business forecast 2009

RETAIL & SERVICES

EDUCATION & CAREERS

MINING/MANUFACTURING

THE GREEN INITIATIVE

TOURISM

AGRICULTURE

INFORMATIONTECHNOLOGY

FISHERIES

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

REAL ESTATE

A LOOK AT TODAY’S

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The perfect pair!

Evan Banks opened Limitless Skate andSnow in the Greenwood Mall because ofhis passion for extreme sports andbecause he recognized a need.

There was nowhere locally for board-ers to purchase the necessary hardwarefor small breakages. There was alsonowhere locally to purchase decks; theactual board upon which the skater orsnowboarder stands. Now Evan suppliesboth. “I’ve worked construc-tion, telemarketing, retail andplanted trees. At age 27 Iwanted a career, not a job. Sowhy not start a business formyself, where I can build thetype of business I want?”

Evan opened doors official-ly Dec. 5, 2008 and says therehasn’t been a single day withno sales. “If I can succeednow, when things are harder,an upswing in the market canonly mean an increase insales. It is better to start slow than haveto adjust downwards.”

While not selling fully assembled skateand snowboards each day, the high levelof interest, especially in skateboardingequipment during the winter season, isreassuring. Evan believes he has foundhis niche market.

INVESTS CAREFULLY IN THE BUSINESSLimitless is the only skate and snow-boarding shop between Kingston andHalifax, so competition is non-existent.Evan hopes to keep it that way. Hebelieves opening his business during arecession is a blessing, providing him theopportunity to establish himself whilebigger box businesses are busy holdingstatus quo.

“The economy may have ups anddowns, but people always want to havefun and boarding is a sport with no reg-istration fees, no tournaments. You buythe gear and go play.”

For Evan, saving money during theeconomic downturn means investingcarefully in his business. He markets

using stickers, not business cards. Afterall, how many high school students doyou see with a business card index?

But his business does extend to peo-ple of all ages. He has grandparentsshopping at Limitless, on a quest to findthe perfect first deck for their grandchild.

Knowing his product first-hand andunderstanding the culture is a large partof what Evan considers his success to-date. He uses the grunge look sostrongly associated with skate andsnowboarding and his own creativity todisplay retail information. Duct tapeholds the sign over a new shipment ofclothing, not expensive designer dis-plays.

Limitless is also committed to support-ing Canadian businesses and eco-friend-ly merchandise. Evan carries onlyCanadian suppliers and wants to secure

more local suppliers as well. Clothinglines such as Abhaya are fair trade, allorganic, recycled cotton. Not to mentionthat skateboarding is a green form oftransportation.

These are the types of commitmentsin which Evan believes and thinks con-sumers want from businesses as well.

Evan is convinced he can ride out thefinancial storm doing what he loves. Theonly drawback he acknowledges is thelong hours, but the opportunity to checkout all the new decks and other gearfirst-hand far outweighs any ‘overtime.’Limitless is a direct reflection of Evan’sdrive and determination, his beliefsabout extreme sports and himself.

“Never stop,” he says. “Always pursuethe best. Learn and keep trying.Potential has no bounds.” For more infor-mation call (902) 242-RIDE.

Retail&Service2009 SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESSFORECAST PAGE 1

‘Limitless’ in an economic recession

Evan Banks: “At age 27 I wanted a career, not a job. So why not start a business?”

BY Amy JamesNovaNewsNow.com

Auto dealers across the country arefeeling the crunch of a weak economy,but in Yarmouth County cautious man-agement appears to be driving busi-nesses successfully through troubledtimes.

At Thistle Hyundai, Doug Thistlesays they are watching their invento-ry very closely and reducing judi-ciously.

“We’re not carrying any excess, orcars that are not good sellers, the‘maybe stuff’. We’re stocking less,and we’re stocking our sellers: thesmaller, more fuel efficient ones, ourbread and butter cars like the Accent,the Elantra and the Sonata,” he said.

It helps when certain modelsreceive good press, like the Hyundai Genesis, which won the titleof 2009 North American Car of theYear.

“That’s one of our high-end carsthat certainly gives us credibility,recognition and respect, but it’s avery lean market for me, that type ofcar,” Thistle said.

“What we’re finding, purchasersare being a little more cautious andcredit from the banks is tougher.”

Despite the perceived bad timesfor auto dealers, Thistle says his company exceeded a target of 10 forJanuary, selling 14 cars.

“Although we realize the market issmaller, we as a dealer feel with ourprice range, quality, service and repu-

tation, we will see an increase. That’sbucking a trend.

“However we are very cautious.There is resistance in the market forthe higher end. The banks are terrible.They are very, very critical with applica-tions. We’re staying positive. We’rerolling up our sleeves and going towork,” Thistle said.

‘NOT WHERE WE SHOULD BE’Dick Hubbard at Tusket Toyota says theeconomic situation is definitely affectingtheir inventory as well and they are alsocoping with a temporary delay in produc-tion.

Surprisingly, sales of larger SUVs andtrucks has picked up since gasdecreased in price over the past few

months.“It could be the winter weather, too,”

he said.He added that business in general

has been very quiet.“It’s not where it should be, not

where we’d like it to be. Everybody isextremely cautious,” he said. He alsocommented on the banks as beingmore wary.

Hubbard says they are very optimistic and looking at February asbeing better. Last year Toyota had its best year in their history in Canada.

At Tusket, Sales and Service assis-tant general manager Katie Cudmorehas noticed the difference in truck pur-chases.

“Especially when the gas priceswent as high as they did for the sum-mer months. That impacted on us byreducing our truck inventories and try-ing to bring in the more economicalvehicles,” she said.

There has been a shift from the F150half-ton trucks down to Rangers, asmaller truck.

The fishing industry downturn hashad a significant impact on sales aswell.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

2 RETAIL lBUSINESS FORECAST 2009

Copyright and/or property rights subsist in

all advertising and in other materials appear-

ing in this edition of Business Forecast.

Permission to reproduce wholly or in any

form whatsoever, particularly by photo-

graphic or offset process in a publication,

must be obtained in writing from the pub-

lisher. The Business Forecast is a supplement

to The Kings County Register, The

Annapolis County Spectator, The Hants

Journal, The Kings County Advertiser, The

Digby County Courier, The Yarmouth

County Vanguard, The Queens County

Advance and The Shelburne County Coast

Guard and other Transcontinental newspa-

pers throughout Nova Scotia.

Group Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred FianderEditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fred Sgambati

Production Manager, Kentville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alison Ross

Production Manager, Yarmouth . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicole Swaine

Advertising Sales Manager, Kentville . . . . . . . . . . Ray Savage

Advertising Sales Manager, Yarmouth . . . . . . Shelley Collings

Sales Representatives Kentville Division

Sales Representatives Yarmouth Division

Lori Munroe Wayne Foote Alan KnowlesTanya Moore Al Simpson Sheila Donovan Bryan Abernethy

Pat DempseySharon MacAlpineKathy Innes

Brenda SollowsRon SuretteJoe MacDonald

Ken NichollMegan Surette

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9185 Commercial St., New Minas, P.O. Box 430, Kentville, Nova Scotia, B4N 3X4

Tel: 902-681-2121 • Fax: 902-681-0830

2 Second St., YarmouthP.O. Box 128, Yarmouth,

Nova Scotia, B5A 4B1Tel: 902-742-7111 • Fax: 902-742-2311

2009 Southwest Nova Scotia

Business Forecast

Auto dealers cautiousbut optimistic

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF NOVASCOTIA’S NEW VEHICLE DEALERS

• Total 2007 retail sales of new vehicledealerships: $2.3 billion

• Sales tax generated by new vehicledealerships (HST 14 per cent): $315million

• Total units sold 49,187:(59 per cent passenger cars)(41 per cent trucks)

• Estimated number of new vehicledealerships: 133

• Average weekly employment inautomobile dealerships: 4,628

• Average weekly earnings ofautomobile dealership employees:$794

• Average annual consumer spendingon purchase of automobiles: $2,647

Statistics from the Canadian AutomobileDealers Association

BY Carla AllenNovaNewsNow.com

Continued from previous pageCudmore says there is

more interest in fuel-efficientcars and their business isstocking as many of those asthey can.

“We’re very lucky that wehave a manufacturer that’scommitted to being one ofthe best for fuel economy,”she said.

“We’re weathering thestorm. As of yet, this hasn’taffected the staffing situation,not to say that if things con-tinue, we may have to look atchanges. We’ve been prepar-ing for this for awhile. Wecould see it coming so wemade the steps we needed totake to rein things in. The last

resort is to lay our people off.”

DEFINITE IMPACTJeff Little at Murray GM saysthe situation is definitelyimpacting their company.

“Typically, January is a slowmonth of the year, but overallwe have seen a little bit of aslowdown given the lobsterfishery being the way it is.

“However on the otherside, last year was one of thebest years in many. That (peri-od of time) was also affectedby the economic slowdown.

“We’re selling more basictrucks – regular cab asopposed to crew cabs,” hesaid.

- The Yarmouth Vanguard

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l RETAIL 3

KENTVILLETHE PROFESSIONAL CENTRE OF THE VALLEY

WE ARE GROWING & YOU CAN BE PART OF IT

COME PROSPER IN KENTVILLE!

www.town.kentville.ns.ca 3577

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Business not where it should be

Doug Thistle says there’s a “lean market” for Hyundai’s luxurymodel Genesis, the 2009 North American Car of the Year, butsales have been surprisingly good in other areas. Auto dealers inYarmouth County are playing it cautious with inventories andhave found the demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicleshas risen. Carla Allen

PHYSIOTHERAPY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MASSAGE THERAPY ORTHOTICS PSYCH. COUNSELLING ACUPUNCTURE

1002 Kentucky CourtNew Minas, Nova Scotia, B4N 4N2

TEL: 902.681.8181FAX: 902.681.1945EMAIL: [email protected]: www.kingsphysio.com

MAY ISNATIONALPHYSIOTHERAPYMONTH

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FAST FACTS: Nova Scotia has a diverse economy dependentupon resources and tourism: Manufacturing/Fishing - $5.4 billion;Tourism - $800 million; Forestry $700 million; Mining $610 million;Fishing $473 million; Agriculture $311 million

Can best friends (and their business)survive the recession?


