Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

GMAT exam will be available to business students at CBU

Section: Business


Aspiring business school students in Canada have a new way to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), the entrance exam used by more than 4,000 graduate business schools around the world.

A mobile testing unit this summer will travel to 14 universities in cities across seven Canadian provinces. This trip represents the GMAT Mobile Test Centre's first trip outside the United States and its third transcontinental journey overall.

The unit will be at Cape Breton University Wednesday and Thursday with tests running at 9 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. in the Student, Culture and Heritage parking lot. Those interested need to register for the exam at least 24 hours in advance; walk-ins are not accepted. To take the GMAT at a mobile testing unit location, visit mba.com or call 1-800-717-GMAT (4628).

The GMAT Mobile Test Centre is a converted city bus outfitted with the same high-tech facilities as a traditional bricks-and-mortar GMAT test centre. The mobile testing centre is designed to provide access to the exam for students who may live many miles away from a regular test site.

John MacKinnon, dean of the Shannon School of Business at CBU, recently toured the mobile facility at the annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Business School Deans in Ottawa.

"It's an impressive facility that better connects those interested in graduate business studies, such as our MBA program in community economic development, with that important first step - the GMAT. We're pleased CBU is one of the Canadian stops and believe the opportunity to take the test a little closer to home will be appreciated by many."

The GMAT Mobile Test Centre includes six computerized testing stations, electronic security systems and high-speed satellite communications equipment. Testers on the bus undergo the same identity procedures and take the exam under the same controlled conditions as their counterparts who visit permanent GMAT facilities. These measures include fingerprint-recording, digital photography and closed-circuit television monitoring during the exam.

Begun as a pilot program to increase access to the exam for students in rural and/or remote areas in fall 2006, the bus visited nearly 50 locations between October 2006 and May 2007. A second seven-month tour in 2007-08 included 28 colleges and universities.

The GMAT is a standardized exam used to screen applicants by admissions professionals at more than 4,000 graduate business programs around the world. Launched in 1954, the GMAT is today administered more than 200,000 times annually at testing centers worldwide.

Information on the GMAT is available at www.mba.com. The test is owned by the McLean, Va.-based Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a non-profit organization of leading business schools around the world.

Visit www.gmac.com for more information.

Still a lot of commentaries on the lawsuit. Trying to filter out and only post the ones that are more thought-out.

Council out of sync with the public

Section: Comment


Further to Darrell Kyte's recent commentary (Political Insights: All Evidence Suggests Legal Case Is CBRM's Only Avenue to Get Taken Seriously, May 28), I cannot remember an issue on which the expressed opinion of our council seemed so out of step with public opinion than is the case with the equalization issue.

In a recent online reader poll conducted by the Cape Breton Post, 85 per cent of respondents indicated that regional council made the wrong decision on whether to put to a plebiscite the question of appealing the first decision in the municipality's constitutional case. The poll result accurately reflects my own experience when I speak with people in the community.

Unfortunately, council's decision to deny a plebiscite, along with the expressed opinion of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce that there should be no legal action, is interpreted by provincial officials as indicating that a majority of people in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality agree with the provincial position that CBRM residents are being treated fairly.

This is why Municipal Relations Jamie Muir, in a radio interview this week, indicated that the provincial government is not going to budge from its position. If anything, council's decision appears to have strengthened the provincial view that there is no need to negotiate with a bunch of hillbillies.

The provincial agents in our community have effectively denied the public the right to clearly express their view on whether to proceed with legal action as the only available remedy, using the argument that the public isn't smart enough to understand the issue. Many well-intentioned "leaders" have been cleverly manipulated and many have bowed to partisan interests.

The result is that residents throughout our region pay much higher tax rates and receive much lower levels of municipal service than residents who live in other communities throughout Nova Scotia. And this injustice will continue.

Our public is way ahead of most of our elected officials on this issue but we are afraid to allow the public to vote. Somehow I don't think our veterans had this in mind when they fought for our country. Well done, Alfie and Cecil!

Jim MacLeod

District 7 councillor,

Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Alfie and Cecil refers to Alfie MacLeod and Cecil Clarke...to Cape Breton MLA's with the PC's.


Not development, but the first time we've held this festival

Sydney to host Nova Scotia Music Festival Friday and Saturday

Section: Arts/Entertainment


Some of the best young musicians in the province will gather in Cape Breton for the 24th annual Nova Scotia Music Festival, Friday and Saturday.

The provincial competition is being hosted in Sydney by the Cape Breton Kiwanis Festival of Music, Speech and Drama which held its own festival last month in Sydney.

"It's an honour to be asked to host. This is the first time it's coming here," said local organizer Peter Fraser.

Participants will come from across the province, representing eight member festivals of the Federation of Music Festivals of Nova Scotia. Those selected competed in their local festivals and were recommended by adjudicators at that level to proceed to either the junior or senior provincial competitions for piano, voice, strings, woodwind, brass, guitar or musical theatre.

Representing Cape Breton at the event will be David Brister in senior piano and Matthew MacLellan in junior piano.

This year's team of provincial adjudicators includes two well known Cape Bretoners - Valerie Kinslow, voice adjudicator, and Lydia Adams, choral. They will be joined by Dr. Frances Gray, piano; Anne Rapson, strings; Jeff Torbet, guitar; John Rapson, woodwinds; David Parker, brass; and Ross Thompson, musical theatre.

Competitions begins Friday at 7 p.m. with junior and senior woodwind, junior and senior voice, and junior piano. The following day, at 9 a.m. there will be junior and senior brass, junior and senior strings and guitar, and senior piano. At 2 p.m. Saturday, the musical theatre competitions take place. Each of the competitions is followed by an adjudication and workshop with the adjudicator.

Registration and brass and woodwind competitions will take place at the Sydney United Baptist Church; voice, strings and guitar competitions will be held at St. Andrew's United Church and chapel, and the auditorium of Bethel Presbyterian Church will be the site of piano and musical theatre competitions and the gala concert.

