Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

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CBU professor attends historic UN meeting

TOM AYERS
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A Cape Breton University professor continued her work on children’s rights with a quick breakfast meeting at the United Nations in New York last week.

Dr. Katherine Covell, a psychology professor and co-director of the Children’s Rights Centre at CBU, attended a meeting with foreign ministers where the UN special representative to the secretary-general on violence against children was introduced.

One of the meeting’s hosts was U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Covell, the North American representative on the UN’s international non-governmental organization advisory council, helped push for the special representative’s appointment, which is expected to lead to promotion and protection of children’s rights and foster international attention on the need to combat violence against women and girls.

The university professor flew out Thursday, attended the breakfast meeting Friday and was back in Cape Breton later that day.

“It was a chance to recommit, to meet people that are working in the same area . . . and it was a chance for further advocacy,” Covell said Tuesday.

“We congratulate Katherine on her participation in such a historic event,” said CBU president John Harker. “Her work with the United Nations in studying violence against children throughout the world continues to help influence change and we are delighted to have her continuing her research at CBU.”

Covell and CBU political science professor Dr. Brian Howe conduct public education on children’s rights and have co-authored numerous articles and two books on the subject. Their book The Challenge of Children’s Rights for Canada has been shortlisted for several awards, including the Donald Smiley Prize and the Canadian Policy Research Foundation’s outstanding research contribution award.

Their latest book, Children, Families and Violence, was published this year.

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Cape Breton business nominated for national tourism award

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A Cape Breton business has been nominated for a national tourism award.

The Cambridge Suites Hotel in Sydney is up for the CTHRC Award for Excellence in Human Resources Development, along with the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, Ont. and D.P. Murphy Inc., of Charlottetown, PEI.

A total of 42 businesses, people and events have been nominated by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada for the 2009 National Awards for Tourism Excellence, presented by The Globe and Mail. Three finalists were named in each of the 14 award categories which include business of the year, marketing campaign of the year, employee of the year and event of the year.

“These finalists exemplify the spirit of excellence in the tourism industry,” said Randy Williams, TIAC’s president and CEO, in a release. “They have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and a commitment to the highest levels of service and TIAC and the entire tourism industry celebrates their outstanding achievement.”

The awards, developed in 2003, are designed to allow Canada’s tourism industry to recognize those people, places, organizations and events that have gone above and beyond to offer a superior tourism experience to travellers in Canada.

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner Nov. 3 during Canada’s Tourism Leadership Summit in Saint John, New Brunswick.

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Committee formed to draft sustainability plan for regional municipality

ERIN POTTIE
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Six councillors, the chief administrative officer and two senior staff will comprise a committee which will draft a plan for sustainability in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

During a special council meeting Wednesday, 15 councillors voted in favour of creating the committee, two weeks after those same councillors rejected a staff-written report that included plans for regional self-governance.

Only Mayor John Morgan dismissed the idea, while Coun. Jim MacLeod was absent for a medical appointment.

“The issue is not creating plans, we have all the plans,” said Morgan, following the meeting. “The issue really is a distraction and attempt to really whitewash what is going on in the community.

“Unfortunately what has happened is year after year, of government after government, this community has been victimized by a provincial government and a provincial bureaucracy.”

Marginal and incremental changes will not impact the region’s future, as they often require approval from the province, said Morgan. Instead he suggested “dramatic changes” as necessary.

Coun. Kim Desveaux, who put forward the motion, said the group will meet no less than three times over the next 10 days to prepare a step-by-step outline for the Integrative Community Sustainability Plan. The draft will be presented to council for final input and approval within two weeks.

“Gathering community input and planning for the future is not just an important process, it is our responsibility,” Desveaux told council. “The discussion should not be limited to who prepared the plan and why, but it should be viewed as a positive step for the CBRM.”

As part of a five-year gas tax agreement with the federal government, the CBRM, along with all Canadian municipalities, must submit a draft report by the end of the year and a final report by March 31, 2010.

CBRM’s first draft, penned by its economic development manager, was voted down 15-2 and criticized for not including the opinions of regional councillors.

The report also lacked real details, according to Cape Breton University political science professor Tom Urbaniak, whose opinions had a profound effect on council.

“We can walk and chew gum at the same time,” said Urbaniak, following council’s decision Wednesday. “We can still be tough with the province, we still have some legitimate grievances we have to take up with them, but there are things we can do as local leaders.”

Urbaniak said he’s concerned the mayor’s plans may translate into missed opportunities for the CBRM.

“Simply saying that defacto separation is the only solution without any parallel or interim measures — that’s dangerous for this community and that’s extraordinarily dispirited,” he said.

A second motion to compose a letter on behalf of council, seeking to discuss sustainability and equalization with the province, was accepted unanimously.

Regional councillors included on the sustainability committee are Darren Bruckschwaiger, Derek Mombourquette, Kim Desveaux, Ray Paruch, Clarence Prince and Gordon MacLeod.

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Local owner and operator of Brett’s Pet Depot, on Grand Lake Road in Sydney, Brett Matheson, centre, and employees Barbara Larick, left, and Amy Hatcher, right, take time to show affection to some puppies in the store, Wednesday. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Brett’s Pet Depot celebrates grand opening Saturday

BY SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Brett Matheson can tell you that owning a pet shop means there’s rarely a dull moment in a typical work day.

“All of a sudden I saw a ferret leisurely walking down the aisle,” he says, recalling a recent incident. “I ran to get him and then noticed all the ferrets were gone, all scattered throughout the store.”

Matheson opened Brett’s Pet Depot a few months ago, with the grand opening slated for Saturday. He admits owning a pet store can sometimes mean plenty of exercise.

“A Cuban anole reptile escaped one day, we had a few chinchillas running around before and had a cockatoo fly around the store for two hours before we got him. Every one was always found, safe and sound.”

Brett’s Pet Depot, located at 456 Grand Lake Road, is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for six days and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

As well as a wide selection of high quality pet food, the store carries everything from natural treats, cages, bedding, strollers, dog houses and toys to clothing, grooming supplies and remedies. It even offers grooming.

It is also the perfect place to shop for the pampered pet.

“We have heated dog beds that plug in, and even heated water bowls for dogs that are kept outside in the wintertime, to keep their water from freezing.”

“We carry booster seats, designer pet carriers, extravagant kitty condos — there is really nothing we don’t have.”

Matheson, who owns three dogs, two cats and some fish, said there are several reasons he decided to open a pet shop, including seeing a 10-year dream come true.

“I am a huge animal advocate, I just love animals. I figured, how can I go wrong having a career with something that I love?”

Brett’s Pet Depot offers everything from puppies to kittens, reptiles, birds, small animals like rabbits, chinchillas, rats, mice, guinea pigs and even hedgehogs.

As well as having kittens and puppies checked by veterinarians, Matheson said they also deal first-hand with breeders.

“We can tell people where (their pets) come from, history and even pictures of the parents in most cases.”

Matheson said there have been many unforgettable and heart-warming moments for staff at the store.

“We had a woman who came in one day who had two chows, one had recently died. We just happened to have one in; she spent time with him, then left the store crying.

“She came back the next day and bought him.”

They have also had puppies become major attractions, including a rare Shar-pei.

“The people who came in to see this dog — and take pictures -— was unbelievable.”

A resident of Whitney Pier bought the dog, which has since been named Phoebe.

Saturday’s grand opening begins at 9 a.m. and will features a radio station remote, Klutzy the Clown and plenty of give-aways.

“There is one company giving me 200 free 5 lb. bags of dog food to give away.”

Barbara Larick, one of the store’s four employees, said they do get unusual requests, including people looking for monkeys. She said they also have regular customers who get attached to a certain animal.

