Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...time-link.html

Muskrat Falls is the site of the proposed Lower Churchill Hydro Project. (Greg Locke/Reuters)


$1.5B Maritime Link approved by Emera Inc.
Nova Scotia Power's parent company sanctions subsea cable project

CBC News

Posted: Dec 18, 2012 9:19 AM AT
Last Updated: Dec 18, 2012 11:23 AM AT


Nova Scotia Power's parent company has agreed to spend more than $1.5 billion to develop the Maritime Link, its portion of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador.

The subsea cable is the largest investment Emera Inc. has ever made.

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Playing catch-up.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...ging-station/1

Christopher Misch, vice-president of business development for Sun Country Highway, is shown charging up a fully electric 2012 Tesla Roadster at Membertou Market on Tuesday. Ken MacLeod - Cape Breton Post

Membertou Market site of island’s first public electric vehicle charging station

Published on November 20, 2012
Ken MacLeod RSS Feed

MEMBERTOU — Cape Breton’s first public electric vehicle charging station is up and running at Membertou Market, and for the next 12 months motorists will be able to recharge their vehicles for free.

Admittedly, that should be a rare sight for the time being. But while there are only a handful of private electric cars in the province, about 50 in the entire country and 2,500 worldwide, an increasing awareness of the need for sustainable and clean energy should lead to the electric car becoming the wave of the motoring future, said Christopher Misch, vice-president of business development for charger installer Sun Country Highway.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...t%2C-expands/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post
Doug Milburn, from right, cofounder and director of sales and marketing at Protocase, talks to employees Stephen Manning and Darren Piercey about the state-of-the-art capabilities of Protocase’s new computerized, directional bending machine. The machine is housed in the company’s expansion building, which just finished its first week of full production since being built.

Protocase adds new equipment, expands

Published on November 25, 2012
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Production is already underway inside the new manufacturing plant for Protocase Ltd. in Sydney’s Harbourside Commercial Park.

Situated near the company’s main headquarters, the new plant contains a complete manufacturing cell that can cut, form, weld, and finish sheet metal and turn it into a fully-finished, custom enclosure in a matter of hours.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...long-to-ECBC/1

Ben Eoin marina will belong to ECBC
‘We have to look at the overall project and what it’s going to bring to Cape Breton’


Published on November 30, 2012

SYDNEY — Taxpayer money spent on a Ben Eoin marina is protected through the ownership arrangement with the project proponent, says an Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. official.

Gerard Shaw, ECBC director general of property development, said the Crown corporation will own the facility and lease it to a community group.

Last month, ECBC announced it will provide a $4-million grant toward the Ben Eoin marina development, which is intended to further enhance the area’s status as a four-season recreation complex. The total cost of the project is $4.8 million. Ben Eoin is also home to The Lakes golf course and Ski Ben Eoin.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...ke-park-plan/1

Jacques Cote of Velo Cape Breton cycles past the Ferry Street bridge in Sydney on Friday. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Velo says tar ponds agency backpedalled on bike park plan

Published on December 2, 2012
Greg McNeil RSS Feed

SYDNEY — The remediated Sydney tar ponds site will include a bicycle park, but it’s not the park people advocating for the facility were hoping for.

Velo Cape Breton wanted a bicycle safety park on a flat area of land, complete with a training area and a building to house classrooms and equipment.

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Edit - from business section

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...n-south-pond/1

Heavy machines push around topsoil on the Sydney Tar Ponds site.Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Tar ponds work progressing on south pond

Published on December 2, 2012

SYDNEY — Excavators combed through large piles of top soil attracting attention this past week at the Sydney tar ponds remediation project, but the machines were intentionally uncovering dirt as part of future use plans for the remediation.

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Burke said the piles of dirt are yet another sign that the future use aspect of the project is taking shape.

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A playground and splash pad for kids, as well as parking lots will also follow.

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There are already many green aspects to the former industrial site and people are starting to take notice. Burke said the fences are down near Intercolonial Street and people are starting to walk their dogs there, which coincidentally, will become a dog park in the near future.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...ntal-journey/1

Chad Crawley of Nordlys Environmental uses water to control dust while a special concrete formula is mixed with sludge at the Sydney tar ponds site Thursday. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Sedimental journey
Tar ponds cleanup coming to end with solidification and stabilization of last contaminated soil

Published on December 13, 2012
Greg McNeil RSS Feed


SYDNEY — The final contaminated sediments at the Sydney tar ponds site have been encased in cement, pushing the $400-million remediation project closer to completion.

