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January 16, 2020

Arts District Design Competition Launches

Architectural teams from around the globe are invited to participate in a design competition for a new provincial art gallery. The kickoff of an international design competition represents a big step toward a new art gallery for all Nova Scotians, which will be part of a new arts district on the Halifax Waterfront. “We are embarking on an exciting phase of the project to build Nova Scotia’s new waterfront art gallery and public space,” said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister, Leo Glavine. “Our commitment speaks to the important contributions the arts make to our communities and to our economy.” The design competition, which is the first of its magnitude for the province, is expected to last six months and will take place in two stages. In summer 2020, during the final stage of the competition, the field will be narrowed to three design teams before a qualified jury selects the…
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January 31, 2020

Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative – January, 2020

Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative – January, 2020

Announcement Planned for Next Week In our December update we reported that the Develop Nova Scotia team had several negotiated agreements to be signed early in January and were negotiating several more.  Our plan was to make announcements as quickly as possible and we have been working hard to make that happen.  We’re planning to make that announcement in the first week of February. In the meantime, we’re pleased to let you know we now have negotiated agreements with four Internet Service Providers which will include projects in multiple communities located in almost every zone across Nova Scotia.  We hope to announce all associated projects next week and are currently working on lining up the schedules of all those required to attend and confirming numbers and details for release. We’ll send all of the detail released in another stakeholder update the day of the announcement.  Our plan is to follow-up with community-focused events for the general public…
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January 16, 2020

Arts District Design Competition Launches

Arts District Design Competition Launches

Architectural teams from around the globe are invited to participate in a design competition for a new provincial art gallery. The kickoff of an international design competition represents a big step toward a new art gallery for all Nova Scotians, which will be part of a new arts district on the Halifax Waterfront. “We are embarking on an exciting phase of the project to build Nova Scotia’s new waterfront art gallery and public space,” said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister, Leo Glavine. “Our commitment speaks to the important contributions the arts make to our communities and to our economy.” The design competition, which is the first of its magnitude for the province, is expected to last six months and will take place in two stages. In summer 2020, during the final stage of the competition, the field will be narrowed to three design teams before a qualified jury selects the…
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December 19, 2019

Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative

Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative

As we move into the holiday season, we wanted to provide an update on where we are in our progress.  We know people are anxiously awaiting substantive information and we will soon be able to share project announcements. We now have negotiated agreements with two Internet Service Providers covering projects in a number of rural communities, which are in process of being signed.  We expect to have two more negotiated agreements signed early in the New Year. We also continue negotiating with additional parties as part of our first Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative Request for Proposals. We plan to make announcements in January 2020 that will provide detail with regard to which communities, how many potential connections, which providers, types of technology and funds invested from the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust, as well as additional funding leveraged from industry and other partners. Read more here.
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December 18, 2019

New Era for Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa

New Era for Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa

New private owners are planning significant upgrades to the Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa to create a year-round tourism destination. Besim Halef, Glenn Squires, both from Halifax and Bear River First Nation in Digby County have purchased the tourism landmark and will invest $6.9 million over five years in the property. Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc., based in Halifax, will manage the property on behalf of the partners. “This purchase is a tremendous opportunity for the community and the tourism sector,” said Business Minister Geoff MacLellan.  “Government should not be in the business of running Digby Pines. That is why we are pleased to have private sector investors committed to reviving this important asset.” Government sold the property to the partnership group for $1 million.  During the sale’s due diligence phase, engineers discovered the main building needed substantial mechanical, electrical and structural upgrades. The province provided $1 million credit on…
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November 13, 2019

Rural Placemaking Pitch Competition

Rural Placemaking Pitch Competition

Our finalists brought their A-game to our Rural Placemaking Pitch Competition. The three projects presented were Fibre Alley in Amherst, The Public Backyard Project in Bridgewater, and Open-Air Front Porch in West Hants. The creativity and community spirit demonstrated by all teams was remarkable, but there could only be one winner. Special thanks to our diverse panel of judges for taking part. Congratulations to Team Amherst for winning the $10,000 prize and in-kind support from Develop Nova Scotia. We can’t wait to work with you to bring Fibre Alley to life! Highlights from Team Amherst’s Pitch: Amherst just might be the coziest town in Nova Scotia.  Home to pubs, cafes and an authentic English tea room, visitors enjoy horse-drawn carriage tours through the tree-lined streets of old Victorian neighbourhoods. But Amherst is BEST known as the home to the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival (now in its 13th year), the studio…
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DEANs
October 10, 2019

Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative – September/October 2019

Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative – September/October 2019

