Rural Atlantic Canadian Development Thread

[David1gray]

Site in Thorburn on short list for provincial jail

A piece of county land has been shortlisted as one of the three possible sites for a new provincial jail.
Phase one environmental assessments will be conducted on land in Thorburn, on the north side of Highway 104, adjacent to the Trans Canada Highway Exit 26. The other two sites up for consideration are Addington Forks, Antigonish County, and Debert, Colchester County.
“Taking into account the business case, geography, construction qualities, financial implications and history of a piece of land for large scale infrastructure projects such as this is no small task,” said Justice Minister Ross Landry. “After an extensive search of about 80 provincially and municipally owned properties, these three sites have risen to the top.”
Building one 100-cell facility, compared with two 50-cell facilities, will save the province about $5.5 million in construction costs and $1.7 million every year in operating costs. The new facility will also create about 70 new jobs.
The correctional facility will service Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough and Richmond counties and will relieve future pressures from other correctional facilities in Nova Scotia. It replaces the aging Antigonish and Cumberland correctional facilities, which were built in 1948 and 1890 respectively.
"We are moving forward to create a facility that will create new jobs and better serve Nova Scotia's justice system for many years to come," said Mr. Landry. "This is not a project to be rushed. Being diligent in this process is the right decision for Nova Scotians."
Pictou East MLA Clarrie MacKinnon said he is pleased Pictou County is still in the running for the jail site, but disappointed that Westville isn’t on the short list.
“My number one personal choice was Westvile,” he said, “but because of the engineering side of things, it didn’t work out. I hope to be officially told at some point why it was ruled out.”
MacKinnon said he knew there were a few strikes against the Westville site, such as the size of the lot which was near Exit 21, the topography and concerns about the mines.
“Hopefully Westville get something else soon,” he said. “Westville has gotten nothing for so many years. It’s in need of something in the town.”
Westville Mayor Roger MacKay said the fact that Westville is not on the short list is just another blow to the small town.
“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “When Westville gets a little excitement an air bomb is dropped again. It’s very frustrating. It would have really opened up some opportunities there at Exit 21.”
MacKinnon said the municipality that finally receives the correctional facility will not received any taxes from it because it is provincially owned nor are there any grants in lieu of taxes, but the infrastructure spinoffs would have helped Westville the most.
He said the Westville site would have required some infrastructure work such as sidewalks and road work, not to mention the spinoffs to businesses and housing in the area.
MacKinnon said despite his favouring of Westville, he is still pleased that at least one Pictou County site is being considered. He said the entire county will benefit from the spinoffs involved from such a facility ranging from housing to food services.
The Thorburn site is 242 acres and extends from the Vale Road, across from Connor’s Transfer, to the MacKay Road past Trans Canada Highway Exit 26. If the correctional facility goes to Thorburn, he said there would be opportunity for the MacKay Road to connect in the Priestville area rather than becoming a dead end once the highway twinning project is complete.
“The Linacy Fire Department and Demont’s trucking have been very supportive of that,” he said, adding if the MacKay Road was made a dead end, traffic would have to travel through New Glasgow in order to get to the highway.
“Pictou County is the most central location for such a facility,” he said. “It makes sense to put it there because the population, the active court activity and the capability of support services.”

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...vincial-jail/1

Some councillors have reservations about jail location in county

PICTOU – Not everyone is pleased about Pictou County being on the short list for the proposed jail site.
Andy Thompson, county councillor for District 11, where the jail could land, brought it to council’s attention that he may not be in support of the facility in his district.
At their regular meeting in Pictou on Monday, Thompson requested that Justice Minister Ross Landry come before council to speak to them about the jail site.
Thompson is worried that this project in his area will interfere with his hope of bringing sewage hookups to the Plymouth area, by diverting capacity and taking priority. He says he has been waiting a long time to address water and sewage issues in his district and doesn't want it to take a back seat to anything.
District 13 councillor Randy Palmer of Thorburn also spoke out against the location, citing people not wanting to live near a facility of that nature.
He has been against a jail in the Pictou County area from the beginning in 2009.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...on-in-county/1

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...ait-of-Canso/1

U.S. company backs plans for $350M container terminal on Strait of Canso

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

HALIFAX — Melford International Terminal (MIT) announced Wednesday it has inked a deal with the largest marine container terminal operator in North America to provide services for a new terminal in Melford.

