Northern Nova Scotia development thread

[David1gray]

Truro really is doing well. I am glad to see the area getting things done.

At the same time, I am really happy about what New Glasgow and area are getting done.

Overall Truro and NG seem to be doing great atm. Even here in Antigonish we've got some good projects from the proposed 7 story condo development to the highway bypass. Hopefully the good times continue.

Also: The 104 twinning to Sutherlands River opened a whole extra KM at the end of September lol anyways, the highway should be complete this time next year!

[icetea93]

I've seen many signs that point to Truro finally getting a Boston Pizza, that will most likely go by the "mini Dartmouth Crossing" (they scraped plans of opening one in the power centre in 2004). I hope a Future Shop will go there as well. Rumours also include Old Navy. I'm not a fan of Old Navy but whatever is good for Truro is always a positive.

[David1gray]

Thanks for the info! I hadn't heard any of those rumors. Boston Pizza is great, and an Old Navy would be good too. Not a big Old Navy fan either though.

[icetea93]

Originally Posted by David1gray

Thanks for the info! I hadn't heard any of those rumors. Boston Pizza is great, and an Old Navy would be good too. Not a big Old Navy fan either though.

I'll post more info if I hear anything new!

[icetea93]

http://www.trurodaily.com/Latest-new...ng-for-good-/1

Sad to hear, I always liked the store even though it was a bit pricey.

[David1gray]

well that sucks!

[David1gray]

wellness centre update:

Oct. 4th:


Oct. 14th:


Nov. 1st:

Source: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pictou...71788106197111

[David1gray]

Antigonish firm plans major expansion of quarry

An Antigonish construction company is seeking government approval to expand its quarry by 15 times its current size and run 24 hours a day.

Alva Construction Ltd. wants to produce 450,000 tonnes a year at its quarry along the Northumberland Strait or even more if it wins a big contract.

In documents filed with Nova Scotia Environment Wednesday, the company says it intends to operate around the clock, 50 weeks per year, blasting, crushing and stockpiling aggregates and armour stone for local construction needs.

The company says there are 22 million tonnes of rock reserves at the site — enough to last 50 years. It estimates that an average of 150 trucks a day would be needed to haul the material.

The current quarry in Georgeville is 3.5 hectares. About 650,000 tonnes of aggregate have been produced since it opened in September 1996.

If approved, the quarry would expand to 54 hectares.

The company says there is little residential development near the site. It also says an expanded quarry would have little effect on surface water, including fish habitat

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...a.html?cmp=rss

[David1gray]

Here's a pretty good update on the wellness centre:















all from: http://pcwellnesscentre.ca/?p=764

[David1gray]

Bus service plan for Truro area stalls

People will have to wait awhile for buses in Truro and surrounding parts of Colchester County.

While the two municipalities have discussed the matter and commissioned a feasibility study, both mayors say a number of challenges remain before the service could become reality.

Truro Mayor Bill Mills said that public transit was the top issue during public meetings about the town’s new municipal planning strategy.

Since those meetings, however, Mills said he doesn’t believe there has been enough interest to justify the cost the two municipal units would have to absorb.

"I’m just a little leery of entering into this thing right now, and I don’t really believe in my heart of hearts that a number of people who expressed a desire to have it would necessarily support it if we got it," he said.

....

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...ro-area-stalls

[David1gray]

New school announcement expected Friday

NEW GLASGOW – An announcement is expected on Friday for funding of a new school construction project in New Glasgow.
The announcement will be made by Pictou Centre MLA Ross Landry, who will be joined by Chignecto-Central Regional School Board representatives, town council and students at New Glasgow Junior High School.
It’s anticipated that the announcement will involve a P-8 school for New Glasgow, which the CCRSB has proposed to build adjacent to the current junior high building

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2011...medium=twitter

[David1gray]

The province committed $18 million today towards the new P-8 school in New Glasgow.

Province commits $18 million for new school in New Glasgow

NEW GLASGOW – The province is committing $18 million for a new P-8 school to be constructed in New Glasgow.
Justice Minister Ross Landry made the announcement during a school assembly at New Glasgow Junior High School Friday afternoon, on behalf of Education Minster Ramona Jennex.
The new school will house Primary to Grade 8, replacing aging Temperance Street Elementary, Acadia Street Elementary and New Glasgow Junior High School.
“This new school will give our young people a great new school to have a positive learning experience,” said Landry.
Landry said $18 million would cover the cost of the building. He said if there are any unforeseen costs they will be addressed at the time.
“I think there is always room to allow the community, should they wish to put additional funds forward, to add to the building. That door will be open.”
He said the site of the new school would be determined in the coming months.
“One of the issues that we have right now is, is it going to be on the site we are standing on or is it going to be next door?” said Landry, referring to the field adjacent to the school.
“We all know that it is the students and staff that make a good school,” said Trudy Thompson, chairperson of the Chigencto-Central Regional School Board. “But I also believe having a bright, new, spacious facility with updated equipment, furniture and technology will have a positive effect on the students and that is what makes good schools great.”
New Glasgow Mayor Barrie MacMillan, addressing the students, said the new school is an exciting new chapter for the town.
The estimated finish date for the new school is fall of 2013. Once opened, Grade 9 students will attend North Nova Education Centre.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2011...-New-Glasgow/1

Also, there will be no amalgamation study for Pictou County unless it is funded by the province.

