The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........lol

WTF ?

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........lol

Yeah, I dont really like using arbitrary photos of a city aganst it, but if you think that is bad (which I dont think it is at all btw)

Beautiful


Fantastic


Picturesque


So yes, lets stop the comparisons, because this could go on forever, both cities are great in my opinion, so can it

[SJTOKO]

[QUOTE=stu_pendousmat2;2707174]Yeah, I dont really like using arbitrary photos of a city aganst it.

I beg your pardon, that was one of Smevo's showcase pictures that were supposed to enlighten me on how beautiful Moncton is... It was actually one of the best pictures i've seen of Moncton... Leave Smevo alone...

[Smevo]

SJTOKO, how much of my post did you miss? About 95%? Thought so.

These are more of what I was talking about (remember, look with your eyes open). These are all on Main St.















I'm not comparing these to Saint John, but these are all in Moncton...currently...as I type. There's more than just Assomption Place and the telecom tower in Moncton. Now stop being a jackass and let's get back to the point of this thread.

[SJTOKO]

Originally Posted by Smevo

SJTOKO, how much of my post did you miss? About 95%? Thought so.

These are more of what I was talking about (remember, look with your eyes open). These are all on Main St.















I'm not comparing these to Saint John, but these are all in Moncton...currently...as I type. There's more than just Assomption Place and the telecom tower in Moncton. Now stop being a jackass and let's get back to the point of this thread.

I'm not impressed..... Moncton has a long way to go. Build some hills, lakes, and rivers and plant some trees. You have a couple of nice buildings on Main Street but so does Buffalo... However, i'll leave your thread now... it's been a pleasure..

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

However, i'll leave your thread now... it's been a pleasure..

Good riddance.

[patboy]

on this picture, st-john look like a "dead city" with the empty highway and tern colors ...

[Smevo]

^careful, don't bring the problem back.

[patboy]

sorry ... I had to say it

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

i'll leave your thread now... it's been a pleasure..

Praise the Lord

[mmmatt]

Convention centre, aerospace park, Fundy Gateway are among major projects federal gov't asked to support

Times & Transcript
Thu 22 Mar 2007

A large delegation of Metro Moncton officials are pressing the flesh here, looking for almost $11 million from Ottawa for three local projects.

The key meeting was 45 minutes with Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, the regional minister for New Brunswick, who emerged to promise that the government would consider the "exciting" projects brought forward by Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview.

"We heard an overview of the projects. They are very interesting and exciting for those communities. As you know, we have some significant infrastructure money allocated under the new budget, so we will take a look at the budget and see what is doable in the budget and move forward," Thompson said afterwards.

The federal government's infrastructure programs are in transition with several big ones sun-setting and others being created. The centrepiece of the Conservative infrastructure plan is the $8.8-billion, seven- year Building Canada Fund.

Over the same period, Ottawa plans to spend $2.1 billion on gateways and border crossings and $1.3 billion on "public-private- partnerships."

In the meantime, the federal government still has $4 billion in planned spending from the former Liberal government's infrastructure programs including $1.6 billion this year.

Thompson, however, was careful not to commit the government to anything, in particular since Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, who is also responsible for the Moncton-based Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, are responsible for the infrastructure programs.

"We will take a sincerely hard look and do our best to help and when the time comes we will be there to help hopefully, Thompson said, "but no timelines have been decided upon and the merits of the projects have not been evaluated in terms of what comes forward in the budget."

Thompson added that he was impressed by the unity of the delegation, led by Enterprise Greater Moncton and including about 18 people.

"The interesting thing about the three projects is you have three different communities dovetailing."

Moncton is looking for $9 million from Ottawa to for an $18-million convention centre. The province and the municipality have already agreed to contributing $4.5 million each.

The project is being billed as key to future growth of Metro Moncton, which is considered an engine of the New Brunswick and Maritime economies.

Dieppe is looking for $900,000 over three years to continue developing a Canada East Inland Port and an Aerospace Park.

The inland port brings together the Greater Moncton International Airport and the Trans-Canada Highway.

