red! :haha:
http://www.town.riverview.nb.ca/banner/newbanner/115/231.jpg
With a such sign, its not a place I would like to grow :haha:
http://www.dieppe.ca/dieppeMag_fr.cfm
Dieppe has a decent sign.
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 8:43 PM
just as a side note I added the logo to the Moncton wiki page...I even gave it a drop shadow and a transparent backround! (same as I did for the map and coat of arms). check it out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncton
ErickMontreal
Dec 3, 2007, 8:44 PM
just as a side note I added the logo to the Moncton wiki page...I even gave it a drop shadow and a transparent backround! (same as I did for the map and coat of arms). check it out!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncton
Good job ! :tup:
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 8:45 PM
http://www.town.riverview.nb.ca/banner/newbanner/115/231.jpg
With a such sign, its not a plce that I would like to grow :haha:
http://www.dieppe.ca/dieppeMag_fr.cfm
Dieppe has a decent sign.
Yeah I do like Dieppes logo, its very modern and yet still incorporates the historical essence of the city with the Acadian colours/star etc. very good.
ErickMontreal
Dec 3, 2007, 8:52 PM
I still wonder what's going to fill up the former Future Shop space in Champlain place ?
I am still guessing for Best Buy.
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 8:58 PM
I still wonder what's going to fill up the former Future Shop space in Champlain place ?
I am still guessing for Best Buy.
yeah, Im hoping for something like that.
When I look at the logo now I see the swooshes look a lot like the bend in the river...for example look at the aerial pic of Moncton on the wiki page (2nd pic down).
mylesmalley
Dec 3, 2007, 9:07 PM
Good job with the wiki page!
Anyone know when the new ring-road in Riverview is supposed to open?
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 9:09 PM
Good job with the wiki page!
Anyone know when the new ring-road in Riverview is supposed to open?
Thanks bud!
the road will open pretty soon...I think mid december is last I heard...cant wait!
Wishblade
Dec 3, 2007, 10:02 PM
I wont post the whole story but the T&T said today that all 7,000 tickets for Ozzy (sides a couple of VIP tickets) sold out within 3 hours! Thats pretty nuts. I hope someone gets the message and brings a big rock concert to moncton again...getting a bit tired of country haha.
Ya, I got tickets to the Halifax show. It's gonna be awesome :notacrook:. Lucky I got up an hour early to get in line though, it sold in under 20 minutes. Anyone here going to one of the shows?
And yes, i agree, there's been way too much country in the maritimes lately. Like George Jones is coming :slob:.
ErickMontreal
Dec 3, 2007, 10:23 PM
:: Moncton`s booming economy ::
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2260/2084376565_8d05a1d311.jpg
Did you receive that magazine at home ? It's quite interesting.
mylesmalley
Dec 3, 2007, 10:40 PM
Ya, I got tickets to the Halifax show. It's gonna be awesome :notacrook:. Lucky I got up an hour early to get in line though, it sold in under 20 minutes. Anyone here going to one of the shows?
And yes, i agree, there's been way too much country in the maritimes lately. Like George Jones is coming :slob:.
George Jones is still around? He's as old as the hills.
What's in the new magazine?
ErickMontreal
Dec 3, 2007, 10:48 PM
George Jones is still around? He's as old as the hills.
What's in the new magazine?
Its really well done though there is nothing really new. It talks about Moncton`s prosperity, couple articles about downtown (Mayor, DMCI), financial well being, construction rate, Caledonia park, Aberdeen cutural center, Capitol, Frye, FrancoFête, couple about sport as well as Assomption, Mcinnes Cooper law office, 2006 CMA, tourism, Airport, UdMoncton ect.
mmmatt
Dec 3, 2007, 11:21 PM
That mag looks sweet (the cover at least). Its probably close to the same thing that was in the T&T during the summer...it was called "prosperity" or something.
mylesmalley
Dec 3, 2007, 11:26 PM
Anyone know of an online / pdf version?
ErickMontreal
Dec 3, 2007, 11:29 PM
Anyone know of an online / pdf version?
I really don`t know I scanned the cover. However, it was lauched by Acadie Nouvelle, maybe we could find out something on Acadienouvelle.com.
ErickMontreal
Dec 4, 2007, 5:11 AM
Moncton Downtown :: Avant la tempête / Before the storm
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150076_main.jpg
By Brain Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/
ErickMontreal
Dec 4, 2007, 11:21 AM
Moncton city council tackles 2008 municipal budget
Rising assessments mean tax bills will likely go up again next year
By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday December 4th, 2007
Appeared on page A7
Council and the public at large got their first look at the proposed 2008 operating, utility and capital works budgets for the city of Moncton at last night's regular council meeting.
The budgets as presented would mean the average Moncton homeowner with an average $130,000 home will pay $115 more in property tax and $40 more for water and sewerage in 2008.
The budgets will now be debated publicly on December 12 and 13, at different times than previously publicized.
The budget process will begin at 9 a.m. at Moncton City Hall on Wednesday December 12 as previously announced, but the second day's deliberations on Thursday, December 13 will run from 3 p.m, to 9 p.m. in an effort to allow members of the public a better chance to attend.
Council tried to change both sessions to evening meetings at the suggestion of Ward 3 councillors Brian Hicks and Steve Mitton, but conflicts with other important city business meant council had to compromise.
City of Moncton chief financial officer John Martin, presenting his first budgets to council, warned council that the city is "facing a major potential crisis if we do not invest in more capital maintenance and develop our reserves to permit us to deal with immediate requirements." His budget proposes creation of a capital maintenance reserve.
Martin also reminded council of the looming cost of seeing so many of the baby boomers employed by the city retiring, pointing out there is just $850,000 in retirement liability funding when that will need to grow by 10 times that amount in the next handful of years.
Some sense of the decisions council will have to make in the next week came out of the presentation. To merely provide the same level of service as last year, would cost 4.8 per cent more because of inflation and other factors (including, ironically enough, the $87,757 more the city will have to pay in tax on its own properties, thanks to rising assessments in Moncton).
To try to roll back the tax rate to offset increasing assessments, would cost roughly half a million dollars for every cent shaved off the rate. While a number of citizens have suggested such a measure, only two members of the public braved last night's weather to see budget discussions firsthand.
To drop the tax rate enough to nullify this year's assessment increases would require trimming $4 million from the budget.
On the other hand, the average household will see a $9.50 per month increase with the budget as it stands," councillor-at-large Pierre Boudreau said.
Boudreau, the deputy chairman of the city's finance committee argued that was a reasonable increase to keep the city on the move. He pointed with pride to the fact that since 1980, Moncton has seen the smallest tax increases among the municipalities of Dieppe, Riverview, Fredericton and Saint John. However, Moncton's tax rate is second only to Saint John's.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dieppe city council grapples with budget demands
Council vows to do everything it can to hold the line on taxes
By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday December 4th, 2007
Appeared on page A6
There's no talk of a property tax increase in Dieppe.
In fact, during the first meeting last night of council's debate of its 2008 operating and capital budgets, the only talk was of holding the line on taxes -- or reducing them.
