The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[mylesmalley]

Good job Myles! Now all we need is 20 million dollars!! :P

Oh, the things I could do with a 100 million for the city's transportation infrastructure...

I don't think the intersection is near bad enough to need that kind of investment. They're widening Botsford next year or the year after. That should help the flow around there quite a bit.

[mmmatt]

Oh, the things I could do with a 100 million for the city's transportation infrastructure...

I don't think the intersection is near bad enough to need that kind of investment. They're widening Botsford next year or the year after. That should help the flow around there quite a bit.

hahaha yeah...the city is thinking about traffic right now which is good, widening Mapleton is the most pressing issue for traffic in Moncton at the moment and it will be dealt with in the next few years. The new bridge and Vaughn Harvey extension were a very good investment too, traffic to and from Riverview was CRAZY 5 years ago, its not that bad anymore. Botsford is good as well...we may see that overpass you designed built in 15 years if the city keeps growing the same way.

EDIT: over 1,100! that was 100 posts in less than a week I think...

[mmmatt]

New Sobeys opens in downtown Moncton

Large crowds turn out for launch of grocery store at Main St. and Vaughan Harvey Blvd.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=63949&size=300x0

TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Monday December 17th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

Everybody loves a new grocery store.

Large crowds gathered yesterday at the corner of Main Street and Vaughan Harvey to help celebrate the opening of a new Sobeys grocery store, which is expected to be an anchor in future development of business in Moncton's downtown.

The supermarket opened at noon yesterday in a ceremony that included the mayor, company officials, a piper, jazz band and an antique delivery truck.

The new store replaces the one in the nearby Highfield Square shopping mall and sets up a new retail niche at Main Street next to the new Vaughan Harvey extension.

This new road provides a direct link with Vaughan Harvey and the new Gunningsville Bridge. It is expected the easier access will draw customers from Riverview and Albert County.

The new store is similar in layout to others in the Stellarton-based grocery chain, with a ring of coolers and freezers on the periphery of the main traffic aisles.

Store manager Kevin Gallant said the store is mid-sized at 47,000 square feet and includes all the modern features like a sushi bar, bakery deli, ready-to-go meals, custom meat shop, fish shop, full drug store complete with staff pharmacists, flower shop and a free-access community room suitable for meetings, cooking classes and special events.

"Its a usual shop with anything and everything that you want in a grocery store," Gallant said as he greeted customers at the front door yesterday.

Gallant said the store will have 157 employees and will act as a training location for other supermarkets in the chain. The store will be open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shortly after the opening, the aisles were packed with customers and their shopping carts working their way toward the 10 checkout counters.

During the opening, customers were treated to entertainment from the Trio Carte Blanche jazz trio, and received complimentary signed prints from artist Ron Sajack of a huge mural on the wall of the store that depicts the first train station in Moncton.

[mylesmalley]

I wonder what the big deal over a new grocery store is. It's not like they carry different food...

[michael_d40]

I wonder what the big deal over a new grocery store is. It's not like they carry different food...

haha its moncton. Hurtin city indeedy.

[ErickMontreal]

Road to link industrial park, Highway 15
Interchange project expected to help Scoudouc park grow and attract new business

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=64386&size=500x0
A new road linking the Scoudouc Industrial Park to Highway 15 will attract new investment to the park, officials say

BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Tuesday December 18th, 2007
Appeared on page A8

A new interchange linking Highway 15 to the Scoudouc Industrial Park will set the stage for new development and investment in an open area between the Greater Moncton International Airport and Shediac, Transportation Minister Victor Boudreau said yesterday.

Boudreau and others were all smiles yesterday as they gathered in the lobby of the Owens Illinois bottle-making plant in the Scoudouc Industrial Park yesterday afternoon to announce the new interchange, which should be completed sometime in 2010.

The $5-million project will include an interchange on Highway 15 between the airport and the Highway 11 exit near Shediac and improvements such as water and sewer lines to large tracts of unused property to make it more attractive for investors and new companies who may want to move into the park.

"This new interchange will encourage new development at the park and economic development in southeastern New Brunswick," Boudreau said. "This smart investment in our strategic infrastructure will be an important boost to the economy of southeastern New Brunswick and contribute to self-sufficiency in New Brunswick.

The project will receive an additional $4 million in funding under the Canada-New Brunswick Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues and the Provincial Gas Tax Transfer Top-Up fund.

"This funding will allow for the construction of a more direct road from the interchange to the Scoudouc Industrial Park, which will result in more than 10 kilometres of saved driving," Boudreau said. "It will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions for every vehicle that uses it."

Pre-construction planning will begin early in 2008 and construction is expected to begin in 2009, with completion scheduled for 2010.

The new interchange will provide access to the industrial park from both westbound and eastbound lanes on Highway 15. A similar interchange near the airport constructed a few years ago does not allow drivers to use it to get back on the westbound lane of Highway 15 to Moncton. Highway 15, also known as the Veterans' Highway, is the main link between Moncton and Shediac. It is a twinned highway between Dieppe and Shediac, and then tapers back into a two-lane road that ends at the traffic circle near Port Elgin.

The Scoudouc Industrial Park is one of the few that is actually owned and operated by the province, and it has an interesting history. The area was opened up and used as an air training base during the Second World War and some of the old hangars and buildings remain now as manufacturing plants. It became an industrial park in 1966. Today, it is home to several manufacturing operations and about 1,000 employees. Companies there include Cott Beverages, G.W. Driver Training, Maritime Stone Works, Ocean Pier, Springwall Sleep Products, Vincor International and West-Wood Industries.

Until now, it was accessible only by one winding two-lane road that was off the beaten path from local highways. More than 50,000 trucks are using the road ever year, which poses a safety concern because there are many private homes on it. The new interchange will allow direct access off Highway 15, allowing trucks to get in and out quickly and onto the nearby TransCanada Highway.

Serge Doucet, executive-director of Enterprise South East, said the new interchange will be a big help in building a sales pitch for new investors who may want to set up shop here. He also noted the industrial park is close to the airport, the natural gas pipeline, electrical supply and the coastline. Other benefits include a lower tax rate, since the park is outside of city limits.

"We have a niche market of industrial and manufacturing here. We're not really competing with other industrial parks in Moncton."

He said there are many large serviced lots available, with about 675 acres of land ready for development.

With construction of the interchange planned for the next two years, Doucet said the next step will be to work on new management and promotional strategies for the park.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

New Sobeys store in the works
Retail development slated for corner of Veterans Highway and Harrisville Boulevard

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday December 18th, 2007
Appeared on page A5

Just days after Moncton's newest Sobeys store opened in downtown, it looks like the Stellarton based grocery giant is preparing another store near the eastern tip of the city on Harrisville Boulevard.

Moncton city council approved a subdivision plan last night that will allow a retail development at the northeast corner of the Veterans Highway (Route 15) and Harrisville Boulevard. Among the terms in documents entered into public record last night indicate Sobeys and Plazacorp will build within three years.

A Sobeys development officer at the meeting referred questions about details of the development to the company's communications department, who were not available for comment last night.

The development will see a new city street formed, Babineau Boulevard, which it is hoped will one day extend eastward parallel to Highway 15.

A traffic study for the new Sobeys recommends that the intersection of Harrisville and Babineau have traffic lights.

[Wishblade]

I wonder what the big deal over a new grocery store is. It's not like they carry different food...


I was gonna mention that earlier, but I was afraid of the backlash :haha:

[gehrhardt]

Wow, Loblaws better get on the ball. If another Sobey's gets built in Dieppe that'll make 6 in the Moncton area. Superstore only has 3. Pretty soon everyone will be able to walk across the street to get groceries. :)

BTW, I still can't get over the Sobey's on Paul st that is across the street from another Sobey's in the mall. What's the point? I would think they'd close one of them if the new store gets the go-ahead.

[mylesmalley]

I was gonna mention that earlier, but I was afraid of the backlash :haha:

I laugh at controversy!

[mylesmalley]

Wow, Loblaws better get on the ball. If another Sobey's gets built in Dieppe that'll make 6 in the Moncton area. Superstore only has 3. Pretty soon everyone will be able to walk across the street to get groceries. :)

BTW, I still can't get over the Sobey's on Paul st that is across the street from another Sobey's in the mall. What's the point? I would think they'd close one of them if the new store gets the go-ahead.

You're right on the new Sobeys. I feel awful for using this word, but the Superstores are generally pretty epic in comparison to the the Sobeys stores. It wouldn't surprise me if they're each about 50% larger than the average Sobeys store. However, they are very poorly represented in Dieppe. Even co-op has a better presence.

I've noticed the two-stores-accross-the-street thing too. It's ridiculous at first glance. I've always thought of them as the 'english and french stores'. The little one on Paul is a lot more french than the other one, or at least thats how it's seemed to me. If that's true, I guess they're there just to meet both groups of customers?

For the record, there are a couple spots on downtown where there are Tim Horton's within 100 feet of each other. (Next to 1111 Main, and in Highfield Square), Champlain Place and Paul Street, City hall and the old one on Main...

[kirjtc2]

Grocery stores seem out of place to me in big malls like Champlain Place anyway, particularly with another Sobeys across the street and the one in the mall fairly tough to get around to off the street. How many people get a full grocery order when they do their shopping at the mall?

And if you think Superstores are gargantuan now, wait until Wal-Mart Supercentres come east.

[Wishblade]

I know this is a problem in Halifax too, but I think the development in Moncton is waaaaaay too suburban based. There needs to be more focus on density and business in the core of our cities.

[mylesmalley]

I know this is a problem in Halifax too, but I think the development in Moncton is waaaaaay too suburban based. There needs to be more focus on density and business in the core of our cities.

Amen.

[ErickMontreal]

No offence, so we should start something new for Moncton as this thread is a bit way out of topic for the city.

I think about something like Powercenterpage.com, Suburbancity.net or maybe Grocerystorenews.ca

:haha:

[mmmatt]

I know this is a problem in Halifax too, but I think the development in Moncton is waaaaaay too suburban based. There needs to be more focus on density and business in the core of our cities.

very true

[kwajo]

No offence, so we should start something new for Moncton as this thread is a bit way out of topic for the city.

I think about something like Powercenterpage.com, Suburbancity.net or maybe Grocerystorenews.ca

:haha:
lol I love the last one, it basically sums up the last couple pages of this Moncton thread.

[ElevatorGuy]

I wish I had a dollar for everytime I went on the SJ thread and they where talking about fucking coffee shops....

[michael_d40]

I wish I had a dollar for everytime I went on the SJ thread and they where talking about fucking coffee shops....

If your got a dollar for everytime you went on the thread and we were talking about coffee shops, u'd be broke.

[mmmatt]

lol I love the last one, it basically sums up the last couple pages of this Moncton thread.

The current page maybe...

but on the last page there was lots of cool stuff:

1. Rental unit vacancy rates lower than last year
2. New school announced
3. Moncton High renovations planned
4. DirectBuy opens store in Moncton, the 1st in NB
5. Commercial and residential construction numbers up from last year

[Helladog]

During the opening, customers were treated to entertainment from the Trio Carte Blanche jazz trio, and received complimentary signed prints from artist Ron Sajack of a huge mural on the wall of the store that depicts the first train station in Moncton.

:banger: :haha:

[mmmatt]

:banger: :haha:

haha Sobeys likes to put on a show what can I say? I used to work in the Highfield one when I was in high school (the store this new one is replacing) Sobeys had been planning to replace that store for 15 years! (I think it was one of the oldest ones still in operation...It was over 40 years old for sure)..I remember the manager was so discouraged she never thought it would happen.

It seems they are taking after Super Store a bit with the mural thing though, I dont mind, I like those murals...the ones in moncton and freddy are nice...they probably have them in SJ too...someone should take a pic of the SJ ones...and I can put the rest up!!! it will be a mural party! :cool:

[ErickMontreal]

Une cure de rajeunissement majeure pour Place Champlain
Major rejuvenation for Champlain Place

Mise à jour le mercredi 19 décembre 2007
Par: Ébacher, Jessica

DIEPPE - Le centre commercial Place Champlain de Dieppe subira une cure de rajeunissement majeure en 2008. Les travaux de rénovation, estimés à 14 millions $, débuteront en février.

"La Place Champlain s'adapte à la croissance incroyable qui est survenue dans nos deux centres urbains d'importance (ceux du Grand Moncton ainsi que de Fredericton et Saint-Jean)", a commenté le gérant du centre commercial, Neil Mattson.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

N.B. injects $4M into Dumont med school
Project part of $57.48 million provincial health budget unveiled yesterday

By Jesse Robichaud
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday December 19th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

FREDERICTON - Metro Moncton's hospitals received some welcome relief yesterday when Health Minister Mike Murphy revealed the details of his $57.48 million capital budget.

After a year spent dealing with acute overcrowding throughout the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont Regional Hospital and facing a lack of resources for its bourgeoning French-language medical school, the news couldn't come at a better time for officials at the Beauséjour Regional Health Authority.

Stéphane Robichaud, the health authority's vice-president of planning and operations, says the Department of Health appears to understand the issues facing the hospital.

"If you put it in the context of this past year, last spring we certainly communicated our concerns regarding the space situation and some risk associated with the French medical training program."