The public is invited to attend all the competitions and the Stars of the Provincial Festival gala concert will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at the Bethel Presbyterian Church. Admission to the concert is $5 at the door.

The concert will feature the winners of all junior and senior classes. Winners of the choral classes, which will have been adjudicated by recording, will be announced as will the senior players selected to represent Nova Scotia in this year's national competition in Edmonton, Alta., Aug. 14-16.

The gala concert will include two performances from local speech and drama winners - competition areas that are unique to the host organization and not included in the provincial festival.

[ride em]

Originally Posted by ride em

The third retailer in the old Sobey's will be Reitmans and Rudderhams is moving to what is now Mark's WW, sharing that space if a East Side Mario's Franchisee is found.

The ownership change at the Mayflower is not the only news at the mall. Urban Outfitters will be taking the old Mark's location. But East Side Mario's is officially coming. They have a franchisee and will be going into the old Jasper's site as well as some of the old WalMart. It will be slightly larger than a standard ESM, will have a patio and full bar and is tentativly set to open it's doors on December 12.

[e6h2w]

Hello Everyone

I wanted to let you know about a new tool available to people in Sydney to Manage and Promote Skyscrapers and property online, this tool is called Prop2Go.
You can view, manage and promote property (skyscraperts, Apartment buildings, commercial property, Homes, Real Estate, and Land) at http://www.Prop2Go.com

Good luck, hope this helps make your like just a little bit easier.

Jason

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

Ground finally moving for YMCA redevelopment

Section: Cape Breton

By Chris Hayes,


Finally, after years of hoping and planning, the YMCA of Cape Breton broke ground Monday morning on a $10-million redevelopment of its Charlotte Street building.

An excavator and dump trucks started work removing asphalt from a parking lot area where a new gymnasium, conditioning centre, multi-purpose studio, walking track and locker rooms will go, said CEO Andre Gallant.

"It's been years in the making, and this has been a couple of years in the planning, so it's nice to finally see it," Gallant said.

The YMCA plans a formal ground-breaking ceremony later this month.

During this preliminary stage, asphalt will be removed at the parking lot area, construction fences erected and an oil tank and electrical transformer relocated to allow the excavation to proceed.

The YMCA is raising $1.5-million through a public fundraising campaign to go with contributions of $1.5 million from the Nova Scotia government, $1.5 million from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, $4 million from the federal government and its own contribution of $1.5 million.

The project will be done in stages over two years, including new construction in the parking lot area, demolition and replacement of a 1940s part of the YMCA and a major renovation of a part of the building built in the late 1970s, yielding 60,000 square feet of space in all.

The redevelopment will include a new gymnasium, fitness studio, conditioning centre, training room, locker rooms, pool, child-care centre, administration offices, employment centre and community room. It will also mean a full day-care program and increased space for employment counselling, community education and retraining.

Gallant said the goal will be minimal disruption of services during the redevelopment but the YMCA will have to temporarily rent some outside space for the child-care centre and swimming programs.

Moving the conditioning centre equipment may also mean a day or two of disruption

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

Contruction could cause traffic congestion

Section: Front

By Chris Hayes, Cape Breton Post


A mini building boom will give the downtown a new look but not without causing some traffic disruptions along the way.

Construction projects that are within several blocks of each other in the heart of the downtown core include a $10-million redevelopment of the Cape Breton YMCA, a Harbour Royale Developments office building estimated at a cost of $4 million to $5 million and a new building that will be the site for a Lawtons Drugs store, cost unknown.

Marjorie Fougere, president of the Sydney Downtown Development Association, welcomed the developments, which follow on the heels of facade improvement programs that also helped to revitalize the downtown.

"You know the old saying is if you build it they will come," she said Tuesday.

"At a time when downtowns all across the country are struggling, and certainly we were in that position, we see some wonderful growth and new interest downtown."

The downtown Sydney construction projects, along with other projects in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Inverness and Baddeck, will probably create enough work to bring some Cape Breton tradespeople home from jobs in Alberta, said Cliff Murphy of the Cape Breton Building Trades Council.

"It's all good news. This summer there will be several hundred people working in construction for sure."

Frances Alteen, owner of Cape Breton Cake Decorator Specialities next door to the site of the new office development on Charlotte Street and across the street from the YMCA, was concerned about how parking for her customers will be affected while the buildings are under construction.

Traffic disruptions are also a concern, she said.

"Certainly we need people to be able to get to our business."

Public works manager Allan Clarke, who sits on the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's traffic authority, said the driving public should stay tuned for notices about traffic disruptions.

"Most definitely we will notify the public," he said.

Clarke expects to see a block of Charlotte Street between Wentworth and Falmouth streets closed to vehicles - but not pedestrians - for several months during the excavation stage on the new office development.

Spiro Trifos, principal architect for the project, was uncertain, however, saying he thinks the decision for partial or full closure of a block of the street will depend on the stability of the soils, an issue which hasn't yet been determined.

The traffic plan for the YMCA project could include a lane closure of an area of Bentinck Street behind the YMCA building, although Clarke is also considering whether full closure of the block will be necessary. He didn't foresee any traffic closures for construction of the office building where the Lawtons will be located.

Hugh Tweedie, a partner in Harbour Royale Developments, hopes to have the office development ready for one of the tenants by mid-February.

The YMCA broke ground Monday on a $10-million redevelopment that will be done in stages over two years.

Construction of the building which will house the Lawtons Drug store began in May.

1 = YMCA
2 = Harbour Royale office building (Vogue office building)
3 = 2-storey office building/Lawtons.


Election is coming closer...there'll be more of this I'm sure.

Tom Rose to run for CBRM council seat in District 14

Section: Northside/Victoria


A former North Sydney councillor says he's putting his name on the ballot to represent District 14 in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in the Oct. 18 municipal elections.

During his two terms in the late 1980s as councillor for the former town, Tom Rose served on numerous municipal committees, including the police and fire services.