“We have a woman who comes in every single day — she hasn’t missed a day — to pet a bulldog puppy we have here.”

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A Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board bus travels down Wallaces Road in Glace Bay, Friday. East Division councillors are fighting for a share of federal government stimulus funding and say this road is a priority since the new Oceanview Junior High School is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010. Sharon Montgomery-Dupe - Cape Breton Post

Lack of stimulus money in East Division upsets councillors

SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE
The Cape Breton Post

GLACE BAY — East Division councillors say all they want is a fair piece of the pie.

According to District 5 Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger, East Division was recognized by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality staff as the area most in need of infrastructure through the stimulus package, but it was the only area ignored.

“To show how bad the rollout of the stimulus money was, in North Division
every project applied for — $5.4 million — was approved and in Sydney, 66.5 per cent of the projects, about $5.4 million, were approved.

“Roughly $10 million of the $23.7 million applied for in the CBRM was for East Division.

“The only thing approved was two streets in New Waterford for $800,000. We only got eight per cent of what was applied for in this area.”

The federal government’s stimulus package is designed to improve infrastructure and kick-start the economy. Projects are funded by all three levels of government.

Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, says he has presented Minister John Baird with a list of the projects in East Division, including nine in areas of Glace Bay and Dominion.

Municipal councillors have agreed that Wallaces Road, where a new junior high school is being built, is the priority for the area.

Cuzner said he has talked to both Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Baird, the minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, several times.

“Minister Baird has indicated he will do what he can to pull a few of these Glace Bay projects over the fence,” said Cuzner. “I have faith in that and I will give him an opportunity to address the issue.”

Cuzner said Baird continues to stress that a prioritized list was never received from the CBRM or the province of Nova Scotia.

“It sort of then falls on (to) the federal bureaucracy to make the selections. (Baird) has been consistent in making that point and that there is no politics at all in this.

“I will continue to work with him and hopefully we will be able to get some of these projects looked at.”

District 3 Coun. Lee McNeil says residents are upset.

“I’m getting phone calls, stopped when out shopping, people are not happy.
To see Glace Bay get absolutely nothing is ridiculous and we are not going to stand for it.”

The CBRM’s first application for stimulus package money, an estimated $12 million, was rejected by the federal government because it wasn’t considered to be a long-term investment in the municipality. The CBRM submitted a second, more extensive application totalling about $23 million, including a more detailed description of the work.

The federal government approved $11.3 million for projects in the CBRM.
District 4 Coun. George MacDonald agrees Wallaces Road is the priority.

“The roads are atrocious, there are no sidewalks and a new sewer is needed. The water pressure there is terrible. All the councillors out here got together and decided that was our number one priority.”

MacDonald said the infrastructure situation is expected to be brought up at the Oct. 20 council meeting.

However MacDonald said even if the federal government increases funding for the CBRM, there is concern about acquiring provincial money.

“The province had Ok’d all those (projects) prior to the provincial budget.
Now the budget has gone through. It’s just another complication.”

Glace Bay MLA Dave Wilson said Bill Estabrooks, minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal, was asked in the legislature for a list of priority projects under the stimulus package.

“He said he hasn’t seen a priority list,” said Wilson. “There are a lot of projects that simply won’t get done this year because time is running out.”

Wallace's Rd is the main route for much of the New Aberdeen neighbourhood of Glace Bay to reach downtown Glace Bay, as well as to reach Main St to connect to Hwy 4 to Sydney. It is also the road on which Oceanview Jr. High will be built.



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Cape Breton energy service company wins provincial entrepreneur award

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — An energy services company based in Sydney’s Harbourside Commercial Park was a winner at the 2009 Atlantic Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony in Halifax, Thursday.

Offshore Technologies Services Ltd. (OTS) was contending for the award in the professional/financial services category against three other companies from Atlantic Canada.

OTS president and general manager Rodney Colbourne said it was gratifying to accept the award along with his business partners Steve Green and Steve MacDougall.

“It was quite an honour with the other delegates and the other nominees that were there from all over Atlantic Canada,” Colbourne said.

“It was quite a bit of exposure for us at that level of event. It puts the name out there more than it has been, and even though it’s been doing well, it’s probably the best form of marketing you can have.”

OTS also has an office in Fort McMurray, Alta., and recently opened another office in St. John’s, N.L.

The company, which was incorporated in 2005, is a provider of technical and professional services to companies across the country. It focuses on the commissioning of energy projects, as well as offering support in the areas of project management and operational and training assistance.

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ECBC survives federal review, will assume Devco’s assets

The Cape Breton Post

OTTAWA — Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) has survived a federal review of its mandate and will now assume all assets and liabilities of another island-based Crown corporation.

The Cape Breton Development Corporation, also known as Devco, will be dissolved by the end of the year and its remaining obligations assumed by ECBC.

“This integration of the two Crown corporations will streamline operations by having one strong federal organization providing leadership in the economic development of Cape Breton,” said Peter MacKay, minister of National Defence and minister for the Atlantic Gateway.

Created in 1967, Devco’s approach to economic development on the island included a coal division with a mandate to phase out uneconomic coal operations and an industrial development division mandated to diversify the economy outside of coal.

However, in 2000, the corporation was ordered to dissolve the last of its operating coal mines.

MacKay said island residents should rest assured that the decision to integrate the two corporations would not compromise ongoing remediation work at former Devco sites or weaken federal support for the obligations due former employees and their families.

The announcement, made Friday, comes after a mandate review of ECBC.

“ECBC's long record of success in helping Cape Bretoners address economic challenges and seize economic opportunities is why the corporation has enjoyed strong support from the people of this region,” said MacKay.

Ross McCurdy, Devco’s president and CEO, said Friday that staff can be proud that they carried out their duties in a way that benefited the community.

“The Cape Breton Development Corporation, although gone after Dec. 31, 2009, will live on in our memories through the legacy it leaves,” he said.

He said that legacy is far-reaching and includes remediation of former mine sites and conveying these lands for new community opportunity.

The corporation, he said, has played a leading role in promoting Cape Breton’s vast, clean energy potential and supporting the establishment of an Energy and Environment Research Centre at CBU.

“While this chapter of our history is coming to a close, we are proud of our many accomplishments and honoured to leave such a positive legacy in our community,” said McCurdy.

Among other things, the ECBC review concluded:

• The ECBC mandate should be reconfirmed.
• The corporation’s mandate continues to be relevant given the current economic and demographic conditions in Cape Breton.
• The ECBC brand is strong and the corporation has the respect and confidence of the community it serves.
• The community wants ECBC to take an even stronger leadership role in commercial and community economic development.
• While the corporation is efficient and cost-effective in delivering programs, it could further enhance its effectiveness by strengthening performance indicators to better evaluate its strategic directions.

The review also suggested that efficiencies could be gained by integrating Devco with ECBC.

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Councillors beginning task of creating sustainability plan

CHRIS SHANNON
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — A council committee began the “renewal of an old process” Monday in order to secure a new five-year gas tax agreement with the federal government.

The first draft of the Integrated Community Sustainability plan was voted down decisively during last month’s Cape Breton Regional Municipality council meeting.

The author of the report, economic development manager John Whalley, included plans for regional self-governance and the separation of the region from the province. Councillors criticized the report for not including their opinions.

The only proponents of the study were Mayor John Morgan and Coun. Jim MacLeod.

Monday, Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger called the original document a “power grab.”

He said the municipality now has an opportunity to work collaboratively with community and business groups to present a well thought out plan encompassing regional development, environmental concerns, social issues and a cultural identity to the provincial government.