"What you see here essentially is the department's response to that."

Medical students heading into their third year in the medical training program will benefit from a $4-million infusion that will enable the authority to continue renovations at the Dumont hospital that will be completed by the fall of 2009 in order to accommodate the program.

"This is the answer the department needed to provide," said Robichaud about the funding that seemed to be in jeopardy as recently as last spring.

Murphy highlighted the importance of the medical program to health care in the province.

"Having medical education programs in our province represents a substantial investment by our government to ensure New Brunswickers have access to the family doctors and specialists they need."

Murphy also pledged $2 million to begin renovations that will accommodate an English- language medical training program at The Moncton Hospital, the Miramichi Regional Hospital, the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, and the Saint John Regional Hospital.

The Dumont hospital will receive $2 million for planning and architectural design work stemming out of a recently completed "master plan," similar to what has been conducted at The Moncton Hospital.

Murphy said the department must still determine the size and the costs of the projects stemming out of the plan for the hospital that he said hasn't grown at the same pace as the services it offers.

"Once this is completed and discussions are held within the region, I'll be in a better position to discuss the scope and other specifics of this project," said Murphy.

Robichaud says the plan forecasts the volumes of traffic and needs that will be felt at the hospital in the medium- and long-term, rather than simply asking for specific projects.

That still doesn't diminish the urgency of the current space issues at the hospital, says Robichaud, who notes that the immediate needs for new space for clinical services have been evaluated at 15,000 square feet in the short term.

"It's a bit of a moving target," said Robichaud, noting that it is still unclear how much space the new medical program will require. The cost saving effects of moving the hospital's administration and extra mural services to Dieppe are also yet to be determined, said Robichaud.

"You can't just move one person; once you move one person it's a domino effect," he said.

The capital budget also includes funds to allow The Moncton Hospital to begin addressing another much-needed infrastructure challenge, with $1 million set aside to install a sprinkler system over roughly 50 per cent of the hospital not currently protected by such a system. The project will take three years and $4.5 million to complete.

Another $500,000 will be invested into the completion of the three-storey addition at The Moncton Hospital. It includes the new Emergency Department, ambulatory care clinics, and laboratory.

A new Community Health Centre will be built in Rexton in order to replace the current health centre. While $500,000 will be spent on design work over the coming year, construction will occur in 2009-2010 with a price tag of $1.5 million.

Officials at the South-East Regional Health Authority were not available for comment.

Murphy told the legislature that when you add $85 million for a new psychiatric hospital in Campbellton to the department's $57.48 million capital budget, it represents the largest capital budget in New Brunswick history.

But Conservative Health critic Claude Landry criticized the actual capital budget for diminishing over the last two years.

Landry said the budget ignored the rural regions of the province, and attacked Murphy for focusing his spending priorities around politics.

"It is not fairly spread out across the province. Lots of regional health authorities were not respected," he said.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Moncton raises municipal parking rates and fines

times & transcript staff
Published Wednesday December 19th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

The passing of the City of Moncton's 2008 budget means that parking, both legally and illegally, will get more expensive in the new year.

Hourly rates at three city-owned parking lots -- the Capitol Theatre, Alma Street parking garage and Moncton Place (city hall) -- will now jump from $1.25 to $1.50 per hour.

As well, the minimum parking time users will pay for will be one hour instead of the current half-hour. The city's off-street lots on Robinson and Lewis Streets will have their rates increase from 75 cents to $1.25 per hour.

Lastly, parking meter fines will jump from $10 to $15.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dieppe passes first $30M budget
Property tax rate remains the same, but increased assessments means most

By Aloma Jardine
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday December 19th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Dieppe city council passed the city's first-ever $30-million plus budget last night.

The budget for 2008 is $30.4 million, up almost 11 per cent from $27.4 million in 2007.

However, after increasing the property tax rate by 2.96 cents per $100 evaluation in 2007, the tax rate for 2008 will remain the same at $1.5645 per $100 evaluation.

That makes the tax bill on a $200,000 home $3,129.

Increases in assessments, however, may cause individual homeowners to receive larger bills than last year.

If a home increased in value by the Dieppe average of 5.4 per cent, for example, a home worth $200,000 in 2007 would be worth $210,800 in 2008, and thus come with a $3,298 tax bill -- an increase of $169.

Water and sewage rates will remain the same in 2008: $392 for water and $258 for sewage, for a total of $650.

The incredible growth in the city's tax base over the past several years is what has enabled the city to continue to up its budget -- adding another $3 million this year alone -- without increasing taxes.

The city's tax base grew by 10.47 per cent in 2007, due to new construction and increased assessments, and at $1.742 billion is now New Brunswick's fourth largest, behind Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton.

The tax base has more than doubled since 2001, when it was $818.6 million.

Dieppe Mayor Achille Maillet says the city broke its construction record again this year, and he is expecting nothing less of the year to come. "In non-residential this year, we are looking at $25 million. Next year we are looking at $52 million," he says. "I predict 2008 is another year where we are going to break records."

Maillet says he is pleased with the budget overall. "I'm very pleased that we remained at $1.56 which is the same as last year, and very pleased that, for the most part, we've been able to plan for the year what we wanted to do," he says. "There are certain projects we would like to do (that we can't), but we have to manage responsibly."

Council had discussed the possibility of lowering the tax rate this year, but in the end decided against it.

"There was always a chance to do that," Maillet says, adding it is also something that might happen down the road as Dieppe begins to reap the rewards of the infrastructure investments it has made.

"This year if we had done that, some (projects) would not have happened, and we didn't want to do that," he says.

Council also passed a $4.6-million capital budget.

The major undertaking for 2008 will be phase one of the reconstruction of Paul Street, which needs to be redesigned as well as rebuilt. Council also budgeted $1.35 million toward the arts and culture centre it intends to install in the former city hall building, $425,000 for the purchase of a transit bus, and $425,000 for a pumper truck for the fire department.

A $3.1-million water and sewer capital budget was also approved, with the main projects the replacement of pipes in the eastern part of the city and the installation of a new water transmission line from Moncton.

The projects will require the city to borrow $4.6 million in 2008.

Maillet says one project that was set aside with regret for this year was the continuation of Dieppe Boulevard. "But we do not know what the year could bring in terms of gifts, so we're hoping that we will be able to start on projects that were not mentioned tonight," he says.

Every department saw its budget increase for 2008, even if only slightly.

Debt repayment makes up the largest part of the budget, accounting for 23.7 per cent, or $7.2 million, of the total.

"We have a plan, we are going to continue making sure that our debt ratio keeps going down," Maillet says. "In 1979 or 1980, the debt ratio was almost at 30 per cent with a tax base of about $200 or $300 million. Now we have a (debt ratio) of 23.67 (per cent) with a tax base of about $1.7 billion, so we have the capacity."

One of the most costly increases this year came in the city's police budget, which at $2.9 million is up $340,507 over last year.

Assistant treasurer Andréa Boudreau explained to council that about $119,000 of that is due to the new three-year police cost-sharing formula, which council adopted in principle last night. Under the terms of the new agreement, Dieppe is paying a larger share of the costs than it did in the past.

Police and fire protection combined make up more than 20 per cent of the overall budget.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sobeys could 'anchor' retail area
Grocery store chain expected to build on Harrisville Blvd. in the next few years

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=65193&size=400x0
This piece of property at the junction of the westbound off-ramp of Highway 15 (top of photo) and Harrisville Boulevard, seen on the right, is expected to be the site of a new Sobeys store

By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday December 19th, 2007
Appeared on page A7

The development of another Sobeys in Moncton could be the first step in another retail hotbed for the region.

Only days after Moncton's newest Sobeys store opened downtown, the Times & Transcript reported that the grocery giant is preparing another store near the eastern tip of the city on Harrisville Boulevard alongside Highway 15, Veterans Highway.

The newspaper reported yesterday that Moncton city council approved a subdivision plan Monday night that will allow a retail development at the northeast corner of the Veterans Highway and Harrisville Boulevard. Documents entered into public record indicated that Sobeys and Plazacorp will build within three years.

Communications director with Sobeys in the Atlantic Region Jill Thomas Myrick yesterday would only confirm the development of the property, but would not answer any questions relating to the project, saying the company never gives out details of a project in the development stages.

Representatives from Plazacorp, based in Fredericton, who are apparently partnering on the project with Sobeys, did not return phone calls yesterday.

City of Moncton's business development specialist Ben Champoux says the new Sobeys could very well turn into an "anchor" for businesses in the area, which is zoned highway commercial but doesn't have much in the way of development at the moment.

He says in a few years there could be much more in the area.

At this point, it's pure speculation that the development of the grocery store may lead to other businesses moving in, but there is room to grow in the area, and with the presence of the Dieppe and Caledonia industrial parks nearby along with the Greater Moncton International Airport, a case could be made that the location is a prime spot.

"Along Old Shediac Road, there's lots of subdivisions that are expanding significantly, and Harrisville Boulevard connects the two fastest growing industrial parks in the region and probably in the province," Champoux says. "And the Greater Moncton International Airport is right there at the other end. So the location is very strategic."

Champoux notes that Highway 15 right beside the development connects Metro Moncton with Shediac and other communities along the ocean, which are only a few minutes up the highway, and it also links Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

"Most certainly, this could be a key generator to have spin-off with retail and what-not," he says. "I have no doubt in my mind that it will generate interest from other investors to look at what else could be added to that anchor store."

Champoux isn't aware of any other businesses interested in the area.

Calls to G.W.R. Holdings Ltd. in Riverview, the realty group that owns the property, were not returned yesterday.

Champoux says the city's current focus is on the expansion of the Trinity Drive-Mapleton Road business area, but says that in the future the Harrisville Boulevard area could be one that the city gets behind to promote and encourage businesses to move in.

City of Dieppe communications officer Normand Léger says potential development in the area could impact Dieppe as well. The Moncton-Dieppe border runs along Highway 15, so Dieppe could benefit from an influx of businesses on the Moncton side of the highway as well.

"What we think will happen is (the potential development) will also market our Dieppe Boulevard, which is there, and we see any development in the area as positive. Because it will certainly have an impact on the visibility that the stores and businesses have in Dieppe."

On the Dieppe side of the highway, Atlantic Mazda is expected to move in on Aviation Avenue in 2008. The dealership currently operates out of its Morton Avenue location, but the new facility will be larger.

Further up the highway, Mayor Ray Cormier of Shediac sees any development in the region as positive, so he was pleased to hear about the potential development in Moncton, and says it could impact Shediac as people head up and down the highway.

"We're benefiting from the boom that is happening in Moncton and Dieppe (now), there's no question about this," he says. "Our population has increased since the last census. It's very positive."


Merry Xmas to all of you and see you later !

[mylesmalley]

I wonder what kind of expansion they have in mind for the Georges-Dumont. Maybe a new wing or something. They don't really have a lot of room to expand like the Moncton hospital did, so I guess it could be fairly tall.

Also, wouldn't surprise me at all to see a new mall at the corner of Rt. 15 and Harrisvill Blvd/Dieppe Blvd. That whole area has exploded in the past few years with all the new developments in the Dieppe Industrial Park etc. That whole interchange there has filled in with the new hotel and gas bar behind it as well. I've heard Dieppe is pushing hard to widen the overpass there, which is definitely needed. Anybody who has worked in the park and has to leave around five knows what I'm talking about. I suspect that'll be the next priority after Mapleton Rd. get's its upgrade. There's a ton of space there for some big developments.

[mmmatt]

Excellent news about the mall renovation! 14 million could do lots there :D

Glad to see the Dumont getting an addition as well, very good news for them.

[Helladog]

haha Sobeys likes to put on a show what can I say? I used to work in the Highfield one when I was in high school (the store this new one is replacing) Sobeys had been planning to replace that store for 15 years! (I think it was one of the oldest ones still in operation...It was over 40 years old for sure)..I remember the manager was so discouraged she never thought it would happen.

It seems they are taking after Super Store a bit with the mural thing though, I dont mind, I like those murals...the ones in moncton and freddy are nice...they probably have them in SJ too...someone should take a pic of the SJ ones...and I can put the rest up!!! it will be a mural party! :cool:

I'm not sure about the East-side store, but the Millidgeville Market Superstore has some nice murals...if I'm ever there with my cam, I'll grab a few shots...

[mmmatt]

$14-million renovation in works for Champlain Place

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=65554&size=300x0

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Thursday December 20th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

A $14-million facelift at Atlantic Canada's largest shopping centre is not about expansion, but rather about improving the shopping experience customers already have, says Champlain Place general manager Neil Mattson.

"What this renovation will do is tie all the previous renovations together," he said yesterday of plans to make the 32-year-old mall look better and feel better for customers. "This is a cosmetic renovation," he said.

While Champlain Place has done a good job of staying contemporary over the years, the competitive retail industry, especially in a shopping mecca like Metro Moncton, means always needing to be as up-to-date as possible. The Mapleton Power Centre and a neighbouring Mapleton Road development planned for construction starts in 2008, will only make that competition more fierce.

Still, anyone who's ever done a home renovation can no doubt only marvel at the idea of spending $14 million just on "cosmetic" upgrades.

"It's a large footprint we have here," Mattson says. The mall already has a common floor throughout to tie the look together, but the renovation will bring uniformity to the walls and ceiling inside and to the exterior look of the facade and all the mall's new and renovated entrances.