The economic recession has hit hardfor business partners and best friendsJanet Marsters and Shelley MacInnis.Just before Christmas they laid off twoemployees: Janet’s mother and sister-in-law.

“Apparently this is typical for thistime of year,” Janet says from talkingwith others in the used clothing busi-ness. “But we didn’t know. Otherwisewe would have planned differently.These are things you learn your firstyear in business.”

Janet and Shelley’s Used Clothesopened in Aldershot, Kings County Aug.14, 2008. Business was booming wellinto November, but with the advent ofChristmas sales declined dramatically.Both expected a drop in sales as peo-ple would be purchasing new items forChristmas gifts, but neither expectedthe difference to be so significant.

They attribute the decrease largelyto the economic recession, especiallyas many of their customers have lowerincomes, fixed incomes or are season-al workers.

To offset the financial downturn, thestore lowered prices, offered regularsales and changed business hours,opening seven days a week. While long hours for Janet and Shelley, thestore has attracted new customers aswell as the regulars, resulting in asteady increase in the New Year. Bothexpect to meet projections by thespring.

“Community support has been won-derful,” Janet said, adding, “a businesslike ours has an unfortunate place dur-ing an economic downturn. Eventuallypeople will want to stretch their dollarfarther, which will mean increasedbusiness for us. A second-hand clothesstore is the best place to purchasenecessities. Clothes for growing chil-dren is not a luxury item.”

Janet and Shelley are concernedabout the impact of the recession onthe community, especially with the clo-sure of chicken producer ACA Co-op’sKentville subsidiary, Eastern Protein.“The recession affects us all,” Janet

said. “Even though we know we willhave a few rough months, our businesswill be fine in the end. Not everyonecan say that.”


Marsters and MacInnis: “A business like ours has an unfortunate place during an eco-nomic downturn.”

BY Amy JamesNovaNewsNow.com

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l RETAIL 5

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continued from previous page

By offering further discounted itemsand increasing advertising, Shelley andJanet hope to see their business grow,with the long-term goal of securing alarger space and offering additionalmerchandise.

Aside from the long hours and thefinancial challenges, both Janet andShelley say working together andopening a business with your bestfriend has been a most rewarding

experience.“It is fun and better to conduct busi-

ness with someone you know andtrust. Yes, it is more stressful whenthings are not going well because busi-ness is personal, too,” Janet said. “Butwhen there is success, you have some-one to share it with.” Shelley adds, “forthe most part we work really welltogether. Janet manages the financesand I am responsible for the inventory.We have clearly defined jobs that weenjoy.”

Community support hasbeen wonderful

Janet and Shelley: “We have clearly defined jobs that we enjoy.”

TIPS TO WEATHER THE RECESSION

Trevor Churchill, Area Manager,Business Development Bank ofCanada, offers the followingadvice to business ownersduring the current recession:

• communicate with lenders,especially if you are facingtemporary challenges

• look to multiple lenders ifthat will help your situationand it makes sense

• focus on the core strengthsof your business and whatmakes you successful

• continue to serve yourclients well and lookstrategically for newbusiness opportunities

• make sure you keep a closeeye on cash flow

• consider consulting with anexpert to make yourbusiness more profitable orefficient where appropriate

• know your customer andsupply chain risks.

Darrell Challoner and Barry‘Junior’ Munro of Neptune’sBalance were inScotland in mid-February spreadingthe word about theLong Island compa-ny’s environmental-ly friendly products.And the Scots werelistening.

A private equity investorwith connections to the UKfirm Bell’s Health Care metwith the two men. Their ini-tial meeting turned into aseven-hour marathon wherethey discussed everythingfrom the evolution of

Neptune’s Balance productsto the possibility of manu-facturing and distribution.

Bell’s Health Care pro-vides drugstores

throughout theUK, Europe, theC a r i b b e a n ,Africa, theMiddle Eastand Far East.“Darrell told

me if he had atruckload of the

Aqua-healing cream, hecould have sold it off theback of the truck,” Munrosaid.

The chemical-free creamis reputed to relieve symp-toms of eczema, psoriasisand shingles.

Munro is the Long Islandfisherman whose insight andentrepreneurial inclinationsled to the launch ofNeptune’s Balance in 2005.

MADE FROM OCEANPRODUCTSThe company’s creams andcleaners are made fromocean products that includescallop shells.

Munro said it washis niece, ShirleyLangpohl, whosuggested thename at a boardmeeting. “Neptunewas the god of thesea and since theproducts come from thesea, and since they’re envi-ronmentally friendly, thename makes sense.”

The company has a smallplant in Freeport and anoth-er at Fish Point, and in 2006purchased the former JonesBottling plant in Weymouth.

Neptune’s Balanceemployed 12 when it firstbegan producing, but manu-facturing is now in hiatus.

Munro said he anticipatesan announcement within amonth regarding thelaunch of a water purifi-cation product his com-pany has developed.

Tests are being conducted

at Acadia University inWolfville and once the prod-uct is approved, he expectsit will find a market as faraway as Australia.

“We have a lot of irons inthe fire,” Munro said.

While it seems those ironsare finally heating up, Munroexpressed frustration at thelack of government support

he has received. Hesaid the Scottish

deal could resultin 20 jobs, andwhen the water

purification prod-uct is launched

there is the potentialto create 100 jobs.He said his business

has been invited to set upshop in the United States,and he has also had over-tures from New Brunswick.

“But I’d really like for thejobs to stay here in DigbyCounty,” he said.

- The Digby County Courier


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Incorporated 1968Village of New Minas 9209 Commercial St.www.newminas.com

Village of Opportunities:Recreational, Commercial and Residential

Community with unity!Shopping Centre of the Valley

Village of Opportunities:Recreational, Commercial and Residential

Community with unity!Shopping Centre of the Valley

Neptune’s Balance exploring new markets

BY Jeanne WhiteheadNovaNewsNow.com

Economic Development2009 SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESSFORECAST PAGE 7

You don’t have to look too far these daysfor signs that Nova Scotia isn’t immunefrom the effects of the current globalrecession.

However, according to Leanne Hacheyof the Canadian Federation ofIndependent Business (CFIB), NovaScotians “may feel the pain less herethan in other parts of the country.”

Hachey, vice-president of CFIB for theAtlantic region based in Halifax, noted inan interview that Nova Scotia has a rela-tively large private sector in proportion toour total population, and that public sec-tor jobs “are, for the most part, reces-sion-proof.

“Because we have a smaller popula-tion, we have more employees per capi-ta working in the public sector,” she said.As a result, while “we don’t experiencethe massive ‘booms’ that some of therest of the country does, we don’t expe-rience massive ‘busts’ either.”

DOESN’T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALLMoreover, given that Atlantic Canada isso closely connected, things like the cur-rent prosperity in Newfoundland andLabrador and the ‘energy hub’ aroundSaint John “are having a positive spinoffhere in Nova Scotia.”

In addition, “relative to the rest of thecountry, we’re not as much of a ‘trade-dominated’ economy as places likeOntario. When the U.S. economy goessouth, it won’t affect us as much as inother places.

“In a strange way,” she said, “we’reactually benefiting from the misfortunein other parts of the country, though atthe same time, the ways we can benefitfrom a slower economy, or not feel asmuch of an impact, can also hurt uswhen the shoe is on the other foot.”

Asked if the government’s stimulusmeasures will have an impact, or how

long it might take, she said, “unfortu-nately, we don’t have a crystal ball.

“It might be a wish that when govern-ments snap their fingers, everything willbe okay, but in reality it takes time.”

As for the government’s desire topump money into ‘shovel-ready’ infra-structure projects to help ‘jumpstart’ theeconomy, Hachey says, “the whole ideaof ‘shovel-ready’ couldn’t be further fromthe truth.”

There are a lot of barriers to getting

such infrastructure projects off theground, including permits, ‘red tape’ anda shortage of qualified labour.

“The (federal budget measures) won’thurt, and will help eventually, but notright away. We should be seeing someresults in six months or so. We need tobe patient and give it some time.”

Certainly small business would like tosee the budget measures work, she says.“Putting more money in people’s pocketscan’t hurt. There’s a consensus amongour members that it certainly won’t hurt,but we likely won’t know the answer for18 months.”

MAKE SURE ‘WE’RE SUPPORTING OUR OWN’Hachey urged consumers not to be afraidto spend, albeit in a fiscally prudent man-ner. “The government is using the taxsystem as a way to stimulate the econo-my. There’s no reason consumers can’tdo the same.”

In Canada, 70 per cent of all business-es are small independent operationswith five employees or less. “We need todo everything we can to make surewe’re ‘supporting our own’,” she said.

“Our future depends on people sup-porting small business, which is often thelifeblood of our small rural communities.If the local community isn’t supportingthem, their long-term viability is put inquestion.”

Small business, Hachey said, “is anincredibly stable part of our economy.“The small business sector will nevershed thousands of jobs at once. Therejust aren’t the jobs to shed and givenhow hard it is to find good people, they’lldo everything in their power to keepthem.”

Overall, she says, “things are a littlemore difficult than they were two orthree years ago, but all in all, small busi-nesses are holding their own.”

- The Kings County Advertiser

CFIB vice-president Leanne Hachey.

“It might be a wishthat whengovernments snaptheir fingers,everything will beokay, but in reality ittakes time.”