Maher Terminals, based in New Jersey, will become a shareholder in the project which will now be known as Maher Melford Terminal. Maher Terminals operates world-class marine container terminals in Prince Rupert, B.C., and Port Elizabeth, New Jersey.

MIT, a privately owned Nova Scotia company, is developing a 315-acre container terminal complete with an intermodal on-dock rail facility and a 1,500-acre logistics park on the mainland side of the Strait of Canso.

The new terminal will feature deep-water berths of 60 feet at mean low water, an ice-free 100-foot deep channel and no air draft restrictions. The terminal will enable the most direct and convenient service for intermodal trade between North America and emerging Asian markets, through on-dock rail access to key markets throughout Canada and the United States.

...

[David1gray]

^^ thats great news for the melford terminal. but probably not so great for the sydport plans. has there been any news on the dredging? havent heard anything in awhile.

[Smevo]

Nothing yet, and the latest session of parliament has ended, so it will likely be the fall before anything in firmly committed.

[David1gray]

alright, just getting alittle annoyed with all this waiting but what can ya do

[David1gray]

Irving to buy Shelburne, N.S., repair yard
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 | 9:31 PM AT

CBC News

The Irvings intend to purchase the Shelburne Ship Repair yard from the Province of Nova Scotia.

Irving Shipbuilding Inc. has been leasing the rundown Shelburne yard for 13 years and has an option to buy it for a dollar.

The company plans to employ 60 people there when major repairs are completed next spring.

"There are projects that Shelburne is ideally suited to, in terms of small and medium-sized vessels," said Irving spokesperson Mary Keith.

"As we pursue new federal contracts, there may be an opportunity for certain components to be fabricated at that site."

Some of the good fortune at the Irving-owned Halifax Shipyard may spill over to Shelburne. Maintaining navy frigates and the construction of an offshore vessel at Halifax have boosted employment there to nearly 1,000 people.

At Shelburne, Irving is upgrading its dry dock and railway with a $9-million loan from the province. Only $2 million of the loan will be repayable if steady jobs are created.

Irving laid off all 60 workers when it closed the Shelburne yard last fall. The company rehired 25 people to work on the upgrade and another 20 to refit a rig in Halifax harbour.

Kirk Cox, chief administrator for the municipality of Shelburne, is encouraged by Irving's plan to buy the yard and get 60 people back to work.

"Southwestern Nova Scotia now has the highest unemployment rate in Eastern Canada," he said. "We're excited about Irving's commitment to the area … to create more jobs."

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia...ne-repair.html

[David1gray]

Debate stirs Thorburn over possible jail siting

THORBURN – New government infrastructure in an area can be a big boost to a community, but the idea of a proposed new jail to be built in the Thorburn area has raised some flags – and debate.
During a County Council meeting on July 5, Thorbun resident and district 13 councillor Randy Palmer voiced concern over having a jail in his area, saying residents simply didn’t want it in their backyards.
“I did have a number of calls from people saying they don’t want it,” Palmer said. “Myself personally I see no taxable benefit coming to the county as a result of this.”
There are plenty of residents against it and on board with Palmer but he said there are different opinions out there too.
“I think we need something in our village,” said longtime resident, Bill Dewtie. “I think the jail would be a good asset.”
He said that since the area lost their coalmine, they’ve had nothing. He thinks a local jail would, among other things, sell houses to people moving to the area.
Kevin Long of Thorburn doesn’t think the jail will sting the community as much as protesters say and finds concerns a bit overblown.
“Its not a maximum security prison, these are not murderers,” Long said. "They’ll be locked up, not running around.”
Long thinks the jail would create jobs for construction in the immediate future as well as spinoff jobs afterwards, to provide services to the jail such as maintenance and food.
Palmer feels that the job the jail would create would not necessarily be given to locals but rather people will be coming into the county.
This would leaving those looking for work still searching.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...-jail-siting/1

[David1gray]

Yarmouth terminal key to ferry service: mayor
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 | 3:01pm
CBC News

The mayor of Yarmouth, N.S. said the town should soon find out whether it will take over the ferry terminal.