Towns nix study on amalgamation

Municipal units in Pictou County will not engage in a governance study because two units will not pay their share.

The study was to examine the way the six units conduct operations and determine if potential cost savings through streamlined services and possibly amalgamation could be achieved. The cost was to be shared by the municipalities and the province.

Pictou County and the towns of New Glasgow, Pictou and Trenton agreed to provide $25,000 each towards the study, but council for the Town of Westville said they couldn’t afford their share. Stellarton council said the province should pay the full amount.

The province agreed to pay 50 per cent of the study up to $150,000.

There was no way for the study to proceed without the full participation of the six units, Pictou County Warden Ronnie Baillie said in an interview earlier this week.

Stellarton’s position is based largely on a previous commitment from Ramona Jennex, the former minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, to completely fund the governance study.

Although Westville’s decision was based primarily on financial considerations, council has said it believes the province should foot the entire bill

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...y-amalgamation

[David1gray]

Countdown to the new regional hospital underway

TRURO - A symbolic walk from the current hospital in Truro to the future establishment took place on the weekend.
More than 120 Colchester East Hants Health Authority staff, physicians, volunteers and families walked from the Colchester Regional Hospital to the new Colchester East Hants Health Centre on Saturday. The walk was held to celebrate the one-year countdown to the new health centre, with the final move to the new facility slated for Nov. 19 to 25, 2012.
Before setting out, walkers posed for a group shot at the current hospital on Arthur Street, paying tribute to the facility which has been serving local communities since the first building (annex) opened at the site in 1926. Walkers made their way to the new health centre on Abenaki Road where they had a glimpse inside the new lobby before returning to Colchester Regional Hospital.
The official move and transition activities, including orientation, will begin at the site in May and the progress continues to move forward within the approved $184-million budget. About 99 per cent of tenders have been awarded to date and 85 per cent of construction is complete.
Significant activity continues with up to 200 tradespeople on site each day. Most areas of the facility have drywall and painting completed and many areas are finished to the point where flooring, fixtures and trims have been installed. In addition, some areas are in the process of receiving final inspections and sign-off.
During the past number of weeks more than 36 tours were offered and further tours will occur in the coming weeks

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local...tal-underway/1

[David1gray]

They began demolition on the old Sobeys building on King Street today, which I assume means the new building is now open on the other side of the street.


source

[David1gray]

Since I was home today I took a drive around to see what was going on. A few updates:

Sobeys headoffice is complete

Access NS is complete

By the looks of things home hardware has begun construction. There are signs, a construction trailer, and equipment on site.

[David1gray]

Meeting to discuss condo development

ANTIGONISH- A public hearing is scheduled surrounding a proposed condominium development.
Last week, Antigonish Town Council tentaviely set the date for a public hearing for December to discuss a proposed development project for the corner of Court and Main Streets.
“We as council have approved it and we’re ready to move forward with it and we think it’s going to be great for the downtown area,” said Antigonish Mayor Carl Chisholm.
Chisholm said the developer on the project met all of the criteria council set out for them.
“It’s off to the public hearing to see what the general public thinks,” said Chisholm.
“If we get a lot of people who disagree or a lot of people who agree, that’s what public hearings are for. We’ll see what transpires.”
Previously, town councilor and planning committee chair William Cormier said the town and developer agreed on a major concept, including the height of the building and the parking set up.
Mayor Chisholm said the bottom two floors of the property are set for commercial development and the next four floors will be condos and the top floor is set to house suites.
“We expect that it will go though relatively easy,” said Chisholm.
“Of course, these things aren’t always slam dunks so we wouldn’t be surprised if one or two people show. The general observations and the comment out and about is it’s going to be great for the downtown.”

http://www.porthawkesburyreporter.co...o-development/

[David1gray]

A fairly long article on the "amalgamation study" for Pictou County and why it is important. I'll just post the first bit

Pictou County councils mull merger

Municipalities can’t agree to fund feasibility study

On an overcast day last week in Westville, town workers busied themselves bolting metal wreaths trimmed with Christmas lights to poles along Main Street. The snow forecast for the weekend would arrive just in time for the Santa Claus parade.