Capping of the north pond will follow the final solidification and stabilization to prepare the site for future use programs like parks, walking trails and sports fields before the scheduled 2014 completion of the project.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...-up-slightly/1

A real estate sign is seen in a Sydney neighbourhood Monday. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Housing sales up slightly

Published on December 17, 2012


SYDNEY — Housing sales in Cape Breton were up slightly from September to November, compared to 2011, according to data released by the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors through its Multiple Listing Service system.


Sales in Cape Breton were up by 1.2 per cent during the period, while listings were up by seven per cent. Prices in the region were up by 0.2 per cent. The average price increased by 0.2 per cent.

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Provincially, sales dropped by just under 12 per cent while listings increased by less than four per cent. Most regions were less active than the same three-month period last year, keeping the average price of a home in Nova Scotia at affordable levels and well below the national average.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...-of-February/1

Sydney harbour

Container terminal offers expected by end of February

Published on December 20, 2012
Erin Pottie RSS Feed

SYDNEY — The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is expected to know by the end of February whether it will receive an offer to develop a large-scale container terminal in Sydney harbour.

In late summer, CBRM managers changed the design of a proposed shipping hub at the Sydney port to make the project more efficient.

An initial plan for the site called for two terminals with a total of eight berths.

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Edit - from business section

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...Saskatchewan/1

Locally developed product helps find minerals in Saskatchewan

Published on December 20, 2012

By Elizabeth Patterson Cape Breton Post

A locally developed electronic mapping and permitting registry system is making life easier for those involved in Saskatchewan’s mining exploration industry.

It’s called eMAPR and for the past few years, a core group at AG Research in Sydney has been working on the project. AG Research is a Nova Scotia-based software development and IT services company. Each eMAPR is localized for each area it is to serve. The one in Saskatchewan is called the Mineral Administration Registry Saskatchewan (MARS) and was launched earlier this month.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...r-the-better/1

[I][Membertou Public Works crews continue the ground work for a new interchange along Highway 125 in Sydney that will provide direct access to Membertou from the highway. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post/I]

Interchange for the better
Construction project to offer improved access to Membertou, hospital

Published on January 2, 2013
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed


MEMBERTOU — If Highway 125 between Alexandra and George streets seems busier than usual with lots of heavy equipment digging up the side of the road, Bill Bonnar has the answer.

Bonnar, who is with Membertou Development, said it’s because of work being done on the $7-million interchange being built at the end of Tupsi Drive near Maliktuk Court.

Membertou broke ground back in August on the project, which will link the community to the province’s highway and nearby reserve lands. But in addition to those links, it will also improve access to other locations as well, said Bonnar.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...ms-its-sails/1

The Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club on the Esplanade in Sydney. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club trims its sails

Published on January 3, 2013

Nancy King

SYDNEY — The Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club is selling its five-acre property on the Esplanade in Sydney to Enterprise Cape Breton Corp., and the club is moving out of Sydney harbour after operating there for more than a century.

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The sale price is $280,000 and it is set to close Friday.

The club will merge with the Ben Eoin Marina while the existing marina and berthing piers on the Sydney waterfront will be maintained. Negotiations are ongoing to keep the club’s royal charter in Cape Breton.

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ECBC has no immediate plans for the land but it is adjacent to land it already acquired jointly with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. ECBC spokesman D.A. Landry referred comment over the yacht club deal to the club. Cormier said it’s his understanding that ECBC intends to tear down the clubhouse at some point to allow for future development.

He said the club turned to ECBC because it wanted to see the marina and boathouse remain, and ECBC agreed.

The 4,800-square-foot building is structurally unsound and in need of about $2 million in repairs.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...-port-summit/1

Sydney Harbour

Date set for CBRM port summit

Published on January 4, 2013
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed


SYDNEY — Organizations and businesses involved in growing the port of Sydney have been invited to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s port summit Feb. 21-22 at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.

The summit was part of Cecil Clarke’s successful campaign for mayor and addressed again during his swearing in ceremony in November.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...lub-building/1

Photo submitted by Neil Libbey

This photograph was taken during a Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club regatta in 1907.

