Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

[mylesmalley]

Glad to hear it might still be on the table. That'd be a fantastic boost to the region. It would certainly help to put CB back on the map...and maybe might encourage that population decline to reverse itself.

[Smevo]

I have mixed feelings about it, but it would be a bit of a boost. As for the decline, it had reversed but the new census had renewed some negativity about the area, hopefully that won't revert it back into decline. Overall though, the general attitude of the region is more positive and optimistic than it's been since the decline started decades ago.

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

Here's the full update on Planet Space...next update Feb 8 just when everyone will be wondering where they went.

T-Minus 216 hours and counting

PlanetSpace expects to learn fate of NASA bid Feb. 8

Section: Front

PlanetSpace will find out Feb. 8 whether it is the successful bidder in NASA's $174.7-million commercial orbital transportation services contract.

The American-Canadian aeronautics company is working to launch a demonstration cargo spacecraft named the Silver Dart to low-earth orbit from Cape Breton by December 2009.

There are at least four other competitors for the contract to act as a transporter to and from the International Space Station.

PlanetSpace chairman Chirinjeev Kathuria told the Cape Breton Post the company won't comment on its plans in Cape Breton until it holds a news conference after NASA makes its decision next week.

"We would be happy to have you join us at any press conference," Kathuria said via e-mail, in response to questions concerning PlanetSpace's future plans on the island.

PlanetSpace is looking at two unnamed sites in Cape Breton. One is believed to be an area near Alder Point, outside of Bras d'Or, while the other is located near Louisbourg.

The province is willing to give the company 300 acres of Crown land to develop the launch site.

Nova Scotia Business Inc. is in talks with PlanetSpace but the provincial government agency says it's not in a position to comment on its work with the company until a deal is finalized.

Lake Uist Power Project is being watched carefully...just don't turn all NIMBY on us.

Wildlife group keeping an eye on wind/hydro project

Section: Glace Bay/New Waterford

By Sharon Montgomery,
Members of a local wildlife group say they are all for progress with the Lake Uist wind/hydro energy project, but not at the expense of the environment.

"We don't mind them putting 44 windmills in, but if the habitat and water are affected here, that's where we come in to have it protected in the best possible way," said William Pembroke, president of the New Waterford and Area Fish and Game Association.

Pembroke said they are worried that building a reservoir will cause leaching of methyl-mercury into the water.

Lake Uist empties into Loch Lomond and Grand River.

He said everything from brown trout to speckled trout, salmon and gaspereaux go through this area.

Pembroke said they will be keeping an eye on the project.

"We are worried this could mean a big loss to the people, for the fishing in the area."

In December 2007, Cape Breton Exploration Ltd. received final approval from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to have the land use bylaw changed so the wind farm project could proceed to the environmental assessment stage.

The project would see up to 44 wind turbines placed on East Day Hills along with a hydroelectric plant. The turbines would be powered by a reservoir.

The electricity at night will be used to pump water to the reservoir, to be reused during the day.

It'll use wind turbines to generate electricity during the day for sale in Nova Scotia or export to New England.

Maynard Bates, secretary for the wildlife association, said they passed a motion at a recent meeting supporting a "proper and independent environmental assessment" of the proposed Lake Uist project by both provincial and federal governments.

Luciano Lisi, president and CEO of the Lake Uist wind/hydro energy project, said the company is committed to leaving the environment better than they found it. The project is not scheduled to start until late in 2008.

"We cannot start the project until we receive environmental approval."

Lisi said as a result of information from the Department of Fisheries and people who fish the lake, he believes the stocks have not been properly replenished and the fish ladder on the Grand River is not working properly.

"You would think all the people concerned with the well being of the lake, would have done something by now. But we will. Our commitment seems to go further than current caretakers.

"We will leave the lake better than we found it, we commit to this without hesitation."

[Smevo]

This doesn't count as my touch of colour unless I don't get another chance to add some.

Here's an in-action photo of the section of 125 to be twinned...this is considered a "light traffic" day on this section. It's very rare that one is able to reach the speed limit of 100km/h on this section because of congestion, the usual travel speed is between 80-90km/h, which is what causes it to be so dangerous, since nobody likes going under the speed limit and people have to take chances to execute a passing manouver.



Only shot that actually worked.

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Cape Breton Post

The biggest problem with this plant was the housing slump in the US, and the inability of it's product to get into the Canadian market in time...hopefully it can stay in business now.

Federal Gypsum unveils new product

Section: Business

Column: Briefly

Federal Gypsum Company announced Thursday the company's type X fire-rated gypsum wallboard is now available.

The product, with the trade name PlasterRock X, is used in commercial and residential construction where applications require compliance with fire codes. The product was required to pass stringent fire tests by Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada in late 2007.

It is also listed with Underwriters' Laboratories of the U.S.