Mattson, who manages both the mall and Crystal Palace for Cadillac Fairview, says the company is willing to invest so much in Dieppe because "we fully agree with the direction the City of Dieppe is taking in investing in its future."

The aggressive community building Dieppe has done in recent years has made Cadillac Fairview, one of North America's largest commercial real estate companies, confident enough in the city not just to spend $14 million in 2008, but also to invest the $1 million it spent upgrading the Ramada hotel and convention centre in the past year.

No doubt Mayor Achille Maillet will be happy to hear the praise coming from the "mayor" of a much larger New Brunswick community, for the mall is practically a city unto itself.

"We had about 58,000 people here on Saturday," Mattson said yesterday. That's about three times the population of Dieppe itself."

As part of the renovation, the RCMP office in the mall will be upgraded and closed circuit TV will be installed to further improve security in this part-time city.

The work will start in the new year and take place over 10 months to minimize disruptions to customers. Washrooms will be renovated and new ones will be added to the food court, where a family washroom, mother's nursing room and rest area will also be added.

The food court will get new seating areas, including three 12 foot long tables, something Mattson says will appeal especially to travelling teams and other groups. Cadillac Fairview has installed what it calls Harvest tables at malls in Barrie and Kitchener, where they have been very popular with the public.

Something else sure to be popular, the wire benches at the mall now will be replaced with soft seating areas.

Though expansion of the 160 store shopping centre isn't part of the plan, the general manager said there will nevertheless be some exciting announcements of new stores in coming weeks, but he was not at liberty to discuss them now.

Mattson said the mall will continue to work at attracting first-to-market retailers like Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, Mexx and Eddie Bauer, giving shoppers the incentive to come to Metro Moncton for products they can't get anywhere else in the province.


Starbucks brings new brew to Champlain Place

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=65581&size=300x0

Published Thursday December 20th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

While big changes are coming to Champlain Place early in the new year, one stimulating development for the caffeine crowd has already been brewed this week.

Metro Moncton's first standalone Starbucks has opened in the heart of Champlain Place, offering the Seattle taste to people who can't always get over to the Starbucks at Chapters.

The kiosk in the food court area has seating and all the products to please any Johnny come latte looking to feed his jones for java.

There are now four Starbucks outlets in New Brunswick. Besides the newest store, there is another just opened in Saint John's McAllister Place, while the Chapters store in Fredericton hosts an operation like the one at Chapters in Dieppe.


Gunningsville Blvd. to open Christmas Eve

Riverview hopes opening of new road will promote commercial development in 2008

BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Thursday December 20th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

Santa won't need Rudolph to guide his sleigh when he tries out the new Gunningsville Boulevard on Christmas Eve, as the new traffic lights will be turned on and the road is opened to traffic.

Riverview Mayor Clarence Sweetland said yesterday the long-awaited opening of the new Gunningsville Boulevard has been scheduled for sometime Monday. An official ribbon-cutting will be held sometime in the spring when the weather is warmer.

Crews have been on-site this week installing the new traffic lights at the new road's intersections at Pine Glen Road, Findlay Boulevard and Pinder Road. Crews were also busy clearing snow from the road to prepare it for traffic.

Sweetland said the lights will be turned on sometime Monday, but won't be in full operation until nine days later. From Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, they will be blinking orange and red. This will give crews more time to calibrate the timing of the lights into full green-orange-red mode.

"We're very pleased that the road will finally be open," Sweetland said. This will result in a better flow of traffic, faster movement of emergency vehicles and take some of the traffic burden off the other busy roads. It will also open up a lot of new land for commercial development."

The new Gunningsville Boulevard has been a long time coming for Riverview and town officials are hoping it will bring more traffic into the Findlay Park area, which was developed over 15 years ago but still remains largely unoccupied. The road links up with the new Gunningsville Bridge across the Petitcodiac River at the juncture of Hillsborough Road and Coverdale Road.

It proceeds up the hill, around the golf course and connects with Pine Glen Road and Findlay Boulevard, forming a loop and connection with the Petitcodiac Causeway to the traffic circle, Wheeler Boulevard and West Main Street in Moncton. The road represents a $17 million investment by the Town of Riverview.

Meanwhile, crews have also been working on Pinewood Road near the new Home Hardware store to install new street lights. Sweetland said these new lights will replace the decorative Victorian-style lamps that were installed in the early 1990s when the road was first constructed. He said the decorative lights have deteriorated and it would be very expensive to replace them. Therefore, the town has opted to replace them with more conventional street lights. He said it is hoped the decorative lights can be salvaged for some other purpose.

Riverview Town Council will hear a presentation on the new East/West Connector road when it holds its final meeting of the year today at 4 p.m.

Rob McClure of the engineering firm of Hatch, Mott MacDonald will give a presentation on the new road.

The agenda for today's council meeting is light, with a transfer of funds and reading of bylaws dealing with garbage collection and loitering.

The new loitering bylaw includes wording that will allow police to order people to move along if they are found to be begging or loitering.

[JasonL-Moncton]

It's about time...now get that causeway replaced by a bridge and it'll be great!

[mmmatt]

Snow, deer

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=66095&size=300x0


Friday December 21st, 2007
Appeared on page a11

The deer statue in front of Moncton City Hall appears to be grazing in a snowbank yesterday

[mmmatt]

New Moncton Fire Station.

http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150554_fire_station.jpg

Steel workers on Botsford Street near Wheeler Blvd.

Reflexions & Distortions

http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150463_reflexions.jpg

image credits: brian branch: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com

[mmmatt]

Dieppe aquatic centre starts to take shape

Foundation in, more than half of tenders awarded for centre expected to open in 2009

By Aloma Jardine
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Saturday December 22nd, 2007
Appeared on page A4

The foundations are in, a good number of the tenders have been awarded, and Dieppe residents should start seeing some steel going up after Christmas as the Dieppe aquatic centre begins to take shape.

"The site work is going well," says Dieppe Councillor Charles Cormier. "Two-thirds of the tenders have been received and by all reports we are getting very good pricing, so we're relieved."

Cormier has vowed the $13.5-million centre will not go over budget.

"We have a developer that is running this project for us, however all the subcontracts are being tendered out and they are managing it very well and are even negotiating further with the winning bidders to get the best quality and price possible," Cormier says.

A lot of preparatory work has already been done on the site, not to mention the foundations, but the building will really begin to have some visible structure after Christmas when the steel starts being raised.

"We are pretty excited. It is a major project," Cormier says.

The centre has come under fire from some residents who felt the city was spending too much too quickly and should either wait on the project or build a scaled back version.

But Cormier says an equal number of people have expressed delight at the fact that their children will now have better access to aquatic programming.

"One guy told me he loves this because he remembers standing in line at CEPS and a lot of people didn't get into the program, there was a waiting list," Cormier says. "Now he can do this in his own town. You are not a community until you have (services like this)."

Cormier says at this point they are hoping to see the centre open in January or February 2009, though a more precise date will have to wait until further into the construction process.The next step is for council to choose a management structure for the centre, something Cormier says council will start working on in the new year.

"We anticipate it will probably be a board independent of council and we will hire experts to run the thing, perhaps the Y(MCA) or the CEPS or some other agency," he says.

The city has budgeted $150,000 for 2008 to start selecting and hiring staff so they can be trained by the time the centre opens.

[Haliguy]

Whats the population of Dieppe?

[mylesmalley]

Whats the population of Dieppe?

Last census, it was around 18,500, growing at 19.5%. It'll very likely be over 25,000 by the next census.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Happy Holidays everyone! :) (Stay safe)

[kwajo]

Last census, it was around 18,500, growing at 19.5%. It'll very likely be over 25,000 by the next census.
Really? For some reason I assumed it was more than that. I guess KV (Quispamsis/Rothesay) still trumps Dieppe in population then :D

That being said, Dieppe seems to be making more of its growing tax base than the KV communities are. Maybe that's the advantage of being a single community rather than two rival ones.

[GUB]

Really? For some reason I assumed it was more than that. I guess KV (Quispamsis/Rothesay) still trumps Dieppe in population then :D

That being said, Dieppe seems to be making more of its growing tax base then the KV communities are. Maybe that's the advantage of being a single community rather than two rival ones.

Yeah, even Rothesay is rapidly growing and seems to be more open to the idea of expansion.
All the old conservative fa-ts must be dying off.

[mylesmalley]

Hope everybody has a great christmas, or non-denominational-holiday day. Whatever floats your boat lol.

[mylesmalley]

Has anyone else taken a spin around the new Gunningsville Blvd?

[mmmatt]

Has anyone else taken a spin around the new Gunningsville Blvd?

Yeah I did, its nice...really long when driving 60 though, they should have added a shoulder and made it an 80 zone. the street lights are nice though (same as the bridge and the vaughn harvey extention. I'm sure it will look really nice in the summer when you can actually see the landscaping they spent so much time on haha...overall its an excellent addition to Riverview. :)

[mmmatt]

Moncton -U.S. flights to soar?

Demise of Fredericton-Boston service could be good news for Metro, says airport CEO

By Kate Wright
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Saturday December 29th, 2007
Appeared on page A8

FREDERICTON - Greater Moncton International Airport CEO Rob Robichaud said he's expecting an upswing in business on the airport's Continental Air flight to the northeastern United States after the Fredericton Airport failed to keep Big Sky Air onboard with service to Boston.


Robichaud said he anticipates higher volumes on his flights to Newark, N.J., which then has connections to Boston, until the Fredericton airport authority can find a new carrier to offer the flight, but worries the loss may tarnish the region's reputation.

"They may view this not only as a Fredericton failure, but a New Brunswick failure," he said yesterday. "They may be reluctant to come here and our job to convince them to come based on the market.

"Anytime an airport in the province loses air accessibility, it hurts us all."

Fredericton Airport CEO David Innes said yesterday he's confident he can find a replacement carrier for the airport's now defunct Big Sky Airlines service to Boston -- it's just a matter of finding the right fit.

Innes said yesterday that the airline had bigger problems than simply the Fredericton flight and while it may take some time, he is in the process of recruiting a more suitable fit for the capital city.

"We're dealing with a carrier who has essentially become non-existent on the East Coast," he said. "The problems with Big Sky were larger problems than Fredericton. We need someone who wants to connect and feed to larger networks."

The company, which operates the twice-daily flights for Delta Air Lines, had said three weeks ago the service would continue until Jan. 7.

However, the flight has since disappeared from the carrier's website and travellers are not able to book flights.

While the loss of a flight from a city's airport may be a hard sell to potential carriers, Innes said the Boston flight traffic is a "known commodity" and is stable.

He said the airport authority is looking for a carrier that is both the right size and has the "capability" to service the city.

"There are unique problems with every operation and every carrier and you always have to consider where a carrier is at that point in time," he said. "How optimistic they are, their financial situation."

Last month, Big Air's holding company Mair Holdings reported a net loss of $2.5 million for the fiscal 2008 second quarter ending September 30, 2007, compared to a net loss of $2.5 million during the same quarter a year ago.

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, the company reported a net loss of $7.4 million, compared to a net loss of $82.8 million in fiscal 2006.

The company said its $2.5 million net loss was the result of $3.4 million of operating losses at Big Sky Airlines and MAIR.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Happy New Year everyone! :)

Jason

[mylesmalley]

Moncton, N.B., earns reputation of being most polite city
Last Updated: Monday, December 31, 2007 | 12:58 AM AT
CBC News

Moncton, N.B., is the most polite city, according to a courtesy test of Canada's 15 largest cities conducted by Reader's Digest.

The magazine sent two undercover reporters across the country to carry out an informal survey that marked each city on whether people held the doors open for its journalists, whether salesclerks thanked them for purchases and whether people would pick up a dropped folder in busy locations.

Moncton earned 80 per cent with Calgary and Vancouver tying for second place with 77 per cent. Edmonton ranked third with 73 per cent.

"The Maritime cities generally did very well," said Cynthia Ann Shannon, who works with Reader's Digest in Montreal, which ranked fifth with 68 per cent.

Victoria, Charlottetown and St. John's, N.L., ranked fourth with 70 per cent. Halifax and Winnipeg came in sixth place with 67 per cent. Regina and Quebec City ranked seventh and eighth with 63 per cent and 62 per cent, respectively.

Toronto came in ninth with 60 per cent. Saskatoon and Ottawa scored the worst with 57 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively.

[mmmatt]

Building keeps booming in Metro Moncton
Record construction years in Dieppe, Riverview, steady growth in Moncton in 2007 set stage for banner '08

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Saturday January 5th, 2008
Appeared on page A1

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=71913&size=300x0
Another strong year is predicted for the Metro Moncton building industry with projects like the Hampton Inn at the Trans-Canada Highway and Mapleton Road seen here expected to open.


The 2007 construction year is over for Metro Moncton and it was another banner year for Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview. The early indications for 2008 are that the prosperity will grow.

Dieppe set a record with over $80 million in construction permits issued, as did Riverview with close to $27 million.

Moncton held steady with more than $130 million for the fourth straight year, even though it fell short of the all-time record set in 2006, when the bulk of the permits were issued for the Molson Brewery, Marriott Hotel and The Moncton Hospital ambulatory care unit projects.

