Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...capacity-with-additions-and-expansions/1

Mall nearing capacity with additions and expansions

Published on March 30th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post


SYDNEY — The Mayflower Mall is nearing capacity with the opening of several new stores and expansion of several others.

“We only have about three vacant spaces in the mall and five or six potential tenants, so it’s looking good,” mall manager Paul Carrigan said Tuesday.

The most recent addition, Laura Canada, opened Saturday specializing in women’s business apparel. The fashion store, which also offers plus-size and petite lines as well as eveningwear and casuals, took over the 8,700-square-foot space formerly occupied by Rudderham’s Source for Sports.

...

We know Mayflower Annex is next on the agenda, I wonder if the connecting addition between the former Wal Mart and former Sobeys will come after that.

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports/201...looking--to-open-the-first-week-of-May/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Blehr MacKinley, associate professional with The Lakes Golf Club in Ben Eoin, hits a shot from the No. 6 tee box while touring the course to see how things are shaping up, Monday.


The Lakes Golf Club looking to open the first week of May

Published on April 5th, 2010
Greg MacVicar

BEN EOIN — Cape Breton’s newest 18-hole golf course is expected to be open to duffers and pros alike within a month.

“We’ve targeted May 7 weekend,” said Glen Brann of Sydney, president of The Lakes Golf Club board of directors. “We’re optimistic for that if not sooner. We’ve had a number of key people out walking already and they say the course is in great shape.”

The Graham Cooke-designed course, which is adjacent to Ski Ben Eoin and overlooks the Bras d’Or Lakes, was due to open last summer but heavy rains in late June washed out sections of the No. 10 and No. 18 fairways before grass became established.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ediation-work-and-complaints-resurface/1

Sharon Montgomery-Dupe - Cape Breton Post

Trucks belonging to Joe Parsons Construction Ltd. in Glace Bay work on the old No. 4 Devco mine site on Warren Street. The company has been contracted by Public Works and Government Services Canada to remediate the area and build a soccer field. Residents along the trucking route from Dominion Street to Warren Street are complaining about dust and mud caused by the trucks.

Remediation work and complaints resurface

Published on April 6th, 2010
Sharon Montgomery-Dupe

GLACE BAY — Remediation work has resumed at the old No. 4 mine site — but so have the complaints.

Residents say trucks belonging to Joe Parsons Construction Ltd. are hauling dirt from Parsons’ Quarry on Dominion Street to Warren Street and are creating a mess on the roads and properties.

“Every morning as soon as the trucks start coming up the road, everything gets coated with dust,” said Joanne Morrison of Warren Street. “Inside my house, there is dust everywhere, in every room. I am always stripping beds and clothes down.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports/201...squo%3Bs--hockey-tourney--opens-Friday/1

Women’s hockey tourney opens Friday

Published on April 6th, 2010
Greg MacVicar

By Greg MacVicar Cape Breton Post GLACE BAY — An annual women’s hockey tournament that raises money for the Cape Breton Cancer Centre has become so popular that organizers had to say no to some teams this year.

“We actually had to turn away a few,” said Dale McLean, an organizer of this weekend’s Bayplex Glace Bay Hockey Moms Bud Light Hockey Tournament and a player on the host Glace Bay Hockey Moms team. “We didn’t have enough ice time.”

The inaugural tourney last year featured seven teams and raised $3,500 for the centre. This year, the event was capped at 12 teams — two from Truro and the rest from across Cape Breton — and organizers hope to increase the money raised by a modest amount.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...als-prospecting-for-business-in-Brazil/1

Port officials prospecting for business in Brazil

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

SYDNEY — Officials from ports throughout Atlantic Canada, including Sydney Port Corp. and the Strait of Canso Superport Corp., are in Brazil prospecting for business.

Don Rowe, general manager of the Sydney Port Corp., said Wednesday in a phone interview from Sao Paulo that members of the trade delegation supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency don’t intend to return with signed contracts, but are raising awareness of the Atlantic Gateway.

“We’re not that far advanced that you can look for contracts,” he said. “It’s more for information to give to the logistic and shipping companies.

“So far, that’s been very successful.”

The delegation is also supported by the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax, and includes companies in oil and gas, shipping and exporting, as well as ports.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...preferred-bidder-for-dredging-contract/1

Marine group picks preferred bidder for dredging contract

Published on April 8th, 2010
Erin Pottie

SYDNEY — The Sydney Marine Group has chosen a Netherlands-based company as the preferred bidder for the Sydney harbour dredging contract.

