October 2009
Local Relay raised nearly $45,000 - Tears and laughter were inter-mixed during the seventh annual Sackville-Mount Allison Relay for Life on the night of Friday, Oct. 2, as hundreds of participants combined to contribute nearly $45,000 to the Canadian Cancer Society for research and related activities.
The tears were shed for Monique Barton, a long-time booster of the event and a cancer survivor, who passed away only weeks prior to the relay.
Other tears flowed during the annual luminary ceremonies, held in the Mount Allison quadrangle at 10 p.m.
Veteran organizer Lou Lambe termed the 2009 relay as a "total success" with more than 600 people attending the opening ceremonies, which included the opening ceremonial lap where nearly 70 survivors did the walk.
Council urged to place strict regulations on wind turbines - The local planning commission was asking town council to consider several changes to its proposed zoning bylaw that would place strict regulations on the kind of wind power development that could happen in the community.
The recommendations from the Tantramar Planning District Commission stemmed from a number of concerns voiced by local residents in the previous few weeks over the effects on public health, property values, noise, setback distances and industrial-scale wind farms.
Approval of the recommendations would mean large-scale wind turbines would only be permitted in the agricultural/conservation (A/C) zone and would have to be over 3 megawatts, a size that automatically triggers an Environmental Impact Assessment, a stringent process involving public consultations.
Small-scale turbines would also face conditions, including size and setback restrictions, and would only be allowed to be installed in the A/C, Rural Residential and Industrial zones. Although the smaller turbines would be restricted to 100 kilowatts or less and require a setback distance of 750 metres, Lori Bickford, planner with the TPDC, said this still allowed for residents and local industries to produce clean energy via the wind.
Project coordinator at Sackville IT firm named Rising Star in technology industry - It wasn't a career path he ever thought he'd be on. But a decision two years ago to enter the information technology field was a fitting choice for Joe Cormier and there's no looking back for a man who is quickly rising to the top of his industry.
Cormier, project coordinator and senior consultant with Sackville-based Kleinmundo Solutions Inc., was named one of 12 Rising Stars of the New Brunswick Knowledge Industry during a gala event on Oct. 1 in Moncton, an award that recognizes workers who "go the extra mile," distinguishing themselves from their peers.
Local resident voiced frustration over town council's indecision on sustainability plan - A local resident expressed her "utter disappointment" that Sackville town council continued to delay plans to develop a sustainability plan for the community.
Sabine Dietz voiced her frustration to members of council during their discussion meeting on Monday, Oct. 5 that they weren't moving quicker on the plan, even continuing to hold off on making a decision on whether they will embark on a regional or local process (or both).
"I just don't understand why Sackville continues to drag its feet on this," she said, noting the other surrounding communities had come on board to participate in the regional Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, to be developed by EOS Eco-Energy.
Town council approved a motion in April 2009 to get development under way on a sustainable community plan; however the town had yet to commit fully to how it would approach the process.
The plan was expected to include a vision for the area, along with specific recommendations and targets. Council had committed $40,000 from its budget towards the cost of the plan.
Work was set to begin on new Waterfowl Park trail - The development of a new trail in Sackville's Waterfowl Park would finally get under way in October following a year-long delay in getting the project approved.
Todd Cole, Sackville's acting director of parks and recreation, said the town had recently received the go-ahead for the trail, finally receiving a permit from the Department of Environment after months of discussions over how to best approach the work on the new trail.
Cole said since approval had been granted, the contractors would need to move quickly to complete the work before the snow began to fly.
"We have to act on this now," he told members of town council during their discussion meeting on Monday, Oct. 5.
Council announced annual Farm Field Day could be guaranteed funding through town of Sackville's Fall Fair budget - Coming out in full support of the community's annual Farm Field Day, town council was considering including the event in its Fall Fair operating budget, ensuring funding is guaranteed each year for the much-loved family activities at the Doncaster farm.
"I can't tell you how much support and enthusiasm this council has for the field day," said Coun. Margaret Tusz-King during council's discussion meeting on Monday, Oct. 5.
