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November 19, 2008

 

Christmas Events 2008

 

Bring Hockeyland Home!


Join Hockeyland and the Hants Regional Development Authority directors on November 24 at the Windsor Community Centre from 7:00 - 9:00 pm for an evening of discussions and activities that will help bring Hockeyland to its new home. Several sites have been selected in the Windsor area a possible locations for a dynamic facility that celebrates the origins and cultural impact of the game of hockey on Canadians and the world. Your participation in this two-hour workshop is an important part of the site selection evaluation process. Invite your friends and neighbours! Contact Carol Ritchie at critchie@macdonnellgroup.com or phone (902) 425-3980 ext 276

4th Annual Christmas @ the Windsor Mall

The West Hants Chamber of Commerce & the Hants Regional Development Authority are please to present the 4th Annual Christmas at the Windsor Mall on November 26 & 27 from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Come and explore at the two day Christmas sale with handmade crafts, stained glass, wreaths, potpourri, jewellery, baked goods and soaps & lotions.

Have your picture taken with Santa… just in time to mail with Christmas cards. Visits with Santa will take place both day from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm & 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The cost will be $10 per photo with a portion donated to a local charity.

For more information or to book a table: Chantelle at 798-2284, Windsor Mall, 80 Water Street
 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Quick As A Wink Theatre presents THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER by Barbara Robinson, based on her children's book of the same title. It's a wildly hilarious play about a Christmas pageant that goes awry. We encourage you to spread the word, and then come enjoy our holiday comedy to be held at the Falmouth Community Hall on two Saturday evenings, November 29 and December 6 at 7:00 PM, and Sunday matinées on November 30 and December 7 at 2:00 PM. Also, after each show, you'll be able to make merry at the second annual Quick As A Wink Theatre Christmas party. Musical entertainment will be provided by local jazz band "Easily Distracted" and there will be plenty of tasty Christmas goodies and beverages to enjoy.


Tickets ($10 adults, $8 children) are on sale at Signature Glass Studio, 43 Water Street, or by calling 792-1133. Tickets will also be sold at the door before each show.

Windsor Christmas Market

This year's market will take place November 29, 2008 at the Windsor Community Center 9am - 3pm. Admission $1. This is not your average Craft Fair. We have vendors from all over Nova Scotia with there unique items. We welcome the local farmers and small business to join in at the event making it a wonderful event to attend. This year is no different with vendors who sell organic cranberries, wreaths, Fresh Fruit, baked goods, stained glass, epicure, & Tupperware to name a few! There are few tables still available. For more info or vendor inquires contact Karen Lamontagne @792-1857. Donations to the local food bank will be collect at the door. Come out and support your local Farmers & Crafters!

Benefit Concert

A musical evening for the whole family with proceeds to Hants County Christmas Angels.

Saturday, November 29th, 7pm at the Imperial Theatre, featuring Jason C. and Company Emerald Tide and Swingology.

Tickets at the door: $8.00-Adults, $6.00-Youth/Seniors, Info: 790-0111

Business News & Events

Please send your business announcement – info - event to info@whcc.ca Our next issues before Christmas will be December 2nd and December 16th. Thanks!


West Hants and Area News - November 5, 2008

 

New Members - First notice:

Horray for Home Hardware

West Hants Chamber extends congratulations to Windsor Home Hardware for being honoured Hardware Store of the Year for 2008 award at the Outstanding Retailer Awards ceremony in Toronto, Oct. 25. Windsor Home Hardware dealer and owner Jeff Redden says the award pays tribute to both the commitment of staff and the community of Windsor and West Hants. “That’s what’s so cool about this; when we win, the whole town wins.” He added, “When a small town store wins something like this, it really says something about the community. This is a community award.” [Contributed]

Putting Experience to Work Program


Putting Experience to Work is a 16-week program for people 55 – 64 years looking for work and feel they lack the skills needed for successful integration into new employment. The first 6 weeks will be a workshop-style learning experience for 5 hours per day; participants will explore career options and ideas, develop job search tools, and enhance skills and confidence. The workshop will include working through the modules of the Age Advantage program, assessments tools, one-to-one counseling, presentations by local employers and job research. Participants will receive an allowance during this time. Following the classroom learning there will be the opportunity for participants to either enter into an Employment situation where the employer will be eligible for an allowance, or to work with a Business Counselor doing market research, developing a business plan and working towards self-employment. Self-employment participants will continue to receive an allowance.


A financial allowance will be provided for all participants for the 6 week classroom component of $250 per week. During the remaining 10 weeks of the program, participants will either be in successful employment or continue to receive financial allowance until successful employment is found up to 10 weeks. The program will be held at the Hants County Job Resource Center on Water Street in Windsor between November 17 and December 19th, and then will resume on January 5th to wrap up March 27th. To register, please contact: Helen Chandler ACSBE Resource Center Bridgewater. 1-877-232-2723. [Contributed]


Who is hiring?

