Tidal Power Already Fuelling Economic Potential
Recent reports in this newsletter - and throughout the mainstream media - of growing international interest in the tidal power potential of the Bay of Fundy are rapidly energizing economic conjecture in Annapolis Digby. And ADEDA has already been very actively working with the Town and Municipality of Digby to secure our geographical and workplace advantages in preparation for prospective business opportunities. ADEDA’s Managing Director said recently in a media interview that Digby was on the cusp of dramatic economic change and needed positioning and assistance quickly to take advantage of that latent potential.
ADEDA has already prepared a position paper that looks at, among other things, the expansion of our existing marine facilities to accommodate the projected capacity needed for the huge cranes and large buildings that would be required.
Meanwhile the local business community also heard plans for a more immediate marine related enterprise when the Digby and Area Board of Trade was briefed by Cooke Aquaculture of its plans for this area including further development of fish farms for salmon and processing facilities. The speakers outlined how currently their similar operations in other provinces are reaping benefits such as increased employment levels, new business development and service sector expansion.
Catch of the Week
However, in an innovative twist to our traditional fishery, it was equally wonderful to note that Atlantic Canada’s first Community Supported Fishery (CSF) was taking another step forward after a successful summer launch. The Off The Hook Cooperative, comprised of five bottom hook and line fishermen from Digby Neck and Islands, in partnership with the Ecology Action Centre, will begin weekly delivery of fresh, sustainably harvested haddock, hake and pollock to subscribing customers this week. The Annapolis Digby area already proudly and actively supports proponents of Community Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) and it’s great to see that another element of the sustainable community food movement is being made available as well.
Nature’s Playground
Meanwhile, back on “terra firma” an innovative new concept has been introduced in Bridgetown’s very popular Jubilee Park. An idea just a few months ago, local residents have marshalled volunteer labour and locally donated equipment and materials to create a “natural playground” that is proving extremely popular with young and old alike.
Keeping in Touch
If like many people you use social media to stay in touch with your regular sources of information and news, ADEDA is travelling with you. Our new communications feature is “Share ADEDA”, and you can access us using social media elements such as Face book, Twitter and YouTube. Just click on to our web site at www.annapolisdigby.com and slide over to the “Share ADEDA” box and click on your preferred icon.
Peter
ADEDA
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Ladies' Day
...at the Digby Neck Fire Hall in Sandy Cove, Saturday October 2, '10. $5. admission *lunch included*! Fashion show, Tuppeware, candles, artwork, Mary Kay, Avon and much more! Come on out, gals!
Yarmouth Goes Wireless
NS: Downtown Yarmouth increases appeal by going wireless
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, September 27, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The idea had been tossed around for some time, but it’s only been recently that much of downtown Yarmouth has gone wireless.
The downtown and a few other town blocks have been wireless for about a month now. Members of the town’s technology committee, and the town itself, see the introduction of the wireless network much the same as other infrastructure aimed at improving the lives of citizens and businesses.
The boundaries of the wireless network stretch from Water Street to around Brunswick Street, and from the Yarmouth Justice Centre on south Main Street to around where the Wendy’s/Tim Hortons is located further north.
“You won’t be able to download huge musical torrents or movies or stuff that is going to take a huge amount of bandwidth, because it’s meant to be a public network,” explains councillor Neil MacKenzie, chair of the town’s Public Information Technology Advisory Committee.
But if you need access to the Internet you’ll have it he says, and hopefully it will also serve as a tool to keep visitors to the area here longer.
“It will allow people who come here as a destination or who are traveling through to have more access to things that might get them to stay here,” MacKenzie says. “If they want to know how much a hotel room is, they don’t have to get on the phone, they can query it. It they want to look at a bed and breakfast, they could look it up.”
While standing on Main Street, councillor Neil MacKenzie, chairman of the town’s technology committee, logs into the town’s wireless network. — Tina Comeau photo
The wireless network, which is called Fishnet, is a monitored network, meaning people get a 24-hour lease to use it once they’ve logged on. When that time frame expires they go through the logging process again for future access. After clicking into the network a splash page will come up, asking for an email address. Once you enter the email you can gain access.
MacKenzie says they also have the capability to boost the network if needed for use in conjunction with major events happening in the town. As it stands, MacKenzie says it is a good network.
“The speed is about a four-meg download speed, so it’s not a wimpy network,” he says.
The project had initially been budgeted for $20,000, but it cost just under $16,000 to install and implement.
Other small towns are also jumping on the wireless bandwagon, MacKenzie notes.
“It’s a trend,” he says. “It shows that Yarmouth is thinking out of the box a bit because technology and the Internet needs to be on everyone’s mind or we’re just going to get left behind.”
By Tina Comeau, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Vanguard, September 27, 2010
[YARMOUTH, NS] — The idea had been tossed around for some time, but it’s only been recently that much of downtown Yarmouth has gone wireless.
The downtown and a few other town blocks have been wireless for about a month now. Members of the town’s technology committee, and the town itself, see the introduction of the wireless network much the same as other infrastructure aimed at improving the lives of citizens and businesses.
The boundaries of the wireless network stretch from Water Street to around Brunswick Street, and from the Yarmouth Justice Centre on south Main Street to around where the Wendy’s/Tim Hortons is located further north.
“You won’t be able to download huge musical torrents or movies or stuff that is going to take a huge amount of bandwidth, because it’s meant to be a public network,” explains councillor Neil MacKenzie, chair of the town’s Public Information Technology Advisory Committee.
But if you need access to the Internet you’ll have it he says, and hopefully it will also serve as a tool to keep visitors to the area here longer.
“It will allow people who come here as a destination or who are traveling through to have more access to things that might get them to stay here,” MacKenzie says. “If they want to know how much a hotel room is, they don’t have to get on the phone, they can query it. It they want to look at a bed and breakfast, they could look it up.”
While standing on Main Street, councillor Neil MacKenzie, chairman of the town’s technology committee, logs into the town’s wireless network. — Tina Comeau photo
The wireless network, which is called Fishnet, is a monitored network, meaning people get a 24-hour lease to use it once they’ve logged on. When that time frame expires they go through the logging process again for future access. After clicking into the network a splash page will come up, asking for an email address. Once you enter the email you can gain access.
MacKenzie says they also have the capability to boost the network if needed for use in conjunction with major events happening in the town. As it stands, MacKenzie says it is a good network.
“The speed is about a four-meg download speed, so it’s not a wimpy network,” he says.
The project had initially been budgeted for $20,000, but it cost just under $16,000 to install and implement.
Other small towns are also jumping on the wireless bandwagon, MacKenzie notes.
“It’s a trend,” he says. “It shows that Yarmouth is thinking out of the box a bit because technology and the Internet needs to be on everyone’s mind or we’re just going to get left behind.”
Labels:
Yarmouth wireless
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Digby Municipal Council Agenda
Council AgendaMeeting DateSeptember 27, 2010Meeting LocationWeymouth Waterfront LibraryCall to OrderDeputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpinePause to Seek GuidanceDeputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpineReading of Mission StatementDeputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpineDocumentsSubject AreaApproval of the AgendaAdditions/DeletionsCouncilStaffSpecial PresentationsPresentation of Certificate Sissiboo Investments Ltd-Mobius Environmental Award, SmallBusiness of the YearPresentations& HearingsMinutesApproval/AmendmentsAugust 23, 2010
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Council AgendaBusinessArising from Minutes/OldBusiness1.Weymouth Waterfront DevelopmentCommitteeSecond and Final Reading of Amendment # 10 to the TaxExemption By-law # 2000-022.TLC Animal ShelterFunding Request $ 12,0003.Keith Trimper MemorialPlaygroundFunding Request $ 10,000Deputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsNew Business# 1Dorothy ElmsLetter & Petition# 2ADEDAConfirmation of Deputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpine as Council’srepresentative on the ADEDA Board to replace Warden Thurber# 3ADEDARequest for Warden and CAO to sit on committee to review funding agreement and other governance issues# 4
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Council AgendaCAO ReportRequest for Decision or DirectionMeetingDates/Reminders Oct 12th–(Note change fromthe 11th) COTW @ 6:00 pmDigby Neck Consolidated SchoolOct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pmSmith’s Cove Fire HallNov 8th– Special CouncilMeeting @ 6:00 pm Tiverton Community HallNov 8th– COTW TivertonCommunity HallNov 22nd– Council @ 6:00 pmBarton SchoolMeeting Action ItemUpdatesSpecial Project UpdatesPayables- August2010$ 491,406.90Financial ReportNot available
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Council AgendaCorrespondence1.RCMPReport on Transformation of RCMP2.Minister Percy Paris,Tourism Culture & HeritageNS Heritage Property Act Review3.Municipality of Countyof AnnapolisOne year notice of withdrawalfrom ADEDA4.NS Labour & Workforce DevelopmentNS Labour Market Review 20095.Council Committees1.COTWPolice AdvisoryCommitteeAppointment of Ryck Miller andVictoria Wilson to Police AdvisoryCommittee2.By-law &Policy
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Council AgendaAdvisory Committees# 1 REMOManagementPlanningCommitteeDeputy Warden MacAlpine# 2 Heritage AdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams# 3 PlanningAdvisoryCommitteeDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor GregoryNo meeting since last report# 4 Police AdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsJuly meeting postponed until new citizen members appointed# 5 Tri CountyHousingAuthorityR FitzgeraldReported May 25thCouncil
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees# 1Airport WorkingGroupDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor Adams# 2Annapolis DigbyEconomic DevelopmentAgencyDeputy WardenMacAlpineMinutes Gen Bd June 2010and Aug 2010Minutes July and Sept 2010Conference MD Report Sept 2010#3Digby Annapolis DevelopmentCorpCouncillor AmeroNo meeting since last report#4Digby AreaLearningAssociationCouncillor Adams#5Digby AreaTourismAssociationCouncillor GregoryWebpage Update#6Digby AreaRecreation CommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroMinutes June 2010Recreation Manager Report September 2010#7Digby HarbourPort AssociationCouncillor GregoryMinutes July 2010#8Digby LibraryCommitteeDeputy Warden MacAlpineMeeting held Sept 27th#9FundywebBroadbandDeputy Warden MacAlpine Councillor AmeroMeeting held Sept 8thMinutes April 2010 -# 10 IndustrialCommissionDeputy WardenMacAlpine Councillor No meeting since last report
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Council AgendaAmero# 11 Kings Transit AuthorityCouncillor AmeroMinutes July & Aug 2010Ridership & Fin Report Aug31, 2010Regional/JointCommittees (con’t)# 12 Senior SafetyCommitteeCouncillor Adams Councillor Gregory# 13 Tideview TerraceCouncillor Gregory& Councillor Adams # 14 Waste CheckDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor GregoryMinutes July 2010General Manager ReportSeptemberStrategic Action PlanBy-law Enforcement ReportRegional Chairs Update# 15 Western Counties Regional LibraryDeputy Warden MacAlpineMinutes July 2010Council Activity Reports/Other CommitteesDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillorAmeroCouncillor AdamsNotice of Motion
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Council AgendaIn CameraContractual IssueAdjournment
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Council AgendaBusinessArising from Minutes/OldBusiness1.Weymouth Waterfront DevelopmentCommitteeSecond and Final Reading of Amendment # 10 to the TaxExemption By-law # 2000-022.TLC Animal ShelterFunding Request $ 12,0003.Keith Trimper MemorialPlaygroundFunding Request $ 10,000Deputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsNew Business# 1Dorothy ElmsLetter & Petition# 2ADEDAConfirmation of Deputy Warden Jimmy MacAlpine as Council’srepresentative on the ADEDA Board to replace Warden Thurber# 3ADEDARequest for Warden and CAO to sit on committee to review funding agreement and other governance issues# 4
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Council AgendaCAO ReportRequest for Decision or DirectionMeetingDates/Reminders Oct 12th–(Note change fromthe 11th) COTW @ 6:00 pmDigby Neck Consolidated SchoolOct 25th– Council @ 6:00 pmSmith’s Cove Fire HallNov 8th– Special CouncilMeeting @ 6:00 pm Tiverton Community HallNov 8th– COTW TivertonCommunity HallNov 22nd– Council @ 6:00 pmBarton SchoolMeeting Action ItemUpdatesSpecial Project UpdatesPayables- August2010$ 491,406.90Financial ReportNot available
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Council AgendaCorrespondence1.RCMPReport on Transformation of RCMP2.Minister Percy Paris,Tourism Culture & HeritageNS Heritage Property Act Review3.Municipality of Countyof AnnapolisOne year notice of withdrawalfrom ADEDA4.NS Labour & Workforce DevelopmentNS Labour Market Review 20095.Council Committees1.COTWPolice AdvisoryCommitteeAppointment of Ryck Miller andVictoria Wilson to Police AdvisoryCommittee2.By-law &Policy
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Council AgendaAdvisory Committees# 1 REMOManagementPlanningCommitteeDeputy Warden MacAlpine# 2 Heritage AdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor AmeroCouncillor Adams# 3 PlanningAdvisoryCommitteeDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor GregoryNo meeting since last report# 4 Police AdvisoryCommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroCouncillor AdamsJuly meeting postponed until new citizen members appointed# 5 Tri CountyHousingAuthorityR FitzgeraldReported May 25thCouncil
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Council AgendaRegional/JointCommittees# 1Airport WorkingGroupDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor Adams# 2Annapolis DigbyEconomic DevelopmentAgencyDeputy WardenMacAlpineMinutes Gen Bd June 2010and Aug 2010Minutes July and Sept 2010Conference MD Report Sept 2010#3Digby Annapolis DevelopmentCorpCouncillor AmeroNo meeting since last report#4Digby AreaLearningAssociationCouncillor Adams#5Digby AreaTourismAssociationCouncillor GregoryWebpage Update#6Digby AreaRecreation CommitteeCouncillor GregoryCouncillor AmeroMinutes June 2010Recreation Manager Report September 2010#7Digby HarbourPort AssociationCouncillor GregoryMinutes July 2010#8Digby LibraryCommitteeDeputy Warden MacAlpineMeeting held Sept 27th#9FundywebBroadbandDeputy Warden MacAlpine Councillor AmeroMeeting held Sept 8thMinutes April 2010 -# 10 IndustrialCommissionDeputy WardenMacAlpine Councillor No meeting since last report
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Council AgendaAmero# 11 Kings Transit AuthorityCouncillor AmeroMinutes July & Aug 2010Ridership & Fin Report Aug31, 2010Regional/JointCommittees (con’t)# 12 Senior SafetyCommitteeCouncillor Adams Councillor Gregory# 13 Tideview TerraceCouncillor Gregory& Councillor Adams # 14 Waste CheckDeputy Warden MacAlpineCouncillor GregoryMinutes July 2010General Manager ReportSeptemberStrategic Action PlanBy-law Enforcement ReportRegional Chairs Update# 15 Western Counties Regional LibraryDeputy Warden MacAlpineMinutes July 2010Council Activity Reports/Other CommitteesDeputy WardenMacAlpineCouncillor GregoryCouncillorAmeroCouncillor AdamsNotice of Motion
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Council AgendaIn CameraContractual IssueAdjournment
Labels:
Digby
Digby Municipal Council Minutes