Roger Melanson, general manager of the Dieppe Economic Development Corporation, says Dieppe can expect another massive year in development.

Two of the leading projects will be renovations with price tags to rival most new construction in Metro. Champlain Place starts an eight-month long $14 million renovation in February (to go along with that, Dieppe plans a major upgrade of Paul Street to start this year). Meanwhile, Canada Post will start a $7 million expansion to its sorting facility in the city.

The first construction season of Phase 2 of Fox Creek gets underway this year, the beginning of a 10-year, $350 million project. Another mega-project seeing more work this year will be the Uptown Dieppe project with three more buildings on Aquatique Street, including the new aquatic centre.

A 150 unit, $10 million seniors housing complex is being built on Dieppe Boulevard this year and Melanson said a second smaller, but still significant one, will also start before the year is out.

There are three automotive dealerships in the works for Dieppe. The new home of Atlantic Mazda on Aviation Avenue is already under construction. A BMW dealership and an RV sales and service business are widely rumoured to be the other two, but Melanson said he wasn't at liberty to name names.

He did say that expansion of the Dieppe Industrial Park along an extended Aviation Avenue were key goals for 2008, freeing up 130 acres of land for development.

In Dieppe generally, Melanson said, "if you look at the development, there's a lot going east obviously," since development has already mostly infilled to the north south and west.

In the record setting 2007, non-residential construction accounted for only $25 million of the $80 million total.

"In '08, we're projecting doubling that non-residential development, and we believe more residential development will follow as a consequence of that," he said.

In Riverview, several new projects are on the drawing board for next year, including a condominium development near the Moncton Golf Club. The $7- million expansion of the Royal Court seniors' residence is also poised to move ahead over the next year.

New subdivisions are expected as the town plans another branch off Gunningsville Boulevard. This new Bridgedale Boulevard will stretch from Gunningsville Road and link to Hillsborough Road, opening up new commercial and residential lands for development.

In Moncton, where the 2007 residential building permits numbered 777, exactly the same number as the year before, business development specialist Ben Champoux said strong 2007 numbers in all building sectors bode well for the future.

"All indicators lead us to believe that builders and developers will remain very busy in 2008," he said.

In early December, employment in Greater Moncton was at 71,400, up 4,700 when compared to the previous year, while the unemployment rate remained low at 4.9 per cent

"As a result, many people will come from outside the region to fill these new jobs, fuelling housing demand and residential construction," Champoux said.

The start of a new provincial court house, the Botsford Street fire station, the track stadium on the Université de Moncton campus, and the construction of the Mapleton Power Centre are all big ticket items on the building schedule. The Hampton Inn project on Mapleton at Northwood Road is risng beside Highway 2, the Trans-Canada. Work will also continue in 2008 on the Marriott Hotel and The Moncton Hospital expansion.

There is a factory outlet project on the drafting board for land adjacent the new Mapleton Power Centre, though whether the Power Centre development will spur it or stall it remains to be seen.

The most recent project to come to light in the red hot area is a proposed medical office and retail complex in the works for the corner of Mapleton Road and Frampton Lane. It will however require a rezoning that might prove tricky politically. The parcel is zoned P1 for park or community purposes and is a fragment of Mapleton Park that was cut off from the rest by the extension of Frampton Lane. A previous attempt to rezone the land failed, part of the aftermath of a controversial land swap between the city and Co-op Atlantic in 2005.

A rezoning application appears on the agenda for Monday's meeting of Moncton city council which was made public Friday.

Sobeys has a development planned for Harrisville Boulevard, which is expected to further growth there. Another Sobeys is rumoured to be in the works for the former Villa du Repos land on Elmwood Drive, though the company doesn't comment on pending store locations.

Building facts

Total 2007 building permit values for Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview:

* Moncton: $131 million

* Dieppe: $80 million

* Riverview: $27 million

[mmmatt]

Moncton construction activity tops $130M for fourth consecutive year

January 04, 2008 - 10:33 am
By: Rebecca Davis, News 91.9 Staff

http://www.news919.com/construction%201.JPG
Signs like this one (showing the recently opened Sobeys on Vaughan Harvey) are common in Greater Moncton (File photo)

MONCTON, NB - According to the city of Moncton's building reports it's been another outstanding year for the Hub City.

Close to 12 hundred building permits were issued in 2007.

That's according to Ben Champoux with the city of Moncton, who says for the fourth consecutive year, construction activity in Moncton exceeded the 130 million dollar mark.

Champoux says strong population growth, strong migration growth, and labour market conditions are all key factors that have contributed to strong construction activity in the city.





Anybody recognize that picture? I kinda do...considering I took it haha, I dont mind they used it, I just find it funny they said "file photo".

heres the link to the article:
http://www.news919.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20080104_103314_1160

[JasonL-Moncton]

Moncton construction activity tops $130M for fourth consecutive year

Anybody recognize that picture? I kinda do...considering I took it haha, I dont mind they used it, I just find it funny they said "file photo".



Yes...your picture was 'on file' :P

[mmmatt]

Moncton council to hear zoning requests

Brent Mazerolle
City Hall Report
Published Monday January 7th, 2008
Appeared on page A2

Zoning matters are likely to take some time at tonight's meeting of Moncton city council, especially since one of the new applications seeks a rezoning of community purpose land on Mapleton Road at Frampton Lane. Since an ill-fated land swap in 2005 saw a change to the boundaries of Mapleton Park, the very idea of giving up park land in any part of the city in any circumstances has been a political hard sell in Moncton. And this parcel is a fragment of Mapleton Park, cut off from the rest of the park by the extension of Frampton.

While it might be argued its utility as park land is questionable because of its surroundings of commercial development, roads and hydro lines, those who were outraged by the loss of park land in the first place may not be happy with this new development proposal.

On the other hand, the land is currently zoned P1, which allows everything from parks and playgrounds to medical clinics with secondary retail uses. To rezone it to a commercial designation to allow medical offices instead of a medical clinic might not be such a stretch. (Meanwhile, the current zoning would also allow uses as diverse as a TV studio or funeral home).

Typically, a new application like this would at this stage simply be referred to the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission for its comments before council looks at it in detail, a process which takes councillors about two minutes. There's a chance that usual formality might not be quite so brief tonight.

There's another new zoning application on the agenda tonight, to rezone 47 Bulman Drive from R-2 to MU-1, to allow a residential care facility.

Lastly in zoning matters, tonight's meeting is the public hearing for a plan to rezone parts of the Caledonia Road area, where today there is a curious mix of residential and industrial land.

n Brent Mazerolle's City Hall Report appears every Monday, looking at the people and issues behind the scenes at Moncton City Hall.

[mmmatt]

Main st. December 29

http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1150695_Foundry_main.jpg

credit: Brian Branch, http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/

[mmmatt]

Rezoning process begins for former parkland

Site for dental practice/retail complex includes severed portion of Mapleton Park

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday January 8th, 2008
Appeared on page A1

A small piece of land that was once part of Mapleton Park started on the road to rezoning last night when Moncton city council referred it to the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission for recommendations and set a date for a public hearing on the matter.

The hearing for the land at the southwest corner of Frampton Lane and Mapleton Road will be held February 18 but, regardless of the outcome of the application, Moncton orthodontist Dr. John McManaman said last night he will start building a new clinic on Mapleton Road below the Costco store this spring.
The orthodontist currently rents space for his practice, which has grown significantly since he assumed the practice of another orthodontist who retired.

The land needing rezoning comprises only 30 per cent of his development site, the rest of which is zoned for suburban commercial development.

McManaman has bought a strip of land all along Mapleton from Costco to Frampton Lane and is planning a multi-phase development for the site.

The first of four buildings will house his practice and contain secondary retail businesses. It will be at the Frampton end of the development and the lowest part of the land he bought. The northern tip of McManaman's land was once the southern tip of Mapleton Park.

Most of it is an NB Power easement, but carries a P-1 zoning from the days before the extension of Frampton Lane cut it off from the rest of the park. There are no trees on the land in question.

While it is a completely separate piece from the 20-acre portion that caused most of the controversy after a land swap between the city and Co-op Atlantic in 2005, the fragment in question was also part of that five parcel swap and carries some of the same political baggage.

The $5-million plan got some preliminary support from Ward 4 Councillor Louisa Barton Duguay. Though she campaigned for council last year largely on protection of park lands and the environment, Barton Duguay said last night she could see how the state of the land in question might cause her to make an exception.

"It is not that large a piece of land and it's almost all under the power lines. I don't see that as a problem. it's really not park-like at all," she said.

While McManaman could work around the zoning issue if he had to, it will leave him struggling to provide adequate parking.

"That was an expensive piece of land," he said of the overall parcel. "I want to utilize it as much as I can."



40 Korean families plan move to Moncton

Hub City delegation returns from South Korea with news immigrants coming to live here

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday January 8th, 2008
Appeared on page A2

Canadians old enough to remember Expo '67 can easily imagine the excitement last month in the South Korean city of Yeosu, when the community of just 280,000 learned it had won the right to host the 2012 World's Fair.

So great was the excitement, the first foreign delegation to the city following the announcement, was warmly welcomed and its every move was duly chronicled by state television.

That delegation was from Metro Moncton and, if it made an impact on Yeosu, it looks like Yeosu will soon be having an impact on Metro Moncton.

The delegation was led by Moncton's Deputy Mayor Merrill Henderson and included Enterprise Greater Moncton and New Brunswick's English-language School District 2. Delegates told Moncton city councillors last night they can expect about 40 Korean families to come here in the first half of the year.

That will give them time to get their children enrolled in local schools before September.

While the kids learn English, their parents hope to set up businesses or buy existing ones in the area.

"About 40 per cent of the business people we met are already approved through the provincial nominee program," City of Moncton business development specialist Ben Champoux told council.

"We have about 60 Korean families in our community now. They want to buy convenience stores, gas stations, motels, B&B's," he said, adding that besides business people, there were various professionals also interested in coming to the city.

Some families could be making familiarization tours as early as this month and Champoux said the weather was one of the Koreans' key concerns.

Hoping the warm weather this week might last and melt some of the snow, Champoux got laughs when he admitted how difficult it was to put on a brave face when they visited Yeosu at the start of December.

Back in Metro Moncton, the first blizzard of the year was raging. When Champoux told one group the winters here were really not so bad, his well-informed hosts responded by asking why there were 6,000 Metro Moncton homes without power at that moment.

Nevertheless, the interest in Metro appears to have been sincere and serious. One of the avenues being explored involves Atlantic Baptist University. In the short-term, "South Korea is in desperate need of English teachers to teach the volunteers who will work at Expo 2012," Champoux said.

Beyond 2012, there is hope many of the South Korean immigrant families will have seen enough of the region's excellent quality of life that they will want to stay and contribute to it.

[mmmatt]

New Moncton brewery featured on Discovery Channel show

TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Tuesday January 8th, 2008
Appeared on page A6

Moncton's new Molson Brewery will be among several featured on an upcoming episode of the Discovery Channel's What's That About program.

The new $35-million, high-tech brewery opened in Moncton last October. It produces Molson Canadian and Coors Light brands, and has a brewing capacity of more than six million 12-packs annually (or 250,000 hectolitres).

It will be featured in the Jan. 26 episode of the Discovery Channel program What's That About, a documentary series which looks at how technology is used in a variety of industries in today's world.

The Jan. 26 episode, which airs at 8 p.m., is entitled "The Brewery." It explains how beer giants maintain taste consistency in billions of bottles every year; and how small and original brewers blaze new trails in beer making. The show was shot on location at breweries in Moncton, Charlottetown and Toronto.


Who will run for mayor?

So far, only one candidate has clearly declared intentions for any of the three Metro mayoralties, but many may wait in the wings

By ROD ALLEN
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Tuesday January 8th, 2008
Appeared on page A7

Metro Moncton's Member of Parliament won't be drawn into any speculation about upcoming mayoralty races in his riding but he does have an interesting comment about what he expects to be the dominant theme in the provincewide municipal elections this spring.

"I feel a tension out there among the taxpayers," says former Moncton mayor Brian Murphy, "and from personal experience I agree with what's being said.

"The current out there is that taxes are generally high. Right now, it appears (last year's) fuel tax (reimbursement), which was a windfall to the municipalities, will not be renewed and federal infrastructure funds are not what they were.

"Prospective mayors and their councils need to be aware that a fiscal crunch is coming and taxpayers will not accept any more of the load."

The comment might not surprise Metro's increasingly restive and activist community of taxpayers, but what makes it interesting is that none of the mayoral hopefuls contacted in Riverview, Dieppe or Moncton yesterday directly raised the issue of taxes.

Currently only Moncton knows it will have a new mayor after the May 12 elections.

So far outgoing Mayor Lorne Mitton has only one potential successor who has made his intentions clear, in business consultant Pierre Michaud, although the candidacy of prominent city lawyer and 2004 razor's-edge Mitton runner-up George LeBlanc appears to be the worst-kept secret in Moncton.

Clearly stinging from a suggestion published in The Times & Transcript last weekend that Michaud has kept a rather low profile since announcing his interest late last year, the former chairman of Metro's airport authority fired off a lengthy email to the newspaper Monday.