The Yarmouth Area Industrial Commission is in talks with Transport Canada over control of the existing terminal.

Phil Mooney said the town needs the terminal in order to attract a new ferry service, after the high-speed CAT service was cancelled earlier this year.

"We've had a ferry service in Nova Scotia coming to Yarmouth every year since 1842, except for a couple of years during World War II," said Mooney. "You know, we're the gateway to Nova Scotia and we're going to have to step up to the plate here as a community and show them that we can get a boat back."

Mooney said once the town gets the terminal, it can seek proposals for ferry operators. Seven companies have reportedly expressed interest, according to the port authority.

The provincial government ended its subsidy of the CAT earlier this year and the ferry made its final run to Bar Harbour, Maine on April 16.

Bay Ferries Ltd. had wanted at least $6 million from the government in 2010 to keep the CAT running between Yarmouth and the Maine cities of Bar Harbor and Portland.

The ferry between Yarmouth and Maine began in 1997. The Nova Scotia government has given $18.9 million to the ferry service since the fall of 2007.


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

[Smevo]

Originally Posted by David1gray

alright, just getting alittle annoyed with all this waiting but what can ya do

I'm with you there.

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...-destination/1

New festival aims to promote Bras d’Or as sailing destination

Published on July 23rd, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post



DUNDEE — A new festival is bringing a number of existing events together under one umbrella in hopes of promoting the Bras d’Or Lake as a can’t-miss destination for sailors and boaters.

The inaugural Bras d’Or Lakes Festival was launched Friday at the Dundee Marina as part of the West Bay Regatta, which is one its feature events. The two-week festival is comprised of existing events taking place in communities around Bras d’Or Lake from July 23 to Aug. 8.

...

In addition to this weekend’s West Bay Regatta, two other sailing events — the St. Peter’s regatta, July 30-Aug. 1, and the Bras d’Or Yacht Club’s regatta week in Baddeck, Aug. 1-7 — are on the festival schedule, as well as a full slate of entertainment, concerts, dances and ceilidhs.

The goal, according to Gross, is to increase tourism to the region by promoting the many summer activities that take place on and around Bras d’Or Lake. In particular, festival organizers are hoping to see an increase in the number of sailors and boaters visiting the region.

Gross said they want to build the festival to the point “that when people hear about Cape Breton they not only think of the Cabot Trail, but they also think of the Bras d’Or Lakes.”


...

For more information and a full schedule of events, go to www.brasdorlakesfestival.com.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...it-on-a-roll/1

Strait Area Transit on a roll

Published on July 25th, 2010
Nancy King


PORT HAWKESBURY — Strait Area Transit has completed another successful year and is continuing to expand, its general manager says.

The non-profit co-operative recently held its annual general meeting, and it turned a profit for the year. Malcolm Beaton noted that the service couldn’t be sustainable just based on fare revenue alone.

...

Beaton said he believes the venture into Inverness will be successful, noting county residents were accustomed to having bus service for years.

They have also recently began serving the First Nation community of Chapel Island, and are looking at a possible expansion to Antigonish, where the regional hospital is located.

Beaton noted the bus service is a bit slower during the summer months as the Nova Scotia Community College is not in session, and some of its contracts are suspended for the summer. The dial-a-ride service is exceeding expectations, he said.

SAT had applied for a permanent licence to serve Inverness County.

...