He has also been active within the community working with groups such as North Sydney Minor Hockey, the CMHA, North Sydney Historical Society and the Bartown Community Society, where he currently serves as co-chair.

"There are a number of items that need to be addressed with the CBRM," Rose said. "The taxpayers from the town are frustrated with the lack of support from CBRM council for the new Northside rink. This project must go forward and it's a shame that the residents of North Sydney are basically deemed unworthy of this investment in their community.

"It is my belief that the Sydney-centric view of CBRM decision makers does not promote development in North Sydney, nor does it improve the lives of the residents of this once proud and prosperous town."

Rose said North Sydney's share of the CBRM's $105-million debt would amount to almost $7-million, or about $1,000 for every single resident of North Sydney.

"We share CBRM's debt but are we receiving our share of services and community investment for our tax dollars? I say we are not," he said.

"Put simply, the mathematics of amalgamation are flawed in that they are skewed in favour of the 'Sydney as a hub' model of municipal development."

Rose continued by saying there should be changes with regard to the "unelected upper management at CBRM."

The role of council should be more than just rubber-stamping the decisions made by senior bureaucrats. It's time for the tail to stop wagging the dog. Council needs to play a more active role in setting policy."

He said the municipality needs to look at infrastructure improvements like a sewage treatment plant, expanded and improved recreational facilities at Indian Beach and Archibald's Wharf.

"In addition, something must be done about youth crime, which is actually a social problem, so that seniors and all residents can feel safe in their homes and on the streets as well. The list goes on and on."

Rose will soon be going door to door to listen to the concerns of local residents, with the intention of bringing them forward to council, if elected.

Rose can be contacted by e-mail at votetomrose@gmail.com and his website www.tomrose.ca will be up and running by mid-June.

North Sydney's council seat is currently represented by Gordon MacLeod.

The area encompasses all of the former town of North Sydney in addition to the following streets: Bushells Lane, Centre Street, Copp Street, Emerald Street, Haley Street, MacIntosh Drive, Mapleview Drive, Muir Street, Power Street, Reids Drive, Robinson Lane, Tobin Road (to the sewage lift station) and Young Street.

I can understand his opposition to the Sydney-centric view somewhat, but he exaggerates it. There were countless infrastructure improvement projects on the northside recently...much more than were happening in Sydney actually.


Some Membertou election news

Incumbent Membertou chief Terry Paul facing challenge from Lance Paul in upcoming election

Section: Cape Breton

By Chris Hayes,


Longtime chief Terry Paul will run for his 13th consecutive term during band elections at Membertou First Nation in June.

Leading up to the June 17 election, Paul, 56, says his priorities include long-standing concerns like building housing, job creation and education.

"I believe we have been pretty successful getting to our goal where all our people, whoever goes through the system, gets a well grounded education so they can either go on to university or acquire very skilled trades," he said.

Membertou employs from 550 to 750 workers depending on the time of year, more than half of them from the community, he said.

"But I know we need to do better, get jobs (and) more higher paying jobs."

"We have future plans that are amazing as far as I am concerned and people will know as we come along."

Terry Paul is being challenged by Lance Paul, 43, a lifelong resident of Membertou, who said his concerns include the finances of the First Nation community and improving services for residents.

Membertou has multi-million dollar operations like the trade and convention centre that according to financial statements has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, said Lance Paul, who had been working as a fisheries co-ordinator for Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn, the Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative, but is currently away from that job recovering from a medical condition.

"Really, our money isn't well managed."

Lance Paul said he also wants to add to programs and services for families and children.

"One of the things we are thinking is to develop a food bank . . . and more community events for families, and in order to do all that we have to get our finances under order."

Both candidates for chief mentioned drug and alcohol abuse.

"We have problems of alcohol and drug abuse," said Lance Paul. "I would like to tackle some of those problems."

Terry Paul said while drug and alcohol abuse may not be as big a problem in Membertou as in some other communities, it does occur.

"We know there is a problem there. Especially with more income, people generally have more to spend in those areas, unfortunately."

Terry Paul said the band's decision to go with the Cape Breton Regional Police (instead of the RCMP) was a good decision.

Some Membertou residents objected to widespread mandatory drug and alcohol tests for band employees. Terry Paul said in a story in March band council withdrew pre-employment and random testing and is reviewing the policy to balance the rights of individuals with those of the community.

The election at Membertou will be held June 17 and ballots will be counted June 18.

Twenty-four candidates will run for 11 councillor positions.

There are 751 eligible voters in this election. Returning officer Jane Bernard said typically, turnout is very high.

The band chief is paid $65,000 a year and councillors are paid $50,000.

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

Someone needs to do their homework a little better (I'm being generous).

Real estate prices reflecting boom market a misfit for Cape Breton

Section: Comment

Column: Letters to the editor


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In recent years, Canada's housing market has been booming. Western Canada, in particular, has seen the largest area of growth, with housing sales and starts in Alberta up nearly 60 per cent since the turn of the century. Central Canada has also witnessed its real estate market jump through the ceiling.

The biggest reason for growth in the real estate market of these areas is an increase in population due to the overwhelming availability of employment. It's a simple case of supply and demand.

As a result of this national housing boom, local real estate companies have seized the opportunity to create the illusion that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is part of this trend. In reality, this couldn't be further from the truth.

As with most economic trends in our country, we in Cape Breton are the exception to the rule. The oil patch and Yonge Street may be two expansive pieces of land filled with opportunity, but, unfortunately, even they aren't large enough to extend to Cape Breton.

Out-migration from CBRM remains the reality of the times. According to a recent report by Doug Foster of CBRM's planning department, the population is down roughly 9,000 since 2001. By 2011, the number is expected to grow to nearly 17,000.

Most of these people represent an age range of 19-31 years, a key demographic of first-time homeowners. Despite this trend in out-migration, the average price of a home in CBRM has jumped 15 to 20 per cent in the past two years. Where's the demand coming from? This simply doesn't add up.