N.S. feeling less pain thanothers in Canada: CFIB

BY John DeCosteNovaNewsNow.com

Kings CED executive director ErinBeaudin says that in turbulent econom-ic times, spending on community infra-structure projects can be a key to stim-ulating the economy and creating jobs.

“Definitely one of the ways we canride out economic slumps is to spend,”said Beaudin, whose focus with the eco-nomic development agency is to stokethe economic engine of Kings County.

Beaudin points to a proposedWestern Kings County constructionproject as one that has the potential tospark both short- and long-term spend-ing.

14 Wing Greenwood is currentlystudying the feasibility of replacing itsaging on-base ice arena with a newtwo-pad arena and curling facility. Thebase has taken a unique approach tothe initiative by inviting the provincialgovernment and the Municipality ofKings to join the Department of NationalDefense in a partnership to build a newfacility outside the gates of the basethat would serve the military and civil-ian communities.

“This is a very positive approach toproject development” because “themore partners the better,” Beaudinnotes. Calling the Canadian Forces base“a foundational aspect of the area,”Beaudin says, “what is good for thebase is good for the surrounding com-munities and vice-versa.”

VALUABLE FOR TWO REASONSIndustry Canada confirms projects suchas this are valuable for two importantreasons. First, building materials forthose projects and the labour to buildthem tend to come from the local econ-omy. Whether it’s pipe, concrete, bricksor asphalt, suppliers tend to be locatedwithin a nearby radius.

Second, projects that are built remainin place to drive future community andeconomic growth.

State-of-the-art recreation facilities, inparticular, have the potential to grow arenewable sports tourism industry. Sporttourism events such as hockey tourna-ments can provide a powerful jolt to thelocal economy.

The Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance(CSTA) recognizes sport tourism as thefastest growing economic developmentinitiative in Canada today and estimatesthat over 200,000 sporting events areheld annually in Canada, generatingdomestic sports travel expenditures ofapproximately $2.4 billion annually. TheAnnapolis Valley Sport and Event TourismAssociation (AVESTA) was incorporatedin the spring of 2007 by a variety of inter-ested municipal, provincial, communityand facility stakeholders to promote theAnnapolis Valley region as an event des-tination and to capitalize on the lucrativepotential to draw sport tourism dollars.


8 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT lBUSINESS FORECAST 2009

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Infrastructure spending key to economic stimulus

Sport tourism events such as hockey tournaments can provide a powerful jolt to thelocal economy.

BY Nancy KellyNovaNewsNow.com


PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLEKings CED’s Colby Clarkesays a large scale recre-ational facility like the oneproposed for Western KingsCounty would play an impor-tant part in delivering theeconomic benefits of recre-ation while supporting exist-ing businesses and encour-aging new business develop-ment. Clarke, who has beenworking with 14 WingGreenwood and theKingston/Greenwood busi-ness community to attract anew hotel business to thearea, acknowledges a new recreation facility couldhelp make that project areality.

Beaudin said the econom-ic impact of fuel, food andlodging purchases associat-ed with sports tourism ismultiplied as “new money”trickles down into the com-munity. It is estimated thatevery new dollar coming

into the local economy getspassed from hand-to-handand is spent many timesover before it leaves thearea.

“The multiplier effect fortourism dollars is two,” sheadds, meaning every newdollar creates two in thecommunity.

Mike Trinacty of NovaScotia’s Health Protectionand Promotion Departmentsays the potential to attractmillions in sport tourismspending is important tokeep in mind in hard eco-nomic times.

“Not only are recreation

facilities a huge part of thesocial infrastructure of com-munities, they are huge eco-nomic drivers that bringconstruction jobs, employ-ment opportunities and canresult in long-term localbusiness growth.”- The Kings County Register

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 9

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Greenwood 791 Central Avenue (902) 765-8465

Hubbards 10361 St Margarets Bay Rd (902) 857-9095

New Minas 8748 Commercial St. (902) 681-2201

Liverpool 327 Main St. (902) 354-2911

Lunenburg 194D Lincoln St. (902) 634-3992

Mahone Bay 502 Main St. (902) 624-9158

Middleton 285 Main St. (902) 825-6043

Shelburne 150 Water St. (902) 875-4270

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Kings CED executive directorErin Beaudin.

Multiplier effect could be huge

“Not only arerecreation facilities ahuge part of thesocial infrastructure ofcommunities, they arehuge economicdrivers that bringconstruction jobs,employmentopportunities and canresult in long-termlocal businessgrowth.”

A proposal for a $5-million port expansion at theShelburne Marine Terminal continues to gather favor withfederal, provincial and local officials.

Shelburne Mayor Alan Delaney described a “shovel-ready” concept that would see a new 195-metre sectionof wharf constructed along with the expansion of theexisting “T” wharf by 100 metres. The project would alsoinvolve the widening of the port service road and theaddition of floating docks for pleasure craft.

Delaney called it the most important project for theShelburne area.


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The Annapolis Digby

Economic Development Agency

wishes to thank you, our business community,

for your continued contribution and

steadfast support of our local economy.

To stay informed about business opportunities,

workshops and funding programs,

we encourage you to register for our weekly

newsletter at www.annapolisdigby.com/contact.

We invite you to visit us anytime at

www.annapolisdigby.com

Thank You

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A proposal has been made to expand Shelburne’s MarineTerminal to allow for increased traffic at the port. File photoNot guaranteed,

but doableContinued from previous page

He said the town is looking to expand existing capacity atthe port to provide for future uses including commercialfishermen, tall ships, cruise ships and container and bulkcarriers.

While noting that finding a specific program for funds forthe proposal could be a challenge, South Shore-St.Margarets MP Gerald Keddy described the deep-water portas an important asset to the entire southwestern end of theprovince.

“It won’t happen overnight,” he said, noting that any planwould likely have to be completed in stages.

Southwest Shore Development Authority CEO FrankAnderson was more upbeat about the proposal’s merits andits chances of government approval.

“It’s not guaranteed …but it’s doable,” said Anderson,who noted several potential funding sources within federaland provincial programs for the project.

Anderson suggested the project would take on greaterimportance if backed by other Shelburne county municipali-ties.

“Tell us to go get the money,” he said. “After you’ve haddiscussions with the other councils, we can make the appli-cations.”

Delaney emphasized that the proposal had been aroundfor some time, but he and his council felt it was an impor-tant time to seek funding for the expansion.

- The Coast Guard


President Abdullah Kirumiraof BioMedica Diagnostics Inc.established his business inWindsor a decade ago withintention of producingaffordable medical diagnos-tic devices for the developingworld.

It was difficult at first toconnect with like-mindedcompanies for partnershipsin this rural setting, but theHants Regional DevelopmentAuthority (RDA) provided away.

The Hants RDA startedpiloting its BusinessRetention and ExpansionProgram three years ago onthe principle that businesseswill generate business andtherefore it is importantmeet the needs and chal-lenges existing businesses inthe area face.

The Hants RDA has beenvery helpful in attracting sim-ilar interest companies tothis area and in creating net-working opportunities forBioMedica, Kirumira noted.“Now we are starting to getinternational recognitioneven though we’re here inWindsor.”

BioMedica now servicesover 25 different countrieson all continents of theworld.

“Partnering with othercompanies creates moreopportunity to reach themarket and better productsthrough cross-pollination,”Kirumira noted. “Plus, it iscost-effective.”

When a community buildsa supportive environment,provides a great place toraise children and is pridedon friendly people, it allows

for a really great startingpoint to do business,Kirumira added. “Visitors fallin love with the rural atmos-phere.”

Ryan MacNeil is the execu-

tive director of the HantsRDA. He says small areas likeBrooklyn, Windsor andHantsport do not stand outas strong sales pitches inother parts of the world

alone, but Nova Scotia does.“We have bigger impacts(through partnerships).”

The Business Retentionand Expansion Programhelps to identify ways theRDA can aid businesses withdifferent things such as net-working, succession plan-ning, labour force recruiting,environmental businessadapting and by assistingaccess to capital funding,MacNeil said. “And we reallytry to help out as many com-panies as we can.”

However, priorities areformed around the most val-ued and growing sectors ofthe economy, which carry alot of jobs or have a realpotential to expand and cre-ate new jobs, MacNeil noted.“But we’ll work with anyone.We’ve learned a lot and wewill keep going and meetingbusinesses all the timebecause we know problemschange.

“We’re working hard andwe want to tell the worldwe’re out here,” MacNeilsaid. “We start with an initialmeeting (through theBusiness Retention andExpansion Program) and talkabout opportunities andchallenges to get a goodsense of the business. Weneeded to spend more timewith businesses alreadyhere.”

Yet this is only one part ofwhat the Hants RDA does.MacNeil said the organiza-tion also works to build part-nerships, start new business-es and attract new business-es. “In the end, we alwaysthank the businesses thatchoose to come to HantsCounty. We really appreciatethem doing business here.”

- The Hants Journal

Hants RDA brings business to the world

President Abdullah Kirumira, of BioMedica Diagnostics Inc., hasa mission to create cost-effective diagnostic solutions for thedeveloping world. The Hants RDA has helped Kirumira tobecome a global competitor; his technology firm is based inWindsor through a Business Retention and Expansion Program.Photot courtesy of BioMedica Diagnostics Inc.

BY Christy MarstersNovaNewsNow.com

The idea of competing on theworld stage for businessrelocations to our area is onething, but Kings County isalso looking closer to homefor success.

“It’s really hard to competewith the rest of the world,”says Colby Clarke, “but if theretail sector in our region is abig employer and those busi-nesses can add one or twopeople to their staff, thatobviously adds up to growth,too.”

Clarke is a developmentofficer with the KingsCommunity EconomicDevelopment Agency and it’shis job to visit local business-es and find out what theythink about day-to-day chal-lenges and future opportuni-ties. Kings CED was one ofthe first regional develop-ment authorities in theprovince to pilot these busi-ness retention and expan-sion (BRE) visits and, over 18months, were in and out ofover 200 operations.