Long Read. Get comfortable.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe Council meeting was called to order with Warden Thurberin the chair at 6:02 p.m. AttendanceCouncillors present: Jim Thurber, Warden Jimmy MacAlpine, Deputy Warden Linda Gregory, Councillor Randall Amero, Councillor Maritza Adams, CouncillorStaff present: Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Gordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Cora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryPrayerWarden Thurber welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked everyone to pause to seek guidance for the meeting. Warden Thurber thanked everyone for coming and read theMunicipality’s mission statement. IntroductionsWarden Thurber asked Council and staff to introducethemselves before the meeting began.AgendaMOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved ascirculated.MOTION CARRIEDPresentationsJonathan McClelland –West Nova Agro Commodities Ltd.MOVED and seconded that Mr. Jonathan McClelland fromWest Nova Agro Commodities Ltd. come before Council to make a presentation.MOTION CARRIEDMr. McClelland came before Council to make a presentationregarding a grass pellet and briquette plant businessdevelopment proposal. West Nova Agro Commodities Ltd. hasa priority to develop new agricultural opportunities in WesternNova Scotia. Their proposed plan is to produce grass pellets forinstitutional, industrial and residential markets as well as grassbriquettes/fire logs for the residential market. They arecurrently looking for anchor customers. This is a goodopportunity for anyone looking at new construction. Theirrequest to the Municipality is a letter of support for their projectas well as follow-up meetings with West Nova AgroCommodities Ltd. and ADEDA to review heating needs andopportunities to collaborate on fuel supply. There was aquestion and answer period following the presentation. Farmersare very interested in their proposal and they have had a goodresponse from residents who would like to have guaranteedprices for their fuel. It is unsure whether a regular pellet stovewill work with this fuel. They would have to be individuallytested. Furnaces range from $4,000 to $8,000. They wouldneed approximately 2,000 customers to make the project viableor 20 industrial customers. Warden Thurber thanked Mr.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia2McClelland for the presentation and advised that this would bediscussed at a future meeting.Dana Morin – FundyTidal Inc.MOVED and seconded that Mr. Dana Morin from FundyTidal come before Council to make a presentation.MOTION CARRIEDMr. Morin came before Council to make a presentationregarding the renewable energy resources that are available inDigby County. He spoke specifically on tidal energydevelopment in this region as well as the development of asustainable community plan. An information session is being planned for Tuesday, August, 24, 2010 at 5:30 to 8:30 pm to bring the stakeholders from the community, government,industry and academia together to discuss tidal development inNova Scotia, but more specifically, Digby County. A question and answer period followed the presentation. Council inquiredon what the return would be on the investment to the project.They had a percentage to 20 to 25 in mind, but there has beennothing settled on. Warden Thurber thanked him for thepresentation.MinutesJune 29, 2010 It was noted that under New Business #4, it should beclarified that the cost estimate for streetlights was for theMunicipality of Digby. It was noted that under New Business #2, it should beclarified that Council’s resolution being sent regarding anadditional paid holiday was to be sent to the UNSM.MOVED and seconded that the minutes from the Council ofJune 29, 2010 be approved as amended.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising from MinutesDigby Neck FireDepartment – Jaws of Life There was an inquiry whether a response had been receivedto the letter sent to the Digby Neck Fire Departmentrequesting a meeting to discuss their request for funding for Jaws of Life. There has been no response for a meeting.#1 OrganizationalReview – Ramp Up Consulting ProposalMOVED and seconded that Council accept the proposalfrom Ramp Up Consulting to conduct the OrganizationalReview.MOTION CARRIEDOld BusinessWarden ThurberNo Old Business.Deputy Warden MacAlpineNo Old Business.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia3Councillor GregoryWildlife Park – Upper Clements Councillor Gregory asked Deputy Warden MacAlpinewhether he was able to find out about where the animalswent from the Wildlife Park in Upper Clements. DeputyWarden MacAlpine was unable to attend the last meeting to find out, but will make a call to find out and email Councilwith the answer.Councillor AmeroNo Old Business.Councillor AdamsNo Old Business.New Business#1 Association of MunicipalAdministrators –MunicipalSponsorshipMOVED and seconded to sponsor the Association ofMunicipal Administrators in the amount of $1,000 for the2010 Fall Convention. The CAO noted that the members of Council will be invitedto the AMA banquet on Thursday, October 7, 2010.MOTION CARRIED#2 Deputy Warden MacAlpine –Crosswalks on Highway 303 Deputy Warden MacAlpine was present at the publicmeeting when the Province met with the communityregarding the plans for Highway 303. The communityvoiced their concerns with school buses dropping kids offon a three lane highway. The community would like to seecrosswalks be put along that stretch of highway. It wassuggested to forward these concerns to the Department ofTransportation as well as contacting the school board to seewhere the bus stops are located along Highway 303. MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to the Ministerof the Department of Transportation and InfrastructureRenewal requesting a meeting to discuss concerns regardingthe construction of a third land on Hwy 303. Copy to be sentto Harold (Jr) Theriault, MLA. MOTION CARRIEDMoved and seconded that the Tri-County Regional SchoolBoard be contacted regarding Council concerns forstudents crossing Highway 303 once the third lane has beeninstalled and advising them of the community’s wishes forcrosswalks being installed on that section of highway. A list of the bus stops along Highway 303 should be requested. It was mentioned that there are some obvious areas that it ishard for pedestrians to cross at the present time. It was also noted that the bus has a stop sign that goes outfor traffic to stop so that the children can cross the highway. MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia4#3 TLC AnimalShelter – FundingRequest - $12,000 A letter was received from TLC Animal Shelter requesting$12,000 from the Municipality to help fund a full timeposition to run the shelter, as the people who had beenvolunteering their time to do so are no longer able to do this. Both Linda Chalmers and Chris Murdock were at themeeting and answered questions of Council. They noted that the shelter works to help people who can no longer keep their pets. It they are unable to house them, they willfind a foster home. They also noted that they do take anumber of dogs from the Municipal dog catcher. Ten dogsis the maximum they can take. They currently have fortycats. The municipality does not do annual grants. Organizationshave to apply annually. The CAO noted that there may be$4,000 to $5,000 left in the grants to communityorganizations budget for the year. It was agreed to checkwith other Municipal units to see how they handle thesetypes of requests.MOVED and seconded that Council ask staff to investigateother municipal units to find out their procedures on howthey deal with similar requests and also to review the budget to see if there is any way this request could beaccommodated. This request will be discussed at the next Council meeting. It was requested by Councillor Amero to meet prior to thenext Council meeting to see what the long term implicationswill be on the budget if the request was granted.MOTION CARRIED#4 Councillor RandallAmero –Transportation Study –NS Transit Research Incentive Program(TRIP) Councillor Amero wanted to make Council aware of theNova Scotia Transit Research Incentive Program (TRIP)which is willing to fund up to 75% of a transport study up to $50,000. It is the idea of this group to have a study done on the bestmodes of transportation.MOVED and seconded that Council instruct staff to talk to bordering Municipal units (Digby, Clare and Annapolis)about partnering on this transportation study to see if they are interested in cost-sharing and also have staff prepare anapplication for the program.MOTION CARRIED#5 Councillor LindaGregory – Tax Reduction for PropertyDamage Councillor Gregory informed Council that AAN# 01076817 located at 3067, Highway 217 in Roxville burned down inthe spring. The Assessment Office will not reassess thisproperty until next year. The owner of the property islooking to obtain a tax exemption on this property. The CAO advised that in order for the taxes to be reduced,Property Valuation Services Corporation would have to reassess the property so that the Municipality has a figure to go by to adjust the taxes.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia5 The individual will supply a letter requesting that this bedone. It was noted that the adjustment would only be made to thecurrent year taxes.MOVED and seconded that Property Valuation ServicesCorporation be contacted for the reassessment of property#01076817 that has been destroyed by fire.MOTION CARRIED#6 UNSM – Capped Assessment ProgramBriefing Session –September 9, 2010 There is a capped assessment program briefing session being put on by UNSM on September 9, 2010. Both theCAO and Deputy Warden MacAlpine are planning toattend. There is an RSVP that needs to be sent.#7 Weymouth WaterfrontDevelopmentCommittee – Tax Exemption Request The Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee islooking for a tax exemption for AAN# 09268561 and09268588. The assessment is commercial which typicallyis not permitted for a tax exemption. MOVED and seconded that the tax exemption bylaw beamended to add AAN# 09268561 and 09268588. The Weymouth Waterfront Committee is currentlyreviewing possibilities for the old Weymouth Library building. It was noted that this exemption will only apply if it is for anon-profit organization.MOTION CARRIED#8 Deputy Warden MacAlpine – Highway303 Third LaneConstruction Deputy Warden MacAlpine attended the public sessionregarding the third lane construction to Highway 303. Themajority of residents were not in favor of the third lane. Hementioned that some residents think that Municipal Councilis responsible for getting this construction done. It was suggested that an article be placed in the Coastlinenewsletter outlining what the Municipality of Digby isresponsible for. Residents would like another access into Digby. It wassuggested that signage be placed on the highway stating that there are two exits to Digby, and use the Cross Road inMarshalltown as the second exit.MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to the Ministerof the Department of Transportation and InfrastructureRenewal requesting a meeting to discuss suggestions for analternate route into Digby. Copy to be sent to Harold (Jr)Theriault, MLA. MOTION CARRIED#9 Emera UtilityServices – Orderly &Peaceful Exemption Emera Utility Services is requesting a 10 day exemptionfrom the Orderly and Peaceful Conduct bylaw for thepurpose of crane work for the erection of wind turbines.Lloyd Reid, Project Manager was present at the meeting to
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia6answer any questions Council may have. The request is for10 consecutive days. Mr. Reid is positive that there will notbe much noise associated with the project and it should notwake anyone. The question was asked whether visitors are permitted at thework sites. Mr. Reid stated that they do allow visitors andif someone is interested they can phone him or Nova ScotiaPower to schedule a visit.Councillor Gregory hasrequested a visit on the first night they work through thenight.MOVED and seconded to approve the following resolution:BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to the authority contained in section 14 of the ORDERLY AND PEACEFULCONDUCT BYLAW, the Council of the Municipality of theDistrict of Digby hereby grants a 10 day exemption to Emera Utility Service under said bylaw effective August 24, 2010, at 7:00 pm ending September 3, 2010 at 6:59 pm. forthe purpose of crane work for the erection of wind turbines.(See attached)MOTION CARRIED Council requested a report upon completion of the projectwhich would include the number of employees hired for theproject and number of rooms booked at localaccommodations. Mr. Reid stated that he will provide thisrecord upon completion of the project.#10 Councillor Gregory - Point Prim –Repairs and Maintenance Councillor Gregory has been approached about a couplerepairs that could be made to make Point Prim look better.The sign is very hard to read and could use painting and thefence needs repairing. Mr. Gordon Wilson, who is part of the non-profitorganization, Friends of Point Prim, has agreed to take theseconcerns back to the group to see what they could do. If necessary, he will bring the matter back to the Municipality.#11 Councillor Gregory - Litter on Exits Councillor Gregory advised Council that as the branches arebeing cut away at the exits on the highway, it is exposing alarge amount of litter. She suggested no littering signs onthe walls of the exits. It was agreed that this matter could be also expressed at themeeting that Council is looking to set up with the Ministerof Transportation.MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to the Ministerof the Department of Transportation and InfrastructureRenewal requesting a meeting to discuss concerns regardinglitter at the ramps into Digby. Copy to be sent to Harold(Jr) Theriault, MLA. MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia7Moved and seconded that a letter be sent to Harold (Jr)Theriault, MLA, copied to the Minister of Tourism andCulture regarding the litter at the ramps into Digby and thedifficulty that community groups have in organizing cleanups along provincial highways. MOTION CARRIEDAdministrationRequest for decision/directionRe-appointment of Glenn Dunn as Citizen Representative on ADEDA BoardMOVED and seconded that Mr. Glenn Dunn be re-electedas Citizen Representative on the ADEDA Board.MOTION CARRIEDAppointment of Hiltz& Seamone as ProjectManager for Administration BuildingMOVED and seconded that Council appoint Hiltz andSeamone as Project Manager for the AdministrationBuilding Renovations.MOTION CARRIEDCAO Report The CAO report for June 29, 2010 was included in themeeting package.PayablesMOVED and seconded that the payables in the amount of$660,589.77 for the month of June 2010 be approved aspresented.MOTION CARRIEDFinancial Report The financial report for June 30, 2010 was included in themeeting package.MOVED and seconded that the financial report for June 30, 2010 be approved as presented.MOTION CARRIEDCouncil CommitteesCommittee of theWholeNILBylaw & PolicyReviewMOVED and seconded that Council approve the 5 yearcapital budget for 2010-2015. MOTION CARRIEDAdvisory Committees#1 REMOManagement PlanningCommittee There has been no REMO meeting since Council last met.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia8#2 Heritage AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Heritage Advisory Committee meetingsince Council last met.#3 Planning AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Planning Advisory Committee meetingsince the last report.#4 Police AdvisoryCommittee The Police Advisory Committee meeting for July has been postponed until new citizen members are appointed.Advertisements have been placed in local papers for thesecond time and close on September 1, 2010. There arethree positions available and one application has beenreceived to date.#5 Tri CountyHousing Authority A Tri-County Housing Authority report was circulated onMay 25, 2010.Regional / Joint Committees#1 Airport WorkingGroup The Airport Working Group’s minutes for May 5, 2010, aswell as the unapproved minutes for July 21, 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. The Airport will be hosting an event to unveil their newname scheduled for August 21, 2010. There were seven oreight planes that flew in from outside of Digby. There werethree parachuters that came and landed in the field. Also, approximately 2,000 liters of fuel was sold. There has been no Airport Working Group meeting sincethe last Council report.#2 Annapolis Digby EconomicDevelopment Agency The ADEDA Managing Director’s Report for July 2010was included in the meeting package. There was no ADEDA board meeting in July. The nextmeeting is scheduled for August 26, 2010. Warden Thurberis unable to attend the August 26 meeting. CouncillorAmero will attend in his place.#3 Digby AnnapolisDevelopment Corp The DADC has not met since the last report.#4 Digby AreaLearning Association There has been no Digby Area Learning Associationmeeting since the last report. A new executive director has been hired. The constructionof the addition to Learning Grove is coming along well.The Tartan Classic annual tournament was held and fundswere raised for DALA The next meeting should be held in September.#5 Digby AreaTourism Association DATA has not met since the last Council meeting.#6 Digby AreaRecreation Committee The DARC minutes for May 19, 2010 were included in themeeting package. Also included in the meeting packagewere the Recreation Manager Report, Facility Supervisor Report, Active Living Coordinator Report and the AquaticReport for the months of June and July. The next meetingis scheduled for September.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia9 DARC is trying to get people to participate in voting for Digby as being the best fishing community. The winner of this contest will receive a $50,000 community grant.#7 Digby Harbour Port Association There was no Digby Harbour Port Association meetingsince the last report.#8 Digby LibraryCommittee The Digby Library Committee has not met since the lastreport.#9 Fundyweb Broadband The Fundyweb Broadband has not met since the last report.#10 IndustrialCommission The Industrial Commission has not met since the last report.#11 Kings TransitAuthority The Kings Transit Authority June minutes, July GeneralManager Report and the June Ridership Report wereincluded in the meeting package. There has been no Kings Transit Authority meeting sincethe last report.#12 Senior SafetyCommittee The Senior Safety Committee has not met over the summer. There have been two seniors days held.#13 Tideview Terrace There has been no Tideview Terrace meeting since the lastCouncil report. Warden Thurber will be unable to attendthe next meeting.#14 Waste Check Waste Check has sent out a report from the sessions they had with the groups in the community. The Board has notmet to discuss it yet. #15 Western CountiesRegional Library The Western Counties Regional Library meeting minutesfrom May 2010 were included in the meeting package. TheAnnual General meeting was held on July 8, 2010. The grand opening of the Weymouth Library is a highlightof the year. The Executive Director, Trudy Amirault, isgoing to retire in December.Council would like torecognize her years of service upon her retirement.Council ReportsWarden Thurber Warden Thurber gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month. Warden Thurber gave notice of his intent to retire as ofWednesday, August 25, 2010.MOVED and seconded that the resignation of WardenThurber as of August 25, 2010 be accepted with regret. MOTION CARRIEDDeputy WardenMacAlpine Deputy Warden MacAlpine gave an oral presentation toCouncil outlining the various meetings he has attendedduring the past month.