"We are looking forward to providing our customers with this important addition to our product line," Rhyne Simpson Jr., president and CEO, said in a news release.

In 2004, Federal Gypsum announced it would take over the plant under a 99-year lease.

It began production at the former U.S. Gypsum plant in June of 2006 and employs about 30 people.

It's the only gypsum wallboard plant in Nova Scotia.

It is in the process of implementing a restructuring plan after successfully navigating a period of bankruptcy protection from its creditors.

Pharmaceutical plant in the Northside Industrial Park (North Sydney) about to start production.

Hundreds attend job fair

Section: Business

By Chris Hayes, Cape Breton Post
A Cape Breton pharmaceuticals manufacturing plant that is getting ready to start commercial production attracted hundreds of people to its job fair.

Keata Pharma president David Leonard said 626 people came through the doors of the plant, which is located in the Northside Industrial Park, this week.

"We were very impressed by the day," said Leonard. "This is a unique diversified industry for the area where you are seeing opportunities that are much different from what people have seen in the area.

"I think we have definitely piqued people's curiosity."

The company plans to start making commercial products by the end of February or early March, ramping up to full production in May.

Keata Pharma expects to employ about 6O people by the time it is in full commercial production, although it has also said the workforce could grow to 160 within three years as the business grows.

About 25 of the 60 will be graduates of the co-op biotechnology and pharmaceutical technology certificate program on which Keata partnered with Cape Breton University and a number will be recruited from across the pharmaceutical industry in leadership position, he said.

The company wants to hire the other 25-30 locally.

Leonard said the jobs range from maintenance, to engineering, cost accounting, materials management, warehousing, production, administration and laboratory positions. Hiring will commence in two to three weeks.

Keata Pharma, a wholly owned subsidiary of parent company PharmEng International, opened the doors to its long-awaited $15-million manufacturing facility in November. The company is still going through a commissioning and validating stage and must be licensed by Health Canada.

Eventually, officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will also inspect the 46,000-square-foot plant, which will manufacture solid dose tablets, liquids and over the counter private label products.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corp. is providing Keata Pharma with $6.25 million in repayable loans and Nova Scotia Business Inc. is also providing a payroll rebate of up to $3.6 million over five years if employment targets are reached.

An editorial about the CBU situation.

CBU one of the strengths on which region must build

Section: Comment

One of the major mandates any provincial government has is to support and sustain healthy and vibrant communities. If you were to do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis) of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, you would find that Cape Breton University is one of the best strengths, full of opportunities to help grow our community.

Giving the university the capability to grant a Bachelor of Education degree would be helping the institution and the island live up to their fullest potential.

This is one of those times that the people of Cape Breton are not looking for financial support but rather are looking to be empowered to be our own architects of change. Economic development doesn't always need to come in the way of financial help; it can also be in supporting and partnering with the island's infrastructure and leaders.

This request has greater ramifications than the university's interest, extending to the entire region. What is good for the university is good for the entire island.

I don't think there is anyone in Halifax trying to keep Cape Breton down but I do think that there is a lack of vision and foresight to create the change that is so needed. In this case, the university has the vision, leadership and resources, and now is waiting to move forward.

"Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction, and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there."

- John Kotter

Walter Corbett

Glace Bay

[Smevo]

The colour for the page.

Photographer: towniep (aka Steve)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/towniep/
Photos found in album "Cruise across the North Atlantic"

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

Cape Breton recognized as 'island paradise'

Section: Front

By Nancy King, Cape Breton Post
In an online feature, one of the world's leading publishers of English language travel and tourism information has identified Cape Breton as one of seven international island paradises.

The feature by Fodor's notes they are, "instinctively drawn to these places because they provide the perfect antidote to the hectic pace of modern life."

The section on Cape Breton notes the island's reputation "rests on simple pleasures and genuine old-school hospitality," and also makes note of its spectacular scenery, pointing to the Cabot Trail in particular. It also makes reference to Canada's only single-malt whiskey distillery, the Glenora Distillery, the Gaelic College in St. Ann's, and the Keltic Lodge in Ingonish.

Other islands listed include Quilalea Island, Mozambique; Bequia, Grenadines; Cham Island, Vietnam; Fernando de Noronha, Brazil; Isla Vieques, Puerto Rico; and Panama's Pacific Islands.

"It keeps Cape Breton Island top of mind for international travellers," said Mark Sajatovich, marketing manager with the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site.

It's particularly timely, with the large number of attractions planned in Cape Breton this year, such as the H.O.G. rally, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft and the encampment planned at the fortress, he noted.

"The travel media market is one we are actively courting," Sajatovich said. "The designation that it's one of the paradise locations on earth shouldn't really surprise Cape Bretoners, but we're a little bit spoiled."

Destination Cape Breton, Parks Canada, the Department of Tourism and the island's tourism operators in general have worked hard to court this sort of attention, Sajatovich noted, and "we've slowly seen an ascension in international rankings."

