Festival of lights returns to Confederation Landing in 2009

By Nicholas Oakes

CHARLOTTETOWN – The Festival of Lights will be held at Confederation Landing Park again in 2009, Charlottetown City Council decided in a unanimous decision Monday night.

The festival is set for July 1-4, 2009.

Earlier in the year, there was doubt as to where the festival would be held. Coun. Mitch Tweel says he was lead to believe the festival was to be held at the former Irving Oil tanker site.

“I told residents not to worry, and that the Festival of Lights would not be held at Confederation Landing Park,” Tweel said.

He’s unsure if residents were asked where they wanted the event held.

“I’m not sure if there was a consensus among the residents down there.”

Coun. Peter McCloskey says if there is to be a change of venue for the festival, it will be decided another year. He says other possible sites are hard to find.

“Confederation Landing Park is the only place in our that can hold a concert of that size.”

Talk of changing the site of the festival was sparked by resident’s concerns about noise and the safety of their property.

Mayor Clifford Lee says the format of the festival still isn’t perfect.

“We need an event that provides a positive entertainment product to the city without infringing on other residents.”

He says the business generated from the festival does not outweigh resident’s concerns.

“I would never say that the economic spinoff is worth annoying residents. That would be irresponsible.”

There will be guidelines and rules in place for the festival next year, says Coun. Kim Devine. She believes the event has been a success.

“Tourism Charlottetown has a very successful event on its hands.”

P.E.I. will not feel the brunt of economic storm

By Nicholas Oakes

When it comes to the Canadian recession, P.E.I. is a small player, an economic expert says.

Alan Buchanan, a strategic enrollment management consultant with Holland College, said because P.E.I. is heavily dependant on government expenditure, the recession’s effects have been lessened and delayed on P.E.I.

Don Wagner, a business professor at UPEI, agrees.

P.E.I. is not feeling the impact of the financial crisis as much as the hard hit provinces of Ontario or Alberta, he said.

“We seem to be somewhat insulated from the brunt of the crisis.”

The definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters, three-month periods, of falling gross domestic product, which measures the value of economic output in a country or province, Wagner said.

Information for P.E.I. is not yet available to determine whether or not we’re in a recession, he said.

However, there are steps the government will have to do to deal with the current financial uncertainty, Buchanan said.

“The province will have to abandon notions of a balanced budget.”

Wagner said governments tend to deal with economic trouble in the same way.

“Conventional wisdom says that when the economy falters, the government should increase spending to kick-start the economy and to create a willingness to invest for the future.”

Ottawa has already made an honest attempt to kick-start the economy, he said.

“The federal government is certainly taking those steps, and much of its

spending is subject to the condition that provincial governments

contribute a share of the costs.”

Some would argue P.E.I. should dip into the federal pot at this time, but Wagner said it doesn’t have to do that.

“P.E.I.’s economic downturn, if any, is not as severe as that of the rest of the country.”

Georgetown getting a leg cut off: Mayor

By Nicholas Oakes

The Mayor of Georgetown is not going to let his school close without a fight but the superintendent of the Eastern School District says it will have to be a good one.

Georgetown Mayor Peter Llewellyn is fighting tooth and nail to keep Georgetown Elementary open, in spite of an Eastern School District report recommending its closure, along with 10 other schools.

If the school were to close it would be a major blow to Georgetown, he said.

“Health, education, and security are the three legs of a community. If you take one of those legs out you see a decrease in economic activity and in the retention of population.”

Llewellyn has asked for a judicial review in the P.E.I. Supreme Court into why the closure is being asked for.

“Because the report was so poorly done we don’t know if it is from an economic or education standpoint.”

Sandy MacDonald, superintendent of the Eastern School District, stands by the report, saying Georgetown Elementary is too small, having just shy of 100 students.

“What’s happening here is to properly deliver our curriculum we need a certain number of students. We settled on around 250 – 275 students.”

The report was released to deal with the third of Island students who are struggling academicaly, MacDonald said.

He said Georgetown will have to make a strong case to keep the school open.

“They would have to make a compelling argument to the board of trustees to keep the school open.”

Llewellyn has a hard time understanding why budget cuts should be at the school level when so much money is being spent on administration in the Eastern School District.

“When you do a review of a company you don’t say ‘you’re going to just look at the forklift driver,’ you look at everything.”