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia10Resident Concern -Fish Waste Deputy Warden MacAlpine brought up an additional itemfor new business that was missed at the beginning of themeeting. Deputy Warden MacAlpine has had residents express theirconcern with the fish waste that comes out of the back oftrucks. It makes the road slippery and makes the area havea foul smell. It was agreed to bring this item to theDepartment of Transportation.Councillor Gregory Councillor Gregory gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Councillor Amero Councillor Amero gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Councillor Adams Councillor Adams gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Election – District 4 Council set October 23, 2010 for an election for District 4. They also decided to use the voters list that was used in the2008 election.MOVED and seconded that a special election be held onOctober 23, 2010 and that the 2008 voters list be used forthis election. Council appoints Marsha Lewis as ReturningOfficer for this election.MOTION CARRIED Deputy Warden MacAlpine will attend meetings in theWarden’s place unless there are other Council membersalready attending the particular meeting. Warden Thurber thanked everyone for the years spentworking together and noted that he is leaving theMunicipality in capable hands.Comments from thegallery The meeting was opened up to the gallery for questions.There were no questions.AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 8:59PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia11BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to the authority contained in section 72 of the MunicipalGovernment Act, the Council of the Municipality of the District of Digby hereby adopts theStatement of Estimates in the amount of $ 6,660,805 as presented for the fiscal year endingMarch 31, 2011.FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that a commercial rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (a) of theMunicipal Government Act be established at $1.85 per $100 of assessment, a residential andresource rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (b) of the Municipal Government Act be established at$1.30 per 100 of assessment.AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the following area rates pursuant to section 75 (2) beestablished for the provision of fire protection, street lighting and sidewalk maintenance.Sidewalk MaintenanceCodesConway SidewalkCM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentMount PleasantMM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentStreet lightingWeymouth Falls Light Rate1010.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Light Rate0111.00 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Neck Light Rate0311.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton Light Rate0511.00 cents per $100 of assessment Culloden Light Rate079.50 cents per $100 of assessment Smith’s Cove Light Rate088.00 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth North0910.00 cents per $100 of assessmentFire ProtectionDigby Neck Fire District15.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSmiths’ Cove Fire District26.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFreeport Fire District35.0 cents per $100 of assessmentTiverton Fire District45.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWestport Fire District55.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton/Brighton Fire District65.0 cents per $100 of assessmentPlympton Fire District75.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth Fire District810.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Fire District95.0 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Fire District105.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSouthville/Danvers Fire District 1115.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipality will bill and collect on behalf of theCommissioners for the Village of Weymouth, Village of Tiverton, Village of Freeport and theVillage of Westport an amount as determined by each Commission at duly convened meetings.Pursuant to the authority granted by the Municipal Government Act and Policy # 2001 MunicipalTax Collection, the Municipal Council hereby sets the interest rate on overdue taxes at the rate of 16 percent per annum, and an interest rate of 10 percent per annum be established foroverpayment on taxes due to assessment appeals.This is to certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopting the tax rates forthe Municipality of the District of Digby passed the 29thday of June, 2010.______________________________________Linda FraserChief Administrative OfficerMunicipal Clerk
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia1Call to OrderThe Council meeting was called to order with Warden Thurberin the chair at 6:02 p.m. AttendanceCouncillors present: Jim Thurber, Warden Jimmy MacAlpine, Deputy Warden Linda Gregory, Councillor Randall Amero, Councillor Maritza Adams, CouncillorStaff present: Linda Fraser, Chief Administrative Officer Gordon Wilson, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Cora Lee Bremner, Executive SecretaryPrayerWarden Thurber welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked everyone to pause to seek guidance for the meeting. Warden Thurber thanked everyone for coming and read theMunicipality’s mission statement. IntroductionsWarden Thurber asked Council and staff to introducethemselves before the meeting began.AgendaMOVED and seconded that the agenda be approved ascirculated.MOTION CARRIEDPresentationsJonathan McClelland –West Nova Agro Commodities Ltd.MOVED and seconded that Mr. Jonathan McClelland fromWest Nova Agro Commodities Ltd. come before Council to make a presentation.MOTION CARRIEDMr. McClelland came before Council to make a presentationregarding a grass pellet and briquette plant businessdevelopment proposal. West Nova Agro Commodities Ltd. hasa priority to develop new agricultural opportunities in WesternNova Scotia. Their proposed plan is to produce grass pellets forinstitutional, industrial and residential markets as well as grassbriquettes/fire logs for the residential market. They arecurrently looking for anchor customers. This is a goodopportunity for anyone looking at new construction. Theirrequest to the Municipality is a letter of support for their projectas well as follow-up meetings with West Nova AgroCommodities Ltd. and ADEDA to review heating needs andopportunities to collaborate on fuel supply. There was aquestion and answer period following the presentation. Farmersare very interested in their proposal and they have had a goodresponse from residents who would like to have guaranteedprices for their fuel. It is unsure whether a regular pellet stovewill work with this fuel. They would have to be individuallytested. Furnaces range from $4,000 to $8,000. They wouldneed approximately 2,000 customers to make the project viableor 20 industrial customers. Warden Thurber thanked Mr.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia2McClelland for the presentation and advised that this would bediscussed at a future meeting.Dana Morin – FundyTidal Inc.MOVED and seconded that Mr. Dana Morin from FundyTidal come before Council to make a presentation.MOTION CARRIEDMr. Morin came before Council to make a presentationregarding the renewable energy resources that are available inDigby County. He spoke specifically on tidal energydevelopment in this region as well as the development of asustainable community plan. An information session is being planned for Tuesday, August, 24, 2010 at 5:30 to 8:30 pm to bring the stakeholders from the community, government,industry and academia together to discuss tidal development inNova Scotia, but more specifically, Digby County. A question and answer period followed the presentation. Council inquiredon what the return would be on the investment to the project.They had a percentage to 20 to 25 in mind, but there has beennothing settled on. Warden Thurber thanked him for thepresentation.MinutesJune 29, 2010 It was noted that under New Business #4, it should beclarified that the cost estimate for streetlights was for theMunicipality of Digby. It was noted that under New Business #2, it should beclarified that Council’s resolution being sent regarding anadditional paid holiday was to be sent to the UNSM.MOVED and seconded that the minutes from the Council ofJune 29, 2010 be approved as amended.MOTION CARRIEDBusiness Arising from MinutesDigby Neck FireDepartment – Jaws of Life There was an inquiry whether a response had been receivedto the letter sent to the Digby Neck Fire Departmentrequesting a meeting to discuss their request for funding for Jaws of Life. There has been no response for a meeting.#1 OrganizationalReview – Ramp Up Consulting ProposalMOVED and seconded that Council accept the proposalfrom Ramp Up Consulting to conduct the OrganizationalReview.MOTION CARRIEDOld BusinessWarden ThurberNo Old Business.Deputy Warden MacAlpineNo Old Business.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia3Councillor GregoryWildlife Park – Upper Clements Councillor Gregory asked Deputy Warden MacAlpinewhether he was able to find out about where the animalswent from the Wildlife Park in Upper Clements. DeputyWarden MacAlpine was unable to attend the last meeting to find out, but will make a call to find out and email Councilwith the answer.Councillor AmeroNo Old Business.Councillor AdamsNo Old Business.New Business#1 Association of MunicipalAdministrators –MunicipalSponsorshipMOVED and seconded to sponsor the Association ofMunicipal Administrators in the amount of $1,000 for the2010 Fall Convention. The CAO noted that the members of Council will be invitedto the AMA banquet on Thursday, October 7, 2010.MOTION CARRIED#2 Deputy Warden MacAlpine –Crosswalks on Highway 303 Deputy Warden MacAlpine was present at the publicmeeting when the Province met with the communityregarding the plans for Highway 303. The communityvoiced their concerns with school buses dropping kids offon a three lane highway. The community would like to seecrosswalks be put along that stretch of highway. It wassuggested to forward these concerns to the Department ofTransportation as well as contacting the school board to seewhere the bus stops are located along Highway 303. MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to the Ministerof the Department of Transportation and InfrastructureRenewal requesting a meeting to discuss concerns regardingthe construction of a third land on Hwy 303. Copy to be sentto Harold (Jr) Theriault, MLA. MOTION CARRIEDMoved and seconded that the Tri-County Regional SchoolBoard be contacted regarding Council concerns forstudents crossing Highway 303 once the third lane has beeninstalled and advising them of the community’s wishes forcrosswalks being installed on that section of highway. A list of the bus stops along Highway 303 should be requested. It was mentioned that there are some obvious areas that it ishard for pedestrians to cross at the present time. It was also noted that the bus has a stop sign that goes outfor traffic to stop so that the children can cross the highway. MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia4#3 TLC AnimalShelter – FundingRequest - $12,000 A letter was received from TLC Animal Shelter requesting$12,000 from the Municipality to help fund a full timeposition to run the shelter, as the people who had beenvolunteering their time to do so are no longer able to do this. Both Linda Chalmers and Chris Murdock were at themeeting and answered questions of Council. They noted that the shelter works to help people who can no longer keep their pets. It they are unable to house them, they willfind a foster home. They also noted that they do take anumber of dogs from the Municipal dog catcher. Ten dogsis the maximum they can take. They currently have fortycats. The municipality does not do annual grants. Organizationshave to apply annually. The CAO noted that there may be$4,000 to $5,000 left in the grants to communityorganizations budget for the year. It was agreed to checkwith other Municipal units to see how they handle thesetypes of requests.MOVED and seconded that Council ask staff to investigateother municipal units to find out their procedures on howthey deal with similar requests and also to review the budget to see if there is any way this request could beaccommodated. This request will be discussed at the next Council meeting. It was requested by Councillor Amero to meet prior to thenext Council meeting to see what the long term implicationswill be on the budget if the request was granted.MOTION CARRIED#4 Councillor RandallAmero –Transportation Study –NS Transit Research Incentive Program(TRIP) Councillor Amero wanted to make Council aware of theNova Scotia Transit Research Incentive Program (TRIP)which is willing to fund up to 75% of a transport study up to $50,000. It is the idea of this group to have a study done on the bestmodes of transportation.MOVED and seconded that Council instruct staff to talk to bordering Municipal units (Digby, Clare and Annapolis)about partnering on this transportation study to see if they are interested in cost-sharing and also have staff prepare anapplication for the program.MOTION CARRIED#5 Councillor LindaGregory – Tax Reduction for PropertyDamage Councillor Gregory informed Council that AAN# 01076817 located at 3067, Highway 217 in Roxville burned down inthe spring. The Assessment Office will not reassess thisproperty until next year. The owner of the property islooking to obtain a tax exemption on this property. The CAO advised that in order for the taxes to be reduced,Property Valuation Services Corporation would have to reassess the property so that the Municipality has a figure to go by to adjust the taxes.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia5 The individual will supply a letter requesting that this bedone. It was noted that the adjustment would only be made to thecurrent year taxes.MOVED and seconded that Property Valuation ServicesCorporation be contacted for the reassessment of property#01076817 that has been destroyed by fire.MOTION CARRIED#6 UNSM – Capped Assessment ProgramBriefing Session –September 9, 2010 There is a capped assessment program briefing session being put on by UNSM on September 9, 2010. Both theCAO and Deputy Warden MacAlpine are planning toattend. There is an RSVP that needs to be sent.#7 Weymouth WaterfrontDevelopmentCommittee – Tax Exemption Request The Weymouth Waterfront Development Committee islooking for a tax exemption for AAN# 09268561 and09268588. The assessment is commercial which typicallyis not permitted for a tax exemption. MOVED and seconded that the tax exemption bylaw beamended to add AAN# 09268561 and 09268588. The Weymouth Waterfront Committee is currentlyreviewing possibilities for the old Weymouth Library building. It was noted that this exemption will only apply if it is for anon-profit organization.MOTION CARRIED#8 Deputy Warden MacAlpine – Highway303 Third LaneConstruction Deputy Warden MacAlpine attended the public sessionregarding the third lane construction to Highway 303. Themajority of residents were not in favor of the third lane. Hementioned that some residents think that Municipal Councilis responsible for getting this construction done. It was suggested that an article be placed in the Coastlinenewsletter outlining what the Municipality of Digby isresponsible for. Residents would like another access into Digby. It wassuggested that signage be placed on the highway stating that there are two exits to Digby, and use the Cross Road inMarshalltown as the second exit.MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to the Ministerof the Department of Transportation and InfrastructureRenewal requesting a meeting to discuss suggestions for analternate route into Digby. Copy to be sent to Harold (Jr)Theriault, MLA. MOTION CARRIED#9 Emera UtilityServices – Orderly &Peaceful Exemption Emera Utility Services is requesting a 10 day exemptionfrom the Orderly and Peaceful Conduct bylaw for thepurpose of crane work for the erection of wind turbines.Lloyd Reid, Project Manager was present at the meeting to
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia6answer any questions Council may have. The request is for10 consecutive days. Mr. Reid is positive that there will notbe much noise associated with the project and it should notwake anyone. The question was asked whether visitors are permitted at thework sites. Mr. Reid stated that they do allow visitors andif someone is interested they can phone him or Nova ScotiaPower to schedule a visit.Councillor Gregory hasrequested a visit on the first night they work through thenight.MOVED and seconded to approve the following resolution:BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to the authority contained in section 14 of the ORDERLY AND PEACEFULCONDUCT BYLAW, the Council of the Municipality of theDistrict of Digby hereby grants a 10 day exemption to Emera Utility Service under said bylaw effective August 24, 2010, at 7:00 pm ending September 3, 2010 at 6:59 pm. forthe purpose of crane work for the erection of wind turbines.(See attached)MOTION CARRIED Council requested a report upon completion of the projectwhich would include the number of employees hired for theproject and number of rooms booked at localaccommodations. Mr. Reid stated that he will provide thisrecord upon completion of the project.#10 Councillor Gregory - Point Prim –Repairs and Maintenance Councillor Gregory has been approached about a couplerepairs that could be made to make Point Prim look better.The sign is very hard to read and could use painting and thefence needs repairing. Mr. Gordon Wilson, who is part of the non-profitorganization, Friends of Point Prim, has agreed to take theseconcerns back to the group to see what they could do. If necessary, he will bring the matter back to the Municipality.#11 Councillor Gregory - Litter on Exits Councillor Gregory advised Council that as the branches arebeing cut away at the exits on the highway, it is exposing alarge amount of litter. She suggested no littering signs onthe walls of the exits. It was agreed that this matter could be also expressed at themeeting that Council is looking to set up with the Ministerof Transportation.MOVED and seconded that a letter be sent to the Ministerof the Department of Transportation and InfrastructureRenewal requesting a meeting to discuss concerns regardinglitter at the ramps into Digby. Copy to be sent to Harold(Jr) Theriault, MLA. MOTION CARRIED