"I don't think there is any destination in Canada that has the (same) track record in notoriety in these types of rankings," he said.

The feature can be found at www.fodors.com/news/story_2896.html.

St. Mary's vice-principal looking forward to construction of new elementary school

Section: Northside/Victoria

By Julie Collins, Cape Breton Post
Vice-principal Marlene Bailey attended St. Mary's Elementary School from Grade Primary to Grade 8 and spent 25 of her 32-year teaching career at the same school.

"There will be some tears shed, but overall this is a happy day for the students and staff," said Bailey, who, along with the students and staff, will begin classes Monday at Florence Elementary School.

"(St. Mary's) has been a big part of my life and that of my children."

St. Mary's is expected to be demolished in March to make way for a new $10-million elementary school that will replace two North Sydney elementary schools, St. Mary's and St. Joseph's.

"We will be moving into a beautiful new wing at Florence Elementary where we will maintain our own identity," Bailey said Thursday during the final day of classes at the school.

"We have an excellent staff at St. Mary's. Everyone, right from the students to the teachers and support staff and parents, have worked hard to make this move a smooth transition."

The school held a special celebration Thursday with prizes and cake to mark the end of an era for St. Mary's.

"We will be coming back, hopefully in September (2009), to a brand-new facility complete with new equipment and technology. We had the design of the new school posted on the wall for everyone to see. St. Mary's has always been about community. We're sad to leave the old school but so very excited about the future."

St. Mary's has 148 students and 17 staff, which includes teachers, teachers' aides and other support staff.

The new elementary school will have 14 classrooms, a gymnasium, an arts room, a technology room, cafeteria, a family studies room and a library.

Construction of the new elementary school is expected to begin in the spring.

The completion date is set for September 2009. The projected enrolment is approximately 280 students.

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Cape Breton Post

Richmond County businesses encouraged to venture into cyberspace

Section: Business

By Nancy King, Cape Breton Post
A website and public information sessions will soon be launched to support an initiative encouraging Richmond County businesses to move their ventures online.

The Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency has hired a local consultant to carry out a two-year pilot project to identify new ways for businesses to use the Internet and enhance existing ones.

"Once a contract was in place with the consultant, they had to do the groundwork in mapping out the project and also doing a fair amount of e-business research and putting training components together and putting a tool together that will be educational but at the same time a communication piece that promotes the project as well," said Karen Malcolm, senior community development facilitator with the SHRDA.

Malcolm noted the final touches are being put on a website explaining the project and it could be launched as early as next week. Public information sessions are also being finalized and are expected to take place throughout the county between Feb. 18-26.

Residents of Richmond County have widespread access to broadband Internet, ahead of some other rural areas in the province, resulting from an effort spearheaded by municipal council over the past several years.

When the e-business project was launched, Malcolm noted it is intended to look at opening up the online opportunities for local businesses, home-based ventures and others with potential ideas.

It's hoped the project could eventually be duplicated in another region.

A number of county businesses, such as MacIsaac Kiltmakers and Premium Seafood, are already extensively using the Internet as a marketing and business tool.

A steering committee with representatives from the project's funders, including Enterprise Cape Breton Corp., the SHRDA, In-Rich Business Development Centre, Richmond County and the Office of Economic Development, is overseeing the effort, Malcolm noted.

The consultant will also work one-on-one with rural business operators and budding entrepreneurs who have ideas for potential ventures, to see whether they may be able to increase their volume of business and find new markets. The project's terms of reference note the effort is also intended to promote the local economy and show that e-business can be successfully carried out in a rural setting.

Waycobah school nearly complete

Section: Cape Breton

By Nancy King, Cape Breton Post
A new P-12 school under construction in this First Nations community is on schedule and is expected be ready for students at the start of the next school year.

The 56,000-square-foot building is nearly complete, said Norman Nahas, deputy project manager for the MacDonnell Group of Halifax.

"It's taking shape quite nicely, we're quite happy with the exterior," he said. "As far as the work on the inside of the building, everything is pretty much on track, they have quite a few contractors in there. Everything's been working quite nicely."

A final coat of exterior paint will be added when the weather permits, Nahas said.

The project was announced in June, 2006, and at the time it was noted Waycobah high school students were taking classes in a renovated restaurant and trailers that had problems with mould. The new school will accommodate about 400 students in grades primary to 12.

The school is being constructed with tilt-up concrete, Nahas said, explaining that panels are poured on the ground, then tilted up. The school will have a unique design.

"There's a lot of nice ins and outs and a lot of character to the building, as opposed to a normal box, there's nice cohesiveness on the inside, between the three levels of the school, all the way from the primary (area) up to the grade 12 and how they're divided," he said.