Due to these inflated numbers, many prospective homeowners who remain in CBRM have been priced out of owning a decent home. On the rare occasion that highly paid professionals and their families move into the area, some of these overpriced homes may become affordable due to that family's average household income. Many real estate companies would lead you to believe that this supports the trend of increased housing prices. In reality, this situation does not represent the true demographic of prospective home buyers in CBRM.

Despite a recent drop in mortgage rates, indications are that a cool-down in the national real estate market is imminent. Since the New Year, even Canada's most desirable real estate market, Calgary, is down 40 per cent. Until real estate companies in CBRM begin to accept this reality, overpriced land and dwellings will remain unpurchased fixtures in the market for months on end.

Craig Seward

Sydney

The old report prepared for Doug Foster (in 2004) predicted a loss of 9,000 by 2006, the actual loss was 3,402. In order to have lost 9,000 to this day since 2001, we would have had to lose almost 3,000/year over the past two years...I don't think I'm the only one who finds that highly unlikely.

Housing starts are up significantly since the turn of the century, as are housing sales. Prices in CB are still very much a steal, despite the increases seen recently. Houses aren't sitting on the market long, unless they're a) drastically overpriced or b) in terrible condition...essentially the same reasons they would stay on the market for a long time anywhere else.

The Q has landed

Exciting time in Cape Breton

Section: Sports


The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Session and Draft has finally opened in Sydney and surrounding areas following months of planning and preparation.

"It's hard to believe that after all of the hard work and dedication from countless people and supporters, the draft and annual session is finally here," said Anita DeLazzer, draft committee co-chair. "This is an exciting time for our area and we hope that fans come out to share in this positive event."

Fans are encouraged to take in two main draft events open to the public - the top prospects presentation and the draft itself - both free of charge.

The Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay will host the draft's top prospects presentation Friday, starting at noon. Fans will have the opportunity to check out the highest ranked up-and-coming players expected to be drafted in 2008.

And Centre 200 in Sydney will host the main event - the draft - Saturday, starting at 10 a.m., though the doors will be open one hour earlier at 9 a.m.

The draft will see QMJHL teams working hard to create winning line-ups and build their teams' strength.

"The top prospects presentation and the draft will showcase some of the top young hockey players in the country," said draft co-chair Donnie Morrison.

"To be hosting this high-calibre event right in our backyard is something we should be proud of. Fans will get to witness one of the happiest moments in the lives of these young men and that is priceless."

Kristen Mauger, a Grade 6 student at Gowrie Memorial School in Port Morien and the winner of the draft's Contest for the Kids drawing and colouring competition, will receive a Cape Breton Screaming Eagles jersey and four VIP seats at the draft, not to mention getting her photo taken with the No. 1 one draft pick.

More than 500 local students in grades 3 through 6 entered the contest and all entries will be displayed at the draft.

Fans attending the draft are asked to use either the front or rear entrance of Centre 200. Those with draft accreditation - volunteers, media, league and team representatives, players and their families - are asked to use the players' entrance at the back of Centre 200.

The draft committee is asking fans to wear their hockey jerseys at the draft's public events as a show of support for the draft and its participants.

"This is the first time this event is being held in Nova Scotia so we have a bit of an example to set," said DeLazzer.

"This week is the culmination of thousands of hours of work by our local people. I am confident that even more of the Cape Breton community will come out to support the draft at the public events and help us show the rest of the country that we are a first-class choice to host world-class events."

And DeLazzer said the draft couldn't have happened without local volunteers.

"Volunteer response from the community has been outstanding," she said.

"It has been so great that there are actually a number of volunteers we have not been able to utilize. One reason for that is the great number of bilingual volunteers that were needed. Having more than enough volunteers is very rare but again shows the community support we have had and we sincerely thank all those that have agreed to help out."

According to the draft committee, the draft is expected to give the local economy a $2 million boost.

Some Port Hawkesbury news

Port Hawkesbury council approves stand-pat budget

Section: Front

By Tom Ayers, CAPE BRETON POST


Town council has approved a stand-pat budget that maintains this year's residential property tax rate at last year's level and includes only a modest spending increase.

The commercial tax rate, set during budget deliberations Tuesday, went up by nine per cent to cover the province's mandated reduction in the business occupancy tax and to counteract a drop in overall commercial assessment in the municipality due to two major businesses that successfully appealed its assessments.

An increase in residential assessment combined with the commercial rate increase will mean the town's revenues from taxes will increase this year by about 8.9 per cent. However, with all of the other changes in the budget, including expected reductions in transfers from other governments, overall spending will only go up by 1.6 per cent.

Mayor Billy Joe MacLean said this year's budget doesn't contain too many new items.

"It's not all that different from last year," he said.

And the drop in commercial assessment is not a concern, he added, because Port Hawkesbury's ratio of commercial-to-residential tax revenues is one of the highest in the province, at roughly 45/55.

The 2008 residential property tax rate remains steady at $1.80 and the commercial rate rose from $3.77 last year to $4.11 this year.

MacLean said council discussed a suggestion to shift some of the increasing commercial tax burden onto residential property owners, but the idea was rejected.

"Actually, that was a suggestion of mine, but after a comparison of all the towns and looking at the commercial and residential rate compared to everyone else, we're in about the 50 per cent range," he said.

"If you look at in the province as a whole, on the tax rates we're 14th highest of 34 towns on commercial and 15th highest of 34 towns on residential," said Jim Davis, the town's director of finance.

MacLean said council had heard that a business was considering moving to the outskirts of town to take advantage of lower tax rates, which sparked some concern.

"We had rumours that one of our major businesses was going to do that, but didn't," he said, declining to name the company. "And one that I will name, Home Hardware, moved into town because of the increase in traffic."