And following discussions with the finance committee, Tusz-King said "we're interested in maybe having it come under the Fall Fair budget line, rather than having them (organizers) go through the grant application process every year."
Debate on wind power blew stronger in Sackville - The debate raged for over an hour in council chambers; yet it soon became clear that, when it came to wind power development in Sackville, a compromise might not easily be reached between the two sides.
Several councillors expressed concerns over the aesthetics and potential health effects of wind turbines; while others pointed to not only the environmental benefits but the economic opportunities that come with wind energy. A couple members of council remained unsure of which way to turn.
But no matter which side of the fence they were on, councillors quickly came to the realization that the municipal zoning bylaw they were about to approve on Tuesday Oct. 13, wouldn't stop wind power from coming to Sackville, it would simply put guidelines in place to regulate the process.
Coun. Merrill Fullerton pointed out that members of council had already agreed to encourage local wind power when they unanimously approved the municipal plan back in May, a plan that clearly sets out a policy to support renewable energy alternatives.
Fullerton said he thought it was too late for councillors to be arguing over the pros and cons of wind energy after they'd already okayed a municipal plan that promoted it.
The councillors agreed in a 5-2 vote to table both the final reading of the zoning bylaw as well as the motion that called for changes to the proposed bylaw (setting wind turbine regulations in place) until the following month while they sought legal advice on how to proceed.
However, Ron Corbett, director of the Tantramar planning commission, said if council decided to go ahead and approve the zoning bylaw without the recommended changes, then that would simply mean there would be no regulations in place to guide wind power projects.
Town sped up decision on sustainability plan - They'd been criticized for dragging their feet on the issue but town officials were moving full speed ahead on a new sustainability plan for the community. In an unexpected move on Tuesday, Oct. 3, town council authorized the local planning commission to begin work on an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP), a project that was expected to be completed in early 2010 and come with a pricetag of $25,000.
Council made the decision to put a rush on the plan in an effort to tap into much-needed provincial funding for Sackville's new emergency response/town hall building.
Council gave green light to cutting off public parking access on Willow Lane - The public learned it would soon be denied parking access on Willow Lane.
Situated between the RBC and the former Stedmans building, the Willow Lane alleyway would soon undergo some changes that would designate most of the area as a no-parking zone.
Signs were to be posted on both sides of Willow Lane, entering from Main Street, to indicate the lane could no longer be used for public parking.
Lines would also be painted in the alley to clearly mark off the areas that would no longer be accessible for bank customer parking.
This was the solution town council came to after months of debating how to stop the ongoing traffic violations in that area of town.
Enrolment numbers at Mount A rose by almost 10 per cent - Like their counterparts at many other schools across the region, Mount Allison University was experiencing a growth in enrolment.
Figures released in mid-October by the Association of Atlantic Universities showed full-time enrolment in undergraduate studies was up by 211 students, or 9.6 per cent, at the school while overall enrolment, including part-time and graduate students, was up by 166 students, or 7.2 per cent.
Small Business Week gala honoured local entrepreneurs - Two Tantramar area businessmen were among four individuals who were the recipients of entrepreneurial awards on Oct. 22 as part of Small Business Week celebrations in New Brunswick.
More than 175 entrepreneurs, as well as representatives of several levels of government, were on hand as Enterprise South East and the Community Business Development Bank (CBDC) Westmorland Albert held its seventh annual entrepreneurship gala at the Memramcook Learning and Vacation Resort.
Rob Miller, president of Atlantic Windows in Port Elgin, received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award - the Raymond LeBlanc Excellence Award.
The Greater Sackville Chamber of Commerce presented its Business of the Year Award for 2009 to Malcolm Fisher of Compact Appliances Limited.
November 2009
Frustration set in as H1N1 hit Tantramar - Confusion and frustration set in on Friday, Oct. 30, for the hundreds of people who arrived at Sackville's public health office for the H1N1 flu shot only to be greeted instead with a locked door and no one to tell them why. It was learned later that day that a shortage of vaccine forced the closure of several clinics in southeast New Brunswick, including Sackville's.