Consultants, contractors, the band and others have worked closely together on the project. The attention to detail includes the colour of the interior, Nahas said, which he described as 'maturing' as you move from the area where younger children will attend classes to the high school students' area. A great deal of attention has also been paid to the design of the gymnasium. People will likely be happily surprised when they get to see the finished product, he said, adding students and staff will also enjoy a breathtaking view.

"It will be a great leaning environment," Nahas said.

In a news release, Chief Morley Googoo indicated the school will provide Waycobah with a unique opportunity to enhance the education and future hopes of its youth.

When the project was announced, it was noted that for more than five years, 10 communities under the Mi'kmaw Kina'matenewey agreement pooled money to raise about $9 million to build schools in Waycobah and Indian Brook. The money was used to leverage about $7.5 million of federal funds toward the schools' construction. Additional costs were to be the responsibility of individual communities.

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Cape Breton Post

Nova Scotia Power, Renewable Energy Services expected to make wind power announcement

Section: Cape Breton

By Nancy King, Cape Breton Post
Representatives of Nova Scotia Power and a renewable energy developer will make an announcement regarding wind power here this morning.

Renewable Energy Services Ltd. issued a media advisory Monday that a technical briefing and news conference has been scheduled to take place at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. In addition to RESL CEO Larry LeBlanc and Rob Bennett, vice-president of revenue and sustainability with NSP, Premier Rodney MacDonald, who is also the MLA for Inverness, will be on hand.

RESL was founded in 2000 to explore and develop renewable energy in Atlantic Canada. It has a number of wind turbines, including one located at the Statia Terminals property in nearby Point Tupper.

On its website, the company notes it is operating under long-term power purchase agreements in Nova Scotia, with an additional five sites under development in the province. It also notes economic models have been developed using meteorological data collected by RESL, a projection of wind turbine performance and an assessment of the full costs of installations.

When it announced its wind exploration program in 2004, it noted it would install wind turbines in several locations to explore prospective areas throughout the province suitable for electrical generation. Data gathered from the exploration turbines was to be used to determine the development potential for full scale wind farms.

Rundown is 11 turbines erected on 80 metre masts.

There's more on the wind project in Wednesday's Post, but that hasn't been posted in the subscriber's section yet. Once it is, I'll post the full story.

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Cape Breton Post

Ports looking for ways to attract business

Section: Business

By Doug MacKenzie,
Three local groups have combined forces to form the ports advocacy council and are calling for a meeting of the leadership of Nova Scotia's three most prominent ports to examine avenues of co-operation and joint action in go-forward development.

The Cape Breton Partnership, JCI Cape Breton and the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce are hoping to bring together port leaders from Halifax, Strait of Canso and Sydney in a meeting later this month to explore the future of port development across the province.

The three ports are all examining ways and means of attracting new business and significant investment.

"At this point we're just calling for this meeting," said Owen Fitzgerald, president of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce. "We're hoping that all the parties will see the value in this."

In the letter to the port leaders, the port advocacy council opines that the road to increased port activity is replete with varied and complex challenges. The fundamental importance of collective action and collaboration in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for new business cannot be overstated. The shared objective of port leaders is to work together to create the necessary conditions for growth. The benefit of collective action in shaping strategies for investment, finding and securing new business, and optimizing the use of resources seems obvious.

"We're a small province, there are only three or so major ports and we have some very valuable infrastructure in each of the ports. We have a lot of things in common that we need to accomplish in pursuing new markets," said Fitzgerald. "With similar needs and similar objectives and being a small province, it only seems practical that we approach this in a collaborative way."

Keith MacDonald, executive director of the Cape Breton Partnership, said in a release: "In the overall scheme of global port development, Nova Scotia is a small player. This is an opportune time for us, but the extent to which we attract investment, open new markets and generally move more cargo and passengers will depend on the willingness to work together in fashioning strategies and making better use of scarce resources."

Representatives of all three major ports have been asked to meet in Sydney, Feb. 20. The advocacy council hopes to be able to rationalize an ad-hoc committee to co-ordinate certain port development activities across the province.

Alzheimer's unit at guest home on track for April opening

Section: Northside/Victoria

By Julie Collins,
The new 18-bed Alzheimer's unit at the Northside Community Guest Home is expected to be complete in April.

Don Brown, chair of the Northside Community Guest Home board of directors said in the meantime, the process is underway to hire an architect for the addition of 39 nursing home beds.

The addition, which will be a standalone, is expected to be built next to enriched housing.

"We are meeting with the Department of Health this week," Brown said. "We're waiting for the final word from the department as far as their budget is concerned. Once that is in place, we'll be able to get things on track and kick off the new addition."

The facility was able to acquire a one-acre piece of land from North Sydney's Munro Park to accommodate the expansion.

"We will replace any part of the boardwalk in Munro Park that is affected by our construction, the present parking lot will be paved and lined and the smaller soccer field will either be improved in its present location or moved within the park to accommodate the needs of younger soccer players."