“It really connects dots andpoints people in directionsfor growth and finding solu-tions to problems,” he says.

If funding is an issue forcash flow, expansion orexport, Clarke says there is alist of referral services he canprovide. Privately ownedbusinesses looking down the

road need to consider succession planning, fromwhat the business is worth to who’s going to buy it.Kings CED offered a work-shop recently covering justthat.

If finding - and keeping -workers is a challenge, localjob fairs can be a solution,but so can enrolling in KingsCED’s Employer of Choiceprogram, where everyone ina business gets a say onwhat they think makes a bet-ter workplace.

PROGRAMS FROM THEGRASSROOTSIf no specific issues areraised in a BRE visit, Clarkecan still take the data andfind local trends.

“We can use that to comeup with programs from thegrassroots - we’re trying tohelp out with, rather thanjust guess, what businessesneed.”

Businesses who takeadvantage of a BRE visit canalso pick Clarke’s resources:where a chamber of commerce meets and whatissues it’s working on. Arethere community initiatives itcan support? Are therepotential local business part-nerships it should be investi-gating?

“It’s hard for me to keep ontop of all the opportunities,and impossible for a busi-nessperson,” Clarke says.

BRE is not just for busi-nesses, either. Kings CED hasvisited 14 Wing Greenwood,health sites and non-profitgroups for their input on localopportunities. 14 Wing, forexample, cites a need for alocal hotel. Kings CED nowhas an information package apotential developer could

pick up and run with to meetthat need.

“Collaboration between allstakeholders in a communityis imperative to the successof a region, and I feel theAnnapolis Valley has madegreat strides in this direc-tion.”


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BY Sara KeddyNovaNewsNow.com

continued from previous pageBerwick’s leaders see lots ofpotential for the town.

“We have our own electricutility and lower rates, a newfire hall, the Apple Domesports complex coming; thoseare attractions and they all gohand-in-hand with businessdevelopment,” says MikeTrinacty, town councillor andchairman of the economicdevelopment advisory com-mittee.

The committee formed inthe fall of 2007 and got downto business in early 2008.Development officer DavidKeddy hit the town and sur-rounding community, tacklingthree one-on-one businessvisits in his first week of BREwork.

“Some of these businesseshaven’t been contacted by amunicipality in a long time,”

he says. “BRE is about devel-oping relationships. Is it use-ful? Absolutely.”

While 10 Berwick-area BRE

surveys back up what KingsCED’s results have identifiedas issues – access to capital,workforce availability, localzoning - the effort has made abig difference in the commit-tee’s second-year strategy.

“I was spending 10 per centof my time on BRE. Now it’sone of my top-six priorities.We want a cross-sectionof manufacturing andretail and professionalbusinesses to get anidea of immediateneeds.”

Already, the commit-tee, along with theWestern Kings Board ofTrade, has been able tohelp businesses addresssome concerns. Two

customer service trainingworkshops in January wereattended by a dozen busi-nesses’ 60-plus employees. Adirectional sign for a handfulof new, small businesses inthe developing BerwickIndustrial Park will soon be inplace.

An e-newsletter goes out toseveral hundred addressesevery week, full of local busi-ness news, but also connec-tions to further training,export, funding, educationand counseling programs.

“These small businessesare so busy they don’t havetime to go looking for pro-grams and funding and jobdevelopment help,” Keddysays. “BRE is about linkagesand opportunities.”

Keddy invites local busi-nesses that want to getinvolved in the process to getin touch ([email protected]).

“The information you pro-vide really will help us with

issues for everyone.”

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BRE not just for business, eitherBUSINESS BACKERS

Kings County businesses have lots to say about successand planning for the future.

In a Kings CED survey after a year of BusinessRetention and Expansion visits, 448 businesses gave theirfeedback.

• 89 per cent of respondents were privately ownedbusinesses

• 53 per cent said Kings County has a “good” businessclimate; 12 per cent said it is “excellent”

• 56 per cent have difficulty hiring certain skills• the biggest impacts on future growth were identified

as access to capital (18 per cent), workforceavailability and quality (18 per cent) and lowertaxation (16 per cent)

• 91 per cent would recommend Kings County as aplace to do business


The Port of Yarmouth hasreleased a master plan thatlooks at what direction theport could, and should, movetoward in future years.It’s an ambitious plan thattackles many usesand projects andnone of it comescheap. The pricetagexceeds $20 million.

“I don’t see $20million as beingundoable. I see thisas very doable,” saidJeff Monroe, a for-mer director of portsand transportationfor the city ofPortland, Maine. Monroeserved as a consultant on themaster plan along with theMacDonnell group.

“This isn’t something thatyou do all at once, but it’s cer-tainly something you canwork your way into,” headded. “Don’t let this plan col-lect dust; make it happen.”

The plan sets out actionitems to be completed overthe next year, five years, 10years and beyond.

A major recommendation

of the plan is to better posi-tion Yarmouth as an interna-tional border crossing and anentry and exit point for goodsand services. MakingYarmouth an internationalgateway into and out of theprovince would allow the portto tap into funding opportuni-

ties it can’t now.There is also a rec-

ommendation tohave a United Statescustoms pre-clear-ance facility inYarmouth to easetraffic across the bor-der.

Other recommen-dations in the masterplan including majordredging of the har-

bour, a year-round ferry serv-ice that can accommodatetruck traffic, a re-orientationand consultation of marineand fishing uses, developing asignature waterfront attrac-tion, investing in a new ferryterminal and other infrastruc-ture projects, and focusing onpocket cruise ship and luxuryyacht business.

There is also a call for newpublic venues on the water-front.


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A master planhas beenreleased thatlooks at thefuture and newopportunities forthe Port ofYarmouth.

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FAST FACTS: Nova Scotia is the world's largest exporter of:lobsters; Christmas trees; gypsum; wild berries.

BY Tina ComeauNovaNewsNow.com

With unemployment rates onthe rise and industries miredin a downturn, times mayseem bleak for job seekers.However, there is one placewhere business is boomingthat just might be able tohelp.

In the five years that careercounselor Rob Frost has beenwith the Job Resource Centre(JRC) in Windsor, he has neverbeen so busy.

He said that between lay-offs at Fundy Gypsum and theclosure of several local busi-nesses, there are more peo-ple looking for work thanthere are jobs available.“It’s tough everywhere rightnow, but up until a fewmonths ago we were doingwell compared to other areas.But we’ve had some prettyheavy layoffs recently andwhen a lot of people in asmall populated area losetheir jobs, it makes a differ-ence pretty quick.”

However, Frost adds thereis light at the end of the tun-nel. The JRC works withService Canada through theSkills Development andEmployment Benefit Fund tofind programs that will helpindividuals retrain and gethired.

“The first thing we do withany client is sit down and lookat where they are and wherethey want to go; what kind ofadditional training they mightneed that will give them long-term employment.”

Funding is available forDepartment of Education-approved schools and com-munity colleges, and partici-pants can usually find theright fit for them without hav-ing to leave the province.Although Frost said theyaren’t privy to the exact num-bers, the recent federal budg-

et has upped the amount offunding available for pro-grams “We can’t say how longit will take for that money totrickle down locally, but we’vecertainly been putting in a lotmore applications for retrain-ing.”

Because everyone has dif-ferent needs, staff at the JRCwork with clients on an indi-vidual basis. “It’s a case-by-case situation that can rangefrom helping someone keeptheir EI while in school to trav-el or relocation costs.”

Frost points out there areopportunities out there,they’re getting harder to findand the JRC knows how tosource them out by followinglabour market trends.

Right now he said there aretwo sectors currently on theupswing: construction andhealth care.

“We’ve lost a lot of jobs inthe manufacturing field, butthe construction trade isstarting to take a turn for thebetter.”

The JRC has referred manyclients to the OperatingEngineers School in Falmouth,which offers heavy equip-ment and crane operationcertification courses. “Thereare jobs available and theyare good-paying jobs, too,” headds.

And with the twinning ofHighway 101 on the horizon,

graduates may not have torelocate to find employment.

He notes as well that theContinuing Care Assistantprogram has also been verypopular with participants. TheNova Scotia CommunityCollege offers the 27-weekprogram onsite at the JRC.

“CCA is a guaranteed posi-tion if you have the training,”Frost said.

The course cost upwards of$6,600 plus expenses, howev-er, Frost said that investmentsoon pays off. “The startingsalary is somewhere between$14-18 per hour and movesup relatively quickly.”

Frost suspects with theconstruction of the new ElmsSeniors’ facility in Falmouththere will be plenty of CCApositions available locally.If those don’t fit the bill, Frostadded there are other job andtraining options out there; youjust need to know where tolook.

“We get a lot of inside infor-

mation about job opportuni-ties and we look for thoseleads everyday. There are ahundred ways to look for a joband the more hands helpingout the better.”Frost said anytime someonefaces unemployment it’stough, because for that indi-vidual it’s also unexpected.However, if there is a silver lin-ing to be found, they’ll helpfind it, he said.

“This may be the onechance someone has to dis-cover a career that’s right forthem and move into morelong-term, sustainableemployment.”

Frost encourages anyonelooking for a job or trainingopportunity to drop by theJRC and see what it has tooffer. “Just come and see us.Even if you’re at home lookingfor a job every day on theIntranet, there’s a whole lotmore out there and that’swhat we do best.”

- The Hants Journal

Light at the end of the employment tunnelJob Resource Centre poised, ready to help

FACT BOXSince 1994, the JRC has helped meet the employmentneeds of the citizens of West Hants. Each year over10,000 visits are made by job seekers and entrepreneurs,resulting in an average of 300 jobs found and 35 busi-nesses started per year.

