Rural Atlantic Canadian Development Thread

[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

[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]

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

[MonctonRad]

PM Bennett's N.B. hometown to be recognized

Commemorative centre opens in Hopewell Cape in June
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 | 11:23 AM AT
CBC News

The hometown of Canada's only New Brunswick-born prime minister will be officially recognized this summer, thanks to federal and provincial funding.

The Albert County Museum in Hopewell Cape, which has featured a small Richard Bedford Bennett collection, will be expanded with a new R.B. Bennett Commemorative Centre.

The project saw almost all of our buildings refurbished so that they are in great condition now to be able to accept the public and show them all the aspects of Albert County history — but most importantly, the story of R.B. Bennett, the only Canadian prime minister to come from New Brunswick," said Donald Alward, manager and curator of the museum.

"The main things that are new and exciting are the audio-visual pieces that we now have in place," he said. "We have a theatre, a 20-seat theatre, where we show a film we commissioned — basically, a biography of R.B. Bennett."

Many accomplishments

Bennett was Canada's 11th prime minister, from 1930 to 1935, and until recently was generally considered a failure because he couldn't turn around the Great Depression.

He left office deeply unpopular and retired to England, where he died and was buried.

Bennett, a Conservative, is the only Canadian prime minister not buried in Canada and one of the few not remembered with a statue on Parliament Hill.

John Boyko, author of a new Bennett biography, contends Bennett doesn't deserve his poor reputation, considering he created the Bank of Canada, the CBC and the Canadian Wheat Board.

He also signed the Statute of Westminster, making the Canadian Parliament fully independent of Britain in its decisions.

"When you really look at what the man did, he helped create the Canadian nation that we now enjoy," Boyko said.

The new centre will be officially opened in June by former Liberal prime minister John Turner, whose mother worked for Bennett.

Bennett, the son of a shipbuilder, was also a teacher, lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswi...#ixzz0mO3SjEb2

[David1gray]

New P-8 school for New Glasgow still on track
Published on April 30th, 2010
The News

NEW GLASGOW – The new P-8 school for New Glasgow is still a go and that's in writing.
Jamie Stevens, Chignecto-Central Regional School Board rep for New Glasgow, said the most recent capital construction list that came out included the school which is going to replace Acadia Street, Temperance Street, and New Glasgow Junior High schools.
"We were really pleased to get the latest capital construction list to see that we're still on it," Stevens said. The projected cost is $18 million.
Earlier there were some questions suggesting perhaps the school would have been set on the back burner when the NDP government replaced the Tories, who had announced the project, but that is not the case.
Stevens said the school has a target opening date of Sept. 2013 with construction slated to begin in the 2011/2012 school year. He added that doesn't mean that shovels will be in the ground right away as planning and design also falls under the heading of construction.
He said as part of the process three sites must be submitted for the location of the new school.
"The challenging part may be site selection. Is there enough space on the existing site (junior high)?"
Stevens said the school will need to have enough spaces for buses to turn and drop off students.
Regulations that were recently proposed by the provincial government to require a review whenever school boards propose a school closure won't have any impact on this project since that's the way they were proceeding anyway, Stevens said.
"I'm really happy that the community is on side with this facility. It's a positive enhancement for education."
An internal review of the proposed school closures and the new school is being conducted by the board and should be ready by the end of the month, Stevens said.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...ill-on-track/1

[Smevo]

http://www.hantsjournal.ca/Business/...d-in-Windsor/1

Illustration for new apartment building to open on O'Brien Street, Windsor, by December 2010

Big housing development approved in Windsor


Published on March 11th, 2010
Nadine Armstrong/Hants


Work could begin in May on an $8 million project that includes two apartment buildings with commercial space in an abandoned commercial part of downtown

Windsor.

The development will be located at 555 O’Brien Street. It will include two four-storey residential buildings housing a total of 66 rental units and 10,000 square feet of commercial retail space.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...ost-overruns/1

Creamery work presses ahead despite cost overruns

Published on May 13th, 2010
Chris Shannon

PORT HAWKESBURY — The Strait Area Waterfront Development Society is moving ahead with its $1-million renovations to the Creamery despite cost overruns.

The entertainment venue located on the waterfront inherited its name from the Hawkesbury Creamery — a fixture in the town dating back to the 1940s when it was the largest creamery in Cape Breton.

The society received $500,000 from the province in 2008, and an additional $500,000 from Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. in February 2009.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/2...-in-the-mail/1

Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post
Jim Foulds, right, vice-chair of the Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Association, hands the application for biosphere designation to postmaster William Brennick of the Bras d’Or post office.

Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Association has application in the mail


Published on June 29th, 2010
Julie Collins

BRAS D’OR — The Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Association is one step closer to having the lake recognized within the international biosphere reserve program.

