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April 24, 2008
Chamber News
Chamber AGM
This year’s AGM will be held on May 22nd at the
Super 8 on Cole Drive in Windsor. Reception starts at
5:30. There will be a presentation from each of the
Executive, nomination of the board and a guest speaker.
A light supper will be served. There is no admission
cost to our members this year.
Board Members Sought
We are currently looking for Chambers Members who wish
to become active board members. We would ask that
individuals who wish to become board members and current
board members who wish to remain on the board send an
email to the
info@whcc.ca
address expressing their interest. The deadline
for submissions is May 8th.
West Hants
and Area News
Hockeyland Scores
The NS Department of Economic Development is giving
Hockeyland a $200,000 assist. Hockeyland Board Chair
Wayne Russell said in a news release “we are pleased the
province is investing in this dynamic hockey heritage
centre.” At the announcement, Board vice-chair and past
president of Hockey NS, Denny Deveau, added, “we’re
delighted to have the province on board as a funding
partner. This will enable us to move forward
aggressively in our fundraising campaign.” It is hoped
the provincial investment, in addition to municipal
pledges from Windsor and West Hants, will encourage
further private funding said board member Ralston
MacDonnell. MacDonnell described the centre, planned
since 2003, as “a signature location to celebrate the
cultural phenomenon of hockey.” Recent endorsements from
Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey
Federation advance the project, he added. Board members
include CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada sportscaster Ron
MacLean and all-star Stanley Cup winner Mike MacPhee.
“There will be nothing else that even comes close to
Hockeyland. It will capture the magic, the spirit and
the essence of the game the world has come to love.
Think of it as a totally one-of-a kind entertainment
complex celebrating everything hockey,” endorses
MacLean. The preferred site southwest of the Falmouth
bridge has not been secured yet, but the board is
hopeful they’ll break ground in 2009 and open in 2010.
The multimedia, interpretive centre is expected to draw
as many as 75,000 to 150,000 visitors and create about
80 jobs. While opponents cite Windsor’s claim as the
birthplace of hockey is disputed in historical circles
across the country, it wouldn’t be the first time a town
created an historical image around a tourism attraction.
In March 2006, the world’s largest Titanic museum opened
in Branson, Missouri, a landlocked state with no known
connection to the ship. The town with a 6,000 population
now attracts 7 million people each year. (Source: The
Chronicle Herald, NS Business Journal, Avondale Media)
http://www.hockeyland.ca
http://www.titanicbranson.com
Windsor Tourism needs new operator
After over 30 years of managing Windsor’s visitor
information centre, the Junior Chamber of Commerce
indicated they would no longer be in a position to do so
due to a lack of members. The Junior Chamber, otherwise
known as the Jaycees, built the visitor information
centre, maintained it, hired students to work there each
summer. But due to a membership shortfall, the
organization was unable to apply for its usual
government grants to keep it afloat this summer. The
Town proposes hiring back last year’s Assistant Manager
and is also seeking a new sponsor, possibly the Lion’s
Club. The Club’s Secretary, Verge Huntley, said they
have not yet received any proposals from the Town yet.
Until a new sponsor is found, the two regional tourism
associations in the area (Central Nova and Destination
South West Nova) and municipalities will be spending
more to operate the facility, which is in need of repair
and currently not insured. “With the possibility of the
causeway being twinned, I feel the Town may have to look
for another home for the VIC anyway, maybe not in time
for this year, but next,” said West Hants Councillor
Shirley Pineo. Earlier this month, the Municipality of
West Hants approved grants totalling $8,000 to assist
the Centre. The Town is still anticipating to open the
Windsor VIC before Victoria Day weekend. (Sources: The
Chronicle Herald, Avondale Media)
Fundy Tidal project SEA
A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for the site
of the Minas Basin tidal project is drawing closer to a
conclusion. A draft report of the final recommendations
is expected this week. The New Brunswick government
wrapped up its public input process, and beginning May
5th, Nova Scotians will begin a second round of
community forums from Halifax to Yarmouth on the report.
These forums will seek feedback on the final
recommendations. The schedule for these events is here
and participants are being asked to
register in
advance.
Hantsport’s Minas Basin Pulp and Power won a spot to
test the underwater turbine on the Nova Scotia side of
the Bay of Fundy in March. The only tidal power facility
in the Bay of Fundy currently generating electricity is
the Annapolis Tidal Generating Station at Annapolis
Royal. "Gathering existing information and identifying
information gaps was the logical first step in
determining the baseline situation of the Bay of Fundy
prior to tidal energy developments in both New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia," NB Energy Minister Jack Keir said. The
SEA process also included a stakeholder roundtable with
members representing a wide range of community, resource
use, environmental, industry, government and First
Nations interests from both Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick. "In-stream tidal energy has the potential to
become an alternative to coal-based electricity in Nova
Scotia, but we need to get this right," said Mr.