Jim Wooder, chair of the Sydney Marine Group, said the company, which tabled a $38-million bid, has a 100-year history and one of the world’s largest fleets of advanced suction hopper dredging vessels.

Wooder said having a project price tag is key to securing funding from investors, including all three levels of government.

“It’s important,” said Wooder. “You can’t fund something in the abstract.”

Although the bid is open for acceptance until April 29, the marine group says it’s actively seeking an extension due to a tight construction schedule.

The decision to deepen Sydney harbour comes after a 2007 consultant’s report identified dredging as key to big business. Dredging is also a first step in the development of a $200-million container terminal at the Port of Sydney.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...lower-mall-annex-planned-for-next-year/1

Mayflower mall annex planned for next year
Would host businesses not wishing to be in a covered mall, says management firm president

Published on April 8th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post


SYDNEY — A strip mall annex to the Mayflower Mall is in the planning stages and the first phase should be open by this time next year.

...

Corneli said the company is discussing plans with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality for a 20,000-square-foot strip mall to be located at the corner of Grand Lake Road and Sydney Port Access Road.

He couldn’t name the new tenants, but said an announcement on construction schedule and tenants could be made in about a month and a half.

...

None of the new tenants currently has an outlet in Sydney, he also said, which fits with the company’s desire to bring new business to the area in order to stem the flow of shoppers off-island.

...

It'll be interesting to see which names pop up (I've heard rumours of at least one from workers for potential retail outlets themselves, but won't say anything until everything's signed and announced so I don't jinx it).


http://www.capebretonpost.com/Sports/201...lping-golf-season-along-in-Cape-Breton/1

Warm weather helping golf season along in Cape Breton
Lingan, Seaview open today

Published on April 8th, 2010
T.J. Colello

SYDNEY — A tame winter and mild, spring weather has helped many Cape Breton golf courses get into full swing a little earlier this season.

A good example is Lingan Golf and Country Club. General manager Donnie Rowe said today’s opening is the earliest in the 102-year history of the Sydney layout. They’ll be open at noon.

“It’s such a mild winter and a little bit of warm, sunny early spring weather we typically don’t get in Cape Breton,” said Rowe, noting the power carts won’t be available until Monday. “The winter was really easy on the course and with the early spring, the combination is just one of those perfect storms that happen every now and then.

“(The course) is in great shape. All 18 greens will be open (today). Last year, it wasn’t until June before we had all 18 greens open. The greens are really rolling pretty good and for this time of year, it’s in real great shape.”

Seaview Golf and Country Club in North Sydney is also opening today at 9 a.m., with all 18 greens in play. It’s also the earliest the course has ever been open since its first season in 1950, said pro shop manager T.J. Gaskell.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...n-unemployment-rate-continues-to-climb/1

Cape Breton unemployment rate continues to climb

Published on April 9th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The unemployment rate in Cape Breton continued its steady movement upward as job losses in both the public and private sectors begin to mount.

According to March employment data released Friday by Statistics Canada, Cape Breton had an unemployment rate of 16.2 per cent, which is six-tenths of a per cent higher than the February rate.

Compared to the rate of unemployment a year ago, it was a full percentage point higher at 17.2 per cent in March 2009.

...

Comment: Although I haven't looked through the full numbers yet, I just wanted to comment. 16.2 % is depressing, yes, as is a rise from February though the rise is expected with the closure of the Smooth Herman's complex, Bell-Aliant customer service centre and CIC temporary contract losses. However, despite those losses (~250 jobs iirc) the rate still decreased a full percentage point over the same month last year. So while both the recession last year and these recent employment losses are setbacks, it seems we're still moving in the right direction year over year, though again I haven't looked at the complete numbers yet and I think the rate may be higher than two years ago though I still have to move over my old spreadsheets from my old computer's hardrive in order to check (and won't have the chance to in the near future I'm afraid). Improvement moves slowly in Cape Breton, but the outlook still looks much better than it did 5-10 years ago.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/2010-...goal%2C-sets-new-one-of-%245.5-million/1

Cape Breton Cares reaches fundraising goal, sets new one of $5.5 million


Published on April 9th, 2010
Greg McNeil

MEMBERTOU — The chair of a local cancer treatment fundraising campaign joked about a possible conflict of interest as he took the stage to announce a significant fundraising milestone.

Irving Schwartz told an audience of 200 at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, Friday the Cape Breton Cares drive had reached its $3.6-million goal to assist local cancer and neonatal care.

...