To the cheers of supporters gathered at the Bras d’Or post office Tuesday, association vice-chair Jim Foulds mailed the official nomination submission to the Canadian Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Ottawa.

...

Over 30 different people were involved in writing the 321-page document, which makes the case as to why the area should be designated as a biosphere under the UN biosphere program.

The document has been endorsed by 35 of 40 municipal councillors, all five First Nations bands and the Nova Scotia ministers of the environment, natural resources and economic and rural development.

There are more than 550 UNESCO biosphere sites in 105 countries worldwide, 15 in Canada, including one in Southwest Nova Scotia.

...

[Dmajackson]

Sable Island to become national park
By OUR STAFF
Tue. May 18 - 1:48 PM

Sable Island will be designated a national park, the Nova Scotia and federal governments announced today.

"The national park designation gives Sable Island the highest level of protection of its natural and cultural features," Nova Scotia's Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell said in a news release.

"The next step is to hear from Mi'kmaq and others as we work with the federal government on an agreement to conserve and manage the island for present and future generations."

MacDonell made the announcement with Jim Prentice, the minister responsible for Parks Canada, that the ecologically sensitive island will soon have the protections of a national park under the Canada National Parks Act.

"In this the International Year of Biodiversity, what better way to celebrate than by ensuring the long-lasting protection of Sable Island, its majestic horses and some of the rarest birds and wildlife in Canada by designating it a national park?" Prentice said in the release.

Conservation groups wrote to both levels of government last Friday, urging them to protect Sable Island. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ecology Action Centre and Sable Island Green Horse Society said they want the island to become a national park.

The groups have growing concerns that more people will visit the island, which could endanger the wildlife and ecosystem.

"Nobody wants to see Sable Island turned into a theme park or even one of the national parks that’s overrun with visitors," Chris Miller, national manager for wilderness society, a non-governmental society that tries to protect natural landscapes, told The Chronicle Herald last week.

Describing the island as "precious" and "iconic," he said the groups believe capping the number of visitors is vital and that the national park designation would make that easier.


Public consultations on the conservation, management and operational issues with the island as a national park will begin soon, the release says.

In January, both levels of government created the Canada-Nova Scotia Sable Island Task Group to recommend whether the island should get a national park designation or be a national wildlife area. That group, consisting of Parks Canada, Environment Canada and Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources, recommended the national park designation.

The island is home to many at-risk species, including most of the world population of the Ipswich Savannah sparrow. It is also home to 150 to 400 wild horses, numerous migrant and breeding birds, harbour seals and the world's largest congregation of breeding grey seals.

( webeditors@herald.ca )

---

I've always believed Sable Island should be protected in some fashion even if it is not currently accessible to loggers and mining companies. This would make the third provincial park in Nova Scotia and with the protection I trust some action will be taken to ensure this jewel survives the impact of climate change.

[David1gray]

STELLARTON – The Town of Stellarton is aiming to expand occupancy in its business park by adding some new infrastructure and clearing land.
Deputy Mayor George Megeney said the town-owned land designated as the Stellarton Business Park is being divided into lots, and water, sewer and electric services are being added, as well as the extension of Lawrence Boulevard to MacGregor Avenue.
"We are preparing it for sale and we are hopeful very soon we'll have some interest," said Megeney.
Once complete the road extension will allow easy access from Exit 23.
The town is also in the process of constructing a roundabout near the former Heather Hotel location on North Foord Street.
"We're building it for a better flow of traffic entering the business park," he said.
He said two businesses are in the process of constructing buildings on the privately owned land once occupied by the Heather Hotel.
Megeney anticipates the improvements in the park will be completed by early August.
http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...ss-prospects/1

[David1gray]

The company that operates a ferry service between southern Newfoundland and Nova Scotia is chartering two vessels to provide service between the two provinces next summer.

The two vessels, the Stena Trader and the Stena Traveller, are 300-bed vessels and will carry 1,000 passengers each.

The ferries will be refitted in Germany. They'll be made 12.5 metres shorter to allow easier manuevering in port.

At a news conference Friday, Marine Atlantic announced that two existing ferries - the Joseph and Clara Smallwood and the Caribou - will be retired.

