The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[philster]

Originally Posted by mmmatt

I'm actually quite surprised that all three Yves Rocher, Fruits and Passion, and Bath and Body Works are surviving so close together here...I figured one of the older stores would be run out by Bath and Body works quickly!

I walked by the Location in McAllister Mall today, while yes it has shut down, it looks like they are going through a form of rebranding and renovations.

Yves Rocher is still plastered by banners in the window and the sign above the doors I believe said "Botanical Beauty" In looking at their corporate website for franchise opportunitues it does mention this concept with a more detailed downloadable PDF File avaliable for download.

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

I'm really hoping to see a GAP store in Saint John as not having one kind of leaves (no bun intended) a rather large 'gap' in the local retail scene. Like Costco it's the type of store that draw people in, so here's hoping.

[WilJai]

Atelka closing in Saint John
142 people out of work...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/01/31/nb-atelka-closing.html?cmp=rss

[mylesmalley]

What did they do? Or was it a contract place like Minacs?

EDIT: Never mind, the CBC updated the article with a few more details.

[Ire Narissis]

Not at all surprised to hear about this. I've worked at a call centre with ex-Atelka employees and all I ever heard about it were horror stories.

[Wrightguy0]

Yeah, I'm surprised this place didn't shut down ages ago, it's no great loss to this city's call center workers

[WilJai]

Originally Posted by Ire Narissis

Not at all surprised to hear about this. I've worked at a call centre with ex-Atelka employees and all I ever heard about it were horror stories.

Im a former employee and well the SJ site has lost a lot of "contracts" over the last few years.. so not suprised..

[pjleger]

I'm not surprised that they closed. As a former employee who was close to management, I could tell you the horror stories.

Their major client was definately not happy from the time they signed with them 2 years ago with how things were run at Atelka, and obviously things never got any better. They probably had an out clause in their contract and decided to exercise it. Surprised that they lasted this long!! I've worked in many call centres in the area, and I would say Atelka had to have been the worst centre.

[WilJai]

Originally Posted by pjleger

I'm not surprised that they closed. As a former employee who was close to management, I could tell you the horror stories.

Their major client was definately not happy from the time they signed with them 2 years ago with how things were run at Atelka, and obviously things never got any better. They probably had an out clause in their contract and decided to exercise it. Surprised that they lasted this long!! I've worked in many call centres in the area, and I would say Atelka had to have been the worst centre.

Yea I am not at all suprised myself... a lot of issues with management.. also the company didnt want to put money into the SJ office..

[ErickMontreal]

Sad to say that the call center industry in Saint John has experienced a steady decline over the last few years.

NCO, Eddie Bauer, RVI, Stream, Blue Ocean, Irvings Oil, Aliant have either shut down or downsized.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Taken from google street view.

Hey everyone! So, I hope someone can give me an idea of what this is? I feel like it belonged to the customs building that was built in this area after the fire in 1877. This is Water street.



EDIT: The area on the wall that looks to have windows and doors or something :S

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by ErickMontreal

Sad to say that the call center industry in Saint John has experienced a steady decline over the last few years.

NCO, Eddie Bauer, RVI, Stream, Blue Ocean, Irvings Oil, Aliant have either shut down or downsized.

True. I know that Stream and Atelka in particular were quite heavily afflicted with poor management.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by Ire Narissis

True. I know that Stream and Atelka in particular were quite heavily afflicted with poor management.

Indeed. I also heard the same kind of comments.

[ErickMontreal]

Saint John Port Authority and AV Group Renew Exploratory Discussions

October 20, 2011

The Port of Saint John and the AV Group are pleased to announce that they have renewed discussions focused on examining options for moving a significant part of AV Nackawic’s production to markets in India and the Far East through the Port of Saint John.

The two groups had been engaged in discussions up until this past spring. At that time, statements were made by officials of the Saint John Port Authority that were critical of AV Group’s logistics strategy. The Port Authority now has a much better appreciation of the logistics challenges faced by the AV Group. To that end, officials of the Port Authority have stated their regrets for any misconceptions that may have been caused by its earlier public comments. AV Group has accepted the Port Authority’s expressions of regret in a manner that brings that situation to a close and also acknowledges that they are committed to working with the Port to immediately look for options that are responsive to their shipping needs. Both the Port and the AV Group recognize the important role the AV Group can play in helping to attract a new East-West container line service to the Port, as such a service will be positioned to service other New Brunswick shippers who currently export and import containers through other ports located outside New Brunswick.

“Renewed discussions have allowed us to have a stronger appreciation for the various complications the AV Group must face when trading a very specialized cargo” remarked Mr. Quinn. “We are now in a position to better understand the AV Group’s business model and we are working hard to see if the Port of Saint John can play a role in getting AV Group product to market in a more economical fashion.”

