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Saint John's Very Own Music Video
Published 08/18/08
The wait is almost over – filming for Chris Cummings’s newest music video, Welcome Back! begins in Saint John next week!
Sara Stashick, Life on Your Terms Coordinator with Enterprise Saint John invites the community to participate in the video. “As much as this is Chris’s product, it also belongs to the Saint John Community, and so we really want area residents to join us during the shoot. That’s why the team has taken the unusual step of releasing the details of their schedule to the media – this way we can all join in, have some fun and show off our great community together!”
The team will be scouting locations early next week. Outdoor scenes will be filmed late Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday, August 20th, with a rain date of Friday, August 22nd. Go to http://www.saintjohnlifeonyourterms.ca/news-welcomeback.cfm to find out how you can participate!
Life On Your Terms
Published 08/06/08
Well Saint John, whats your story? Complete the form and you will be automatically entered into our draw for a VIP evening on the Boardwalk during the Fundy Fog Festival!
Fill out the form HERE!
Saint John Port Authority Announces Exciting Changes on The Waterfront
Published 06/24/08
Saint John Port Authority Announces Exciting Changes on The Waterfront
For the Artist Concept Click HERE
To Check out the forum discussion Click HERE
SAINT JOHN, NB
Understanding (MOU) with Irving Oil Limited that would see development of a new building complex
on the Long Wharf property in Saint John’s inner harbour. The development would provide space for
a new Irving Oil building and would also enhance public access to the city’s waterfront via Harbour
Passage with the addition of new walking trails and park space. Irving Oil would also contribute to the
redevelopment of the Fort La Tour National Historic site as part of the site’s landscaping and public
space.
The Saint John Port Authority would retain ownership of Long Wharf’s water frontage, and both
Irving Oil and the Port Authority would work closely together to develop the site for both cruise ship
passengers and public use. The Long Wharf site would continue to be used as a secondary berth for
cruise ships visiting Saint John.
Under an agreement worth approximately $10 million, Irving Oil would lease the Long Wharf property
from the Saint John Port Authority. Contained within this leased land would be a parcel of land that
would be owned by Irving Oil and would be the location of the new building. This agreement is
dependent on the City of Saint John agreeing to sell the former Lantic Sugar site to Irving Oil, at fair
market value, for the purposes of immediately transferring ownership to the Saint John Port Authority.
“Today, we are securing the future of the working port”, stated Stephen Campbell, Chairman of the
Board for the Saint John Port Authority. “The sugar refinery site will be incorporated into the Lower
Cove terminal and connect this facility with the Potash Terminal, providing contiguous marine facilities
for present and future marine cargo operations in this area. This will protect the integrity of the working
port, now and in the future.”
“The MOU calls for the exchange of the sugar refinery site for a comparable portion of Long Wharf to
accommodate an exciting project, which will enhance both our cruise business and the waterfront area
of the City,” observed Captain Al Soppitt, President and CEO of the Saint John Port Authority. “With this
exchange, we will be retaining the marginal berth area as our secondary cruise terminal, and we know
Irving Oil’s development on Long Wharf would be done to the highest standards, should it proceed.
With approval of this project, cargo operations on the East side will in future be concentrated at Lower
Cove and the newly acquired Lantic Sugar site.”
“Our company has been encouraged by a number of organizations in the community to remain in the
uptown area and consider development on the waterfront,” says Blaine Higgs, Director of Logistics
for Irving Oil. “The Saint John Port Authority has helped make this idea a reality by showing vision
and a willingness to work together on a solution that meets the needs of the whole community. The
community’s encouragement, along with the Port’s vision and Saint John’s continued growth as a
great place to live and work, has led to this exciting announcement. We look forward to receiving the
community’s input and working with them to develop plans for the waterfront that would be enhanced
and made accessible to the public as part of this development.”
The agreement is subject to federal government approvals and is conditional upon the Saint John Port
Authority and Irving Oil reaching a final agreement on property layout and detailed design. Construction
on the Long Wharf property would begin when all approvals are received. The proposed project
would take two to three years to build and would create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs during
construction.
Irving Oil’s proposed development would be constructed under the Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, reflecting Irving Oil’s commitment to
environmental responsibility and sustainability. The LEED system is a rigorous standard for the design,
construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.
The Port of Saint John, New Brunswick’s largest and most diverse marine gateway, is a bulk and break
bulk port with the capacity to handle containers and is the second busiest port of call for cruise ships
operating in Atlantic Canada.