Heritage advocate calls for preservation of yacht club building

Published on January 4, 2013

By Nancy King Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A heritage advocate is calling on Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. to show imagination and vision when dealing with the future of its newly acquired Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club building.

While ECBC isn’t commenting about its plans for the property on the Esplanade in Sydney, in announcing the sale of the property Thursday the club’s acting commodore Darrell Cormier said it’s his understanding that the federal Crown corporation plans to eventually tear down the building and use the land for future development.

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In this case, I actually agree with the heritage groups.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...etball-floor/1

CBRM helping buy Centre 200 basketball floor

Published on January 8, 2013
Chris Hayes RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Cape Breton Regional Municipality council has agreed to share the cost of a basketball floor for Centre 200, hoping it will attract Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships.

Paul MacDonald, the general manager of facilities for the CBRM, also raised the possibility of a Basketball Day in Cape Breton, featuring one of the highly anticipated matchups between teams from Cape Breton University and St. Francis Xavier.

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ECBC, CBU and the AUS are also proposing a six-team national invitational tournament at Centre 200, featuring CBU, St. FX, two AUS teams and two teams from outside the AUS, with a possibility of bringing in two NCAA teams down the road, he said.

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MacDonald said that at least in the short term, the AUS and CIS make more sense for the area than pursuing a pro basketball team.

“Not to say that wouldn’t be something that could happen, but I made inquiries of certain business people in the area and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of interest at this time. But, of course, the fact you have a floor, that is one less obstacle.”

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...ng-to-expand/1

Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Island Crystal wrapped up a very busy first year that included including selling this crystal eagle crafted by Fred Curtis. The $5,000 piece is one-of-a-kind and was carved from a single piece of crystal.

Crystal gallery expecting to expand

Published on January 13, 2013
Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post RSS Feed

By Greg McNeil

ALBERT BRIDGE — Island Crystal’s surprisingly busy first year in operation recently included the commission and sale of a very unique piece of crystal to a Cape Breton buyer.

Philip Walsh, a master in the world of crystal making, brought the business to Albert Bridge that features exclusive rights to showcase the work of world-class Irish sculptors, including the recently sold crystal eagle crafted by Fred Curtis.

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The Cape Breton buyer who commissioned the piece carved from a solid block of glass wished to remain anonymous, but the works of Curtis have been commissioned for famous people like former U.S. president Bill Clinton, current President Barack Obama and others.

Island Crystal also has the exclusive right to creations from Eamonn Flynn and Calvin Hayes, as well.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...e%26rsquo%3B/1

David Wheeler was introduced Monday as Cape Breton University’s next president. Chris Hayes - Cape Breton Post

‘It is a perfect fit for me’
Wheeler ready to roll as new CBU president

Published on January 14, 2013
Chris Hayes RSS Feed


SYDNEY — David Wheeler, who was named the next president of Cape Breton University on Monday, called it a perfect fit for his academic and consulting career.

Wheeler will start a six-year term in April after receiving unanimous support in a vote of the board of governors. He will be CBU’s sixth president when he replaces John Harker.

Currently a vice-chancellor for sustainability and executive dean of business at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom, Wheeler was the dean of management at Dalhousie University from 2006-2009, and before that, a director and professor in the Schulich School of Business at York University. His academic background also includes the University of Surrey where he researched drinking and recreational water standards for the U.K.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...se-for-RCBYC/1

Heritage groups weigh on future use for RCBYC

Published on January 18, 2013

By Nancy King Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Saying that heritage and development can co-exist, the Old Sydney Society and the Sydney Architectural Conservation Society are offering to help Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. determine future uses for the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club.

The societies made the offer after holding meetings this week to discuss ECBC’s recent purchase of the property and its apparent plans to demolish the clubhouse, which is more than 100 years old.

Old Sydney Society president Ken Donovan stressed the groups are trying to take a positive approach to appealing to ECBC.

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"Saying that heritage and development can co-exist, the Old Sydney Society and the Sydney Architectural Conservation Society are offering to help Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. determine future uses for the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club."
^Though I agree with your comments on this building, I'll remember this statement the next time a high-rise is proposed on the waterfront. For those not familiar, this property is directly adjacent to the one that was the site of the Dorchester and Spanish Gates proposals that the heritage groups were so vehemently opposed to.