As it turned out, Port Hawkesbury's commercial potential is in pretty good shape,

MacLean added, especially with improved infrastructure such as sewer, water and sidewalks, and recent positive financial news from NewPage Corp. and its Point Tupper paper mill.

tayers@cbpost.com

Budget breakdown

Port Hawkesbury town council approved a stand-pat budget, Tuesday, maintaining the tax rate for residential property owners. Council also increased the commercial tax rate to compensate for the province's phasing out the business occupancy tax and to counter a drop in commercial assessment. The town also had a surplus of $117,217.40 last year, which will help this year's budget. Overall spending is up by $111,714 this year, which is a 1.6 per cent increase over last year.

This year's budget, with last year's numbers in parentheses:

Total residential assessment: $118,566,700 ($115,348,900)

Total commercial assessment: $56,318,800 ($61,409,900)

Residential tax rate: $1.80 ($1.80)

Commercial tax rate: $4.11 ($3.77)

Total expenditures: $7,199,080 ($7,087,366)

Source: Jim Davis, director of finance

[Smevo]

Originally Posted by ride em

The ownership change at the Mayflower is not the only news at the mall. Urban Outfitters will be taking the old Mark's location. But East Side Mario's is officially coming. They have a franchisee and will be going into the old Jasper's site as well as some of the old WalMart. It will be slightly larger than a standard ESM, will have a patio and full bar and is tentativly set to open it's doors on December 12.

Thanks for the updates ride em!

Not that it matters (just curious really) but what part of CBRM are you from? Same question to Davey_Boy_Smith.

I can't wait to get home with my camera (3 weeks), sounds like Harbour Royale wants to start as soon as they know about the soil stability, but regardless there should be quite a bit of development pictures for me to post here.

[Smevo]

Once again, I'll only be posting NS and CB ER. I stored all the info on my own computer, but the wireless connection here doesn't seem to like my computer.

Parentheses is % growth except with the rates where it's the unadjusted May 2008 rate.

Nova Scotia
Pop >15 --------------> +3,900 (+0.51%)
Labour Force ---------> +3,400 (+0.70%)
Employment-----------> +3,400 (+0.77%)
Unemployment---------> -100 (-0.24%)
Participation Rate------> +0.1 (63.7%)
Unemployment Rate----> -0.1 (8.6%)
Employment Rate ------> +0.1 (58.2%)

Cape Breton ER
Pop >15 --------------> -600 (-0.52%)
Labour Force ---------> +4,000 (+6.45%)
Employment-----------> +3,300 (+6.26%)
Unemployment---------> +700 (+7.53%)
Participation Rate------> +3.7 (57.0%)
Unemployment Rate----> +0.2 (15.2%)
Employment Rate ------> +3.1 (48.4%)

Once again, the Cape Breton ER led the province in Labour Force growth and Employment growth, as well as Participation Rate and Employment Rate increases.
The small increase in Unemployment Rate doesn't trouble me because of the growth in both the Labour Force and Employment. It remains steady compared to April, and is 1.7% pts lower than the census reported for 2006.
Also, the population of the Economic Region has remained steady since March (when I first started looking), which to me is a positive sign, especially for CBRM and probalby Port Hawkesbury. Since the Economic Region encompasses the entire island, the recent stagnation in population indicates to me that CBRM is most likely growing in population, considering the other three counties continue to lose to the urban centres and out west, and though Port Hawkesbury may be growing as well, it wouldn't be enough to offset the overall loss in Inverness County.

That's how I read the numbers anyway, I'm sure the Planning department is still hung up on the 2006 census and the EDM report.

Overall, this release is good news for the area.

[Smevo]

Continuing with the Panoramio series, this time it's New Waterford area.

Bluenose II near mouth of Sydney Harbour

By paul toman

Victoria Mines

By J. A. Gillan

New Waterford Lighthouse

By rainamp

Dominion Beach/Lingan Bay

By athenaa

Dominion from Lingan

By athenaa

Boardwalk at Dominion Beach

By athenaa

[Smevo]

The vacancy rate for CBRM CA has dropped over 2 percentage points from 6.7% in April 2007 to 4.6% in April 2008.

Average rents remained steady (-$3) with decreases in Bachelor (-$26) and 1-Bedroom (-$9) units being offset by increases in 2-Bedroom (+$17) and 3+ Bedroom (+$45) units compared to April 2007.

Availabiltiy rate also dropped 2 percentage points from 6.7% in April 2007 to 4.7% in April 2008.

From Atlantic Rental Market Provincial Highlights Reports: Nova Scotia - Spring 2008

"...Cape Breton experienced the highest drop in vacancy rate, dropping more than 2 full percentage points from 6.7 last year to 4.6 per cent in April 2008"

[Davey Boy Smith]

Originally Posted by Smevo

Thanks for the updates ride em!

Not that it matters (just curious really) but what part of CBRM are you from? Same question to Davey_Boy_Smith.

I can't wait to get home with my camera (3 weeks), sounds like Harbour Royale wants to start as soon as they know about the soil stability, but regardless there should be quite a bit of development pictures for me to post here.

Yeah I was going to do some photos but never got around to it.

I am originally from Sydney now just live in the 'burbs.

[Smevo]

I'm just waiting to see when exactly I'll be arriving home. Just gotta see when the guy I'm taking down will be arriving in Fredericton from Ottawa.

I'm hoping to have at least one day completely dedicated to updating my photos of the Northside, New Waterford, and Glace Bay areas, as well as hitting some spots in Sydney and updating my Pier photos. I'll be "staying" in the Pier but probably spending most of my time in the Northend at my best man's apartment.

If I arrive on the 28th, I might have time...at least enough to hit the development spots anyway, but if it's on the 29th, probably not. Either way I drive back to Fredericton on Canada Day.

I'm originally from the Pier, btw, moved up here for school.

Either it was a slow news day today, or the Post didn't publish everything in the electronic subscriber's section. I'll have to check the .pdf copy to see.