The Port is a commercially viable, self-sufficient business enterprise and a cornerstone of the local
economy. It is a critical component of the region’s transportation infrastructure essential to many of New
Brunswick’s major industries engaged in international trade and provides deep-water, ice-free access to
shipping year round.
Media Contact:
Bill Eaton
Public Relations
Saint John Port Authority
(506)636-4674
beaton@sjport.com
FUSION Halifax Celebrates Achieving 1000 Members
Published 06/10/08
FUSION Halifax celebrates achieving 1000 members
Halifax, Nova Scotia – June 9, 2008 - Since its inception less than a year ago, Halifax’s signature organization for engaging the 20–40 demographic has grown from a small team of volunteers to a city-wide organization of over 1000 members.
FUSION Halifax was launched in October 2007 with a mandate of unleashing networking and volunteer opportunities and creating a stronger sense of community in Halifax.
“To be part of an organization which gives you the opportunity to help shape the future of the city and network with other young professionals is an amazing thing,” says Mark Stiles, a project manager with Jacques Whitford and the official 1000th member. “In my line of work, and being in the city a relatively short time, this type of organization plays a significant role. I look forward to being part of Fusion Halifax to help ensure the city remains a great place to live, work and play.”
In the past eight months, FUSION Halifax has been busy partnering with existing organizations and planning new events and projects. Some highlights include roundtable discussions with HRM Council and several provincial deputy ministers, urban development presentations, community clean-ups and the first of a quarterly health and wellness series.
“This milestone, along with the success of our events, really demonstrates the next generation's appetite for change and involvement in our city,” says Peter Moorhouse, chair of FUSION Halifax. “Our goal was and still is to help our members connect with each other - and to opportunities that allow them to contribute in a meaningful way. We’ve achieved a lot so far but it’s only the beginning of what we can do to shape the future of our city and province.”
A special edition of the monthly networking series, FUSION Connects, will take place on Thursday, June 12 at the Halifax Club to celebrate achieving 1000 members. The event is free of charge and begins at 6:00pm.
Membership to FUSION Halifax is free. Sign up for news and information on the website www.fusionhalifax.ca.
About FUSION Halifax
FUSION Halifax is a networking group created by and for young people who are inspired to make their city a better and more sustainable place to live, work and play. Through its members, volunteer committees and dynamic networks, FUSION Halifax showcases existing opportunities—and unleashes new ones—that encourage civic and community engagement. For more information or to join FUSION Halifax, visit www.fusionhalifax.ca.
Atlantic Canada needs reforms, says McKenna
Published 05/29/08
Published Thursday May 29th, 2008
Economy Ex-premier backs changes in taxation, EI and trade at Toronto business summit
B1
DAVID SHIPLEY
Telegraph-Journal
TORONTO - Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna used a keynote speech to a gathering of expatriate Atlantic Canadians on Wednesday to urge dramatic reforms to taxation, employment insurance and trade in the region.
The region has made significant progress over the past 20 years, he said in remarks to the Atlantic Business Summit, which was held at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management in Downtown Toronto. The summit was organized by East Coast Connected, an Ontario group dedicated to linking Atlantic Canadian expatriates with their former home.
"The Atlantic Canada of today is not the same place it was 10 years or 20 years ago," he said. "It is dramatically different on every single scale."
McKenna pointed out that unemployment when he was premier in the 1990s was in the double digits in New Brunswick.
Today, in many communities in Atlantic Canada, it hovers between five and six per cent, he said.
"Twenty yearsago we had the worst roads in the entire country. Today I would argue we have the best highways in Canada," he said. "You see fiscal situations (in the Atlantic provinces) that are the envy of the rest of the country."
But Atlantic Canada can't rest on its laurels.
"As much as things are going better for us, things are going even better in other parts of the world," he said. "At the same time the east is doing much better, the west is doing much better than the east."
As Western Canada grows in wealth and as the country's political centre of gravity shifts westward, Atlantic Canada will find itself facing new challenges, he said.
"Ontario is on the verge of equalization-receiving status, along with Quebec and, when that happens, I can guarantee we are not going to have a lot of friends in this country interested in distributing wealth," said McKenna.
"We're going to be on our own."
But Atlantic Canada shouldn't shy away from this new adversity, he said.
"Adversity is not something we should fear, it is something we should embrace."
The region can surpass its challenges by working together to scrap trade barriers, said the former premier and one-time Canadian ambassador to the United States.