Among other things, Michaud informed that in recent weeks he not only attended every single one of city council's pre-budget sessions last year but has consulted with politicians, major employers, hospital boards, economic development and ordinary citizens to construct his platform.

In an interview yesterday, Michaud said within the next two weeks he will announce not only his full platform but his campaign team.

There will be lots of issues, he says, "but I think the big one has to be a convention centre and, or (with stress on the 'or') a casino. This city will have to come forward and say whether or not they are interested, then be prepared to support a Moncton bid if it comes to that."

Moncton clearly needs a new headquarters for Codiac RCMP as well, said Michaud, but under a larger theme of an assets management strategy for the 80-plus buildings it owns, ranging from infrastructure as simple as a salt dome to as complex as a Coliseum.

"The Coliseum is a big asset to the City but has also been a drain on city resources," says Michaud, whose biggest consulting gig in recent years has been the restructuring of the Shippagan Caisse-Populaire, "we need a management plan for these assets."

Michaud also hinted that environmental issues, particularly the Petitcodiac River, will be a big part of his platform.

Meanwhile, although there is much talk in recent weeks about the potential candidacy of multi-term Moncton councillor George LeBlanc -- off council since nearly defeating Mitton in 2004 -- none of it is coming from him.

However, "I have been thinking about this a lot," he admitted yesterday, "I've consulted with an awful lot of people and organizations in the city, I am greatly heartened by the advice and encouragement I am getting and I will be making an announcement in the next three or four weeks about my intentions."

Thus LeBlanc won't talk about potential election issues, although "the next mayor has to be someone who keeps the city moving ahead, but also dealing, in a very positive way, with the challenges it has."

While there are few other murmurs out there for other mayoral candidates in the city longtime councillor Kathryn Barnes's service has only been interrupted twice since 1986, and both interruptions were due to hard runs at the mayor's seat. In one of them she very nearly toppled incumbent Leopold Belliveau.

Barnes, also an experienced federal campaign organizer, said yesterday she is thinking about the mayoralty but until she makes up her mind one way or another she won't be dropping any hints.

Meanwhile, Metro's other sister communities are a study in contrasts, despite the fact no one in either Riverview or Dieppe, including the incumbents, has announced their intentions.

That, because is little talk of a rival for Riverview Mayor Clarence Sweetland and all kinds of it for Dieppe Mayor Achille Maillet.

Although Riverview councillor Sherry Wilson would seem to have a shot, having served a year as the town's deputy mayor, she says it's premature to make any announcement any time soon, but on the other hand "We currently have an excellent mayor and I think almost everybody is pleased with the job he has done."

Sweetland himself won't say whether he will offer for a second term, but admits he is pleased with his four years.

"Four more years is a lot of commitment but I'm not getting the feeling the end is near for this council," he says.

"We've had some recent successes in a 10-year water agreement and a three-year policing agreement with Moncton and we've got a brand new road open.

That road (connecting the new Gunningsville Bridge with the town's now-promising Findlay Park commercial area 'up the hill') is one of the principal keys to Riverview's future and Sweetland wouldn't mind having a ringside seat, he says.

"We're not trying to be Moncton or Dieppe in industrial development, he says, "but the time has come for us to share in the home area's growth and we have accessible land now to grow our commercial and retail base."

It is a different story in Dieppe, much of it attributable to a citizens tax protest group that appears to be emerging as a sounding board for potential candidates, if not, strictly speaking, as a source of candidates itself.

"We said from the day that the (Dieppe Citizens Coalition) was formed that I would not offer for mayor nor would members offer for council," says its president Romeo LeBlanc, but there's more to that statement than meets the eye.

LeBlanc says the coalition (whose main focus has been high taxes in the face of a big-spending council particularly on the matter of an aquatic centre advertised as costing $13 million but which it feels will eventually cost much more) will keep to its word but its original 20 members are down to an even dozen and there may well be candidates among those who have left.

"What I told you a year ago still stands," he says, "there are five members of the present council, including the mayor, who ran unopposed in 2004 and that we will make sure that doesn't happen in 2008."

Over that same year, LeBlanc says he has been approached to run for the mayor's seat on numerous occasions but the other interesting thing that has happened is that the group has been approached indirectly with inquiries about their support for other potential mayoral candidates, including current Greater Moncton Sewage Commission chairman Ronald LeBlanc -- another prominent Metro-area lawyer -- as well as former federal candidate Jean LeBlanc who took a shot at Liberal MP Claudette Bradshaw in her second election and Paul LeBreton, a former provincial deputy justice minister.

It remains to be seen if there is a serious candidate among that trio of heavyweights, however.

Neither Ronald nor Jean LeBlanc could be immediately reached for comment yesterday and LeBreton would only say "I am not interested, at this time."

Why those last three words?

LeBreton admits that he has been approached more than once to run for the mayor's seat "and I'm flattered by the interest."

Flattered enough to change his mind?

The election is still four months away, is all he'll add.

As for the incumbent, Achille Maillet talks about Jan. 21 as the date he makes his 'State of the City' address, an act he wants to execute as mayor rather than candidate.

After that it can go either way, but "right now it is fun to be the mayor of this city; it is fun to work with the team I have, it is fun to work with our economic development board, with our citizens and with developers.

"This is a time of great growth in our city, and it is also fun to have the means to make the great strides we have made in improving the quality of life for our citizens.

"I know that right now there are a few people who don't like all of the projects, or one of the projects anyway, that we are working on, but I am convinced that the great majority of our citizens support what we are doing. If I do run again, I think perhaps one of our priorities will be to do a better job of just communicating to our citizens what we aim to do."

[ErickMontreal]

Metro office space continues to grow
Declining vacancy rates mean increase in rent costs

Published Wednesday January 9th, 2008
Appeared on page C2

New figures show demand for commercial office space in Moncton is growing, marking yet another rosy economic indicator for the Hub City. At the end of December, there was 2.635 million square feet of occupied office space in Metro Moncton, show numbers released by Turner Drake & Partners Ltd., a Halifax-based real estate market research firm.

That figure is up from 2.589 million square feet at the end of 2006.

Still, the office vacancy rate remains somewhat high, measured at 10.87 per cent at the end of December "" up from 10.41 per cent a year earlier.

But Turner Drake president Mike Turner says he expects that to change, as supply slows and demand continues to rise.

He predicts a decline in vacancy rates will mean a jump in rent prices in the near future.

According to Turner, rent prices for Moncton office space jumped four per cent in the past year.

"Moncton is a very active place," he said, noting the figures are good news for the city. "The demand is increasing."

He cites Moncton's central location and road network for the positive statistics.

But Turner notes that Saint John, in real estate terms, is the city to watch.

The office space vacancy rate for the Port City at the end of 2007 was 6.75 per cent.

John Thompson isn't surprised by Moncton's positive numbers.

"What's not going on here? That's the question," said the CEO of Enterprise Greater Moncton. "Everything is going on here."

He says the call centre and retail sectors are growing. And he notes local manufacturers are surviving, despite the effects of a high Canadian dollar on trade with the United States.

According to Thompson, the city is aided by an economy not centred on one industry.

In fact, no sector represents more than seven per cent of the Moncton economy, he said.

"We don't have any one particular industry dominating our landscape," he said, noting that means economic flexibility. And the Hub City boasts an unemployment rate under five per cent.

Thompson predicts 2008 will bring another record year for commercial and residential building projects.

"People want to move to the region. We've become known as a great place to work and a great place to live," he said.

"The attitude of people in the business community is very positive and people are optimistic about the future. People are coming to greater Moncton to do business"¦ the entrepreneurial spirit is here."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

La course au casino bat son plein
Moncton : The race for the casino in full swing

Mise à jour le mercredi 09 janvier 2008
Par: Ricard, Philippe

MONCTON - Plusieurs entreprises se préparent à répondre à l’appel d’offres lancé par le gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick pour la construction d’un casino dans la province. À Moncton seulement, au moins trois promoteurs proposeront des projets, dont l’un pourrait représenter des investissements de plus de 100 millions $.

Le 8 novembre, le ministre des Finances dévoilait la nouvelle politique sur le jeu et annonçait par le fait même que le Nouveau-Brunswick serait la neuvième province canadienne à accueillir un casino sur son territoire.
D’ici au 11 mars, la Commission des loteries du N.-B. acceptera les demandes de propositions de la part des entreprises intéressées. Et il semble que la bataille pour l’obtention du casino sera féroce, non seulement entre les municipalités qui souhaitent accueillir les nouvelles infrastructures de divertissement, mais surtout entre les divers intérêts privés intéressés par le projet. Uniquement à Moncton, au moins trois projets seront sur la table.

Un de ces projets, appelé "Château Royale", sera proposé par CEI Investment Corporation, une compagnie du Connecticut.

Selon un document dont L’Acadie NOUVELLE a obtenu copie, la destination casino proposée par CEI Investment Corporation sera en fait un complexe touristique qui serait érigé à l’extérieur des limites du centre-ville de Moncton. Deux sites sont actuellement analysés comme des options sérieuses, soit près du club de golf Royal Oaks et non loin de la Côte Magnétique.

Dans les deux cas, les installations déjà existantes, que ce soit le club de golf Royal Oaks, le zoo ou le parc aquatique, sont perçues comme étant des infrastructures touristiques intéressantes. En y ajoutant un complexe touristique, on croit pouvoir mieux satisfaire les critères du gouvernement du N.-B., avance David Hawkins, président de la firme de communications Couleur NB et représentant de CEI Investment Corporation dans la province.

"On ne peut pas penser devenir une destination touristique en construisant un casino au centre-ville. Il faut plus qu’un édifice pour attirer des gens", a-t-il dit, lors d’un entretien avec le journal, hier.

En ce qui a trait au projet comme tel, il sera érigé sur des terrains de 500 acres, selon le document. En plus de construire des aires de jeux pouvant varier de 80 000 à 120 000 pi ca, l’entreprise américaine propose d’inclure un hôtel de 500 chambres, un Centre des arts de 2500 places, un spa et un centre de mieux-être, un parc aquatique intérieur, une patinoire, des restaurants et des commerces.

Une piste de course pourrait aussi être construite, mais il semble que ce soit une composante optionnelle du projet pour le moment.

En bordure du complexe, des sentiers seraient aménagés pour les marcheurs, les cyclistes et le ski de fond, par exemple. Divers forfaits pourraient donc être offerts aux touristes.

Initialement, le projet a été évalué à 300 millions $. Au cours des derniers mois, précise David Hawkins, président de la firme de communications Couleur NB et représentant de CEI Investment Corporation dans la province, les coûts ont été revus à la baisse.

"La valeur de notre proposition pourrait être un peu plus basse que cela. Mais on parle toujours de gros montants", soutient M. Hawkins.

Au moins deux autres compagnies sont également dans le portrait à Moncton. L’entreprise torontoise Verdiroc proposera un projet de casino au centre-ville puisqu’elle possède plusieurs terrains. Nous avons tenté de joindre le PDG de Verdiroc, Kevin Green, mais il ne nous a pas rappelés. Par contre, ce dernier a déjà indiqué publiquement qu’en plus d’un casino, le projet proposé par sa compagnie comprendrait un centre des congrès, un stationnement souterrain, un hôtel et des restaurants.

Selon nos sources, Verdiroc pourrait s’associer à des investisseurs américains dans ce dossier.

Par ailleurs, une autre entreprise, Great Canadian Gaming Corp qui possède plusieurs casinos au Canada (dont celui de Halifax) sera aussi dans la course.

Le vice-président aux communications de la compagnie, Howard Blank, a confirmé au journal qu’une proposition sera soumise à la Commission des loteries, sans vouloir dire quelle ville sera privilégiée.

En bref... Le seul groupe à avoir manifesté publiquement son intention de déposer une proposition pour la ville de Saint-Jean est l’Exhibition Association. Un projet de 20 millions $ comprenant un racino, des patinoires, et un terrain de soccer intérieur a été dévoilé en novembre.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Metro rolls out the welcome mat for Korean newcomers
Officials say they are ready to help 40 South Korean families get established in area, joining those already here

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday January 9th, 2008
Appeared on page A3

Metro Moncton will be ready to welcome as many as 40 South Korean families who plan to come to the community this year, say members of a delegation who went to Seoul and Yeosu, South Korea last month.

While it seems ambitious, they say the 40 families arriving over the next six months or so was actually their more cautious, realistic response to Korean enthusiasm for our region when their delegation visited earlier in the fall.

"When the Koreans were here, their plan was to have 50 to 60 kids here studying in January," Ben Champoux, the City of Moncton's business development specialist, said yesterday.

With a smaller number and a longer time line, School District 2's director of education expressed confidence the local English-language school district would be able to effectively absorb the influx.

"International students are not anything new in District 2," said John White, who was part of the Metro delegation. "On top of the regular international students (who have immigrated here with their families), we have Chinese exchange students each year as well."

White said the district already teaches children from 15-20 countries. The district had about 140 international students in 2006-2007. As well, it has just gotten language classes for adults initiated in partnership with the YMCA.

The adult English language training is intended to support work already being done by MAGMA, the Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area.

Among those being taught in District 2 are a significant number of Koreans already here. The provincial nominee program has resulted in about 40 Korean families settling in Moncton previous to this week's announcement, the biggest level of involvement in the nominee program from any ethnic group. There is even a Korean church in Moncton, led by Pastor Kim Sungdong, that uses space at the Moncton Wesleyan Church each Sunday.