Officials said the refitted ferries might be delivered in January 2011.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia...tered-521.html

[David1gray]

Repaving tenders called for highway stretches in Pictou East


THORBURN – NDP MLA Clarrie MacKinnon says he’s pleased about two repaving tenders called in Pictou East.
The tenders are for a three-kilometre stretch on Route 348, along the Pictou Landing Road, from Big Gut Bridge to Simpson Road.
A second three-kilometre stretch on Thorburn Road from Route 347, beside Crosstown Country Market to Kirk Lane.
“A new bridge went up in Thorburn and the road leading up to the bridge was in very bad shape,” MacKinnon said. “I’m so happy to see these roads being replaced.”
Road paving was one of MacKinnon’s priorities this year. Other projects in the riding have previously been announced, including two spots in the Blue Mountain area.
“Road work is really, really important to a constituency like mine,” he said. “There are so many other roads that have to be done, but we only get so many kilometres in a year. I’m trying to get as much patching done as possible.”
There’s also some availability of chip sealing, he added, which doesn’t cost as much as paving.
“I’m trying to get some of that as well,” he said. “I had an eyeball-to-eyeball with the minister yesterday and I’m pushing every opportunity I have to get more paving in this riding.”
The expected completion date for the repaving is in the fall of 2010. Tenders must be received by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal no later than June 11.
http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...-Pictou-East/1

Permanent market building announced for downtown core

New Glasgow’s riverfront and downtown core is going to be welcoming a new, permanent structure.
The Town of New Glasgow announced the construction of a new permanent building for the New Glasgow Farmer’s Market on Thursday in council chambers.
“The Town of New Glasgow in partnership with the New Glasgow Farmer’s Market and the New Glasgow Development Commission is pleased to officially announce that there will be a new location and permanent structure to house the New Glasgow Farmer’s Market for the 2010 season,” said New Glasgow’s mayor, Barrie MacMillan.
He said the market will be easily accessible for both vendors and customers and that the market would be an economic engine supporting the local economy directly as well as being a social hub for the community.
“The addition of this structure compliments the growth and development of the downtown core,” MacMillan said. He added that it helps with the goal of having New Glasgow’s downtown core as a singular destination of culture and commerce.
It’s great news for local growers.
“When you buy from a neighbour you keep the money in your community,” said Susan Stephen, chair of the Farmer’s Market Co-operative.
She said that with this new building, they are looking to the future to offer a wider range of fresh products such as meat and fruit at the market.
They will be mainly focusing on Pictou County producers. The new space should accommodate 35 to 37 vendors.
The co-operative is actively recruiting vendors for honey, maple products and fish.
The project’s cost will be around $83,000 in total. The Town of New Glasgow put in the lion’s share of $73,000 and will own the space – the market will simply rent it.
The New Glasgow Development Commission put in $11,000.
Mark Firth of GMF Computers in New Glasgow is also acting president of the commission. He is excited to see this building get underway.
“We felt we were going to lose it from our downtown,” said Firth.
The commission got together with the town and the farmer’s market and after looking around for a place for the market, they decided that a new building along the riverfront would be the best option.
Location and target opening
The new building for the New Glasgow Farmer’s Market will be at 115 Jury Street along the riverfront, behind Century Saw and Marine. The barn-shaped structure will be 60 feet by 60 feet and will have water. There will be ample space for outdoor presentations for the market. There will be free parking available close by. The town is preparing the land and Higgins Construction will be putting together the building.
At this time, it is expected to be open by June 12, 2010, and will be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...owntown-core/1

[PoscStudent]

Self-made millionaire on a mission to save her heritage
The warning from the town councillor didn’t mince words: Your house is an eyesore. Fix it up or tear it down.

Such letters are rare on this small, rocky outcrop off the northern coast of Newfoundland, where families eke out a precarious existence and couldn’t often think about aesthetics. But this one, addressed to self-made millionaire Zita Cobb, was the wake-up call she needed to start pouring her considerable resources not just into rebuilding her home, but also into positioning the island as a high-end tourist destination.

Ms. Cobb, who left Fogo Island when she was 16 and made her millions at onetime tech darling JDS Uniphase, is now at the forefront of a $20-million push to transform this remote island, accessible only by a ferry ride that is itself an hour’s drive from Gander, into a destination for international artists and travellers lured by the promise of a unique cultural experience and a five-star, $400-a-night hotel.

Continue reading

[MonctonRad]

Fundy Trail Parkway opens 4.3 kilometres of new roadway
by Cynthia Vukets
times & Transcript staff

Imagine a beautiful, winding roadway bringing tourists from all corners of the earth to one of the seven wonders of the natural world.


GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
A new 4.3-kilometre section of the Fundy Trail Parkway opened yesterday at the Long Beach Lookout, seen here east of St. Martins.

A new 4.3-kilometre section of the Fundy Trail Parkway is expected to draw tourists to visit one of the seven wonders of the natural world to the St. Martins area. Now imagine that scenic route is right here in New Brunswick.

That's what proponents of the Fundy Trail Parkway are hoping for in the not-so-distant future.

Provincial and federal politicians opened a brand-new 4.3-kilometre section of the road along the Bay of Fundy yesterday.

"This will slow people down," said Saint John-Fundy MLA Stuart Jamieson.

"This will change New Brunswick from being a drive-through province to a place people actually spend time in."

The Bay of Fundy is currently in the running to become one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

New Brunswick's famous tourist destination has already made it to the Top 20, which in itself will increase tourism to the area, said Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore.

