Green Beacon Blog

Wondering what to do … come to the Dieu!

The Main-A-Dieu Community Development Association in partnership with the C@P Society of Cape Breton are hosting a Family C@P day at the Coastal Discovery Centre on Thursday, July 15th.

Festivities begin at 11:00am and include free hot-dogs and drinks, computer access and lots of games with prizes to be won!

For more information please call 902-733-2653

Celtic Colours is coming to Main-A-Dieu

I know this is still a ways away, but it is exciting none the less! October 15th Main-A-Dieu will hosting an evening of delicious Seafood Chowder at the Centre followed by a Celtic Colours Concert to be held at the Immaculate Conception Parish.

Throughout the summer planning and preparation will commence for the event, but we do need Volunteers to help in any way they can. If you are interested in lending a hand please contact Amanda McDougall at reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca or call 733-2258.

Follow the link below to check out our event posting and the many others taking place throughout our lovely island!

http://www.celtic-colours.com/the-latest-news/latest-news/406-celtic-colours-international-festival-announces-line-up-for-2010.html

Summer Employment for students

The Main-A-Dieu Community Development Association is now accepting applications for the position of Progamme Assistant at the Coastal Discovery Centre in Main-A-Dieu. Applicants must be returning to school in the fall and be between the ages of 15 and 30 to qualify for the position.

If interested please email Amanda McDougall at reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca prior to June 17th.

What’s New in the Dieu …

The New Year brings with it new and exciting adventures and opportunities. The Main-A-Dieu Development Association has lots on the go including the upcoming ‘Pancake Breakfast’ fundraiser to be held Saturday February 6th at the Centre. Tickets are now sold out and everyone is looking forward to a morning of great food and wonderful company!

The ‘Big Wave Cafe’ has been busy serving it’s delicious homemade soups, sweets and warm drinks. A perfect way to warm up on a cold winter’s day.

The ‘Freecycle’ program is also up and running with many interesting and useful treasures waiting to be found. If you have any household items (except electronics!) you were about to throw away … why not donate them to the ‘Freecycle’ program instead. Items are free for the taking and donations are always welcomed.

We are very fortunate to have Dr. Pauline Mesher and her ‘Learning Support Program’ every Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Centre. Parents and children are taught to work together to improve study habits.

For all those who resolved a healthier and more fit New Year the Centre is the place to go! Plans are underway to set up an exercise room. Donations of exercise equipment are always welcomed.

Don’t forget, the Centre has many other wonderful programs and services such as weekly crafts, Tai Chi classes, the C@P site and of course the Main-A-Dieu Library.

Insulation reduces heat loss and energy costs

If you’re like most visitors to the Coastal Discovery Centre, you’ve noticed a draft in the north end of the building. That’s an understatement! It isn’t rare to arrive at the Centre on a winter morning and find piles of snow in the hallway, having blown in through the gaps around the backdoors. Now, thanks to a development grant from ECBC, we can finally remove the duct tape and towels that serve as make-shift weather stripping. The doors are being replaced with an enclosed entryway comprised of two sets of double doors. Read more»

Solar hot water system reduces total energy costs by 30%

The majority of hot water use is the Big Wave Café’s dishwasher – up to 400 Litres a day during the summer! So much, in fact, that the cost of heating water in tourist season nearly equals the cost of heating the entire building in the winter. The solar water-heating system will reduce this cost by at least 30% and as much as 60%.
Read more»

Five Year Plan & Sustainability Vision

CBCEDA: “How can Cape Breton County position itself in terms of its challenges and opportunities to best utilize and provide for its greatest asset – the people of Cape Breton County?” Here is our answer, a 5-year plan & sustainability vision entitled ‘Green Beacon, Bright Future: An experimental development model for the Coastal Discovery Centre’.  Read more»