[Taeolas]

Too bad we no longer have a railway to carry trees to Nackawic and the products down the river to Saint John's port.

[ErickMontreal]

Saint John cuts $9M in services
Council votes 7-2 in favour of Plan B budget

CBC News
Posted: Feb 1, 2012 5:02 PM AT

Saint John will now have to come up with the extra $13 million annually if the city does not approve proposed changes to the city employees' pension plan. (Connell Smith/CBC)

Saint John faces revised city budgetSaint John mulls budget options in private session

Saint John council has voted to cut $9 million from city programs and services across the board.

Council voted seven to two in favour of the so-called Plan B budget during a special meeting on Wednesday night.

The 2012 city budget is $144 million.

It shaves $8 million from operations and $1 million from the water and sewerage budget.

The cuts affect nearly every city department, including police and fire.

More than 50 jobs could be on the chopping block, along with grants to community groups, and planned raises for managers.

City manager Pat Woods had recommended council approve Plan B because the city's pension deficit has ballooned to $190 million, up from $163 million.

That means the city will now need an additional $13 million a year if the provincial government does not approve proposed changes to the city employees' pension plan, Woods told the crowded council chambers.

Councillors hope the provincial legislature will approve several changes to the city's pension plan, such as cuts to cost-of-living increases, to help deal with the plan's deficit.

But the legislature doesn't sit again until March.

If the changes aren't approved, the city will now have to come up with the extra $13 million annually, up from the $9 million it initially thought, said Woods.

The Plan A budget, which would have maintained the tax rate and avoided major service cuts, would have put the city at too much risk, he said, noting $13 million amounts to about 10 per cent of the annual budget.

Mayor Ivan Court called the ballooning pension deficit "devastating news."

Council held the special meeting to try to finally reach an agreement on the budget. Council members had been deadlocked over what to do.

Coun. Gary Sullivan said the division among council could have been resolved quickly if the provincial government had just sent a signal that the city's plan to make cuts to retirement benefits will be allowed.

Justice Minister Marie-Claude Blais has declined to comment on the issue.

Saint John MLAs Glen Tait, of Saint John East, Dorothy Shephard, of Saint John Lancaster, and Carl Killen, of Saint John Harbour, also offered no comment.

Jim Parrott, the MLA for Fundy-River Valley, and Trevor Holder, the Minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Minister of Tourism and Parks and the MLA for Saint John Portland, did not respond to CBC News' request for an interview.

Council divided

Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase and three other councillors who favoured making deep cuts to expenditures petitioned the clerk to call the special meeting.

"I think it's time we positioned our budget to cushion rising costs in labour, goods and services," Chase had said earlier Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the mayor and four councillors were on the other side of the debate, wanting to make the least cuts possible without raising taxes.

"If we go with plan B we're going to take $9 million-worth of service delivery out of the city of Saint John that will never return," Court had said.

Coun. Donnie Snook had said he hoped the upcoming municipal election in May wasn't playing a role in the stalemate.

"Actually that's been thrown around quite a bit at all of us. And I, for one, would prefer not to have the view of the election kind of being the motive behind everything a councillor says or does at this point," Snook had said.

Snook said he understands the trouble over the budget isn't sitting well with Saint Johners and he was eager to resume budget discussions in open session.

Members found themselves at a complete deadlock on Monday night and couldn't even agree to put the matter on the council agenda.


Utterly embarassing... no other comment!

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

Originally Posted by ErickMontreal

Saint John cuts $9M in services
Council votes 7-2 in favour of Plan B budget

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Utterly embarrassing... no other comment!

If the city wants to save some money, and our repetition, then they should start by FIRING the mayor and common councilors!

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Wolkenkratzerliebhab

If the city wants to save some money, and our repetition, then they should start by FIRING the mayor and common councilors!

The mayor and common councilors only have until May. One problem is finding people who are better and willing to commit the time.

There are a lot of people in the city that think municipal services are overstaffed. As an example, in terms of Police services, Saint John has the highest number of police officers per person in Canada.

Quite frankly i'd take the cuts over even higher taxes, but that's just me.

[michael_d40]

Originally Posted by GregHickman

The mayor and common councilors only have until May. One problem is finding people who are better and willing to commit the time.

There are a lot of people in the city that think municipal services are overstaffed. As an example, in terms of Police services, Saint John has the highest number of police officers per person in Canada.

Quite frankly i'd take the cuts over even higher taxes, but that's just me.

Without going into much detail, you'd be surprised with the amount of Ivan supporters out there.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by michael_d40

Without going into much detail, you'd be surprised with the amount of Ivan supporters out there.

To each their own I guess.

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

Hey everyone! So, I hope someone can give me an idea of what this is? I feel like it belonged to the customs building that was built in this area after the fire in 1877. This is Water street.

I'm afraid I also have no idea what that is.