Calgary firm hopes to strike gold near capital

 QUENTIN CASEY

FOR THE TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

20 Apr 2012 03:43AM

A Calgary-based company plans to spend the next year hunting for gold and copper on a large tract of land west of Fredericton, the first of 15 properties StrikePoint Gold is eyeing for exploration in Atlantic Canada.

StrikePoint (TSXV:SKP) will launch its exploration work on the Pokiok project within the next month. The hunt will take place over 5,468 hectares of land located 45 kilometres west of the New Brunswick capital.

Ideally, StrikePoint will find the Pokiok property “stuffed” full of gold and copper, says company chairman and CEO Richard Boulay.

“We’re looking for very, very large footprint deposits,” he said from Calgary on Thursday. “It is exploration, so there is risk. But if you look at the risk versus potential reward … it’s really, really excellent.”

Boulay says the Pokiok area is strewn with large boulders and rocky outcrops that reveal the presence of numerous elements and metals, including gold, silver, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc and antimony.

“We’ve found a whole menu of metallic stuff just lying in big boulders on the ground,” he said.

To this point, StrikePoint’s activity has been restricted to “reconnaissance operations”. But the company will soon start more detailed exploration of the Pokiok property.

Boulay says the company will spend at least $200,000 exploring the property over the next 12 months. Additional exploration dollars could flow depending on the company’s findings.

“The contribution into the local economy in the first year will be fairly modest,” he said. “It starts off pretty small, but if you have success, it ramps up quickly in terms of costs and local impact.

“I want to be positive, but I don’t want to mislead anyone … It’s an exploration play.”

According to Boulay, the property is rugged but easily accessible. An aerial map of the area reveals the Pokiok property spans both sides of the St. John River. The Trans-Canada Highway slices across the northern end of the property.

“The infrastructure is incredible. There’s cell phone coverage. You can walk into it. It’s great,” Boulay said.

The Pokiok property is just the first of many “targets” StrikePoint is aiming for in Atlantic Canada.

Last October, the company pulled away from an investment it held in the Dufferin gold mine near Sheet Harbour, N.S. According to Boulay, the company decided to push its cash into exploring new areas.

StrikePoint is now eyeing up to 15 properties across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Boulay said StrikePoint could secure three or four of those properties within the next year.

“We believe it’s an unexplored area,” Boulay said of the Atlantic region. “That is a strange thing to say because it was the area first explored going back 300 to 400 years. But technology changes everything. Old land becomes new land.”

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/10067837-266/5468-atlantic-calgary-capital.html.csp

Pothole app created in Fredericton

 

CBC News

Posted: Apr 16, 2012 1:00 PM AT

Last Updated: Apr 16, 2012 2:51 PM AT

A new iPhone app has been created by two University of New Brunswick students and a recent graduate to alert municipal officials of potholes in Fredericton and other cities.

Coady and Drew Cameron think their Totalpave app, which should be ready to launch next year, can save cities tens of thousands of dollars.

The Fredericton brothers, who are fourth year engineering students, and their friend Mark Feero created the app to help cities better maintain roads.

Using GPS and a motion detector, the app sends information about a bad pothole straight to city hall.

“The way we plan on doing this is using an iPhone…to calculate the measurement between bumps and valleys in a roadway,” Drew Cameron said.

The application will isolate the point in a road that is degrading.

The app has been under development for six months, and it's a good fit for the brothers.

Coady Cameron matched his civil engineering knowledge with Drew Cameron’s business know-how.

“I've just been learning about this kind of stuff in school and the standard way that they collect this data, it just seems so similar to technology available with smartphones today.”

The app won the national Nicol Entrepreneurial Award last month in Ottawa.

The award, founded by businessman Wes Nicol in 1997, is designed to generate and reward interest in entrepreneurship on the part of undergraduate students at participating universities across Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/04/16/nb-iphone-app-unb-students-potholes.html

Toward greener, smarter cities

Friday, April 20, 2012

Environmentally friendly initiatives help cities cut down on pollution and lower their energy costs, among other benefits

NICK ROCKEL
Special to The Globe and Mail

When Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside delivered the 2006 State of the City address, he put aside his prepared remarks. Mr. Woodside had just returned from a business trip to China, where he had seen a booming economy but also widespread pollution. In his impromptu speech, the mayor called on the citizens of Fredericton to protect the environment.

