Turbine Showcase 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ::

Mon at 10:58pm

Turbine has scheduled the 9th annual Atlantic Showcase of fall fashion, jewellery, and leather handbags, all designed by Canadian fashion designer, Lisa Drader-Murphy, for 7:00 pm, Friday November 6th at the World Trade Convention Centre, Halifax Nova Scotia.

CTV’s Liz Rigney will host the evening presenting a live performance by Mary Stewart and her band, canapés, silent auction, a shopping party, and of course the unveiling of 300+ new pieces from Turbine’s Fall Collections.

Additional highlights include a look at the recent works of special guest, Louanna Murphy, the winner of “Off The Cuff”, Argyle Fine Art’s fashion design competition for which Lisa served as a judge. As well, celebrity guest models including award winning journalist, Eleanor Beaton and Barb Stegemann, author of 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen, will grace our runway.

The net proceeds from ticket sales and all proceeds from a silent Auction of Regional fine art and craft at this annual event are donated to various women’s charities via The Turbine Fund and this year we are pleased to benefit SHYM; Supportive Housing for Young Mothers.

Tickets are $50 each and a limited number of tables seating 8 are available. Ask us about corporate incentives and advertising opportunities.

Tickets may be purchased in person at the Turbine Boutique at 1475 Lower Water Street at Bishop’s Landing, by calling 902.429.0986, or by emailing Julie at julie@turbine.ca. To request a MEDIA PASS, please email office@turbine.ca. Last year we sold out early so don’t hesitate to purchase or reserve your tickets today!
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www.shym.ca
www.marystewartmusic.com
www.youtube.com/user/TurbineDesign
www.turbine.ca
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Province, HRM Announce Next Phase of Convention Centre Proposal

Today at 2:58pm

(Thursday, October 1, 2009) – The Province and Halifax Regional Municipality have invited the Rank Group to submit a detailed proposal to develop a new convention centre in Halifax.

"Development of a new convention centre is a major undertaking for both HRM and Province," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "We are taking a measured approach to ensure this is the right project and one that Nova Scotians can afford.

"This is an important step forward in that process and will provide the proposed project details we need to make an informed decision."

The Rank Group was selected as the preferred proponent earlier this year through an expression of interest process. A joint team from the Province and HRM has developed detailed project requirements for the new convention centre for the request for proposal. In its proposal, Rank will be required to outline a design and facility management plan, financing plan, and price.

"I am pleased that we are taking this positive step together toward the development of a new convention centre that will assist in driving the economy of this region, and indeed, the Province," said Peter Kelly, Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality. "We have shared interest in ensuring we have a solid proposal that balances affordability with the ability to attract larger conferences to the region."

The proposal is due in February. The Province and HRM have hired a consultant to prepare an independent detailed cost estimate to compare with the Rank proposal. The information gathered through both proposals will be used to make a final decision on whether the project will proceed.

The convention centre project, as proposed, fully conforms with the view planes and Citadel ramparts view protection under HRM planning regulations as they have existed for more than 30 years, and does not violate any other existing municipal polices or regulations regarding view planes.

"We will not be part of any project that impinges on protected view planes," said Mr. Estabrooks.

As the proposals are being developed, detailed estimates of economic benefits will be prepared and discussions will continue among all three levels of government about cost sharing for the project. Similar projects in other parts of the country have cost between $100 million and $200 million.

A final decision on whether a new convention centre will be constructed in Halifax is not expected until after March.

Contacts:
Cathy MacIsaac
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
902-424-8978
E-mail: maciscl@gov.ns.ca
Mayor Peter Kelly
Halifax Regional Municipality
902-490-4010

The Current Economy …. & Roddie Mac

THE TIME TO ACT ON THE ECONOMY IS NOW: MCNEIL

Today at 1:31pm

(Halifax, NS) Liberal leader Stephen McNeil is today criticizing Rodney MacDonald for lacking an economic plan and is insisting that the Nova Scotia economy has already begun to feel the effects of the global financial crisis. 

“Nova Scotians can’t afford to wait any longer for this government to act decisively,” explains McNeil. “Rodney MacDonald has said this province won’t feel the effects of a downturn for six to eight months. This proves how out of touch he really is.”

McNeil points out that several major Nova Scotia companies are already suffering due to worldwide economic decline – a fact that has clearly eluded MacDonald. 