The previous week's roll-out of the H1N1 vaccine across the province was greeted by long line-ups of people waiting for their shots; but as the vaccine supply started getting low, New Brunswick health officials decided to crack down on the target groups who would get the vaccine.
Dr. Eilish Cleary, chief medical officer of health for New Brunswick, reported that Friday afternoon that any clinics held over the following week or two would be restricting the vaccine to priority groups only.
New Brunswick, along with other Canadian jurisdictions, would get a lower-than-expected supply of H1N1 flu vaccine during the following week from the federal government.
Work on water tower was progressing as expected - Work on Sackville's new water tower was on schedule and on budget and was expected to continue on the same path throughout the winter months. Public works director George Woodburn said the required transmission lines to the tower had been installed on King Street and Hesler Drive and paving had been completed along those roads as well.
Woodburn said the new lines would not only provide a feed to the water tower but had also allowed for more than two dozen property owners in that area of town to hook up to the town's water system. As well, it also provided an opportunity for new developers to service their lots, he said.
Sackville women recognized for their contributions to Canadian music - Two Sackville women were honoured in Ottawa in early November for their role in shaping the Canadian music scene and raising the profile of Canadian music.
Janet Hammock and Karin Aurell were both recognized during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Canadian Music Centre for their exceptional contributions over their music careers. The two women were among a list of distinguished performers and conductors that were named as the country's top 50 music 'ambassadors.' Both musicians said they were honoured and excited to be part of the CMC's 50th anniversary celebrations on Nov. 9 at the National Arts Centre, when a special concert and birthday reception marked the occasion.
Design of Sackville's new town hall, emergency services building was undergoing fine-tuning - A green roof with a patio and walkway. Hydration stations where people can fill up their water bottles. A front entrance pavilion that will feature local artwork. And a geothermal heating system.
These were only a few of the features that were being proposed for Sackville's new emergency services and town hall facility, a building that will merge RCMP officers, firefighters and municipal employees all under one roof.
Andrew Amos, senior engineering consultant with Catalyst Consulting, was on hand during town council's discussion meeting on Monday, Nov. 2 to update the councillors and the public on the latest tweaks that had been made to the preliminary designs.
He said the main pedestrian walkway to the building will feature concrete planters, flagpoles, and planting beds on either side that will lead people into the main entrance pavilion, which will be used as an exhibit space for local artwork, sculptures, signage and more.
Above the pavilion will be town council chambers, which will feature a curtain wall system with a mix of glazed windows. Amos said the building committee was considering a proposal to adorn those windows with a series of curved steel rods to represent the reeds of the Waterfowl Park. Amos explained that the building's front and north faÇades will feature an assortment of red sandstone with beige/lime sandstone mixed in. More economical materials (concrete blocks) will be used in the rear and the south of the building, the facades that won't be as visible to the public.
Questions arose over effectiveness of new no-parking zone on Willow Lane - New signs had been installed and no-parking lines had been painted but that didn't mean everyone was abiding by the new regulations put in place in October on Willow Lane.
"There does seem to be a question of how successful it's been," said public works director George Woodburn, who told town councillors that some people were already ignoring the new traffic regulations put in place in the alleyway. "I think the issue of enforcement maybe needs to be raised with the RCMP."
Woodburn noted that the recommendations approved by council for Willow Lane were a result of a joint report with himself, Sackville's fire chief, the bylaw enforcement officer and the RCMP.
Most of those recommendations had been implemented already, with town crews painting the white no-parking lines in the alleyway and the no-left turn warning on Main Street before the cold weather hit, as well as erecting a no-parking sign at the corner of Willow Lane. Woodburn did point out, however that the handicapped parking space expected to go in front of Remax might not be put in place until the spring.
Cape Jourimain Nature Centre earned national sustainable tourism award - Cape Jourimain Nature Centre once again gained recognition on the national stage.
The nature centre, located in Bayfield, was among the winners receiving one of several National Awards for Tourism Excellence, an honour that represents the best of Canada's tourism industry. The awards were presented during the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's leadership summit in Saint John.