"Inter-provincial trade barriers, we've been working on this since God was wearing short pants. Every government has said they're going to tear down barriers. Why don't we just get on with it?"
McKenna said the provinces should drop all trade barriers and then require industry or the public service to make the case for why a province should have a certain barrier.
"Just reverse the onus," he said.
The former premier pointed out a sign at the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia border that highlighted the ridiculousness of some trade barriers.
The sign banned New Brunswick bees from crossing into Nova Scotia.
"They bees do not know this," he said.
McKenna urged the four provinces to work together to lower corporate and personal income taxes. He suggested they offset some of the lost revenue by increasing consumption taxes, noting the two percentage point cut to the federal GST provides some room to increase such taxes.
Atlantic Canada must also take the lead in reforming the employment insurance system, he said.
"We need to face the bald reality that EI has become a trap for us," he said.
Saint John Volunteer Centre Recruiting Volunteer Trainers
Published 04/29/08
SAINT JOHN VOLUNTEER CENTRE
RECRUITING VOLUNTEER TRAINERS
The Training Resources Program has been operated by the Saint John Volunteer Centre for over 20 years. It supports local non-profits in two key areas:
v Building stronger Organizations, Boards, and Committees
v Training Volunteer Coordinators in effective volunteer management practices.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE: JOIN OUR TRAINING TEAM
Training of volunteers in Board Development, and of Executive Directors and Coordinators in Volunteer Management, is essential in order to maximize volunteer resources in the community. The voluntary sector is rapidly changing, demanding higher levels of professionalism and accountability.
We are currently recruiting experienced trainers to meet the growing demand for Training in the local non-profit sector. We are looking for people who:
v Have a strong knowledge of voluntary sector issues, boardsmanship and/or volunteer management;
v Understand the principles of Adult Education;
v Are confident as facilitators;
v Have strong presentation skills;
v Use a variety of presentation methods and audio visual aids;
v and can work as a team.
On-going Trainer development, mentoring, and “train the trainer” program will be offered.
If interested, please call Brian Boudreau, Training Resources Coordinator, Saint John Volunteer Centre 658-1555, to discuss the criteria and benefits of this volunteer opportunity.
Human Development Council looking for Board Members
Published 04/28/08
The Human Development Council (www.humandevelopmentcouncil.nb.ca) is the local social planning council for Saint John working with citizens to improve our community’s overall quality of life. It has two key functions: an information role of linking citizens to human services and a proactive role of developing solutions to meet our community’s challenges. We are currently seeking to fill positions on our Board of Directors for the upcoming year. If interested, please contact Belinda Allen at belindaallen@rogers.com.
Fusion asks ‘What the f*!% is it about Saint John?’
Published 04/28/08
4th Annual Lawson Creamer Faces of Fusion Event:
Fusion asks ‘What the f*!% is it about Saint John?’
SAINT JOHN — We mean ‘face’ of course…what’s the current face of Saint John and what will our city look like as it grows? Is it growing into a city we want to stay in, or our ex-pat family and friends want to come back to?
With our city bracing for growth, this year’s 4th Annual Lawson Creamer Faces of Fusion is focused on Saint John’s future: celebrating the optimism of the community, but also discussing what needs to change in order to retain youth, repatriate ex-pat Atlantic Canadians and attract immigrants.
An interactive panel will kick off the discussion, featuring Hon. Greg Byrne, Minister of the Population Growth Secretariat; Nathalie Godbout, Chair of the Saint John Board of Trade and a partner with the law firm Lawson Creamer; and Sara Stashick, Enterprise Saint John’s Life On Your Terms Coordinator. Moderated by journalist Lisa Hrabluk, this panel will engage the entire room in a Q&A to collect further insights on Saint John’s predicted population growth. Following the panel will be keynote speaker Jian Ghomeshi , host of Q on CBC Radio and Bold TV. Ghomeshi will focus on diversity and immigration with his speech ‘The New Face of Canada’, including his experiences as a first-generation Canadian.
“Our goal with Lawson Creamer Faces of Fusion is to produce a memorable event that celebrates our city and gets people talking about the issues facing the community,” said Kate Barnett, Fusion Saint John Chair. “By talking about the changing face of Saint John, we’re eager to hear what community members think about the future and how we can all be a part of it.”