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

I was right, it seems they didn't publish everything in the electronic subscriber's section. Here's some from the Cape Breton Post main page

Public transit for Strait area delayed until July
Complex issue has plenty of loose ends to tie up

BY NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

PORT HAWKESBURY — It now appears it will be the latter part of July when public transit buses will finally hit the road in the Strait area.
Earlier this spring, Malcolm Beaton, general manager of the Strait Area Transit Co-operative, said he hoped the service might be functional in June. But the many details required to address prior to launching a public transit service are taking a bit longer than anticipated.
“(The launch is) not close enough,” Beaton said. “It’s been a long process, transit is a very complex issue and there are so many loose ends you’ve got to tie up.”
Communities including Port Hastings, Mulgrave and Louisdale would have access to the bus, which will make two daily trips into Port Hawkesbury.
The service will make pit stops in areas such as L’Ardoise, St. Peter’s, Chapel Island, Arichat and Petit de Grat, and then transfer users to the bus in Louisdale and that vehicle will take them into the town.
They have identified their preferred vehicles and the board is expected to give final approval to those choices at a meeting this week and place orders within two weeks. They have recently completed interviews with potential staff and will soon hire, Beaton added.
There’s been a lot of public interest shown in the project. Beaton, who is also a member of Richmond County council, noted the supporting municipalities are also fielding questions from members of the public looking for information on when the service will launch.
“Wherever we go, that’s the magic question, when’s the system going to start up,” he said. “The momentum has really built for it.”
The transit co-op is working with Service Canada, which will assist with wages under the pilot project.
In April, the province announced it would contribute $120,000 to the system. The Strait Area Transit Co-operative would use the one-time contribution to purchase three vehicles, construct bus shelters and other related infrastructure to support a transit-service pilot project.
The contribution will help the co-operative purchase one 20-passenger accessible bus, two seven-passenger commuter vans, bus shelters and office equipment. Service will include scheduled, regular week-day main-route transit, door-to-door (in conjunction with the provincial dial-a-ride program) and charter services for nursing homes, senior complexes, regional occupation centres and others.
Initially, the co-op had hoped to have buses on the road by January, but that was slowed as it waited for funding approvals.

A commentary that doesn't involve the lawsuit? Blasphemy!

Geothermal energy could be the driver of Glace Bay renaissance
The Cape Breton Post

Glace Bay and surrounding area has a unique opportunity for a residential, industrial and commercial renaissance. It all lies deep beneath the town in a vast labyrinth of abandoned coal mines.
Heat can be recovered from the billions of litres of water that reside in these old mine workings.
Coal was first mined in the area by the French military in the 1720s. A succession of companies mined these coal seams on a continuous basis up until the early 1980s, about 260 years. Now, because of the hard work of thousands of miners, we have the opportunity to retrieve heat from a different source — the underlying workings themselves.
This heat source is stable and clean, and will last much longer than 260 years. This will be the foundation on which we build our new economy for this historic town.
We will have the opportunity to heat thousands of homes and businesses. We can heat our schools, churches and hospital for a fraction of the price of other sources. Furthermore, we can attracted new business — greenhouses, fish farms, and other companies that require large amounts of heating and cooling in their processes.
We can have new facilities like fixed roof accommodations, or a swimming pool attached to the Bayplex with both utilizing the heating and cooling of geothermal.
An addition to the Miners’ Museum could be an interpretive centre showcasing the environmentally friendly technology. Cape Breton University can be involved to develop and refine the technology for our specific needs.
This is a unique opportunity for Glace Bay, the prospect of using mine water in a environmentally friendly and sustainable manner to project a much cleaner community image and instil a level of pride in our citizens that’s long lost. With today’s oil prices, future restrictions on carbon emissions, and restrictions to be placed on power generation from conventional methods, we as a community have the opportunity to move past these physical and monetary constraints to develop a new economy for this town.
We as a community have the obligation to take this resource and develop it for the benefit for our town and its people, to do our part to combat global warming, and to create an environment conducive to retaining our people.
We have been given a second chance to rebuild this great community. Let’s not lose this opportunity to complacence.
Bruce Bearnes
Glace Bay