Noted since its opening for leading the way in offering an eco-tourism experience like not other, not surprisingly Cape Jourimain Nature Centre was the winner of the Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award.
Mount A ranked top undergraduate school in Canada by Maclean's - Mount Allison University was once again named the top undergraduate school in Canada by Maclean's magazine in its 19th annual University Rankings Issue, which was released on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Mount Allison has been ranked as Canada's number one undergraduate university by Maclean's a record 13 times in the past 19 years and has never placed lower than second. No other university has led its category so many times.
Wind power regulations approved in 4-3 vote - Sackville placed a set of guidelines in place for future wind power development in the community.
Despite contentious debate the previous week over whether the town should open itself up to wind energy proposals at all, council decided in the end it was best to put the needed regulations in place instead of leaving the town without a strategy to guide a sector that is fast developing around the world.
Coun. Margaret Tusz-King said the new wind power regulations, approved as part of Sackville's new zoning bylaw Nov. 9, included "stringent limitations on how and where turbines will be erected."
"We're going beyond the minimum expectations of even the experts."
Sackville's strategic plan was developed through "grassroots consultation" - Sackville residents played a key role in setting out a vision for their community.
Mount Allison University professor Michael Fox, who developed the town's five-year strategic plan with his community planning students, said the greatest strength of the proposed plan was with the community consultation that had taken place since May.
"This has not been controlled by (town) council or staff in any way," said Fox during council's monthly meeting on Oct. 9, where he presented the draft document during a public hearing.
Fox and a student research assistant spent the summer interviewing close to 200 local citizens who wanted to be part of the planning process.
Open, accessible and transparent local government was a priority that was heard loud and clear, said Fox, as well as the immediate need to recruit a new Chief Administrative Officer.
Other priorities in the plan included: developing an economic strategy for the town; developing a livable, healthy and sustainable community; enhancing the town's arts, cultural, heritage and recreational opportunities; and enhancing the town's working relationship with Mount Allison.
Olympic flame headed to Sackville - Local residents were invited to catch the Olympic spirit on Monday, Nov. 23, as the much-anticipated torch relay rolled through town.
"This is an exciting event for our community. To be able to participate in the most ambitious torch relay in the history of the Olympics, it's really cool to be a part of that," said Rebecca Leaman, Sackville's manager of programs and special events
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, presented by Coca-Cola and RBC, began its 106-day Canadian journey on Oct. 30. The relay route will be the longest domestic torch relay in Olympic history, stretching over 45,000 kilometres throughout Canada and being welcomed in over 1,000 communities.
Contract awarded for site work on Sackville's new emergency services and town hall facility - Work was set to get under way in the next few weeks on development of the site that will house the town's new $12-million emergency services and town hall facility.
With a price tag of more than $800,000, town council awarded the tender in early November for preliminary site work on the Main Street property to Beale & Inch Construction of Sackville.
Michael Beal, the town's acting CAO and treasurer, said this work will include "removing any unacceptable fill, relocating existing service pipes, preparing the site for construction, and bringing the site up to an acceptable grade."
The Beale & Inch contract came in at $693,315 (plus HST) and also included a $50,000 contingency for "any unexpected things that may take place that will require extra money," said Beal.
Beale & Inch was expected to begin work on the project in early December and continue as long as the weather holds out. Then they will finish up the job in early spring, he said.
Town developed framework for non-profit sector - After more than a year of working with local non-profit groups to determine how they might overcome some of their obstacles and challenges, town council believed it had established a framework that would help guide the sector in the future.
Coun. John Higham said a non-profit paper was developed following year-long consultations with service groups in the Sackville area, which included workshops, forums and follow-up discussions. The paper set out a number of recommendations, which Higham said had been endorsed by the non-profit groups involved.
The main recommendation set Renaissance Sackville as the main "point of contact" for the non-profit organizations. Renaissance will help with coordination and funding for projects and events, he said, meaning the groups would no longer need to seek funding approval from town council. He said the paper also recommended non-profit groups try to collaborate more by sharing resources and leveraging assets.
Development growth in town continued on upward swing - Sackville continued to experience strong development growth, even amidst a recession.