[mylesmalley]

Seems Brazil is the place to be right now if you're in the port business. The Pot of Saint John was down there this week as well.

[David1gray]

representatives from pictou ship yard were also in brazil this week

[Smevo]

^ I'm guessing that anyone involved or looking to get a piece of the Atlantic Gateway was in Brazil at the same time.

[mylesmalley]

We probably look like idiots down there, too.

I know they're all independent, but if they could present themselves as a single, cohesive group, they'd have a much more noteworthy offering. Some ports have competitive advantages others don't.

Otherwise, we just look like a rag-tag bunch of me-toos.

It's the same reason why Ottawa never takes us seriously. We're all so caught up in stupid competitions with the guy down the road that the rest of the country is leaving us behind.

Anyway, end of rant haha.

[Smevo]

You're absolutely right. I don't know if they went with a united front on this expedition, but in general all the urban centres and regions of the Maritimes (and to some extent the Atlantic Provinces but it seems more prevalent in the Maritimes) are in an artificial competition with each other. Once one area gets something, everyone else wants it too. The one thing I find different about the ports talk is that they're all saying their container terminal will "work together" with the others in the region within the Atlantic Gateway. Whether that actually gets to be the case or whether we get screwed with the same old competition remains to be seen.

In my opinion, the thing holding the region back isn't the lack of one clear major urban centre as some believe (after all, even though the population difference isn't as severe as in other regions, it's pretty clear who the major centre in the Maritimes is), but it's the competition between centres. There's no reason why we need to prop up an already major centre, but there's also no reason why all our major centres should be in competition with each other. If all the major centres in the maritimes were allowed the opportunity to build on their strengths without political interference (including artificial centralization and artificial decentralization), we'd be in much better shape. Unfortunately, politics tends to lead economics in this part of the world.

Aside: this might be better suited to another thread, but I can't think of which one it would be best suited to nor can I think of how to create a new one without being too close to a duplicate of an existing thread.

[mylesmalley]

You're right on all counts, Smevo. Especially the point about this going somewhere else

[Smevo]

April 12, 2010 is the real date.

This bridge sees ~18,000 cars/day. Here it is in streetview.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...-won%26rsquo%3Bt-be-finished-this-week/1

Sydney River bridge work won’t be finished this week

Published on April 12th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY RIVER — The bridge on Keltic Drive will remain under construction for at least another month.

Traffic has been reduced to one lane while a contractor repairs stringers — metal I-beams that support the underside of the concrete deck — but the work has been delayed due to windy weather.

“Based on the weather and the wind out there, it’s been going slower than we expected,” said Gerard Jessome, eastern district manager with the Department of Transportation.

He said wind braces underneath the bridge have to be disconnected to work on the stringers, which means the wind cannot exceed 20 km/h during repairs.

...

[Smevo]

April 13, 2010

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ng-municipal-workforce-raises-concerns/1

Aging municipal workforce raises concerns

Published on April 13th, 2010
Chris Shannon

SYDNEY — A lack of a succinct succession plan along with a workforce that’s on the brink of a massive retirement is creating a perfect storm for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

As council began its budget talks Tuesday, it heard from the CBRM’s director of engineering and public works Wayne MacDonald, who said 83 per cent of his payroll is made up of employees 55 or older.

“We’re going to have a significant number of hirings over the next number of years. I don’t know what the labour pool’s going to be like in three or four years time when we’re hiring 20 plus people a year,” said MacDonald, who expects finding skilled technical workers will be a challenge.

Another troubling statistic is that more than 90 per cent of the public works department is 45 or older.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...unicipal-staff-recommends-tax-increase/1

Municipal staff recommends tax increase
Councillors search for another solution

Published on April 13th, 2010
Chris Shannon


SYDNEY — A lunchtime chat over the repercussions of a tax hike had the Cape Breton Regional Municipality council scrambling to come up with an alternative to the budget recommendations presented by senior administrators, Tuesday.

Finance director Marie Walsh said debt reduction must be at the core of the municipality’s budget because it’s close to reaching its borrowing limit.

“If we keep pushing our debt to the future, we’re just increasing the debt-servicing costs that will be spread out to future taxpayers and our tax base is decreasing, so that’s going to be an issue,” Walsh said.

She said a modest residential tax increase of 2.9 per cent is needed to collect about $1.4 million in order to help balance the operating budget, which now stands at $129 million.

The commercial tax rate would rise by five per cent to make up the rest of the $3-million shortfall. It’s not considered an increase because the province has been phasing out the business occupancy tax over the last several years, Walsh said.