Nobody disagreed with the notion of holding taxes at the present level, but not everyone was in favour of a tax decrease of one cent per $100 of assessment, as proposed by Ward 3 Councillor Paul Belliveau.
Belliveau calculated that a one-cent decrease would shave $171,000 off the city's revenues and offer taxpayers a little relief.
Coun.-at-Large Charles Cormier, however, suggested holding the line on taxes rather than decreasing them, so that Dieppe can invest in measures to spur the city's ongoing growth -- the fastest of any N.B. city -- and pay down the city's debt.
Fellow Coun.-at-Large Jean Gaudet noted that a decrease in the tax rate would badly affect city finances for years to come. He recalled how the city decreased taxes when Champlain Place was built, thanks to the big mall's injection of taxes into city coffers. To this day, some projects that were on the city's wish list back then have yet to be completed due to lack of money.
No one spoke in favour of increasing taxes, which brings its own challenges. With every city department clamouring for more money, some tough choices will have to be made.
As Mayor Achille Maillet put it several times last night, "we have our needs, and we have our wants."
Another budget meeting is slated for tonight at 5 p.m. though today's snowstorm could postpone it. Council will meet again tomorrow at 5 p.m., if necessary, in order to finalize the budget.
Tonight's session will see a line-by-line examination of each department's proposed expenditures during and after which councillors will begin the task of paring items from the lists that council deems the city can't afford right now.
Two major capital projects are also up for discussion: a new main waterline into Dieppe from the area of Harrisville Boulevard in Moncton and the renewal of Paul Street. The meetings are open to the public.
mylesmalley
Dec 4, 2007, 1:24 PM
I don't envy the job of putting together a budget like that. Everybody wants a slice of it, but nobody wants to see their share of the cost go up. I hope holding the line on taxes will take some of the heat off Dieppe city council. A lot of it is justified, but I think people are a bit too quick to jump to conclusions about stuff like that.
Anyway, I also see Stephen Harper has come down from his ivory tower to tell us we're allowed to take out the causeway... but with no money from them. Meanwhile, they're giving tons of cash to other environmental projects across the country. I'm really getting tired of this guy. He has blatantly ignored the east coast since the day he was elected. If we ever expect this region to prosper, we need people in power who actually care about all regions of the country. I'm not saying we need special treatment, but if we keep getting the short end of the stick, we'll never end up anything more than a collection of depopulated welfare-provinces who's only edge is our ability to take on all the nation's old people.
mmmatt
Dec 5, 2007, 9:48 AM
From T&T Tuesday Dec 4
"So far, 2008 is looking like a solid year for music at the Moncton Coliseum.
Metal king Ozzy Osbourne kicks off the year on Jan. 24. Tickets to the show went on sale this past Saturday and sold out in mere hours.
On the opposite end of the musical scale, pop crooner Michael Bublé will perform at the Coliseum on Feb. 2. That show is also sold out.
Blue Rodeo, joined by another Canadian band, Cuff The Duke, will play the venue on Feb. 21.
Tickets to that show are still available. Anne Murray with Michael Kaeshammer will perform on Tuesday, April 15, and George Jones will perform on Wednesday, April 16."
Pretty well rounded lineup Id say, something for every music taste
ErickMontreal
Dec 5, 2007, 5:20 PM
Metro gains from Canucks on the move
Interprovincial migration figures show Metro Moncton gained 3,095 people
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Wednesday December 5th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
Call it "Going up the Road."
At least that appears to be the latest Moncton story from Statistics Canada, which released population data from the 2006 census yesterday that tells us that if life in New Brunswick still holds true to the old movie called "Going Down the Road" about Maritimers heading west, the opposite might be happening in Metro Moncton.
Net "interprovincial migration" data released by StatsCan yesterday highlighted Census Metropolitan Areas or CMAs, cities with a population exceeding 125,000, of which there are two in New Brunswick -- Metro Moncton and Greater Saint John.
Between those two during the last census period, between 2001 and 2006, Moncton had a net interprovincial migration gain of 3,095 people and Saint John headed almost exactly as far in the opposition direction, a net loss of 3,315.
Bear in mind that those numbers don't tell the whole story either, says Halifax-based StatsCan analyst Marc Melanson, who says "intraprovincial" numbers won't be available for a few more days.
"Interprovincial mobility" is about movement from one province or territory to another as opposed to "intraprovincial mobility" or movement from one part of a province to another part of the same province.
Most economic analysts in New Brunswick believe much of Metro Moncton's recent population burst is coming from other parts of the province, but we don't have the whole story on that yet.
What we do have is quite surprising in some cases.
Among Canada's 33 CMAs, Moncton lost population over the five-year period to only 13 of them and by small margins in most cases. The largest net losses are to Halifax (295 people), Edmonton (235) and Calgary (105).
But Moncton has the advantage over some surprising CMAs, including Toronto. At the end of the five-year period 445 Monctonians had moved to Toronto but 675 Torontonians had moved to Moncton, leaving a net gain of 230 for Moncton over Toronto.
Why Toronto suddenly finds Moncton so attractive can only be guessed at, says Melanson, although he reminds that StatsCan will be releasing its next wave of data in the spring that will tell us more about those 'interprovincial' migrants, such as their incomes, the type of work they do and province of origin; it could be there are a lot of homesick New Brunswickers who are lately getting calls from the old folks about more jobs being available in New Brunswick, the forestry industry notwithstanding.
The data also suggests that while Saint John is anticipating an economic boom with various big energy projects on the horizon, currently there are more jobs in Moncton because over the last five years among the 33 CMAs, Saint John is the biggest loser of them all in its relationship to Moncton, having seen 1,020 of its citizens moving to Moncton compared to 465 Monctonians going the other way, a net gain of 555 for Moncton at the direct expense of Saint John.
However not all is lost for the port city.
Yesterday's data also included immigration statistics, which tell a slightly better story for Saint John than Moncton.
During the census period Moncton registered 4,245 immigrants -- people who moved to Moncton from outside Canada -- representing 3.4 per cent of the total population of the Metro Moncton CMA. That's good in a small way in that it is an improvement over the last census, when immigrants represented a minuscule 2.9 per cent of the population.
However, the current 3.4 per cent is not as good as Saint John, which has 5,035 immigrants or 4.2 per cent of the total population.
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__________________________________________________________________________________________________
New Census data out today
On language, mobility and immigration. I don't have time to analyze this for you but here are a few quick stats to chew on:
73% of the people (7,115 in total) moving into Greater Moncton from outside the province over the last five years are Anglophones, 3% are not Francophone or Anglophone and 24% are Francophone.
There are 1,390 'external migrants' to the Moncton CMA over the past five years - that's up from previous Census' but still means less than 300 immigrants per year on a population of 126,000. That's a serious problem.
The majority of folks moving to Greater Moncton from inside New Brunswick are Anglophone (52% of the 14,600 people moving in).
The overall number of people that live in Greater Moncton that didn't live here five years ago? 23,105 people or about 1 in 5 of the people over the age 5.