The nominee program only accepts candidates -- either skilled workers or business people -- who have lined up a new business or found employment in the province. Once their nomination is approved they get a nomination certificate, which gives them a big leg up on getting permanent citizenship.

Metro Moncton is not alone in drawing South Korean immigrants. Last year an estimated 200 Koreans moved to Saint John as well.

Champoux believes most of the Koreans coming will establish roots in the area, which is critical to the continuation of the growth of both New Brunswick and its leading metropolitan area.

With employment in the Metro Moncton area in December up almost 5,000 jobs compared to the previous year and with an unemployment rate remaining low at 4.9 per cent, Champoux said the growth can't continue without fresh arrivals.

"By default, the Korean families will come for a school year at least. Realistically, most will say," he said.

Contrary to the typical situation where immigrants from many lands urgently try to get to large centres where members of their ethnic groups have already created support networks, the potential immigrants he spoke with in Korea tended to be far more interested in assimilating into so-called mainstream Canadian culture.

While the small base of those who have come before them will no doubt be welcome, most like Metro Moncton because they don't want to just become part of an isolated "Korea town" in a large city.

Many want to give their children a better quality of life than what is found in their populous, highly competitive homeland, he said.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

:: Aliant Tower through the Fog ::

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=73511&size=300x0

[mylesmalley]

That Chateau Royal project sounds impressive. I wish they'd consider putting it downtown, but it sounds like the kind of thing that would really put us on the map. Hopefully a diagram or map will make it's way to the paper soon.

[ErickMontreal]

That Chateau Royal project sounds impressive. I wish they'd consider putting it downtown, but it sounds like the kind of thing that would really put us on the map. Hopefully a diagram or map will make it's way to the paper soon.

You`re right. The project seem to be huge, just the hotel with more and less 500 rooms could easly become NB largest hotel. The only question remain is what could be the impact of that project on the downtown core ?

[mmmatt]

Welcome back HalifaxMtl! Hope your holidays were great :)

Im really impressed with the Korean intrest in Moncton, we should have a full time task force going to different places in the world gathering up potential immigrants! It seems to work well...

Good to hear occupied space is up...means that new companies are actually taking up most of the new space being created. Personally I expected the vacancy rate to be up higher due to the quickly increasing ammount of space.

I really hope if a casino is built in Moncton it is an urban minded casino, hopefully with a nice mid rise hotel attached.

Nice picture too! :)

[mmmatt]

You`re right. The project seem to be huge, just the hotel with more and less 500 rooms could easly become NB largest hotel. The only question remain is what could be the impact of that project on the downtown core ?

well considering that the Delta downtown (currently the largest hotel in NB by number of rooms) is about 350 rooms and its 10 stories...a 500 room hotel could easily be 12-15+ stories depending on the size of the footprint...I would say it would be huge for downtown.

[ErickMontreal]

Welcome back HalifaxMtl! Hope your holidays were great :)

Yeah that was awesome, thanks you, I hope it was the same for you Stu :tup:

[mylesmalley]

well considering that the Delta downtown (currently the largest hotel in NB by number of rooms) is about 350 rooms and its 10 stories...a 500 room hotel could easily be 12-15+ stories depending on the size of the footprint...I would say it would be huge for downtown.

Music to my ears.

[ErickMontreal]

well considering that the Delta downtown (currently the largest hotel in NB by number of rooms) is about 350 rooms and its 10 stories...a 500 room hotel could easily be 12-15+ stories depending on the size of the footprint...I would say it would be huge for downtown.

I seriously doubt that company will built it up downtown, the resort/Casino is planning to be either in Magnetic Hill area or Royal Oak. Up to now, the only company that looking for downtown is Verdiroc. Their plan include a convention center, Hotel and resto as well. This was the reason why I still have couple of questions about the impact of the Chateau Moncton on the downtown core.

However, I dont see how Chateau Moncton project could be rejeted, it seem to be quite outstanding.

[mylesmalley]

Much as the Chateau Royal project intrigues me, I'm not ready to give up on Verdiroc yet. I think, with the plot of land they've got, and the size of the project they've been proposing, we could see something quite impressive built downtown. And who knows. Maybe some other group might come forward with an even better plan. Dick Carpenter was quoted in the paper saying he'd like to see something built in the parking lot of Highfield Square, next to the train tracks. That's a good piece of land, and very close to major hotel and transportation (train and bus).

Personally, I'd like to see it either behind the new Marriott on Assumption, or further down, on the parking lot of Assumption Place by Blue Cross. Downtown is too one-dimensional. We need some depth to make it seem more like the the downtown that we should have.

[mmmatt]

Much as the Chateau Royal project intrigues me, I'm not ready to give up on Verdiroc yet. I think, with the plot of land they've got, and the size of the project they've been proposing, we could see something quite impressive built downtown. And who knows. Maybe some other group might come forward with an even better plan. Dick Carpenter was quoted in the paper saying he'd like to see something built in the parking lot of Highfield Square, next to the train tracks. That's a good piece of land, and very close to major hotel and transportation (train and bus).

Personally, I'd like to see it either behind the new Marriott on Assumption, or further down, on the parking lot of Assumption Place by Blue Cross. Downtown is too one-dimensional. We need some depth to make it seem more like the the downtown that we should have.

very well said myles, I agree completely. The parking lot of blue cross/assumption is most likely the ideal spot. It would add a ton of new depth to downtown.

[ErickMontreal]

Much as the Chateau Royal project intrigues me, I'm not ready to give up on Verdiroc yet. I think, with the plot of land they've got, and the size of the project they've been proposing, we could see something quite impressive built downtown. And who knows. Maybe some other group might come forward with an even better plan. Dick Carpenter was quoted in the paper saying he'd like to see something built in the parking lot of Highfield Square, next to the train tracks. That's a good piece of land, and very close to major hotel and transportation (train and bus).

Personally, I'd like to see it either behind the new Marriott on Assumption, or further down, on the parking lot of Assumption Place by Blue Cross. Downtown is too one-dimensional. We need some depth to make it seem more like the the downtown that we should have.

I agree completely too.

There are other interesting articles in Acadie Nouvelle paper version one of these pointing out Dieppe could get a similar proposal in coming days/weeks. Moreover, a UNB analyst clearly said SJ still in the race for one huge reason : the political aspect. There are five ministers coming from SJ, only one in Metro area . The article also said city council does not want to fix itself in a precise direction while Downtown Moncton Inc fighting hard to get it in the core. One of these also pointing out the majority of Casinos in North America are in Downtown core.

[mmmatt]

I agree completely too.

There are other interesting articles in Acadie Nouvelle paper version one of these pointing out Dieppe could get a similar proposal in coming days/weeks. Moreover, a UNB analyst clearly said SJ still in the race for one huge reason : the political aspect. There are five ministers coming from SJ, only one in Metro area . The article also said city council does not want to fix itself in a precise direction while Downtown Moncton Inc fighting hard to get it in the core. One of these also pointing out the majority of Casinos in North America are in Downtown core.

SJ better not get it based on that, because that would be foolish. If they have a better case for a casino and a better proposal on the table then they deserve it, likewise for Moncton. Facts and figures should be used as judgement, not personal opinions.

[ErickMontreal]

SJ better not get it based on that, because that would be foolish. If they have a better case for a casino and a better proposal on the table then they deserve it, likewise for Moncton. Facts and figures should be used as judgement, not personal opinions.

You`re absolutely right, the analyst also said SJ could get it based on the fact the city away is from Halifax/PEI Casino and nearby St Andrews Resort as well.

So, the guy did not really take a clear position though.

[mmmatt]

You`re absolutely right, the analyst also said SJ could get it based on the fact the city away is from Halifax/PEI Casino and nearby St Andrews Resort as well.

So, the guy did not really take a clear position though.

Thats what I keep hearing everyone say in regards to SJ getting a casino, but the support for a casino seems greater (in my opinion) in Moncton...

- we have already done a feasibility study for one which basically says it would be stupid NOT to build one in the city

- we have a booming tourism industry, theme parks, nearby beaches, lots of festivals, retail mecca, large concerts, close to lots of top NB attractions (the rocks, fundy, kouchibouguac) etc.

- geograpic center of maritimes, able to draw from all directions

- well set up transportation wise, largest airport in the province by a longshot, on via rail line, trans canada highway.

- two maybe three good proposals, from canada and the US.

- strong municipal support.

- lots of space for it downtown or otherwise.

- the largest VLT manufacturing company and the largest slot machine manufacturing companies in Canada both based in Moncton. (not really a reason, but a nice bonus haha)

Thats how I see it anyways, but maybe I am too Moncton biased to see that SJ has something more up thier sleve? Who knows, I guess we will have to wait til march to see what happens...either way a casino in NB is long overdue.

[mylesmalley]

Ahhh, but political will is a strong force, young STU...

But I would be pretty damn peeved if SJ got a casino for a petty reason like that.

I guarantee this is what will happen. Moncton will be awarded the casino. Right afterwards, the province will cave and let Saint John have it's racino. That's just the way this province works. Moncton gets something, (medical school), SJ whines about it and gets one too. Cath lab... Anyway, i'm sure you could put a long list together. Moncton's just the same too. They get something, we want it. As I said, that's just the way it works here.

Political decisions are all too often made based on short term goals or to save face, rather than on sound empirical evidence or at least a logical reason. This is equally true at every level of government.

[ErickMontreal]

Ahhh, but political will is a strong force, young STU...

But I would be pretty damn peeved if SJ got a casino for a petty reason like that.

I guarantee this is what will happen. Moncton will be awarded the casino. Right afterwards, the province will cave and let Saint John have it's racino. That's just the way this province works. Moncton gets something, (medical school), SJ whines about it and gets one too. Cath lab... Anyway, i'm sure you could put a long list together. Moncton's just the same too. They get something, we want it. As I said, that's just the way it works here.

Political decisions are all too often made based on short term goals or to save face, rather than on sound empirical evidence or at least a logical reason. This is equally true at every level of government.

Thats so true, political influences are everywhere inside and outiside politics as well. In that matter, the only way that kind of politic influences could end up is that developers don`t propose something suitable in SJ. No offence, but up to now, I don`t see how the government could reject a 150 (+) million project for a 20-million horsetrack.

[ErickMontreal]

I guarantee this is what will happen. Moncton will be awarded the casino. Right afterwards, the province will cave and let Saint John have it's racino.

Well, We should bet on that although I`m sure you`re right :haha:

[ErickMontreal]

:: In brief ::

Jone Lake Place Rejuvenation

Jones Lake Place is a two storey, Class B office building of 60,000 sq. ft located on Moncton’s Main Street.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/2181421947_dfb1416753_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2182219794_6b463e1c49_m.jpg
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

:: City Hall Report ::

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY TOPS $130M FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
More than 1,100 building permits issued again in 2007

MONCTON – The City of Moncton’s building reports demonstrate another outstanding year for the hub city. In December, the City of Moncton issued 44 building permits worth $2,887,395, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,176 permits for a value of $131,510,790. The total value of construction activity exceeded the $130M-mark for the fourth consecutive year, while the number of building permits issued exceed 1,100 for the sixth consecutive year.

“This is significant when considering that the City issued between $50 and $60 million worth of building permits per year throughout most of the ‘90s," commented Ben Champoux, Business Development Specialist for the City of Moncton. "Residential, commercial and industrial sectors all performed really well in 2007, clearly indicating a diversified economy and strong consumer confidence," continued Champoux. Expect 2008 to be another banner year. “All indicators lead us to believe that builders and developers will remain very busy in 2008. In early December, employment in Greater Moncton was at 71,400, up 4,700 when compared to the previous year, while the unemployment rate remained low at 4.9%. As a result, many people will come from outside the region to fill these new jobs, fuelling housing demand and residential construction.” Construction in the institutional, government, commercial and industrial sectors will also remain strong in 2008.

“A new provincial court house, fire station, stadium on the Université de Moncton campus, as well as the expansion of our strategic areas such as our Downtown, industrial parks, the Power Centre (Trinity Drive), and the Vision Land between Mapleton Road and Morton Avenue are noteworthy,” concluded Champoux. Seven hundred and seventy-seven residential building permits, valued at $60.9 million, were issued last in 2007, a near record high. Three hundred and fifty-one commercial and industrial building permits were issued this past year, valued at $58 million. Forty-nine institutional and government building permits were issued, valued at $12.7 million.

Total 2007 building permit values for the Metro Moncton : $ 238 million.

[mmmatt]

:: In brief ::

Jone Lake Place Rejuvenation

Jones Lake Place is a two storey, Class B office building of 60,000 sq. ft located on Moncton’s Main Street.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/2181421947_dfb1416753_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2182219794_6b463e1c49_m.jpg

Wow! Thats awesome! That place has been kinda dumpy looking for a while, I was actually wondering recently if they were going to put some money into it. Thats great :D

By the way...where did you find those pics?

[mylesmalley]

[FONT="Arial"][B][SIZE="3"]

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=52426&size=700x0
[SIZE="1"]

THAT, my friends, is where a casino should go.