The New Brunswick capital was no slouch in the sustainability department. For example, Fredericton had saved energy and money by retrofitting 18 municipal buildings. It had also joined the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program back in 2000.

But Mr. Woodside wanted his city to do more. So in 2007, Fredericton launched a community outreach strategy called Green Matters.

The next year, it established the Green Shops program, which recognizes local businesses for shrinking their environmental footprint. Then in spring, 2011, the city of 56,000 piloted the Green Matters Certified program for not-for-profits.

"I'm not about to argue the pros and cons or who's right and who's wrong," Mr. Woodside says of climate change. "But if we take it more seriously and start in our own homes and our own businesses, the most terrible thing that's going to happen to you is you're going to notice that your expenses come down."

Fredericton is just one example of how smaller cities can make themselves greener and more sustainable by engaging local residents and businesses. Municipalities improve their odds of success if they set goals and measure results.

Mr. Woodside says he was amazed by the response to his challenge. By 2009, Fredericton had brought municipal government greenhouse gas emissions down to 16 per cent below its 2000 benchmark. Last January, the FCM certified it as the fourth Canadian municipality to reach all five PCP milestones. More than 80 businesses have joined Fredericton's Green Shops program. As part of the city's infrastructure renewal efforts, the Grant-Harvey Centre sports complex has geothermal heating and cooling.

We welcome gallery’s new beginning

By The Daily Gleaner

Editorial

23 Apr 2012 08:24AM

Fredericton’s and New Brunswick’s shining art star took a deep breath and embarked on what promises to be a fine future last week.

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery announced a new partnership with the National Bank that Beaverbrook Campaign manager Nancy Coy calls more significant than a simple donation.

We see it as a new life that raises the horizons for what has long been described as one of this city’s greatest assets.

In late 2011, Beaverbrook Art Gallery CEO Bernard Riordon said there isn’t a city in Canada of Fredericton’s size that houses the art treasures in the Beaverbrook collection. That, of course, is the envy of many communities.

When Lord Beaverbrook built the art gallery in 1958, he also dressed its walls with the best of art from his private collection, and through the Canada Beaverbrook and U.K. Beaverbrook foundations, the facility was gifted with $200,000 annually to support operating costs.

That funding ended abruptly in 2003 with the widely publicized bitter court fight between Lord Beaverbrook’s heirs and the gallery.

That squabble threw the whole future of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery into uncertainty.

Nonetheless, that challenge is behind the leaders at the gallery, and the first move in a new direction took place in November with the announcement of a $25-million capital campaign to provide an endowment fund from which the gallery can draw interest to fund operations and programs and $15 million for expansion.

Last week, the announcement concerning the partnership with the National Bank brought even more good news.

Everyone can be most satisfied with the largess of the National Bank, which will provide a two-pronged base that includes funding to continue the Beaverbrook’s Drinks with Dali program, which provides an introduction and tour of the gallery, as well as a $50,000 donation to the Beaverbrook’s Capital Campaign.

“It’s a very significant commitment for us because it helps the gallery both in its regular operating and also for the future with the capital campaign,” Ms. Coy said.

“This doesn’t happen with everyone. We have very good support from many of the financial institutions, but this two-level partnership we have here is a very interesting one.”

National Bank president Louis Vachon said the support reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting Canadian artists and recognizing the contribution of art to society.

Joan Beauchamp, the bank’s senior advisor for public affairs, said the partnership also presents a couple of advantages for the bank.

“Its part of our community outreach program, and it’s also part of business development for us,” she said.

We’re as excited about this turn of events for the gallery as anyone. It’s one of the major blessings many hoped for — but didn’t expect — after recent conflicts.

We hope other corporations and organizations will open their wallets as the National Bank has done.

It’s a great day for Fredericton and New Brunswick — a day when we look toward the future with Gainsborough, Dali, Turner and so many others safely ensconced where Lord Beaverbrook wanted them over 50 years ago.

Congratulations to all who worked to achieve this pioneering partnership.