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia7Moved and seconded that a letter be sent to Harold (Jr)Theriault, MLA, copied to the Minister of Tourism andCulture regarding the litter at the ramps into Digby and thedifficulty that community groups have in organizing cleanups along provincial highways. MOTION CARRIEDAdministrationRequest for decision/directionRe-appointment of Glenn Dunn as Citizen Representative on ADEDA BoardMOVED and seconded that Mr. Glenn Dunn be re-electedas Citizen Representative on the ADEDA Board.MOTION CARRIEDAppointment of Hiltz& Seamone as ProjectManager for Administration BuildingMOVED and seconded that Council appoint Hiltz andSeamone as Project Manager for the AdministrationBuilding Renovations.MOTION CARRIEDCAO Report The CAO report for June 29, 2010 was included in themeeting package.PayablesMOVED and seconded that the payables in the amount of$660,589.77 for the month of June 2010 be approved aspresented.MOTION CARRIEDFinancial Report The financial report for June 30, 2010 was included in themeeting package.MOVED and seconded that the financial report for June 30, 2010 be approved as presented.MOTION CARRIEDCouncil CommitteesCommittee of theWholeNILBylaw & PolicyReviewMOVED and seconded that Council approve the 5 yearcapital budget for 2010-2015. MOTION CARRIEDAdvisory Committees#1 REMOManagement PlanningCommittee There has been no REMO meeting since Council last met.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia8#2 Heritage AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Heritage Advisory Committee meetingsince Council last met.#3 Planning AdvisoryCommittee There has been no Planning Advisory Committee meetingsince the last report.#4 Police AdvisoryCommittee The Police Advisory Committee meeting for July has been postponed until new citizen members are appointed.Advertisements have been placed in local papers for thesecond time and close on September 1, 2010. There arethree positions available and one application has beenreceived to date.#5 Tri CountyHousing Authority A Tri-County Housing Authority report was circulated onMay 25, 2010.Regional / Joint Committees#1 Airport WorkingGroup The Airport Working Group’s minutes for May 5, 2010, aswell as the unapproved minutes for July 21, 2010 wereincluded in the meeting package. The Airport will be hosting an event to unveil their newname scheduled for August 21, 2010. There were seven oreight planes that flew in from outside of Digby. There werethree parachuters that came and landed in the field. Also, approximately 2,000 liters of fuel was sold. There has been no Airport Working Group meeting sincethe last Council report.#2 Annapolis Digby EconomicDevelopment Agency The ADEDA Managing Director’s Report for July 2010was included in the meeting package. There was no ADEDA board meeting in July. The nextmeeting is scheduled for August 26, 2010. Warden Thurberis unable to attend the August 26 meeting. CouncillorAmero will attend in his place.#3 Digby AnnapolisDevelopment Corp The DADC has not met since the last report.#4 Digby AreaLearning Association There has been no Digby Area Learning Associationmeeting since the last report. A new executive director has been hired. The constructionof the addition to Learning Grove is coming along well.The Tartan Classic annual tournament was held and fundswere raised for DALA The next meeting should be held in September.#5 Digby AreaTourism Association DATA has not met since the last Council meeting.#6 Digby AreaRecreation Committee The DARC minutes for May 19, 2010 were included in themeeting package. Also included in the meeting packagewere the Recreation Manager Report, Facility Supervisor Report, Active Living Coordinator Report and the AquaticReport for the months of June and July. The next meetingis scheduled for September.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia9 DARC is trying to get people to participate in voting for Digby as being the best fishing community. The winner of this contest will receive a $50,000 community grant.#7 Digby Harbour Port Association There was no Digby Harbour Port Association meetingsince the last report.#8 Digby LibraryCommittee The Digby Library Committee has not met since the lastreport.#9 Fundyweb Broadband The Fundyweb Broadband has not met since the last report.#10 IndustrialCommission The Industrial Commission has not met since the last report.#11 Kings TransitAuthority The Kings Transit Authority June minutes, July GeneralManager Report and the June Ridership Report wereincluded in the meeting package. There has been no Kings Transit Authority meeting sincethe last report.#12 Senior SafetyCommittee The Senior Safety Committee has not met over the summer. There have been two seniors days held.#13 Tideview Terrace There has been no Tideview Terrace meeting since the lastCouncil report. Warden Thurber will be unable to attendthe next meeting.#14 Waste Check Waste Check has sent out a report from the sessions they had with the groups in the community. The Board has notmet to discuss it yet. #15 Western CountiesRegional Library The Western Counties Regional Library meeting minutesfrom May 2010 were included in the meeting package. TheAnnual General meeting was held on July 8, 2010. The grand opening of the Weymouth Library is a highlightof the year. The Executive Director, Trudy Amirault, isgoing to retire in December.Council would like torecognize her years of service upon her retirement.Council ReportsWarden Thurber Warden Thurber gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month. Warden Thurber gave notice of his intent to retire as ofWednesday, August 25, 2010.MOVED and seconded that the resignation of WardenThurber as of August 25, 2010 be accepted with regret. MOTION CARRIEDDeputy WardenMacAlpine Deputy Warden MacAlpine gave an oral presentation toCouncil outlining the various meetings he has attendedduring the past month.
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia10Resident Concern -Fish Waste Deputy Warden MacAlpine brought up an additional itemfor new business that was missed at the beginning of themeeting. Deputy Warden MacAlpine has had residents express theirconcern with the fish waste that comes out of the back oftrucks. It makes the road slippery and makes the area havea foul smell. It was agreed to bring this item to theDepartment of Transportation.Councillor Gregory Councillor Gregory gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Councillor Amero Councillor Amero gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings he has attended during thepast month.Councillor Adams Councillor Adams gave an oral presentation to Counciloutlining the various meetings she has attended during thepast month.Election – District 4 Council set October 23, 2010 for an election for District 4. They also decided to use the voters list that was used in the2008 election.MOVED and seconded that a special election be held onOctober 23, 2010 and that the 2008 voters list be used forthis election. Council appoints Marsha Lewis as ReturningOfficer for this election.MOTION CARRIED Deputy Warden MacAlpine will attend meetings in theWarden’s place unless there are other Council membersalready attending the particular meeting. Warden Thurber thanked everyone for the years spentworking together and noted that he is leaving theMunicipality in capable hands.Comments from thegallery The meeting was opened up to the gallery for questions.There were no questions.AdjournmentMOVED and seconded that the meeting adjourn at 8:59PM. MOTION CARRIED____________________________________________________________WARDENCLERK
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Municipality of the District of DigbyMunicipal Council MinutesAugust 23, 2010Culloden, Nova Scotia11BE IT RESOLVED THAT pursuant to the authority contained in section 72 of the MunicipalGovernment Act, the Council of the Municipality of the District of Digby hereby adopts theStatement of Estimates in the amount of $ 6,660,805 as presented for the fiscal year endingMarch 31, 2011.FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that a commercial rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (a) of theMunicipal Government Act be established at $1.85 per $100 of assessment, a residential andresource rate pursuant to section 72 (6) (b) of the Municipal Government Act be established at$1.30 per 100 of assessment.AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the following area rates pursuant to section 75 (2) beestablished for the provision of fire protection, street lighting and sidewalk maintenance.Sidewalk MaintenanceCodesConway SidewalkCM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentMount PleasantMM4.5 cents per $100 of assessmentStreet lightingWeymouth Falls Light Rate1010.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Light Rate0111.00 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Neck Light Rate0311.00 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton Light Rate0511.00 cents per $100 of assessment Culloden Light Rate079.50 cents per $100 of assessment Smith’s Cove Light Rate088.00 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth North0910.00 cents per $100 of assessmentFire ProtectionDigby Neck Fire District15.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSmiths’ Cove Fire District26.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFreeport Fire District35.0 cents per $100 of assessmentTiverton Fire District45.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWestport Fire District55.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBarton/Brighton Fire District65.0 cents per $100 of assessmentPlympton Fire District75.0 cents per $100 of assessmentWeymouth Fire District810.0 cents per $100 of assessmentBear River Fire District95.0 cents per $100 of assessmentDigby Fire District105.0 cents per $100 of assessmentSouthville/Danvers Fire District 1115.0 cents per $100 of assessmentFURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipality will bill and collect on behalf of theCommissioners for the Village of Weymouth, Village of Tiverton, Village of Freeport and theVillage of Westport an amount as determined by each Commission at duly convened meetings.Pursuant to the authority granted by the Municipal Government Act and Policy # 2001 MunicipalTax Collection, the Municipal Council hereby sets the interest rate on overdue taxes at the rate of 16 percent per annum, and an interest rate of 10 percent per annum be established foroverpayment on taxes due to assessment appeals.This is to certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a resolution adopting the tax rates forthe Municipality of the District of Digby passed the 29thday of June, 2010.______________________________________Linda FraserChief Administrative OfficerMunicipal Clerk
Labels:
Digby
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Book
"Learning to Leave" by Michael Corbett. This book has references to Digby Neck, and may be worth a read.
Labels:
book Nova Scotia Digby Neck
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Democracy and Video
Dan Mills has sent a posting about a video and relates it to issues of democracy in America. HOwever there is no link to the video or a title or a URL. It must be a fairly new one about the second world war. See if you can find it if you are interested and let me and others know. Before I post an excerpt from his email, I will say that it dovetails with my thoughts about closed board meetings- an issue I am dealing with currently. How many of you are in an organization that has closed board meetings? Do you feel excluded from a process that you are a party to nonetheless? What do you think/feel about it? Are closed meetings the norm in Nova Scotia? Do you wish to change the "closed" meetings to open ones? Or do you not mind because _____ fill in the blanks. You can post to the blog or send me an email at kathleen1954@auracom.com From blogger.
Here's an excerpt from Dan Mill's email: "Like most other humans,I've shed my share of tears and am unashamed to say so.....I often wondered if I had any left to shed! But just now I rec'd this video from my bro -and despite our mutual love, we don't always see 'eye-to-eye' on issues of the day.....But 'brothers/sisters' wether of blood,nationality, community, and culture need not be afraid to be "open books" one to the other, for that is what "builds a living, vibrant Democracy." Healthy-open-objective-dialogue- and not the closed door betrayer of democracy we so often are forced to live today...:
Here's an excerpt from Dan Mill's email: "Like most other humans,I've shed my share of tears and am unashamed to say so.....I often wondered if I had any left to shed! But just now I rec'd this video from my bro -and despite our mutual love, we don't always see 'eye-to-eye' on issues of the day.....But 'brothers/sisters' wether of blood,nationality, community, and culture need not be afraid to be "open books" one to the other, for that is what "builds a living, vibrant Democracy." Healthy-open-objective-dialogue- and not the closed door betrayer of democracy we so often are forced to live today...:
Community Meeting with Police
via Linda Gregory:
Subject: Meeting with police
Hello All,
Wanted to let you know there will be a meeting to discuss concerns with the RCMP
Also any questions, concerns or opinions anyone would like to discuss with me
Wed Sept 22/10
7p.m.
Digby Neck Con. School
Sandy Cove
Subject: Meeting with police
Hello All,
Wanted to let you know there will be a meeting to discuss concerns with the RCMP
Also any questions, concerns or opinions anyone would like to discuss with me
Wed Sept 22/10
7p.m.
Digby Neck Con. School
Sandy Cove
Lull in Posts
I'm sorry for the lull in posts, recently. My mother became seriously ill and has died. It has been a topsy turvy and sad time. Your blogger, Kathleen
Labels:
death in the family
Monday, September 13, 2010
Destination SW Nova News
Destination Southwest Nova Association Newsletter
Your Connection to what's happening in the Tourism Industry
In This Issue:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 Doer's & Dreamer's
Editorial and Festival Updates
"Lights Along the Shore" Lighthouse Festival, Schedule of Events
DSWNA Awards Festivals & Events Funding
Important Dates:
Let's Talk Tourism Sessions:
October 6, 1:00pm, Rodd Grand Hotel, Yarmouth
October 7, 1:00pm, Pine View Inn (formerly Wandlyn Inn), Coldbrook
Award Nominations:
2010 Crystal Tourism Awards of Excellence- deadline October 15, 2010
2010 Culinary Tourism Thought Leadership World Summit
Spirit NS Local Food Award 2010 - nomination form
Reports, Statistics & Studies
Visitor Information Centre Statistics, May, June & July
DSWNA website statistics - August 2010
Media Monitor - August
Canadascope
Take the 2010 Canadian Tourism Sector Compensation Study
Provincial Facts & Figures
Funding Programs:
Building Communities Through Arts & Heritage Program
Small Business Internship Program
Inter-action: Canada's New Multiculturalism Grants and Contributions Program
Seasonal Tourism Business potential property tax savings
Translation Assistance Program
Resources & Opportunities
Events NS Request for Proposals - deadline Sept 16, 2010
InTouch newsletter
Experience Nova Scotia: A Toolkit
Festivals & Events Submissions
Partner News:
Meetings & Events Calendar
Shag Harbour Incident Society welcomes 1,000th visitor
Lunenburg Farmer's Market wins NS Local Food Award
Welcome to New Partners:
Centre Stage Theatre
Rendez Vous de la Baie
The Sword and Anchor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 Doer's & Dreamer's
Work has begun on the 2011 Doers and Dreamers. Over the next few weeks, you will receive a letter and form in the mail from Nova Scotia Tourism. This is to update and confirm your listing in the 2011 Doers and Dreamers.
The deadlines to return your completed form back to Nova Scotia Tourism are as follows:
Outdoor and Tour Operators: Sept 15th
Restaurants: Sept 30th
Click here for Editorial & Festival Update information - deadline Sept 15th
Top of page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DSWNA Awards Festivals & Events Funding
Destination Southwest Nova Association (DSWNA), in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage awarded Festivals and Events Funding Assistance cheques to several festival and event organizers and communities at various visitor information centres in the region recently.
The Regional Tourism Association, representing the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores and South Shore, works with the Department to provide Festivals and Events Assistance funding to those organizations that are able to impact on incremental visitation and spending to the Province. Congratulations to all of the recipients!
Top of page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Festivals & Events Submissions
Destination Southwest Nova Association showcases the unique and exciting Festivals & Events the area offers to visitors. Promote your festival or event by filling out this online form! Please call: (902) 645-2307 or jbalser@dswna.com if you have any questions.
Also put your Festival or Event on novascotia.com, click here for their tutorial.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shag Harbour Incident Society Welcomes 1,000th visitor
The Shag Harbour Incident Society opened in a new location for the 2010 tourist season. The building has proven worth the work, with numbers being up from last year. Visitors have been from all over the world, a lot from Ontario this year. To compare visitor numbers last year on Oct. 2nd we had 1,049 visitors, as of today. Each year we present the 1,000th visitor with a gift from the museum, this year our 1,000th visitor was little Eddie Smith of Boston, Ma. We are hoping to reach 2,000 by closing in Sept. Over the winter months we hope to do more work on displays and get our upstairs section ready for the 2011 year.
Your Connection to what's happening in the Tourism Industry
In This Issue:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 Doer's & Dreamer's
Editorial and Festival Updates
"Lights Along the Shore" Lighthouse Festival, Schedule of Events
DSWNA Awards Festivals & Events Funding
Important Dates:
Let's Talk Tourism Sessions:
October 6, 1:00pm, Rodd Grand Hotel, Yarmouth
October 7, 1:00pm, Pine View Inn (formerly Wandlyn Inn), Coldbrook
Award Nominations:
2010 Crystal Tourism Awards of Excellence- deadline October 15, 2010
2010 Culinary Tourism Thought Leadership World Summit
Spirit NS Local Food Award 2010 - nomination form
Reports, Statistics & Studies
Visitor Information Centre Statistics, May, June & July
DSWNA website statistics - August 2010
Media Monitor - August
Canadascope
Take the 2010 Canadian Tourism Sector Compensation Study
Provincial Facts & Figures
Funding Programs:
Building Communities Through Arts & Heritage Program
Small Business Internship Program
Inter-action: Canada's New Multiculturalism Grants and Contributions Program
Seasonal Tourism Business potential property tax savings
Translation Assistance Program
Resources & Opportunities
Events NS Request for Proposals - deadline Sept 16, 2010
InTouch newsletter
Experience Nova Scotia: A Toolkit
Festivals & Events Submissions
Partner News:
Meetings & Events Calendar
Shag Harbour Incident Society welcomes 1,000th visitor
Lunenburg Farmer's Market wins NS Local Food Award
Welcome to New Partners:
Centre Stage Theatre
Rendez Vous de la Baie
The Sword and Anchor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 Doer's & Dreamer's
Work has begun on the 2011 Doers and Dreamers. Over the next few weeks, you will receive a letter and form in the mail from Nova Scotia Tourism. This is to update and confirm your listing in the 2011 Doers and Dreamers.
