Growth, lawbreakers, soggy reporters, caring neighbours
A quick drive around Bridgewater prompts this observation: the town, which bills itself as the Main Street of the South Shore, has been growing in leaps and bounds.
A busy centre of commerce and industry, Bridgewater has experienced steady growth in residential and non-residential construction. Statistics obtained from the town show the past five years has been a particularly busy period for the planning, development and building departments.
The town’s construction permit categories are singlefamily detached, duplex/semidetached, apartments, other residential, commercial, industrial, institutional/government, agriculture and other.
From Jan. 1, 2017 until the end of August 2022, the town issued 758 permits for a range of work, including new construction (536 units), renovation, decks, carports, and locating mini and modular homes on lots. The value of construction during that period reached $93,902,004. September’s numbers were not available by my filing deadline.
During a recent telephone conversation, Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell told me his town has seen fairly steady growth during the past 20 years.
“Even when the province was in population decline, Bridgewater always experienced some positive growth, sometimes big spikes,” he said.
“Growth is one key economic driver, so when you build a house, you are employing dozens of tradespeople; most of them spending money locally in stores that employ many people,” he added.
Mitchell is correct. According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, a single housing start creates three person-years of employment or, simply put, three full-time jobs for one year. Also, 104 different workers perform on-site job functions on the construction of a new home. This doesn’t include drivers of trucks delivering concrete, lumber and other building materials.
The spinoffs created by a healthy development and construction industry are enormous. Throwing a stone into the middle of a still pond illustrates this far-reaching economic ripple effect.
Mitchell said not only retired seniors are moving to this popular location.
Many young families are also eyeing the South Shore as a region that offers opportunities for affordable homeownership.
“While home ownership is becoming out of reach in major urban centres such as
Halifax, you can still find affordable gems in small-town Nova Scotia, including the Town of Bridgewater,” he said.
FLOUTING THE LAW
Well, it’s that time when, once again, I comment on the folly of driving while impaired by drug or alcohol, and driving at excessively high speeds on provincial highways and roadways.
I can’t fathom why individuals insist on flouting the law by behaving thoughtlessly behind the wheel, placing themselves and others at risk of serious injury, even death.
Here are the latest RCMP provincial statistics on impaired driving and stunting, an act defined as anyone who operates a vehicle in a race or contest, while performing a stunt or on a wager, or driving at 50 km/h above the posted speed limit.
Nova Scotia RCMP charged 275 drivers with impairedrelated offences during July and August.
During the same twomonth period, RCMP members charged 38 drivers with stunting. The four most egregious offences were 192 km/h in a 110 km/h zone on Hwy. 101 in Upper Sackville; 184 km/h in a 110 km/h zone on Hwy. 104 in Oxford Junction; 180 km/h in a 110 km/h zone on Hwy. 101 in Upper Sackville; and 177 km/h in a 110 km/h zone on Hwy. 101 in Upper Sackville.
Three of the top four offences were committed in Upper Sackville. Motorists in that neck of the woods should be wary of uncaring speed demons rocketing recklessly through their community.
Those sobering statistics don’t include charges laid by municipal police forces throughout the province and the many other speeding individuals who aren’t detected and charged by police.
WINDY, WET REPORTERS
I always find it amusing when television weather reporters stand outside in terrible conditions, often bending against hurricane-force winds and torrential rain, trying desperately to avoid being blown away.
Do we really need to witness these antics when we can just take a peek out our windows?
During Hurricane Fiona’s wrath, an eager reporter – possibly a rookie or weekend fill-in – stood near the ocean, repeatedly attempting to shield herself from the wind and rain.
She seemed at a loss for words and somewhat flustered, so she quickly pivoted toward the raging ocean behind her, pointed out the whitecaps and said: “This is an example of what wind does to water.”
The news anchor back in the studio appeared perplexed and quickly focussed his attention on a drenched reporter in a different location.
Another wind-swept reporter held up a sheet of metal roofing and told viewers “during hurricanes, items like this become projectiles, which could severely injure people caught out in the storm.”
No kidding! This eager reporter should have bolted to safety instead of flirting with danger. Anything for notoriety, I guess.
Here’s what I’m thinking. So-called storm-chasers seem to get a sadistic rush from being front and centre during all manner of severe weather events. They should all get their wet heads read.
NEIGHBOURLY ASSISTANCE
Leaves are falling, which means yard clean-up time is upon us. Please consider offering help to seniors and disabled folks who might find the tasks of raking and other fall chores too difficult.
The same goes for clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways this winter.
Nova Scotians are known for their generosity and neighbour-helping-neighbour values.