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleanerfrederictonopinion/10086651-266/beaverbrook-gallery-art-bank.html.csp

 

Research project to target city’s homeless young men

 By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN

llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

17 Apr 2012 08:12AM

What is the best way to help homeless young men in Fredericton between the age of 16 and 18?

University of New Brunswick associate psychology Prof. Scott Ronis thinks the answer can be found by asking homeless residents. He plans to do that with the help of Youth in Transition Inc. and a $70,000 grant from the federal government.

Ronis plans to train four at-risk young men to become researchers and interview about 200 participants to determine their housing needs.

“Basically we’re going to try to get these kids involved with mentors, involved in learning job skills, involved in the research process,” he said Monday.

The project will teach them “about confidentiality, about privacy and all the things we think would be important and then they will be involved in going out and getting the information from the youth.”

It isn’t always easy for researchers to reach the population in question and get the necessary data on trauma, mental health, family relations, substance abuse and barriers to accessing services, said Ronis.

“The better way to do that is to have their peers collect the data,” he said.

Ronis said participatory research on homelessness is unique.

The research will be done this summer and fall and a report will be published in March, he said.

Fredericton Conservative MP and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Keith Ashfield announced the federal research funding at a news conference in Fredericton on Monday.

“Our government is giving a hand up to Canadians with housing needs and is helping to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty,” he said.

“We are pleased to partner with Youth in Transition Inc.

“Through partnerships like this one, we are helping develop and deliver programs for vulnerable Canadians.”

The funding came from the federal government’s $134.8 million two-year Homelessness Partnering Strategy.

In 2008 Ottawa promised to spend $1.9 billion fighting homelessness over five years.

The funding announcement was made at Chrysalis House in Fredericton, which provides a place to stay for young women who are homeless and is operated by Youth in Transition Inc.

“We are very pleased to receive funding from the government of Canada to be able to do such meaningful research in the area of a needs assessment for homeless and at-risk male youth,” said Youth in Transition Inc. executive director Julie Gallant Daigle.

“Unfortunately, there are currently no safe, stable and/or supportive housing options and limited other services for this group.”

Gallant Daigle said the research will determine the right way to help homeless young men.

“A lot of people have suggested we just build something,” she said.

“The concern that myself and the board of directors and some other community members have is that one size does not fit all.”

“We know that males and females are not the same.”

The research will find out if homeless young men need a house, a shelter or a drop-in centre, she said.

“We’re really excited to see what the end result will be,” said Gallant Daigle.

“It will be led by the youth which I think is extremely exciting, to engage them in the process and eventually come up with, hopefully, some answers.”

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/10009120-266/research-homeless-youth-fredericton.html.csp

City needed its own shale gas resolution

 

THE DAILY GLEANER

Editorial

15 Apr 2012 06:07AM

Fredericton did the right thing earlier this week in reaffirming its opposition to shale gas development in the municipality.

Even though the city has verbally voiced its dislike for the practice in the past, it’s smart to be proactive and put it in writing in this highly divisive debate.

Environmental groups have long demanded that such a move be made and city council accommodated with a strongly worded resolution.

For one thing, it’ll serve as a strong deterrent in preventing exploration companies from carrying out seismic testing inside city limits without first obtaining approval from the municipality.

In other words, it will forestall a repeat of what happened in Sussex in 2011, when Windsor Energy, a Calgary-based exploration company, conducted such testing inside town limits without a green light from the municipality.

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydro-fracking, is a technique that sees a pressurized mix of water and other substances injected into shale rock formations or coal beds to release trapped natural gas.

The adopted resolution stated “that there be no exploration or development of shale gas in Fredericton without the permission of Fredericton city council. Be it further resolved that the city of Fredericton requests the province of New Brunswick to take the necessary steps to ensure groundwater, air quality monitoring is done in and around shale gas operations in order to protect groundwater sources throughout the province and to take the necessary steps to continue to preserve and enhance the quality of the St. John River, the source of a large percentage of the groundwater supply and the City of Fredericton’s drinking water.”

The motion is worded in such a manner that future councils can reverse it, should the need arise.

Environmentalists had asked the city to go a step further and call for a province-wide moratorium.

Local environmental activist Mark D’Arcy told council that the potential for shale gas exploration to generate air pollution, regardless of where it was taking place, was real. He suggested emissions from truck traffic, compression stations, drilling pads, as well the risk of spilled fluids and the intentional venting of natural gas were serious issues and all would contribute to air pollution.

