Green Beacon Blog

A letter from the Dieu ….

THE MAIN-À-DIEU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
2886 Louis–Main-à-Dieu Rd., Main-à-Dieu, NS, B1C 1X5
Tel: (902) 733-2258 | Fax: (902) 733-2653
Email: reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca | Web: coastaldiscoverycentre.ca

The Honorable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

November 1, 2011

Dear Minister Lebel,

On behalf of the Main-à-Dieu and Area Community Development Association, I am writing to urge you to take urgent and effective action to remove the wreck of the gaining bulk carrier MV Miner from the shores of Scaterie Island, located just offshore our small fishing village and its pristine waters. When the vessel ran aground on the Island’s shoals on September 20, I fully anticipated such action in due course from your Department. The licensing of the craft, evidently unfit for towing by tug across the Atlantic, was after all a Federal decision in which the Provincial authorities had no say; in addition, the danger not only of an oil spillage or other toxic leaks but of the vessel’s disintegration at the hands of the sea posed a clear and present danger to the fragile marine environment on which our community’s economic wellbeing and social character overwhelmingly depends. The onus in preventing such a disaster, we all assumed, would fall primarily on the Federal Departments of Transport, the Environment, and Fisheries and Ocean.

Instead, the steps directed from Ottawa, amounting essentially to removing fuel from the wreck and verifying that it does not pose an imminent threat to other shipping, are, while minimally necessary, woefully insufficient to the task at hand. Indeed, with winter fast approaching and fall storm season already here, it is now the Provincial government that is paying a Dutch salvage company, Mammoet, to remove as much potentially hazardous chemical and other material remaining onboard. In our considered estimation, however, the potential for serious, sustained pollution and contamination can only be averted by the removal of the remaining structure of the ship.

Naturally, the most obvious responsibility for dealing with the consequences of the accident lies with the owners of the MV Miner. Unconscionably, however, the Federal Government issued its license for the vessel to be towed with no stipulation that the owners insure the vessel against mishap; nor did the Government ascertain the financial state of the company in the event legal action be required to compel and fund remedial measures. We now learn that the ‘company’ is a shell, about as structurally sound as the MV Miner itself, with no assets and located out of Canadian legal reach in the Marshall Islands.

In view of this glaring failure of Federal oversight of the licensing process, and in light of the clear Federal responsibility to protect the Canadian coastline from harm and pollution, I implore you to review your Department’s response to the crisis to date and to elaborate, in cooperation with all relevant levels of jurisdiction, an action plan commensurate to the scale of the crisis.

If it would help to expedite or facilitate the process of review, our Association would be happy to host, at your earliest convenience, an emergency strategy session here in the village for officials and experts from your and other relevant Departments. We also stand ready, at any time, to offer any information or assistance you may require.

Thank-you from the Dieu!

A big thank-you to everyone who came out last week and attended the Chowder Supper held at the Coastal Discovery Centre in Main-a-Dieu :)

Thank-you as well to the hard working volunteers who served the most delicious chowder I have had to date.

Also, thank-you to Celtic Colours for putting on another wonderful concert at the Immaculate Conception Church.

Fall has arrived and that means Celtic Colours is once again coming to Main-A-Dieu!

On Friday, October 14th Main-A-Dieu will be offering coastal treats for the belly and lively music that will have your feet tapping.

From 4:30pm – 6:30 pm there will be a Seafood Chowder and Ceilidh at the Coastal Discovery Centre in Main-A-Dieu. Tickets are $13.00 and includes fresh Main-A-Dieu Seafood Chowder, hearty rolls, homemade gingerbread and cream, tea and coffee.

Following supper will be the musical talents of Dan MacDonald, Paul MacDonald, Lloyd MacDonald Emily Smith and Rocky Shore at the Immaculate Conception Church across the road!

For more information on the event please contact Amanda McDougall at 902-733-2020 or email reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca

Concert information can be found at the following link:

http://celtic-colours.com/shows-menu/shows-friday-14/item/on-these-rocky-shores.html?category_id=205

Employment Opportunities

The Coastal Discovery Centre has two openings for the positions of Tourism and Hospitality Development Officers starting the beginning of September.

The Tourism and Hospitality Development Officers will research and develop new strategies to promote the Big Wave Café located in the Coastal Discovery Centre and implement new initiatives to attract tourists and local residents to the restaurant.

The position will involve activities designed to promote tourism in the Main-A-Dieu area. Participants will be given training on desktop publishing to ensure the development of skills necessary to promote the Coastal Discovery Centre through newsletter design, web design, and the preparation of promotional materials. Participants will also be provided training to work in the service industry via the Big Wave Café performing such tasks as food preparation, inventory, greeting customers, serving/preparing menu items and clean-up.

As these positions are funded through the Job Creation Partnership programme, there are stipulations of eligibility. To be eligible for participation in Job Creation Partnerships, you must be an unemployed individual as defined by Section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act. This means that you are an individual for whom:

• an unemployment benefit period has been established or has ended within the three years prior to the date of requesting assistance; or

• a benefit period that included a maternity or parental claim has been established within the five years prior to the date of requesting assistance, after which you remained out of the labour market in order to care for a newborn or newly adopted child and are now seeking to re-enter the labour force.

For more information on please contact Amanda McDougall at (902)733-2258 or email reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca

Poetry With a View 2011
Main-A-Dieu Coastal Discovery Centre

The Coastal Discovery Centre will be hosting a night of poetry on Friday, July 22nd.
Poets include Sean Howard, Anita Lahey, Ian Le Tourneau and Anne Simpson. The nights MC will be Ken Chisholm.

Tickets are $10.00 each which includes light refreshments and beer and wine will be available for purchase. You can purchase tickets at the Big Wave Cafe (located in the Coastal Discovery Centre) or by calling 902-733-2258.

Summer Positions at the Coastal Discovery Centre

Any high school and university students (returning to studies in the fall) looking for summer employment are encouraged to submit their resumes to the the Coastal Discovery Centre in Main-a-Dieu.

Email reception@coastaldiscoverycentre.ca or drop it off in person at 2886 Louis-Main-A-Dieu Road.

You may email the centre or phone 902-733-2258 for job descriptions and list of qualifications.

Summer Hours for the Big Wave Café

Hello folks!

You will all be so happy to hear that the Big Wave Café is now open for summer hours.

Tuesday – 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Wednesday – 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Thursday – 11:00AM – 3:00PM
Friday – 11:00AM – 3:00PM

Janice and Delores will have home made soups, sandwiches, chowders and sweets available.
Check the website or the Main-A-Dieu Community Development Association Facebook page for specials.

Yum yum!!