“Saint John’s strong economic outlook has given the city a lot of momentum,” said Nathalie Godbout. “We’re a community poised for tremendous growth and the changes that come with it, so what better time to celebrate and discuss this topic than at an event like Lawson Creamer Faces of Fusion? I’m looking forward to being a part of what’s sure to be a thought provoking night.”
“Through my experiences from coast to coast, I’ve noticed increased diversity,” said Jian Ghomeshi. “I think many Canadians, particularly younger people, are embracing this diversity and growth and have a lot to say about how it’s going to impact the future of their communities; that’s what intrigued me about this event and I’m interested to see what the people of Saint John have to say.”
The event will also feature a prize draw for two WestJet tickets (anywhere in Canada) and a $300 resort certificate care of Wyndham Worldwide. Tickets to Faces of Fusion are $50 each or $500 for a table. They are available online at www.fusionsj.com or for purchase at the Business Resource Centre, 40 King Street, 506-658-2877.
4th Annual Lawson Creamer Faces of Fusion
Friday, May 2nd, 6:30pm
Hilton Saint John Trade and Convention Centre
Fusion seeks Rally of Hope Team Members
Published 04/28/08
Calling all runners and fun-lovers! Join the Fusion SJ Rally of Hope team! The Rally is a 12-hour annual event, organized by the Saint John Regional Hospital and sponsored by several local businesses, including UNB Saint John. The Rally of Hope raises approximately $650,000 annually and is one of the top five annual fundraising events in Canada. This year's event will be held on Saturday, June 21st at the Stadium at UNB. If you are interested in joining the team, contact Katie Emrich at katharine.emrich@nbed.nb.ca. Team meeting date TBA.
Adam Mowery wins three Best of Saint John Music Poll Awards
Published 04/28/08
Adam Mowery was the big winner at the first annual Best of Saint John Music Poll Awards, picking up three trophies during an awards presentation at A Khord April 25. Fans from around the region voted their favourite Saint John musicians and musical happening www.giraffecycle.com poll, and chose Mowery in three categories, including Best Male Artist, Best Song (“The Three Sisters”) and Artist Most Likely To Make It Big.
The 2008 Best of Saint John Music Poll Winners Are:
Best Cover Band - the Cover-Alls
Best Album Artwork - Jud Crandall for Saint John 3: The Revenge
Best Radio Station - CFMH 107.3 FM
Best Concert - Joel Plaskett at Elwood’s, July 14, 2007
Best Venue – Elwood’s
Best Record Store - Backstreet Records
Best Fan - Barb Crawford
Best Musician - Adam Kierstead
Best Album - Saint John 3: The Revenge
Best Male Artist - Adam Mowery
Best Female Artist - Jessica Rhaye
Best Group - Grand Theft Bus
Best Song - Adam Mowery - The Three Sisters
Best New Artist - Something French
Artist Most Likely to Make it Big - Adam Mowery
The Best of Saint John Music Poll Awards were sponsored by A Khord, Giraffecycle, BBQ Records and CFMH.
Harbourfront Residences at Three Sisters - Looking for your input!
Published 04/28/08
HARBOURFRONT RESIDENCES AT THREE SISTERS
We want your input...
The Rocca Group and their team want your input and opinion on the design, suite layouts, amenities and prices planned for their much-anticipated Uptown Saint John waterfront condominium.
Harbourfront Residences at Three Sisters is planned to be an affordable community of Condos, Townhomes and Patio Residences located at the juncture of Prince William and Water Street, by the Three Sisters light.
If you are interested in participating in a one-hour Focus Group, contact their marketing and design team at focusgroup@partnership.ca or call
Monday to Friday 10am-6pm 1-888-499-0557.
Serfs Up! New local phone-in show
Published 03/04/08
Serfs Up! Tune in to "Serf City," a new local phone-in show hosted by Mark Leger on CFMH 107.3 FM, Thursdays, 6 – 7 pm.
You can also listen to the show live on the Internet. Go to www.shoutcast.com and type CFMH into the search field. Talk to you Thursday night!
The Arts & Culture Committee congratulates Clyde A. Wray!
Published 03/04/08
Fusion's Arts & Culture Committee would like to congratulate Clyde A. Wray on his accomplishment!
Clyde A. Wray is a recent winner of the local division of CBC Radio’s 7th Annual Poetry Face-off for his poem, ‘Ruffy (heating up)’.
Clyde will be representing NB in the Nationals in April.
Congratulations!