ErickMontreal
Dec 5, 2007, 7:32 PM
Moncton Downtown :: Avant la tempête / Before the storm
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150076_main.jpg
Moncton Downtown :: Après la tempête / After the storm
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150123_after_the_storm.jpg
By Brain Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/
mylesmalley
Dec 5, 2007, 9:18 PM
Moncton Downtown :: Avant la tempête / Before the storm
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150076_main.jpg
Moncton Downtown :: Après la tempête / After the storm
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150123_after_the_storm.jpg
By Brain Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/
Haha, wow. what a contrast.
mmmatt
Dec 5, 2007, 11:55 PM
We are doing great on attracting people from inside NB and inside Canada...but the international thing is a bad scene, it is going up, which is good...but it needs to go up way more.
And those are nice pics! good idea on the part of Brian
ErickMontreal
Dec 6, 2007, 12:09 AM
:: French only ::
La France et l'Acadie discutent d'écoles privées
(France and Acadie discuss private schools)
Le District scolaire 1 au Nouveau-Brunswick s'allie avec le Consulat général de France à Moncton et la Mission laïque française pour établir une nouvelle formule éducative.
Ce projet est encore qualifié d'embryonnaire. Il s'adresse avant tout aux enfants de ressortissants français. Ernest Thibodeau, président du conseil d'éducation du District scolaire 1, précise que ces parents souhaitent que leurs enfants suivent un programme reconnu en France au cas où ils retourneraient vivre dans ce pays.
Les premières démarches des promoteurs portent des fruits. Des réunions avec des représentants de trois ministères, dont celui de l'Éducation, et avec le chef de Cabinet du premier ministre, ont déjà eu lieu.
Selon Ernest Thibodeau, il n'est pas question de créer avec des fonds publics une école privée, comme celles gérées partout dans le monde par la Mission laïque française.
Dans sa forme actuelle, la proposition est intéressante, selon Bernard Thériault, chef de Cabinet du premier ministre Shawn Graham. Il affirme que cela ne changera rien aux principes de base du système scolaire provincial actuel, soit la gratuité et l'universalité de l'éducation.
Les paramètres du projet seront établis par une étude de faisabilité prévue au cours des prochains mois.
Le District scolaire 1 regroupe 15 écoles françaises dans le sud de la province. La Mission laïque française est un organisme international qui gère 400 écoles françaises privées dans le monde.
ErickMontreal
Dec 6, 2007, 12:14 AM
We are doing great on attracting people from inside NB and inside Canada...but the international thing is a bad scene, it is going up, which is good...but it needs to go up way more.
And those are nice pics! good idea on the part of Brian
I`m agree, international immigration is actually a serious problem here in Moncton. Moreover, I`m glad seeing Moncton attracted on a regular basis either french and english citizens both coming from inside and outside the province.
mbeaumont
Dec 6, 2007, 1:03 AM
I know alot of people from Quebec who moved to Moncton because its french
ErickMontreal
Dec 6, 2007, 1:20 AM
I know alot of people from Quebec who moved to Moncton because its french
I`m one of them though I moved here mainly to get better in english.
Moncton really is a bicultural city where both languages roughly have the same level of service basis. The city represents quite well whats New-Brunswick supposed to be.
mbeaumont
Dec 6, 2007, 12:32 PM
I was in Edmundston and was susprised how little english there was for a bilingual province, I ordered in English and they had to bring out a supervisor so they could get my order, I speak French too, but I go to the Maritimes to speak English
mylesmalley
Dec 6, 2007, 1:10 PM
I was in Edmundston and was susprised how little english there was for a bilingual province, I ordered in English and they had to bring out a supervisor so they could get my order, I speak French too, but I go to the Maritimes to speak English
Generally, I think the North Shore and east coast is largely French. Much of the rest of the province is largely English. Moncton, being about half and half, is pretty much halfway between the two. When you think about it, Greater Moncton is more English the further west you go, plus Riverview. Dieppe is almost entirely French by comparison.
That's hardly a rule though. There are lots of english speakers in Miramichi and Bathurst, and many french in Saint John and Fredericton etc.
JasonL-Moncton
Dec 6, 2007, 1:27 PM
I still wonder what's going to fill up the former Future Shop space in Champlain place ?
I am still guessing for Best Buy.
That would not make sense as Best Buy "owns" Future Shop...why would they 'move' future shop up town and then fill it's place with Best Buy...why not just build Best Buy up town?
JL
mylesmalley
Dec 6, 2007, 2:01 PM
That would not make sense as Best Buy "owns" Future Shop...why would they 'move' future shop up town and then fill it's place with Best Buy...why not just build Best Buy up town?
JL
I was at a mall in Vancouver last year, where the two anchor stores were Best Buy and Future shop. Honest to god, they were across the hall from each other... MADNESS!
JasonL-Moncton
Dec 6, 2007, 4:14 PM
That is pretty nuts....
ErickMontreal
Dec 6, 2007, 5:46 PM
No cash for new Coliseum
Proposed 2008 budget includes money for Mapleton Road, Botsford Street widening, skateboard park, upgrades to Rocky Stone Field
By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Thursday December 6th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
If the City of Moncton doesn't completely blow the budget cleaning up after the worst snowstorm in three years, here's a rough outline of some of the spending ideas being floated around city hall as council prepares to debate the 2008 budget.
The projects inventoried here are some of what's on the proposed 2008 capital works budget and five-year capital works program presented to council at its regular council meeting Monday night.
Councillors will debate the capital works budget as well as the operations and utility budgets, on Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Dec. 13 from 3 to 9 p.m. Those meetings are open to the public.
Two of the biggest expenditures pencilled in for 2008 are road projects many Monctonians would argue are long overdue. Mapleton Road improvements will finally get under way this year if the works budget passes as is, with $5.5 million set aside to widen the road from Frampton Lane north to Highway 2, the Trans-Canada Highway. Another $5.5 million is in the projection for 2009 to finish the widening to Plaza Boulevard.
Ryan Road from Hildegard to Horsman Road is the subject of a $950,000 allotment in 2008.
Also in the 2008 draft is $1.42 million to widen Botsford Street from Wheeler Boulevard to Mountain Road. Long needed at any rate, the road's narrowness and congestion are about to become a bigger issue as the city's newest fire station is under construction at the corner of Botsford and King Street.
Speaking of the fire department, a big-budget item for it this year is a new $800,000 pumper/rescue truck.
Looking at other big budget items, besides the $1.150,000 to continue work already started on upgrading the Hal Betts Softball/Slowpitch complex is a million dollars for the Rocky Stone Field for clubhouse, washrooms and bleacher improvements.
There's also $125,000 for a new skateboard park .
One thing that's not in the proposed 2008 capital works budget and five-year capital works program is a new facility to replace the Moncton Coliseum. A survey commissioned by the Times & Transcript early this year, and conducted by Omnifacts Bristol Research, asked people what they thought of having a new stadium facility downtown. A whopping 89 per cent either supported or strongly supported the idea.