What they do:• Determine your needs

and develop solutions tomeet your employmentgoals with a personal“Return to Work ActionPlan”

• Provide one-on-onesupport from trainedemployment consultantsand career counselors

• Assist with resumes,cover letters andpersonal marketingpackages

• Identify jobopportunities andopenings

• Provide local labourmarket information

• Explore the possibilitiesof educationalupgrading and skillenhancement

• Referral to government-funded employmentprograms

• Help research and applyfor jobs online

• Offer employment-related workshops

• Provide printing,photocopying and faxingservice free for jobseekers.

Career counselor Rob Frost.


BY Nadine ArmstrongNovaNewsNow.com

Tourism2009 SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESSFORECAST PAGE 17

Among the passengersaboard Starlink Aviation’s firstflight from Portland toYarmouth was Jill Duson,Portland’s mayor, who, whilein town on that February day,paid a visit to the YarmouthRotary Club.

Arriving near the conclu-sion of the club’s regularweekly meeting at the GrandHotel, Duson said she wel-comed the new air connec-tion between Yarmouth,Halifax and Portland, eventhough, at the time, theYarmouth-Portland leg of theservice was on hold becauseof American licensing require-ments. Mayor Duson was inYarmouth thanks to a testflight that had been arrangedfor dignitaries and other offi-cials.

Addressing YarmouthRotarians briefly, she cited theimportance of the relation-ship between Canada and theUnited States and talkedabout the “partnership andspirit of cooperation” that“has been long and mutuallybeneficial.”

In an interview afterwardsshe spoke about the new airservice from Portland’s per-spective.

“We’re very happy to putthe ‘international’ back intothe Portland InternationalJetport,” she said. “SinceCanada is our largest exportpartner we think this will helpsolidify the relationship. Thefact that it’s a connectionboth to Yarmouth and toHalifax is very important to

us.”Officials in Portland were

very pleased, she said, whenthey heard their city had beenchosen to be part of a new airservice connecting NovaScotia and New England, not-ing that the potential benefitsare not just related to busi-ness or trade.

“I think we do have a goodbit of people out of thegreater Boston region whotravel to Canada for vacationand for tourism interests andso having this easy connec-tion into Yarmouth can beimportant for that market aswell,” she said.

FERRY LINK IMPORTANT,TOOThe traditional link betweenPortland and Yarmouth, ofcourse, is by sea rather thanair and Duson acknowledgedthe importance too of the

ferry connection between thetwo ports: a 35-year link thatwas disrupted in 2005 withthe loss of the Scotia Princewhich was restored – at leastin part – by Bay Ferries withits high-speed Cat. The Cat isscheduled to begin its 2009season between Yarmouth,Bar Harbor and Portland May31.

In January the Nova Scotiagovernment announced $12million in assistance for theCat, money officials said wasneeded to keep the servicegoing.

On the American side,Duson said, “there’s been notalk of a direct subsidy to (theferry), but there’s certainlyongoing conversation aboutinvestment in the infrastruc-ture to support the service.”

A major blow to southwest-ern Nova Scotia, losing theScotia Prince was felt south of

the border too, she said.“There was a substantial

market that traveled toPortland from within thenortheast region, up fromBoston, up from Connecticut,to take the Scotia Prince overto Yarmouth,” she said.“People enjoyed that trip. Ithink people very muchmissed it and they enjoy hav-ing the Cat available.”

Meanwhile, as for the new air service, she said shewas optimistic about itsfuture.

“I’m very confident thisservice will survive and suc-ceed and expand over time,”she said. “Portland is a natu-ral link to the rest of theStates for folks from this side,folks from this area ofCanada. This is just an hourflight, just a hop across thestreet really.”


Air service renews internationaltrade, tourism relationship

Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney and Portland Mayor Jill Duson listen to speakers at the Yarmouthairport after a February test flight of Starlink Aviation’s Yarmouth-Portland service. Tina Comeau

BY Eric BourqueNovaNewsNow.com

Yarmouth’s new air carrierstarted service Feb. 9 withsignificant help from theprovince and area municipal-ities.

Starlink Aviation, aQuebec-based airline, offerstwice daily service fromYarmouth to Halifax andYarmouth to Portland. With areservation website in placeand someone hired to mar-ket the service in all threeareas, Starlink is workinghard to make the serviceviable and sustainable.

Landing Starlink inYarmouth was no small task,in terms of effort or finances.Richard Hurlburt, MLA for

Yarmouth and minister ofService Nova Scotia,announced at a press confer-ence at the YarmouthInternational Airport that theprovince would commit $2million to the service for thenext five years.

If, in any given month, hesaid, Starlink does not meetits bottom line, they candraw from that fund to breakeven. On months in whichthe company makes a profit,they would be required topay back whatever they bor-row from the fund.

Hurlburt said he’s pleasedwith the arrangement andthe resumption of air service,but he also stressed the needfor people to use it. He hassaid for some time that for

the service to work, the localbusiness community must bewilling to support it.

At this point, Hurlburt saidhe believes that support isthere.

“Everybody I’ve talked to(is) very, very excited aboutthis service coming in,” hesaid. “We have a companythat has a great track recordand I believe this service isgoing to benefit all of thesouthwest region and NovaScotia as a whole.”

WAYS TO WORK TOGETHERAsked about possible con-flicts between the new airservice to Portland and theferry that travels betweenhere and that port, Hurlburtsaid officials from Bay Ferriesand Starlink are workingtogether to find ways toenhance their respectivebusinesses.

Hurlburt said each serviceprovides something theother cannot and presentsways for the two to worktogether.

“We’ve really taken a longtime developing this (and) Ithink we’ve got the rightmix,” he said.

It’s a risky prospect, bring-ing an airline to a communitythat has not been successfulin the past at supporting air-lines and during a time whenmost companies are eitherputting a stop on growth orcutting back.

But Glen Lynch, Starlink’spresident and CEO, saideverything about the dealhas him feeling positive.Lynch said he was impressedby the area’s commitment tomaking the service happen,both during negotiations andwhen he visited.

“We explore markets, liter-ally, all over Quebec andeastern Canada and the

number one reason for beinghere is the support of thecommunity and the supportof the local officials.”

SERVICE TENDS TO FILL A NICHELynch said the runs betweenYarmouth and Halifax andYarmouth and Portland aresimilar to the regional runsthey do in Quebec. He saidthe service would allow peo-ple in remote areas such asours to access larger mar-kets all over North Americavia the links to Halifax andPortland.

“The larger carriers, themainline and tier two carri-ers, aren’t really serving thesmaller communities likeYarmouth. We tend to fill thatniche. We provide essentiallythe same service in a com-muter-sized airplane.”

Lynch, like Hurlburt,stressed the need for thecommunity to support theservice. Although the compa-ny has access to the provin-cial fund, which will beadministered by theprovince’s Department ofEconomic Development andthe local airport commission,no company wants to stay ina situation in which it is los-ing money.

“Everything, in terms ofservice longevity, is based onthe demands of the commu-nity,” Lynch said. “The ulti-mate decision for whether aservice succeeds or fails is inthe hands of the community.The support that we’re feel-ing to-date, we’ve very opti-mistic that the service has afuture.”

With it unlikely that suchan arrangement might evercome along again, officialsfrom all parties are hopingthe future is now.


Viable and sustainableAll parties plan to make new air carrier service a success

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Fisheries & Oceans

Cooke Aquaculture is eyeingthree sites in the Municipalityof Digby as potential loca-tions for fish farms.

If established, the farmsmay employ from 25 to 30people full-time and fishcould be introduced as earlyas 2010.

Company official MichaelSzemerda says the NewBrunswick-based CookeAquaculture has farms ineach of the AtlanticProvinces as well as inMaine.

The sites where Cookewould like to establish newfarms are in the Freeport,Long Island area.

The aquacultural companyhas been studying the areafor several years and hasconsulted with local fisher-men.

Cooke already has a fishfarm near the Bay Ferries ter-minal on Shore Road just out-side Digby and another onBrier Island.

GROWS BOTH SALMONAND CODThe company has eight fishfarms in Nova Scotia andplans to establish more toincrease production and toensure the potential for “croprotation”.

Cooke grows both salmonand cod, with their principalcrop being salmon.

Szemerda said it takes

about two years for salmonto grow to market size. Theideal, he said, is to have onefish farm as home to youngsalmon, another for salmonin their second year ofgrowth, and a third that willlie fallow.

The company also ownsrelated businesses that manufacture cages and nets,transports fish, and produces food for the indus-try.


Island area eyed by fish farmersAquacultural firm aims to employ 25-30 in new fish farms

This strange looking vessel in Sandy Cove is used for feeding fish in a St. Mary’s Bay ‘farm’.John DeMings

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The waters have been roughfor lobster fishermen insouthwestern Nova Scotiathis season.

The federal governmentand provincial governmentsin the Maritimes havestepped up to the plate withfunding for more marketingand promotion of lobster inthe Atlantic region totalingalmost a half-million dollars.

But many fishermen arestill hoping to see more onthe menu before the seasonends in May and questionhow far the announced fund-ing will actually go.

Fishermen are still copingwith the fallout of the sea-son’s opening prices that

saw them selling catches for$3.50 a pound or lower.During the second week ofthe season hundreds ofboats tied up for a couple ofdays in protest. Many fisher-men later loaded up theirlobsters and sold them road-side or in parking lots in theValley, Halifax and PrinceEdward Island.

Consumers weren’t com-plaining as they picked upbargains. But with the lobsterindustry driving the economyof southwestern Nova Scotia,less money in the pockets offishermen means less moneycirculating in the economy.

FISHERMEN FELT CHEATEDWhen the shore price dou-bled seemingly overnight inearly January to $6.50 apound, many fishermen feltcheated since they had soldthe bulk of their year’s catchat the lower price. It isn’tuncommon for the price togo up after the Christmasholidays when inventorieshave been emptied and theage-old adage of supply anddemand kicks in. Plus, withstormy weather, many fisher-men hadn’t made as manytrips out.

