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Moncton sets stage for premiers' meeting
Provincial leaders' visit seen as chance for city to market its strengths to western and central Canada

By Jesse Robichaud
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Thursday July 26th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

As local officials make final preparations to host Canada's provincial and territorial leaders from Aug 8-10, they are also busy putting on the ritz for the nearly 100 media representatives who will touch down in Moncton for the Council of the Federation's summer meetings.

City of Moncton spokesman Paul Thomson says city crews are hard at work getting Moncton primped and ready for the arrival of the premiers by dressing up the downtown, beautifying the city's parks, and upgrading City Hall Plaza.

But he is among a number of officials working to ensure the rest of the country sees Metro Moncton and New Brunswick as more than just a charming backdrop for the high-profile meetings.

"A lot of the focus for us here is on the media, and the fact that we're going to be having national media descending on us, and trying to get some stories out," he said in an interview yesterday.

Thomson says the city sees the event as an opportunity comparable to the success Moncton had in marketing itself through the Memorial Cup.

It's the type of opportunity the city cannot let pass by, he says.

The Council of the Federation was created in 2003 by Canada's premiers as a forum to bring provinces and territories together to play a co-operative role in revitalizing the Canadian federation.

Premier Shawn Graham has indicated that energy and environment issues will be at the top of the agenda during this summer's meetings.

Downtown Moncton Inc., erected signage on Main Street yesterday in order to set the stage for the national event. The multi-coloured lamp signs are each emblazoned with the name of a different province or territory.

DMI CEO Daniel Allain says this is the type of event that can make waves for the city and region.

"We're just trying to make people aware that we are going to have some leaders here that we will be placing New Brunswick on the map," he said yesterday.

While almost 100 media representatives will be crawling around the city, Allain uses a hockey analogy to note that sometime, a one or two stories can register the type of impact that will bring windfalls to the region.

"It's just like making it to the NHL, you just have to impress one or two scouts to make it to the big leagues," he said.

"It's going to have a really big impact because we have a really good story to tell."

Allain sees it as the region's duty to showcase Atlantic Canada in a different light than perhaps some of the events' participants are accustomed to seeing.

The pot is sweetened when one considers that the conference's 200 delegates will be bringing families and guests, as Allain foresees up to 500 people are expected to flow into the region for the event.

"That's the objective, it's to change the mindset of central and western Canadians who think that Eastern Canada and New Brunswick are have not provinces. We are a have province," he said.

"It's our duty to make sure they are well-informed and that they know what is happening in our area."

From the opening event of the conference, which will feature art showcased by the New Brunswick Craft Council, to the end of the conference, New Brunswick talent will be on display between the closed door meetings, says Marie-Andrée Bolduc, press secretary with the Premier's office.

While there are no events planned to give Metro Monctonians a chance to meet and greet the first ministers, they will get a chance to bump into a premier by chance as leaders and their staff explore the city between the meetings.

"Given that the schedule is quite packed in a day and a half, most of the schedule is meetings and receptions, but the premiers will definitely be in town and out and about," she said.

"There will definitely be a buzz in Moncton and the Greater Moncton area. People may see them around."

While Premier Shawn Graham is chairing the meetings, his wife, Roxanne Reeves will lead a program for spouses and children of delegates to take in the sights and unique experiences of the region. The City of Moncton will participate directly in that program

During their time in Moncton, the premiers will be staying at the Delta Beauséjour, along with most of their staff.

Bolduc says Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe, have been very helpful in the planning stages of the event, which she describes as a great opportunity to showcase New Brunswick.

"Even though the conference is in the Greater Moncton area, it will be showcasing talent from across the province, whether it be music or other artists," she said.

"We want to make sure this will be memorable for all of the premiers."