Last year, Ian Fowler, general manager of the department of Recreation, Parks, Tourism and Culture, placed a whopping $50 million on one tiny line in the proposed 2007 capital works budget to, as he said, "put a focus on it for council so they're aware it's on our radar screen."
Council rejected it as "unrealistic," to use Deputy Mayor Merrill Henderson's word. Bumped from its 2011 perch, the new stadium has now dropped off the radar screen completely from this year's projections.
Instead, there's a million dollars marked for a tunnel between the current Coliseum and adjoining Agrena.
Also missing from the proposed budget is any money to implement whatever might be suggested in the Recreation Master Plan, about to be unveiled in the next several weeks. There's a million and two million dollars entered in the 2011 and 2012 projections, but no money set aside in any of the next three years.
The final, approved version of the budget should be completed before Christmas, barring any complications coming up during the deliberations next week.
mmmatt
Dec 6, 2007, 8:38 PM
No surprises in that budget...I dont like that they are putting a million into the Coliseum though...seems like a waste when hopefully we will have a new one in the next 15 years hopefully...maybe its a necessary thing i dunno.
Good that they are putting down the money for widening Mapleton though...with the new power center soon to be complete and all it will be very much needed.
mmmatt
Dec 7, 2007, 6:24 AM
Since St. George st. is fast becoming a part of downtown moncton (at least in terms of member ship in Downtown Moncton Inc) Heres a nice pic...There are some nice urban buildings on this street, the old Assumption building (5 stories next to cathedral)...the cathedral, the Lions tower (11 stories). I really love Casse Populaires (spelling) building on this street too, very nice.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2131/2062811919_1cd82b0aaf_b.jpg credit: juergenweiland
And heres an interesting skyline pic...an angle you dont see very often.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/newer%20moncton%202/Untitled-2.jpg credit: thewentworths (i cropped it a bit)
mylesmalley
Dec 7, 2007, 7:31 AM
I always laugh when I drive by the cathedral. If you look closely, you'll notice there's an adult video store directly across the street from it.
Also, a lot of apartments are going up around that neighborhood. It's good to see downtown becoming more dense.
ErickMontreal
Dec 7, 2007, 12:58 PM
Since St. George st. is fast becoming a part of downtown moncton (at least in terms of member ship in Downtown Moncton Inc) Heres a nice pic...There are some nice urban buildings on this street, the old Assumption building (5 stories next to cathedral)...the cathedral, the Lions tower (11 stories). I really love Casse Populaires (spelling) building on this street too, very nice.[/I]
Cool pics Thank you!
ErickMontreal
Dec 7, 2007, 1:03 PM
Dieppe mail plant gets $6.5M expansion
Facility is largest parcel processing plant east of Montreal
BY ERIC LEWIS
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Friday December 7th, 2007
Appeared on page a4
Canada Post workers stationed at the Dieppe mail processing plant can look forward to having plenty more space to work in late next year as Canada Post announced yesterday plans to add a new building on the grounds.
The $6.8-million project will see a 1,672 square metre building added to the existing mail processing plant, the largest parcel loading and unloading facility east of Montreal.
At a press conference yesterday morning, general manager of operations for the Atlantic Region Wayne Quinn unveiled the project, saying that the new facility will “give our customers the best possible service and our employees a new and efficient working environment that has more safety features.”
The $6.8 million project is the largest investment Canada Post has made in the region in a decade.
The Dieppe plant processes roughly 325,000 publications, 250,000 letters and 125,000 parcels and packets a week in round-the-clock shifts. All parcels and publications from out west destined for New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland are sent to the plant for processing. Over 55 trucks drop off and pick up mail from the facility daily.
Currently, work stations in the existing building are fairly cramped.
Temporary work stations are set up daily for different shifts.
The new building will give employees more space to work in and will also make room for upgraded technology, including a gravity-fed conveyor system for publications and flyers.
Dieppe Mayor Achille Maillet and Canada Post director of operations for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island were on hand for yesterday’s announcement.
Maillet said during the press conference that the expansion of the Dieppe processing plant was “one of the very important elements or pieces of the puzzle” for the city’s growth.
The expansion, which is broken down into two phases, began last month. In addition to the new building, the expansion includes adding additional parking spaces to the site, expanding the dock area and upgrading the patio and washrooms.
Phase one of the project began last month and will include a relocation of the underground electrical entrance and constructing the foundation of the new building.
Phase two, the construction of the new building, begins in January.
The project is expected to be completed by September 2008.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Province not counting out a combined casino/racetrack combo
December 07, 2007 - 4:46 am
By: Denise Barkhouse-News 88-9 staff
Saint John-The province isn't discounting the possibility of having a casino - standard bred racetrack combo.
the province's finance minister is clarifying what it might be looking for as it ponders it's next step in destination gaming.
the day the province released its responsible gaming plan, it was clear that a racino was out of the question, but Finance Minister Victor Boudreau says a similar concept isn't.
He tells us the province isn't looking for a bunch of gambling machines, its looking for a casino, with slots and tables - -and something else to draw visitors.
"We are looking for a much larger project. Which could include a standard bred racetrack, it could be a convention enter, it could be recreational facilities, retail space, hotels, restaurants. So you know all this will add to the value of the various proposals."
Boudreau says proposals will be analyzed and sixty percent of the evaluation will be based on the casino business plan the remaining forty percent will be based on what else will make up the destination casino complex.
He says a standard bred racetrack would probably score quite favourably in the evaluation process.
mmmatt
Dec 7, 2007, 10:14 PM
Thats great news about the parcel plant! Way to go Dieppe!! :D
ErickMontreal
Dec 8, 2007, 6:28 PM
All roads lead to Metro
Long-awaited figures prove Metro Moncton, Westmorland Co. a magnet for northern N.B. residents
By ROD ALLEN
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Saturday December 8th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
Statistics Canada's release of intraprovincial migration numbers from the 2006 census have finally confirmed what most New Brunswickers have suspected for years: that the north is rapidly emptying out into the south. Specifically to the southeast and more specifically still to Metro Moncton and the rest of Westmorland County.
In fact, according to the larger numbers that play out in the census, population growth in Westmorland can be considered explosive, outpacing as it does rapidly-growing Canada itself.
Thanks almost exclusively to the greatest five-year period of immigration in 75 years -- one in five or 19.8 per cent of all Canadians are now foreign-born -- Canada's population grew at a rate of 5.4 per cent over the five-year census period from 2001 to 2006.
New Brunswick enjoys only a tiny portion of immigration over the same period -- 4.1 per cent of New Brunswickers are immigrants. Yet, in five years, Westmorland County grew faster than Canada -- 6.5 per cent compared to 5.4 per cent -- or from 124,688 citizens in 2001 to 132,849 in 2006.
Meanwhile, New Brunswick's overall population growth is so tiny, at .1 per cent, that it might as well be considered stagnant over five years, moving from 729,498 people in 2001 to 729,997 in 2006.
The minuscule improvement in the provincial population, in which all factors such as births, deaths, immigration and interprovincial migration (movement from one province to another) are accounted, therefore, clearly shows that most of the growth enjoyed by the southeast comes at the expense of the north, which is clearly struggling with a moribund forestry industry and seeking to diversify a cyclical economy tied to global demand for the raw materials it produces.