Mayor Brad Woodside rejected the adoption of a broader-based resolution, saying he had dealt with the issue a year earlier and that deeper concerns should be addressed to the province.

“The motion was reflective of what I said publicly almost a year ago that there would be none. I don’t know how much clearer we can be than that,” the mayor said. “We have said there will be no exploration; there will be no drilling. I don’t know how you could interpret that any other way.”

We agree.

The issue as it pertains to Fredericton is closed.

Concerns beyond city boundaries should be expressed directly to the New Brunswick government.

This may be a council that’s not made up its mind on the bigger issue, but it is taking control of its own territory.

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleanerfrederictonopinion/9982596-266/gas-fredericton-shale-exploration.html.csp

City hands out $75,000 in arts, culture and heritage grants

 By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN

llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

16 Apr 2012 03:04AM

Fredericton’s arts, culture and heritage funding program has awarded $75,000 in grants to 21 non-profit organizations.

The recipients range from new and returning festivals, theatre productions, performing arts, visual arts, musical series, heritage activities and, new this year, a writer-in-residence program at the Fredericton Public Library.

Friends of the Fredericton Public Library is introducing the program, and the $2,500 grant from the city will assist in delivering outreach, support and mentorship to writers and readers of all ages through a variety of hands-on activities and services that integrate the visual and literary arts.

Angela Watson, Fredericton’s cultural development officer, said the $75,000 in funding is the same amount given in the last several years.

The funding program is open to non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is related to the arts, culture or heritage.

The grants were awarded through a jury process, based on set criteria, said the city.

Among the groups getting funding are Bard in the Barracks, which received $5,000 to present Shakespeare’s Love’s Labours’ Lost in Odell Park, and $3,500 for the Beaverbrook Art Gallery to co-ordinate a national touring exhibition by Fredericton visual artist Janice Wright Cheney.

The Playhouse received $5,000 for its Arts for Everyone program that provides discounted and complimentary tickets to members of the public who may not otherwise get to enjoy theatre.

The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, Maritime Countryfest and the Highland Games received a community asset grant of $4,200 for the shared purchase of a portable storage container to store festival equipment.

“We will be able to attain valuable assets that will allow all three events to continue to grow in and for the Fredericton community,” said Ken Critchley, Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival chairman.

Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne received $4,200 for 2012-13 cultural programming.

Dance Fredericton received $4,500 for set development in order to continue expansion of its annual presentation of the Nutcracker Ballet, first staged in 2007.

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/9950361-266/5000-arts-community-cultural.html.csp

Three city spots make Great Places list

 By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN

llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

15 Apr 2012 05:58AM

Fredericton has made the short list three times in the second Great Places in Canada contest run by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Queen Street has been named as a finalist for great street, Marysville is a finalist for great neighbourhood and Officers Square is a finalist for great public space.

More than 200,000 public votes were received in the contest and an expert panel of professional planners narrowed the field of 90 nominations to 21 finalists.

“The public’s response to this contest has been amazing,” said Andrea Gabor, president of the Canadian Institute of Planners, in a news release.

“It’s obvious that Canadians are fiercely proud of their streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces, and they want their favourite location to be named one of this country’s great places.”

Public voting ended at midnight Wednesday.

A judging panel will now select the winners and Canada’s Great Places will be announced at the end of April.

Also in the running in the great public spaces category is the city market in Saint John.

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/9970683-266/canada-canadian-contest-finalist.html.csp

 

 

Plan for new hotel clears final hurdle

By MICHAEL STAPLES; staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

11 Apr 2012 

Fredericton is allowing construction of a hotel next to Kent Building Supplies on Bishop Drive.

At Tuesday’s regular weekly council meeting, members approved an earlier recommendation by the city’s planning advisory committee clearing way for Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton to move forward with a proposed five-storey facility.

The hotel will include 107 guest rooms and a conference room.

As part of the approval process, council endorsed a rezoning application, to highway-commercial from service-industrial.

A height variance was also granted for the hotel, as the height limit for buildings in the highway-commercial zone is 11 metres. The hotel will be 16.9-metres tall.