As part of the start of the design phase, officials from ADI Consultants conducted a geotechnical investigation this week to determine the soil conditions for the building's foundation.

In addition to the new unit for residents with Alzheimer's disease, the home is undergoing major renovations to the kitchen and lounge areas and new treatment rooms where medical professionals can meet with their patients.

Changes will also include a new staff room, offices, hairdressing shop and canteen.

"This construction has presented some challenges for the staff, but I think everyone realizes the benefits of having both the new Alzheimer's unit and additional nursing home beds."

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Cape Breton Post

Gateway council could attract funding: group

Section: Cape Breton

The Sydney Marine Group will explore whether there is interest in setting up a local council to position the port to attract a share of funding earmarked for gateway development across Canada.

Local port officials think an Eastern Cape Breton Atlantic Gateway Council could play an important role in helping Cape Breton attract some of the $2.1 billion in merit funding earmarked for gateway development.

Internationally increasing volumes of trade and shifting trade patterns are bringing pressure to bear on global transportation and logistics systems and capacity problems are emerging along the western North American seaboard. The federal government responded by identifying $2.1 billion in merit funding in the 2007 budget for gateway development. An Atlantic Gateway framework concept has emerged and late in 2007 was validated in an independent ACOA (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) study that emphasized its huge potential to drive regional economic development.

"A regional federal-provincial committee is mandated to develop an Atlantic gateway strategy," Jim Wooder, chair of the Sydney Marine Group, said in a news release. "Consultations with regional stakeholders have begun. It's vitally important that Cape Breton advances its future requirements in terms of policy, infrastructure and integrated support systems. Decision makers need to understand the potential of the region to facilitate growth in international trade, our collective vision for the future and where we fit in a systems approach to gateway development."

About $400 million in federal gateway money has already been allocated to the Detroit-Windsor corridor. The federal-provincial committee is currently assessing Atlantic gateway infrastructure, marketing, human resource, security and policy requirements.

The Sydney Marine Group is comprised of Laurentian Energy Corp., Logistec Stevedoring, Marine Atlantic, Nova Scotia Power, Provincial Energy Ventures, Sydney Steel and Sydney Ports Corp. The Sydney Marine Group anticipates reporting on local interest in a gateway council by the end of the month.

More of the same foolishness. Stop listening to people trying to predict the future...they couldn't even get the 5-year prediction right!

Population study has good news, bad news for regional municipality

Section: Cape Breton

By Chris Shannon, Cape Breton Post
Cape Breton Regional Municipality's population loss isn't as bad as first thought in a 2004 study, a municipal committee learned Thursday.

CBRM director of planning Doug Foster released details of a report by Environmental Design and Management Ltd. of Halifax. Its author, John Heseltine, who produced a population study for the CBRM in February 2004 as a consultant with Terrain Group, also of Halifax, stated the municipality's population will fall to 92,815 by 2021.

The previous study suggested the CBRM's population would fall to 75,987 in the same year.

"Things are looking a little better but they're still declining," Foster told the planning advisory committee.

There were 105,930 people recorded living in the CBRM in the 2006 census.

Using Statistics Canada information, along with its own indicators, EDM stated the birth rate will remain relatively steady, however the number of births in the CBRM will fall from 4,555 recorded in 2006, to an estimated 2,872 in 2021.

The EDM report - at a cost of $4,500 to the CBRM - said it's the result of a "startling decline in the number of residents of child-rearing age."

The drop in the number of women with the highest potential to have children (women aged 20 to 34) is "characteristic of Nova Scotia as a whole," the report said. Women in these age groups fell by 25.2 per cent across the province over a 15-year period beginning in 1991.

The municipality is showing some signs of life in attracting 40-, 50- and 60-somethings back to the island, Foster said.

"This is sort of one of those good news, bad news stories," he said. "They don't raise the birth rate and we still got this significant out-migration in this 20 to 30 (-year age groups).

"The (40-plus age groups) are going to put up our dependency ratio even faster in terms of an ageing population."

As it stands now, Nova Scotia has the second oldest population in Canada, next to Newfoundland and Labrador.

During the discussion Thursday, Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger said that municipal council should look at the positive news this study brings.

After all, the Terrain group study predicted a population of only 100,000 in 2006, a figure that was 4.7 per cent off the actual number of nearly 106,000 residents, he said.

"For anybody sitting on the fence in business trying to figure out if they should continue on or close down, here's a positive. It gives (business) a little bit of a kick to keep trying. Things are changing," Bruck-schwaiger said.

But from Coun. Vince Hall's perspective, the report was viewed as more of a grim reminder that the municipality continues to have one of the most rapid population declines in the country.

"We're still dying of a terminal illness," said Hall, who advocated the province enact a provincial population strategy, instead of concentrating all its efforts on attracting immigrants to settle here.

A motion was passed following debate for the CBRM's chief administrative officer to report on EDM's findings and provide a recommendation for the next steps council may want to consider.