[Dmajackson]

Truro residents lose battle against 102-unit residential development
By Our Staff
Wed, Jul 28 - 4:53 AM

A group of Truro residents have lost their appeal of a planned 102-unit residential development in the town.

The residents were fighting a town council decision to allow developer Ron Wallace Realty Ltd. to put up two buildings at 16 Park St., off Marshland Drive.

The 2.3-hectare project has about 280 metres of frontage along Marshland Drive. The residents opposed to the project live along that road and on surrounding streets. They presented their case to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board in June.

At the hearing, the opponents said the proposed development was on a flood plain and that created a dangerous situation because it could change the flow of the water so that it affected their homes during periods of flooding.

Other concerns expressed included traffic, view planes and the project’s lack of compatibility with the mostly single-family residential housing in the area.

At the same hearing, Jason Fox, the town’s director of planning development, said the development only covered 15 per cent of the site. He said the five-storey buildings complied with all R-3 zoning requirements except for height — which was exceeded by about one storey — but this was offset by setbacks that were more than double the requirements.

In a decision released Tuesday, hearing chairman Murray Doehler said it was conceivable the project might worsen flooding in the area immediately surrounding it but that wasn’t the main issue.

He said the primary issue was whether or not the project failed to reasonably meet the requirements of the municipal planning strategy’s regulations as they pertain to flood plains. He said he accepted Fox’s evidence that the strategy’s flood plain policies were addressed by town council and that the residents failed to prove otherwise.

( newsroom@herald.ca )

Marshland Drive is the street that runs in the rear of the Truro Mall and Park Street is a main drag that connects the east end of Marshland to downtown.

Anybody have a guess or information on how tall these buildings will be?

[David1gray]

^ says in the article they are five story buildings, but i have no idea how tall they are in feet or meters. ron wallace is actually a family friend, well thats if he is the person im thinking of lol.

on another note....

New funding promotes clean air in N.S.

he Nova Scotia government is pouring more than $1 million into green technology projects.

More than $400,000 will be used by the town of Antigonish to transform an existing retail building into a new library decked out with green technology.

The Archibald dairy farm in Newtown will get $200,000 to develop a system that will turn cow manure into heat and electricity for the farm.

"It is part of our long-term goals for minimizing the environmental footprint of our dairy farm, and for creating an exciting work environment to draw young farm entrepreneurs into the industry," said Ian Archibald.

The government says these and other projects are expected to reduce the province's greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,200 tonnes -- equal to taking 250 cars off the road

.

LINK

[David1gray]

Municipalities to look at governance: Study will ponder future of towns, service delivery, financial strength
Published on July 28th, 2010
The News

The municipalities of Pictou County are moving ahead with a proposed governance study.
New Glasgow, Westville, Stellarton, Trenton, Pictou and Pictou County have approached Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations for assistance in conducting an organizational and governance study.
In response, the provincial department has agreed to fund the study.
The study will be looking at all aspects of the six municipalities including the Shared Services Authority and any other inter-municipal body or agreement.
Each town will have elected officials and representatives sit on a board to oversee the study.
The county council is going to be participating as well, even though that council has voted against amalgamation in the past.
“Our council is still not in favour of amalgamation,” said Warden Ron Baillie.
The council did decide, however, to participate in the study during an executive meeting, even though they are not interested in amalgamation.
“Our part will be to ensure that the residents of the county are not affected in a costly way,” Baillie said.
The proposal for the study says that they are going to be taking an in-depth and comprehensive look at the future of each municipality on its own. They will look at their financial viability and try to determine if individual units have a sustainable future, economically.
They will also be examining the way services are currently delivered and the structure of the county’s governing bodies.
The study was the brainchild of the Town of Westville.
“Basically small towns aren’t going to survive much longer,” said Roger MacKay, mayor of Westville.
As a small town, he said, Westville must rely entirely on its residential tax for income, because it does not have large businesses or industry.
He thinks that as a more co-operative unit, the small towns would be better served and more efficient with their money.
Efficiency is what it comes down to according to Trenton’s mayor, Glen MacKinnon.
“We’re hoping the study shows us ways that if we work together, we can see positive things,” said MacKinnon. “All of us want to spend the taxpayers' money wisely and in more efficient ways.”
Whether the study will change the minds of those against amalgamation remains to be seen. It will, however, show other models of governance and ways to work more efficiently with one another.
MacKay hopes the study will help clear some of the air around the issue.
“I think the facts and figures will help make it a lot easier for everyone to understand,” said MacKay