New Brunswick's Population Growth Strategy
Published 02/13/08
New Brunswick's Population Growth Strategy
Click here to view the complete report that focuses on four areas:
- increasing and targeting immigration
- increasing settlement and promoting multiculturalism
- retaining youth and repatriating formerNew Brunswickers and
- adopting family-friendly policies
Next steps in North of Union Consultation to involve Community Workshops
Published 02/13/08
Next steps in North of Union Consultation to involve Community Workshops
Workshops to be held on February 26, and March 1 will address themes highlighted in community information sessions
Saint John, February 8, 2008 – The City of Saint John has announced details of the community workshop sessions about the North of Union development opportunity. All community members are welcome to attend two workshops on February 26 and March 1.
The workshops are the next steps outlined in the consultation plan presented to Saint John Common Council in December of 2007.
“We’re pleased with the initial feedback from the community. Over 200 people attended our two information sessions, and over 100 people have completed a feedback form at the sessions or online. We’ve used these inputs to design these workshop sessions – to give Saint Johners an opportunity to ask questions, provide input and engage in meaningful discussion about their vision for this project,” says Mayor Norm McFarlane.
Initial themes arose from the feedback received from the community during initial community sessions held on January 30th, and February 2nd, and on the North of Union web page. These themes included parking, sustainable transportation, traffic management, public spaces and pedestrians, and the existing buildings on the development site.
The first workshop session on February 26 will explore the opportunities and options with regards to existing buildings on the development site. “Many respondents have questions about what will happen to the buildings currently on the site,” says Deputy City Manager Pat Woods. “This session will give us a chance to discuss this in-depth.”
The second workshop session on March 1 will engage the community in discussions around public spaces, traffic flow, development potential (what will go on the site), parking options, and environmental considerations. This session will be facilitated by the Cities and Environment Unit from Dalhousie University.
“Both of these sessions will be open and participatory, and will explore all of the options for this development,” says Woods.
The feedback from these sessions will provide the input into the development of a set of principles (physical, environmental, social, arts and culture etc.) that will guide the development of the North of Union opportunity.
“We want to have meaningful conversation in the community about this development. This is another step to achieving that,” says Woods. “We look forward to presenting the results of these sessions back to the public.
Final details regarding the location and start times for the workshop sessions are currently being arranged and will be available in the very near future. For up-to-date information relative to this development project please check the City of SJ website at www.saintjohn.ca/northofunion.
21 Leaders for the 21st Century 2008 Announced
Published 01/23/08
21 LEADERS FOR THE 21st CENTURY 2008 ANNOUNCED
FREDERICTON (NB) - January 18, 2008
21inc. is pleased to introduce its 2008 class of 21 leaders for the 21st century. The leaders were selected by an inter-disciplinary panel of judges and were chosen based on a combination of criteria, including: their vision; their academic, professional and extra-curricular contributions; and for their capacity to have an impact on the province and its people. Late last year 21inc. together with Premier Shawn Graham, launched a province-wide search for 21 enthusiastic and energetic young New Brunswickers to participate in its renewed 21 leaders for the 21st century program - a unique leadership development exercise designed to give new and emerging leaders the tools, networks and confidence to help make a difference.
21inc. is a not-for-profit organization committed to creating the capacity for change in New Brunswick by developing the best community leaders in Canada. Executive Director Tim Coates said the ongoing need to develop and encourage the province’s next generation of leaders underpins New Brunswick’s ability to successfully address the social and economic challenges it is facing: “Truly moving forward as a province means identifying, cultivating and enlisting the contribution of new leaders,” he says. “We had a great response and have assembled an incredibly talented group of young people ready to take up the challenge. I'm very much looking forward to meeting and working with the new class.”
The 2008 program began with a weekend spent working and learning more about each other, the province and its challenges, including an intimate dinner with Andrea Mandel-Campbell, a veteran journalist specializing in international business and global competitiveness and author of Why Mexicans Don't Drink Molson: Rescuing Canadian Companies From the Suds of Global Obscurity.
The leaders first working weekend was made possible thanks to an investment of $10,000 by the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
"If New Brunswick is to continue to be the kind of place where people want to live, study, work, invest and start businesses, we need to involve new voices – those of our new and emerging leaders," said the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of ACOA. "This investment in our province's young people will allow them to spend time getting to know each other, learning about their province and charting their course. It’s further evidence the Government of Canada is committed to working with its partners to get things done for the people of New Brunswick.”
