Putting an Aquarium in Shannon Park

[MonctonRad]

There's something definitely fishy about this aquarium project (pun most definitely intended).

[QUADONE]

Originally Posted by CorbeauNoir

Am I the only one who's starting to feel like this is a Dragon's Den pitch or something...?

Listen. Look at this information and you can think as you wish. If the people of
the Halifax/Dartmouth areas does not want it built within their location there is
is always the other three provinces.

The Federal funding:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/hsp-pih/default....n&n=59BF488F-1

[CorbeauNoir]

Originally Posted by QUADONE

Listen. Look at this information and you can think as you wish. If the people of
the Halifax/Dartmouth areas does not want it built within their location there is
is always the other three provinces.

The Federal funding:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/hsp-pih/default....n&n=59BF488F-1

Um, yes. This is the same site I looked up and clearly referenced earlier stipulating a NATIONAL TOTAL (that's for all projects of this type for the entire country) of 10m of funding a year. You're telling me you're expecting to receive nine times that national total every year. Where on that site does it mention anything about a 10m bounty for endangered species? And more importantly, why aren't zoos and aquariums around the country going bananas cashing in on those kinds of fees? In fact virtually none of the funded projects I've come across on the site make any reference to animals in captivity. They all appear to be projects that involve animal protection in their natural habitats, not in zoos or aquariums.

Running the entire project solely on solar/wind power is just as far-fetched. The Seaport Farmer's Market is a global landmark building for sustainable architecture and even it can't operate or rely exclusively on those sources, and that's a building with a fraction of the logistical issues of an aquarium. AND there's going to be a hotel attached to it.

[QUADONE]

PLEASE LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY...

I do not have to prove anything to any of you on here whether or not this
aquarium will be built because this project has already caught the attention
of some pretty important individuals in government [not giving any names]
through the presentation of Ms. Karen Leamon Briand [Vice President] and
the $10 Million/year is not needed to get this in motion. The facility can be
constructed and built for the initial $10 Million per species/year. After that
the many things that will be happening on the inside of the aquarium will
easily generate enough funds to help it sustain itself.

Keep in mind that I am not making one cent from this because it is a
Non-profit organization and that means that my time as well as those are on
the board of directors are all volunteered time. I believe in Ms. Karen Leamon
Briand's dream of having something like this built here on the Atlantic Coast
to aid in saving our endangered aquatic life because I care very much about
all life whether it is human/aquatic etc. Being an endangered species is not
their fault, but it is very much our fault for not wanting to protect it.

With that said, I am going to continue forward with making this aquarium a
reality and I can see this breaking ground Summer of 2012. I will be doing
some of the public speaking about on this project incredible well thought out
aquarium project along side of Ms. Karen Leamon Briand [Vice President &
Brainchild] of The Maritime Aquatic Institute Of The Atlantic Association. I
would hope that all of you would love to put Halifax/Dartmouth on the map
with International appeal as well and this massive huge aquarium facility is
definitely what would do it.

Anyways, at least I have a sense of who can see the big picture and that is
the only thing that matters to me. This was never about money to me and I
can see others missed my post on it being a Non-profit organization because
otherwise there would be no sarcastic remarks on this being a sad case like
those pitches on The Dragon's Den TV show.

Moving on.... I will continue to share more information on things as they
happen and the naysayers I shall ignore.

[CorbeauNoir]

Originally Posted by QUADONE

PLEASE LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY...

I do not have to prove anything to any of you on here whether or not this
aquarium will be built because this project has already caught the attention
of some pretty important individuals in government [not giving any names]
through the presentation of Ms. Karen Leamon Briand [Vice President] and
the $10 Million/year is not needed to get this in motion. The facility can be
constructed and built for the initial $10 Million per species/year. After that
the many things that will be happening on the inside of the aquarium will
easily generate enough funds to help it sustain itself.