Change predicted by EDM:
Pop loss from 109,330 (2001) to 100,000 (2006) -8.5%
Real loss from 109,330 (2001) to 105,928 (2006) -3.1%
Predicted loss of 9,330
Real loss of 3,402
only 36% of predicted loss actually happened...these predictions simply use trends from the census breakdown and assumes these trends will remain static until their end date.

Possible sale of Sydney's Vogue Theatre raises questions, concerns

Section: Cape Breton

By Erin Pottie, Cape Breton Post
The Vogue Theatre may sit idle no longer, if a mystery bidder closes a property deal on the building.

Considered a Sydney landmark, the historic art-deco movie theatre located on Charlotte Street has been untouched and vacant since closing its doors in 1999.

Recently, an Internet website and a Facebook group have sprung up, asking to 'Save the Vogue' from any plans that involve a wrecking ball. It has provided a public forum on the building's future, though it might not be enough to influence its new buyer - whoever that person maybe.

"I just created the (Facebook) group as an addition to the webpage and it was to raise money to purchase the Vogue Theatre and start to restore it," said Sydney resident and concerned citizen Jason Morrison, who said he didn't realize at the time that the Vogue was almost sold. Morrison says there are five committed members of Save the Vogue who have been working on the project or idea since last summer.

"If the new owner knew there was this many people interested in trying to save the building - we're hoping they'd possibly resell it or do something with it themselves."

In less than one week, the online group has grown to more than 2,700 members, averaging between 100-200 new members each day. Morrison believes it would take $600,000 to purchase and restore the building and says he factored donations of labour into that estimate, but so far no money has been raised.

On the website, www.savethe vogue.ca, viewers can consider purchasing theatre chairs at up to $500 each, for 650 chairs, with a symbol of one's donation on the back. Morrison has not accepted any donations so far; he is first waiting to hear from the mystery buyer and learn his or her intentions.

"If the new owners don't plan on tearing it down then that's perfectly fine by me. If they're going to tear it down then I'm concerned because I don't think Charlotte Street should be without the Vogue," he said.

This is not the first time the building was expected to be sold to an unknown bidder.

Owner Ardath Dockwrey, whose father D.P. MacDonald built the Vogue in 1939, put the building up for auction with a winning bid of $125,000 in 2004. The sale price was far below its 1999 assessed value of $289,000, and the sale did not close.

Dockwrey confirms the possible sale of the Vogue, but is waiting to hear of a closing deal.

"I'll hear from my lawyer on that, there's always a certain amount of paperwork to do," she said, noting it wasn't her place to make an announcement on the new owner.

Last July, Ken Williamson, who managed the Vogue from the 1970s until its closure, took Morrison to see the building. Morrison said the architecture is still enough to draw people into the theatre, though cosmetically the seats, like many other things, are damaged, soiled and need replacing.

Rick Fraser, inspections and bylaw manger for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, said the building has not been listed as condemned.

While the future of the theatre remains unknown, Morrison would try to stop the tearing down of the building through conversations - currently the group does not have legal counsel, but will be seeking a lawyer if the building goes for sale again.

"I'd like to talk to them to see if there's anything that can be worked out. There's a lot of other people on Facebook that feel they'd chain themselves to the building - I'm not sure if I'm that type, but I don't want to see it torn down.

"I personally would like to see it as a multi-use building - like a theatre with a stage for plays and I think it can be utilized during cruise ship season. It's always been my favourite movie theatre. I don't want to see it torn down, even if they convert it to offices . . . anything where it's standing is better than nothing."

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Cape Breton Post

We don't know yet, but keep checking back...

PlanetSpace contract with NASA still up in the air

Section: Business

PlanetSpace, an American-Canadian aeronautics company that wants to launch spacecraft from Cape Breton, did not learn Friday whether it is the successful bidder in NASA's $174.7-million commercial orbital transportation services contract.

Chirinjeev Kathuria, chairman of PlanetSpace, told the Cape Breton Post in an email the company expects NASA to make the announcement sometime in February but it doesn't have a specific date.

Earlier news reports said the announcement was expected Friday.

PlanetSpace is working to launch a demonstration cargo spacecraft named the Silver Dart to low-earth orbit from Cape Breton by December 2009.

There are at least four other competitors for the contract to act as a transporter to and from the International Space Station.

PlanetSpace is looking at two unnamed sites in Cape Breton. One is believed to be an area near Alder Point, outside of Bras d'Or, while the other is located near Louisbourg.

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

CBRM expects October election to cost more than $250,000

Section: Cape Breton

By Chris Hayes,
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality expects its Oct. 18 municipal election to cost from $250,000 to $300,000 much of which will go to pay hundreds of temporary workers for poll stations.

Municipal clerk Bernie White, who was named returning officer for the election, said history suggests about 100 people will run for council or school board seats.