[ErickMontreal]

Wow! Thats awesome! That place has been kinda dumpy looking for a while, I was actually wondering recently if they were going to put some money into it. Thats great :D

By the way...where did you find those pics?

This was really well-needed :tup:

I find it out on this website : Commercial-Properties.ca

[ErickMontreal]

THAT, my friends, is where a casino should go.

Like you said, thats the right place ! I wonder whether Assumption having talks with Verdiroc about it.

In a brave new world, in 2011, a casino, a convention center, a courthouse, a parking garage, a hotel, apartment/condo tower and maybe a new Assumption Tower as well should fill up Rogers and Assumption mega-parking lots.

[mylesmalley]

I hate this quiet period around December and January. Nothing good ever gets announced.

[ErickMontreal]

I hate this quiet period around December and January. Nothing good ever gets announced.

Indeed... its not the best period.


http://cache.marriott.com/propertyimages/brandgeneric/ri/ri_logo_186x94.gif
The new Moncton Marriott has been added to the Marriott Website, we could learn more about the hotel highlights.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yqmri-residence-inn-moncton/

[mmmatt]

I hate this quiet period around December and January. Nothing good ever gets announced.

Yeah winter in the maritimes is junky for construction...the only good thing is we get to hear numbers from the previous year all tallied up i.e. building permit values, airport passenger numbers (which I am hoping come out soon)...and all those goodies.

[ErickMontreal]

Yeah winter in the maritimes is junky for construction...the only good thing is we get to hear numbers from the previous year all tallied up i.e. building permit values, airport passenger numbers (which I am hoping come out soon)...and all those goodies.

I looking forward to see airport passenger numbers too.


Interprovincial Migration in Atlantic

Moncton
Rest of province: 12.4%
Other provinces: 6.0%
Outside Canada: 1.2%

Halifax
Rest of province: 3.8%
Other provinces: 7.5%
Outside Canada: 2.3%

St. John's, N.L.
Rest of province: 9.9%
Other provinces: 5.8%
Outside Canada: 1.3%

Interprovincial Migration in ROC

Montreal
Rest of province: 13.5%
Other provinces: 1.1%
Outside Canada: 4.8%

Ottawa
Rest of province: 6.7%
Other provinces: 4.5%
Outside Canada: 3.8%

Toronto
Rest of province: 11.2%
Other provinces: 1.3%
Outside Canada: 8.6%

Winnipeg
Rest of province: 4.5%
Other provinces: 3.5%
Outside Canada: 4.2%

Saskatoon
Rest of province: 10.4%
Other provinces: 4.8%
Outside Canada: 2.4%

Edmonton
Rest of province: 10.0%
Other provinces: 6.3%
Outside Canada: 3.7%

Calgary
Rest of province: 5.7%
Other provinces: 8.0%
Outside Canada: 6.3%

Vancouver
Rest of province: 12.0%
Other provinces: 3.0%
Outside Canada: 8.3%

Coming from : Halifax interprovincial migration (Wishblade)
Source : Stats Canada

[ErickMontreal]

Labour Market Review: September/October 2007
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Call Centre

Moncton - The AOL Canada contact centre in Moncton will lose half its workforce by the end of November. The 140 employees will receive a severance package, including assistance in finding new jobs. The company is shifting its business focus and will no longer serve America Online customers in the United States.

Education

Moncton - L'Université de Moncton has been awarded a seventh research chair as part of the Canada Research Chairs Program, this one to research intergroup relations. The chair will receive $100,000 a year for five years from the program along with a $55,073 grant from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation.

Moncton - A Statistics Canada Research Data Centre was officially opened at the Université de Moncton's Champlain Library recently. The centre provides easy access to Statistics Canada information and findings. To get access to the data, researchers must have approval of their project proposal from a committee under the auspices of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Statistics Canada.

Government

Dieppe - A $407,800 construction contract has been awarded to begin phase one of a new multi-purpose trade shop at CCNB Dieppe. Simmchen Construction Ltd. of Grand Digue has won the contract for foundations and structural steel work at CCNB Dieppe. Phase one work is expected to begin at the end of October 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-January 2008. The 937 sq. m. (10,000 sq. ft.) addition to the campus consists of two new classrooms and two new adjacent shop areas for training in the carpentry and masonry trades. Phase two work will involve completing the exterior and interior of the expanded facility. Occupancy is planned for September 2008.

Community

Moncton - According to a report released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) entitled Canadian Housing Observer 2007, Moncton was one of two cities - the other being Sherbrooke, Que. - outside of Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia to have the fastest growing population. Between 2001 and 2006, the population of Metro Moncton jumped more than five per cent. That growth is being reflected in more new dwellings and home sales, say analysts with CMHC.

Business Openings

Moncton - Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy opened last July at 120 Shediac Road.

Bouctouche - A new medical clinic has opened in the Bouctouche Center for Health, offering naturopathic medicine care.

Moncton - Senior Companion is a new business in town that provides services for the aging population. Services include driving clients to appointments or special outings, running errands or simply being a companion. Senior Companion currently has three bilingual staff members.

Moncton - Peekaboos Playhouse and Cereal Café is now opened downtown. With a staff of 11, the centre offers several distinct play areas for kids aged 3 to 9 plus a full service café where parents and anyone else can take a break. The operation also includes a retail component selling Haba products, high quality German wooden toys.

Riverview - Cobb's Funeral Home & Cremation Centre is set to open soon at 330 Whitepine Road. It will employ a few part-time employees.

Moncton - A Naturally Fit store has opened at 839 Main Street.

Moncton - Boutik Electrik has moved into Highfield Square. This shop, which specializes in small electrical appliance sales, repairs and sharpening, was formerly located in Champlain Place. Stile store has opened in the former Boutik Electrik space.

Labour Force Tables

Southeast and Moncton

The labour market improved in October 2007 in Southeast New Brunswick. Employment went up. The unemployment rate decreased because there were fewer unemployed people.

Compared to October 2006, the Moncton labour market improved also in October 2007. Employment rose and the employment rate was up. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell at 4.5 %.

[mmmatt]

Well we are doing really well for people moving here from NB and other provinces!...but international is bad, geting better, but still bad.

thanks for the info!

[mmmatt]

Lighting up the street

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=74414&size=300x0

Published Friday January 11th, 2008
Appeared on page a3

A City of Moncton worker reinstalls a light globe on a pole along Main Street yesterday morning.

[ErickMontreal]

Aliant Tower :: In the fog + Dans la Brume
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1160090_aliant_tower.jpg

By Brian Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/2008/01/tour-aliant-tower.html

[mylesmalley]

Aliant Tower :: In the fog + Dans la Brume
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1160090_aliant_tower.jpg

By Brian Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/2008/01/tour-aliant-tower.html

Well geez...that isn't spooky at all...

[ErickMontreal]

Korean immigrant says newcomers need more support
New business owner says obstacles must be overcome if Metro wants to retain the close to 100 Korean families expected by this summer

TOOL HELP
BY BRENT MAZEROLLE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Saturday January 12th, 2008
Appeared on page a1

Last year at this time, Rae Ho Park was a civil engineer with Samsung, working on the project to build the Burj Tower, the world’s tallest building currently under construction in Dubai.

Now he’s about to do something really complicated: own and run a corner store in Moncton’s East End.

It’s complicated because Park speaks somewhat rudimentary English, has never owned a business, has spent six months just finding something suitable to own, has had to pay for things up front because his good credit record in South Korea means nothing in Canada and has had to rely on the kindness of strangers like Beth Locke and Dave Cormier.

Locke and Cormier aren’t really strangers any more, though. As real estate agents, they have serendipitously become involved in the trials and tribulations of the roughly 60 Korean families who call Metro Moncton home.

So far, they’ve helped seven of the families buy homes here, which is their business, but along the way they’ve volunteered much more time to helping many of the families get acclimatized, an ad hoc service they think the community should be providing in a more structured way than they can provide.

A delegation from the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and School District 2 went to South Korea before Christmas and brought news of about 40 more families coming to Metro Moncton this year. Officials emphasized the main purpose of the families coming is so their children can have the opportunity of some Canadian, English-language education.

They were optimistic, however, that a good number of these 40 new families will stay on.

However, Locke, Cormier and Park all expressed doubts this week that more than a handful of what will soon be 100 local families will stay permanently. So far, they say, only 5-10 have started businesses and another five to 10 have found jobs, mostly low paying ones.

“All of those who have come have money,” Locke said. “They’re bankers, teachers, professionals.

But they’re spending their savings to stay here. They won’t stay.”

As non-citizens, they have to come up with 35 per cent downpayments, minimum, to buy homes.

Rae couldn’t get a monthly payment plan on the van he bought because his credit is not recognized by Canadian banks, so he had to pay it all up front.

“You don’t have credit. You are nothing.” Park said.

Similarly, though Park needed only a small loan to buy his business, Locke said helping him get it was a nightmare. Park said he only found his business through Locke’s and Cormier’s real estate connections, even though they are residential realtors.

Park said he wouldn’t discourage his fellow South Koreans from attempting to emigrate to Metro Moncton. But he says if the community wants to continue attracting and retaining this highly desirable immigrant group, it will take more effort to smooth the transition.

Metro Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton, and the Province of New Brunswick are all making serious efforts at the first part of the equation, but it seems there are problems with the follow-up.

Park came here through the provincial nominee program, but he said there had been no support from the program after he arrived.

The nominee program is administered through the province’s Population Growth Secretariat. It only accepts candidates — either skilled workers or entrepreneurs with money to invest in a new business or who have found employment in the province.

Once their nomination is approved by the province, they get a nomination certificate, which gives them a big leg up on the federal level for getting permanent citizenship.

While the nominee program, which has a main function to merely make the links between New Brunswick and interested immigrants, has been around since 1999, the Population Growth Secretariat has only existed for eight months.

Spokesman Brendan Langille said the secretariat will do more to provide settlement support once immigrants land in New Brunswick, and will unveil a thorough strategy soon. “This is something we’ve recognized (as a concern). We’ve acted on it and we will continue to act.”

As well, the Graham government has doubled the secretariat’s budget. “Settlement is a big part of that,” Langille said.

It is of course nothing new to see immigrants struggle to build a new life in Canada, but all through the nation’s history, it has tended to offer a much better way of life than the countries immigrants were leaving. Though there is pollution and overcrowding and social pressures on youth in Korea that the immigrant parents are anxious to leave, they are not fleeing a grave situation back home, as is often the case. The temptation to return to extended families and their homeland and the financial means to do so are all greater than they might be for many other immigrant groups.

The other difference is we have been actively recruiting these Korean families as part of Metro’s goal of offsetting serious demographic problems looming in Metro’s future — an aging workforce, an aging population and tight labour market.

City of Moncton business development specialist Ben Champoux conceded yesterday there are problems to be solved as the community- at-large begins to embrace this change from much of the region’s economic history. Pointing to money the three municipalities have recently committed so the volunteer Greater Moncton Immigration Board can hire staff to support immigration, Champoux said there was no regret about pushing ahead to bring more families here.

Emphasizing the recent trade mission was primarily about education at any rate, he said, “sometimes you sort of have to make things happen before you can see what has to be done next.”

“Moncton city hall, they have a lot of presentation,” Rae Ho Park said. “We hope they help us. We want to live in Canada, but very expensive.”

[ErickMontreal]

:: 7H46 ::
http://www.branchdesign.com/monctonpixels/P1160177_7h45.jpg

By Brian Branch :: http://monctonpixels.blogspot.com/

[ErickMontreal]

I wonder whether the new Marriott will be higher than Chateau Moncton ?

[mylesmalley]

Hard to say.

[ErickMontreal]

The Fairweather and the local store just off of it will close as well. Actually I don`t know whether the company has a plan for another location though. (Mapleton)

I suspect a take over of that space by a high-end store.

[ErickMontreal]

Realisticly the stores that the city could be able to attract in coming years :

Echo Shoes
Globo Shoes
Tristan/America
Esprit
Jacob
1850 Levis
La vie en Rose
Club Monaco
Talbots
Laura
Please Mum

Best Buy
JYSK
Linen n things
Home Outfitter

Jacks Astors
Baton rouge

[ErickMontreal]

Dieppe ends 2007 with values of over $83 million

DIEPPE – The continued economic and demographic growth of the City of Dieppe was visible in 2007 with building permits worth $83.8 million, including the Aquatic Center, according to statistics released by the city’s Building Inspection Department. The total for the year is 658 permits and 618 residential units.

Dieppe recorded its second best month of December of its history with 19 permits for values of $2.6 million. The city completed the year with $73,815,755.43 plus an added $10 million for the Aquatic Center. The multifamily unit sector dominated with permits valued at close to $2 million and 34 units. The best month of December was in 2004 with $3 million.

The total for 2007 is $83 million. The residential sector was busy with 618 permits worth $50 million. There were 256 multiple dwelling, 186 single family, 158 institutional, and 12 modular home units built. The commercial sector had a good year with permits valued at over $12.6 million. The industrial was next with $6.6 million followed by institutional at $4.5 million.

‘The year 2007 was in fact really busy’, said Mayor Achille Maillet. ‘We had a record year in various sectors. I am happy to report the vast majority of these projects were developed by Dieppe citizens who believe in our municipality and its future. Our tax base increased by 10.47% during the last year and I know our development will definitely continue for the benefit of our residents.’