The Tantramar Planning District Commission was busy during the month of October, issuing 20 permits for the Tantramar area, valued at $3.16 million. Nine of the permits were for Sackville at a value of $2.9 million.
The new developments included one new commercial sign, one new institutional water tower, two new multiple dwelling units, one demolition, one new accessory building, and three new single-family dwelling units.
This compared with nine permits issued in October 2008, at a value of $1.285 million, of which five were for Sackville at a value of $1.27 million.
"We are continuing to have expansion in our town and we're continuing to see new construction in all areas," said Coun. Virgil Hammock, liaison councillor for the TPDC, during council's monthly meeting on Nov. 9.
December 2009
Public input dubbed first step in sustainable planning - Sackville residents learned they would have the opportunity to provide input into what they thought about the community and how the town might live more sustainably.
A community survey was going out to all area households in order to get feedback from residents as the local planning commission worked on developing an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) for Sackville.
"We want to get their feedback on different topics and ideas that are all a part of this," said Tracey Wade, project lead for the town's ICSP, which the planning commission termed Sustainable Sackville.
The survey, which featured a variety of questions - everything from what residents like most about Sackville or what they would change about the town, to what sustainable living means to them and what are their most pressing concerns and priorities - was dubbed the first step in the planning process.
"This will be the first point of contact with the community on the sustainability plan," said Wade. "And we're looking to get some initial feedback to find out what they see as important in the community and what their idea of sustainability is."
The Tantramar Planning District Commission was tasked in October with developing a sustainability plan for Sackville and a steering committee was established to help the process along.
RCMP concluded investigation into fatal summer boating accident - The RCMP had concluded their investigation into a July boating accident in Sackville that killed a popular Amherst high school teacher.
Cpl. Jean Gosselin of District 4 RCMP said he had completed his investigation and the file was in the hands of the chief prosecutor for a decision on whether to proceed with charges.
Susan Taylor suffered severe head and chest injuries in a mid-July boating collision on Silver Lake near Sackville. She died in hospital in Halifax in September.
The RCMP called in Transport Canada to help with the investigation.
Local residents voiced fears over NB Power deal - It's an opportunity that's simply too good to pass up.
That's how Premier Shawn Graham described his proposed deal to sell NB Power to Hydro Quebec.
"There will be lasting benefits for both jurisdictions," said Graham during a town hall-style meeting on Monday, Dec. 7, at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre.
Plenty of local residents voiced their concerns about the deal during the forum, saying they were worried about the government selling off the province's assets with no thought to the risks involved.
And although Graham acknowledged that there had been a lot of "passion surrounding this debate," he was firm in his stance that the agreement would provide New Brunswickers with plenty of advantages.
The Premier pointed out that, from 2004 to 2008, residential power rates in New Brunswick increased by more than 27 per cent and there's no end in sight for rising power bills.
Graham said the deal will also help out businesses by providing them with more "competitive rates."
He touted the deal with Hydro Quebec, saying residential rates will be frozen for a five-year period and he expects all New Brunswickers will continue to benefit long-term from the cheap hydro power that is abundant in Quebec.
Opposition urged residents to "stand up and be heard" on NB Power deal - Energy was the topic of discussion on the agenda on Monday, Dec. 7, as local residents gathered at the Tantramar civic centre to discuss the proposed sale of NB Power with opposition MLAs.
So it only seemed fitting that those residents were encouraged to draw upon the "power of the people" to stop the deal.
"The people of New Brunswick have to stand up and be heard," said Bruce Fitch, the Conservatives' finance critic.
"You need to continue to petition the government, and continue to tell the government you're not satisfied with the answers you're getting," he said in response to a resident's question about how to stop the Liberals from moving forward on this deal. "There's still some hope; it could change."
Fellow MLA Jeannot VolpÉ, former Minister of Energy and Finance under Bernard Lord's government, agreed.
"The voice of the people is pretty strong," he said, noting that mass protests and petitions could make an impact on government decisions, pointing to the Liberals' back-tracking on French Immersion, post-secondary education and doctors' salaries as examples.