.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...ial-strength/1

[David1gray]

Upgrade work to begin soon at DSME Trenton plant

TRENTON - Equipment once used to railcars will soon make way for windmill production at the former TrentonWorks buildings.

DSME Trenton Limited announced Tuesday it would begin this month removing existing equipment and fixtures used for railcar production. Once the equipment is gone from the buildings, the company will upgrade the plant and begin installing new equipment to build windmills.

The company expects to begin manufacturing towers in the spring of next year while blade manufacturing is under review with the expected startup in late 2011.

DMSE recently signed the sale papers for ownership of the Trenton plant. The company entered an agreement with the provincial government in March to take over the mothballed railcar plant to manufacture wind turbine towers and blades there.

Brad Murray, spokesman for the company, said there are currently 14 employees at the DMSE Trenton site. Six employees are in the maintenance team with the rest working in administrative positions such as accounting, purchasing, human resources, information technology and management.

He said the total number of employees will grow during the next several months. Recruitment for most of the tower production workers and support staff will begin in early 2011.

The company said training discussions are ongoing with the Nova Scotia Community College for the various trades and skills sets required to manufacture windmill towers and blades.

DSME Trenton's website is currently under construction, but resumes can be sent to www.dsmetrenton.com

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...nton-plant--/1

[cl812]

Old Dutch to expand Hartland plant
Published Tuesday August 3rd, 2010
Economy | Province to provide $15-million loan for expansion project
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

One of Canada's favourite snack food companies is looking to boost its New Brunswick operations.

Old Dutch Foods Ltd. will today announce that it's expanding operations at its Hartland plant.

The company, which makes tortilla chips and potato snacks, multigrain chips, extruded corn snacks, popcorn and party mix, will announce that it's adding 40 jobs to its 128-person workforce.

It plans to add a new packaging line, new equipment and more warehouse space.

Steve Aanenson, CEO of Old Dutch, will make the announcement today.

He'll be joined by Premier Shawn Graham and provincial Finance Minister Greg Byrne.

The province is providing a $15-million repayable loan to the company.

The expansion will see the company double the number of potatoes it processes.

Old Dutch buys from seven potato farmers in the Hartland area.

Byrne said he's confident potato farmers in the St. John River Valley will be able to meet the plant's demand for more supply.

He said the farmers have invested in state-of-the-art storage systems to ensure a steady supply of potatoes for the operation.

"It's certainly good news for the potato industry," Byrne said Monday. "And I think it is great news for the region.

"Adding 40 jobs in the rural community is significant, not to mention the increased demand for potatoes."

----

Demand driving chip plant expansion, president says
Published Wednesday August 4th, 2010
A3
By REBECCA PENTY
Canadaeast News Service

A steady growth in potato chip demand and Old Dutch Foods Ltd.'s prime Hartland location are reasons enough to expand, says the company's president and CEO.

Steve Aanenson said Tuesday that the Hartland plant has been operating at capacity and Old Dutch Foods is gaining market share.

"It's pretty much based on existing sales and not any blue sky projections of any kind," Aanenson said of the expansion.

He said growth in demand for potato chips is small - in line with population growth - but has been consistent despite the recession.

The New Brunswick facility supplies New England states and New York and even has an account as far away as Florida, Aanenson said.

"Hartland is ideally situated to take advantage of a great potato supply, great growers, the costs are reasonable and the proximity to other major markets is terrific," he said, adding that trucking costs are lower leaving the province because of the imbalance between the large volume of products coming in versus the smaller volume of exports.