"We will reap a benefit from this," he told a crowd gathered overlooking the Bay of Fundy for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the new section of the Trail.

"Wouldn't it be great if we could get the Bay of Fundy to be one of the new wonders of the world?"

The engineering firm that has worked on the parkway has already won a provincial award.

A.D. Fiander Associates Ltd. received the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - New Brunswick award for "Excellence in Engineering" in a category dedicated to social benefit. The 2010 award was for its work on the Fundy Trail Parkway.

The provincial and federal governments each contributed $5 million to the new section.

That funding was announced with the help of Prime Minister Stephen Harper last May.

Now the roadway is about half complete, said Jamieson.

"I'm so sorry we haven't got this finished," he said. "It's been 23 years and I think we're about halfway."

Premier Shawn Graham said there are about 19 kilometres left to build before the parkway is complete and joins St. Martins with Alma.

Of course, if the Bay of Fundy becomes a natural wonder of the world, all the tourism revenue will likely pay to complete the parkway in no time.

The new section extends from the Mitchell Franklin Bridge over the Big Salmon River to a new parking lot, P11, and the Long Beach Lookout.

Personal note - It is a disgrace that the whole roadway is still not yet complete. It's only another paltry 19 km between the Long Beach Lookout and Fundy Park. The hardest part was building the bridge over Big Salmon River and that's finished now..........let's get on with it and finish this thing off!!!!!

The Fundy Trail is truly a gem. It really does rival the Cabot Trail and has the benefit of lying smack dab between the 2nd and 3rd largest cities in the Maritimes and not on the furthest extreme of it's most isolated island. It would easily capture tourists on the way to NS and PEI and be a real attraction in it's own right. The marketing value of a completed Fundy Trail is beyond compare. It must be completed. The bean counters had better stop counting their beans!!!

Just imagine a continuous tourist route through southern NB extending from the Maine border to NS!!!

Stops along the way would include:
- Saint Andrews by-the-Sea
- New River Beach
- Saint John (Reversing Falls, historic waterfront, Irving Nature Park etc.)
- Saint Martins
- The Fundy Trail Parkway
- Fundy Park
- Alma
- Cape Enrage
- Hopewell Rocks
- R.B. Bennett Historical Site
- Scenic drive up the lower Petitcodiac River
- Moncton (Magnetic Hill, Magic Mountain, Crystal Palace, Casino NB etc.)
- Sackville (waterfowl park, Mount Allison University)

A completed southern NB tourist route would forever change the way that NB is viewed in Canada and within North America.


It is vital that this route be completed as soon as possible and that it is marketed effectively. It may actually be one of the most effective infrastructure projects in the entire province (in terms of bang for buck).

Let's git 'er done!!!!!!

[David1gray]

Introducing Albion Place: active search for new businesses
Published on June 22nd, 2010
The News

STELLARTON – The Stellarton Business Park has a name – Albion Place Power Centre – and has a bright future according to interested parties.
Stellarton councillor George Megeney said on Tuesday that the park is making strides.
"It's moving along right on track. The construction is moving forward. We are very excited by the future of the park."
He said the road through the park, which will give an additional entrance off Exit 23, is under construction as well.
Megeney said the roundabout construction has a completion date of late July and the town's Communities in Bloom committee has big plans for beautification of the centre area.
Megeney said commercial real estate agent Paul Brown of Sunrise Brokerage and Sales Ltd. has been actively seeking businesses for Albion Place.
"We are looking for retail highway power centre businesses," Brown said. "There's been a lot of interest in the park. We're talking to a number of large-box and medium-box retailers. The activity has just begun, the land is just getting ready."
Brown said the location is ideal – the only true power centre between Halifax and Cape Breton and Halifax and P.E.I.
He said the Truro Power Centre doesn't fit the bill, with businesses like a call centre, motor home sales and theatre, it's not a true power centre. He said when people think power centres, they are thinking of places like Bayer's Lake and Dartmouth Crossing.
"We have up to 700 acres, Bayer's Lake has 561 acres. We don't envisage that we'll turn all that area into a power centre."
Brown said the local power centre has a strong population base to draw from which really encompasses all of northern Nova Scotia as well as Cape Breton.
He is optimistic that good things will happen at Albion Place.
"It's the first real opportunity we've had in this area to present a site that appeals to true power centre tenants. That it's directly on the Trans Canada with two exits is really amazing."
First new business already in construction

STELLARTON – There is already construction of one new business in the vicinity of the new business park on the site of the former Heather Hotel.
Stellarton councillor George Megeney said it is a private business deal in which the new owner purchased the land directly from the former Heather owners.
Megeney said that – to the best of his knowledge – a businessman from Cape Breton is constructing a convenience store/gas bar on the site..
"It's separate from the business park," Megeney said

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...w-businesses/1