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Posted Jul 17, 2008, 2:05 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Bay-Westfield :: NB
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Metro poised to set new records
While construction slows in much of North America, all three Metro communities poised to set new construction records
Published Thursday July 17th, 2008
A1
By James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff
While construction continues on a record pace across Metro Moncton, the full scope of the work taking place this year will become clearer in the next few weeks.
More retail development is in the works for the busy Wheeler Boulevard, Mapleton Road corridor, pushing Moncton toward another record year in construction.
By then, Ashford Investment Inc. could receive final approval from the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission for the next phase in the Wheeler Park Power Centre and be in a position to announced the details of what will be offered in the region's newest shopping district.
"Assuming we get approved, then we'll be able to outline a lot more in detail," Patrick Gillespie, president of Ashford Investments Ltd., said yesterday.
This is significant because, even with the near-record value of building permits issued in Moncton so far this year, millions more in construction will go onto the books once the Ashford project, dubbed the Mapleton Fashion Centre, gets the go-ahead, likely boosting Moncton figures into record territory.
The new shopping district will spring up on the northeast corner of Wheeler Boulevard and Mapleton Road. The ground has already been prepared for the development and builders have their hammers poised for the pending decision of the area's planning authority.
Until then, Gillespie won't say what stores will be built there, although it has long been said that The Brick furniture store and one or more restaurants are slated for construction, just to name a few.
"We're very excited," Gillespie said.
So are officials in all three Metro Moncton communities, where construction continues at a torrid pace.
In the first six months of the year in Moncton, for example, more than $50 million worth of building permits were issued, 70 per cent of those permits being for the residential sector, which bodes well for the city's continuing population growth.
The key to that $50 million figure is that it does not include the vast majority of work on the already under way Mapleton Fashion Centre, nor the new track and stadium at the Université de Moncton, nor the new downtown courthouse, nor Magnetic Hill's new casino and hotel, to name but a few projects about to get under way and worth more than $150 million by themselves.
Officials in Dieppe and Riverview say the same thing; that while they can show record-smashing building statistics, there are several major projects coming down the pipes in both those municipalities that are not yet reflected in those stats.
Construction in Riverview in the first six months of 2008 has seen permits issued worth $15 million, slightly ahead of last year's all-time record pace, with housing leading the way.
In Dieppe, residential growth leads the way as well, accounting for the bulk of that city's record $41.7 million in permits issued so far this year.
That total eclipses last year's total to the end of June of $32 million, suggesting 2008 will see a record pace of construction by year's end.
More than $22 million of Dieppe's total construction so far this year is in the residential sector, accounting for more than half the value of all activity.
"Dieppe continues to grow," Dieppe Mayor Jean LeBlanc said.
"I am convinced that we will enjoy a great construction season."
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Young newcomers helping Moncton grow
Published Thursday July 17th, 2008
A3
By Emily Ridlington
Times & Transcript Staff
With an aging population and a low birthrate in Canada, the province and the City of Moncton are stepping up their efforts to attract newcomers to the area.
For many newcomers learning a new language is often challenging. For the more than 30 children taking part in an English as second language (ESL) program this month, they are hitting the books because they want to.
"As a teacher, to have children interested and excited about learning is wonderful as these guys are a joy to teach as they want to learn, they want to know, and they give 100 per cent all of the time," said Lezlie Armstrong, instructor of the Grade 3 to Grade 5 class.
Armstrong is one of two instructors for the ESL program, which is sponsored by School District 2 in cooperation with the city of Moncton and the Welcome Centre, a place were newcomers can come for information, resources and services about life in Canada, local community affairs and school registration.
During the month of July, students are brushing up on their English skills so they will be ready to go to school in fall. Students attend the program free of charge.
Mastering their new language is the first challenge for Armstrong's students who are from Korea, China, Iran, Burma and Columbia. Most of the students have been in Canada less than one year.
One of the goals for Armstrong is to give the students a bank of familiar words and provide them with strategies so they can figure out other words.
The children in their home countries might not have had the opportunity to learn about Canadian geography and social studies. Students in Armstrong's class have been learning the names of provinces and their flags.
Down the hall, Kevin McCaustlin teaches English expressions to his students in Grades 6 to 8 they might not otherwise have heard such as "don't put all your eggs in one basket" or "love is blind." He said Canadians use these expressions without realizing it.
McCaustlin, an instructor for the summer and a supply teacher with the district, was an ESL teacher for five years. He said he has taught in many of the countries where his students were born.
In addition to grammar and reading, his students are taught basic classroom procedures like raising your hand, asking to go to the washroom or getting a drink of water.
Students in his class keep a daily journal and have to practice their lines for a play they are putting on.
"I don't want to give them too much homework, but, a little something everyday to keep them practicing is good enough," he said.
In his journal, Jason Ahn said he usually writes about what is going on at his house and what he did in class.
The Grade 8 student at Lou MacNarin School came from South Korea to Canada seven months ago. He said he knew some English before coming here but that he is practicing his reading and vocabulary.
His fellow classmate William Liang, an 11-year-old Grade 6 student at Queen Elizabeth said he was excited about learning the lines for the play.
As the city welcomes more newcomers, Armstrong said she believes the reason why so many people are choosing to settle in this area is because the city and the community are so accommodating.
Resources and programs for newcomers are also available at the YMCA and from Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA), a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the understanding and acceptance of other cultures and assist peoples of all heritages and languages.
Armstrong said with everyone working as a team, more programs will become available for newcomers and their children.
Last edited by ErickMontreal; Jul 17, 2008 at 2:36 PM.
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