Enterprise Greater Moncton chairman Brian Baxter said it is being pitched as part of the larger Atlantic Gateway project that would expand the Nova Scotia ports of Halifax and Canso. The Aerospace Park would expand the local industrial base.

Riverview is looking to confirm $1 million from ACOA for the Fundy Gateway at the end of the new Gunningsville Bridge. About 800 tour buses currently pass straight by Riverview and Albert County without stopping and an expanded Fundy Gateway could get them to stop to see tourist attractions such as the Hopewell Rocks, Fundy National Park and Cape Enrage.

The delegation also had an informal meeting with MacKay in the government lobby of the House of Commons. Today they will hold formal meetings with staff from the offices of MacKay and Cannon and meet with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's chief of staff, David McLaughlin, a former chief of staff to former premier Bernard Lord and former New Brunswick deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs.

Baxter said the group was getting its message across.

"Many of these projects are dependent on federal funding," he said before leaving for the Fairmont Chateau Laurier where the group hosted a reception for about 70 people.

"Minister Thompson has been overly kind, Minister MacKay has been great, and I must say that Mr. Brian Murphy (the Liberal MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe) has been gracious in facilitating this. "

Moncton Mayor Lorne Mitton, Dieppe Mayor Achille Maillet and Riverview Councillor Charles Broderick were hopeful Ottawa would review their projects quickly.

"They are going to go back and look at it. They are not going to fool around with it. They are going to tell us one way or another.

"We are going to hear on all our projects in the not-too-distant future," said Mitton.

The convention centre project has been kicked around for a number of years and was delayed when the former Liberal government was defeated in January 2006.

Maillet said he has tenants ready to move into the Aerospace Park in September and added that the Inland Port is important for future economic development.

"For us the timeframe is before September so we need to move almost immediately on this, so for us the minister has promised to get more actively involved," he said.

Broderick also was confident that positive answers would come soon.

"We are on the verge of something. We are quite confident that we will see something in the near future."

The mayors stressed that Metro Moncton is a growing community and key to the future of New Brunswick and the Maritimes.

[mmmatt]

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Thu 22 Mar 2007


Renovations are under way to the former Don Cherry's Restaurant in Dieppe's Champlain Place Shopping Mall for another type of eatery.

A spokesman for the mall complex declined to confirm or deny a rumour that a well-known restaurant chain was moving in.

That announcement will be made by the new occupants when they chose to do so, explained mall spokesman Philippe Theriault.

Renovations have been underway for a couple of weeks after Don Cherry's moved in September of last year. No completion date was given for the refit.

The mall is also renovating the former Future Shop premises for a single business. That negotiation is ongoing, he said, and declined to reveal any further details.

Both locations are spacious.

Future Shop moved its electronic business into its a new building on Plaza Boulevard opposite Wal-Mart before Christmas.

[mmmatt]

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Wed 21 Mar 2007


Premier Shawn Graham merits praise for announcing plans to set up a trust fund next year, as was done for the Saint John harbour cleanup, to help get the Petitcodiac River restoration moving.

This demonstrates to Ottawa that the province is serious and that Ottawa also needs to pay up and take its responsibility for the number one environmental issue in the province. The federal government illegally approved the causeway in the first place and conducted the Environmental Impact Assessment that determined we must act.

The status quo is not acceptable because it contravenes Canadian law. The only choice is in choosing how to remedy the problem.

With Premier Graham's announcement, work is going ahead on the funding issue, which is more than we saw from the previous government which was somewhat hobbled by some MLAs and cabinet ministers who worked actively to undermine attempts to move the file forward. Premier Graham has none of that political baggage. And he knows as well that time becomes ever more crucial as more time passes without any action. The trust fund is a positive first step towards the actual restoration

[mmmatt]

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Wed 21 Mar 2007


Discriminating palates looking for something different in downtown Moncton now have a new option. Chez 5 Étoiles Restaurant opened last week in its uniquely elegant digs in Robinson Court. Owned and operated by head-chef Mathieu Thibault, the restaurant carries the namesake of his parents restaurant, which has been serving patrons in St-Louis-de-Kent since 1992, but packs an urban flair with an expanded menu to go with it. The 50-seat restaurant will carry four marquee dishes on its otherwise varied menu: fondue, raspberry steak, raclette, and seafood pizza. Exotic meats, including bison, boar and elk will also be on the menu. The restaurant also features a lunch menu full of quick, reasonably-priced items.