Dieppe gots Downtown Webcams.

http://www.dieppe.ca/

[ErickMontreal]

dp

[ErickMontreal]

Uptown Dieppe Haute-Ville
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.hautevilledieppe.ca/media_uploads/jpg/78.jpg

Located in southeast New Brunswick, the City of Dieppe has experienced unprecedented economic growth in recent years. With its 20 000 residents, Dieppe is the largest Acadian city, and is right in the centre of a region with more than 125 000 inhabitants. And Uptown Dieppe Lifestyle Centre is taking shape in the very heart of this dynamic city. Soon, Dieppe’s main street will run through Uptown, keeping pace with its unique dynamism.

Together with the neighbouring municipalities of Moncton and Riverview, it stands at the centre of the largest retail market in Atlantic Canada. Retail sales are, on average, 8% above the national average. Due to its central location, Southeast New Brunswick is often referred to as the 'Hub of Atlantic Canada' making it an attractive transportation, distribution and warehousing centre. The region has been repeatedly rated by the Globe and Mail's "Report on Business" magazine as "one of Canada's top five cities in which to live and to do business".

Uptown Dieppe’s Lifestyle Centre will be a lively and dynamic eco-community that reflects the remarkable momentum of the City of Dieppe itself. If you’re considering the move, we can offer quality of life tailored to your needs.

You can choose from among four different styles of living accommodation; a one-storey or two-storey condominium or a one-storey or two-storey apartment. There will be a total of 126 condominiums and 122 apartments, all of them luxurious. There are lots of possibilities for condo layout given that we have ten different design configurations. With the many options, and something to fit every style and taste, the hardest part will be deciding what you want. In addition, a whole range of services, including restaurants and cafés, an economuseum, a fitness centre and an aquatic centre will make every day feel like a holiday for residents and visitors. And everything is close at hand.

The Dieppe Coop as well as Nubody`s fitness are completed and opened for business.


The following details cover gross leasable area (GLA) for the Uptown project:

Gross leasable area (GLA) : 479 489 square feet
Commercial sector : 234 533 square feet (79 spaces)
Residential sector : 238 956 square feet - 126 units for condos (127 115 sq. Ft) and 122 apartments (111 841 sq. ft)
Parking : 1010
Number of acres : 22 (excluding the ponds, the Dieppe Aquatic and Sports Centre and the section located east of Dieppe Boulevard)

Website : http://uptowndieppe.ca/english/index/map.cfm


Phase 1 - Under Construction
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Commercial A :: Residential A

Property Type : Commercial
Number of levels : Main Level
Available Parking : 58
Dimensions : 15,608 square feet / 1450 square meters
Property Type : Condo
Number of levels : 2
Available Parking : 39
Bedrooms : 2
Dimensions : 36,662 square feet / 3406 square meters

http://www.hautevilledieppe.ca/media_uploads/jpg/thumbnails/2.jpg
Residential A :: Commercial A

Commercial B :: Residential B

Property Type : Commercial
Number of levels : Main Level
Available Parking : 37
Dimensions : 25,198 square feet / 2341 square meters
Property Type : Condo
Number of levels : 3
Available Parking : 99
Bedrooms: 2
Dimensions
75,207 square feet / 6987 square meters

http://www.hautevilledieppe.ca/media_uploads/jpg/thumbnails/20.jpg
Residential B :: Commercial B


Commercial E :: Residential E

Property Type Commercial
Number of levels : Main Level
Available Parking : 28
Dimensions : 16,200 square feet / 1505 square meters
Property Type : Condo
Number of levels : 2
Available Parking : 24
Bedrooms : 2
Dimensions : 19,687 square feet / 1829 square meters

http://www.hautevilledieppe.ca/media_uploads/jpg/thumbnails/27.jpg
Residential E :: Commercial E


Aquatic Center
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

http://www.hautevilledieppe.ca/media_uploads/jpg/85.jpg

The Pool Facility is a 2875 m2 (approximately 30,935 square feet) facility housing three pools, change rooms, cafe, sauna, meeting areas, and administrative support. The three pools are a 6 lane 25 meter pool, a 2 lane 20.4 meter training pool, and a family pool complete with a pirate boat, slides, and a water mushroom. Phase 2 will be the Sports Facility (Gymnasium) will occur sometime in the future. Construction will start October 2007 with an anticipated completion date of January 2009

http://www.ellisdon.com/_lib/img/prj/3088803.1.l.jpg
Aquatic Center Rendering

[JasonL-Moncton]

Dieppe gots Downtown Webcams.[/FONT]

http://www.dieppe.ca/

REALLY!? Crap...I've been wanting Moncton to do this for years...it's great advertising for the city.

I'm writing my city councilor about this...we should have one on top of city hall pointing down at the intersection...or maybe on top of Studio 700 looking down mainstreet.

Jason

[ErickMontreal]

Metro grows into top sports-event hotspot
City's volunteers, facilities hailed as ideal for hosting high-profile amateur

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=75321&size=300x0
With tournaments like the Junior Atlantic Badminton Open at the Moncton Coliseum/Agrena over the weekend, one organizers believe to be the biggest under one roof ever held in Canada, Moncton is fast becoming a sports mecca

By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Monday January 14th, 2008
Appeared on page A4

From volleyball to basketball, curling to squash, hockey, badminton and everything in between, 2007 was another successful year for amateur sports in Metro Moncton.

Experiencing phenomenal growth as a mecca for amateur sports events and tournaments, Moncton has continued to cement itself as the sports hub of the Maritimes and Eastern Canada.

"I don't think there's any question you're seeing a huge growth," said Moncton's general manager of recreation, parks, tourism and culture Ian Fowler. "You're seeing a broader variety of the types of events that are taking place, and an increase in the numbers as well."

Fowler says the reason for the marked increase in amateur sport is twofold "" an enhancement and financial commitment to municipal facilities and the work of the city and the countless volunteers to promote and run top of the line events.

"The volunteer commitment of people in Moncton is second to none," Fowler said. "These people year after year step up to the plate and they bring some new blood along to learn the ropes. It's the volunteer committee of individuals in the community plus the support of our business community that makes these events a reality."

One person who knows the importance of volunteer work is Liam McGuigan, president of Squash New Brunswick. McGuigan was also the tournament chairman for this past weekend's 2008 TEPCO Canadian Woman's Team Squash Championships that saw teams from all over Canada come to the Moncton Squash Club to compete.

He says he has seen volunteerism increase "10-fold" in recent years, and success of local tournaments now depends on it.

"We had probably 20 volunteers from the club doing everything from bringing in food, setting up, driving people back and forth, all sorts of stuff," McGuigan said.

"Being able to have all these types of tournaments in Moncton really adds to the quality of life. It brings exposure to Moncton itself."

Exposing Moncton to a broader audience in the sporting world is a goal Fowler and other city staff have been working towards for a number of years.

"Sport tourism in our way of thinking is probably one of the key cornerstones for Moncton's overall tourism strategy," Fowler said. "But then you go out and you put your oar in the water for the nationals and the international events "" it's all destination driven and it's all part of the package of marketing Moncton as a whole."

Not only do Moncton's facilities and tireless efforts from volunteer allow it to hold events that compare to anything in the Maritimes, the Hub City also holds many top-notch amateur sporting events that rival anything in the country.

"It's definitely the first time ever in the history of Canada that there's been 20 courts put under one roof," said Moncton Badminton Club president Daryl Beers, of this weekends Junior Atlantic Open that saw 200 badminton players from around the Maritimes come to the Coliseum to compete for a championship.

Beers credits the amateur sports explosion to the work of the city for supporting local events and encouraging youth to get involved.

"Everybody benefits from sports in the area "" the kids benefit because they get good memories and they get exercise. The city benefits as it brings in revenue, and the parents get to watch their kids having a great time. The spin-off is wonderful," Beers said.

And while people flock to Metro for the dozens of tournaments and events held yearly, they often get much more than a top-notch sporting experience.

"People like Moncton, they like coming to Moncton for the social aspect. They come down here and have a few drinks and enjoy the hospitality," said Hub City Curling Championship organizer Scott Jones after the success of the first year event which was held at the Beaver Curling Club in November.

Whatever factors make Metro Moncton's amateur sports scene so prosperous, leaving the area satisfied was certainly the norm in 2007.

"I haven't heard of any groups or any events leaving Moncton that haven't been happy with the organization effort, the facilities, or the hospitality that has been provided to them," Fowler said. "And that's why we're able to continue to grow, everybody does their bit."

While Metro Moncton has seen many successes and continued growth in the amateur sporting world, there is still work to be done.

"What we can't do is become complacent with what we've achieved - We've got to continue to be aggressive out in the marketplace with wanting to pursue events, we've got to work with our sports bodies within the communities to maintain and continually motivate and enhance the volunteer experiences that are happening and we can't stop building infrastructure," Fowler said.

"Every other city is trying to build infrastructure to catch us "" we're ahead of the pack, we've got to stay ahead of the pack."


Dieppe to discuss insurance, rezoning

Published Monday January 14th, 2008
Appeared on page A4

A comparatively light agenda will greet Dieppe city council when their regular session begins this evening at 6 p.m.

Councillors will debate liability insurance for Dieppe's vehicles, buildings, city directors and elected officials, discuss a rezoning application for a parcel of land on Melanson Road as well as improvements for Paul Street, beginning with the stretch in the area of Sunset Street.

Residents of Dieppe are invited to attend the meeting. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

[ErickMontreal]

REALLY!? Crap...I've been wanting Moncton to do this for years...it's great advertising for the city.

I'm writing my city councilor about this...we should have one on top of city hall pointing down at the intersection...or maybe on top of Studio 700 looking down mainstreet.

Jason

I`m with you on that. There was a webcam on top of Crowne Plaze two years ago, so the webcam has been turned off while the hotel refurbishment work.

[JasonL-Moncton]

I`m with you on that. There was a webcam on top of Crowne Plaze two years ago, so the webcam has been turned off while the hotel refurbishment work.


There was...really wow....hope they turn it back on.

I tried to get the Dieppe one to open but I think my work security is blocking it.

[mmmatt]

Dieppe is on a roll, 83 million in permits?! thats crazy, Moncton has 130 mil and we are over 3 times the population! Dieppe probably has the most value of building permits per capita of any city in atlantic canada

Dieppe--------(83 Million / 19,000 ppl)-------4150$ per person
Fredericton---(100 Million / 50,000 ppl)------2000$ per person
Moncton-------(130 Million / 68,000 ppl)-----1911$ per person
Riverview-----(27 Million / 18,000 ppl)-------1500$ per person

I dont know any others off the top of my head, but that is a clear lead going off what I know haha :)

[mmmatt]

I wonder whether the new Marriott will be higher than Chateau Moncton ?

I would say Chateau is probably taller because of its big peak in the front, but its hard to say...we need to get one of those laser measuring things haha.

[ErickMontreal]

Dieppe is on a roll, 83 million in permits?! thats crazy, Moncton has 130 mil and we are over 3 times the population! Dieppe probably has the most per capita of any city in atlantic canada

Dieppe--------(83 Million / 19,000 ppl)-------4150$ per person
Fredericton---(100 Million / 50,000 ppl)------2000$ per person
Moncton-------(130 Million / 68,000 ppl)-----1911$ per person
Riverview-----(27 Million / 18,000 ppl)-------1500$ per person

I dont know any others off the top of my head, but that is a clear lead going off what I know haha :)

Thank you for that numbers ! Dieppe really is on fire, Uptown Dieppe as well as the other multi-million project annonced couple mouths ago for a land somewhere along Champlain St will help to keep that momentum for coming years.

[mylesmalley]

Wow. it's good to see things in numbers.

I don't care how low density uptown dieppe will probably be. I really like the look of what they've got under construction and in the plans.

Also, great pic up there, Erick!

[ErickMontreal]

Wow. it's good to see things in numbers.

I don't care how low density uptown dieppe will probably be. I really like the look of what they've got under construction and in the plans.

Also, great pic up there, Erick!

Oh yeah, I dont care too, that project actually is one of the best in the Metro history. It provides a such modern urban atmosphere with a perfect mix of condos, apartments, retail, restaurants and servives as well. Moreover, I really think the design is a success and this is somthing new, something that we didn’t come across before in Moncton. I hope it will lead a new trend of planning and design in metro.


This is my favorite project in town.

[mylesmalley]

So, I spent far too much time on Google Earth last month...

Anyway, I've highlighted as many major projects in the city as I could remember. The big ones are coloured in. As well, any U/C, planned, or very new streets in the area have been highlighted in yellow. All the maps are, obviously, thanks to Google Earth et. all. There are without a doubt, a lot of mistakes, but I think I did a reasonable job showing the amount of growth the city has been and will be experiencing over the next few years.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2300/2194290864_d14f57e0b7_o.jpg
This shows the approx. area of the Uptown Dieppe project. Top-right is the airport.

[mylesmalley]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2178/2194289274_9e53b20179.jpg?v=0
West Riverview. I doubt many of these streets will be built for a long time. Looks like developers just cut out the trees ahead of time.

[mylesmalley]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2194289614_da61007180.jpg?v=0
The new Gunningsville Blvd.