“We just can’t be hollering for money. We have to come forward with our own ideas,” Bruckschwaiger told the newly formed committee. “We have to do this with a united community . . . to bring this (plan) together as a sustainable plan.”

The committee views the dredging of Sydney harbour to allow for the construction of a container terminal, and a cross-island twined highway, as essential.

Much of the groundwork has already been laid with the Sydney Ports harbour master plan, a municipal report on population projections, as well as a transit study and active transportation committee that’s underway.

CBRM chief administrative officer Jerry Ryan said one thing never attempted by the municipality has been the development of a recreation plan. He noted that the municipality has usually taken a passive stance on recreation by reacting to public sentiment, and that’s something the committee might want to address.

The committee will meet again Wednesday morning in council chambers.

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Company with copper in Coxheath closing $1.35M investment deal

BY TOM AYERS
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Silvore Fox Minerals Corp. is planning to close a $1.35-million investment deal that could result in increased mining activity in the area as early as the new year, said CEO Harry Cabrita.

Silvore Fox owns the historic Coxheath underground copper mine property, which was mined as early as 1883, and has a joint-venture operation at the Oceanview property near Gabarus.

The junior mining and exploration company announced the proposed $1.35-million investment from China Nonferrous Metals Exploration Corp. on its website Sept. 29.

“It’s a monumental transaction for the company,” said Cabrita, adding the deal is expected to close on or before Nov. 9. “The Coxheath deposit is our flagship property. Our plans are to develop our Coxheath property further and I see something happening there fairly quickly . . . it will see some activity in 2010.”

Cabrita said Silvore Fox has already spent over half a million dollars on geophysical work, 3-D modelling and drilling at Coxheath, and has found extensive deposits of copper, as well as silver, molybdenum and gold. Cabrita said details are still being worked out, but the company plans to start limited drilling at the Oceanview property — where it has identified deposits of silver, tin, cobalt and gold — and will send the results to a laboratory while moving drilling over to Coxheath.

China Nonferrous Metals Exploration Corp. is a Canadian company majority-owned by Chinese shareholders. The investment deal is still subject to regulatory and Silvore Fox shareholder approvals.

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Contractors with MB2/Beaver Marine Joint Venture continue work Wednesday on a pumping station where the Wash Brook enters the south tar pond near Prince Street in Sydney. The $37.6-million contract to divert water around the tar ponds is nearing completion. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

Tar ponds almost ready for the big cleanup job

TOM AYERS
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Contractors are currently finishing work needed to divert Coke Ovens Brook and Wash Brook around the tar ponds, preparing to drain the ponds for the biggest job of all: stabilization and solidification using cement.

Donnie Burke, the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency’s project director, said Wednesday that temporary pumping stations are moving water from the brooks into ditches alongside the tar ponds and that four-foot-high pipes are in place to carry the water — which includes storm sewer drainage from heavy rains — out to Sydney harbour while the main contractor works on the tar ponds sludge.

The $37.6-million diversion contract is being completed by MB2/Beaver Marine Joint Venture.

Burke said the main contractor, Nordly’s Environmental, is expected to begin work on the $52-million solidification contract in about two weeks, refining its mix recipe and methods that will turn the sludge into a solid mass.

After that, work will shut down for the winter and will resume in the spring, when the company will begin solidification on a staged basis, moving from the south pond at Prince Street to the north pond up to the harbour over the next several years.

The solidified tar ponds will eventually be capped and covered for future use.

“This fall, they’re just going to go in there and kind of hone their skills,” said Burke, adding that Nordly’s Environmental has proven its ability to meet specifications, but needs to develop its process further onsite.

“It is a performance-based specification ... if they don’t (meet specs), they don’t get paid,” said Burke. “If something happens and these guys screw up a little bit ... we can shut them down.”

“As long as they meet the specifications, that’s all we’re concerned about,” added agency spokesperson Tanya Collier MacDonald. “How they get there is up to them.”

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Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, from left, Deputy Premier Frank Corbett, and ABU chancellor Annette Verschuren speak after announcing that the two levels of government will invest $15 million into a centre at the university that will research green energy and environmental remediation. Nancy King - Cape Breton Post

CBU's Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment gets funding

Breaking News

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY - Cape Breton University has received a whopping $15 million in funding to create a centre for sustainable energy and environmental energy technologies.

Peter MacKay, minister of National Defence and the Atlantic Gateway, made the announcement today on campus.

The Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment (CSEE) will receive a total of $4.5 million from Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and $3 million through Industry Canada.

“Investments through our government's economic action plan continue to provide timely and targeted stimulus to communities across Canada,” said MacKay.

As well, the province is investing $2.5 million in infrastructure funding and $5 million in low-interest loans to help build the centre.

"Cape Breton University is uniquely situated to help solve the world's two major environmental challenges: cleaning up industrial pollution and finding sustainable energy sources," said deputy premier Frank Corbett, on behalf of Education Minister Marilyn More.

The centre will be a cutting-edge and fully green facility to allow researchers and experts from around the world to explore sustainable energy and environmental energy technologies.

The centre’s role is twofold: to complement and work with the scientific community and commercial partners to help foster and develop sustainable energy and environmental technological breakthroughs and to develop the skills and training these industry sectors require.

Further details in Saturday’s Cape Breton Post.

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Grand Narrows rail bridge now open

Breaking News

The Cape Breton Post

Boaters and others will be surprised to learn that the rail bridge at Grand Narrows is now open. RailAmerica officials stated earlier in the week that the bridge was to be closed indefinitely for repairs causing concern among local and visiting boaters. This was quickly followed by a second statement indicating the rail bridge would reopen on Oct. 19. Owned by Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS), the repairs included replacing a defective gear that is prevented the bridge from opening and closing.

The full story
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Navigable waterway closed to allow for rail bridge repairs

BY JULIE COLLINS
The Cape Breton Post

GRAND NARROWS — The rail bridge in Grand Narrows owned by Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS) has been temporarily closed to marine traffic due to emergency repairs.

The swing bridge, which crosses Barra Strait, has a defective gear that is preventing the bridge from opening and closing.

Early indications were that the rail bridge could be closed indefinitely, trapping a number of boats off Grand Narrows, called the Big Lake. The closure also impedes boats that travel from the United States and pass through Grand Narrows on their way to Newfoundland.

A repair team has visited the site and located a replacement part. CBNS estimates the bridge could open as early as Monday, Oct. 19.

“This is fantastic news,” said Michael Drinnan of Baddeck Marina. “The three contacts we had with the railway earlier in the week indicated the closure would be indefinite. This is a complete reversal to what we were being told.”

Drinnan said there is still boat traffic on the Bras d’Or Lakes this time of year.

“This means some of our boaters won’t be stranded and will allow vessels to stop in Baddeck on their way to Newfoundland.”

The alternate route for boaters is through St. Peter’s Channel under the Seal Island bridge.

CBNS regrets any inconvenience this non-scheduled closure of the bridge may cause to boaters.

According to CBNS spokesperson Donia Crime, the Canadian Coast Guard was contacted regarding the bridge on Monday, Oct. 5, and is aware of the temporary closing.

The Canadian Coast Guard can provide boaters with details regarding alternative waterways and direct the ship’s captain to the appropriate nautical charts.

CBNS is a shortline railroad that operates 245 miles of track from Truro to Sydney. The railroad is owned by RailAmerica Inc.

Ken Jardine of the Cape Breton Railway Victims Association, which represents landowners along the railway tracks in Cape Breton, said he has been receiving calls about the closure.

“They (CBNS) could have given better notice, at least a week’s notice so people could make plans prior to the closure.”

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Pioneer Coal donates $100,000 to cancer centre

The Cape Breton Post

NORTH SYDNEY — And the donations continue to roll in.