Over the course of the 10 month program, the 21 leaders will have the opportunity to learn from established provincial and national leaders; accelerate their leadership development and, most importantly, join a dynamic and diverse network of engaged young New Brunswickers committed to their province, and its future. In addition to ACOA, 21inc. is supported by the Government of New Brunswick, the University of New Brunswick, Bell Aliant, Revolution Strategy, Caisses populaires acadiennes, Major Drilling, Mariner Partners, McCain Foods, Moosehead Breweries, Diversis and the Barrett Corporation.
Click here for bios on the new 21 Leaders!
Different cities, different immigrants
Published 01/08/08
Different cities, different immigrants
Kate Barnett, Danny Jardine and Lesley MacLeod
Published Saturday December 22nd, 2007
Telegraph Journal, Appeared on page A10
As Saint John residents and members of Fusion, we like our apple just fine; and by apple, we mean Greater Saint John.
According to a recent report by the Conference Board of Canada, out of 27 of the nation's largest "census metropolitan areas" (CMAs), our community is the second-least attractive one in Canada.
This report describes a city unfriendly to immigrants, scarce on jobs and shrinking in population. Compared to cities like Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa the report states that our Port City literally doesn't make the grade in forming 'city magnets' for attracting new people through such categories as economic performance, health care, education and environment. It's a harsh view of Saint John we've probably heard before, but with this comparison, are we really talking different apple varieties here or is this the proverbial apples and oranges comparison?
What this report doesn't objectively measure is quality of life, nor the preferences people have when choosing a place to live. Our CMA apple of 122,389 people (as listed in the report) is being compared to CMA oranges that are several times larger.
Naturally, with a larger population comes advances in infrastructure and economies of scale that make a city more liveable out of necessity. However, increased size also comes with a lot of issues that affect quality of life - everything from a longer commute to work, to a shortage of affordable housing to fewer green spaces.
Some people are willing to sacrifice that aspect of their quality of life for the advantages larger cities have to offer.
Cities have different combinations of 'magnets' to appeal to different people with different preferences. Not every person who moves to a city is going to be attracted there based on the same set of reasons. If living near the ocean is a priority, land-locked cities will never compete.
Of course, there is always more we can do to improve our city and there are many aspects that need improving. Still, we shouldn't let reports like this make us lose sight of the progress we're making (or unable to see the orchard for the trees, so to speak).
The city we're seeing today is one that is refocusing on its uptown through urban development and looking at new ways of strengthening and investing in its art and culture community. We're seeing a city that has new houses, stores and hotels sprouting up in Millidgeville and the East Side, among other areas. We're seeing a commuter bus system that is beginning to reach outlying communities. We're seeing new Fusion members from China, Korea and India who were attracted here for university programs and/or new jobs - people who are excited to move away from the norm and live in a place completely different from the enormous cities they grew up in. We're seeing a city that is working towards a vision of what it wants to be in eight years.
This is an exciting time of progress and potential, and we need to start talking about it more to wider Canadian and international audiences - to all the oranges and bananas out there that we're competing against for new talent. We don't think our Fusion members are the only ones who would prefer this apple.
Kate Barnett, Danny Jardine and Lesley MacLeod are members of Fusion Saint John, a not-for-profit organization that provides social, business and volunteer opportunities for Saint Johners of all ages.
Saint John is Canada's happy place
Published 01/08/08
Saint John is Canada's happy place
The Canadian Press
Saint John, N.B. — Saint John is the happiest city in Canada.
The New Brunswick city was one of several Atlantic Canadian centres to score well in a satisfaction study conducted by the University of British Columbia.
Sponsored by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the findings were based on survey data provided by Statistics Canada.
John Helliwell, an economics professor at UBC, examined close to 100,000 responses to Stats Canada's ethnic diversity survey of 2002 and its general social survey of 2003.
“The magic is to find out, not only how happy people are with their lives, but to situate them in communities (and) explain why people who are happy are happy,” Mr. Helliwell said.
Saint John led the pack with a life satisfaction score of 8.6 out of 10, which Mr. Helliwell said makes it among the happiest cities not only in Canada, but the world.
“That's pretty high,” he said. “Denmark is the highest country and runs about 8.1 or 8.2. Saint John is operating in pretty rarified territory, so something's going well.”
Quebec City placed second on the survey while Charlottetown was third. Moncton, N.B., and Kitchener, Ont., tied for fourth while St. John's, N.L., was sixth.
Rounding out the Top 10, in order, were Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg and Halifax.