The deadlines to return your completed form back to Nova Scotia Tourism are as follows:
Outdoor and Tour Operators: Sept 15th
Restaurants: Sept 30th
Click here for Editorial & Festival Update information - deadline Sept 15th
Top of page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DSWNA Awards Festivals & Events Funding
Destination Southwest Nova Association (DSWNA), in partnership with the Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage awarded Festivals and Events Funding Assistance cheques to several festival and event organizers and communities at various visitor information centres in the region recently.
The Regional Tourism Association, representing the Fundy Shore & Annapolis Valley, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores and South Shore, works with the Department to provide Festivals and Events Assistance funding to those organizations that are able to impact on incremental visitation and spending to the Province. Congratulations to all of the recipients!
Top of page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Festivals & Events Submissions
Destination Southwest Nova Association showcases the unique and exciting Festivals & Events the area offers to visitors. Promote your festival or event by filling out this online form! Please call: (902) 645-2307 or jbalser@dswna.com if you have any questions.
Also put your Festival or Event on novascotia.com, click here for their tutorial.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shag Harbour Incident Society Welcomes 1,000th visitor
The Shag Harbour Incident Society opened in a new location for the 2010 tourist season. The building has proven worth the work, with numbers being up from last year. Visitors have been from all over the world, a lot from Ontario this year. To compare visitor numbers last year on Oct. 2nd we had 1,049 visitors, as of today. Each year we present the 1,000th visitor with a gift from the museum, this year our 1,000th visitor was little Eddie Smith of Boston, Ma. We are hoping to reach 2,000 by closing in Sept. Over the winter months we hope to do more work on displays and get our upstairs section ready for the 2011 year.
Labels:
destination sw nova news
ADEDA News
Farm Focus
The farmers in our region are all saying it’s been a good season. And one of the interesting aspects of our agriculture industry is the varied approaches and methods that can be found here. One of the newer approaches is “biodynamic” farming and a young couple, who operate the newly formed Bear River Agricultural Co-operative in Waldec, Annapolis County, are happy to show how this innovative new concept works.
You can visit with Tilo and Saskia Kolass at their farm this weekend as part of the provincial Open Farm Day program. As a matter of fact there are a number of opportunities to see our inventive agricultural entrepreneurs at work on September 19. In addition to Bear River Farm, the Wild Rose Farm’s organic operation in Gilbert’s Cove; the Pinehill Deer and Raspberries Farm in Brighton; the Annapolis Highland Vineyards and Winery in Bear River East ; and the den Haan Enterprises facilities in Lawrencetown will all be open that day to show visitors around. You can get more information by visiting the Open farm web site at www.gov.ns.ca/agri/agaware/openfarmday.shtml. Take the occasion to see how healthy and imaginative food options are increasingly being made available to us.
Savour the Flavour
And after you’ve taken up the invitations to view the local farm processes, get ready to taste the results. There are a number of ways to treat your gastronomic cravings at this time of year. Of course there are always our abundant farmers’ markets offering everything possible. But you can participate as well. A couple of great ways are to attend the upcoming Fall for Bear River festival, and to plan a culinary tour of Annapolis Digby by checking out the sensational seasonal entrees that’ll be available as part of Tastes of the Annapolis Valley Festival.
We truly live in an area of the world that’s blessed with abundance, especially at this time of year. And we have the opportunity to actually “follow the food” from the field to the table. Take these opportunities to satisfy your curiosity as well as your taste buds.
News From Under and Over the Bay
Over 100 people turned out in Westport to listen to 10 speakers as part of an information session to review Fundy Tidal Inc.’s plans to test a small scale tidal energy turbine in the area. The purpose of the exercise will be to test the concept on a small scale. The next step for Fundy Tidal is to finalize permits and regulatory matters along with funding before proceeding with a test of the actual equipment in the fall or spring of next year. ADEDA Development Officer Terry Thibodeau attended the session and said he thought the results were very positive. Partners for the project include Dalhousie and Acadia universities, Alberta based New Energy Corporation, Clare Machine Works, Bear River Plastics and Innovative Fisheries Products Ltd. Meanwhile, tidal energy proponents of a much bigger scale were also eyeing the potential of the Fundy. A U.K. company that is about to commission one of the world’s largest marine energy turbines off the coast of Scotland has targeted the Bay of Fundy for future projects.
These developments were part of the message given by ADEDA Managing Director Mike Gushue last week when he had the opportunity to brief the federal Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Hon. Keith Ashfield, during his visit to Digby. The briefing took place at the Digby ferry terminal and Gushue particularly stressed the importance of the Fundy ferry service and Digby’s port infrastructure improvements to prepare for looming development opportunities.
With all the activity designed to harness the underwater power potential of the Bay, the presentation to the ACOA Minister also offered an interesting observation when it was mentioned that companies working on both sides of the Bay often fly between their operational sites, with the flying time between Saint John and Digby reported to be about 15 minutes. That’s the kind of increasing activity that bound to give further impetus to the efforts to establish and grow a new aviation club at Digby Annapolis Regional Airport.
Celebrate Ciderfest
What with all the chatter about farm visits and local produce in this week’s newsletter I sure wasn’t going to forget about one of the longest standing fall celebrations in our area taking place this week. The 27th annual “Ciderfest” will be happening in Bridgetown from September 16-19. So plan to drop by in between your farm excursions to participate in the many activities being offered. I’m a big fan of cider – sometimes beginning and ending my day with a glass or two (different types of course). Oh no –why is The Wurzels “I Am a Cider Drinker” worming through my head at this moment. OMG – now it’s “I’ve Got a Brand New Harvester”. I love those guys but it’s obviously time to sign off for this week!
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
We invite you to visit us anytime at www.annapolisdigby.com.
The farmers in our region are all saying it’s been a good season. And one of the interesting aspects of our agriculture industry is the varied approaches and methods that can be found here. One of the newer approaches is “biodynamic” farming and a young couple, who operate the newly formed Bear River Agricultural Co-operative in Waldec, Annapolis County, are happy to show how this innovative new concept works.
You can visit with Tilo and Saskia Kolass at their farm this weekend as part of the provincial Open Farm Day program. As a matter of fact there are a number of opportunities to see our inventive agricultural entrepreneurs at work on September 19. In addition to Bear River Farm, the Wild Rose Farm’s organic operation in Gilbert’s Cove; the Pinehill Deer and Raspberries Farm in Brighton; the Annapolis Highland Vineyards and Winery in Bear River East ; and the den Haan Enterprises facilities in Lawrencetown will all be open that day to show visitors around. You can get more information by visiting the Open farm web site at www.gov.ns.ca/agri/agaware/openfarmday.shtml. Take the occasion to see how healthy and imaginative food options are increasingly being made available to us.
Savour the Flavour
And after you’ve taken up the invitations to view the local farm processes, get ready to taste the results. There are a number of ways to treat your gastronomic cravings at this time of year. Of course there are always our abundant farmers’ markets offering everything possible. But you can participate as well. A couple of great ways are to attend the upcoming Fall for Bear River festival, and to plan a culinary tour of Annapolis Digby by checking out the sensational seasonal entrees that’ll be available as part of Tastes of the Annapolis Valley Festival.
We truly live in an area of the world that’s blessed with abundance, especially at this time of year. And we have the opportunity to actually “follow the food” from the field to the table. Take these opportunities to satisfy your curiosity as well as your taste buds.
News From Under and Over the Bay
Over 100 people turned out in Westport to listen to 10 speakers as part of an information session to review Fundy Tidal Inc.’s plans to test a small scale tidal energy turbine in the area. The purpose of the exercise will be to test the concept on a small scale. The next step for Fundy Tidal is to finalize permits and regulatory matters along with funding before proceeding with a test of the actual equipment in the fall or spring of next year. ADEDA Development Officer Terry Thibodeau attended the session and said he thought the results were very positive. Partners for the project include Dalhousie and Acadia universities, Alberta based New Energy Corporation, Clare Machine Works, Bear River Plastics and Innovative Fisheries Products Ltd. Meanwhile, tidal energy proponents of a much bigger scale were also eyeing the potential of the Fundy. A U.K. company that is about to commission one of the world’s largest marine energy turbines off the coast of Scotland has targeted the Bay of Fundy for future projects.
These developments were part of the message given by ADEDA Managing Director Mike Gushue last week when he had the opportunity to brief the federal Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Hon. Keith Ashfield, during his visit to Digby. The briefing took place at the Digby ferry terminal and Gushue particularly stressed the importance of the Fundy ferry service and Digby’s port infrastructure improvements to prepare for looming development opportunities.
With all the activity designed to harness the underwater power potential of the Bay, the presentation to the ACOA Minister also offered an interesting observation when it was mentioned that companies working on both sides of the Bay often fly between their operational sites, with the flying time between Saint John and Digby reported to be about 15 minutes. That’s the kind of increasing activity that bound to give further impetus to the efforts to establish and grow a new aviation club at Digby Annapolis Regional Airport.
Celebrate Ciderfest
What with all the chatter about farm visits and local produce in this week’s newsletter I sure wasn’t going to forget about one of the longest standing fall celebrations in our area taking place this week. The 27th annual “Ciderfest” will be happening in Bridgetown from September 16-19. So plan to drop by in between your farm excursions to participate in the many activities being offered. I’m a big fan of cider – sometimes beginning and ending my day with a glass or two (different types of course). Oh no –why is The Wurzels “I Am a Cider Drinker” worming through my head at this moment. OMG – now it’s “I’ve Got a Brand New Harvester”. I love those guys but it’s obviously time to sign off for this week!
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
We invite you to visit us anytime at www.annapolisdigby.com.
Labels:
ADEDA news
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Beware: Survey
This evening I received a phone call from a "company" purporting to be doing a survey on renewable energy in Nova Scotia. The introductory questions were kind of funny and intrusive. The main questions, although ostensibly about renewable energy in Nova Scotia except for one question *were only about the wind farm on Digby Neck". Then the person wanted to know how educated I am and how much money I make.
You can say "no answer" to questions you don't like, you know, so do.
The caller's phone number was blocked. I thought about an answer I made and wanted to change it, but couldn't. Someone should attempt to find out the name of the person or the survey company if there is one. And certainly attempt to find out the use of a person's answers to these questions. And yes, please let me know. Kathleen
You can say "no answer" to questions you don't like, you know, so do.
The caller's phone number was blocked. I thought about an answer I made and wanted to change it, but couldn't. Someone should attempt to find out the name of the person or the survey company if there is one. And certainly attempt to find out the use of a person's answers to these questions. And yes, please let me know. Kathleen
ADEDA News
Boatloads of Activity
Hard to believe we’re now into September and Fall is fast approaching. It’s been a busy summer for many of our tourism operators and one of the strongest indicators of that increased activity has been the dramatically expanded traffic over the past few months on the Princess of Acadia. The “Princess”, as she is fondly referred to around here, is the hardworking vessel that transports vehicles and passengers across the Bay of Fundy between the port of Saint John, New Brunswick and our port of Digby - Nova Scotia’s foremost Fundy seaport.
There’s been a 25 % increase in passenger traffic over this past season and the operating company, Bay Ferries, has announced that the Princess of Acadia service will accordingly add three extra weekly crossings to handle the demand.
While it’s great to see the service experiencing such success, it’s also led a number of business and community groups who have been advocating for an improved and expanded service to renew their efforts to secure long term commitments. The call is for a new vessel to replace the aging “Princess” and a commitment from all levels of government to pledge support.
The importance of the Fundy ferry service and port infrastructure improvements for Digby were among the points made by ADEDA’s Managing Director Mike Gushue in his presentation to federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea last week. The Minister, who was accompanied by our Member of Parliament for West Nova, Greg Kerr, met with a number of community groups during her busy visit to the area.
Tapping New Energy Options
As they have all summer, new energy options seemed to be a big focus of local business interest. On the large stage, Canada’s outgoing Consul for New England said in an interview that the Premiers of Atlantic Canada continue to work hard to explore ways to access the growing American energy demand. He said that while the opportunities were varied and positive, much work still needed to be done.
From the macro to the more micro scale, a local company was hard at work making a case for a unique new renewable energy option. West Nova Agro Commodities of Lawrencetown has been presenting a business model for what might qualify as the ultimate ‘green” energy alternative. Their proposal calls for the use of grass as a viable fuel source.
Not every regional energy option was receiving local support however. The NoRigs 3 Coalition has called on the Nova Scotia government to impose a permanent ban on offshore exploration for oil and gas on Georges Bank. The Coalition is comprised of fishermen, fishing groups, environmentalists and Aboriginal groups and pointed to recent environmental disasters around the globe from offshore drilling as reason for perpetual prudence off our coast. The provincial government recently extended the current ban on Georges Bank exploration to 2015.
Organic Renewal
Just last week the federal government announced an assistance program to help our province’s organic farmers and producers. An indication that such support was warranted was rightfully evidenced in the announced revival of a 110 year old enterprise located here in Annapolis Digby. A team of local entrepreneurs has revitalized the century old Tupperville Fruit Company thanks to the fast growing interest in the local food movement. As an interesting aside, at least to me, Tupperville Fruit was originally part of the United Fruit Company. As an occasional traveller to Latin America, and especially since I’m currently reading the biography of one of my favourite authors, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I come across frequent references to the economic power of the UFC. But didn’t know that its influence extended even into our area. Shame on me.
Planning For Business Succession
While the Tupperville Fruit Company story shows one way that our local enterprises get to live on, business longevity is more often today the result of deliberate planning and structured succession considerations. ADEDA is well aware of that need and is acting accordingly on behalf of local establishments. If that’s a subject that concerns you or your business, there’s a program of interest coming up shortly. More than 40 percent of business owners plan to leave their businesses in the next five years.
To help businesses considering this step the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency (ADEDA) in partnership with Acadia University’s Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship will be presenting “Beyond Your Business: Step-by-Step Succession Planning” later this month. This event is also supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
The seminar will be held at the ADEDA facilities, 86 Atlantic Avenue in Cornwallis Park, on Friday, September 24 from 9 AM to 3 PM.
There will be a panel of guest speakers who will offer an informative and insightful look at business succession planning. The program will include three webinars, a half day wrap up session and a “Succession Planning Tool Kit”. The fee is $79+HST and includes lunch.
For more information visit www.acsbe.com, or call Helen Abel at 902-585-1655; or helen.abel@acadiau.ca.
Seasonal Swing
As I mentioned earlier, the wonderful summer we have experienced in Annapolis Digby is coming to an end, but, hey, that’s no reason to be glum. Autumn is perhaps the most wondrous season of all here in our area. So celebrate its impending arrival. A great way to begin this weekend is to attend the “Swing Into Autumn” event in Annapolis Royal. The event will feature the Annapolis Big Band and be held on the grounds of Hillsdale House Inn on Sunday, September 12 from 2 – 4 PM. It’s a fundraiser in support of the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute and the “Species at Risk in Nova Scotia Program”. I’m a big supporter of the Program – and have the licence plate to prove it by the way. Bring your picnic basket, a blanket and non-alcoholic refreshments. (Not to worry though there will be a sangria and beer cash bar). And perhaps even more comforting is the fact that I will NOT be one of the costumed “at risk” animals.