John Chisholm, president of Pioneer Coal Ltd., is the latest to announce a major donation of $100,000 to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation's Cape Breton Cares campaign.

The donation was formally made Thursday at the Northern Yacht Club in North Sydney.

“I have worked with many people who relied on the cancer centre for treatment, all of whom expressed that they received first-class treatment and care,” said Chisholm.

“I have many family members from Cape Breton, including my wife. It is a sad reality, but you never know when you or someone you love will need treatment. I want to help ensure and enhance cancer care for the future.”

The Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation is currently leading the $3.6-million Cape Breton Cares campaign in support of cancer and neonatal care in Cape Breton — the community's portion of the total $9.875-million project.

Of the $3.6 million, $3 million is needed to expand the cancer centre and purchase much needed state-of-the-art surgical and diagnostic equipment.

“We are extremely grateful to Mr. Chisholm and Pioneer Coal. Last year alone, more than 30,000 patient visits were made to the cancer centre. For these patients, this gift will help provide critical care — thank you,” said Barbara Stead-Coyle, chief executive officer with the foundation.

In appreciation of the donation, a waiting room in the Cape Breton Cancer Centre will be named by Pioneer Coal.

“I extend a huge thank you to Pioneer Coal and Mr. Chisholm for this very generous gift,” said campaign chair Irving Schwartz.

Pioneer Coal Ltd. has been in operation since 1980 and specializes in coal mining and exploration services. Though employment varies dependant on the number projects underway, on average Pioneer Coal provides employment for 150 people, approximately 50 of whom are Cape Bretoners.

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Province could make Baille Ard provincial park

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The Baille Ard ball is back in the province’s court.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has been working back-and-forth with the provincial government for months in its attempt to acquire the Baille Ard Land Assembly from the province.

The province said it has no plans to develop the 216 acres of undeveloped woodland anytime soon but that it wants to keep it because the minimal amount of land the province has banked for affordable low-income housing in the Sydney area obliges the government to keep it for this purpose.

The Baille Ard Trail, which is nestled among subdivisions in south end Sydney, boasts a 3.6-kilometre trail system that has been developed over 15 years and it now covers 53 acres of land.

Speaking with the province’s housing authority, CBRM planner Malcolm Gillis said he believes the government will at some point in the future develop the land assembly for residential use, but until then the province “is prepared to expand the jurisdiction of the lease agreement with the CBRM to include lands encompassing the expanded trail network,” he said.

“If the province won’t/can’t convey the requested land to the CBRM to allow the regional municipality to dedicate it as municipal parkland, the province could consider dedicating the requested lands as a provincial park,” Gillis wrote in his recommendation to the planning advisory committee, Thursday.

“There is apparent evidence that the province has shown a willingness to do just that within the Halifax metro area.” The committee voted unanimously to advise council to pressure provincial politicians to have the land designated as a provincial park.

Man, I wish I could get home for this. I've been trying to go to these and the CIS championships for years, to no avail.

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From left, Phil Currie, executive director of Atlantic University Sport, John Lynn, CEO of Enterprise Cape Breton Corp., Kirk MacRae, local Subway restaurant franchisee, and John Ryan, AUS president and athletic director for Cape Breton University, are pictured with the Read Cup, the AUS men’s basketball championship trophy, after a press conference at Centre 200 in Sydney, Thursday. Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post

‘March madness’ in Cape Breton
2010 men’s basketball championship coming to Centre 200

The Cape Breton Post

By T.J. Colello
Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The executive director of Atlantic University Sport says with the 2010 Subway Final 6 AUS Men’s Basketball Championship slated for Centre 200 in March, it could result in the event coming to Sydney and other venues in the coming years.

“If we have a very successful year in 2010, it provides us with a pretty solid argument internally to maybe keep the event here for maybe two more years beyond that when we host the national championship in Halifax in 2011 and 2012,” said Phil Currie. “I think it would make sense to make it a little semi-permanent and look at other markets beyond that around the Maritimes.

“Just the community’s commitment to the facility, I think is also a big part of it,” Currie added. “If we were to be able to stay here for a year or two beyond 2010, those renovations would be finished here and I think that lends a whole bunch more not just to this event, but to any event that’s taking place at Centre 200.”

The AUS, Enterprise Cape Breton Corp., Subway and Cape Breton University made the official announcement, Thursday, that the men’s championship will be held in Sydney March 12-14 and will leave Halifax for the first time in 28 years. The tournament is usually held at the Metro Centre in Halifax, but the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier men’s national curling championship bumped the hoops out of their usually venue.

Organizers expect the event to fill 1,200 hotel rooms in the area, from both the participating teams and fans alike. “Come home to Cape Breton” is the marketing campaign for the event, encouraging Cape Bretoners living away and CBU alumni to return for the games.

It will also be the second time in three weeks there will be a high-profile tournament played on Cape Breton soil, as the Capers women host the 2010 conference championship at CBU’s Sullivan Field House, Feb. 26-28. Sydney was chosen for the men’s tournament because of the facility, its size and its proximity to accommodations, entertainment and other amenities.

“Representing the 11-member universities, we did have a lot of decision making to do,” said John Ryan, CBU athletics director and president of the AUS. “We did look at different markets in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton, but as Phil mentioned, this made the most sense.”

Capers head coach Jim Charters said not having to travel for the AUS championship will be an advantage for his club, as will the raucous fan support he expects in the stands. Centre 200 will have a maximum capacity for 5,500 fans each game.

“It’s a chance for us to showcase our product,” he said. “We’ve been in the national top 10 the last five years, we have some quality players and teams and it’ll be a chance to be on a bigger stage and show the local community the kind of product we have.”

Ticket packages go on sale at the Centre 200 box office starting Oct. 19.
The five-game packages will be $15 for youth, $30 for students and seniors and $50 for adults, which does not include box-office charges. Individual tickets will go on sale in the weeks prior to the tournament.

I'm going to have to update the first page soon...
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Membertou wants land rezoned for hotel

CHRIS SHANNON
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The Membertou First Nation is requesting the Cape Breton Regional Municipality rezone a parcel of land adjacent the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre to allow construction of a 130-room hotel under the Hilton brand.

Council will be asked at its monthly meeting Oct. 20 to approve a public participation process to collect community input on the proposed development.

The lawyer representing the Membertou Development Corp. and band council told the CBRM planning advisory committee the hotel would be connected to the convention centre via pedway across its parking lot.

Gary Corsano said even if the municipality turned down the rezoning request the hotel can still be built within Membertou’s boundaries.

Although financing for the $15-million project becomes easier if Membertou builds the hotel on property the First Nation acquired from the CBRM in 2005, and which continues to fall under municipal jurisdiction, he said.

“It will provide newly assessed commercial property value to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and it will probably employ somewhere in the area of 50-plus individuals,” Corsano said, Thursday.

He said the hotel, which will be managed by Hilton-owned Hampton Inn Hotel and Suites, would compliment the trade and convention centre, but also attract more conventions and large-scale events to the area while not detracting from hotels in downtown Sydney.

The CBRM planning department cautioned the committee that it has no legal obligation to enter into a process to amend the municipal planning strategy with Membertou.

Planner Malcolm Gillis said in his issue paper councillors will want to consider this request very carefully.

“Existing policy direction could be so accepted by its constituents that to open the matter for debate could bring about a storm of protest,” Gillis said.

He said residents who use the trail system behind Rotary Drive, the administration and parents of students at Shipyard Elementary School, and those residents living on side streets off Alexandra Street, would likely have a particular interest in the scope of this proposed development.

