Media Advisory

Atlantic Mayors’ Congress

(Greenwich, Kings County, Thursday, September 21/06) Mayors from Atlantic Canada’s largest municipalities will meet this weekend in Greenwich, Nova Scotia, to address topics of interest to Atlantic Canadians.

The Atlantic Mayors’ Congress, hosted for the first time by Kings County, will gather at the Old Orchard Inn from September 21-23. Mayors from the four Atlantic Provinces will advance such diverse topics as:

• “Atlantica” – a project that aims to grow our economy by strengthening business and tourism ties between Atlantic Canada and the New England states;
• federal and provincial initiatives that impact on municipal governments, such as infrastructure funding renewal;
• “The Natural Step” approach to sustainable development with Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert, renowned cancer scientist and founder of TNS
• the future of the Gulf Ferry service to Newfoundland; and
• a recently launched community innovation program in Kings County.

As well, Scott Brison, Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants, will be the guest speaker at the welcome dinner on Thursday evening at Acadia University.

The Congress was organized in 2001 with the goal of promoting economic development, infrastructure funding and tourism in the Atlantic Region. Members of the AMC represent municipalities in Atlantic Canada with at least 20,000 residents; smaller municipalities are represented at AMC sessions through provincial-municipal organizations, such as the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

Media representatives are welcome to attend sessions at the Congress as well as MP Brison’s speech. A detailed schedule is attached.

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For More Information

Warden Fred Whalen
Municipality of Kings County
679-7941
679-7942

Mayor Peter Kelly

Chair, Atlantic Mayors Congress

490-4010

222-9999

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Greenwich, Kings County, Nova Scotia
Old Orchard Inn

Thursday, September 21, 2006

7:00 - 9:00 PM

Dinner – Acadia Room, KC Irving Centre
Guest Speaker: Scott Brison, MP, Kings-Hants
Note: media are welcome to attend MP Brison’s address.

 

Friday, September 22, 2006

8:55 – 9:00 AM -   Group Photo

9:00 – 9:05 AM  -  Welcome Remarks – Warden Fred Whalen

9:05 – 9:10 AM -  Opening Remarks by AMC Chair, Mayor Peter Kelly

9:10 – 10:00 AM -  Update: Municipal Units

10:00 – 10:10 AM

Approval of Minutes, AMC meeting March 31-April 1,2 2006
Additions to Agenda; Business Arising from Minutes

10:10 – 10:15 AM  -  Report from Chairperson; AMC Budget Report

10:15 – 10:30 AM -  Break

10:30 – 12:00 PM

Reaching Atlantica:
- Mayors’ Summit Update – Mayor Norm McFarlane
- Guest Speakers: Neville Gilfoy and Pamela Scott Crace
- Discussion – Q & A

12:00 – 12:15 PM  -  Members’ Summary Review

12:15 – 1:45 PM

Luncheon – Guest Speaker: Honourable Mark Parent, Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Labour

1:45 – 2:30 PM

Guest Speaker: Anthony Cicerone, PhD, Professor
Economics/Canadian Studies, Bridgewater State College, Eastern United States-Atlantic Canada Network

2:30 – 3:15 PM -  Infrastructure Funding Renewal

3:15 – 3:30 PM -  Break

3:30 – 5:00 PM

Guest Speaker: Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert, Founder of The Natural Step – Implication Strategies

5:00 PM  -  Adjournment

7:00 – 9:00 PM

Dinner – Fireside Lounge, Old Orchard Inn
Guest Speaker: Honourable Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations

Saturday, September 23, 2006

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Breakfast Speakers: Don Bureaux, Principal, Administration Kingstec Campus College; D.A. (Dale) Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, AgraPoint
Community Innovation Project

9:00 – 9:15 AM -  Gulf Ferry Service Presentation: Mayor Wayne Ruth

9:15 – 10:30 AM -  Structure – Atlantic Mayors’ Congress

0:30 – 10:45 AM -  Break

10:45 – 11:15 AM

Future Agenda Items: Atlantic Premiers’ Connection; Atlantic Canada Transportation

12:00 PM - Adjournment