The provincial government is loaning the firm $15 million for the expansion project. Aanenson was in Hartland with government officials to share the news Tuesday.

The company's new packaging line, new equipment and increased warehouse space should add 40 full-time jobs to the 128 positions at the facility - mostly warehouse employees, production employees on the packaging line, electronics technicians and control system engineers - as well as 35-50 seasonal positions, Aanenson said.

The company will increase spending in the province by about $10 million per year on potatoes and other supplies, including cardboard shipping cases.

Increased exports of chip products should mean another 1,800 truck loads per year leaving New Brunswick for central Canada and the United States, he said.

Aanenson said bolstering the plant will mean sourcing another 35 million pounds of potatoes each year, which will double what the company buys from seven Hartland-area growers.

Joe Brennan, chairman of the provincial potato-growers association, Potatoes New Brunswick, said the expansion will help the few growers that supply the company, out of about 200 potato growers in the province.

"This is all good news," Brennan said, explaining the industry has had a tough go this year.

He pointed to the decline in potato sourcing of about 20 per cent by McCain Foods Ltd.'s Canada operations, announced in the spring.

Lower demand for french fries, the high value of the U.S. dollar and softer export markets contributed to the Florenceville-based company's decision.

Old Dutch Foods Ltd. was formed in Winnipeg in 1954, 20 years after the U.S.-based sister company Old Dutch Foods, Inc. started up in Minnesota.

Old Dutch acquired the New Brunswick plant when the company took over Humpty Dumpty Snack Foods Inc. in May 2006. Old Dutch has five Canadian potato chip facilities.

Aside from potato chips, the Hartland factory churns out extruded cheese snacks and party mix.

[David1gray]

Sod turning on Sunday for new fitness facility

STELLARTON – The first steps are being taking toward constructing Pictou County’s Wellness Centre.
A sod turning will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at corner of Westville Road and MacGregor Avenue to mark the start of construction of the $34 million recreational facility that will house twin ice arenas, walking track, pool, community space, gymnasium, cardio/weight room and dance/fitness studio.
Ron Baillie, warden for the Municipality of Pictou County, said the land is currently in the process of being cleared. This work should be competed by September and then a second tender will be issued for site work on the lot.
He said people should be able to see some structural work take place by spring 2011.
“Everyone is on board,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming. I don’t think people expected it to take this long.”
The wellness centre, which is scheduled for completion in 2012, was promised $12 million from the federal government and $10 million from the province. Local municipalities and community groups will contribute the remainder of the funds for the project. The six municipalities have also adopted a deed transfer tax that will see them cover the operating costs of the centre. Sobeys has donated land for the project that will located on 11 acres across from eastbound Exit 23 of Highway 104.
Baillie said he expects there to be an open house in September for people interested in seeing the layout of the building

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...ess-facility/1

finally! not everyone in the county is on board for this project, but im glad the towns are pushing this ahead! after going to STFX this past year and using the keating millennium centre all year then coming home, i see how much potential this project has for the county.

[David1gray]