Corsano said Membertou is also addressing traffic concerns. The hotel would be accessed by the existing Towerview Drive and the yet-to-be-built connector road, which will be built between Membertou and Mira Road.

If the CBRM grants the rezoning request, construction will begin this April, with an expected opening date in April 2011.

"The CBRM planning department cautioned the committee that it has no legal obligation to enter into a process to amend the municipal planning strategy with Membertou.

Planner Malcolm Gillis said in his issue paper councillors will want to consider this request very carefully.

“Existing policy direction could be so accepted by its constituents that to open the matter for debate could bring about a storm of protest,” Gillis said.

-Some things are starting to make sense to me now. Let me break it down for you, oh wise planning department, you either get the tax dollars or you don't. If Membertou doesn't build it on your tax land, they'll build it on theirs, plain and simple. Either way, I think the hotel will be a great addition.

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CBRM looking into possibility of rerouting oil truck traffic

BY CHRIS SHANNON
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will be looking into possible changes to the route oil trucks take to and from the Imperial Oil bulk fuel storage facility in the north end.

For years residents living along north George Street have complained about the noise and amount of traffic the facility generates on a daily basis.

Now the CBRM planning department will be looking into diverting truck traffic
away from residents’ front doorsteps.

Planner Malcolm Gillis said the CBRM has no legal authority to “squeeze out” Imperial Oil from its current facility since it’s been zoned heavy industrial for decades.

The company could renovate its existing infrastructure or even add bulk oil tanks within its property, Gillis said. But Imperial Oil would not be allowed to expand beyond the land it currently occupies.

The CBRM planning advisory committee recommended Thursday that council seek additional information on rerouting truck traffic along the tar ponds where the railway shunting yard sits.

While municipal planners looked at that possible 700-metre route during the development of the north end Sydney secondary planning strategy, most residents living east of George Street panned the idea during the public consultation process a few years ago.

“While this alternative route would not only alleviate the noise and traffic volumes along George Street and the Esplanade, most residences east of George Street would notice an improvement, there would be pockets of residences that would notice a significant increase in the noise” but not the traffic because it would be a dedicated street, Gillis said in his report to the committee.

The North End Improvement Society had been pushing the municipality to force Imperial Oil to relocate elsewhere, however Gillis said that could cost the company as much as $50 million and is not an option for the oil giant.

Another alternative delivery route would eliminate traffic problems altogether by constructing a bridge over the mouth of Muggah Creek and a
two-kilometre road that would connect to the Sydney Port Access Road.

Sydney Tar Ponds Agency officials “have confirmed (that option) was deemed outside the project scope, and as such the barrier across the mouth of Muggah Creek is not designed to accommodate public traffic,” Gillis said.

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Cleaner, greener research promised

BY NANCY KING
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — In what was called an event that will transform Cape Breton University, the federal and provincial governments announced a combined $15 million in funding Friday to support development of a centre to research green energy and environmental remediation.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is putting $4.5 million into the Centre for Sustainability in Energy and Environment, with another $3 million in federal funding coming through Industry Canada.

The province is investing $2.5 million in infrastructure funding and $5 million in low-interest loans.

The centre will focus on mine-water cleanup, how to extract cleaner energy from coal, green energy technology and environmental remediation. It will also include an aboriginal science education program.

Construction is expected to begin soon, and should be completed in spring, 2011.

Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, said there is a growing awareness of environmental and energy matters and there are opportunities to encourage sustainable development, and Cape Breton Island is uniquely positioned to address environmental and energy challenges.

He noted more than $750 million has been committed to remediating former industrial sites in Cape Breton and the island’s geography and geology offer a range of research opportunities for sustainable energy. The new centre will draw from the island’s industrial past, its natural resources and CBU’s research and teaching capabilities.

“These are perhaps, arguably, two of the world’s biggest challenges, so having that kind of a foundation here, attracting people and academic and business settings and looking for projects and better understanding of remediation, I believe all of this is going to be of great economic advantage to the region, to the province and nationally,” he said.

Deputy Premier Frank Corbett said the provincial funding is well spent, and the centre is an exciting project for the province and a catalyst for knowledge-based jobs and economic development.

“It’s a good investment because of green energy, of the reality of the coal history that we have here and the ability to turn what’s traditionally seen as a dirty energy source into a clean energy source, that’s very important, plus the other things we will learn cleaning up the coal sites, cleaning up the tar ponds, the Sysco sites, this is a real win-win situation,” he said.

CBU president John Harker said the centre will help contribute to necessary economic progress in the Atlantic region.

CBU chancellor Annette Verschuren noted she worked for Devco for 11 years, serving as director of long-range planning, and during that time was involved in some projects she didn’t see as being sustainable. CBU’s project offers a chance to take experience the region has in reclamation and opportunities presented by the coal fields and develop sustainability, and its impact will be felt beyond Cape Breton, she said.

“This is a living laboratory ... we have the coal mines, we have alternative energy, we have wind on this island, we have lots of examples of reclamation projects and opportunity and so it’s a great place to invest our research money in to drive change,” she said.

While Verschuren noted the launch of the project took a little longer than CBU had hoped — it had pushed for a funding commitment last spring — she said the timing is right.

Verschuren said they will launch a private-sector fundraising campaign as well, with a $5-million goal. She has already made the first contribution to that effort, with a $500,000 personal contribution.

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Local port authorities to attend trade show in New Orleans

BY TOM AYERS
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Two Cape Breton port authorities are sending delegates to a New Orleans breakbulk conference next week on an international trade mission designed to drum up business back home.

The Sydney Ports Corp. and Strait of Canso Superport are both expected to attend the conference in Louisiana, which runs Oct. 13-15.

Don Rowe, Sydney Ports Corp. general manager, said no one expects to return with signed business deals. The goal is to make contacts that could lead to increased shipping traffic, through a trade show and meetings with cargo companies.

A plan to dredge Sydney harbour to accommodate larger ships and a proposal to build a container terminal here are still in the works, but Rowe said Sydney used to handle breakbulk cargo and could still do so with little investment.

“While all of this work is going on in the port of Sydney, the dredging plan and the development of the terminal, we still have to look at all of the things we’ve been able to handle here at the port and that includes breakbulk,” he said. “There’s opportunities out there for us to develop our port and see what we can do.”

Breakbulk cargo usually contains materials that aren’t shipped in containers. It comes in by water and is transferred to trucks and railcars for shipping elsewhere.

“We handled a lot of breakbulk for Devco, for Sydney Steel,” said Rowe. “We haven’t done any here for some time, since they closed the coal mines and the steel mill.”

Rowe said depending on the nature of the cargo, Sydney’s port facilities could handle some breakbulk work right away, but might need to add wharf and storage facilities at some point.

No one from the Strait of Canso Superport Corp. was available for comment Thursday.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is contributing $89,000 towards the trade mission, which includes representatives from 10 ports in Atlantic Canada, but Rowe said participants pay their own way to New Orleans.

I'm just posting a part of this one, the full commentary can be found in the link.
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Priests step up to the pulpit, tar ponds by the numbers, and chit-chat

FRED JACKSON
The Cape Breton Post

...

Tar ponds by the numbers
Dan White, a Sydney consultant, in his address to the Sydney Rotary Club this week, gave a detailed update on the economic impact the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens Remediation Project is having on Cape Breton. The statistics are impressive. The $400 million project is scheduled to be completed in 2014, and about 34 contracts valued at $94 million have been awarded to 19 firms in the April 2008 to March 2009 period. Seventeen of those firms are located in Cape Breton.
Here are some more numbers:
• Peak direct project employment of 520 persons;
• $71.2 million in project expenditures to March 2009 (18 per cent of budget);
• 61 per cent average Cape Breton content;
• Estimated 383 full-time equivalent jobs.
This is great news and there will be plenty of other spinoffs as result of this project, such as business and recreation facilities and a clean environment.