Mayor Brad Woodside said the complex is being constructed in the right area.

“They needed some extra land for right-of-way and that was granted was council,” he said. “It’s gone through the process.”

Woodside said the hotel is a private-sector initiative, based on supply and demand.

“They’ve done their due diligence and they have come to the conclusion that there was room and we support that.”

The development will be handled by D.P. Murphy Inc. of Charlottetown, which is also the municipality’s choice to build a downtown hotel project adjacent to the Fredericton Convention Centre.

The Murphy group is the operator of Moncton’s Hampton Inn and Suites property built a couple of years ago.

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/9938576-266/commercial-council-fredericton-fredericton.bni.csp

Fredericton’s Crime Rate Continues to Decline

Number of Criminal Code incidents declined for third year in a row

Fredericton (April 3, 2012) – For the third consecutive year in a row the number of criminal incidents has declined according to the 2011 Fredericton Police Force Statistical Crime Report. The report was released today by Police Chief Barry MacKnight during a Public Safety & Environment Committee meeting at City Hall.

“Our Crime Reduction Strategy has proven instrumental in a 12% decrease in property crime and 31% decrease in property damage cases in 2011,” said MacKnight. “Violent crimes are also down with a notable 45% decease in robberies over the 5-year average but we are staying vigilant as any violent crime remains a concern.”

Total calls for service declined 3% when compared to the previous year. There were a total of 23,322 calls for service in 2011, plus a total of 4,065 requests for criminal record checks and taxi licences.

The majority of incidents reported in Fredericton are property crime which consist of 65% of all reported crimes and includes crimes such as property damage, break and enter, and theft. There were 2,470 reported cases in 2011 compared to 2,810 cases in 2010. Other crimes include incidents such as breach of probation, failure to attend court, and indecent or harassing phone calls.

The largest categories within property crime are theft at 565 reported crimes, theft from motor vehicles 510 and property damage with 490 reported incidents.

The largest category of crimes against people was common assault with 326 reported crimes, a slight decrease from 342 in 2010.

Total criminal code occurrences have decreased 11% in 2011 when compared to 2010. In 2011, 3,790 occurrences were reported compared to 4,256 in 2010.

Total crimes against people decreased slightly by 4% in 2011 when compared to the previous year while total sexual assaults increased to 87 reported occurrences in 2011 compared to 78 in 2010.

Total reported drug occurrences decreased slightly by 7% in 2011 with 1. To date there have been 139 charges stemming from 115 drug occurrences. The number of charges will continue to increase as the files are processed through the court system in 2012.

In 2011, 76% of the drug crimes were the result of possession, trafficking, producing, or importing of marijuana. Other illicit drugs and substances accounted for 15% of the reported occurrences, while the remaining 9% involved cocaine.

Total Motor Vehicle Accidents in 2011 remained unchanged when compared to the five-year average while accidents resulting in injury continued a six year decline. In 2011, there were two motor vehicle accidents resulting in fatalities. One fatality involved a pedestrian while the other involved a motorized vehicle.

There were a total of 33 pedestrian motor vehicle accidents in 2011.

Impaired driving offences went from 153 incidents in 2010 to 156 in 2011. However; numbers are still declining from 200 incidents in 2007. Included in the impaired driving offences were 22 breathalyser refusals similar to the amount accounted for in 2010.

Willie O’Ree Place is a busy facility

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

29 Mar 2012 01:11PM

The City of Fredericton’s Willie O’Ree Place marked its fifth anniversary this month and the facility is being well-used, said a city spokesman.

“Our estimates right now are that between two and 2.5 million people have gone through those doors through the last five years,” said community services director Wayne Tallon. “It is busy. It continues to be busy and people are enjoying the facility.”

Willie O’Ree Place is a dual-pad indoor hockey arena that was also built with an indoor walking track and Tallon said the city calculates that on a daily basis 250 to 400 people walk the track.

“It’s one of the most popular facilities that we have now and it’s also become a social place for people to gather, to do some exercise and have a chat.”

The facility in Scotiabank Park North on Cliffe Street also has a satellite YMCA fitness centre and that Y outlet is also popular, Tallon said. The ice hockey facility has also hosted competitive play in a variety of ice sports, he said.