Edit - Rather than flood the page with more stories on the yacht club, here are links to some more related articles:
ECBC refusing interviews on purchase of yacht club - Jan 16, 2013
Yacht club changed tack after planning major expansion - Jan 21, 2013
ECBC needs to ‘clear the air’ on yacht club sale - Jan 21, 2013
It was ECBC or bankruptcy for yacht club, says commodore - Jan 23, 2013

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These are going to be a bit disjointed because it's not easy to search through archives of multiple sections at the same time.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...opment-model/1

Cape Breton would be its own entity under new regional economic development model

Published on November 28, 2012
Ken MacLeod RSS Feed

SYDNEY — Cape Breton would become one of six regional economic networks in Nova Scotia if the province accepts the recommendations of a report released Wednesday.

The recommendations to find a new model for supporting regional economic development came from a panel, made up of Cape Breton Partnership executive director Keith MacDonald, Port Hawkesbury businessman Bob MacEachern, Perennia Inc. CEO and panel chair Jo Ann Fewer and Université Ste. Anne president Allister Surrette, that had been asked by the province in July to take on the job.

The new model would bring together government, businesses, municipalities and other groups involved in economic development and would replace the province’s 12 regional development authorities, which will have their federal funding withdrawn in May.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...r-new-season/1

Improvements at Ski Ben Eoin on track for new season

Published on December 9, 2012
Chris Shannon RSS Feed

BEN EOIN — Work on several key projects at Ski Ben Eoin continue to move ahead on the hill, just one month out from what’s expected to be the start of the ski season.

The final touches are being completed on a brand new 1.2-kilometre trail for novice skiers, Ski Ben Eoin general manager Kevin MacInnis said.

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Another trail that has been closed for the past 15 years called the Government Run, is being transformed into a terrain park for snowboarders. MacInnis said work began on widening the trail this fall.

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Ski Ben Eoin will also be introducing a new ski lift to the top of the mountain. The carpet lift will replace the platter lift and rope tow lifts.

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The ski hill is working with The Lakes golf course and the newly redeveloped Ben Eoin marina, slated to open in the spring, to transform the community into a four-season resort, complete with accommodations and residential subdivisions.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...-Cape-Breton/1

Hire expectations for Cape Breton

Published on December 11, 2012

SYDNEY — Cape Breton area employers expect an upbeat hiring climate for the first quarter of 2013, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

Survey data reveals that 19 per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter (January to March), while 10 per cent anticipate cutbacks, according to Karen Myers, the regional director of Manpower’s Atlantic region.

Another 71 per cent of employers plan to maintain their current staffing levels for the upcoming quarter, according to the survey.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...ing-contract/1

Sharon Montgomery-Dupe

Neil Rideout expects to create jobs in New Waterford to deliver on a contract to build an online gaming system.

Local company has online gaming contract

Published on December 30, 2012
Sharon Montgomery-Dupe RSS Feed

NEW WATERFORD — A local company is betting on bringing major jobs to the community.

Neil Rideout of New Waterford, owner of Saratoga Oceanic Development Group Inc., said his company has been awarded a contract worth almost $1 million to build an online gaming system for Lions Gaming Inc., a Belize-based company.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...kout-program/1

Scott McIntyre holds his son Ben at his new Crossfit gym on Keltic Drive. Greg McNeil - Cape Breton Post

Cape Bretoners shape up with new workout program

Published on December 30, 2012
Greg McNeil RSS Feed

SYDNEY RIVER — A new fitness program is getting Cape Bretoners pumped up.

Crossfit Per Ardua, the new venture of Scott McIntyre, works to improve cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility and co-ordination through body weight exercises, weightlifting, and a variety of high-intensity activities.

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http://www.capebretonpost.com/Busine...nto-new-home/1

Ken Jackson and Ken Jardine of Scuba Tech prepare Gumby, the newest member of their working fleet, to be lifted ashore from MacNeil’s Cove in Little Bras d’Or. Julie Collins - Cape Breton Post

Commercial diving enterprise plunges into new home

Published on January 6, 2013
Julie Collins RSS Feed

NORTH SYDNEY — Scuba Tech has gone through some major changes over the past few years, including a change in location.

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As a result Jardine moved his operation from Sydney to downtown North Sydney.

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Most recently Jardine and his staff have done work for the dredging project, including removal of a shipwreck from the path of the dredging vessel. He has done repairs on coal boats and work for Environment Canada and the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

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Jardine said his even though his company is small, it’s certified with Lloyd's of London and the American Bureau of Shipping.

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