Keep in mind that I am not making one cent from this because it is a
Non-profit organization and that means that my time as well as those are on
the board of directors are all volunteered time. I believe in Ms. Karen Leamon
Briand's dream of having something like this built here on the Atlantic Coast
to aid in saving our endangered aquatic life because I care very much about
all life whether it is human/aquatic etc. Being an endangered species is not
their fault, but it is very much our fault for not wanting to protect it.

With that said, I am going to continue forward with making this aquarium a
reality and I can see this breaking ground Summer of 2012. I will be doing
some of the public speaking about on this project incredible well thought out
aquarium project along side of Ms. Karen Leamon Briand [Vice President &
Brainchild] of The Maritime Aquatic Institute Of The Atlantic Association. I
would hope that all of you would love to put Halifax/Dartmouth on the map
with International appeal as well and this massive huge aquarium facility is
definitely what would do it.

Anyways, at least I have a sense of who can see the big picture and that is
the only thing that matters to me. This was never about money to me and I
can see others missed my post on it being a Non-profit organization because
otherwise there would be no sarcastic remarks on this being a sad case like
those pitches on The Dragon's Den TV show.

Moving on.... I will continue to share more information on things as they
happen and the naysayers I shall ignore.

In other words, you can't answer the question.

Being a non-profit organization has nothing to do with the fact that an aquarium is going to cost a LOT of money to build and maintain and that the only 'concrete' form of federal funding you can account for is from a fund that does not and never has existed in the way you are imagining it. Much less how you plan to definitively start building an aquarium with said nonexistant funding in less than a year and a half when building projects in this city can easily drop into limbo for years at a time.

Again, I think the idea is great but nothing you've said thus far makes any kind of financial sense - including choosing one of the worst possible times to ask for even more federal funds for this city.

[QUADONE]

Originally Posted by CorbeauNoir

Um, yes. This is the same site I looked up and clearly referenced earlier stipulating a NATIONAL TOTAL (that's for all projects of this type for the entire country) of 10m of funding a year. You're telling me you're expecting to receive nine times that national total every year. Where on that site does it mention anything about a 10m bounty for endangered species? And more importantly, why aren't zoos and aquariums around the country going bananas cashing in on those kinds of fees? In fact virtually none of the funded projects I've come across on the site make any reference to animals in captivity. They all appear to be projects that involve animal protection in their natural habitats, not in zoos or aquariums.

Running the entire project solely on solar/wind power is just as far-fetched. The Seaport Farmer's Market is a global landmark building for sustainable architecture and even it can't operate or rely exclusively on those sources, and that's a building with a fraction of the logistical issues of an aquarium. AND there's going to be a hotel attached to it.

AGAIN... WE ARE A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION... and NO we most certainly
are not expecting to see more than 9 times the national amount per each
year for saving/protecting endangered species off our Atlantic Coastal since
that would logically impossible. I do however believe that with the proper
documentation prepared with providing irrefutably evidence of why funding
this project is the only solution in saving & protecting our current Eastern
Atlantic Aquatic Life from being 100% destroyed is definitely of the utmost
importance . These next couple of years are critical in making this all happen
and we owe it as citizens to aid in being a part of something larger than our
own Canadian Government.

The bottom line is that arguing about what makes sense to you and others is
not the solution to immediate problems that are current right now and I can't
imagine living with myself afterwords if I did not try to make things right on
my part of being a dedicated citizen to my land and shorelines.

Enough said on my part...

[QUADONE]

Originally Posted by CorbeauNoir

In other words, you can't answer the question.

Being a non-profit organization has nothing to do with the fact that an aquarium is going to cost a LOT of money to build and maintain and that the only 'concrete' form of federal funding you can account for is from a fund that does not and never has existed in the way you are imagining it. Much less how you plan to definitively start building an aquarium with said nonexistant funding in less than a year and a half when building projects in this city can easily drop into limbo for years at a time.