Willie O’Ree Place weathered a few construction-related problems post-opening, but Tallon said the city’s contractor honoured its deal with the city and repaired siding that was causing some leaks in the building.

Willie O’Ree Place cost the city $16.7 million, but it recovered $2 million in non-repayable contributions from the federal and provincial governments. 

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/9784967-266/tallon-ree-willie-ice.html.csp

City’s pension deficit slashed by $5.9M

(Excerpts of article written By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

26 Mar 2012 11:24PM

(Note: I was the Chair of the City's Pension Board 2009/10/11 during the staff/union negotiations process that led to the modified pension plan)

The City of Fredericton’s pension plan has managed to make a $5.9 million financial recovery on what had been a $37.5-million pension deficit as of June 30, 2010.

City councillors were given a pension briefing Monday night at their council-in-committee session.

City treasurer and director of finance Tina Tapley said the city’s pension deficit now stands as of June 30, 2011, at $31.6 million. The plan was audited by Mercers, a third party hired by the city.

In May, after a heated debate with workers who protested cutting back their pensions and urged the city to up its contributions on a matched, co-funded plan with employees, they reached a compromise plan over the next 15 years.

Under the plan approved by council, employees will get increases equal to two-thirds of the consumer price index to a maximum of 1.5 per cent effective Jan. 1. The city had introduced a full indexation of post-retirement pension cheques several years ago when the pension account was flush with cash and by law, the fund couldn’t hold large surpluses.

With the plummet in financial markets, the city’s pension account took a hit. Part of the compromise deal to rebuild the pension account was to increase contributions by 0. 9 per cent each for plan members and the city effective June 12, 2011.

“The changes that council made to the pension plan in 2011 to increase contributions and decrease some benefits ... along with better-than-expected investment performance, helped to reduce the pension deficit in 2011,” Tapley said.

“We do have some challenges ahead, though. With the low interest rates, that could impact ... our liabilities because basically our liabilities are going up faster than the investment returns than we’re expecting.”

The city’s pension fund was valued at $160 million in 2010 and $176 million in 2011, but the liabilities — the demands on the fund to pay benefits to retirees — was $197 million in 2010 and nearly $208 million in 2011.

As the city’s workforce ages, there will be fewer employees paying into the plan than those receiving pension payments. “With people living longer, our pension plan retirees will be receiving payments for a longer period of time,” Tapley said.

“We’re not at a critical point there yet, but we do have our eyes on these things and we will need to address these. Good news is that the deficit is reducing, but we need to be cautious in the future.”

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/9730956-266/2010-2011-account-benefits.html.csp

Mike O’Brien To Re-Offer for Fredericton City Council

Mike O’Brien, councillor for Ward 3 (Fulton Heights/North Devon) is pleased to announce he is reoffering in the May 14^th municipal election. First elected in 2001, O’Brien has served two terms as Deputy Mayor, two years as Development Services Chair, three years as Chair of the Finance Committee and five years (and currently) as Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee.

During his tenure as Finance Chair, Council approved the first municipal tax rate reduction in more than 25 years, and instituted a new long term financial plan that ensures sufficient funding to maintain roads, sidewalks and other crucial infrastructure.

“The past term has been exciting for Fredericton”, states O’Brien. “New recreational and convention facilities were opened, and developers are showing unprecedented levels of confidence in our City. Everyone has embraced the “Green Matters” program confirming Fredericton’s place as a national leader in environmental initiatives. The City is showing that world-class development can be attained in an environmentally responsible and fiscally sustainable manner.”

“The new facilities are extremely important to the city’s future, however, now that they are completed, it is time to refocus. We must keep our property tax rate as the lowest of all NB cities, while maintaining the high level of essential services”, says O’Brien. “Fredericton’s 7.8% debt ratio is also by far the lowest of the other cities, and we must be diligent that it stays so.”

O’Brien supports a four year freeze on new major city capital spending. He says that will provide for secure funding of Fredericton’s vibrant arts, culture and heritage sectors; to enhance Transit; and allow for Council to foster even more city wide green initiatives. He says it will also provide time to plan for a future center to support the social and activity needs of the City’s active senior community.

“On a personal note, I also wish to be a stronger voice for those needing shelter and assistance”, say O’Brien. “The need is great”.