Windsor and area

Kentville and area


Regional and National Headlines

Voucher Pilot Program


Small and medium-sized businesses in Nova Scotia will soon have access to funding for services through a pilot program to help them become more innovative and productive. The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Pilot Program will award vouchers worth up to 15-thousand dollars to eligible businesses. The vouchers can be used to buy services such as research, managing intellectual property, designing new products and prototypes, lab equipment rental, and support for post-graduate student placements. Economic Development Minister Angus MacIsaac says the program offers businesses a range of options to get services they need in a way that is convenient for them. Organizations interested in providing services for the voucher program should visit the web site here. Businesses can submit applications for the program vouchers on the website beginning Monday, Nov. 24. [Source: gov.ns.ca]
 

Truck Gateway


The Province of NS recently issued a request for proposals to determine the feasibility of an integrated transportation corridor in Halifax. The corridor would reduce downtown truck traffic and support development of Canada's Atlantic Gateway. Areas to be addressed in the feasibility study include:

  • The environmental benefits and impacts of diverting traffic from downtown streets to an existing transportation corridor.

  • The overall cost of the proposed project, including projected economic impact assessment.

  • Options to enhance public transit options through use of the corridor.

  • Possible greenway features, including trails for cyclists and pedestrians.

The study is expected to be complete in early 2009. Tender closes November 14th.
More info: available here. 


HRM by deny


In light of a public backlash resulting from a decision by the HRM Council not to approve one development, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce is urges the Province to fast-track passage of HRMbyDesign (Bill 181) during the fall session of the Nova Scotia legislature. “The Chamber was disappointed that HRMbyDesign did not get through the House during the [2008] spring session,” said Chamber President and CEO Valerie Payn. “HRMbyDesign has been in the consultation phase since July 2006. It’s time to move beyond planning and onto action.” Payn said the recent controversy over the Waterside Centre development is a prime example of why HRMbyDesign is so badly needed. “From discussions with developers, we know that a clear, efficient and predictable approval process is critical to ensuring that development happens in Halifax. If HRMbyDesign does not move forward in the House, development opportunities will be lost. And even if any development does happen, it will not benefit from an overall planning vision for the city,” said Payn. To show its support for Bill 181, the Chamber is scheduled to appear before the Province’s Law Amendments Committee during this fall session of the House. “A healthy Halifax means a healthy Nova Scotia because the HRM region accounts for 40 percent of Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product. What helps Halifax boosts the whole province, so the Province must ensure that it promotes smart growth in our capital city,” Payn said.


Debate on Bill 181 was adjourned in the House on November 3rd, so the bill is on its way to Law Amendments. This is where the bill is considered clause by clause and where the public will have another opportunity to speak to the plan that HRM staff, council and public submissions helped to shape over nearly two years. Premier Rodney MacDonald publicly condemned the Council for its 9-9 tie vote which resulted in Council turning down a new office development that would have seen renovation to heritage properties on Hollis Street owned by the Armour Group. It was expected the Premier was going to introduce new legislation to override the decision, but it would have needed opposition support to pass. Both the NDP and Liberal parties expressed support for development but concern for the Premier aim to step in to overturn a specific decision in a jurisdiction which belongs to municipalities. “It’s for the Council to decide,” said Becky Kent, MLA for Eastern Passage-Cole Harbour, who until last year was an HRM Councillor. Kent said the one aspect of the proposed planning strategy the NDP were uncomfortable with was that it takes the process away from elected council members altogether. Another former HRM Councillor-turned-MLA Diana Whalen also spoke on the subject, saying that Nova Scotia cannot have the provincial government stepping in and overruling council decisions. “If we start to move in and decide which projects we want to support and which ones we don't, or when the province should overrule a municipal decision,” said Whalen, “it really becomes a free-for-all, it becomes completely confused. We are undermining our municipal government by doing that …and this is not the way to create a stable, clear environment for business to take place.” Premier MacDonald said the HRMbyDesign legislation should clear the air for business, and it should clear the air for the citizens of HRM when dealing with projects of this nature.” Phil Pacey, head of the local heritage society at the centre of the storm, was quoted as saying the Armour Group’s Waterside Centre would not have been allowed even under HRM by Design guidelines. [Source: Halifax Chamber of Commerce, NS Hansard]