...

Discussions are being held to expand and renovate the Sydney Shopping Street on Prince Street, which houses Zellers, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys and Smitty’s Restaurant as well as several retail outlets. The plans are exciting and will have an impact on the area.

Anybody have info on the plans for SSC? My best guess - and that's all it is, given the state of the mall, is that they're going to pull a "Fredericton Mall (now Uptown Centre)" and make it another strip mall/mini power centre, similar to Prince Street Plaza (which I believe either Crombie also owns or Empire does), though possibly slightly larger.

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Technology competition attracts 21 Cape Breton submissions

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Twenty one local entrepreneurs will compete for the regional prize in the latest edition of a provincial technology competition.

The Cape Breton entrepreneurs are part of 133 submissions from across the province as part of the InNOVAcorp I-3 Technology Start-Up competition
The idea, innovation and implementation contest was designed by the provincial Crown corporation to give high-potential early stage companies a chance for success through investment and business mentorship.

“We exceeded the number of submissions received in the 2007-08 I-3 competition,” said Dan MacDonald, president and CEO of InNOVAcorp, in a press release.

“Based on the inquiries and the general buzz leading up to the deadline, we are very much looking forward to the next step in the process.”

Judges will now evaluate each entry based on the quality and significance of the business idea, the addressable market and strategy, the strength of the management team, and financial viability.

A short list of five submissions from each zone will be announced Oct. 22 and move forward to round two. The short listed businesses will have until Nov.
19 to submit a full business plan.

First and second place winners from each zone get an award package worth $100,000 and $40,000 respectively.

A provincial winner selected from the first place zone winners is also given a $100,000 HPi Microfund investment.

Darren Gallop of Sydney, president of both Marcato Digital Solutions and Company House Records, was named a Cape Breton zone winner in December 2007.

Gallop received $100,000 in cash and services that helped him create a web-based software system for music industry professionals.

During that competition, their were 17 Cape Breton entries and a total of 121 in the five geographic zones across Nova Scotia.

Visit www.innovacorp.ca for more information.

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Doing some catch-up. Here's a little snippit to start...

Full column here:
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Halloween history, trestle turmoil and chit-chat

FRED JACKSON
The Cape Breton Post

...

Deputy premier Frank Corbett was a busy man last Friday. The deputy premier and MLA for Cape Breton Centre attended the $15 million federal-provincial funding announcement for the Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University. Corbett also met with several groups about potential events for Cape Breton. He is a capable politician.
It was also a big week for a sports announcement. The 2010 Atlantic University Sports men’s basketball championship will be held at Centre 200. This event will have an economic impact. And look for another major sporting announcement shortly. It appears to be exciting times in the Cape Breton sports arena.
Master Meats, destroyed by fire earlier this year, is scheduled to reopen in early November, according to co-owner Derek Dupe.

...

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President and CEO Ross McCurdy says Cape Breton Development Corp. — also known as Devco — is ready to be dissolved and taken over by Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. Tom Ayers - Cape Breton Post

Devco ready to dissolve

TOM AYERS
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Almost a decade after the federal government announced the winding down of the Cape Breton Development Corp., the Crown corporation is ready to be dissolved.

The assets and liabilities of Devco, created in 1967 to phase out uneconomic coal mine operations and develop other industries, will be assumed by Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. by Dec. 31.

A majority of the specialized staff are expected to be absorbed by ECBC, but Devco president and CEO Ross McCurdy figures he’ll be out of a job.

“By moving the Crown corporations together, my particular role will be eliminated, and I’m fine with that,” McCurdy said in an interview in his office at Silicon Island.

“I’m delighted that we’re actually at a stage where things have advanced well enough for this marriage with ECBC to happen.”

Devco officially began winding down in 2000 and closed its last coal mine a year later. Since then, it has spent millions of dollars remediating high-risk lands and managing mine water. That work is about two-thirds complete, said McCurdy, and will continue under ECBC.

However, the largest slice of Devco’s budget involves payments to former miners and widows for early retirements, pensions and workers compensation benefits.

McCurdy said those payments are mandated by the federal government and will continue under ECBC, with early retirement benefits ending as recipients reach age 65.

Monitoring of mine sites and managing mine water treatment will likely go on much longer.

“The activities of Devco will carry on, certainly some of them, for another 40 years,” said McCurdy. “But the heavy lifting is complete and when the heavy lifting is complete, that’s the right time to dissolve the corporation.”

Devco owned about 11,000 acres of land and has sold or conveyed some of that land already.

“We have about 7,500 acres that we still own and I would say about 40 per cent of that is still under remediation,” said McCurdy.

Devco has 15 full-time staff and one contract employee, most have whom administer the financial programs for former miners and spouses and manage contracts to remediate properties.

“I would think that most people will continue to be connected to the program,” McCurdy said. “A lot of the Devco staff are highly skilled in unique areas and we wouldn’t want to lose that.”

The land is divided into more than 700 properties grouped in 13 geographic areas, mostly related to the former collieries, some of which began producing coal more than 100 years ago.

McCurdy said Devco’s annual budget is roughly $70 million. About $3 million goes toward staff salaries and administration, roughly $17 million is paid out in remediation contracts — a majority of those going to Cape Breton companies — and about $50 million covers the financial obligations to former employees.

McCurdy said the transition to ECBC control should go smoothly, because Devco has been winding down for years and both Crown corporations have worked closely together on numerous projects, including the new Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University, as well as the creation of a mine water research chair at CBU.

Devco’s plans include selling or conveying remediated land to benefit the community, some of which is already in the works, such as the Rails to Trails plan proposed in the Glace Bay area.

“I’d say the thing we can be most proud of is the legacy that we’re leaving to the community,” said McCurdy.

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ECBC ready to expand

TOM AYERS
The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. CEO John Lynn sees the impending takeover of the Cape Breton Development Corp. as a coming-of-age story.

ECBC was born out of Devco’s industrial development division, he said in a recent interview at his office in Silicon Island, and has matured to the point where the progeny is ready to assume responsibility for its progenitor.

“Said another way, the child of the corporation is now becoming the parent,” he said.

The end result, Lynn said, is that Cape Breton will be represented by a single Crown corporation with a strong mandate for economic development and the proper tools to do the job.

ECBC will assume Devco’s liabilities, continuing to remediate former coal mine sites and administering financial benefits to former employees, but Devco’s assets complement ECBC’s mandate, giving the Crown corporation the backing it needs to aggressively market the island and grow its economy, said Lynn.

For example, ECBC could use the land to attract commercial or industrial development, or it could be used in development of green energy alternatives.

And ECBC will work closely with the Centre for Sustainable Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University “so that the science that’s conducted by the centre can leverage the activities of the Crown corporation,” Lynn said.

The best part, he added, is that a recent mandate review and special audit by the federal government left the Crown corporation — and its decision-making power — centred in Cape Breton.

“The beauty of this decision is we have a residual, strong Crown corporation ... with a local board of directors that are properly motivated to direct the activities of the Crown corporation,” Lynn said. “We think this is the best possible outcome for Cape Breton.”

Most Devco employees will be transferred to ECBC, but it’s not likely all of the jobs will be preserved.

“The majority of the staff of the Cape Breton Development Corp. that carry out specialized technical activities will come across to Enterprise Cape Breton Corp.,” said Lynn. “It is impossible in a corporate restructuring that there is no change. But the amount of the impact on people will be minimal.”

The dissolution and absorption of Devco is underway, he added, but the detailed plan will be presented to ECBC’s board of directors in November.