The economy and the con-sumer’s lack of appetite forwhat is seen as a luxury itemhas been blamed for adepressed lobster season.That and a credit crunch forbuyers and processors.

Feeling enough wasenough – or more significant-ly that enough was not beingdone – a grassroots move-ment in southwestern NovaScotia has resulted in the for-mation of a committee call-ing itself the Committee forSustainable and ViableLobster Communities. Duringa formation meeting, a lot oftime was spent discussingthe need for lobster promo-tion. But there are other con-cerns, particularly forcrewmembers who arestruggling financially and willfind it difficult to qualify for EIbenefits.

Recently, Agriculture andAgri-Food Canadaannounced it is providing$328,750 for a global promo-tional effort of Atlantic lob-ster that will include adver-tising, media campaigns,retail promotions, chefevents, market research andconsumer promotion.


20 FISHERIES & OCEANS lBUSINESS FORECAST 2009

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BY Tina ComeauNovaNewsNow.com

continued from previous page“Higher profile for our great

Atlantic Canadian lobster willcreate more market opportu-nities and greater returns forlobster fishermen,” said WestNova MP Greg Kerr.

The governments of NovaScotia, New Brunswick andP.E.I. will combine to con-tribute an additional$126,250. Asked whether theamount being kicked in fromthis province should be high-er, Chris d’Entremont, actingfinance minister at the time,said the money comes inaddition to other things theprovince is doing, like headingto western Canada inDecember to do lobster pro-motion, and taking what hecalled big hits on loan repay-ments.

FUNDING’S A STARTAshton Spinney, the co-chairof lobster fishing area 34 offsouthwestern N.S., said ifmarketing and promotion cancreate moredemand, then fish-ermen will benefit ifit increases theprice. He called thefunding a start. Butnot everyone isimpressed.

“Lobsters wentfrom $3.25 to $6.50overnight. This is what ourgovernment should be doing,

controlling the market,” saidDigby County fisherman FredHorner. “That market was

devastating to all ofus.”

Horner said fish-ermen like himself,his son Justin andothers are all justlooking to get a fairmarket amount fortheir lobster.

“That’s whatwe’re all hoping for,” he said.


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Manufacturing2009 SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESSFORECAST PAGE 22

Dave Wilson has a pipe dream that is nopipe dream.

The long-time builder of commercialand residential floating docks haspatented an innovative wave-break sys-tem using plastic pipe that he hopes tomarket.

The system is designed to provide pro-tection on at least one side for shore-lines, marinas and other such structures.The objective is a system that removesfour-fifths of the energy from a wave,effectively knocking a six-foot wavedown to a one-foot wave.

Wilson’s company, Bear River Plastic

Welding, took part in February’s HalifaxBoat Show where the wave-break got alot of positive response.

He initially planned to install a 200-foot trial version earlier this year inexposed areas of the Annapolis Basin,but realized “we had already solved 80per cent of the market’s needs—that’swaves up to four feet.”

Now his emphasis is on market devel-opment. Progress there depends on get-ting the first few systems installed andtheir value recognized.

“It’s coming. We’re not off to the racesyet, but maybe by the fourth or fifth(installation), it will have the reputation.”

He says that open ocean testing of thesystem has already shown a few surpris-

ing things.“As the wave height increased, the

wave break leaned into the wave,changing the angle in relation to thewave, thus making it the first self-adjust-ing wave break.”

The current system will handle wavesup to six feet in height and comes withan inherent safety factor if waves growlarger. The wave-break system sub-merges in big seas until waves subside.


Dave Wilson behind a section of pipe used for his new wave-break system. John DeMings

“We had alreadysolved 80 per cent ofthe market’s needs.”

Calming the wavesLocally built system designed to protect shoreline, marinas

BY John DeMingsNovaNewsNow.com

Tidal power will be a majorfocus May 13-14 of an inter-national conference atCornwallis Park.

The Ocean RenewableEnergy Group (OREG) confer-ence is expected to bring150 to 200 participants,about half from Canada andothers from the U.S. and theUK, particularly Scotland,which is among world lead-ers in tidal energy develop-ment.

OREG members comefrom industry, academia andgovernment and will exam-ine the region’s experienceto-date with tidal and in-stream energy in the Bay ofFundy region, AtlanticCanada and the northeasternU.S.

One session in theAnnapolis Basin ConferenceCentre will be open to public,said Terry Thibodeau, eco-nomic development officer

with the Annapolis DigbyEconomic DevelopmentAgency.

Thibodeau, who is creditedwith attracting the OREGconference, said the confer-ence centre’s location on thewater and being “tidal friend-ly” helped to persuade organ-izers.

He hopes to have a kioskset up for local firms thathave an interest in wave andtidal energy. There will alsobe a meet-and-greetTuesday, May 12.

OREG, which is based inBritish Columbia, was formedto ensure Canada is a leaderin providing ocean energysolutions to a world market.

The organization holds twomajor conferences each year,one in the west and one ineastern Canada. OREG is anational organization, withover 115 Canadian and inter-national members.

The organization’s websiteis www.oregs.ca.


BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l MANUFACTURING 23

continued from previous pageWilson also found that as

the wind and wave met thewave break, they were sepa-rated and there was a calm-

ing effect for a considerabledistance.

The wave break is built ofthe same high-density poly-ethylene pipe used for the

pontoons in docks built byWilson’s company. The pipehas become a standard inthe aquaculture industrybecause of its strength andresistance to UV rays.

The physical strength willbe important becauseWilson has another marketin mind for the floating pipesections—the world’snavies.

Impact strength will betested by sailing differentsize ships at varying speedsinto the wave break to

measure its ability to stop apossible terrorist attack onnaval ships while in port.

A 50-foot by eight-footwide section using Wilson’sunique design weighs 6,500pounds, and is welded asone piece regardless oflength. Sections can betransported from Wilson’sCornwallis Park plant andthen welded together beforebeing towed into positionwhere they will be moored.

- The Digby CountyCourier

World’s naviesanother market

The wave-break section floating. Submitted

A section of the new wave-break system on a wharf.Submitted

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Conference to examinetidal, wave energy

BY John DeMingsNovaNewsNow.com


Green Energy

The power of manureBear River businessman big on biogas for electricity

Ken Griffiths, the owner ofEM Atlantic, wants to see abiogas plant in every munic-ipality in Nova Scotia.

“I just love biogas,” he toldmembers of the Municipalityof Digby council.

Griffiths says manure andother agricultural and organ-ic wastes such as carcassesand plant matter are not just

rich in nutrients, they arealso sources of energy.

Organic matter that is typ-ically discarded as wastecan produce a gas that canreplace both natural gas andfossil fuel, he said. Besidesits use for electricity genera-tion, cleaned biogas can alsobe used in natural gas-pow-ered vehicles.

He gave an example of adairy farm in Cobden, Ont.,where the owners installed

a biogas electrical genera-tion system three years agoat a cost of $280,000. Theirsystem produces 750 kilo-watts of electrical powerdaily, more than enoughpower to supply their farm’sneeds and heat their twohomes. It is expected to payfor itself in 10 years. Theirsystem was imported fromEurope, where biogas gener-ation is much more com-mon.

Griffiths says Germany isthe champion of biogas withmore than 3,700 plants andby 2020 expects to produce17 per cent of its energyneeds by biogas.

Most biogas plants arebased on agricultural, hesaid, but the formerSackville Regional Landfillsite near Halifax uses biogasto produce electricity that isfed into the provincial grid.


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Continued from previous page

Griffith believes people in chargeof municipal recycling pro-grams throughout the provinceshould be taking a serious lookat the potential of biogas.

“While compost facilitiestypically use tremendousamounts of energy to operate,biogas plants produce energy.More electricity is createdthan what is required to oper-ate the facility,” Griffith said,“so a revenue stream is cre-

ated through the sale of excess electrici-ty.”

Griffiths said a Digby County bio-gas facility in the Weymouth areacould use organic waste fromthe Digby area as well as manure

and carcasses from agriculture andmink farming.

Griffiths is a microbiologistwhose company markets probiotic

products that drastically reduceodour in agricultural, composting,sewage and waste treatment facilities.


Municipalities urged to explorebiogas potential

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Agriculture

Ask Colby Clarke about the future ofthe wine industry of Nova Scotia andhe’ll say things are good now, “but it’sonly going to get better over the nextfew years.”

The development officer with theKings Community EconomicDevelopment Agency has been pleasedby initial investor reaction to theWinery and Vineyard Attraction Projectfor Nova Scotia.

“We’re getting more inquiries all thetime,” he notes. “We’re very pleasedwith how it’s going and given the num-ber of stakeholders,everybody is on the samepage.”

The project got under-way last August and thecomprehensive market-ing package and websiteoutlining the opportuni-ties of investing in theprovince’s winery andvineyard industry werereleased in February,2009 in time for the sec-ond annual Ice WineFestival.

The package and web-site includes informationsuch as the step-by-step process forstarting a winery or vineyard, the geo-graphic areas with the most potentialfor growth, local success stories,resources available and industrytrends.

The Nova Scotia wine industry’slong-term growth strategy outlines anincrease of vineyard acreage in the

province from 400to 1,000 acres, anincrease in thenumber of winer-ies from 10 to 20 andan increase in industry revenue from $7.2 million to $23 million by 2020.

Clarke says the project isalready helping to bring thesegoals one step closer to realitybecause over 30 potentialinvestors have touched base.

PAN-REGIONAL MARKETINGINITIATIVEThe business attraction initiative

will see the developmentof a pan-regional market-ing initiative geared at fur-thering winery developmentand grape-growing in KingsCounty and four other areas inNova Scotia.