Through it all he still believes Georgetown elementary can be saved if residents continue to take a stand.

“What we have is a fundamental shift in how rural P.E.I. is acting. Rural P.E.I. is saying we don’t want the five per cent of the respect you’re giving us but an equal 50 – 50 split.”

The Eastern School District has not ruled out making changes to the report reflecting the financial hardship involved in keeping schools operating.

Cultural festival to be part of Canada games

By Nicholas Oakes

The 2009 Canada Summer Games are on P.E.I. from Aug. 15 – 29 and there is more involved than just sporting events.

A cultural festival showcasing various Island communities will take place over the two week span. Twelve days of the games will have one community spotlighted each day, for a total of 12 communities.

David Hennessey, the coordinator of ceremonies, protocol, and hospitality with the Canada Games, said the games committee will do the core programming for each day, which includes booking a hall and providing entertainment in each community.

The Cuisine Machine will also be on hand to provide free samples of a local recipe each day. The rest of it is up to the community, Hennessey said.

“We’re asking the community to supplement that to make it a full day event.”

He hopes a community can have their themed day while a sport is being contested.

“Hopefully we can make the schedule so it works out that way.”

Hennessey is very excited by the idea.

“(This is) a chance for P.E.I. to showcase its culture to the rest of Canada.”

One of the communities already confirmed as part of the festival is Georgetown.

Georgetown mayor Peter Llewellyn said the town plans on spotlighting the harbour, and showcasing the great impact shipbuilding has on the town.

The Canada Games has a normal return rate of 70 per cent for people who come to the games and Llewellyn hopes Georgetown can capitalize on that.

Canada Games looking for volunteers

By Nicholas Oakes

With the calendar rapidly moving closer to the opening of the 2009 Canada Games, organizers are looking for anyone and everyone who can volunteer to make the games happen.

The Canada Games are to be held Aug. 15 – 29 and there is a need for over 4,000 more volunteers to get the 6,000 needed for the games.

Jacob McInnis, the volunteer services coordinator for the games, said the commitment being asked of a volunteer is a minimum of 16 hours, spread over the two weeks of competition. No special skills are required to volunteer.

“We’re just looking for people period.”

Positions requiring volunteers include security, minor officials for sporting events, VIP hospitality, mascots, IT personnel, and media centre staff. There is also a need in a host of other areas, including people to sing the anthem, carry flags, and set-up events.

There is a possibility for meaniful experience in student’s area of study McInnis said.

“For university or college students it’s a great opportunity to get some experience in their field.”

Organizers will accept virtually anyone over the age of 14 who fills out an application. Volunteers will be placed based on their interests, where they wish to volunteer and what they would like to do.

Potential volunteers, 18 and older, are asked to obtain a clean police record check free of charge after completing an application, while volunteers 14 to 17 simply need a signed parental consent form.

David Hennessey is a coordinator of the Canada Games. He said most of the volunteers he has spoke to are motivated by the same basic principle.

“Ultimately, what has come back to me from the thousands of volunteers I’ve talked to over the years is they just want to be a part of it.”

There is also to be a large wrap-up party for volunteers once the games are completed.

Potential volunteers can register on-line at http://www.2009canadagames.ca.

Housing sector to remain stable on P.E.I.

By Nicholas Oakes

The effects of the worldwide recession will be felt by P.E.I.’s housing industry but only marginally, a local contractor says.

Larry Chappell, owner of Chappell Construction, said his company has yet to feel much impact on its business.

“We’re pricing as much as we have in years past.”

P.E.I. will see a decrease in new houses being built but the value of houses will likely not significantly decline, Chappell said.

“We’re so behind the rest of the country in the housing market. The same house here, in the Halifax area is pricing at $50,000 – $75,000 more.”

Gary Evans, a UPEI business professor, said the worst part of the recession will hit the Island six to eight months from now.

“The advantage of being on the bottom of the market already is that you will not see a substantial fall in housing prices within P.E.I.  High price homes will most certainly suffer, the middle of the road homes will see some drop, but not likely as substantial as large centres such as Toronto, Montreal.”

As for the recession, P.E.I. is being effected already, Evans said.

“The world is in a recession. P.E.I. is still on the planet.”

In the meantime the housing sector will just have to wait it out, he said.

“Not much they can do, except watch and see how it goes.”