“This government has expertly handcuffed our province’s economic growth for nearly a decade,” said McNeil. “The MacDonald-led Conservatives completely failed to manage the economy during what were relatively good times, leaving Nova Scotia with absolutely no financial flexibility to deal with an impending downturn.”

“The fact is that from 2002 to 2006, Nova Scotia’s economic growth was the worst in the country – 10th out of 10 provinces,” reminded the Liberal leader. 

McNeil noted that he hosted a small business roundtable earlier on Wednesday, where Nova Scotia-made jobs led the agenda. The Liberal leader also plans on hosting a series of economic roundtables throughout the province in the coming weeks and months.

“Small business is the strength of any economy and that certainly holds true for this province,” contends McNeil. “Having this open dialogue with the business community will help us move the economy of Nova Scotia forward instead of simply waiting for a recession as Rodney would have us do.” 

“While the United States is now coping with the effects of poor management at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Nova Scotia economy has been long suffering due to the repeated failures of Roddie Mac.”

Premier’s Priorities Are Mixed Up

Monday, September 22, 2008 at 11:39am

It wasn’t too long ago that Rodney MacDonald was managing the Nova Scotia campaign of a federal Conservative leadership hopeful named Stephen Harper. While one soon became premier of this province and the other became Canada’s 22nd prime minister, their questionable leadership has more often than not been a detriment to Nova Scotia. 

The demise of the Atlantic accord gave us our first glimpse at the type of leadership brandished by the Harper-MacDonald team. Premier MacDonald threw Nova Scotians and MP Bill Casey under the bus in order to cater to Prime Minister Harper’s demands. Stephen Harper broke his word to Nova Scotians, and instead of demonstrating leadership by standing up for his province Rodney backed up the prime minister.

These days, it appears the old team is back together again. After a politically motivated Harper government yanked two coast guard vessels from our waters, the premier “defended” Nova Scotians by writing the prime minister a letter. A partisan political decision costs our local economy 124 jobs and an estimated $12 million, and the premier couldn’t even place a telephone call to his close personal friend?

The Harper-led federal Conservatives then attempted unsuccessfully to stop a provincial committee from exploring the loss of those same coast guard jobs last week. That provincial committee moved to condemn the transfer of the icebreakers and once again, the MacDonald government let Nova Scotians down. All three members of the premier’s caucus present voted in favour of moving the ships to Newfoundland; more to the point, they voted in accordance to the prime minister’s wishes without the slightest regard for their own province.

Throughout this federal election campaign, Premier MacDonald has repeatedly and purposely misled Nova Scotians by echoing Stephen Harper’s inaccurate rhetoric around the Green Shift. Whether from MacDonald or Harper, the people of this province are still not hearing about the federal Conservatives’ plan to put a price on carbon.

Every party and every leader, including Stephen Harper, will be putting a price on carbon in this country. However, only one leader plans to give that money back to Canadians, and that leader is Stephane Dion.

Under the leadership of Rodney MacDonald, Nova Scotians are coping with some of the highest gas prices in the country, thanks to a failed attempt at regulation. The premier’s political stubbornness and absolute refusal to admit his mistake with regulation is costing the public millions of dollars. We are being gouged daily at the pumps, and the only way to stop the suffering is by scrapping gas regulation immediately.

Liberals have been calling for the end of gas regulation since its inception; the premier refuses to listen.

A leader recognizes his mistakes and acts decisively to correct them. Premier MacDonald has failed on both counts.

Under the leadership of Rodney MacDonald, Nova Scotians are facing a fifth power rate increase in seven years and the indication that volatile electricity prices will only continue to skyrocket. A decade of Conservative neglect has left this province entirely addicted to imported fossil fuels and dirty coal. While the rest of the world is moving to renewable green energies, the premier lacks the vision to move Nova Scotia Power in that direction.

A leader has vision and a viable plan to secure a prosperous future for his constituents. Premier MacDonald has failed on both counts.

Without energy security, the future for Nova Scotia appears bleak. Green energy can provide that security and is the only way to stabilize the ever-increasing price of electricity.

Nova Scotia has tremendous assets in wind, tidal and solar power generation, but Premier MacDonald’s indifference is allowing those opportunities to go to waste. In our own backyard, other provinces have begun generating renewable energy that Nova Scotia simply can not take advantage of. The premier has allowed this province to become an energy island with no means to draw green power from regional sources.

The premier shouldn’t be acting like he’s still Stephen Harper’s campaign manager here in Nova Scotia; he should be acting like a leader by standing up for Nova Scotians.