The areas with a spotlight onthem are: the Annapolis Valley,Bear River Valley, LaHave RiverValley, Malagash Peninsula andMarble Mountain in CapeBreton.

Clarke says one of severalstrengths is the number of part-ners involved in this project.They include: the four-year-old

Winery Association of Nova Scotia,the Grape Growers’ Association ofNova Scotia, and six regional devel-opment authorities (Kings, Hants,Annapolis-Digby, Lunenburg-Queens,Strait-Highlands and Cumberland).

Among the funding partners are thefederal and provincial governments


Wine industryon cusp ofgreatness

Kings CED develop-ment officer ColbyClarke.

BY Wendy ElliottNovaNewsNow.com


and the six regional develop-ment authorities.

With greater investmentsin Nova Scotia wineries andvineyards, Clarke says hisagency expects to see thecreation of local jobs,increased export opportuni-ties, increased tourism andthe preservation of agricul-tural land.

As a wine region, NovaScotia is the third most rec-ognized in Canada. Theprovince’s current winerieshave collected 19 awardsand there is serious researchgoing on at places like theKentville Agriculture Centreand AgraPoint.

Clarke says the existingwineries have shown theyare committed to a qualityproduct and affable coopera-tion. The Wines of NovaScotia symbol identifies qual-ity wines made from 100 percent locally grown grapesand fruit.

ON THE CUSP OF SOMETHING EXCITINGAmy Savoury, a Kentville-based sommelier, says thisprovince is on the cusp ofsomething very excitinggiven such growth in thewine industry.

She notes that visitorshave an appreciation for theminerality, acidity andintense flavours of NovaScotia wine. Even better forthe tourism industry,Savoury, who teaches in theNova Scotia CommunityCollege system, points outthat our distinctive winespair beautifully with localfood, especially seafood.

“It’s a perfect reflection,”she says. “We’ve got it here:the marriage of wine andfood.”

While teaching in Ontariorecently, Savoury says shewas able to broadcast wordof the growth in winerieshere and new innovativeproducts being developed.

Last year, Toronto Life

Magazine called theGaspereau Valley the ‘newEden’ for wine. WinemakerGina Haverstock atGaspereau Winery is one rea-son and Bruce Ewert, once awinemaker in BritishColumbia, is another.

At his new L’Acadie Winery,which opened last May, he isconcentrating on sparklingwine and bold new redsmade from organically grown

hybrids.The Benjamin Bridge

Winery is slated to open thisyear in Gaspereau and so isthe Muir Murray Winery,located east of Wolfville.

Everybody’s favouritegreengrocer Pete Luckett iseven getting into the act. Heis experimenting already athis farm near Avonport.

- The Kings CountyAdvertiser

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l AGRICULTURE 27

‘We’ve got it here: the marriageof wine and food’

Winemaker Bruce Ewert of L’Acadie Winery in Gaspereau with some of his medal-winning wines. Wendy Elliott

WEBLINKwww.investinnovascotiawine.ca

Y360

0057

28 AGRICULTURE lBUSINESS FORECAST 2009

As a fifth-generation farmer, Richard Melvin ofPereau says there is a lot to know about today’sagriculture.

“And every day, I’m still learning about thissector,” he says.

Melvin, the president of the Nova ScotiaFederation of Agriculture, spoke to members ofthe Western Kings Board of Trade at their March5 annual meeting in Berwick on challenges andopportunities in the industry.

Nova Scotia could be describedas “the land of milk and honey,”Melvin said, as far as climate andthe province’s ability to support adiverse agricultural sector goes.

“Still, as most of you know, someof our sectors have struggled withsignificant challenges.”

Melvin said, in 1991, 14.5 per centof the food consumed in theprovince was produced here. In2006, that’s dropped to just 8.4 percent.

“That’s a dramatic decrease, andshows you there are more imports.”

PAINFUL FOR VARIOUS SECTORSIn 100 years, Nova Scotian agricul-ture has changed from half the pop-ulation growing for its own needsand a small, local market, to specifying produc-tion in commodity areas for export. “New agri-culture”, from about 2000, looks at that globalmarket and is now pushing producers back intosmall environmental footprints, local productionand processing.

“Some of these changes have been verypainful for various sectors,” Melvin said, point-ing to the closures of the Avon Foods, Maple

Leaf and Eastern Protein plants here in theValley in the last few years and retail consolida-tion to just a few major grocery chains. On theother hand, there is an opportunity for smalleroperations, such as Somerset’s MeadowbrookMeats, to grow, process and market their owngoods.

“Major retailers have ‘cottoned on’ to thistrend, and they do now want to get in and havea ‘buy local’ place in the market. We have amajor opportunity to get in on this.”

Producers and processors are also facingwildly fluctuating costs - mostly upwards, with

oil-based fertilizers, transportationcosts for feed, barn heating and landmanagement hikes to contend with.Melvin said there is Nova Scotian sci-ence for energy alternatives, and theprovince’s water resources and climatewill be “buffers” in the long run.

World population will hit nine billionby 2050, a 33 per cent increase fromtoday, and “many countries are alreadyputting tariffs on what were exportcrops to keep food for their own peo-ple.”

Throw in the present world financialcrisis, which, in agriculture, means apulling back of investment in futuresmarkets for things like corn - down 50per cent since fall; and there is anopportunity to invest in local agricul-ture: “things people can see right here.

“The agricultural industry is an important fac-tor in rural Nova Scotia, where there may not bethe economic activity there is elsewhere. Therehave been some tough challenges in the past 20years, but we will see opportunity in the nextfive years, and the next 20 years. “Stay tunedand involved in agriculture.”

- The Kings County Register

Change, challenge aheadfor N.S. agriculture

FACT BOXThe Nova ScotiaFederation ofAgriculture formed in1895, and nowrepresents 90 percent of the province’sagriculturalproduction through20 commoditygroups, with over1,800 members.

Farm and foodfacts:• N.S. agriculture

generates $500million at the farmgate

• 10,000 direct,full-time jobs and4,000 more inprocessing andsupply depend onthe industry

• $75 million inprovincial taxes and$85 million infederal taxes comefrom agriculturalbusiness

• Mink fur and wildblueberries areamong NovaScotia’s top exports

• 92 per cent offarm-relatedspending is done inNova Scotia

Richard Melvin,president of theNova Scotia Federation ofAgriculture.

BY Sara KeddyNovaNewsNow.com

Winter is a slow time for a local farm sup-ply business like Sissiboo Farm Suppliesin Weymouth, a seasonal cycle that coin-cides with the nearby mink industry.

Sissiboo Farm Supplies office managerVictoria Brooks says January andFebruary are quiet months when thereare only four or five employees at thebusiness.

“It’s normal for this time of year,”Brooks said. “Mink ranchers are notbuilding, but planning for the next minkcycle.”

Brooks said mink ranchers are contin-ually testing for Aleutian Disease and get-ting the herds ready for breeding,planned for early March.

“In mink ranching, a cycle is one year,”she said. “The construction season isfrom March to December and we nor-mally employ 17 or 18 people during thattime.” Sissiboo Farm Supplies andSissiboo Home Hardware, owned byRandy Sabine, are a division of SissibooInvestments and, according to Brooks,are parts of the big picture in the minkindustry.

Sissiboo Home Hardware sold wiremesh to mink ranchers for years duringthe construction season, but SissibooFarms Supply grew out of a need for pre-fabricated mink boxes.

Farmers needed a more efficient wayto construct mink pens or barns andRandy Sabine offered this service as well,Brooks said.

2007 A PEAK YEARWith a crew of one, the farm supply busi-ness began in 2000 in the building thatnow houses Sissiboo Landing. It latermoved to its current location behind theTrading Post in 2005 where a crew of 22was employed in 2007.

For Sissiboo Farm Supplies, 2007 wasa peak year as it was a major supplier forthe start-up of a mink industry inNewfoundland.

“Farming products to help your busi-ness grow” is Sissiboo Farm Suppliesmission statement “and our goal is tohelp the mink ranchers reach their

goals,” Brooks said.All the essentials such as cages, boxes,

green wood, wire, pelting equipment,steel roofing, watering systems, trusses,catching mitts and cleaning suppliesneeded to operate a mink ranch could bepurchased or ordered in.

“The demand for these materials frommink ranchers in the Atlantic Provincescontinued to be strong,” Brooks said.“However, Aleutian Disease struckNewfoundland in 2008 and the marketstalled in that province.”

Although Sissiboo Farm Supplies hascontinued to serve customers in otherprovinces, it’s the local ranchers that relyheavily upon the business for the initialstart-up and yearly operation of theirranches.

New Tusket contract farmer Terry Marrsaid that most of the materials used tobuild and operate his mink pens havecome from Sissiboo Farm Supplies.

INDUSTRY VITAL TO LOCAL ECONOMY“When I first started in 2004, the lumbercame from Lewis Sawmill and the truss-es came from Joint Truss,” Marr said.“These two businesses have since shutdown.

“Two years ago I expanded and every-thing except the lumber came fromSissiboo Farm Supplies,” he added.

“The mink industry is vital to our localeconomy and Sissiboo Farms is a much-

needed service in this area for minkranchers.”

According to local rancher HazenPrime, 80 per cent of Nova Scotia’s minkis being produced in the southwesternpart of the province with a yield of overone million pelts annually, and that num-ber is growing.

Along with supplying construction,handling and cleaning materials for mink,rabbit and equine farmers, Sissiboo FarmSupplies is involved in research anddevelopment initiatives as they look fornew products.

“Not only have we have been effectivein introducing new technologies toimprove mink farming,” Brooks said,“Sissiboo Farm Supplies is in the devel-opmental stages of a product to dealwith solid waste management.”

A recently installed computerizednumerical cutting machine, known asCNC, provides services for a number ofbusinesses requiring the cutting of woodand plastic products.