“Now we have to get down to work on putting the two Crown corporations together and working for the broader benefit of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia,” he said .

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Proposed trail on agenda for two public meetings

SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE
The Cape Breton Post

GLACE BAY — Councillors in Glace Bay and Dominion are encouraging residents to attend public meetings this week to discuss the possible conversion of the former Devco Rail Line between Gardiner Road and Brookside Street into a managed public trail.

District 5 Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger said although plans include for the trail to extend to Louisbourg, in their area it starts at the Gardiner Road and through to Brookside Street, Glace Bay.

“There are more concerns about that particular area because it is more suburban.”

Bruckschwaiger, along with Couns. George MacDonald and Lee McNeil, sent letters to residents living — or having property — along the area of the proposed trail.

“We want them to show up and ask questions, and bring any concerns or ideas they might have.”

The meeting are scheduled for Wednesday at the Bayplex in Glace Bay and Thursday at the Royal Canadian Legion in Dominion. Both will take place from 7-9 p.m.

Bruckschwaiger said some ideas for the trail include walking, bicycles, ATVs and dirt bikes.

“These are all things that were discussed in pre-planning meetings held last spring at the Bayplex.

“At those meetings there were different concerns. Some people thought ATVs shouldn’t be there, some felt they should be. This meeting is an opportunity for people to hear all sides and ask questions.”

After the meeting people in the buffer zone area will receive questionnaires from the CBRM Active Transportation Committee.

“I heard from people who may be intimidated going to such a meeting who want to have input.

“For me it is going to come down to the residential taxpayer who is living next to that property. I am going to be listening very carefully to those residents in particular.

“I had many complaints regarding ATVs travelling all hours of the night causing damage to properties, including from a woman on King’s Road whose cat was run over right in her backyard.”

District 3 Coun. McNeil also encourages residents to attend.

“Their voice is what matters to me. Come out and give your input and voice your opinions. What is most important is to get the feedback from the people, what their wishes are.”

McNeil has also heard concerns pertaining to ATV or dirt bike use on the trails.

“There is one family where the trail is next to their property line. They can’t barbecue or even enjoy the summer outside because of the dust.”

District 4 Coun. MacDonald said the public has been kept informed including a public forum last fall. Using public input, a tentative plan has been put in place.

“The CBRM is trying to get a final consensus from the people. It is one time where I have seen where residents are going to have lots of input. They will certainly play a part in the final determination on how the trail is going to be used.”

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‘Squeaky wheel’ gets the infrastructure funding

SHARON MONTGOMERY
The Cape Breton Post

GLACE BAY — A total of $92 million in funding infrastructure improvements in Nova Scotia was announced Monday — and this time Glace Bay made the list.

Cape Breton Regional Municipality Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger said the announcement by all three levels of government included $5.5 million for road
and sewer improvements in Glace Bay.

“Defence Minister Peter MacKay called me at 8:20 a.m. (Monday),” said Bruckschwaiger, who represents District 5. “He was in Halifax for the announcement and wanted to tell me a lot of the projects in Glace Bay have been approved.”

The announcement was made by Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks, federal Minister of Transport and Infrastructure John Baird, MacKay and Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Peter Kelly.

A total of $55 million was announced for a library in Halifax, $31.6 million for roads provincewide, and $5.5 million for waste water projects in the Glace Bay area.

Bruckschwaiger said street improvements approved in Glace Bay include Station Street, MacIntyre’s Lane, Wallace’s Road, West Avenue, Bruce Street, Mitchell Avenue, Hickman Street and Brookside Street.

The councillors had been up in arms for the past several weeks after the East Division, which includes Glace Bay, received $800,000 for infrastructure improvements. Area councillors complained that although CBRM staff had stated the area needed the most upgrades, North Division and Central Division were given $5.4 million for upgrades.

District 4 Coun. George MacDonald also described Monday’s announcement as good news for Glace Bay.

“We are a lot better off than we were last week.”

He said they will continue to fight to get the other projects completed.

“We will continue fighting for those projects because sometimes there are other sources of funding we can tap into.”

District 3 Coun. Lee McNeil said the funding will help residents of Wallace’s Road, where a new junior high school is being built.

“This work is going to enhance that area. For years that work was needed there. This is long overdo.”

Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, said it would have been easy to “have gone ballistic and made a big political show” after the Glace Bay area was short-changed during the last round of infrastructure funding announcements.

“However I approached the ministers responsible and I appreciate their help on the outcome,” he said.

Glace Bay MLA Dave Wilson raised the matter in question period last week.

“At the time (Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal) Minister Estabrooks said he would be taking it up with the federal minister Baird and Deputy Premier Frank Corbett. I am glad that everybody has spoken up on behalf of Glace Bay and area because that infrastructure was needed. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I guess this is the case here.”

The $31 million for provincial roads includes Route 255 from Homeville/Round Island east to Mira Gut Bridge, Route 305 to Kings Road, Cabot Trail from East Big Interval Road southerly.

Corbett said paving will include Gardiner Road from Trunk 4 to Trunk 28 for 3.9 kilometres.

“Ministers Estabrooks and Jennex are helping our government keep our commitments to Nova Scotians,” he said. “This work will go a long way to helping build our communities.”

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Cape Breton businesses off to Brazil on trade mission

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — Representatives of four Cape Breton businesses are off to Brazil for a trade mission in a bid to create new business opportunities.

The trip coincides with the Rio de Janeiro stop of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race during which Cape Breton Island – Nova Scotia’s Masterpiece Clipper placed fourth.

Organized by Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, Nova Scotia Business Inc. and the World Trade Centre Atlantic Canada, the Cape Breton reps will have meetings in both Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo.

Island participants are Marcato Digital Solutions, Protocase, Premium Seafoods, and the Strait of Canso Superport.

Darren Gallop, president and founder of Marcato Digital Solutions, a Sydney-based firm that builds web-based software systems for the music industry, sees tremendous potential in the mission.

“The Brazilian market is one of the top 10 music markets in the world and this is a fantastic opportunity for us to gain access to it,” said Gallop.

“We just completed a deal with an Austrian company to franchise our technologies in German-speaking countries and, through this Brazil mission, we hope to achieve a similar arrangement for Portuguese-speaking markets.”

Premium Seafoods, of Arichat, has 25 years experience in the seafood industry but has not yet done business in Brazil.

“We decided to take part in this trade mission to make connections that will allow us to enter and compete in this new market,” said Edgar Samson, company president.

“Brazil is one of the growing markets most talked about by seafood experts and we see an opportunity to market lobster, shrimp, crab and ocean perch.”

The backdrop of the trade mission is the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, in which Cape Breton has the only Canadian entry in the race.

“The Clipper initiative is allowing us to bring Cape Breton Island and some of its companies to a global audience. Valuable contacts have already been made in Hull and La Rochelle and we believe this trade mission to Brazil will lay the foundation for expanding our business opportunities with Brazil,” said Marlene Usher, executive director general of Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation.

The mission begins Sunday in Rio de Janeiro and ends next Friday in Sao Paolo. Each participating company will be involved in a number of one-on-one meetings with Brazilian firms which are being selected by the World Trade Centre in Sao Paolo and the Canadian Consulate.

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Cape Breton entrepreneurs compete for $100,000 prize

The Cape Breton Post

MEMBERTOU — Entrepreneurs in Cape Breton are in the running for InNOVAcorp’s I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition.

“At this point in the competition, we have identified the 25 most compelling companies,” Dan MacDonald, president and CEO of InNOVAcorp, said in a news release. “We are very pleased with the quantity and quality of the submissions and look forward to getting a more in-depth look at them in round two.”