Statistics Canada's figures for New Brunswick's intraprovincial migration (movement from one area to another within a province) show northern counties emptying rapidly as people seek the greater variety of jobs available in the south.
The biggest change in the north occurs in sprawling Restigouche County, which covers almost the entire top of the province like a cap.
There, population fell from 36,134 people in 2001 to 33,834 in 2006, or a decline of 6.4 per cent.
Next is neighbouring Gloucester County, covering the northeastern corner, which fell from 82,929 in 2001 to 78,948 in 2006, or a decline of 4.8 per cent.
Madawaska County in the northwestern corner of the province is also shrinking at a rate of minus 4.3 per cent from 35,611 in 2001 to 34,071.
Even north-central New Brunswick is losing people. Northumberland County, dominated by the City of Miramichi which is also dealing with forestry struggles, fell by 3.8 per cent from 50,817 people in 2001 to 48,868 in 2006.
Most of the south joins Westmorland in growth, albeit over a wide range of relative success.
The province's next biggest beneficiary of the north-to-south shift is Fredericton-dominated York County, which is enjoying 4.2 per cent growth from 87,212 to 90,872 over the five-year period. Albert County just west of Westmorland has also seen strong growth, a three per cent increase from 26,749 citizens in 2001 to 27,562 in 2006. Kent County on Westmorland's east flank grew by all of 66, from 31,383 to 31,449 for a marginal growth rate of .2 per cent.
But even parts of the south fell.
Saint John County occupying the southwestern corner and including the City of Saint John fell a minus 2.7 per cent from 76,407 to 74,621 people.
However, the numbers in Saint John's case can be deceptive, as a more detailed analysis of county-to-county movement will reveal.
In Saint John, for example, over the course of the five-year census period the County of Saint John sustained a net loss of 640 citizens to the neighbouring county of Kings.
It works this way: census-takers registered that in 2001, 1,955 people who were living in Saint John County that year had also registered that they had lived in Kings County during the previous census period of 1996-2001.
The census takers also registered that in 2006, 2,595 people who had been living in Saint John previously were now living in Kings County, thus a net benefit of 640 citizens for Kings County at the expense of Saint John County.
However, Saint John County is dominated by the City of Saint John, one of two Census Metropolitan Areas or CMAs (population exceeding 125,000) in New Brunswick, the other being Metro Moncton. Both of these CMAs are spread over two counties, and, in the case of the Saint John CMA, the other county is Kings, which contains several large and growing communities such as Rothesay.
Statistics Canada reports only numbers, not trends, but since housing trends in Saint John County suggest many residents of Saint John proper are moving to the suburbs the Saint John CMA is not losing population as rapidly as the County of Saint John, in which only about three-quarters of the CMA resides.
Other county-to-county movements however are much more clear-cut and dramatic -- particularly in the case of Westmorland County.
In 2001, for example, 675 people who had previously lived in the northeastern county of Gloucester were living in Westmorland, but in 2006, 1,650 people who had previously been living in Gloucester were now living in Westmorland.
The difference is 975 people, meaning that between 2001 and 2006 there was migration back and forth between the two counties, but at the end of the five years, 975 more Gloucesterians had moved to Westmorland than Westmorlanders had moved to Gloucester.
Westmorland is the stand-out in New Brunswick as the only county to have gained population from every single county in the province.
A 'quick facts' box accompanying this story shows what Westmorland gained from its 14 fellow counties over the census period.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Grants go to heritage properties
Four owners of designated heritage buildings receive funding from city
By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Saturday December 8th, 2007
Appeared on page A4
Four owners of designated heritage buildings in Moncton recently received financial assistance from the City of Moncton to do right by their homes and businesses.
During the regular public meeting of Moncton City Council Dec. 3, the Moncton Heritage Preservation Review Board presented cheques to the owners.
Rosalind Miller received $10,000 to help with her million dollar renovation of the Peter McSweeney Building at 700 Main Street. The building houses Studio 700, Kramers Corner, McSweeney's Dinner Theatre and other businesses. Kathy Guitard received $6,331 for her repair and painting of original wood clapboards and trim, plus masonry and window repair at the residence of John A. Humphrey at 132 Mill Road. The home is headquarters of her new business, Hart Realty.
The city gave $6,185.50 for work on the Scott House at 63 Church Street, presently owned by Gregg Hunt. Hunt put it towards repair and painting of original wood clapboards and trim, and repairs to front verandah. Lastly, E.T. and Associates Inc. received $3,300 towards work at 24 Austin Street, the former residence of Mayor J. Fred Edgett.
The funds were allocated through the board's grant program, designed to support projects undertaken to preserve or enhance the historic character of the City of Moncton.
"The Review Board is committed to keeping Moncton's many wonderful heritage properties intact," said Beverly Barrett, Chair of Moncton's Heritage Preservation Review Board.
"We are proud of this grant program, which allows property owners to further enhance and restore these important structures, and we'd like to thank city council for investing in this worthwhile initiative."
In 1996, the City of Moncton established Heritage Preservation bylaw to help protect Moncton's collection of architecture and landscapes that date back to the 19th century.
Currently, more than 120 properties are protected as individual landmarks. The intent of the conservation program is to ensure the building's structural stability, to keep it weather tight and to conserve its heritage value. Projects which restore architectural elements significant to the heritage character of the property are also eligible for Moncton's grant program.
Information on the Heritage Preservation Review Board, the grant program, or any of Moncton's other heritage programs can be found at www.moncton.ca/heritage.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Riverview condo project ready to go
http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=60168&size=300x0
Alan Cochrane
COCHRANE REPORT
Published Saturday December 8th, 2007
Appeared on page D2
A Moncton developer is ready to break ground in the spring for a new 18-unit condominium project next to the Moncton Golf & Country Club in Riverview.
"We're looking to pre-sell some through the winter and start digging in the spring," says Joe Spataro.
The Bella Casa Riverview Hilltop Golf Estates, geared toward adults and empty-nesters who want a nice view and live close to the golf course, are available in one or two-bedroom designs and range in price from $93,000 (635 square feet) to $225,000 (1,408 square feet). The Italian-style condos have design names like The Tuscany, The Genova, The Napoli, The Florentine, The Milano and The Sienna. Features will include cathedral ceilings, luxurious plumbing fixtures and pre-hung doors. Most have two bathrooms and some have two balconies. The buildings will include security entrances, elevators, underground parking, a large lobby and mailbox area, fitness room, multi purpose room and a live-in superintendent.
The project was delayed this year by legal action against the golf club, which has been settled.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The scoops on the political heavyweights
GOSSIP FROM N.B.’S FAVOURITE RUMOUR-MONGER
Published Saturday December 8th, 2007
Appeared on page D10
Sleuth didn't get close enough to the PM -- did anyone? -- to hear exactly what he told Mayor Mitton about the 10,000-seat stadium to be built for the 2010 International Amateur Athletics Federation world junior track and field championships to be held in the city.