Brooks said they are one of a numberof mid-size employers in the Weymouthand added, “this kind of employmentdiversity is much better for a small com-munity.”

Although Sissiboo Farm Supplies is adiverse business, the current globaleconomy will impact them through theupcoming mink pelt sales, Brooks said.

“The first North American fur sale wasFeb. 17 in Toronto and then in Seattle,Washington March 7,” she said. “Thesales in Europe were down 25-30 percent, so we’ll wait and see.”

Farm supply business experiencing ‘quiet’ cycle

Sissiboo Farm Supplies employee DeanGosson holds up the wire he has cut thatwill be used to build a mink cage.Karla Kelly photos

Sissiboo Farm Supplies office managerVictoria Brooks points out on the comput-er where European fur sales took placethis winter.

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l AGRICULTURE 29

BY Karla Kelly

Regional Tourism Authority,Destination Southwest NovaAssociation, will join forcesonce again with the tourismindustry and operators byoffering an opportunity tomarket themselves to inter-national/national buyers.Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) isCanada’s premier annualinternational tourism indus-try marketplace and takesplace May 9–13 in Calgary,Alberta.

RENDEZ-VOUS CANADA’SPRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES: • To provide an efficient

opportunity for

international buyers tomeet suppliers ofCanadian tourismproducts, services andinformation in one placeannually for four days ofprogrammed business;

• To increase the awarenessin international targetmarkets of Canada as afirst-class internationaltravel destination;

• To increase the range andnumber of internationallycompetitive new Can-adian products,services and packagesoffered for sale;

• To provide an opportunity

to inform the tourismindustry — bothinternational and Canadian— of Canada’sinternational marketingactivities and plans.

Rendez-vous Canada is acontract marketplace. Thekey to the success ofRendez-vous Canada is theprogram of pre-scheduled,computerized, 12-minuteappointments that bringstogether buyers, sellers andDMOs over a four-day period.Approximately 21,000appointments are pre-sched-uled.

DSWNA will create aSouthwest Nova Scotia desti-nation lure kit thatincludes a CD com-prised of regionaltravel info, attrac-tions, events and anopportunity foraccommodations tomarket themselves tobuyers as a literaturepartner, which is:Literature Partner -cost to participate$250 (plus taxes)

Inclusion ofpresentation in

CD/DVD distributed to allbuyers that DSWNS meets atthe conference

Distribution of brochure/literature/rate card duringconference and in follow-updirect mail package

Exclusive access to buyers’mailing list and contact infor-mation.

The deadline to participateis April 22, 2009. For moreinformation, contact Liz BarryMorine, Director of Marketingand Sales. She can bereached at 902-679-8021 orby e-mail at [email protected].

30 BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

ConstituencyOffice

Honourable Mark ParentMLA for Kings North

Our new office is at401 Main Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia

Canada B4N 1K7Telephone 902-678-2730 Fax 902-678-4236

[email protected] 3570

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A proposal to start a commu-nity market that would pro-mote buying local goods is‘taking off like crazy,’ saysorganizer Cindy Embree.

A brainchild of ShelburneCounty Women’s Fishnet,organizers held public meet-ings recently to gather inputand suggestions on the idea.

“I can see this growing,”Embree said. “There’s a lot ofsupport in the community. Wehave four suggestionsalready on possible loca-

tions.”Gardening plants and

houseplants, local produceand seafood and arts andcrafts are among the goodsand wares thatcould be sold at acommunity market,Embree said.

With uncon-trolled access onthe 103 Highway inthree communities as it pass-es through Shelburne County(Clyde River, Jordan River,Sable River), Embree saysthat alone offers an excellentretail opportunity.

“I can see us developing aSable River market,” she said.“We would love to see mar-kets in every community.”

Before any decisions aremade, Embreesaid organizerswould like com-munity input onthe idea.

“We want tobrainstorm like

crazy with a big, open com-munity meeting,” she said.“We’re reaching out to anyorganization that wants tohelp us. We’re inviting every-one to get involved.”

What scope a communitymarket could cover, possiblelocations, publicity and pro-motion, what licenses wouldbe needed and food-handlingregulations are among thetopics being discussed.

Anyone wanting moreinformation can contactEmbree at 656-2793, or AliceLloyd at 874-1858.

“We’re excited to think thecommunity will get togetherand meet up at locations toenjoy music, coffee and foodwhile selling local wares,”Embree said.

- The Coast Guard

Roadside market idea ‘taking off like crazy’

Southwest Nova Scotia’s tourism industryjoins forces for Rendez-vous 2009

“I can see thisgrowing.”

BY Kathy JohnsonNovaNewsNow.com


Real Estate

The real estate market mightbe taking a hit in some majorcentres across the countryand south of the border, butin Atlantic Canada, and par-ticularly the Valley, that isn’tthe trend.

Eastern Kings Chamber ofCommerce President GaryMorse, a realtor with RoyalLePage Atlantic, owner ofMorse Construction andmember of the CanadianReal Estate Associationboard of directors, says thaton average, what is going onacross Canada in the realestate market doesn’t reflectwhat’s going on here. Whenlooking at Canada as awhole, unit sales are downabout 11 per cent over thesame time last year, but thelocal market dropped lessthan half a percentage point.

If sellers are hesitantbecause prices are droppingand buyers are hesitatingwaiting for a better deal, thetrend indicates that neitheris happening in the localmarket and prices will prob-ably remain static for theforeseeable future. If any-thing, prices in the local mar-ket took a bit of an upswingfrom June 2008 to the pres-ent.

NOBODY HAS A CRYSTAL BALLFrom a Nova Scotia perspec-tive, Morse said the statisticshe has received from theCanadian Real EstateAssociation and the CanadaMortgage and Housing

Corporation indicate thatprices should remain prettymuch as they are over thenext couple of years.However, he points out thatnobody has a crystal ball.

“The trend line indicatesthat we won’t see much of achange in pricing,” Morsesaid. “It’s important to pointout we tend to hear theworse stories across thecountry. You don’t hear thegood stories.”

Morse said we don’t tendto see big swings in the mar-ket in the Valley like in thebigger centres across thecountry. As a matter of fact,across the province andacross Atlantic Canada, saleshave been positive.

“It’s not in Atlantic Canadathat we’re being hit by fallingprices or falling sales,” hesaid.

As of the end of 2008,Morse said inventories areup over the previous year,but that comes as a result ofhaving more listings thansales. You often hear of themarket being described as a“buyer’s” or a “seller’s” mar-

ket, but there is a balancedmarket in the Valley withoutany distinct advantages ordisadvantages for buyers orsellers. The region had beenin a seller’s market for thepast couple of years wherepeople were getting moremoney for their properties.

Morse said, to someextent, what is happeningwith the federal economicstimulus package wouldprobably have some impacton the actual results of thereal estate market, but wecan only look at history andthe trends when it comes toforecasting what is to come.

NO ADVANTAGE TO WAITON BORROWINGThe fact that sales are a biton the slow side in someareas probably has more todo with the attitudes ofpotential buyers who arehearing more of the negativestories than the positivesones. From a buyer’s per-spective, interest rates areas low as they’ve been indecades, if not ever, andthere is no advantage to waitto borrow.

Another incentive to buy ahome is, as part of the feder-al economic stimulus pack-age, if the legislation isapproved, people will beallowed to withdraw morefrom RRSPs for the purposeof buying a house than in thepast.

You used to be able towithdraw $20,000, but thatis likely going to increase to$25,000. Morse said it wasthe Canadian Real EstateAssociation that first lobbied

the federal government toput the Home Buyer’s Plan inplace and it was the associa-tion that lobbied for the pro-posed increase. If approved,it would be the first increasesince the program wasestablished.

Also as part of the pro-posed federal economicstimulus package, first-timehomebuyers could qualify fora personal tax credit of up to$750.

NOT A BAD TIME TO CONSIDER BUILDING, TOOIn regard to his constructioncompany, Morse said thingshave been a little slowerthan usual and people aren’ttalking about building asmuch. It’s not a bad time toconsider building, though,because material priceshave stabilized and interestrates are low. It’s not a badtime to consider renovationseither, because if proposedfederal legislation passes,renovations completed thisyear will be eligible for up to$1,350 in federal tax relief.

There have been some joblosses in the area, but unem-ployment rates as of the endof January show that theemployment situation in theValley region is still strongerthan it was a few years ago.

Because the housing mar-ket, construction and resaleis such a significant compo-nent of the economy, it alonecan have a considerableimpact on how well theeconomy fares as a whole.

- The Kings CountyAdvertiser

Valley real estate market holding itsown despite tough times elsewhere

Gary Morse.

BY Kirk StarrattNovaNewsNow.com

Forestry2009 SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESSFORECAST PAGE 32

Poor economy fells Comeau Lumber

Comeau Lumber of Meteghan hasbecome a victim of the weakening busi-ness climate. Layoff notices have beenissued and the company, which wasestablished in 1906, has closed its doorsindefinitely.

The closure affects close to 50 peo-ple, said president and general managerGreg Shay.

“We’re just the latest victim in anoth-er miserable forest industry downturn,”he said.

Shay took over the business in 1994

from Victor Comeau.The company built a solid reputation

over the past century, producing qualityconstruction grade lumber for woodframing, custom-built wooden packag-ing materials for the fishing industry andpaper-quality wood chips that wereused by the pulp and paper industry intheir production process.

It also administered, funded and sup-ported silviculture programs aimed atprivate woodlot owners to help themwith sound management of their privatewoodlots.


Y3598644 3564

443

Leo Glavine, MLAKings West765-4083

I want to commend the Business in SouthwesternNova Scotia for their professional and personal contribution to our communities.

GM Greg Shay: “We’re just the latest vic-tim in another miserable forest industrydownturn.”

BY Carla AllenNovaNewsNow.com

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