...

[Smevo]

April 14, 2010

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...009932/CBRM-budget-talks-hit-stalemate/1

CBRM budget talks hit stalemate

Published on April 14th, 2010
Chris Shannon


SYDNEY — A stalemate developed Wednesday during the second day of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality budget talks.

A staff recommendation to raise residential taxes $28 a year, on average, in order to balance the budget and reduce the debt has been soundly rejected by council, which wants to find savings or defer some expenses to prevent any impact on residents.

While CBRM finance director Marie Walsh said staff was prepared to accept any council amendments to the budget, she read a prepared statement warning of the repercussions of failing to follow through with the tax hike.

“When we started the budget we were at an eight per cent tax increase. Five weeks later we were at 2.9 per cent,” Walsh said.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...ce-seeks-bids-for-coal-gas-exploration/1

Province seeks bids for coal gas exploration

Published on April 14th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The provincial energy department is looking for companies interested in exploring for coal gas in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

A request for proposals was issued Wednesday for exploration on 64,422 hectares of land known as the Tomkinsville parcel after it was nominated by a company in the industry.

“It’s great to see onshore exploration interest continues to grow,” Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks said in a news release. “Much of Nova Scotia’s onshore energy resource is still unknown, but it’s clear we have enormous potential.”

The province has coal gas agreements on land in the Stellarton and Springhill areas, and one with Donkin Tenements Inc. — a company owned by Erdene Resource Development and Xstrata Coal — in the Sydney basin area where the Donkin coal mine is under development.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...ogram-about-to-be-introduced-to-Greece/1

Techlink’s gaming program about to be introduced to Greece

Published on April 14th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — As his business was being named Atlantic Canada’s fastest growing company by Progress Magazine, John Xidos was busy continuing to expand its reach into international markets.

Xidos, president of Techlink Entertainment, spoke to The Cape Breton Post about the designation Wednesday via cell phone from Greece, where he had just taken part in a press conference about the introduction of its responsible gaming technology to that country.

“They’re getting ready to roll out a VLT program, up to 50,000 VLTs and they’re looking at our technology obviously to put a seatbelt on the VLTs to protect players from harm’s way,” he said.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Business/2...ontract-for-access-road-to-Donkin-mine/1

Cape Breton company gets contract for access road to Donkin mine

Published on April 14th, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

DONKIN — A Cape Breton company has been awarded the contract to construct an access road to the Donkin coal mine, according to an island MLA.

Cape Breton West representative Alfie MacLeod said Wednesday the contact was awarded to Municipal Ready-Mix and work is expected to begin immediately. The value of the contract is more than $1 million.

...

[Smevo]

Crap just noticed I went back in time again. Time to change the previous posts to 2010.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...dget-without-raising-residential-taxes/1

Council passes budget without raising residential taxes

Published on April 15th, 2010
Chris Shannon

SYDNEY — Residents of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality can rest easy now that the municipal budget has passed without a residential tax increase.

Council refused to accept a staff recommendation to raise the tax rate by 2.9 per cent, or about $28, on average, a year.

...

Earlier in the day debate surrounded the Cape Breton Regional Fire Service’s plan to build a new $3.5-million fire station at a yet-to-be disclosed site on Victoria Road to replace the aging Whitney Pier and Ashby fire stations.

The Ashby station has been closed since September due to mould concerns.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local.../Time-may-run-out-to-complete-projects/1

Time may run out to complete projects
Municipality facing deadline to use federal money

Published on April 16th, 2010
Chris Shannon


SYDNEY — Timelines are going to be tight to complete all infrastructure projects in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality this year based on a capital budget where federal government stimulus funding is central to the construction season. More than $13 million will be spent on roads, curb, gutter and sidewalks throughout the municipality.

“The priority for this year is going to be the stimulus fund,” Wayne MacDonald, CBRM’s director of engineering and public works, said during budget talks earlier this week.

“Basically if we don’t complete those projects we lose the funding. And if we get to December of this year and some of the projects aren’t completed there’s no more (federal funding) next year.”

The stimulus fund, set up by Ottawa to encourage municipalities to spend during the economic downturn last year, winds up on March 31, 2011. Any projects not completed by that date risk losing their funding.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2010-04-18/article-1024227/Navy-ships-coming-to-Sydney/1

Navy ships coming to Sydney

Published on April 18th, 2010
Greg McNeil

SYDNEY — A significant naval presence will be in Sydney harbour for back-to-back weekends to open the month of May.