Hurlburt. "And the work of people involved in the
Strategic Environmental Assessment is a key ingredient
to ensuring we do. We are grateful for their continued
efforts to gather valuable technical advice and input
from people around the Bay of Fundy." New Brunswick
Department of Energy Minister Jack Keir is pleased with
the partnership approach. "New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
share the highest tides in the world and it is only
fitting that they cooperate and work together on
research being conducted to eventually harness the
in-stream tidal energy in the Bay of Fundy," Keir said.
The minutes from the stakeholder meetings, the final
recommendations, when available, and the background
report for the Fundy Tidal SEA prepared by Jacques
Whitford, can be found on the Offshore Energy
Environmental Research (OEER) Associate website
here:
(Source: Avondale Media)
Municipal Elections
October 18, 2008 is the date when Municipal Elections
are held throughout the Province of Nova Scotia for the
positions of Councillor, Regional School Board members,
African Nova Scotian member and Conseil Scolaire Acadien
Provincial (Acadian School Board) members. More
information can be found
here. The Union
of Nova Scotia Municipalities’ Women in Local Government
Committee is hosting four one-day Municipal Campaign
Schools for Women. These non-partisan schools will
provide timely advice and knowledge to women considering
running. Campaign schools will be held Saturdays, 9 am
to 3:30 pm, at the following Nova Scotia Community
College campuses:
April 26: NSCC, Marconi Campus, Sydney
May 3: NSCC, Burridge Campus, Yarmouth
May 24: NSCC, Waterfront Campus, Dartmouth
May 3: NSCC, Pictou Campus, Stellarton
To register:
Telephone: (902)423-8673
E-mail:
goldberg@eastlink.ca
Website:
http://www.unsm.ca/wilg
Regional
and National Headlines
NS Budget info
Results of the NS Finance Department’s online survey
have been analyzed, and just in time for the Province’s
budget expected to be handed down next week by Finance
Minister Baker. The NS Legislature resumes on April
24th. During a speaking engagement this week to the
Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the minister said that
approximately 1300 people from across the province
provided feedback as to what the provincial government’s
spending priorities ought to be. Debt reduction was
identified as critically important by 20% of respondents
while support doubled for other areas closely rivaling
for first place: Infrastructure (46%), access to health
care (45%), post-secondary education (41%) and
protecting the environment (40%). While the survey was
expected to get a snapshot to guide the department, the
government’s recent spending on the last day of the
fiscal year appears to reflect these priorities. $75
million in Ottawa crown-share cash was applied to
university infrastructure, ecological land acquisition,
offshore oil and gas exploration as well as $300 million
to various government departments, especially
Transportation and Public Works. Meanwhile, the Finance
Minister says the Province will not raise or lower
business or personal income taxes in ways not previously
announced. Baker said the government would continue with
income tax reductions announced in 2006, worth about $50
million in 2008. Changes to business taxes already
announced would amount to approximately $30 million.
(ALL NS .com, The Chronicle Herald)
International Small Business Council in Halifax
The Premier announced today that nearly 1,000
international researchers, policy makers, business
service providers and educators from around the world
will gather in Halifax in June for the 53rd annual
International Council for Small Business (ICSB) world
conference. MacDonald says it is an honour that Halifax
was chosen as the host for the Advancing Small Business
and
Entrepreneurship: From Research to Results conference,
which will bring global knowledge to Nova Scotia's
doorstep. Previous past conference hosts include Turku
(Finland), Melbourne (Australia), Washington, D.C.
(U.S.A.) and Johannesburg (South Africa). For more
information, visit the conference website at
www.icsb2008.org
Water Resources Management Input
The NS Department of Environment wants to hear concerns
and ideas are about water resources management in Nova
Scotia.
Towards a
Water Resources Management
Strategy for Nova Scotia outlines a
number of water issues in Nova Scotia and poses key
questions about how water resources can be best managed.
Included with the document is a feedback form. You can
submit this form to the department through the mail, via
email, by fax, dropping it off in person at your local
Nova Scotia Environment and Labour office. Public forums
are being held across the province. None are scheduled
for Hants County. The nearest will be in Kentville on
April 17th. The submission deadline for forms is June
1st, 2008.
Click for more
info.