But he did pick up enough dirt to know that although the land has been cleared, we should not expect a sod-turning for construction until the new year. Could it be that federal Tories are waiting to time the photo-op as close as possible to a spring election?
Meanwhile, this old gumshoe also hears that a pretty powerful and fierce lobbying campaign has started to put the second practice track for the 2010 Worlds at l'Odyssée.
The city has been trying to figure out a compromise deal in which three players in the running for the practice track -- l'Odyssée, Moncton High School and Université de Moncton -- all come out like winners.
There's a case to be made for all three sites, but it can only go in one spot. Don't look for an announcement on this one until early in 2008.
***
Sleuth's spies tell him that somebody is canvassing southeastern New Brunswick on the Petitcodiac River issue.
At least one person in the Sussex area informs the ol' gumshoe that he received a call from an outfit based in Halifax, Thinkwell Research, that bills itself on the Internet as a "firm specializing in public affairs and in research for the development and assessment of communications, advertising, and direct marketing campaigns."
And it does do polling, but says it does so with various wordings of questions to determine what approaches work best for a public relations or marketing campaigns. So what's up and who has hired them? Is the federal government at work here?
Sleuth doesn't know, but his source did say the wording of questions he was asked was so "loaded" it was embarrassing. He talked of questions along the lines of: "Which do you think is better, spending $100 million on cleaning up the Petitcodiac or feeding poor people?"
And at one point when Sleuth's source refused to answer a question, the surveyor said, "so I'll put you down as undecided, then". . . to which the chap said, "no, put me down as refused to answer."
***
Sleuth has been a lifelong hockey fan so it sure didn't take long for complaints about the Tim Hortons 4-Plex to reach his open ears.
Frequent users of the facility say the dressing rooms are in terrible shape and players are now concerned about the general cleanliness of the facility.
What's troublesome, hockey insiders say, is that the company that operates the 4-Plex will also be responsibility for operating the new Kay Community Centre when it opens after Christmas.
ErickMontreal
Dec 8, 2007, 8:00 PM
:: Main Street/Moncton Marriott under construction ::
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150139_marriott_snow.jpg
:: Banque National Bank / Thymothys :: Shopping on Main street ::
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150164_timothys.jpg
By Brain Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/
mmmatt
Dec 8, 2007, 9:08 PM
great news on the condo project! I bet they will all be 3-4 stories...in a perfect world all those would be made into a 15 story condo in downtown Moncton, but this is far from a perfect world haha.
Nice pics too! :)
ErickMontreal
Dec 8, 2007, 10:44 PM
:: Université de Moncton Stadium ::
Promoters :: Université de Moncton/Moncton city
Cost :: 14 millions
Capacity :: 10 000 seats
Usage :: 2010 International Amateur Athletics
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2096493044_4b0baa0f72_o.jpg
mmmatt
Dec 8, 2007, 11:33 PM
Sweet! A real asset for the city...
This event will help further thrust Moncton into the national and international eye.
As well the stadium will help draw future large events of its kind and also be a great asset for the city in that it will help foster great new athetes in the Moncton area with these kind of facilities.
ErickMontreal
Dec 9, 2007, 12:23 AM
great news on the condo project! I bet they will all be 3-4 stories...in a perfect world all those would be made into a 15 story condo in downtown Moncton, but this is far from a perfect world haha.
Nice pics too! :)
You`re right though the new infills as Marriott are welcome. My first concern about that Hotel is not really the height this is more the red bricks "faux heritage look". A bit more of modernity (glass) through the red bricks style could be more suitable to me. Anyway, its just based own my opinion.
mmmatt
Dec 9, 2007, 10:56 AM
Beautiful painting set I found on Flickr. They were done in 2005 and currently reside in a building on Vaughn Harvey.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/13741948_b6b81db3b6_o.jpg
You can tell the age on this one...(Smart Pizza is now Pizza Girls)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/11/13729287_0f0d3c64ef_o.jpg
Love this one...reflections are great!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/10/13728800_7cc3f59124_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/13728243_5d2ed746de_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/11/13726118_1dd043b2f5_o.jpg
And my personal fav...Funny that 2 buldings pictured here (Crowne Plaza, Gov of Can building) have either had or are in the process of a face lift since this was painted.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/11/13727796_858a4d31c2_o.jpg
credit: zabethanne from flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zabethanne/
Wishblade
Dec 9, 2007, 8:37 PM
No offense on the stadium guys, but I was expecting something a little more spectacular. I know it can be expanded which is great, but its just a track with some bleachers :shrug:. I suppose 14 million is a good deal considering though.
mmmatt
Dec 9, 2007, 8:55 PM
No offense on the stadium guys, but I was expecting something a little more spectacular. I know it can be expanded which is great, but its just a track with some bleachers :shrug:. I suppose 14 million is a good deal considering though.
Well yeah, its nothing amazing, but we need to remember its a track and field stadium, not a soccer stadium or a football stadium...and its being mainly built to host a single event (hopefully it will draw more, and maybe get exanded)...also its being built with 14 million dollars, which these days is not very much for a stadium. I'm happy though.
ErickMontreal
Dec 9, 2007, 9:15 PM
Well yeah, its nothing amazing, but we need to remember its a track and field stadium, not a soccer stadium or a football stadium...and its being mainly built to host a single event (hopefully it will draw more, and maybe get exanded)...also its being built with 14 million dollars, which these days is not very much for a stadium. I'm happy though.
I agree, this is not a stadium being built for CFL requirements. Moncton is far to be able to draw a CFL franchise. I suppose Quebec, Ottawa, London as well as Halifax going to get a team before Moncton. It would have been useless to get built largest stadium in relation to the needs of the city. Another 15-millions could be necessary to meet CFL standards.
ErickMontreal
Dec 9, 2007, 9:39 PM
Beautiful painting set I found on Flickr. They were done in 2005 and currently reside in a building on Vaughn Harvey.
Cool painting! Thanks
kwajo
Dec 9, 2007, 10:47 PM
No offense on the stadium guys, but I was expecting something a little more spectacular. I know it can be expanded which is great, but its just a track with some bleachers :shrug:. I suppose 14 million is a good deal considering though.
It looks a lot like the Canada Games Stadium in Saint John to be frank, which isn't surprising, but I guess I assumed $14,000,000 could buy more these days.
michael_d40
Dec 9, 2007, 11:01 PM
It looks a lot like the Canada Games Stadium in Saint John to be frank, which isn't surprising, but I guess I assumed $14,000,000 could buy more these days.