The number of municipal districts and size of council - 16 councillors and a mayor - haven't changed for the 2008 election, but the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board did approve adjustments to some of the districts.

The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board's application which seeks an increase in the number of board members, has not yet been heard by the utility and review board.

White said in the municipal districts most affected (1, 5, 11 and 13), the regional municipality will make direct efforts to notify voters of the changes, using options like mailouts, advertisements and its webpage.

The regional municipality plans to revise an existing voters list for the election which will probably include in the neighbourhood of 80,000 eligible voters, he said.

Formal voter cards will also be sent to all people on the list outlining the election date, advance polling locations, voting stations and other information.

"We anticipate our voters list will be (more) accurate than it has ever been before," he said. "Having said that, it is a snapshot in time. People die, people move away, people move inside the regional municipality."

Voters who are missed or are on the list incorrectly can be added, he said.

There is a move in Nova Scotia toward electronic elections mainly to stimulate increased voter participation. But in the regional municipality, which historically has a high voter turnout, there is no urgency to introduce alternate voting methods for 2008, he said.

Halifax Regional Municipality plans to use some telephone and Internet voting technologies this year.

White, who has worked on that pilot project, suggested the CBRM monitor the Halifax election with the goal of introducing some type of electronically assisted process in future years.

Marine Group has results from diving survey of Sydney harbour

Section: Cape Breton

By Nancy King,
Another step required to lay the groundwork for a possible harbour dredging project here is underway.

Capt. Terry Pittman, chair of the Sydney Ports Corporation, noted that a diving survey of the area - a diver with a camera captures video of the habitat from the sea floor - was completed over two days, and they have received some of the results, but are waiting to have them interpreted, which could possibly occur within the next week or so.

The Marine Group is comprised of Laurentian Energy, Logistec Stevedoring, Marine Atlantic, Nova Scotia Power, Provincial Energy Ventures, Sydney Steel and Sydney Ports Corp.

"The raw results really don't mean anything to lay people; you need somebody to determine what the measurements of various products mean in the sediment and in the soil," Pittman said. "To me, they look pretty good, but that doesn't mean much."

The shallowest spot in the harbour is a two- to three-kilometre area that presently can accommodate vessels with about an 11.6-metre draft. Ideally, that should be increased to about 17 metres, as that type of draft is required for larger vessels such as those that Xstrata would use to ship coal if it reopens the Donkin mine.

Last month, the Strait Signet, a 120-foot survey geophysical and geotechnical survey vessel was at the harbour performing sea floor mapping and sampling to determine the composition of sediment and generated data that will be required by Marine Group as it prepares to proceed with an environmental assessment of the proposed dredging.

Pittman noted the group hopes some contracts related to the environmental assessment process will be released in the coming weeks, although that will be subject to the results of the surveys.

Last month, Marine Group released a $400,000 master plan charting future development for the ports of Sydney.

The dredging has been estimated to cost about $30 million.

The environmental assessment process is expected to take about a year. If approved, the dredging work would take about two months. It would not involve any ocean dumping.

[mylesmalley]

What exactly happens to all the silt/sand that they dredge?

It says they won't be ocean-dumping, which you'd think would be the most logical thing to do. Just move the silt somewhere else. But i take it this means they plan to bring it on shore?

[Smevo]

After it's treated and dried out, it could be used for "fill" basically anywhere...that is assuming they intend to treat it. They'll probably announce their plans in preparation for the environmental assessment.

[Smevo]

Cape Breton Post

New site for farmers market could be revealed this week

Section: Business

By Chris Hayes, Cape Breton Post
A report into possible new locations for the Cape Breton Farmers Market will be presented to a committee that is guiding the search, Thursday.

Consultant Colleen Tobin, a property manager with New Dawn Enterprises who conducted an area study of downtown Sydney, said her report includes detailed analysis of the downtown core including some 35 possible sites either for lease, rent or purchase.

The report will be presented to a committee appointed by the Cape Breton Farmers Market Co-operative, said Tobin.

"It's a comprehensive report," she said Monday. "Once that is presented, they will go through it in detail and go back to the vendors to determine what direction they are going to take."

The farmers market is located at Sydney Marine Terminal in downtown Sydney but is looking for a new location because of increasing security restrictions.

Tobin has said the ideal location would offer a minimum of 12,000 square feet of open space and a facility that can be easily adapted to suit municipal guidelines for public occupancy, according to a release.

Farmers market vendors would also need a location with unrestricted access to the space during the market's current and future hours of operation, the potential for storing freezers and tables on site, and the potential for establishing a provincially inspected kitchen at the future facility.

The market has grown over the years from a summer-only market attracting some 200 people to a year-round indoor market that had more than 1,000 customers on many Saturdays.

As anybody who has driven in larger cities with these installed knows, they are well worth it as long as they're updated properly.