Over the past couple of months, we’ve been out on the road hosting drop-in community events to talk about the Internet projects being completed through the previously announced federal Connect to Innovate (CTI) program. During these events, we’ve also had some meaningful conversations about our plans to build a better connected Nova Scotia, talked about the process we’ve developed, and the progress we’ve made so far. We took time to outline the next steps and investments needed to deliver high-speed Internet to more than 95% of Nova Scotians. We spoke with nearly 150 residents of the communities of Bakers Settlement, Hemsford Forest, Hemsford, Greenfield, Middlefield, Pleasant River, Maitland Bridge, and Scots Bay.  Local MLAs and municipal representatives joined us. Read more here.  
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August 29, 2019

Renovations at Fisherman’s Cove to Boost Tourism

Renovations at Fisherman’s Cove to Boost Tourism

Local economy to benefit from a new dock and boardwalk that will create additional tourism experiences Investing in community infrastructure is essential to create jobs, increase tourism and contribute to quality of life in rural areas across Nova Scotia. To this end, the Fisherman’s Cove Development Association is working to build a dock that will be open to the public in order to attract new visitors to the historical fishing village. Thanks to a commitment from the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia through Develop Nova Scotia and Halifax Regional Municipality, the community is proceeding with plans that will boost tourism in the area and grow the local economy. The project will include the construction of a dock and boardwalk where seafaring visitors will be able to safely moor their boats and explore Fisherman’s Cove. The new infrastructure will also open up new opportunities for tourists to explore…
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April 19, 2019

High Speed Internet Pre-Qualified

High Speed Internet Pre-Qualified

10 Organizations Pre-qualified to Address High-Speed Internet in Nova Scotia Improving rural high-speed internet service is a priority. Having a strong internet network will help our province build places where businesses and people flourish. In 2018, the government placed $193 million in an internet funding trust to help connect more communities, homes and businesses across the province. Develop Nova Scotia is responsible for developing and implementing a strategy to bring reliable, high-speed internet to rural Nova Scotia. Develop Nova Scotia launched the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative in December 2018 when we announced our process to pre-qualify organizations to bid on projects across the province. This process closed on March 13th, 2019 and 11 submissions were received. Submissions were evaluated for financial capacity, human resources and experience to build, maintain, grow and evolve the networks. Ten organizations have been qualified and include a mix of small and large companies, as…
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December 13, 2018

High Speed Internet Qualification

High Speed Internet Qualification

DEVELOP NOVA SCOTIA–Process To Qualify Begins for Rural Internet Providers Develop Nova Scotia has launched the first phase of the process to find qualified service providers to enhance and extend reliable, high-speed internet across the province in rural areas. As part of the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, the Crown corporation is inviting organizations interested in building, managing, and maintaining high-speed internet networks to become pre-qualified to bid on network solutions. “This is an important next step in delivering improved internet service for rural Nova Scotia,” said Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Business. “This is an investment in strategic economic infrastructure that is critical to building stronger communities and a stronger economy.” Earlier this year the government placed $193 million in an internet funding trust to help connect more communities, homes and businesses across the province. That funding commitment was one of the largest investments per capita by any province. Potential…
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Man seated with laptop on boardwalk
July 11, 2018
Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative

New Name, Mandate for Waterfront Development

New Name, Mandate for Waterfront Development

Waterfront Development Corp. is getting a new mandate to help drive strategic economic development across Nova Scotia. The Crown corporation will now be called Develop Nova Scotia with province-wide responsibility for strategic economic infrastructure and property. Develop Nova Scotia will work closely with partners, stakeholders and industry to create projects that contribute to economic growth in the province. It will also develop and manage an implementation plan to expand high-speed internet in rural Nova Scotia in connection with the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust. “We recognize Waterfront Development’s inherent strengths in project management and its strong relationships with rural communities,” said Geoff MacLellan, Minister of Business. “Now, as Develop Nova Scotia, its mandate will include the entire province, working closely with all of our municipalities to help us grow our economy in strong, vibrant communities.” “Most Nova Scotians recognize we live in a wonderful place, never far from the water’s…
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December 12, 2017

Sail Training International Mission Award

Sail Training International Mission Award

Nova Scotia’s Tall Ships event was recently recognized with the first Sail Training International Mission Award, given at the discretion of the Board of Trustees to any group or individual who achieves or supports an exceptional achievement in support of the mission of sail training. Sail Training International (STI) chairman Doug Prothero presented the award to Waterfront Development for their work with project partners on Msit No’Kmaq: All My Relations. This youth development and skills-building initiative focused on Indigenous Canadians during RDV 2017 Tall Ships Regatta. The project provided the opportunity for 45 Indigenous young people, between the ages of 16 and 24 from across Canada, to sail on the final race leg from Halifax to France on board tall ship Gulden Leeuw. “Sometimes you have to tell one story in order to tell another. When we planted the seed of the idea we could not have imagined how far Waterfront…
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