More Legislative Watch


With the legislative assembly resuming on October 30th, the province’s law makers introduced eighteen new bills this session. The Government’s signature bill is one that aims to protect children by making the failure to report child pornography illegal, and fine individuals who fail to report it up to $2,000. Possession of child pornography is already illegal under the federal Criminal Code and federal legislation is already expected to be enhanced to require mandatory reporting. Modeled on a bill passed in Manitoba in 2007, critics say that the bill is also nothing more than political posturing because ISP’s and individuals already co-operate. “No one is turning a blind eye to child porn,” said a recent Chronicle Herald editorial. The Health Minister wants the District Health Authorities and the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre to provide admitting privileges to midwives. Liberal leader Stephen McNeil wants to establish the Office for Fire and Emergency Services under Service NS and Municipal Relations (SNSMR) and, in a measure to encourage voter participation, decrease the eligible voting age in Nova Scotia to 16 years. In addition to Bill 197 (see story below), the NDP wants the Minister of Labour and Workforce Development to prescribe a minimum price at which licensed establishments may sell alcoholic beverages.


New bills can be found on the Legislature webpage “Status of Bills”

NDP Bill about NSP

With the introduction of Bill 197, the NDP also wants to ease any conflicts of interest by appointed advocates in hearings before the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, and make it law that the Province must appoint both one consumer advocate and one small business advocate. It also better defines who the small business advocate is representing – businesses based on NSP rate classes, not by number of employees, which has no direct connection to how much electricity the company uses. Legislation passed earlier in 2008 set up a small business advocate for rate hearings, to accompany the existing consumer advocate. Because of an impending rate hearing, the person already appointed as consumer advocate (lawyer John Merrick) was also given the task of being the small business advocate. This created a potential conflict because the residential rate class and the small business rate classes do not necessarily have the same interests. “John Merrick is a fine lawyer and did an excellent job with the task he was given,” says MLA Graham Steele. “But we owe it to small business, as well as consumers, to ensure that their advocate is not placed in a potential conflict.” In September, consumer advocate Merrick defended the deal that could see a boost of power rates by 9.4% effective January 1st, 2009, affecting 470,000 homeowners, as well as small and large business across the province.

Power rate decision expected

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board will release its decision on the proposed 9.4 per cent increase on Wednesday, November 5th. The full text of the decision will be available at that time on the board’s website at: www.nsuarb.ca under the "New Decisions" section (which will be a searchable PDF format).

Equal but different

Nova Scotia's finance minister couldn't say for sure whether changes to the federal equalization plan will end up being a good or bad deal for Nova Scotia. During a meeting with provincial finance ministers in Toronto this week, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced that funding to the provinces would now be tied to real economic growth. Under the new plan, Nova Scotia will get $1.57 billion in equalization and offshore offsets in 2009-10, the same amount it received in 2008-09.


Nova Scotia's Finance Minister Michael Baker told reporters that his department would have to crunch the numbers before it could tell what effect the new equalization figure would have on the province's bottom line. ``That's one of the difficulties, until you get inside the numbers and run all the numbers you can't say for sure,'' said Baker. But Baker also said it may end up that Nova Scotia benefits in the future because it has the ability to choose between two funding formulas.
``The ability to go to the alternate formula may very well provide Nova Scotia with a better deal than we would have had if we would have been stuck . . . with the equalization formula,'' said Baker.


The deal was reached after Ottawa forced the province to choose between the equalization formula laid out in the 2007 budget and its offshore accord signed with then Prime Minister Paul Martin in 2005. The budget formula placed a cap on the amount of offshore revenue the province was entitled to before Ottawa would again claw back revenues, while the previous Atlantic Accord saved the province from the clawbacks. ``It's quite possible that it (the choice) will make the difference, particularly starting in 2010-11,'' Baker said. Meanwhile, Premier Rodney MacDonald said that it didn't appear the province would be ``negatively impacted'' when it delivers its budget in the spring.


MacDonald will travel to Ottawa next Monday to take part in the First Ministers' meeting on the economy with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. [Source: The Chronicle Herald]

Wind project picks up

VRB Power Systems Inc. announced it has been identified by Scotian Windfields Inc. ("Scotian Windfields"), a Nova Scotia community-owned wind company, to potentially supply two 60kW x 4hour VRB Energy Storage Systems(TM) (VRB-ESS) for a pilot wind project funded by the ecoNova Scotia program. Scotian Windfields has up to 18 months to use a $350,000 grant it received in federal funding to demonstrate renewable energy battery storage systems in Nova Scotia as part of a larger wind project, and will work with VRB and Nova Scotia Power over the next few months to finalize all aspects of the purchase agreement. The estimated cost for the entire project is CAD $1,770,000.

"Development and deployment of energy storage technology is an essential milestone towards achieving energy independence through greater incorporation of renewable energy in Nova Scotia," says Dan Roscoe, Chief Operating Officer of Scotian WindFields. "We have been working for some time to show that Nova Scotia can harvest 100% of its energy needs from renewable sources, and proving the effectiveness of energy storage technologies will be an important part of that goal."