Loop along French shore would grow the pie for all
The Cape Breton Post

By Germaine LeMoine
We all know that location matters. Three hundred years ago, during the Age of Sail, location mattered, and the Fortress of Louisbourg was built strategically on these Cape Breton shores. It became the second busiest seaport in North America.
Today location still matters, but it is the Age of the Automobile, and the Fortress of Louisbourg is at the end of a dead-end road. The reconstructed fortress, the gem of Parks Canada, remains an underutilized site. Visitor numbers have been slipping, and the price of gas makes a dead-end road increasingly less appealing.
The ancient road that ran from Louisbourg to Gabarus to St. Peters, along the French shore, connected families and farms, fish plants and buyers, natives and settlers. In 1966, after the fortress was reconstructed, the road was closed without any local consultation, and we in the town of Louisbourg and our families and friends in Gabarus have protested against that ever since.
A committee was formed almost three years ago to try to right the wrong. We want to turn this dead-end location into a geographic asset by creating a loop on this side of the island that will draw tourists to our coast the way the Cabot Trail does on the other side.
Our first step was an economic feasibility and social impact study. It suggested that even with very little increase in traffic the road would be economically feasible. Simply trimming off the 45 kilometre detour saves enough gas and time to make the road pay for itself.
Consulting staff interviewed people along the Cabot Trail, in Baddeck and at Post Hastings: of those who had not gone to Louisbourg and did not intend to, a full 60 per cent said that if they could drive a loop on this side of the island they would.
The Cabot Trail counts between 300,000 and 400,000 visitors every summer, three or four times what Louisbourg sees. To be conservative, let us say that half the people who said they would go to Louisbourg actually did go; we would see another 90,000 to 100,000 visit Louisbourg annually. We and the fortress would double our current numbers.
On any given day in the summer we could have an additional 1,000 tourists in this area. Our restaurants and gift shops would be busy.
Louisbourg has about 130 rooms for travellers, and we can sleep about 290 to 300 people. Many more tourists would need to stay in Sydney or St. Peters or Glace Bay and points in between. With this project, economic growth is inevitable. Everyone will benefit.
Opening this road would give tourists the choice that they have never had. Driving onto the island, they could take the Cabot Trail or the Fleur de Lis Trail, or they could do both without back-tracking. Opening this road would also mean that tourists could drive other scenic loops in this area. They could thoroughly explore the east side of our island. And when tourists wanted to visit the Cabot Trail, they would.
Our tourism pie will get bigger.
We believe this road will give tourists a reason to stay another night on the island to see both shores. We believe it will bring back tourists who have already driven the Cabot Trail because now they could see the other side of the island, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world — Belfry Beach, Point Michaud, Capelin Cove, Gabarus, and Wild Cove. Traffic patterns would change but indicators are that the net effect would be positive for everyone.
In 1994, the provincial government resurfaced parts of the Fleur de Lis Trail in Richmond County. Now it is time for the federal government to do its part. The proposed road runs through federal property, the federal government closed the original, and the federal government has a multi-million-dollar investment in Louisbourg that is vastly underused.
We are not even considering tapping into road budgets designated for pothole repair. We all know we do need the potholes filled.
To gain the full potential of this loop, other investments must be made as well. Good, well-marked roads to beaches are important. Picnic parks, washrooms, better signage, and better marketing all fall under the jurisdiction of the province, the municipalities and the fortress. We are going to ask all of them to play a role in the development and promotion of the Fleur de Lis Trail so it too becomes a premier tourist route.
Cape Breton is noted over and over as one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Yet few ever see the magnificent coastline of the east side, which has a very different ecology than the other coastlines of the island. Completion of this road is the logical investment needed to further capitalize on all our island’s assets and to realize the full potential of Fortress Louisbourg.
We are taking this study to every level of government for support and then we are going to talk to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This year is Quebec’s 400th anniversary, and more than $100 million is being spent for the celebrations alone. We are asking for something permanent, a short little stretch of road to be built on federal land that will make an immense difference to the people on this island.
In five years it is the 300th anniversary of the arrival of the first settlers to Louisbourg’s shores. On that anniversary we will travel this road along with many tourists and be reminded that we are in a truly spectacular location. The French settlers in 1713 knew a good location when they saw it, and all we need is one small link to secure the importance of their vision in perpetuity.
Germaine LeMoine chairs the Louisbourg-Gabarus Link Committee.

Additionally...from the pdf file
- The Cape Breton Farmer's Market opened for the first time in its new location today at 340 Keltic Drive in Sydney River.

- Sobeys in Scotchtown is looking to add parking spaces...there's a land-use by-law ammendment being proposed because of it (parking across a street from the business it serves) with a public hearing set for Tuesday, June 17 at 6p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Civic Centre. At that same public hearing, proposed changes to the Land Use Bylaw will be put forward by the Planning Advisory Committee.

- A request for tenders is out for exterior renovations to Vista Heights. They will be performing several upgrades to the building including replacing the exterior cladding, in a 4 year phased construction timeframe.

[just joan]

is there anyone here who can tell me where to find the updated government environmental study impact of the Wind turbine project in Loch Lomond/Lake Uist???

[just joan]

is there in fact a government environmental study or is the only study being conducted that of the proponent?????????? how do I find out????

[Smevo]

Welcome just_joan.

As far as I know, the province will be conducting an environmental assessment...not sure if the developer will be conducting his own or not. To the best of my knowledge, it's being conducted now and won't be released for at least a little while. I'll search for links, but your best bet is to keep an eye out for more informations sessions, which there should be after the assessment is released. I'll post anything I find here.

The New Waterford Fish and Game Association (I think that's the name of the group) is keeping a close eye on the project, so it might help to get in touch with them. I'm not aware of who to contact, but if I find out, I'll let you know.

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

Good news for CBU...though not development.

Faculty group adds to donation

Section: Business


The Cape Breton University Faculty Association is contributing an additional $25,000 to its initial donation of $122,000 to the university's Future First campaign.

The original gift, in 2007, was to establish a CBUFA endowment fund for a renewable entrance scholarship valued at $1,600 per year. This new donation will allow for two new student bursaries valued at $500 each per year.

In 2004, the association donated $35,000 as part of the internal Enabling our Future campaign, the starting phase of the Future First campaign.

The CBU Students' Union has also donated an additional $20,000 for the Future First campaign to establish a new scholarship. It will be valued at $500 annually.

The Future First campaign is a five-year fundraising initiative at CBU. The original goal was to double the university's endowment fund of $7 million. In just 10 months the university accomplished its goal.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the university, volunteer committee and the generosity of the community, the CBU endowment fund has grown to $15 million and is continuing to grow. All of the money raised will contribute to the institution's scholarship and bursary program, benefiting students for years to come.

It seems CBU's aggressive push to improve its reputation is working, with these conferences coming here and improved student satisfaction and assessments.

Nursing conference to be held at CBU

Section: Cape Breton


Nursing professionals and students alike from across Atlantic Canada will come together at Cape Breton University this week. The 2008 Atlantic Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing/Région Atlantique Association canadienne des écoles de sciences infirmières conference takes place Wednesday through Friday.

The theme, Creating Our Future: Inspiring a New Generation, will help showcase some of the work and initiatives being accomplished regionally, provincially and nationally in nursing.

"This gathering will allow our participants to meet and network with some of Canada's finest nurse leaders," says Cyndee MacPhee, chair of the CBU nursing department. "We are honoured to have two of those leaders with us: Jane MacDonald, director of community development at VON Canada, and Dr. Ellen Rukholm, executive director for the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing and professor of nursing at Laurentian University."

Both of their talks, which take place in the Royal Bank Lecture Theatre on campus, are open to the broader health community and the general public.

MacDonald, who will speak Thursday from 9:20-10:30 a.m., brings more than 25 years of experience across the health system from the local to international level.