Highways department to install electronic safety signs on bypass

Section: Cape Breton

By Tom Ayers, CAPE BRETON POST
In response to complaints about prematurely failing asphalt, the province has purchased a pair of electronic reader signs and plans to install them on the Highway 125 bypass to provide safety warnings to motorists.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has said it is seeking cost estimates to repave 8.6 kilometres of Highway 125 between Sydney River and Grand Lake Road, after receiving complaints about ruts and potholes.

The highway was paved in 2002, but the asphalt surface is beginning to fail.

Area manager Steve MacIsaac said the most notable complaints came from local RCMP highway patrol officers.

"We don't receive too many complaints on the 125, but the ones we do receive we take very seriously," said MacIsaac.

While repaving is under consideration by the provincial highway construction office, MacIsaac said he has purchased two electronic "variable message" signs costing about $25,000 each, at the suggestion of RCMP.

"We're hoping they'll be up and running in the next two weeks or so," said MacIsaac.

The solar-powered signs are portable and can be programmed remotely to warn motorists of an accident or dangerous driving conditions, MacIsaac said, adding one will be posted on the 125 near Grand Lake Road and the other will be placed on the highway near Sydney River.

Although they are designed to be portable, MacIsaac said the pair will be installed permanently on what is one of the busiest stretches of highway in the area.

The stretch is also under consideration for twinning, which the province has said it hopes to begin within the next four years, depending on funding.

The bypass between Grand Lake Road and Sydney River has a "very high traffic volume, and with that high traffic volume comes increased risk of accidents," said MacIsaac.

"What happens is if there's an accident on the 125, usually it results in other accidents, the police tell us, because people don't slow down."

With remote messaging, police can call the highways department's dispatch office and suggest warnings that can be programmed by computer from the office.

RCMP Cpl. Ron MacDonald said he couldn't cite statistics, but with the amount of traffic on Highway 125, accidents pose a major problem.

"What I do find is when we do get a crash there, because of the traffic volume it seems to back up in a hurry," he said.

MacDonald said the transportation department is an important policing partner and the signs will help police do their job.

"We're looking forward to having them out there on the highway," he said. "Certainly, you see them used with construction companies . . . and they're very effective, from what I've seen."

The signs will only be used when necessary and will display short, important messages, such as 'Accident ahead, reduce speed.'

"We're not going to have a story on there," said MacDonald. "It'll be short and to the point."

[Davey Boy Smith]

It has been announced that Martin Chernin has bought the old Vogue Theatre and plans to build a "multi million dollar" office building there. Sad that nothing could be done to salvage the old Vogue but I do think that the condition of the building probably made it impossible to do anything with it anyway.

On the radio, he also mentioned that there was some sort of development happening on George Street. Not sure what this is but the only place I can think of where there is land is diagonally across from Centre 200/Casino area where Busteer's/ Georgio and Lim/ George's Pizza used to be before the building burnt down. There is an empty lot behind it as well as the apartment building that was there burned down as well.

[Smevo]

It'll be sad to see it go, but I can't see it being worth it to fix it up, and if you modify the Vogue for offices, you lose all it's charm since it's real interesting details are all inside anyway. I do agree there's a lot of free space downtown, but at the same time I don't see how the Vogue can make a successful comeback as anything other than a government funded museum of sorts, since there's no way both the Vogue and Savoy can survive as competing arts venues in such a small population.

My power went out in the storm, but I'll try to post the updates over the weekend.

One good thing is that Marty Chernin has a better track record with office buildings that add to the attractiveness of the area than he does with residential buildings *cough*Vista Heights*cough*. In that area, I can't see it being larger than four storeys, possibly five storeys in structural height because of the hill, but it did mention "a multi-million dollar office development" in the news story. Anyway, I'll post it later.

[Architype]

Do a lot of things get torn down around there, and not replaced with anything else?
Regarding unattractive buildings, if high rises are built they are very visible. They should be attractive or not get built at all.

[Smevo]

Originally Posted by Architype

Do a lot of things get torn down around there, and not replaced with anything else?
Regarding unattractive buildings, if high rises are built they are very visible. They should be attractive or not get built at all.

Sydney has a horrible track record of keeping it's historic buildings, most are destroyed by fire, roof collapse, or just general neglect. Most along Charlotte St have been replaced, but there are a couple of vacant lots on that strip, and several along the Esplanade (which is more of a modern highrise area than Charlotte St).

Vista Heights and Cabot House were both built in the 70's slab era, resulting in two ugly cheap material boxes on the skyline. Chernin has a knack for adapting to the times (sometimes not a good thing) but is responsible for Harbour Place (concrete and glass) and Commerce Tower (glass curtain) office buildings. The Dorchester proposal by Chernin was suppost to be precast concrete, but despite the material, the rendering did look quite nice. Thankfully, office buildings haven't really changed their materials since the 80's-90's glass/steel era.