Talking about the YMCA

NEW GLASGOW - Few people could be happier to see the ground breaking on Pictou County's new Wellness Centre than Dave MacIntyre.
As a resident of Pictou County he sees it as a sign of good things to come for health and fitness in the region, but as general manager of the YMCA he sees it as solid evidence that in two years they will have a new home.
"It's going to be amazing," MacIntyre said. "It's going to be a state of the art facility."
The Wellness Centre Authority has reached an agreement with the Y to rent space in the centre that will replace their old facility in New Glasgow.
"The Y will manage the fitness area and the pools and the wellness authority will manage the rinks and walking track," said the municipality of Pictou County's Warden Ron Baillie who is also Pictou County Wellness Centre Building Authority chairman.
The Y will also have use of classrooms, studios and the gymnasium in the centre, he said.
In exchange the Y will have to pay a monthly lease and cover their own utility costs.
The Wellness Centre authority will hire a manager for the ice surfaces and track.
To make sure that the public has plenty of access, the Y will be offering 30 hours a week on a user pay basis to the public.
"You don't have to be a Y member to use it, but you'd still pay," Baillie said.
MacIntyre said they would do everything they could to make it accessible for everybody. He envisions hockey players visiting for tournaments on the ice surfaces being able to pay a fee to use the fitness portion while they're here which he believes would benefit everybody.
While it's definitely a first for Nova Scotia to have the Y and a sports facility combined in this manner it's not unheard of in Canada.
Several of these type agreements are currently working in other parts of Canada Baillie and MacIntyre said.
"It's great for all," MacIntyre says.
He's excited about the increased opportunities they will have in the new building. With one six-lane pool and a secondary one, they should be able to host more swimming events. There will also be a rock climbing wall, weight room and cardio area, studios for spinning and other activities and a state-of-the-art child care facility.
"I think this one will probably be one of the nicest (fitness centres) in Atlantic Canada," MacIntyre said.
The building that the YMCA is currently in is owned by the organization, but is getting older.
While the facility is still in pretty good shape "It's hard to make an old box look new," MacIntyre said. "It's starting to show it's age and there are going to be some maintenance costs on the building in a few years."
Paying to lease the space in the Wellness Centre will increase the Y's expenses some, but MacIntyre said he expects there will be an increase in membership when they move into the Wellness Centre.
The fate of the existing YMCA has not been decided yet.

http://www.ngnews.ca/Sports/2010-08-...out-the-YMCA/1

[David1gray]

New fitness facility begins to take shape with shovels in the dirt



STELLARTON – It was just a pile of dirt yesterday but in the coming months it will shaped into one of the largest community facilities in Pictou County.
Politicians, business people and supporters gathered at the site of the planned Wellness Centre for the official sod turning. Construction will be getting underway there now after many months of debate, planning and petitioning.
Peter MacKay, MP for Central Nova said that the process has been a unifying venture for the county and a testament to what the county can do when it works together as a whole.
“From rock climbing to child care, the facility will be located in the heart of the county,” MacKay said during a speech on Sunday.
The result of the co-operation he said was that it turned a “great idea into a new reality.”
The Wellness Centre will include two NHL-size ice surfaces, an indoor track, a gymnasium, studios, a rock climbing wall, and all the gym equipment you would expect.
Dave Macintyre, general manager of the YMCA in New Glasgow spoke yesterday as well. The YMCA will be moving to the new location when it opens.
“In our new home we will be able to recognize three of our strategic objectives,” said MacIntyre.
Those objectives are to have new and better programs offered by the YMCA, to have a broader reach to the community – all of Pictou County, and to be able to provide licensed childcare.
He hopes that the new facilities and programs will help generate interest for local athletes and enthusiasts to try new things.
Ross Landry, MLA for Pictou Centre, said that as a spin instructor at the YMCA, he sees first hand the benefits of healthy and active living.
“There is a positive relationship between sports and activity infrastructure and physical activity,” he said.
Landry hopes the diversity of activity offered will appeal to as wide a demographic as possible in Pictou County.
“The diversity will help expand interest in coming to the Wellness Centre,” he said.
He said he hopes families will come to the centre together and everyone can find something they truly like to do.
Ron Baillie, Warden of the County of Pictou represented the municipal governments and the Wellness Authority at the event.
“The authority is very excited to be breaking ground at this new facility,” Baillie said
He said the project has created a real sense of community and he believes there will be something for everyone at the new Wellness Centre

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2010...-in-the-dirt/1

[Dmajackson]

I can't be positive on this but the new apartment buildings planned for 555 O'Brien Street appear to be under construction. When I drove on the street Thursday (Im quite familiar with Windsor thankfully) I noticed a busy construction being excavated in the approximate area that the buildings would be going up at. If anyone is through the area its just north of Wentworth Road (Hwy 101 connector) just where the road makes a sharp left.