[mmmatt]

aint John Harbour Cleanup

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Tue 20 Mar 2007


Shawn Graham's provincial Liberals will likely spur the feds into spending money on the Petitcodiac River remediation by setting up a trust fund as it did for the Saint John Harbour clean up, the premier said yesterday.

"We will be looking at a similar program that we put in place with the clean-up of the Saint John Harbour. This is a cost-shared agreement with the province of New Brunswick and the federal government. That's why it's so important that the federal government of Canada is an equal partner in the restoration of the Petitcodiac River and that's why we're going to be working diligently to get them to come on board," Graham said.

This was the first time Graham has spoken candidly about how the provincial government might try to convince the federal Conservative government to split the cost of fixing the river since the province has begun reviewing options to restore the river.

He was in Dieppe to announce a marketing campaign for a tuition rebate program, but questions about his latest budget, the future of the river and destination gaming dominated a scrum with the media.

Graham said yesterday that trust fund would likely take shape in his government's second budget next year.

"We'll be looking to the Government of Canada to sign off on (it) and then we would be looking at setting up money in a trust fund in our second budget that could be used as a tool to entice the federal government to become an equal partner as well," Graham said.

The causeway and dam between Moncton and Riverview that blocks the tidal flow of the river has been ruled illegal because it prevents fish passage.

An environmental impact assessment that analyzed what to do about the 40-year-old structure suggests four options and also says that the status quo cannot be allowed to continue.

The Petitcodiac Riverkeeper organization has continuously lobbied for removal of part of the causeway, which would be replaced by a bridge.

For his part, Graham said his government is committed to making a decision and fixing the problem.

"Our government is committed to the restoration of the Petitcodiac River. It was in our Charter for Change platform and our government has seen the most movement on this file," he said.

However, Graham stopped short of saying the issue could be addressed this year, since he acknowledged the provincial budget last week contained no mention of a timeline for remediation, nor any committed funds in 2007-08.

"We have to be realistic. Our first commitment was to the clean up the Saint John harbour which we moved on in day one of our mandate. With that task now under way we're going to be focusing our energies on the second environmental issue that has to be addressed in the province and that is the restoration of the Petitcodiac River, " he said.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau, also in Dieppe to announce the new marketing campaign, said he couldn't offer any timeframes for the project.

"This is a big file. These four options, we're talking obviously tens of millions of dollars and we have to look at which option is best for all concerned," he said.

The Saint John harbour clean-up is being funded partly by the federal government, through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure fund, and partly by the province through a trust fund that has been set up for the "legacy" project, and partly by the municipality.

[mmmatt]

Moncton Korean church celebrates anniversary

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Tue 20 Mar 2007


Pastor Kim Sungdong speaks Sunday to a full house during the first anniversary service of the the Korean Church in Moncton. The congregation, which currently has over 20 members, holds regular services at the Wesleyan Church. Moncton currently has about 36 Korean families and more immigrants are expected.

[mmmatt]

$13M facility to be ready on UdeM campus in advance of 2010 world junior track meet

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Mon 19 Mar 2007


A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Moncton track and field stadium needed to host the 2010 IAAF world junior track and field championships should come within 45 days, says Ian Fowler, City of Moncton general manager of recreation, parks, tourism and culture.

Fowler also said the 10,000-seat, $13-million stadium on the Université de Moncton campus is on schedule to be completed by late summer or early fall 2008, two years ahead of the games.

The IAAF games are a massive sport gathering that will be by far the largest event the city has ever hosted, drawing more than 1,500 athletes from around the world, along with coaches, various officials, family members and international media.

Fowler's comments on the state of stadium construction came last week as one of the first public signs of the civic preparations for the games was announced.

The city and Athletics New Brunswick have put out a call for volunteers to help officiate at the 2010 games and has scheduled three training sessions at the end of the month for those interested.

