Business boom expected in Glace Bay
Coal mine, police station and revitalization project key to success: association
The chair of the Glace Bay Business Association says the downtown area could soon be looking at a major boom for three reasons — a new coal mine, a new police station and a revitalization project.
“The change has already started to become active and that’s because of Kameron Collieries,” said Cecil Saccary.
Saccary said within the next year the Donkin Mine expects to employ 130-150 people. He said according to experts, the spinoff effect for every full-time job in any community usually comes out to about 2.5 jobs.
“If we have 130-150 jobs, there’s going to be a spinoff of 300 or more jobs, I think it’s going to be a big boom. I think that this would help develop the downtown, Sterling Road and Reserve Street. The whole area will definitely benefit. I’m very optimistic.”
However Saccary said a new police station to be built in the downtown area and a revitalization plan for Glace Bay will also play a part in a boom. Saccary said he’s been going to the revitalization meetings and the process has been laid out in a well-constructed manner.
“I’m quite satisfied with the way they did the workshops and sessions they did on the revitalization program.”
He said in the past Glace Bay has continuously been going down the same road and breaking up the community in little niche groups.
“Feedback from the revitalization process so far is that we finally have people stepping outside that box wanting to bring the whole community together.”
He said they are all waiting now on the revitalization report.
Business Cape Breton along with Ekistics Plan + Design, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the province of Nova Scotia have embarked on a Glace Bay, Reserve Mines and Dominion revitalization planning process.
Officials with Ekistics worked with the community over three months to identify projects and initiatives that are expected to transform the area.
Eileen Lannon-Oldford, CEO of Business Cape Breton, said earlier that a draft of the plan is expected to be finalized toward the end of June and presented to the stakeholders.
“Feedback from the revitalization process so far is that we finally have people stepping outside that box wanting to bring the whole community together.” Cecil Saccary, chair, Glace Bay Business Association