Again, I think the idea is great but nothing you've said thus far makes any kind of financial sense - including choosing one of the worst possible times to ask for even more federal funds for this city.

You see that is why we are doing a Feasibility Study/Report that will be
based on facts & figures. The math will not lie on whether or not this facility
would be economically feasible right now and to say it is ok to watch our
aquatic life being endangered right now to be put on hold because of what is
going on in Japan today really bothers me. I will not turn my back on this
project just because you cannot see the bigger picture.

If you have problems with it then I will respect your criticism and concerns
and move on with my beliefs.

[MonctonRad]

I googled "Maritime Aquatic Institute Of The Atlantic Association", and found only one link - to a Facebook page in a foreign language (possibly Turkish). There were a total of three posts on the page, all from 2008.........

Quadone expects tens of millions of dollars to fall like manna from the federal government heaven, when more worthy projects like a convention centre and a stadium may be told to go pound sand.

He presents this project as a near fait accompli when everyone else on the forum realizes how the system around here really works. It is clear to me that this is nothing more than a pipe dream.

Don't get me wrong, a regional aquarium for Halifax is a noble project worthy of support but this will be an expensive proposition costing at least a couple of hundred million dollars with annual operating costs in the tens of millions. It will reguire broad support from all three levels of government as well as from academia. The project would require hundreds of highly trained specialist to care for the equipment and for the animals.

You don't build something like this overnight. Even a proper proposal, sufficiently funded and supported would take at least a decade to reach fruition.

Sorry Quadone, I am not convinced......

[someone123]

A reasonable plan would be something like a $10M aquarium on the Halifax waterfront. It would complement Pier 21, the Maritime Museum, etc. It could be one component of a large development like Queen's Landing.

The $100M+ shopping mall-sized version is almost certainly a pipe dream.

[CorbeauNoir]

Originally Posted by someone123

A reasonable plan would be something like a $10M aquarium on the Halifax waterfront. It would complement Pier 21, the Maritime Museum, etc. It could be one component of a large development like Queen's Landing.

The $100M+ shopping mall-sized version is almost certainly a pipe dream.

10 million? That wouldn't be an aquarium, that'd be a step up from the fish tanks in a pet shop.

That said, the seaport would be a fantastic location for such a facility - I don't think the space for it exists, though.

[sdm]

drugs. they make you think of wonderful things...........

[Empire]

Originally Posted by QUADONE

You see that is why we are doing a Feasibility Study/Report that will be
based on facts & figures. The math will not lie on whether or not this facility
would be economically feasible right now and to say it is ok to watch our
aquatic life being endangered right now to be put on hold because of what is
going on in Japan today really bothers me. I will not turn my back on this
project just because you cannot see the bigger picture.

If you have problems with it then I will respect your criticism and concerns
and move on with my beliefs.

QUADONE this is a very worthwile cause. I hope you forge ahead.

A few questions:

• what is the projected cost of the aquarium project?

• who are the stakeholders.....universities, DFO, BIO, WWF, Marine Institute http://www.mi.mun.ca/

• has the property been secured and are there permits in place, environmental assessment complete etc.

• who is the architect, and will this be a signature icon landmark.

• what levels of government have expressed intrest? HRM, Provincial, Feds?

• other funding....ACOA, infrastructure funding, dept. of tourism?

• did the feasibility study identify other sites in metro for the aquarium?

• are other aquariums in Canada involved?

• is there any international interest or sponsorship?

• what attempts have been made in the past to bring an aquarium to HRM and what was the result? I think Maritime Life was willing to sponsor an aquarium in the mid 90's but it fizzled

• Is there a hotel operator enlisted? Who is it?

Can you at least answer some of these questions because I have many more?

[QUADONE]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I googled "Maritime Aquatic Institute Of The Atlantic Association", and found only one link - to a Facebook page in a foreign language (possibly Turkish). There were a total of three posts on the page, all from 2008.........