While the sheer scope of the event and budget considerations are driving the recruitment of local officials for some positions, City of Moncton community development officer Marie-Claire Pierce said IAAF rules dictate the numbers of officials that can come from the host country and other nations. Nevertheless, officials from this region will be needed and Pierce said they would have good opportunities to prepare for 2010 with events like the 2009 Canada Games in Prince Edward Island.

As efforts to secure volunteers is under way, the effort to secure the money for the stadium is at its final stage.

While other major city infrastructure projects requiring funding from other levels of government seemed stalled, buildings like a convention centre and courthouse, Fowler repeated earlier assurances that all the funding for the stadium project is in place. He said the due diligence has been done on the funding agreement announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on a visit to Metro Moncton last spring.

"The final paperwork is being completed between the city and the federal government," this week, he said. With that, Fowler expects final designs and tender calls to come in short order.

Meanwhile, "We're very seriously anticipating bidding for the junior nationals in 2009 and 2010," Pierce said. Those meets would be of sufficient size to "test facilities, accommodations, volunteers, transportation and other logistics," for the world games.

According to Fowler and Pierce, the city and Athletics Canada have after considerable deliberations decided to not bid on the 2008 NACAC track and field championships, as the international competition of nations from North America, Central America and the Caribbean are known.

"We didn't have a comfort level with the budget," Pierce said. She explained they had two budgets presented to them for comparison and "one was way too high and one was way too low."

While neither she nor Fowler ventured into a discussion of Halifax's recent embarrassing withdrawal of its Commonwealth Games bid over financial concerns, there seemed little doubt such a misstep could give any community pause.

Fowler pointed to the problem of securing sponsors for both games. "You can only ask people to come to the party so many times," he said.

The city and Athletics Canada would have also had to cut it close on the construction of the stadium, something Fowler also said was a consideration.

While the NACAC meet would have offered an international flavour, Fowler and Pierce both said landing the Canadian nationals would more than test Metro Moncton's preparedness.

It would also offer our national team a competitive advantage, giving our top young athletes a chance to train on our facilities and get the lay of the land well before the international event.

[mmmatt]

Danza Activewear fills niche for those requiring special performance costumes

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Sat 17 Mar 2007


Have you ever wondered where ballet dancers, ballroom dancers and figure skaters get those great costumes they wear?

Up until recently, you had to go outside the region to buy these costumes and shoes with the exception of a Moncton shop selling ballet clothes.

That's about to change, says Jason Capson, part owner of a new 2,300 square foot retail shop opening up this month on Paul Street in Dieppe.

Danza Activewear Inc. will feature active wear and dance wear whether dancing the tango, jazz or hip hop, as well as stylish athletic wear for fitness and yoga enthusiasts, runners, gymnasts and other exercise buffs.

Clients wanting the glitzy competitive ballroom gowns will still have to order them custom made but the shop will have the basic costumes and the name of a good seamstress, he explained. He doesn't expect a lot of calls for competitive ballroom gowns but certainly there are a number of people into ballroom dancing who want clothing made for the occasion, he said.

The shop will carry dance shoes that go with it, along with other types of footwear from fitted ballet pointe shoes that cost $150 and tap shoes to special sneakers used in break dancing along with the baggy "boya" pants.

It's a one-of-a-kind shop, said Capson. There's nothing like it in the Atlantic Provinces.

Already, his business is drawing attention.

"Over the last five years, there has been a huge increase in membership at dance studios, figure skating clubs, martial arts clubs, fitness facilities, baton twirling and gymnastics clubs, but there hasn't been an increase in supply to cover the demand," he said.

Jason and Monique Capson's daughter, Janica, 13, has been accepted at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company, said the proud father.

There are many others getting involved in ballet and classical dance as well as social or ballroom dancing.

Aside from dancing, there are many fitness enthusiasts, gymnasts, figure skaters and yoga students who want the right outfit. The yoga pants are stylish enough to wear out as casual wear, he said.

There will be accessories like stage makeup, hair products and socks.