I agree
ErickMontreal
Dec 9, 2007, 11:05 PM
What capacity the stadium in SJ is ?
kwajo
Dec 9, 2007, 11:16 PM
Right now it holds 5000, but it has been downsized (the removed some of the bleachers to reduce maintenance costs). When it was originally built it held 12000. It cost $3.5 million in 1985 to build a 12000 seat stadium, so I guess $14 million for 10000 seats, 22 years later, isn't too bad.
mmmatt
Dec 9, 2007, 11:58 PM
Heres what the SJ stadium looks like for those who dont know (I didnt)
http://www.unb.ca/welcome/maps/saint_john/images/buildings/1.jpg
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/jrhockeyfan90/canada%20games%20stadium.jpg
The main difference I found (besides the extra 5000 seats surrounding it) is that the canopy on the Moncton one is seemingly larger, from what I can tell...but I could be wrong...either way, both great stadiums citys of 125,000 should be proud of.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 12:09 AM
Right now it holds 5000, but it has been downsized (the removed some of the bleachers to reduce maintenance costs). When it was originally built it held 12000. It cost $3.5 million in 1985 to build a 12000 seat stadium, so I guess $14 million for 10000 seats, 22 years later, isn't too bad.
Its a decent stadium size. Anyway they can add bleachers anytime if they need more capacity. The city/University still could used it for further events, thats great.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 12:09 AM
Heres what the SJ stadium looks like for those who dont know (I didnt)
Thank you for the pics, I really did not know what the SJ stadium looks like.
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 12:23 AM
Tomar the tiger put down after lengthy illness
December 08, 2007 - 0:00 am
By: Allan Dearing - News 91.9 Staff
http://www.news919.com/Tomar.jpg
MONCTON, NB - Sad news from the Magnetic Hill Zoo - Greater Moncton's beloved Tomar the tiger has passed away after a lengthy battle with renal failure.
Zoo general manager Bruce Dougan says zoo officials made a decision Friday afternoon to euthanize the big Siberian cat noting his condition worsened quickly over a few days.
Tomar was diagnosed with renal failure in January and vets gave him anywhere from one month to one year to live.
The animal will be laid to rest in the zoo's remembrance garden alongside his mate pasha, who passed away a few years ago.
Tomar was born in 1988 at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg and arrived at the Magnetic Hill Zoo as a five month old cub in April 1989.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 12:24 AM
I would like U de Moncton get a franchise CIS league, it could be great way to draw new students in town.
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 12:26 AM
I would like U de Moncton get a franchise CIS league, it could be great way to draw new students in town.
What do you mean by that? The Aigles Bleus (spelling) are a CIS league...they have hockey, soccer and volleyball.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 12:35 AM
What do you mean by that? The Aigles Bleus (spelling) are a CIS league...they have hockey, soccer and volleyball.
Sorry, I forgot the main subject, I talked about football team along Halifax, Mount Allison, Laval, Mcgill ect
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 12:48 AM
Sorry, I forgot the main subject, I talked about football team along Halifax, Mount Allison, Laval, Mcgill ect
ahh I see, yes that would be nice...I'm not too sure of the football fanbase in Moncton, but I'm sure it would do fine...I mean there were rumours of a CFL team in Moncton, but like you said before we are wayyyy too small for that...unless people from Halifax, Freddy, and SJ were coming to every game.
mylesmalley
Dec 10, 2007, 12:56 AM
I'm going to be the crazy one, but I'm surprised the new stadium looks as big as it does. I had this picture of Rocky Stone Field in my head whenever I thought about it, so this looks great to me. It would make a great mid-size concert venue for those shows that are too small for the hill, but too big for the coliseum. Anyway, where did you find that picture?
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 1:19 AM
I'm going to be the crazy one, but I'm surprised the new stadium looks as big as it does. I had this picture of Rocky Stone Field in my head whenever I thought about it, so this looks great to me. It would make a great mid-size concert venue for those shows that are too small for the hill, but too big for the coliseum. Anyway, where did you find that picture?
You have good points, I found it out in the University newpaper that my GF bring back home, I took the photo on the PDF version of it.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 1:26 AM
ahh I see, yes that would be nice...I'm not too sure of the football fanbase in Moncton, but I'm sure it would do fine...I mean there were rumours of a CFL team in Moncton, but like you said before we are wayyyy too small for that...unless people from Halifax, Freddy, and SJ were coming to every game.
If Moncton population carry on growing at this pace, on a long run, it could be profitable. Moncton going to need both a huge corporate (Arthur Irving, Pizza Delight/Mike, Assumption) to hold a franchise and they will need to expand the stadium to at least 25 000 seats. I could see it around 2015-2020.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 5:55 AM
I fint out that development. I don`t really know the status of that project though it seem to be on hold.
________________________________________________________
:: Port Royal Development ::
http://www.portroyalcenter.ca/images/dev-hotel-en.jpg
Hotel :: Future Inn :: Completed.
Condo building :: 100 Units :: 8-story building
Appartments :: 200 Units :: (2X)4-story building
Retails :: Retail :: services
http://www.portroyalcenter.ca/en-ca/index.html
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 7:32 AM
Thats cool! I had naver seen this render before! Those apartment complexes and condo building look really nice...too bad they couldnt be downtown, but oh well. The site is written as though this is all supposed to be built right now, so I am guessing its on hold for the moment. However in the meantime Hampton inn is going up across the street and Mapleton power center is well under way.
mylesmalley
Dec 10, 2007, 1:25 PM
I fint out that development. I don`t really know the status of that project though it seem to be on hold.
________________________________________________________
:: Port Royal Development ::
http://www.portroyalcenter.ca/images/dev-hotel-en.jpg
Hotel :: Future Inn :: Completed.
Condo building :: 100 Units :: 8-story building
Appartments :: 200 Units :: (2X)4-story building
Retails :: Retail :: services
http://www.portroyalcenter.ca/en-ca/index.html
I've never seen that, either. Looks great though. I'm glad to see they're planning on building with higher density on the 'Vision Lands'. We waste way too much land on suburban housing for a city this size.
I especially like the look of the big one in the top-right. I think if they make it look fancy enough, like the new Mariott, red brick can look great. They run into trouble when they throw places together like Cameron arms.
mylesmalley
Dec 10, 2007, 1:27 PM
BTW, where's the eight story building supposed to go?
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 3:41 PM
Moncton airport looks to Boston
President of the Greater Moncton International Airport says he will go after Delta Airlines to establish direct link between Moncton, Boston
By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Monday December 10th, 2007
Appeared on page B3
The Fredericton International Airport's loss of direct flights to Boston is a blow to the entire province, says the president and CEO of the rival Greater Moncton International Airport.
"I honestly feel bad for Fredericton," Rob Robichaud says, "but I feel even worse for the province."
Big Sky Airlines, which operates twice-daily flights between Boston and Fredericton on behalf of Delta Airlines, announced yesterday it would yank the money-losing route on Jan. 7.
"It's unfortunate for them and for the province," Robichaud says, "because it was good for the province and what's good for the province is good for everyone."
However, Moncton will now go after Delta to establish a Moncton-Boston direct air link.
Fredericton was picked by Continental for the direct flights thanks in part to a $2.3 million travel bank that guaranteed seat sales. Moncton has no travel bank -- "We weren't going to play that game," Robichaud says -- but is armed with something it believes is much more valuable: a strong business case that shows there is money to be made by an airline that would establish a Moncton-Boston air link.
Boston is described by Robichaud as Moncton's "number one market," even stronger than the successful Moncton-Newark Continental Express direct flights that Moncton has enjoyed for more than a year. Despite the fact 80 per cent of New Brunswick's trade is with the U.S. and many of us shop and vacation there, the Moncton-Newark flights remain the only direct, regularly scheduled air link in New Brunswick to the northeastern U.S.