Scotian Windfield's project was just one of 21 that received $2.6 million in a funding announcement made recently by Nova Scotia's Environment Minister Mark Parent at the opening of the Power of Green conference in Halifax, hosted by the provincial Economic Development Department.


CRA mail scam

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is warning taxpayers to beware of a recent scam where some Canadians are receiving a letter fraudulently identified as coming from the CRA and asking for personal information. The letter is not from the CRA. A PDF version of the letter is available on the CRA Web site at www.cra.gc.ca/alert. The letter claims that there is “insufficient information” for the individual’s tax return and that in order to receive any “claims,” they will have to update their records. The letter attaches a form specifically requesting the individual’s personal information in writing, via fax or email, including information on bank accounts and passports. This letter is not from the CRA and Canadians should not provide their personal information to the sender. All taxpayers should be vigilant when divulging any confidential information to third parties. The CRA has well established practices to protect the confidentiality of taxpayers’ information. The CRA has notified the proper law enforcement authorities of this scam. For information about this and other similar scams, or to report deceptive telemarketing activity, visit www.phonebusters.com, send an email to info@phonebusters.com, or call 1-888-495-8501.


Business Calendar of Events
When you schedule your business events, please also email them to info@whcc.ca

Don’t forget to check out the federal and municipal election events under West Hants news!
Province-wide events: http://www.canadabusiness.ca/ns/calendar.cfm

Thursday, November 6th - Free Presentation
Credit Counselling Services, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kings CED Agency's Boardroom, Kentville
http://www.solveyourdebts.com

Friday, November 7th – Deadline for written submissions
The Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process will gather feedback to recommend ways to reverse the trend of fewer Nova Scotians voting in elections.
Written submissions will also be accepted and should be filed with the committee no later than Friday, Nov. 7. Submissions will be accepted by:
-- Fax: 1-902-424-0513
-- Mail: c/o Legislative Committees Office, P.O. Box 2630, Station M, Halifax, N.S., B3J 3N5
-- E-mail: legcomm@gov.ns.ca

Tuesday, November 11th – Remembrance Day
Employer/Employee information regarding this important observance: http://www.gov.ns.ca/lwd/employmentrights/remembrance.asp

Wednesday, November 12th – Distinguished Speaker’s Series
Minister Mark Parent is making the rounds, this time speaking at HRM Speaker’s series about environmental management, economic prosperity and what we all can do to help build a stronger, healthier Nova Scotia. He will also address the importance of the green economy and what it means to the prosperity of the province. Atlantic Ballroom, Westin Nova Scotian 11:30am- Networking & Registration, 12:00pm – Luncheon $50 Members, $80 Non-Members (plus HST)

Thursday, November 13th - 14th Annual Kings County Business Awards
Old Orchard Inn, Greenwich Speaker: Fred Wade, Fireworks FX
"How did I get here? An accidental journey from small town grocer to global pyrotechnician."
6pm reception 7pm dinner Tickets: $50 members, $55.00 non-members
Reserve your table of 10 for $500 e-mail executivedirector@ekcc.ca

Friday November 14th: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
An encore presentation of You're a Good Man Charlie Brown for the benefit of Hantsport Home and School to be held at the Hantsport Elementary School gym on Friday evening November 14 at 7:00 PM. Pay-What-You-Can entry at the door ($10/adult and $5/student suggested but not required).

November 29, 2008 - Windsor Christmas Market
Windsor Community Center 9am - 3pm. Admission $1. This is not your average Craft Fair. Vendors from all over Nova Scotia will be there with unique items. Local farmers and small business are welcomed to join in at the event making it a wonderful event to attend. This year is no different with vendors who sell organic cranberries, wreaths, Fresh Fruit, baked goods, stained glass, epicure, & Tupperware to name a few! There are few tables still available. For more info or vendor inquires contact Karen Lamontagne @792-1857. Donations to the local food bank will be collect at the door. Come out and support your local Farmers & Crafters!

Chuckles

Sarah Palin had to have her campaign bus make an unscheduled stop at a Wal-Mart in Ohio, so she could pick up a package of diapers. I guess she ran out of diapers, so they pulled over and she went in and everyone followed her. Which is kind of cute, but it turned out Senator McCain didn't need them." -- Jimmy Kimmel

E-News info:

Our next issue of WHCC E-News will be published on November 21st. Please submit your business news, event or announcement by November 17th. Every two weeks, E-News is distributed to - and read by - over 250 local business contacts throughout the Windsor-West Hants area. If your business has news or events you would like to share with our readers, please call our Newsletter Editor, Heather Desveaux on 790-4009 or email info@whcc.ca