Capson said the company plans its own line of active wear and dance ware clothing, to be launched in the near future.

The company is already looking at branching out in the Maritimes, confident of the success of the venture. The partners in the venture are the Capsons of Moncton and Gary and Heather Arsenault of Shediac.

Dance has exploded in the city, he said, thanks in part to some long- established dance schools like DancEast and, more recently, the Atlantic Ballet Theatre troupe. Having a professional ballet troupe in Moncton has done much for the city, he said.

The shop should be open for business by late March with the grand opening planned for Saturday, April 14.

[mmmatt]

'70s decor to give new eatery its signature

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Sat 17 Mar 2007


A few months ago, Marc Leger was looking to make a change in his life. He's done that, and along the way he's making a welcome change on St. George Street as well.

Leger is the latest entrepreneur to open a business on the street, and it's one that has the potential to help revitalize the neighbourhood. His new cafe The Laundromat at the corner of St. George and Cameron Street is opening soon, adding another community gathering place to a centre city area that's been long under appreciated.

A cafe that holds 50 people may seem a small thing, but it's just the sort of business urban planners say is critical to the vibrancy of any neighbourhood, bringing a human scale to urban life, attracting residents, and even making a neighbourhood safer by creating more of what planners like to refer to as, "eyes on the street."

Come summer, Leger plans to have tables out on the sidewalk, joining businesses like The Office Lounge, Calactus Cafe and Five Points Lounge in getting mouths out onto St. George Street as well.

The name of the new venture, officially registered as the Laundromat Espresso Bar, was a natural.

The cafe is in a space that was occupied by a laundromat for decades, one of those community fixtures whose decor hadn't changed since the 1970s.

Leger, well known in Metro Moncton's arts community, is keeping the original circa 1970s signs up outside. It's a spirit that should carry over into the interior as well."I'm trying to open up a vintage feel that fits the character of the building," he said.

The word bar is in the name for a reason. While Leger expects to make most of his daytime business with coffee, he expects nighttime business to include more liquor sales.

"The fact I'm licensed means no kids," Leger said.

While that may keep some customers away, it's sure to be a draw for others, an irresistible combination of coffee and grown-up conversation in an intimate setting along one of the city's main thoroughfares.

If that's not enticement enough, in a bit of entrepreneurial symbiosis, The Laundromat will also be offering the sandwich creations of celebrated local chef Arne Fulton, who runs St. George Soup & Sandwich out of the Super Grocer store across the street.

Leger said yesterday the business was born out of a recent road trip to Montreal in which he passed long hours of driving by contemplating where he should go next with his professional life.

The owner of Frameworks in the Aberdeen Cultural Centre returned to Moncton, saw the laundromat closed, and decided it was fate.

"I asked about the rent, and then I sold the frame shop," he said.

[mmmatt]

Group in Ottawa to push for federal funds for major economic development projects

Times & Transcript (Moncton)
Fri 23 Mar 2007


The Metro Moncton delegation to Ottawa that was looking for $11 million in federal aid for local infrastructure projects headed home yesterday with thoughts of making it an annual pilgrimage.

"It is something we should do every year," said Enterprise Greater Moncton chairman Brian Baxter.

The delegation of about 18 people from Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview were pushing a convention centre for Moncton, an inland port and aerospace park for Dieppe and the Fundy Gateway for Riverview. They want a federal investment of $9 million for the convention centre, $900,000 for the inland port and $1 million for the Fundy Gateway.

They met Wednesday with Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, the minister responsible for the Moncton-based Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Yesterday they met with officials from ACOA, Transport Canada, Infrastructure Canada and officials from Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day's office.

Baxter, the lead of the delegation, said it was useful to meet in person the bureaucrats who will eventually make recommendations about the proposals, and remarked at the number of Maritimers in key positions of power in Ottawa.

"Maritimers that are in key bureaucratic positions in Ottawa here are quite willing to help," he said.

"We accomplished far more than what we anticipated we could achieve.

"It does not mean we got anything approved or we have any cheques to bring home. But at least I can assure you that Greater Moncton got its case before the people that are going to make the decisions."