O’Brien is a UNB graduate Mechanical Engineer. He worked several years in the private sector and is presently the Vice President of a provincial Crown Corporation. He is a charter inductee of the Fredericton Sports Wall of Fame, and was also inducted into the Baseball NB Hall of Fame. He has served on the River Valley Health Board of Directors, and was the initial Chair of the Park Street School PSSC.

He and wife Anne have four adult daughters.

CROWNE PLAZA SUBMITS HIGH BID ON FORMER COURTHOUSE

BY HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

MCLAUGHLIN.HEATHER@DAILYGLEANER.COM

23 MAR 2012 12:20AM

The owners of the Crowne Plaza Hotel property on Queen Street were the high bidders on a public tender call by the provincial Supply and Services Department to acquire the former York County courthouse.

Aquilini Properties LP submitted a bid of $800,000 to purchase the building. The provincial government had set a valuation of $800,000 on the property, which was built in 1858 and designated a national historic site in 1980. The building is located next door to the Beaverbrook hotel property.

The Lord Beaverbrook Hotel is owned by the Aquilini Investment Group of Vancouver, B.C.

Founded almost 50 years ago by Luigi Aquilini, the company has a significant commercial, residential, hotel and golf course portfolio. Acquilini Investments also owns 50 per cent of the Vancouver Canucks and GM Place.

There was only one other bidder for the York County courthouse property. Plaza Atlantic Ltd. bid $500,000 to purchase the building.

The province isn’t bound to accept any of the tenders under the public tendering process.

Aquilini has solidified its position by writing a deposit check for the valuation that the province set on the building.

It will be two to three weeks before the company can expect to hear back from the provincial government on the deal.

Crowne Plaza Hotel general manager Walther Lauffer said it would be premature to comment on the potential uses for the property until the province decides on the tender bids.

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleaner/9677515-266/hotel-property-aquilini-building.html.csp

Fredericton named to Canada’s Top Ten List of Best Places to Live

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/citygovernment/NR2012Mar20FtonMakesTop10List.asp

Fredericton Received Top Marks on KPMG Lowest Cost Places for Business List

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/ecodev/NR2012Mar22KPMGBusList.asp

Fredericton’s population grows according to 2011 Census

Fredericton (February 8, 2012) – Numbers released today as part of the 2011 Census results show that the population of the City of Fredericton has grown by 11.3% to 56,224 people. This is up from 50,355 recorded during the last census in 2006.

The Fredericton region, or Census Agglomeration (CA) as it is recorded in the census, has grown by 9.3% for a total population of 94,268. In 2006, the total population for the region was 86,226.

“This is good news for the Fredericton and the surrounding area,” said Mayor Brad Woodside. “We are the fastest growing city of the three major cities in New Brunswick and growth in the Fredericton region is the second highest in the province.”

According to the census, Saint John and Moncton each experienced positive municipal and regional growth. Moncton has the fastest growing region in the province. Dieppe was the fastest growing city in New Brunswick. All other New Brunswick cities experienced a decline in population, except for Campbellton which remained the same.

“We will certainly be examining the numbers further, but I think our growth can be attributed to our knowledge-based economy, our growing retail sector and our strong development and construction activity in recent years,” said Mayor Woodside.

FREDERICTON LAUDED FOR GREEN INITIATIVES

BY THE DAILY GLEANER
08 FEB 2012

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Local Governments for Sustainability on Tuesday recognized the City of Fredericton for achieving five milestones for corporate and community action in the Partners for Climate Protection program at a special ceremony in Ottawa.

Berry Vrbanovic, federation president and councillor for the City of Kitchener, Ont., hosted the ceremony as part of federation’s 2012 sustainable communities conference.

“We continue to be proud of efforts in this area,” said Mayor Brad Woodside.“We have been at this for a long time now. As a municipal government, we have proven ourselves at the corporate level and our residents have made a difference at the community level. More than ever, our plan is to continue on the road to sustainability.”

Municipalities influence more than 44 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. The partners for climate protection program is committed to reducing those levels.

Member municipalities progress through a series of five milestones that help them to build their capacity to reduce greenhouse gases. They must create an emissions inventory and forecast, develop a local action plan, implement the local action plan or a set of activities, monitor progress and report results.