Someone's challenging Jim MacLeod in the election. Not sure what the outlook for him is, but from my past experience, he's going to be fighting an uphill battle, wish him all the best and hope the best man wins.

Wayne Miller to run for council

Section: Cape Breton


Wayne Miller has announced his intention to run for councillor for District 7 in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality election in October.

Miller was born and raised in Whitney Pier and is now a resident of South Bar, where he lives with his wife, Barbara. He has four children and four grandchildren.

Miller worked for 28 years as a federal public servant and six years for Sysco. He feels his employment history has provided him the necessary experience to work with all levels of government as well as the community at large.

Miller believes that Cape Breton is at a crossroad, with the port development announcement, the prospective reopening of Donkin mine and the pending appeal with regard to equalization payments.

He feels it is imperative for council to be unified and to send positive signals while working as a team to move ahead. Miller says his experience is that Cape Bretoners have to work twice as hard for what they are rightfully entitled. He also feels that if someone has to be right all the time, something is wrong.

"Our new council will have to work together and come to a consensus for the betterment of the municipality," Miller says.

He pledges to be a full-time representative and to bring the concerns of the residents of District 7 to the forefront, as well as keeping the larger picture in mind for the betterment of the entire municipality.

Miller may be reached at 564-2039 or 371-5255.

District 7 includes New Victoria, Lingan Road, Victoria Mines, Whitney Pier, Sydney, South Bar, New Waterford and Lingan. The locations are bounded by: the Victoria Road overpass, Sydney harbour and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, centerline of Webbs Lane and MacNeils Lane, Daley Road and May Street intersection with the Devco railway and Lingan Road intersection with the Devco railway.

The area is currently represented by Jim MacLeod.

Habitat for Humanity has set up in the area, started by members of CBU faculty and students.

CBU students, faculty to take to the streets

Section: Our community

Column: Stephen Moore

By Stephen Moore,


Once again, members of the Cape Breton University community have stepped out of the institution's halls and classrooms and into the streets of Cape Breton.

CBU students and faculty have begun the necessary work they hope will result in more affordable housing in Cape Breton and safer homes for those who would not normally be able to afford them.

To help achieve this goal, members of the CBU community have begun the push to form a local branch of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat is an organization that taps into volunteer labour, donations and a revolving fund derived from operations that provides affordable and safe housing to low-income residences and helps break the poverty cycle in which many people are living.

Habitat has been tremendously successful in other areas, but for it to be a success in Cape Breton, local residents have to step up and show their commitment.

Some of us may have a hard time believing that there are those who cannot afford a home in the local housing market. However, according to the Halifax Coalition Against Poverty, a single person on social assistance in Nova Scotia earns $5,422 per year ($12,473 below the poverty line).

According to the provincial government, the average income in Cape Breton is below the provincial average and the number of homes in need of repair is above the provincial and national averages.

These figures mean that even though the housing market in Cape Breton is relatively affordable, there are many who are at risk because of poor living conditions.

"We are concerned that so many of our neighbours are currently living in very poor conditions and that the housing stock in many of our CBRM communities is not holding up well. Habitat for Humanity could be part of the solution," said Tasha Dunn, a student involved in the movement.

Tapping the resources of the local community and identifying interested parties is the group's next step. Next Monday, there will be a public information session to help them achieve this goal. The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. in CBU's room CE 265.

The need for a Habitat branch was identified by the CBRM Housing Revitalization Committee, a committee initiated by CBU, and on which there are representatives from all levels of government.

According to CBU professor Dr. Tom Urbaniak, a group of community studies students stepped forward to meet the need. Two students - Martin Osuru and Dayna MacKay - made a presentation about Habitat to the committee.

"The members were very impressed and were very grateful for what the students have been doing," said Urbaniak.

The situation for many living in Cape Breton is more urgent than we realize and all parties involved are hoping things will begin to move quickly.

CBU's students and faculty continually involve themselves in the community and, more importantly, involve themselves in ways that benefit the community and those in it. A Habitat project will change the lives of many Cape Breton residents who are in desperate need of help and it will also change the lives of those that volunteer.

Habitat projects help transform our civic actions and in doing so help us realize responsibilities that lie outside of ourselves and our immediate families. Ultimately, Habitat creates homes, transforms individuals and creates stronger communities.

Stephen Moore is a resident of Glace Bay and is taking his MBA in community economic development at Cape Breton University. You can e-mail Stephen at stephen@cbusu.com

[Davey Boy Smith]

I don't have all the details but it was announced on the radio that there is an expected development near Cape Breton University. An Albertan company is building.... A village. Apparently there will be houses, apartments, an office building and a strip mall. Kid you not. I am hoping more details will be in tomorrow's Cape Breton Post.

[Smevo]

Seriously? Wow.

I have to renew my subscription, but I'll be doing that tomorrow so I'll see if anything's been published.

Maybe they are doing the business park corridor from the Seaport to the Airport in nodes and new residential near the university is definitely needed, though it may hurt downtown slightly and goes contrary to Urbaniak's plan for new students to be encouraged to live downtown (a part of his plan I agreed with). There's been some speculation though as to a department, most often assumed to be the business school, setting up downtown, but at this point it's just speculation and I'm not sure where it originated.

[Smevo]

Post 300!!!

212 since January 22nd which was the first post of the new year. Meaning 70.7% in past 6 months, other 30.3% (87 posts) took a year - the thread was started January 31st 2007. Been an active first half with no signs of slowing down.

Some thread stats (I know, I'm weird):
201 posts - 67% - contain news stories or relevant stats (labour force or housing starts).
507 news stories or stat groups have been posted - 1.69/post
12 forumers have posted in this thread - bluenoser, Wishblade, HalifaxMTL666, skyscraper_1, PostModernPrometheus, Davey_Boy_Smith, Helladog, mylesmalley, Architype, ride_em, stu_pendousmat2, and of course myself.