Mr. Helliwell said it's no coincidence that smaller communities scored higher than bigger ones.
He said trusting others is important and those kind of connections are easier to make in smaller cities.
“Having a community that's stable enough to get to know people is important,” he said. “That's one of the advantages of a community that's not subject to the big turnover major metropolitan areas are.
“You have a chance to see people regularly. Clerks in stores are [more likely to be] their friends, not just somebody trying to sell you something. And that's harder to do in big cities.”
Helliwell said he'd like to see a greater focus on this type of qualitative research when it comes to gauging the development of countries, as opposed to strict economic measures.
“Life satisfaction is an alternative way of approaching development,” he said. “We need to stop just looking at GDP per capita and look at the quality of people's lives.”
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"12 Wonder of Saint John" Calendars
Published 11/29/07
"12 Wonders of Saint John"
After announcing the 12 Wonders of Greater Saint John last August, Fusion has launched a calendar of those Wonders!
The calendar sells for only $10 and is available at the following vendors:
• NB Tea Company, center aisle, (Saint John City Market)
• Beckwith & Co. Studio ( Saint John City Market)
• Read’s/United Book Store (25 Charlotte Street)
• House of Tara (Market Square)
• The Feel Good Store (89 Germain Street)
• Moosehead Country Store (49 Main Street West)
• The Imperial Theatre
• Saint John Arts Centre (20 Hazen Ave)
• Mahogany Manor (220 Germain Street)
• Syndicate Skate and Snow (106 Prince William St)
• Pictures Plus (85 King Street)
For general information on the Greater Saint John 12 Wonders Calendar, contact Fusion Saint John at info@fusionsj.com or at (506) 693-6810. Please keep in mind that many of these vendors use a "cash only" policy for the calendars.
Fusion Talks Development
Published 11/28/07
Fusion Talks Development
SAINT JOHN — Cruise ship terminals, green spaces, and new office buildings: you’ve heard the announcements, now it’s time to hear the community’s response. Join Fusion Saint John as it hosts an Urban Development Forum, an interactive information session featuring presentations and Q&As with the city’s key developers.
Urban Development Forum
November 29th 2007, 6-9 pm
Chinese Commerce Centre (24 Coburg Street)
Guest speakers include:
Peter Asimakos (General Manager, Uptown Saint John)
John Rocca (Real Estate Developer)
Ross Jefferson (General Manager, Waterfront Development Partnership)
His Worship, Mayor Norm McFarlane
For more information, contact:
Kate Barnett
(506) 333-6476
Thank you to our event sponsors:
Uptown Saint John and Java Moose
Fusion idea spreads to Halifax - Telegraph-Journal, Oct. 23rd
Published 11/21/07
SAINT JOHN - An idea that had its origins in Saint John will be planted in Halifax later this week.
On Thursday Fusion Halifax will hold its first meeting, based on the model created here and then adopted in Bangor, Me., before travelling to Nova Scotia.
Fusion's mandate is to connect, engage and inspire people aged 20 to 40, unleash networking and volunteer opportunities and create a stronger sense of community.
"We're extremely excited to see Fusion launch in other cities of our region," said Kate Barnett, chairwoman of Fusion Saint John Inc., which began in 2004. "It's clear the Halifax team has enthusiasm, fresh ideas and passion for their city and we look forward to working with them further."
Last spring, Halifax resident Peter Moorhouse heard about the work the Saint John group was doing to encourage city council to implement an urban planning strategy and came to see what was going on, said Barnett.
"Within about a couple of weeks we were on conference calls talking about how they were going to execute this," she said.
Fusion Halifax will feature learning, lobbying and networking opportunities for Gen X, Y and millenials in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) with committees being formed on such current issues as sustainability, urban design and community engagement.
Included in the programs will be regular social networking opportunities and an ambassador program that will act as a retention and recruitment vehicle for both Fusion and the community as a whole.
"Fusion Halifax has been created for young people by young people and is meant to be a catalyst for networking and change in this community," said Moorhouse, Fusion Halifax's chairman. "We have such a diverse community and the time has come for the next generation to really get organized and make a difference."
The Halifax launch will begin with a late-afternoon networking event at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic on Lower Water Street. The launch, which sold out in 48 hours, will feature Danny Graham, leader of the Liberal party of Nova Scotia from 2002 to 2004, as the guest speaker and offer opportunities for attendees to network and learn about upcoming activities.