Admission will be a “donation” with proceeds going to the Species at Risk Program.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
Hard to believe we’re now into September and Fall is fast approaching. It’s been a busy summer for many of our tourism operators and one of the strongest indicators of that increased activity has been the dramatically expanded traffic over the past few months on the Princess of Acadia. The “Princess”, as she is fondly referred to around here, is the hardworking vessel that transports vehicles and passengers across the Bay of Fundy between the port of Saint John, New Brunswick and our port of Digby - Nova Scotia’s foremost Fundy seaport.
There’s been a 25 % increase in passenger traffic over this past season and the operating company, Bay Ferries, has announced that the Princess of Acadia service will accordingly add three extra weekly crossings to handle the demand.
While it’s great to see the service experiencing such success, it’s also led a number of business and community groups who have been advocating for an improved and expanded service to renew their efforts to secure long term commitments. The call is for a new vessel to replace the aging “Princess” and a commitment from all levels of government to pledge support.
The importance of the Fundy ferry service and port infrastructure improvements for Digby were among the points made by ADEDA’s Managing Director Mike Gushue in his presentation to federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea last week. The Minister, who was accompanied by our Member of Parliament for West Nova, Greg Kerr, met with a number of community groups during her busy visit to the area.
Tapping New Energy Options
As they have all summer, new energy options seemed to be a big focus of local business interest. On the large stage, Canada’s outgoing Consul for New England said in an interview that the Premiers of Atlantic Canada continue to work hard to explore ways to access the growing American energy demand. He said that while the opportunities were varied and positive, much work still needed to be done.
From the macro to the more micro scale, a local company was hard at work making a case for a unique new renewable energy option. West Nova Agro Commodities of Lawrencetown has been presenting a business model for what might qualify as the ultimate ‘green” energy alternative. Their proposal calls for the use of grass as a viable fuel source.
Not every regional energy option was receiving local support however. The NoRigs 3 Coalition has called on the Nova Scotia government to impose a permanent ban on offshore exploration for oil and gas on Georges Bank. The Coalition is comprised of fishermen, fishing groups, environmentalists and Aboriginal groups and pointed to recent environmental disasters around the globe from offshore drilling as reason for perpetual prudence off our coast. The provincial government recently extended the current ban on Georges Bank exploration to 2015.
Organic Renewal
Just last week the federal government announced an assistance program to help our province’s organic farmers and producers. An indication that such support was warranted was rightfully evidenced in the announced revival of a 110 year old enterprise located here in Annapolis Digby. A team of local entrepreneurs has revitalized the century old Tupperville Fruit Company thanks to the fast growing interest in the local food movement. As an interesting aside, at least to me, Tupperville Fruit was originally part of the United Fruit Company. As an occasional traveller to Latin America, and especially since I’m currently reading the biography of one of my favourite authors, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, I come across frequent references to the economic power of the UFC. But didn’t know that its influence extended even into our area. Shame on me.
Planning For Business Succession
While the Tupperville Fruit Company story shows one way that our local enterprises get to live on, business longevity is more often today the result of deliberate planning and structured succession considerations. ADEDA is well aware of that need and is acting accordingly on behalf of local establishments. If that’s a subject that concerns you or your business, there’s a program of interest coming up shortly. More than 40 percent of business owners plan to leave their businesses in the next five years.
To help businesses considering this step the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency (ADEDA) in partnership with Acadia University’s Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship will be presenting “Beyond Your Business: Step-by-Step Succession Planning” later this month. This event is also supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
The seminar will be held at the ADEDA facilities, 86 Atlantic Avenue in Cornwallis Park, on Friday, September 24 from 9 AM to 3 PM.
There will be a panel of guest speakers who will offer an informative and insightful look at business succession planning. The program will include three webinars, a half day wrap up session and a “Succession Planning Tool Kit”. The fee is $79+HST and includes lunch.
For more information visit www.acsbe.com, or call Helen Abel at 902-585-1655; or helen.abel@acadiau.ca.
Seasonal Swing
As I mentioned earlier, the wonderful summer we have experienced in Annapolis Digby is coming to an end, but, hey, that’s no reason to be glum. Autumn is perhaps the most wondrous season of all here in our area. So celebrate its impending arrival. A great way to begin this weekend is to attend the “Swing Into Autumn” event in Annapolis Royal. The event will feature the Annapolis Big Band and be held on the grounds of Hillsdale House Inn on Sunday, September 12 from 2 – 4 PM. It’s a fundraiser in support of the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute and the “Species at Risk in Nova Scotia Program”. I’m a big supporter of the Program – and have the licence plate to prove it by the way. Bring your picnic basket, a blanket and non-alcoholic refreshments. (Not to worry though there will be a sangria and beer cash bar). And perhaps even more comforting is the fact that I will NOT be one of the costumed “at risk” animals.
Admission will be a “donation” with proceeds going to the Species at Risk Program.
Till next week;
Peter
Peter MacLellan
Annapolis Digby EDA
86 Atlantic Avenue
PO Box 271
Cornwallis, Nova Scotia
Canada B0S 1H0
Tel: (902) 638-3490
Fax: (902) 638-8106
E: communications@annapolisdigby.com
Labels:
ADEDA news
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Do We Need Neighbourhood Renewal?
Blogger: Scroll down to contact info, you may wish to know more.
The International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal
2nd Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony
17th and 18th November 2010, Westminster London UK
The 2nd Annual Conference of the International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal takes place in London in November 2010. This will be an exciting 2 day event for the 200 delegates to listen to a range of expert speakers and share your experiences and views on Neighbourhood Renewal with a range of other delegates. Details of the Conference can be found at www.neighbourhoodjournal.com but see below for a range of some of the confirmed speaking organisations.
Department for Communities and Local Government.
South Kilburn Partnership.
Manton Community Alliance.
The Reader Organisation.
London Borough of Lewisham.
London Borough of Newham.
Southampton City Council.
Wulvern Housing.
The Glass House.
Great Yarmouth Neighbourhood Management.
Harrow Road Neighbourhood Partnership.
Liverpool John Moores University.
University of Sheffield.
Make Good.
The cost to attend is £175 per person plus VAT. There are also a number of display spaces available which are competitively priced at £750 plus VAT. If you wish to sponsor the event please just let drop us an email and we can discuss a tailor made package for you. To book or submit an enquiry please email neighbourhoodjournal@googlemail.com and we will make the necessary arrangements.
We also run an awards ceremony for best neighbourhood renewal programmes and if you wish to be nominated or nominate a programme please just drop u an email.
With kind regards,
Neighbourhood Journal Conference Team
Holden Publishing
To unsubscribe please email info@neighbourhoodtraining.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=118722604830513#!/pages/International-Journal-of-Neighbourhood-Renewal/118722604830513
The International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal
2nd Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony
17th and 18th November 2010, Westminster London UK
The 2nd Annual Conference of the International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal takes place in London in November 2010. This will be an exciting 2 day event for the 200 delegates to listen to a range of expert speakers and share your experiences and views on Neighbourhood Renewal with a range of other delegates. Details of the Conference can be found at www.neighbourhoodjournal.com but see below for a range of some of the confirmed speaking organisations.
Department for Communities and Local Government.
South Kilburn Partnership.
Manton Community Alliance.
The Reader Organisation.
London Borough of Lewisham.
London Borough of Newham.
Southampton City Council.
Wulvern Housing.
The Glass House.
Great Yarmouth Neighbourhood Management.
Harrow Road Neighbourhood Partnership.
Liverpool John Moores University.
University of Sheffield.
Make Good.
The cost to attend is £175 per person plus VAT. There are also a number of display spaces available which are competitively priced at £750 plus VAT. If you wish to sponsor the event please just let drop us an email and we can discuss a tailor made package for you. To book or submit an enquiry please email neighbourhoodjournal@googlemail.com and we will make the necessary arrangements.
We also run an awards ceremony for best neighbourhood renewal programmes and if you wish to be nominated or nominate a programme please just drop u an email.
With kind regards,
Neighbourhood Journal Conference Team
Holden Publishing
To unsubscribe please email info@neighbourhoodtraining.co.uk
Follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=118722604830513#!/pages/International-Journal-of-Neighbourhood-Renewal/118722604830513
Hurricane Earl (2)
Earl moves into Nova Scotia
Hurricane moves east packing heavy rain, strong winds
By BEVERLEY WARE South Shore Bureau and THE CANADIAN PRESS | UPDATED 10:30 a.m.
Sat, Sep 4 - 4:54 AM
Frances Robinson and her son, Jeremy Rotundo, 14, prepare to take flight from approaching hurriciane Earl, while the two surveyed the wind, rain and waves at the Cape Forchu Lighthouse near Yarmouth on Saturday. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)
The scene at about 9 a.m. today at Mahone Bay as Earl marched toward the province. (ANDREW WAUGH)
At a media briefing on Friday, Chris Fogarty, program supervisor for the Canadian Hurricane Centre, points to a map that outlines hurricane Earl’s predicted wind speeds. The darkest areas are where the strongest winds will be felt. Earl is expected to bring wind and gusts in excess of 100 kilomet
Hurricane Earl slightly diminished in strength overnight but shifted to make landfall in the St. Margarets Bay area near Halifax, threatening to topple trees and down power lines as the storm barrelled through the Maritimes.
The storm, which forecasters called a marginal hurricane, brought strong winds and periodic sheets of rain throughout parts of Nova Scotia on Saturday morning.
``It's weakened a little,'' said Bill Appleby of the Canadian Hurricane Centre. ``One thing that's changed overnight is we actually have a little bit more of a defined eye.''
Appleby said that meant winds around the centre of the storm won't weaken as much as initially expected, fuelled in part by air and sea temperatures warmer than normal.
He said Earl was expected to make landfall in the early afternoon in the St. Margarets Bay area, west of Halifax, before curving up towards Pictou County in central Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.
» CLICK HERE for Canadian Hurricane Centre information
» CLICK HERE for U.S. National Hurricane Center
» CLICK HERE for complete coverage of tropical storm Earl
» WATCH VIDEO: Earl's progress
» CLICK HERE for power outage information
» CLICK HERE for Emergency Management Office website
Power outages were spreading across southern Nova Scotia, including Halifax, and the Annapolis Valley as the storm progressed.
Forecasters warned that signs, tree branches and utility lines could be knocked down, causing further power failures.
Nova Scotians started feeling Hurricane Earl's affects by 9 a.m. today, as a band of rains and high wind gusts moved in.
About 27,000 customers lost their power from Bridgewater through to pockets in Halifax as a result of high winds, the Nova Scotia Power website said. At about 11 a.m., more than 42,000 Nova Scotians were without power.
High waves and concerns for stormwatchers' safety prompted the RCMP to close off roads to Peggys Cove and Lawrencetown Beach as authorities feared people could be swept away.
Teeming rain was making travelling very difficult in and around metro Halifax, as several streets started to fill up with water.
The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission barred tall-sided vehicles from the MacKay Bridge and also restricted cyclists and pedestrians from crossing the Macdonald Bridge, a commission spokesman said.
There was a report of a downed tree on Connolly Street in central Halifax and also a report that a gas truck had gone off Prospect Road.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport was also cancelling several flights. Travellers were advised to check the website for updates.
Emergency officials say the worst is over in Yarmouth and Queens counties.
Retired fisherman Clifford D'Entremont pulled up to the parking area at Lower West Pubnico's wind turbine farm shortly before 10:30 this morning hoping to see a few good waves crashing against the rocks.
Though the rain was pelting down, the wind was relatively tame. D'Entremont said he saw gusts top out at 60 kp/h. “The storm passed by here, no problems around here. I didn't even see a tree down,” he said in his thick Acadian accent.
He said the community took warnings of this storm seriously and didn't take any chances. “We're used to the sea around here,” D'Entremont said.
He first started seeing rain squalls around 6 a.m., but they tapered off until about 7 a.m. when “there was a good puff of rain.” While the rain continues to sweep the area in sporadic waves, the area does not seem to be as hard hit as east of Yarmouth County.
Harold Richardson, Yarmouth's emergency response coordinator, said there is a difference of opinion at the moment between American and Canadian authorities as to whether the storm is still a Category 1 hurricane or a tropical storm.
“It's marginal, right on the line, but as far as I'm concerned, wind is wind,” Richardson said.
The Miami Hurricane Centre has downgraded Earl to a tropical storm while Environment Canada says it is still a hurricane.
U.S. hurricane services had downgraded Earl to a tropical storm late Friday night, but in Canada it's still considered a Category 1 hurricane.
Emergency measures officials had a conference call with provincial officials shortly before 7 a.m. and believe things are well in hand for southwestern Nova Scotia at the moment.
Hurricane moves east packing heavy rain, strong winds
By BEVERLEY WARE South Shore Bureau and THE CANADIAN PRESS | UPDATED 10:30 a.m.
Sat, Sep 4 - 4:54 AM
Frances Robinson and her son, Jeremy Rotundo, 14, prepare to take flight from approaching hurriciane Earl, while the two surveyed the wind, rain and waves at the Cape Forchu Lighthouse near Yarmouth on Saturday. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)
The scene at about 9 a.m. today at Mahone Bay as Earl marched toward the province. (ANDREW WAUGH)
At a media briefing on Friday, Chris Fogarty, program supervisor for the Canadian Hurricane Centre, points to a map that outlines hurricane Earl’s predicted wind speeds. The darkest areas are where the strongest winds will be felt. Earl is expected to bring wind and gusts in excess of 100 kilomet
Hurricane Earl slightly diminished in strength overnight but shifted to make landfall in the St. Margarets Bay area near Halifax, threatening to topple trees and down power lines as the storm barrelled through the Maritimes.
The storm, which forecasters called a marginal hurricane, brought strong winds and periodic sheets of rain throughout parts of Nova Scotia on Saturday morning.
``It's weakened a little,'' said Bill Appleby of the Canadian Hurricane Centre. ``One thing that's changed overnight is we actually have a little bit more of a defined eye.''
Appleby said that meant winds around the centre of the storm won't weaken as much as initially expected, fuelled in part by air and sea temperatures warmer than normal.
He said Earl was expected to make landfall in the early afternoon in the St. Margarets Bay area, west of Halifax, before curving up towards Pictou County in central Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.
» CLICK HERE for Canadian Hurricane Centre information
» CLICK HERE for U.S. National Hurricane Center
» CLICK HERE for complete coverage of tropical storm Earl
» WATCH VIDEO: Earl's progress
» CLICK HERE for power outage information
» CLICK HERE for Emergency Management Office website
Power outages were spreading across southern Nova Scotia, including Halifax, and the Annapolis Valley as the storm progressed.
Forecasters warned that signs, tree branches and utility lines could be knocked down, causing further power failures.
Nova Scotians started feeling Hurricane Earl's affects by 9 a.m. today, as a band of rains and high wind gusts moved in.
About 27,000 customers lost their power from Bridgewater through to pockets in Halifax as a result of high winds, the Nova Scotia Power website said. At about 11 a.m., more than 42,000 Nova Scotians were without power.
High waves and concerns for stormwatchers' safety prompted the RCMP to close off roads to Peggys Cove and Lawrencetown Beach as authorities feared people could be swept away.
Teeming rain was making travelling very difficult in and around metro Halifax, as several streets started to fill up with water.