The Canadian navy will first dispatch the Glace Bay, May 1, followed by the destroyer Athabaskan for two days beginning May 7.

“I was down to the ships speaking to some of the folks and I know they are excited to go,” said public affairs officer Lt. Ed Stansfield.

“They really enjoy this type of thing, but especially with Sydney. They are really looking forward to it.”

The crew of the Glace Bay will participate in Battle of the Atlantic activities hosted by the Cape Breton Naval Veterans Association.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ancels-closure-review-of-eight-schools/1

Cape Breton-Victoria board cancels closure review of eight schools

Published on April 20th, 2010
Chris Hayes

SYDNEY — The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board will cancel the review and possible closure of eight schools.

Chairman Lorne Green said the board decided Monday evening to give the requisite notice of motion at its next public meeting to cancel the school reviews that were announced April 1.

“What that means is all eight schools are off the chopping block,” he said Tuesday. “The communities don’t have to go through these reviews and justify the keeping of their schools.”

Schools that had been identified for review included East Bay Elementary, George D. Lewis in Louisbourg, Gowrie Memorial in Port Morien, Macdonald Elementary in Dominion, MacLennan Junior High School in Westmount, Marion Bridge School, Middle River Consolidated and Holy Angels High School in Sydney.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...-oldest-in-Sydney%2C-facing-demolition/1

North end house, which may be oldest in Sydney, facing demolition

Published on April 20th, 2010
Chris Shannon

SYDNEY — A property in north end Sydney’s heritage conservation district, now thought to be the oldest building in the city, has been assessed for possible demolition by the municipality after fire swept through the duplex last summer causing extensive damage.

A woman died in the accidental fire on July 5. Heritage experts believe sections of the building at 96-98 Charlotte St. date back to the early 1780s, even prior to the construction of Cossitt House in 1785, which is located on the same street and is widely advertised as Sydney’s oldest home.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality began the process Tuesday to advertise the building with the intention to consider demolition. A public hearing must be held prior to a council vote that has final say on whether demolition can move ahead.

...

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...ver-Bridge-closed-until-further-notice/1

Sydney River Bridge closed until further notice

Published on April 21st, 2010
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY RIVER — The Sydney River Bridge on Keltic Drive is closed until further notice.

A spokeswoman for the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal said the bridge closed to traffic Tuesday at about 5 p.m.

The bridge had been down to one lane of traffic during repairs, which were recently delayed by weather.

...

Their "alternate routes" suggestions are just one route in reality...Hwy 125. The others are Kings Rd and Coxheath Rd (to access/exit Hwy 125). I think the six lanes are going to come in really handy on that section now, it already carries ~17,000 vpd and that will skyrocket until Sydney River Bridge is finished repairs, considering the bridge gets ~18,000.


http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local...o%3BKey-to-the-Municipality%26rsquo%3B/1

CBRM will honour the Athabaskan with ‘Key to the Municipality’

Published on April 21st, 2010
Greg McNeil


SYDNEY — The Canadian navy’s age-old tradition will be celebrated by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality when Freedom of the City rights are granted to the crew of the Athabaskan.

The ceremony will take place while the naval destroyer is docked in Sydney during the May 7-9 weekend.

“The members of the ship are going to march through the city and they’ll arrive at the Civic Centre,” said Mayor John Morgan of the May 8 ceremony.

“It is a pretty formal process where they knock on the door and they ask for leave to be in the city. We of course will grant that.”

Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Myles Burke has also been asked to welcome the visiting crew.

...

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Arts/Enter...rticle-1033141/Preparing-for-PierScape/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

From left, Simon Gillis, featured artist for PierScape 2010, talks about his painting, Pouring Steel, with PierScape assistant co-ordinators Angela Bresson and Kim Murphy. Gillis donated the oil painting to the Whitney Pier Society of the Arts so they could sell tickets on the piece as a fundraiser for PierScape events.


Preparing for PierScape
Art festival set to take place May 10-15 in Whitney Pier


Published on April 21st, 2010
Laura Jean Grant


WHITNEY PIER — The countdown is on to one of the island’s most diverse art festivals.

In less than three weeks, close to 100 artists will take part in the 13th edition of PierScape, organized by the Whitney Pier Society for the Arts. The festival will take place May 10-15 at various venues in Whitney Pier.

“It’s a weeklong arts festival,” explained co-ordinator Catherine Moir. “It’s an event in Whitney Pier which most people in the community attend. It’s an eclectic event in that there is visual art, music, literary art and food so people partake in all those.”

...