Despite the festive atmosphere in the Pictou County town, there is an undercurrent of concern.

Westville’s main drag, like most of the downtowns in Pictou County, has seen better days and people are beginning to wonder what is being done to address the situation.

As it turns out, perhaps not as much as could be done

...

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...ls-mull-merger

What would make the most sense to me is not including the town of Pictou, or the county of Pictou in amalgamation. Leaving only the 4 "upper town" (Westville, Stellarton, New Glasgow, and Trenton) to be brought together as a large town or small city.

[David1gray]

First heat


The furnace was fired up for the first heat at Maritime Steel Limited Thursday morning. The test run saw the steel heated up to 1,500C before it was poured into a ladle, pre-heated to 900C. The steel was poured into moulds made last week for mining wheels that will be shipped to the United States

http://www.ngnews.ca/Business/2011-1...0/First-heat/1

[David1gray]

Mayor is optimistic jobs, businesses may be coming to Truro

TRURO – Truro’s mayor is optimistic some new businesses will be coming to town.
Bill Mills told the Truro Daily News he is “quite enthusiastic” about potential jobs and businesses coming to Truro in the near future. However, nothing is confirmed and details are few as everything is still in the discussion stage.
“Within six weeks I expect an answer regarding the larger of the two (proposals),” said Mills, adding one business could result in 50 jobs, while the other could create at least 100 jobs.
“There would be quite professional jobs for about 20 or 30 of them,” said Mills.
Although Mills could not confirm what businesses are considering setting up in Truro, he did indicate the Industrial Park is a possible site for them and the businesses would be in the marketing, research, development and production sectors.

http://www.trurodaily.com/Latest-new...ing-to-Truro/1

Call centre to expand to 170 jobs

Last December, TeleTech Holdings announced it was closing its Amherst call centre throwing more than 200 people out of work. Another call centre operator was in Amherst on Tuesday to announce plans to create 170 new jobs here over the next five years.
Virtual Agent Services opened its call centre in the former Co-Op building in August and presently employs 30. It plans to expand to 80 by next summer.
“This is an exciting day for Amherst and we’re thrilled to be here,” the company’s vice-president operations Dwight Perry said. “We identified Amherst early last year as a logical place for our company to grow. Over the spring and summer we confirmed there was a talented and experienced workforce in the greater Cumberland County area and made the decision that we wanted to be here.
“We began recruiting in June, trained in July and began accepting accepting calls in August. We have not been disappointed one bit. ”
VAS is one of the largest hospitality outsourcers in North America. The province, through Nova Scotia Business Inc. is supporting the company’s growth with a payroll rebate up to $1.2 million.

The Amherst location will handle reservations for Dallas-based La Quinta Inns and Suites. It’s also the company’s first Nova Scotia call centre.
“As our customer grows, we grow. They have a plan to expand their business over several years and we’ll grow along with that,” Perry said. “We have lots of room to grow.
Perry said his company has managed its expectations and has not made unrealistic job predictions. It studied the demographic profile for the town and the number and availability of employees and settled into the former Co-Op building.
Perry said VAS did not choose Amherst because of the payroll rebate, adding it has had similar rebates at other locations in New Brunswick and has stayed long after they expired.
“We’re not a company that pulls up stakes when the rebates end,” he said. “We establish a workforce that becomes very dedicated to our client and we intend to keep them busy as long as the business is there.”
dcole@amherstdaily.com

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/Bus...-to-170-jobs/1

[David1gray]

I guess this can go here:

Sobeys buys Shell gas stations in Atlantic Canada, Que.

STELLARTON, N.S. — The Sobeys grocery store chain is expanding its gasoline retailing business with the purchase of 250 gas stations in Atlantic Canada and Quebec from Shell Canada.

Canada's second-biggest grocery chain already has gas bars at some of its Atlantic stores. However, this deal will give the company a strong presence in the Quebec market as well, Sobeys' parent company Empire Company Ltd. (TSX:EMP.A) said Thursday.

"This is an exciting opportunity for us to grow our existing retail gas operations while leveraging our significant wholesale and convenience business to better serve our customers and support our affiliates and dealer operations," Sobeys president and chief executive Bill McEwan said.

For Shell, the deal helps the company focus on its other diverse businesses -- from oilsands and natural gas to petrochemicals -- and still leaves the Calgary energy giant with about 1,350 stations in other parts of Canada.

...

http://atlantic.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...ce=twitterfeed


This does not surprise me at all. Considering Sobeys opened a gas bar in Stellarton right next to the headoffice on Foord Street, and just this year a second one has opened on the other side of the highway on Foord Street (within a KM of each other). So they seem to be doing well with Gas