"People feel like they are a true part of the community when they are engaged and contributing," Moorhouse said. "Our new membership has told us that Fusion Halifax is needed now to attract and retain the next generation in our city. We look forward to seeing this group grow and thrive in HRM."
'People want it done right' - Telegraph-Journal, Nov. 16th
Published 11/21/07
'People want it done right'
Development People fear another General Hospital-site fiasco, realtor says
Sandra Davis
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday November 16th, 2007
Appeared on page C1
SAINT JOHN - The commotion surrounding a clandestine plan to change the face of two or more city blocks north of Union Street is about one thing and one thing alone, say concerned citizens who attended a closed-door meeting Wednesday night: Being locked out of an exciting moment in Saint John's history.
Uptown residents who gathered in Loyalist House fear of being labelled "heritage kooks" and that's a shame, says realtor Bob McVicar.
"The big picture here is simply that this is the biggest urban redevelopment project that has ever occurred in Saint John, if it occurs," says McVicar.
"Anybody I've talked to who is concerned about this is desperately aching for development, progress and a more vibrant and interesting uptown in which to live.
"People want it done right.
"One of the smaller-scale parallels is that piece of junk that appeared on the former General Hospital site," says McVicar.
"That's what people see and that's what they fear."
McVicar was one of 25 or so people who showed up for a meeting of citizens concerned that they have not been invited to chime in on the future of land north of Union, part of a huge site in the area near Vito's and the Saint John Arts Centre, where a police/justice complex is to be built.
Jeff Roach, who lives on Princess Street, was out of town for the meeting but says he would have been there had he been in the city.
Roach has been wound up since he found out earlier this week that things have been going on behind the scenes.
"This Father Knows Best Thing is so offensive," says Roach. "Decisions made without any consultation offend people."
He's hoping the public outcry that has begun will galvanize the community and change some minds. "It often does affect the people who are leading it. I hope it continues."
Roach says he's feeling like he's not being represented.
"I almost feel like I need to be vigilant and protective of myself against the decisions my city is making for me. I don't think that's a healthy way to grow a community."
The lack of public consultation could result in the loss of a feeling of community, resident Judith Meinert fears.
When things are done behind closed doors, the natural question is always "what's going on?" says Meinert, who went to Wednesday night's gathering.
"I want to write a letter to the mayor (Norm McFarlane) and cc the paper. I want to say, 'please don't override the citizens.'
"Nobody seems to know who's behind the whole project.
"I'm just wondering whether the mayor has learned anything about that whole uproar about giving the Irvings (Irving Oil) that huge tax break."
Art gallery owner and activist Peter Buckland, who went to the meeting, says people in attendance are not against building a new police-justice complex.
"We're pretty excited about those things," he said, echoing McVicar.
"This isn't all about arts, culture and heritage," he says.
Maybe some councillors feel residents have nothing to contribute, says Buckland.
"Maybe they think we're stupid, that it should just be left to a small group of people."
The tone of Wednesday night's gathering was more one of frustration than anger, says Buckland.
"We just want to be part of it. All we want to know is what's going on."
Buckland is hopeful that the networking that has started surrounding the project continues. "It's about talking to other people in our community about this, spreading the word, writing letters.
"All we want to do is open some doors."
Although a lot of work seems to have been done already, Buckland is optimistic that it's not too late for public input.
"I like to think that there's still an opportunity for the citizens to learn where this thing is going and to have some sort of participation in it," he said.
"People are feeling very optimistic but then this comes along and it's starting to kill some of that optimism,"
No one wants to have to resort to standing in front of bulldozers, says McVicar.
"No one wants to not see urban renewal and development," he says.
"People want to se it happen right and they want to be involved because they're enthusiastic and passionate."
What they're afraid of is that the project has become "a big steam engine rolling down the hill."
"How do we take this concern and convert it into something that is proactive and will change something and make this a better project?"
Meanwhile, Buckland says the meeting ended with no clear agreement "but a sense that we would all be talking over the next few days.
"We're waiting to see what kind of reaction we get."
Fusion is also a planning a meeting for Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. at a place to be announced.
That meeting has been called to discuss development in the city in general, says Fusion chairwoman Kate Barnett.
"Because of what's going on north of Union, we think it's probably the best opportunity for everyone to come together and discuss what's up, what's going on," she said.
"How much voice do we really have?"
It will also provide a platform for developers in the city to come and give an outline of their projects, she said.
Everyone is welcome.
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