The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission barred tall-sided vehicles from the MacKay Bridge and also restricted cyclists and pedestrians from crossing the Macdonald Bridge, a commission spokesman said.
There was a report of a downed tree on Connolly Street in central Halifax and also a report that a gas truck had gone off Prospect Road.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport was also cancelling several flights. Travellers were advised to check the website for updates.
Emergency officials say the worst is over in Yarmouth and Queens counties.
Retired fisherman Clifford D'Entremont pulled up to the parking area at Lower West Pubnico's wind turbine farm shortly before 10:30 this morning hoping to see a few good waves crashing against the rocks.
Though the rain was pelting down, the wind was relatively tame. D'Entremont said he saw gusts top out at 60 kp/h. “The storm passed by here, no problems around here. I didn't even see a tree down,” he said in his thick Acadian accent.
He said the community took warnings of this storm seriously and didn't take any chances. “We're used to the sea around here,” D'Entremont said.
He first started seeing rain squalls around 6 a.m., but they tapered off until about 7 a.m. when “there was a good puff of rain.” While the rain continues to sweep the area in sporadic waves, the area does not seem to be as hard hit as east of Yarmouth County.
Harold Richardson, Yarmouth's emergency response coordinator, said there is a difference of opinion at the moment between American and Canadian authorities as to whether the storm is still a Category 1 hurricane or a tropical storm.
“It's marginal, right on the line, but as far as I'm concerned, wind is wind,” Richardson said.
The Miami Hurricane Centre has downgraded Earl to a tropical storm while Environment Canada says it is still a hurricane.
U.S. hurricane services had downgraded Earl to a tropical storm late Friday night, but in Canada it's still considered a Category 1 hurricane.
Emergency measures officials had a conference call with provincial officials shortly before 7 a.m. and believe things are well in hand for southwestern Nova Scotia at the moment.
Hurricane Earl
Bikers set to wait out hurricane
Rally major event for town
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Sat, Sep 4 - 4:54 AM
The scene Friday at the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)
Stacey Butler receives a tattoo on her arm as her friend, Melody Didychuk, checks out her new design in a mirror. The pair, both of Moncton, treated themselves at the Skin Decision Piercing and Tattoo Studio trailer at the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)
Hurricane Earl threatened to hobble the massive Wharf Rat Rally in Digby on Friday, but participants vowed to party on as soon as the big storm passes.
The huge Labour Day weekend celebration of motorcycling in the fishing town on the Bay of Fundy has become so big that some participants described the approaching hurricane as a minor setback.
"We’ll break down our display tonight and hunker down until the storm passes," Lantz entrepreneur Scott Rumley said in an interview.
Rumley said the Wharf Rat Rally has become a significant source of revenue for
his Chubby Boyz Choppers accessories business.
He said he and the other vendors clustered at the Digby marina were holding their ground despite the hurricane threat.
"This is certainly one of the biggest industry events we have going in Atlantic Canada, so all the vendors will be hanging in here as long as possible," Rumley said.
Even as he was speaking, Earl’s approach was darkening skies throughout southwest Nova Scotia.
About 200 vendors are participating in the Wharf Rat Rally, which started on Wednesday and runs through Monday. It was originally expected to attract more than 30,000 bikers and thousand of fans but organizer Glen Dunn conceded Friday that cancellations were mounting because of the hurricane.
"We’re keeping our eyes on the sky, but we’re a pretty resilient group," Dunn said.
"We’ve had a few vendors pack it in, but others moved in quickly to take their place."
Dunn said rally organizers will likely "batten down the hatches" early today and wait out the storm.
"We have displays here featuring millions of dollars worth of equipment, so we’re obviously taking the weather warnings seriously," he said.
Dunn put in a plug for area hotels and bed and breakfasts that might have lost revenue because of cancellations due to the storm.
"We’re hearing there are vacancies due to the weather, so we’re encouraging people to head this way as soon as it starts to clear," the rally organizer said.
John Larson, owner of Privateers Harley-Davidson in the Bayers Lake Business Park in Halifax, said he was ready to get his display motorcycles into their protective trailers if weather conditions warrant it, but he didn’t think it would come to that.
"The rumours of a hurricane hitting are greatly over-exaggerated," he said.
He blamed the media for blowing things out of proportion.
Before news of the approaching hurricane spread earlier in the week, participants had been banking on record crowds. The Wharf Rat Rally started six years ago with about 500 bikers and now could be the largest motorcycle event in Canada.
"The rally is getting so big that cancellations don’t seem to be a problem," said Julie Taylor, a partner in Skin Decision, a Truro piercing and tattooing business that has set up shop for the rally in a trailer a short distance from the marina.
"This is one of our biggest events of the year and we’ve been crazy busy.
"This place is going to be rocking after the storm passes."
( bpower@herald.ca)
‘We’re keeping our eyes on the sky, but we’re a pretty resilient group.’
Rat Rally organizer
GLEN DUNN
Rally major event for town
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Sat, Sep 4 - 4:54 AM
The scene Friday at the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)
Stacey Butler receives a tattoo on her arm as her friend, Melody Didychuk, checks out her new design in a mirror. The pair, both of Moncton, treated themselves at the Skin Decision Piercing and Tattoo Studio trailer at the Wharf Rat Rally in Digby. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)
Hurricane Earl threatened to hobble the massive Wharf Rat Rally in Digby on Friday, but participants vowed to party on as soon as the big storm passes.
The huge Labour Day weekend celebration of motorcycling in the fishing town on the Bay of Fundy has become so big that some participants described the approaching hurricane as a minor setback.
"We’ll break down our display tonight and hunker down until the storm passes," Lantz entrepreneur Scott Rumley said in an interview.
Rumley said the Wharf Rat Rally has become a significant source of revenue for
his Chubby Boyz Choppers accessories business.
He said he and the other vendors clustered at the Digby marina were holding their ground despite the hurricane threat.
"This is certainly one of the biggest industry events we have going in Atlantic Canada, so all the vendors will be hanging in here as long as possible," Rumley said.
Even as he was speaking, Earl’s approach was darkening skies throughout southwest Nova Scotia.
About 200 vendors are participating in the Wharf Rat Rally, which started on Wednesday and runs through Monday. It was originally expected to attract more than 30,000 bikers and thousand of fans but organizer Glen Dunn conceded Friday that cancellations were mounting because of the hurricane.
"We’re keeping our eyes on the sky, but we’re a pretty resilient group," Dunn said.
"We’ve had a few vendors pack it in, but others moved in quickly to take their place."
Dunn said rally organizers will likely "batten down the hatches" early today and wait out the storm.
"We have displays here featuring millions of dollars worth of equipment, so we’re obviously taking the weather warnings seriously," he said.
Dunn put in a plug for area hotels and bed and breakfasts that might have lost revenue because of cancellations due to the storm.
"We’re hearing there are vacancies due to the weather, so we’re encouraging people to head this way as soon as it starts to clear," the rally organizer said.
John Larson, owner of Privateers Harley-Davidson in the Bayers Lake Business Park in Halifax, said he was ready to get his display motorcycles into their protective trailers if weather conditions warrant it, but he didn’t think it would come to that.
"The rumours of a hurricane hitting are greatly over-exaggerated," he said.
He blamed the media for blowing things out of proportion.
Before news of the approaching hurricane spread earlier in the week, participants had been banking on record crowds. The Wharf Rat Rally started six years ago with about 500 bikers and now could be the largest motorcycle event in Canada.
"The rally is getting so big that cancellations don’t seem to be a problem," said Julie Taylor, a partner in Skin Decision, a Truro piercing and tattooing business that has set up shop for the rally in a trailer a short distance from the marina.
"This is one of our biggest events of the year and we’ve been crazy busy.
"This place is going to be rocking after the storm passes."
( bpower@herald.ca)
‘We’re keeping our eyes on the sky, but we’re a pretty resilient group.’
Rat Rally organizer
GLEN DUNN
Friday, September 3, 2010
Atwood Surfacing
Jane Taber
Hot: Margaret Atwood. Talk about stirring the pot. The Canadian literary icon’s simple act of adding her voice to an on-line petition protesting against a Fox News-like channel coming to Canada has sparked outrage among right-wing commentators.
“This is not the first time Atwood has put her political agenda ahead of principles and patriotism,” Kory Teneycke writes Friday in Sun Media papers. “In the 2008 election campaign she was asked if she would vote for the separatist Bloc Quebecois if she lived in Quebec, she said: ‘Yes. Absolutely. What is the alternative?’
“Seriously? How about voting for someone who doesn’t advocate the breakup of the country?”
Formerly director of communications to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Mr. Teneycke is now vice-president of development for Quebecor Inc., the company making the bid for the new all-news channel, Sun TV. The proposed station has been mockingly dubbed “Tory TV” and “Fox News North” as its aim is to promote a right-of-centre view to counter what many Tories see as a Liberal bias in Canadian media.
In his column, Mr. Tenecyke notes the petition was started by Avaaz, a special interest group funded by U.S. billionaire George Soros.
And he questions its veracity: “Atwood is not the only A-list ‘celebrity’ that has signed. Dwight Shroot (from The Office), Boba Fett (of Star Wars), Snuffaluffagus (Sesame Street) and Homer Simpson are also signatories.”
For her part, Ms. Atwood told The Globe and Mail her concerns were not about silencing Sun TV. Rather, her protest lies with what she sees as Mr. Harper’s pattern of silencing the voices of his critics.
“Some people signing the petition object to the expected content. I object to the process,” she said. “It's the [prime ministerial] pressure on yet another civil servant that bothers me. These folks are supposed to be working for the taxpayer, not the PM.”
There have been reports that CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein’s head is on the Tory chopping block because the regulator has so far opted not to grant the channel its desired license. The PMO has denied this and Quebecor is taking another run at securing preferred status.
Hot: Replacement rumours. Official Ottawa loves nothing more than to speculate about political players. And so a report Friday by The Globe and Mail’s parliamentary bureau chief that Stephen Harper’s chief of staff, Guy Giorno, is set to leave his post has sparked much interest in his potential replacement.
Topping the list is Derek Vanstone, formerly chief of staff to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and now in the PMO as deputy chief of staff in charge of operations. Interestingly, he has been travelling with the Prime Minister this summer.
Like Mr. Giorno, Mr. Vanstone comes from the Mike Harris school of politics.
Not: Rob Ford. Liberal Party pollster Michael Marzolini is rumoured to be lending his analytical skills to George Smitherman’s bid for Toronto mayor.
The whispers come as Hogtown Grits become increasingly worried about the growing strength of right-wing candidate Rob Ford. He is topping the polls, running ahead of Mr. Smitherman, a former McGuinty cabinet minister, and former Liberal Party national director, Rocco Rossi.
Word of Mr. Marzolini’s involvement came after reports earlier this week that another veteran Liberal, former war-room strategist Warren Kinsella, had joined Mr. Rossi’s campaign.
Mr. Marzolini is the head of Pollara, a national polling firm based in Toronto, and has been involved with the Liberals since Jean Chrétien’s three majority governments. But he doesn’t confine himself to federal politics, since most pollsters – and political consultants like Mr. Kinsella – can’t resist a good election campaign.
Hot: Margaret Atwood. Talk about stirring the pot. The Canadian literary icon’s simple act of adding her voice to an on-line petition protesting against a Fox News-like channel coming to Canada has sparked outrage among right-wing commentators.
“This is not the first time Atwood has put her political agenda ahead of principles and patriotism,” Kory Teneycke writes Friday in Sun Media papers. “In the 2008 election campaign she was asked if she would vote for the separatist Bloc Quebecois if she lived in Quebec, she said: ‘Yes. Absolutely. What is the alternative?’
“Seriously? How about voting for someone who doesn’t advocate the breakup of the country?”
Formerly director of communications to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Mr. Teneycke is now vice-president of development for Quebecor Inc., the company making the bid for the new all-news channel, Sun TV. The proposed station has been mockingly dubbed “Tory TV” and “Fox News North” as its aim is to promote a right-of-centre view to counter what many Tories see as a Liberal bias in Canadian media.
In his column, Mr. Tenecyke notes the petition was started by Avaaz, a special interest group funded by U.S. billionaire George Soros.
And he questions its veracity: “Atwood is not the only A-list ‘celebrity’ that has signed. Dwight Shroot (from The Office), Boba Fett (of Star Wars), Snuffaluffagus (Sesame Street) and Homer Simpson are also signatories.”
For her part, Ms. Atwood told The Globe and Mail her concerns were not about silencing Sun TV. Rather, her protest lies with what she sees as Mr. Harper’s pattern of silencing the voices of his critics.
“Some people signing the petition object to the expected content. I object to the process,” she said. “It's the [prime ministerial] pressure on yet another civil servant that bothers me. These folks are supposed to be working for the taxpayer, not the PM.”
There have been reports that CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein’s head is on the Tory chopping block because the regulator has so far opted not to grant the channel its desired license. The PMO has denied this and Quebecor is taking another run at securing preferred status.
Hot: Replacement rumours. Official Ottawa loves nothing more than to speculate about political players. And so a report Friday by The Globe and Mail’s parliamentary bureau chief that Stephen Harper’s chief of staff, Guy Giorno, is set to leave his post has sparked much interest in his potential replacement.
Topping the list is Derek Vanstone, formerly chief of staff to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and now in the PMO as deputy chief of staff in charge of operations. Interestingly, he has been travelling with the Prime Minister this summer.
Like Mr. Giorno, Mr. Vanstone comes from the Mike Harris school of politics.
Not: Rob Ford. Liberal Party pollster Michael Marzolini is rumoured to be lending his analytical skills to George Smitherman’s bid for Toronto mayor.
The whispers come as Hogtown Grits become increasingly worried about the growing strength of right-wing candidate Rob Ford. He is topping the polls, running ahead of Mr. Smitherman, a former McGuinty cabinet minister, and former Liberal Party national director, Rocco Rossi.
Word of Mr. Marzolini’s involvement came after reports earlier this week that another veteran Liberal, former war-room strategist Warren Kinsella, had joined Mr. Rossi’s campaign.
Mr. Marzolini is the head of Pollara, a national polling firm based in Toronto, and has been involved with the Liberals since Jean Chrétien’s three majority governments. But he doesn’t confine himself to federal politics, since most pollsters – and political consultants like Mr. Kinsella – can’t resist a good election campaign.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gov't and First Nations
NS: Agreement facilitates consultation between Mi’kmaq, government
By Jason Malloy, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Truro Daily News, Sep. 1/10
[MILLBROOK, NS] – An agreement years in the making was signed yesterday providing the framework for the federal and provincial governments to consult with Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq on projects and activities.
Canada’s Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan, Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter and Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy signed what was called a “historic”, “landmark” and “precedent-setting” agreement.
“Since 2007 the pilot terms of reference have been adjusted and refined and today they have been signed by every Mi’kmaq chief, by myself, by the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada,” Dexter says. “It’s a great moment. An achievement of which we can all be very proud for a number of reasons.”
He says it is a “unique” agreement in Canada because it’s the first of its kind that includes all First Nations within a province. In 2002, the three parties signed an umbrella agreement, which included negotiating the terms of reference for a consultation process.
“The term of reference provides an essential component to the discussion of land and resources in the province. Foremost it provides a process to allow people to come together and discuss common issues and concerns,” says Membertou Chief Terry Paul. “Although it does not guarantee that a consensus will emerge between the Mi’kmaq and the government, it does, however, provide a place where we can build trust and develop or improve our relationship.”
Chief Gerard Julian, co-chair of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs, says the Mi’kmaq involvement must be more than “window dressing” to items that have already been approved by government.
“A meaningful role for the Mi’kmaq in consultations means that our involvement matters and that views and opinions are taken into account,” he says. “It also means our concerns are substantially addressed throughout the consultation process.”