The 25 companies invited to compete in round two of the competition include five from Cape Breton Island.

Billdidit Inc., run by Joe Menchefski and Bill Coady of Sydney, produces drum accessories including the Coady clutch, the world’s first passive hi-hat drop clutch which allows drummers to engage and disengage their hi-hats during live performances.

Fireblade Dairy Services, owned by Chris van den Heuvel of Port Hood, offers interactive business metric dashboarding technology.

Corrine McIsaac of New Waterford operates Health Tech Outcome, an e-health solutions company specializing in improving health care and reducing costs.

Jema, which is operated by Brennan O’Leary of North West Arm, is a consumer products manufacturer that integrates toys and apparel with an online gaming experience.

Ed Fedora and Paul Graham of Sydney operate Prescribed Solutions Consulting Inc., which is a drug benefits management program.

Entrepreneurs selected to move on to round two of the competition are required to submit a full business plan by Nov. 19 to be reviewed by the six-person judging committees in each zone. The three companies in each zone selected to move on in the competition will be announced on Dec. 8.

Each first-place zone winner will receive a $100,000 award package and each second place zone winner will receive a $40,000 award package of seed investment, cash, and in-kind contributions for development of their startup ventures. Award packages will include business building services in the form of marketing, accounting, sales, and legal expertise from the I-3 competition partners.

At the end of the competition, one provincial winner will be selected from among the five first place zone winners, and awarded a $100,000 seed investment from InNOVAcorp’s HPi™ Microfund.

In total, the competition attracted 133 formal submissions from across Nova Scotia, far exceeding InNOVAcorp’s goal of 100 submissions.

For more information on the I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition, visit www.innovacorp.ca.

Another snippit...
Full column here:
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=297202&sc=150

Vatican has an obligation, Cape Breton comedy, and chit-chat

FRED JACKSON
The Cape Breton Post

...

Look for another new development for the downtown Sydney area. A modern fitness centre is in plans for the old Ron May site on Prince Street.

Veteran real estate owner Roy Milley says the local market has not been affected by the downturn in the economy. This week Milley told me that closed sales in the local market exceeded $60 million for the year to date. That’s phenomenal and great sign.

...

I guess that means SDM is out for that site...they must be part of the renovations of Sydney Shopping Centre, which I still haven't heard anything about beyond what I posted here.

[Smevo]

Just thought I'd post this from the letter's section since the idea was brought up as a possibility (although seen as a very remote possibility) in the submissions for the active transportation plan a while back. As unlikely as it is, I still think it's a good idea, especially if the service expands to include a Sydney-to-Northside link as well.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/index....=297196&sc=595

Cross-harbour ferry should be revived as public alternative

The Cape Breton Post

I want to raise a conversation on improved Sydney area transit, specifically between Sydney and Westmount. Since there is no bus service from the Sydney River bridge through Westmount and beyond, why not reinstate a passenger ferry boat?

For the past several months, I’ve been researching the history of the defunct Sydney and Westmount ferry company. I’ve learned that it existed for more than 40 years.

My grandfather, Ashley Aitken, was the last captain on the service. A number of interesting finds have been discovered.

Crossing the harbour on the Mary took only within three minutes between company wharves.

Who would benefit from a ferry service? First, seniors. Today’s healthy and active seniors could enjoy a walk to a Westmount-side terminal, cross the harbour, then walk down Charlotte Street to pay bills, shop, have lunch.
When finished, they could return to Westmount the same way.

This new transit mode could save car travel time, plus gas consumption.

University students of the Westmount side could benefit by boarding a ferry at 7:30 a.m. to make the 8 a.m. Glace Bay bus passing through Charlotte Street. Cape Breton University is part of the Glace Bay route.

When a person doesn’t own a car, a ferry service to Westmount would dismiss the need of thumbing a ride from the Westmount corner at the bridge.

Ross Aitkens
Sydney

One way I could see it working is to have a "park-and-ride" system at the Westmount terminal (with the same plus a bus stop at the Northside terminal if the service expands to include it), and move the downtown bus-connection stop from it's current location at George St to the new Sydney terminal. I don't see park-and-ride being necessary on the Sydney side if the service becomes a reality.

[Smevo]

Last thing for the night. This was posted in the thread in the main Canada forum, but I figured I'd copy it over here since Sydney's now included in the streetview list.

Source: http://maps.google.ca/help/maps/streetview/where-is-street-view.html

Where are our vehicles currently driving?

This information shows a sample of the areas in which our cars are currently operating. We try to make sure the information is accurate and kept up to date, but because of factors outside our control (weather, road closures, etc), it is always possible that our cars may not be operating, or be operating in areas that are not listed. In these circumstances, we'll try to update the list as soon as we can. Please also be aware that where the list specifies a particular city, this may include smaller cities and towns that are within driving distance.

Province City

Alberta: Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prarie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer

British Columbia: Cranbrook, Gold River, Kamloops, Kimberly, Merritt, Pemberton, Port Hardy, Prince George, Prince Rupert , Revelstoke, Vancouver

Manitoba: Brandon, Dauphin, Grand Rapids, Snow Lake, Swan River, The Pas, Thompson

New Brunswick: Bathurst, Campbelton, Caraquet, Edmondston, Grand Falls, Miramichi, Plaster River

Newfoundland: Bay Roberts, Bonavista, Carbonear, Channel-Port-aux Basques, Corner Brook, Deer Lake, Gander, Harbor Grace, St. Johns, Stephenville

Northwest Territories: Inuvik

Nova Scotia: Amherst, Antigonish, Guysborough, Halifax, New Glasgow, Port Hawkesbury, Sydney

Ontario: Baysville, Brighton, Chapleau, Niagra Falls, North Bay, Norwich, Ottawa, Pembroke, Port Colborne, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Catherines, St. Marys, St. Thomas, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Trenton, Welland

Prince Edward Island: Charlotteton, Mimigenash, Mt. Pleasant, Summerside

Quebec: Alma, Baie-Saint-Paul, Beauceville, Cowansville, Gaspe, La Baie, Macamic, Malartic, Montreal, Plessisville, Quebec, Rimouski, Sainte Marie, Saint-Prosper, Sherbrook, Thetford Mines, Waterloo

Saskatchewan: Canora, North Battleford, Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current

Yukon Territory: Dawson, Haines Junction, Mayo, Ross River, Watson Lake, Whitehorse

[Bedford_DJ]

Smevo,

You don't happen to know what is currently the tallest building under construction in the Sydney do you?

[Smevo]

Under construction? Probably about 2-storeys, unless the university is building something taller. I don't know if their new residence is under construction or not yet, but they usually run about 4-storeys. I haven't heard about Microtel starting yet (assuming around 4-storeys) or the new senior's complex...again in the 4-storey range. Membertou's hotel might be in the 4-5 storey range (they have a couple huge - in length - 4 storey apartment buildings near the Convention centre which look newly finished, but are finished nonetheless). The Vogue office building is 3-storeys, but was finishing up when I was home in the summer so is probably complete now.

Tallest thing proposed right now is Spanish Gates (~7 storeys), but we haven't seen any movement on that since the North-End Viewplanes were established.

Not too exciting on the height front, but plenty of volume for a city turning out of its worst decline ever.

[Davey Boy Smith]

The Vogue building is just finishing up final details but is not opened yet. The exterior is mostly finished.

The YMCA expansion is somewhat on hold as the old building tear down is listed as TBA. I hear rumblings that it is because of something found (possibly asbestos) in the old building.

Some ground work has occurred at the old Ron May site but no official announcement of any building there.

[Bedford_DJ]

Thanks you two.

I'll list the Vogue as under construction for now until the YMCA or other news is announced.