Quadone expects tens of millions of dollars to fall like manna from the federal government heaven, when more worthy projects like a convention centre and a stadium may be told to go pound sand.

He presents this project as a near fait accompli when everyone else on the forum realizes how the system around here really works. It is clear to me that this is nothing more than a pipe dream.

Don't get me wrong, a regional aquarium for Halifax is a noble project worthy of support but this will be an expensive proposition costing at least a couple of hundred million dollars with annual operating costs in the tens of millions. It will reguire broad support from all three levels of government as well as from academia. The project would require hundreds of highly trained specialist to care for the equipment and for the animals.

You don't build something like this overnight. Even a proper proposal, sufficiently funded and supported would take at least a decade to reach fruition.

Sorry Quadone, I am not convinced......

You are entitled to think as you wish. Here is the Facebook group that is
very legit and individuals that believe in it.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16165831229

[QUADONE]

Originally Posted by Empire

QUADONE this is a very worthwile cause. I hope yo forge ahead.

A few questions:

• what is the projected cost of the aquarium project?

• who are the stakeholders.....universities, DFO, BIO, WWF, Marine Institute http://www.mi.mun.ca/

• has the property been secured and are there permits in place, environmental assessment complete etc.

• what levels of government have expressed intrest? HRM, Provincial, Feds?

• other funding....ACOA, infrastructure funding, dept. of tourism?

• did the feasibility study identify other sites in metro for the aquarium?

• are other aquariums in Canada involved?

• is there any international interest or sponsorship?

• what attempts have been made in the past to bring an aquarium to HRM and what was the result? I think Maritime Life was willing to sponsor an aquarium in the mid 90's but it fizzled

Can you at least answer some of these questions?

I will work on these answers tomorrow. Very tired at the moment.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There's something definitely fishy about this aquarium project (pun most definitely intended).

Perhaps it'll be the one that got away

[DigitalNinja]

This guy is a whackjob. I want what ever he is smokin'.

[TheNovaScotian]

Seriously DigitalNinja?? i'd be surprised if all of us aren't a little off our rocker. Why single him out for trying to better our city and let us know he's trying. If you don't have anything constructive except to slander his efforts why did you even continue reading the thread?

[reddog794]

I must say, from the usual well thought out, and articulated comments I have the pleasure to read, I find some on this thread smacking of "conservative campaign" childish-ness.

Why challenge the person when the facts are easy enough.

For what it's worth, if this is any way feasible, Shannon park is perfect for an aquarium of this magnitude. Better than a stadium.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by reddog794

I must say, from the usual well thought out, and articulated comments I have the pleasure to read, I find some on this thread smacking of "conservative campaign" childish-ness.

Why challenge the person when the facts are easy enough.

For what it's worth, if this is any way feasible, Shannon park is perfect for an aquarium of this magnitude. Better than a stadium.

I think both would be super cool. Anything is better than the current state of Shannon park.

[TheNovaScotian]

The idea has been thrown around for awhile i always thought that the land on the other side of the MacKay where BIO sits would be more suitable because all of us may not be aware of this but BIO is a world renowned research facility with people deeply entrenched in academia who could tap enough shoulders to make an aquarium happen. With all the Greenpeace people regularly stopping in because of the seal hunt get them on board they obviously know enough influential people to give it some star power. I have a cousin who is going to Dal for marine biology I'm guessing that she would rather stay here in Halifax for her chosen career instead of BC or Australia, all those specialists you were asking about that would be needed could come from here in Atlantic Canada even dare i say it *shudder* UNB or any other school nearby could participate and make it cheaper for their students by doing their placement here.
To shoot this person down at ever corner isn't really a productive use of my time. Look at the beginning of any of the threads that have come to be built and a lot of the answers given were not pin point precise.
What I do know is that something like this would be a great addition to a foundation laid out by BIO, and you never know stranger things have happened maybe Stephen would have the proposal cross his desk while he stares off into his aquarium at 24 Sussex Dr. and thinks its a great idea