The city has been involved with partners for climate protection since 2001. Fredericton is one of only five cities in Canada to reach all five milstones.

City’s EMO Group releases Mass Evacuation Plan

Fredericton (February 7) - The City of Fredericton Emergencies Measures Organization has presented it Mass Evacuation Plan to the City’s Public Safety and Environment Committee. The plan is intended to guide first responders and members of the City’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) in the event that a mass evacuation involving thousands of residents living in a large geographic area of the city is required.

This document supports the City’s current EMO Plan,and it does not replace standing operating procedures for first responders, but rather provides an overview of required actions. It also supports the more detailed decision making done by the City’s Emergency Operations Centre.

The City’s Mass Evacuation Plan lists the first ten things to do in a mass evacuation, and how to activate the City’s EMO Group, notify the public, set up an evacuation perimeter, identify evacuation routes, and transport evacuees, as well as providing information about shelters and reception centres.

The document goes on to identify roles and responsibilities, important names and phone numbers, information about declaring a State of Local Emergency, and departmental preparedness information, as well as special and other considerations.

The plan is in point form, to guide quick response, and will be placed in most first responder vehicles, as well Fire, Police and Community Services vehicles, and made available for internally for staff and externally for various support agencies. Additional training for staff and the City’s EMO group is planned.

The success of the any emergency situation comes down to public preparedness. As per Public Safety Canada’s emergency preparedness guide for families, all residents are urged to be able to take care of themselves for 72 hours. Know the risks; make a plan; and, get an emergency kit. Find out more at www.getprepared.ca.

Fredericton has been actively involved in emergency preparedness for the over a decade. The City has a Community Emergency Planning By-law, an Emergency Response Plan, Emergency Response Procedure based on 19 hazard assessments, a Widespread Illness Plan, and ongoing training efforts.

The need for such a plan was identified as a priority by the City’s EMO group. Work began on a draft plan in March 2011. Input was sought from internal and external stakeholders and a planning workshop was held in May 2011. That feedback was reviewed and the draft plan revised. That draft was reviewed again by the City’s EMO group in October 2011, with the final document being prepared for the City’s Public Safety & Environment Committee.

Councillors tweet opposition to city gun registry

By DON MACPHERSON

macpherson.don@dailygleaner.com

01 Feb 2012

A plan has hatched on Twitter to review a city bylaw requiring air- and spring-fired guns to be registered with the Fredericton Police Force.

Recent media reports about a City of Fredericton bylaw governing such guns have given way to criticism, and some of it’s coming from city councillors.

Coun. Mike O’Brien took to Twitter to express his thoughts about the registration aspect of Bylaw S-5.

“The spring loaded nurf [sic] gun my grandson & I play with at home likely falls under our By-Law S5 & must be registered. No need for a registry,” he tweeted Tuesday.

It wasn’t long before a colleague addressed the issue on the social-networking site as well.

“Good chat with @mikeobrien_fton today, he’s on board with repealing Fredericton’s Gun Registry. Who else is in?” tweeted Coun. Jordan Graham.

There’s no need for the registry, O’Brien told The Daily Gleaner later Tuesday, but there are aspects of it that should be retained.

“It’s a well-intentioned bylaw,” he said. “The bylaw itself has to be amended.”

The elements allowing for fines and seizure of weapons in instances of misuse should be maintained, O’Brien said, but requiring people to register such guns with the police force isn’t practical.

“The registry doesn’t serve a purpose,” he said.

He has no doubt the idea of a registry made sense on paper when it was passed by council a few years ago, but it just didn’t work in practice, O’Brien said.

The time has come to review the bylaw, first at the committee level, he said.

Should the city’s public safety committee vote to remove the registration requirement of Bylaw S-5, the councillor said, then the issue should be forwarded to council.

O’Brien said removing the registry component is merely a bit of housekeeping business he and his council colleagues need to undertake.

Coun. Bruce Grandy added to the Twitter chatter on the subject Tuesday, suggesting a regular review of bylaws to ensure relevance and usefulness.

“This brings up a good question, why is there not a ... process to revisit by laws for purpose every X years?” Grandy tweeted.

O’Brien said he agreed a regular review of all of the city’s bylaws is something worth discussing and undertaking.