Tuesday’s signing is part of broader negotiations to resolve outstanding questions relating to Aboriginal and treaty rights and self-government.
“I’ve often said we’re caught in a chain of treaties our ancestors signed in the 1700s. Every benefit we’ve got, that are caught in the chain of treaties, we had to resort to court action,” says Millbrook Chief Lawrence Paul.
In the 2004 Haida and Taku River decisions, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the federal and provincial governments have a legal duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate when government conduct may adversely impact established or potential Aboriginal or treaty rights.
“But now with the Made in Nova Scotia Process… we can sit down and discuss the benefits of our treaties,” Paul says.
By Jason Malloy, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Truro Daily News, Sep. 1/10
[MILLBROOK, NS] – An agreement years in the making was signed yesterday providing the framework for the federal and provincial governments to consult with Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq on projects and activities.
Canada’s Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan, Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter and Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy signed what was called a “historic”, “landmark” and “precedent-setting” agreement.
“Since 2007 the pilot terms of reference have been adjusted and refined and today they have been signed by every Mi’kmaq chief, by myself, by the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada,” Dexter says. “It’s a great moment. An achievement of which we can all be very proud for a number of reasons.”
He says it is a “unique” agreement in Canada because it’s the first of its kind that includes all First Nations within a province. In 2002, the three parties signed an umbrella agreement, which included negotiating the terms of reference for a consultation process.
“The term of reference provides an essential component to the discussion of land and resources in the province. Foremost it provides a process to allow people to come together and discuss common issues and concerns,” says Membertou Chief Terry Paul. “Although it does not guarantee that a consensus will emerge between the Mi’kmaq and the government, it does, however, provide a place where we can build trust and develop or improve our relationship.”
Chief Gerard Julian, co-chair of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs, says the Mi’kmaq involvement must be more than “window dressing” to items that have already been approved by government.
“A meaningful role for the Mi’kmaq in consultations means that our involvement matters and that views and opinions are taken into account,” he says. “It also means our concerns are substantially addressed throughout the consultation process.”
Tuesday’s signing is part of broader negotiations to resolve outstanding questions relating to Aboriginal and treaty rights and self-government.
“I’ve often said we’re caught in a chain of treaties our ancestors signed in the 1700s. Every benefit we’ve got, that are caught in the chain of treaties, we had to resort to court action,” says Millbrook Chief Lawrence Paul.
In the 2004 Haida and Taku River decisions, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the federal and provincial governments have a legal duty to consult and, where appropriate, accommodate when government conduct may adversely impact established or potential Aboriginal or treaty rights.
“But now with the Made in Nova Scotia Process… we can sit down and discuss the benefits of our treaties,” Paul says.
Labels:
Mi'kmaq nova scotia
Money for Organic Farming
NS: Feds give $6.5M to support growth of organic farming
By Jason Malloy, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Truro Daily News, September 2, 2010
[BIBLE HILL, NS] — Canadian scientists will collaborate during the next two-and-a-half years to try to develop more efficient and profitable processes for organic farmers.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced the $6.5-million investment Wednesday morning at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Bible Hill. Industry is also contributing $2.2 million towards the project.
“We’ve got lots of work to do. Now we can do it,” said Ralph Martin, founding director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada located on the NSAC campus.
He explained the organic science cluster has identified 10 sub projects to undertake. Those sub projects include 30 research activities to be conducted by 50 researchers and 30 collaborators at 45 institutions in nine provinces across the country. Research will focus on things like soil fertility, greenhouse production, dairy production systems, parasite control and food processing.
“We’re bringing the best and the brightest together from academia … government and industry to get them all rowing in the same direction and ultimately help grow the markets for our organic producers,” Ritz said. “By collaborating in this way we get a bigger bang for our research buck and better and faster results for our producers.”
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced $6.5 million for organic farming Wednesday in Bible Hill. The announcement was made in the orchard at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. — Jason Malloy, Truro Daily News photo
Martin estimated about 20 per cent of the funds would be spent at the Bible Hill centre.
Thirty years ago some people considered farmers who talked about organic products as outsiders, fringe groups or hippies. But it has grown to be accepted and demanded by consumers across the country and around the world.
“There’s no question the long-term outlook is bright, with the increasing consumer demands for foods that enhance their health and the environment,” Ritz said.
He added in the past two years, Canadians have increased their spending on organic products by $800 million to $2 billion last year.
“That’s tremendous market growth and it’s something that this government wants to support because we know when farmers succeed the whole economy benefits,” Ritz said.
The research results are also expected to benefit conventional farmers as well.
By Jason Malloy, Transcontinental Media
Source: The Truro Daily News, September 2, 2010
[BIBLE HILL, NS] — Canadian scientists will collaborate during the next two-and-a-half years to try to develop more efficient and profitable processes for organic farmers.
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced the $6.5-million investment Wednesday morning at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Bible Hill. Industry is also contributing $2.2 million towards the project.
“We’ve got lots of work to do. Now we can do it,” said Ralph Martin, founding director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada located on the NSAC campus.
He explained the organic science cluster has identified 10 sub projects to undertake. Those sub projects include 30 research activities to be conducted by 50 researchers and 30 collaborators at 45 institutions in nine provinces across the country. Research will focus on things like soil fertility, greenhouse production, dairy production systems, parasite control and food processing.
“We’re bringing the best and the brightest together from academia … government and industry to get them all rowing in the same direction and ultimately help grow the markets for our organic producers,” Ritz said. “By collaborating in this way we get a bigger bang for our research buck and better and faster results for our producers.”
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced $6.5 million for organic farming Wednesday in Bible Hill. The announcement was made in the orchard at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. — Jason Malloy, Truro Daily News photo
Martin estimated about 20 per cent of the funds would be spent at the Bible Hill centre.
Thirty years ago some people considered farmers who talked about organic products as outsiders, fringe groups or hippies. But it has grown to be accepted and demanded by consumers across the country and around the world.
“There’s no question the long-term outlook is bright, with the increasing consumer demands for foods that enhance their health and the environment,” Ritz said.
He added in the past two years, Canadians have increased their spending on organic products by $800 million to $2 billion last year.
“That’s tremendous market growth and it’s something that this government wants to support because we know when farmers succeed the whole economy benefits,” Ritz said.
The research results are also expected to benefit conventional farmers as well.
Labels:
organing farming Canada
Another Town Readies for Earl
NS: Boat owners and operators prepare for wrath of Earl
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The News, September 2, 2010
[PICTOU, NS] — Pictures of the submerged and mangled boats left in hurricane Earl’s wake don’t have local boat owners and operators too concerned.
Most of Pictou County’s harbours and wharves are well sheltered and there has been little damage in the past, local experts say.
“There’s always potential for damage, but you can only prepare for so much and then hope for the best,” says Ronnie Heighton, Northumberland Fisherman’s Association president.
Most local fisherman will be putting out some extra ropes and perhaps some inflatable fenders to keep boats from coming in contact with anything else. Few people if any will bother taking their boats out of the water, he said.
“The vast majority of us are ready to fish herring,” he said. “We wouldn’t be inclined to take them out of the water.”
About 100 boats are docked at the Pictou Marina. There’s no way everybody could get them out in two days, but few are even talking about doing that, says marina manager Dave Edy.
“We’re just praying it doesn’t come through very much,” he says.
The Pictou Harbour is one of the most sheltered in the area, though, and has never had a major problem with storms in the past, Edy said.
Donald Cormier, vice president of operations and safety manager for the Northumberland Ferries, said they continue to keep a close eye as the storm approaches.
“It’s early yet, but obviously it’s a severe weather storm that’s moving in this direction,” he said.
Ferry service will be shut down if the storm is severe enough. “It really depends on the wind direction and how strong the winds are.”
The captain of the ferry is the one who makes the final call about whether it’s safe to sail.
“Those decision are made with due regard to the safety of our customers,” Cormier said.
Winds cause the biggest problem when the ferry is trying to dock.
“That’s why wind direction is a large consideration in sailing conditions,” he said.
If the ferry does shut down additional mooring lines will be put out and the crew will remain on board to make sure it’s safe.
By Staff, Transcontinental Media
Source: The News, September 2, 2010
[PICTOU, NS] — Pictures of the submerged and mangled boats left in hurricane Earl’s wake don’t have local boat owners and operators too concerned.
Most of Pictou County’s harbours and wharves are well sheltered and there has been little damage in the past, local experts say.
“There’s always potential for damage, but you can only prepare for so much and then hope for the best,” says Ronnie Heighton, Northumberland Fisherman’s Association president.
Most local fisherman will be putting out some extra ropes and perhaps some inflatable fenders to keep boats from coming in contact with anything else. Few people if any will bother taking their boats out of the water, he said.
“The vast majority of us are ready to fish herring,” he said. “We wouldn’t be inclined to take them out of the water.”
About 100 boats are docked at the Pictou Marina. There’s no way everybody could get them out in two days, but few are even talking about doing that, says marina manager Dave Edy.
“We’re just praying it doesn’t come through very much,” he says.
The Pictou Harbour is one of the most sheltered in the area, though, and has never had a major problem with storms in the past, Edy said.
Donald Cormier, vice president of operations and safety manager for the Northumberland Ferries, said they continue to keep a close eye as the storm approaches.
“It’s early yet, but obviously it’s a severe weather storm that’s moving in this direction,” he said.
Ferry service will be shut down if the storm is severe enough. “It really depends on the wind direction and how strong the winds are.”
The captain of the ferry is the one who makes the final call about whether it’s safe to sail.
“Those decision are made with due regard to the safety of our customers,” Cormier said.
Winds cause the biggest problem when the ferry is trying to dock.
“That’s why wind direction is a large consideration in sailing conditions,” he said.
If the ferry does shut down additional mooring lines will be put out and the crew will remain on board to make sure it’s safe.
Cultural Centre in Bear River
Hi everyone
The Bear River First Nation Heritage & Cultural Center is open once again for its 2010 season. This year we are offering a great Autumn Student Package for students a bit of the old and a twist of the new.
We are offering a New Environmental Games as part of our Student Package this year which we hope will be a big hit with the students!
This year we are offering our Autumn Student Package
COST: ($10.00 per Student)
Activities Include:
Admission to the Centre
A Guided Tour Of our Artifact Gallery which houses artifacts dating 4,500 years
A Guided Nature Walk on our Medicine Trail (learn about the
Natural medicines used by the Mi’kmaq people)
Create either a Traditional Deer-Hide Bracelet OR
Design a unique Traditional Talking Stick (NEW)
· Environmental Game (NEW)
· Birchbark Canoe Presentation
· Students will learn a Traditional Song
· Students will learn a Traditional Dance
· Traditional Sharing Circle
· Traditional Drumming by our Interpreters
Call today to book YOUR class.
(902) 467-0301
E-mail: brfnculturalcenter@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Website: www.bearriverculturalcenter.com
Respectfully
Wanda Finigan
The Bear River First Nation Heritage & Cultural Center is open once again for its 2010 season. This year we are offering a great Autumn Student Package for students a bit of the old and a twist of the new.
We are offering a New Environmental Games as part of our Student Package this year which we hope will be a big hit with the students!
This year we are offering our Autumn Student Package
COST: ($10.00 per Student)
Activities Include:
Admission to the Centre
A Guided Tour Of our Artifact Gallery which houses artifacts dating 4,500 years
A Guided Nature Walk on our Medicine Trail (learn about the
Natural medicines used by the Mi’kmaq people)
Create either a Traditional Deer-Hide Bracelet OR
Design a unique Traditional Talking Stick (NEW)
· Environmental Game (NEW)
· Birchbark Canoe Presentation
· Students will learn a Traditional Song
· Students will learn a Traditional Dance
· Traditional Sharing Circle
· Traditional Drumming by our Interpreters
Call today to book YOUR class.
(902) 467-0301
E-mail: brfnculturalcenter@ns.aliantzinc.ca
Website: www.bearriverculturalcenter.com
Respectfully
Wanda Finigan
Labels:
Bear River Cultural Centre
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Belugas and Oil Wells
Oil well threatens belugas
Environment, Green Party of Canada, Media Release | Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Media Release
For Immediate Release
August 31, 2010
The Green Party of Canada is calling on Prime Minister Harper to protect endangered beluga whales in the Gulf of St Lawrence by putting a moratorium in place on oil and gas development in this sensitive ecosystem. The Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board has approved preliminary work and seismic testing for a deep-water oil well east of the Magdalen Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“We have seen that this government is concerned about beluga whale protection with the announcement of the Tarium Niryutait marine protected area, and now concerned citizens on the east coast are saying, don’t forget about the belugas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, they are at even greater risk than those in the Arctic,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.
According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans website, there used to be around ten thousand beluga whales in the St. Lawrence River system, a number that has now dropped to around a thousand. Industrial activity, environmental pollution, and collisions with commercial and recreational boats are all cited as contributing to the decline of the species.
“The beloved beluga whale is struggling with loss of quality habitat and a contaminated food supply. We have listed this species as protected under the Species at Risk Act and yet we would still consider allowing further degradation of their ecosystem – it is not acceptable,” said Mary Gorman of The Save our Seas and Shores Coalition. “Seismic blasting is known to irreparably damage whales’ ability to migrate, communicate and survive. If the Prime Minister is sincere in protecting endangered whales, he will call for an immediate and permanent moratorium on seismic blasting in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.”
“We need to realize that piecemeal regulation in Canada is not adequate,” said May. “Protecting a little bit here and there does not add up to a sufficient safeguard for a threatened species. What we need is a comprehensive plan that takes seriously the need for setting certain areas off limits to industrial development. In the context of the climate crisis, this sort of decision makes even more sense, both to reduce our carbon emissions and to ensure that species will have the resilience to adapt to changes in their ecosystems.”
Contact:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
613-240-8921
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca
Environment, Green Party of Canada, Media Release | Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Media Release
For Immediate Release
August 31, 2010
The Green Party of Canada is calling on Prime Minister Harper to protect endangered beluga whales in the Gulf of St Lawrence by putting a moratorium in place on oil and gas development in this sensitive ecosystem. The Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board has approved preliminary work and seismic testing for a deep-water oil well east of the Magdalen Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“We have seen that this government is concerned about beluga whale protection with the announcement of the Tarium Niryutait marine protected area, and now concerned citizens on the east coast are saying, don’t forget about the belugas in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, they are at even greater risk than those in the Arctic,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.
According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans website, there used to be around ten thousand beluga whales in the St. Lawrence River system, a number that has now dropped to around a thousand. Industrial activity, environmental pollution, and collisions with commercial and recreational boats are all cited as contributing to the decline of the species.
“The beloved beluga whale is struggling with loss of quality habitat and a contaminated food supply. We have listed this species as protected under the Species at Risk Act and yet we would still consider allowing further degradation of their ecosystem – it is not acceptable,” said Mary Gorman of The Save our Seas and Shores Coalition. “Seismic blasting is known to irreparably damage whales’ ability to migrate, communicate and survive. If the Prime Minister is sincere in protecting endangered whales, he will call for an immediate and permanent moratorium on seismic blasting in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.”
“We need to realize that piecemeal regulation in Canada is not adequate,” said May. “Protecting a little bit here and there does not add up to a sufficient safeguard for a threatened species. What we need is a comprehensive plan that takes seriously the need for setting certain areas off limits to industrial development. In the context of the climate crisis, this sort of decision makes even more sense, both to reduce our carbon emissions and to ensure that species will have the resilience to adapt to changes in their ecosystems.”
Contact:
Debra Eindiguer
Press Secretary
613-240-8921
media@greenparty.ca
www.greenparty.ca
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