Robichaud qualified the loss of the Boston-Fredericton twice-daily service as "a darned shame," because New Brunswickers heading there as of Jan. 7 must first fly to either Halifax, Montreal or Toronto and then be forced to switch flights.
That's a huge detriment to New Brunswick's tourism industry, Robichaud notes, because American tourists have a wealth of options to choose from that don't involve having to switch planes or arrive at a destination far from where you actually want to go, only to have to rent a car then drive for much of a day -- which they'd have to do if they wish to use an airline for a visit to New Brunswick.
The lack of a travel bank shouldn't hurt Moncton's ability to sell a Boston-Moncton air link to an air carrier, Robichaud believes, because of research which shows such a service can make money.
However, the airport operator is a firm believer that other incentives can go a long way to not only attracting such a service but keeping it here, such as cheap counter space at the airport until the service is well established, or government assistance with a marketing campaign, to name but two examples.
Robichaud vows to go after such a service with gusto.
"I think we'd be doing a great disservice to the province and to Moncton if we didn't."
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Riverview council considers Royal Court expansion
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Monday December 10th, 2007
Appeared on page A3
Riverview Town Council will hold public hearings tonight at 6:30 p.m. on a rezoning that would pave the way for a new "seniors campus" adjacent to the existing Royal Court on Coverdale Road.
The seniors campus -- as proposed by the owner, Halifax-based Shannex -- would include several new buildings designed to accommodate a wide variety of seniors in their retirement. The plan calls for lifestyle living apartments and villas, retirement living and level II residences and an assisted living residence. The project would take place in three phases and cost from $6 million to $7 million. The new buildings and surrounding infrastructure would be located behind the existing Royal Court facility on Coverdale Road. No timeline for construction has been set.
A large piece of property behind Royal Court on Coverdale Road will have to be rezoned to accommodate the plan. Council will hear objections during a public hearing set for tonight at 6:30 at the Riverview Town Hall.
At the same time, council will consider a proposed rezoning of a property at 142 Hillsborough Road to permit a daycare operation.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 3:48 PM
BTW, where's the eight story building supposed to go?
I mean they talk about the big one in top-right, they pointed out that building could be between 6 to 8 stories height. However, I think, this is the same piece land a promoter has proposed a new "power-center" earlier this year.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 8:22 PM
In french only
Dieppe: la rue Paul subira des travaux majeurs
Dieppe (retail district) : Paul Street going to get major upgrades
Mise à jour le lundi 10 décembre 2007
Par: Jessica Ébacher
DIEPPE - À moins d'un revirement de situation, des travaux majeurs seront entrepris sur la rue Paul à Dieppe en 2008. Les améliorations pourraient changer considérablement le paysage.
Le conseil municipal a décidé de faire de ce dossier une priorité pour la prochaine année. Dans un document de travail pour l'élaboration du budget 2008, qui a été remis au journal, des montants de 1 934 000 $ et 450 000 $ ont été réservés à la phase 1 des travaux et à l'achat de terrains.
More to come.
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 8:47 PM
It would be nice to get that Boston flight. Moncton would have a little monopoly on US bound flights in NB though, oh well.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 8:48 PM
Dieppe : Busy month of November
DIEPPE – The month of November was busy in Dieppe with 46 permits with values of $5.3 million according to statistics released by the building inspection department of the City of Dieppe.
The residential sector again dominated with 22 permits with values of $3.5 million, with $1.8 million coming from single family homes. There was one permit in the industrial sector for $750,000, five in the commercial for $525,000 and two in the institutional for $407,800.
The totals for the first 11 months of this year are 638 permits, 584 residential units for values of $71.2 million compared to last year, a record year, with 641 permits, 528 residential units and values of $73.3 million.
‘2007 was a very busy year for the City of Dieppe,’ said Mayor Achille Maillet. ‘Our tax based increased by 10.47 per cent this year, an unprecedented four years of solid growth for Dieppe. I know 2008 will also be another year of development.’
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 8:54 PM
woo! Go Dieppe!
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 8:55 PM
woo! Go Dieppe!
Like you said awhile back : Way to go Dieppe! :tup:
The Paul street project seem to sound good to me .
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 9:13 PM
5 pm / 17 h
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150233_Moncton_xmastree.jpg
By Brain Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 9:21 PM
Like you said awhile back : Way to go Dieppe! :tup:
The Paul street project seem to sound good to me .
For sure! that street is a real mess...also the city needs to work on Champlain st...that set of lights is probably the worst bottleneck in Moncton CMA.
Great pic too!! :D
mylesmalley
Dec 10, 2007, 9:54 PM
For sure! that street is a real mess...also the city needs to work on Champlain st...that set of lights is probably the worst bottleneck in Moncton CMA.
Great pic too!! :D
Indeed, great pic.
What set of lights to you mean? The intersection at Halls Creek with Main St and the highway?
That news about Royal Court is interesting. I can't picture what a Senior's Campus is supposed to look like.
As for Dieppe. Every time I drive out there there seems to be a new sign up for some kind of construction. I hope they get the overpass at the airport built soon, as that's probably the biggest thing holding it back at the moment. As it stands, now that there's a hotel near by, it's well positioned to become a major airport.
I don't like the assumption that flights should go to Halifax just because it's bigger. All aircraft that fly between North America and Europe have to fly over Moncton. Seems only logical to have more of them actually land here.
mmmatt
Dec 10, 2007, 10:15 PM
Indeed, great pic.
What set of lights to you mean? The intersection at Halls Creek with Main St and the highway?
That news about Royal Court is interesting. I can't picture what a Senior's Campus is supposed to look like.
As for Dieppe. Every time I drive out there there seems to be a new sign up for some kind of construction. I hope they get the overpass at the airport built soon, as that's probably the biggest thing holding it back at the moment. As it stands, now that there's a hotel near by, it's well positioned to become a major airport.
I don't like the assumption that flights should go to Halifax just because it's bigger. All aircraft that fly between North America and Europe have to fly over Moncton. Seems only logical to have more of them actually land here.
The intersection of Champlain st and Acadia ave. is what I'm talking about...at certain times of the day its almost as bad as prospect and regent here in Freddy, which is BAD (as you know haha).
You have a point about the Moncton airport, in Moncton we have the only NAV Canada control tower in the maritimes because all those flights pass over us. However Gander is the city/town in NFLD with a NAV tower (for the same reason as Moncton) but most flights in and out of that province are at St. Johns. The difference there of course is that Moncton is the center of the maritimes and Gander is far from center of NFLD...So possibly we could pull it off...just not so sure Halogians (spell) would want to start needing to drive 3 hours to Moncton for every flight, or switch planes in our airport.
ErickMontreal
Dec 10, 2007, 10:31 PM
We forgot one thing, there still is a major problem that slow down the airport expansion rate : Custom Fee. If the federal could wake up and solve this problem the future could be really bright for Moncton Int. Airport.
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