School-based health centre officially opened in Port Elgin - Premier Shawn Graham and New Brunswick Health Minister Mary Schryer were among those who took part in the Monday, Dec. 7, official opening of the Port Elgin and Region Health Centre at its new location at Port Elgin Regional School.
The health centre originally opened in Dec. 2001 in the lower level of the Westford Nursing Home and since that time had outgrown its crowded quarters.
The health centre provides health care services to more than 2,000 individuals each year provided by a nurse practitioner, registered nurse and with the support of an administrative worker. The centre has the services of three physicians who travel from Sackville one day per week for scheduled appointments as well as a dietitian and physiotherapist who visit twice monthly. It also offers twice-weekly lab services and other health care initiatives such well-woman/well-man clinics and other health education information clinics such as blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol teaching and follow-up, diabetic health teaching, healthy eating and weight-loss programs.
Horizon Health Network contributed $90,000 and will provide staffing and ongoing operational support while the Department of Education and School District 2 kicked in $30,000 for the project and will continue to provide in-kind support in the future.
Council held firm on tax rate despite rising costs - It was announced that Sackville would have to do more with less in 2010.
Each of the town's department heads were asked to tighten their belts and make some tough decisions in their operating budgets for the coming year as the town contends with increased expenses while trying to hold the line on the tax rate.
Sackville's treasurer and acting CAO Michael Beal said as power bills, provincial property taxes and staff salaries continues to rise, so too does the need to be more frugal as council and staff attempt to balance the books.
"The budget continues to get tighter and tighter with very little flexibility," he said following the budget report at town council's monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 14.
During the meeting, council approved the municipality's $8.96 million general operating budget for the new year, up over $8.64 million in 2008 due to higher operating costs projected for 2010.
Coun. John Higham, liaison councillor for the finance department, said that the additional $300,000 in expenses should have resulted in a four-cent increase to municipal taxes.
But instead he was pleased to announce that staff "have been very diligent in fine-tuning their budgets" so no tax hike would be required.
Town council members accepted voluntary wage freeze - Sackville town council agreed to forego their raises for 2010, saying municipal leaders needed to set an example amidst tough economic hard times.
But at least one town councillor disagreed with the move, pointing out it was a hollow gesture that only amounted to a few dollars, if any.
Coun. Virgil Hammock, one of three councillors to vote against the voluntary wage freeze, said that council's annual pay increases are calculated using New Brunswick's consumer price index (CPI) rate, which currently sits at a negative figure.
This means council wouldn't even likely have received a pay hike in the new year.
Councillors Joyce O'Neil and Mike Tower also voted against the salary adjustment, while those voting in favour included Merrill Fullerton, Margaret Tusz-King, John Higham and Deputy Mayor Bob Berry. (Coun. Bruce Phinney did not attend the meeting.)
Hammock said he was also concerned that non-unionized staff with the town would be pressured into having their wages frozen as well.
But Mayor Pat Estabrooks argued that council was simply setting an example for other municipalities, at a time when town and city officials were being asked by the provincial government to make sacrifices in order to provide necessary services to their communities.
Mount Allison's Shinerama campaign was named best in country - Mount Allison's Shinerama campaign got a little brighter in 2009.
The successful campaign was recognized nationally by Shinerama as the best campaign in Canada. The initiative raised a record-breaking $36,000, well exceeding their goal of $20,000.
The award is given to a university or college committee who exceeds goals and expectations, offers creative and innovative ways to raise money, and exemplifies the true spirit of Shinerama.
Mayme Lefurgey, 2009 Mount Allison Shinerama campaign chair, was thrilled with the campaign's accolades.
"I was completely overjoyed by the news. We knew we had done an excellent job this year, having raised $36,000 and having made a new Mount A record, but this was a really nice way to have our success recognized nationally and to celebrate the cause many of us had dedicated our summers to."
Lefurgey and her team organized Shine Day activities, which saw students shining shoes, washing cars, painting faces, and lending a helping hand in Sackville, Amherst, Shediac, and the greater Moncton area. The Mount Allison Shinerama committee also organized several very successful secondary fundraisers.