Central Bank cuts rate
By slashing its key interest rate by half a percentage
point on today, the Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney
has slashed rates by a full percentage point since he
took over the top job in February. The latest cut
reduces the bank's overnight rate — what big banks
charge each other for overnight loans — to three per
cent. The overnight rate hasn't been this low since
December 2005. The Canadian dollar traded higher in the
wake of the announcement. The loonie was up 0.23 of a
cent to 99.63 cents US in early afternoon currency
trading. The bank also reduced its outlook for economic
growth, trimming its forecast to 1.4 per cent for this
year. In January, the bank said it was looking for 2008
growth of 1.8 per cent. The bank also trimmed its 2009
forecast by 4/10ths of a percentage point to 2.4 per
cent. By 2010, growth is seen rising to 3.3 per cent.
"The bank is now projecting a deeper and more protracted
slowdown in the U.S. economy," the Bank of Canada said
in a statement accompanying the rate announcement. "This
has direct consequences for the Canadian economic
outlook, with declining exports projected to exert a
significant drag on growth in 2008. In addition,
tightening credit conditions and softening sentiment are
expected to moderate business investment and consumer
spending." Carney added that Canadian demand is
projected to remain strong, supported by firm commodity
prices, high employment levels and the effect of the
Bank of Canada's interest rate cuts. The central bank
left the door open for more rate cuts if they are needed
to keep the economy moving. The next rate announcement
is in June. (Source: cbc.ca)
Business
Events List:
Wednesday, April 23rd – East Hants Business Expo
3 – 8 pm in East Hants Sportsplex, Lantz
www.ehcc.ca
Thursday, April 24th, Halifax Chamber of Com-merce
Distinguished Speakers Series, Stephen Lund,
president Nova Scotia Business Inc., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30
p.m. For more information & ticket prices, please
contact: Jennifer Hopper 902-468-7111
jenn@halifaxchamber.com
Thursday, April 24th – Legislature resumes
The 60th general assembly of the Nova Scotia legislature
will resume at 2 p.m.
Sunday April 27th – Dress for Success Fundraiser
Join MC Nancy Regan at the 8th Annual Totally Suitable
Tea Party, a fundraiser for Dress for Success. Pier 21
1-4pm. Tickets are $45 or $450 for a table of ten. Call
493-7377 for details
Monday, April 28th - TIANS Tourism Workshop
Staying competitive
in dynamic global environments, Truro at the Howard
Johnson Hotel & Convention Centre (902) 423-4480,
ext. 243 or
(800) 948-4267, by email
jennifer_falkenham@tians.org
You Said It:
Troy Kirkby, Publican, Spitfire Arms, on the occasion of
their 5th anniversary:
“I've witnessed many changes here in Windsor since first
arriving to town in the spring of 2002. When I reflect
on the successes we've enjoyed here at the pub, there is
a single key element to which I owe my thanks and that
is to everyone who has passed through our doors. Thank
you all for your support, friendship, loyalty and
continued custom. Without my exceptional team of
employees and you, our customers, 29 Water Street is
nothing more than an expensive hobby!
As you know we hand cut our chips. Since 2003 we have
served 40,000 pounds worth.
When I opened with only 8 draught lines, people though I
was crazy and that it would never work. Today we proudly
serve beer from across Canada and the World via 17
draught lines. To date that works out to be in the
neighbourhood of 300,000 pints served!
If I ever took our Fish and Chips off the menu I'd
probably close my doors! You've said it time and time
again that we produce one of the best in the Province
and about 75,000 orders can't be wrong.
This next figure proved arduous to calculate. It's
likely that most of you have been here more than once,
or were able to sneak in on a regular basis. The
Spitfire Arms Alehouse has hosted in excess of 350,000
visitors over the past five years of business. That is
an amazing number! And once again, we thank you.”
Thank you, Troy. Raise a pint for St. George’s Day,
April 23
Download your St. George’s guide
here
Chuckles:
Sandy came to work one day, limping something awful. One
of his co-workers, Joe, noticed and asked Sandy what
happened. Sandy replied, "Oh, nothing. It's just an old
hockey injury that acts up once in a while."
Joe, "Gee, I never knew you played hockey."
Sandy, "Oh I don't play. I hurt it last year when I lost
$100 on the Stanley Cup play-offs. I got mad and put my
foot through the television."
E-News info:
E-News Deadline - Our next issue of WHCC E-News will be
published on May 13th. You are invited to submit your
business news, event or announcement by May 8th.
Every two weeks, E-News is distributed to - and read by
- over 200 local business contacts throughout the
Windsor-West Hants area. If your business has news or
events you would like to share with our readers but
can’t find the words, please call our Newsletter Editor,
Heather Desveaux on 790-4009 or email
info@whcc.ca
Chamber Newsletter Contacts:
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Heather Desveaux, Newsletter Coordinator,
(902) 790-4009
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Gordon Winstone ,
President, West Hants Chamber of Commerce, (902) 798-
5106
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Deadline every 2nd Friday
at noon.
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