| The Coast of Bays Corporation and
the South Coast Community Development Corporation jointly held its
Annual General Meeting at the Harbour Breton Lions Club on Tuesday,
September 20, 2005.
Co-chaired by Wesley Harris of the Coast of Bays Corporation and Max
Taylor of the South Coast Community Development Corporation, the
meeting was called to order by Wesley Harris who welcomed everyone
including MHA Oliver Langdon, Nick Hurley, Executive Director of the
provincial association of CBDCs, and Rob Kinden of the Department of
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
Mr. Harris began by thanking the directors and staff for their work.
He then presented an annual report on the initiatives of the Coast of
Bays Corporation highlighting the uncertainty in the aquaculture
industry and the FPI pullout from Harbour Breton as two significant
events of great concern. While the aquaculture situation in the region
is improving, the Corporation continues to work closely with the Town
of Harbour Breton and the IAS Committee to put together a realistic
plan for the future.
Mr. Max Taylor then gave an overview of the activities of the SCCDC
during the past year and the trends in business support.
He also thanked his staff and directors for a successful year.
He noted that the CBDC has two main functions: Small business
development through small business loans and the delivery of business
programs and services, and Employment Assistance Services (EAS) with
an emphasis on individual employment services.
In 1998, the SCCDC lent out a little over $200,000 but in
2004-05 they have disbursed in excess of $1.3 million.
Their clients are varied and include retail store owners,
fishers, aquaculturists, persons developing and exporting new
technologies and students who set up small enterprises during the
summer.
Linwood Hunt, Treasurer of the Coast of Bays Corporation, then tabled
the financial report of the Corporation and Jamie Leroux, Executive
Director of the SCCDC, presented the financial statement of the SCCDC.
Copies of these statements are available at the respective
offices.
Tracey Perry, Executive Director of the Coast of Bays Corporation,
presented the workplan for the coming year which included initiatives
in the three priority sectors of the board – fishery, aquaculture
and tourism. These
initiatives include the marine infrastructure plan, coastal planning,
working with Harbour Breton IAS Committee, silage pilot project,
promotion of the Coast of Bays through the Central Newfoundland
Tourism committee, examination of options for a link with the Burin
Peninsula, continued work with municipalities to assist with the
development of the tourism sector in the region, facilitation of the
Joint Mayors Forum and a major update of the region’s Strategic
Economic Plan.
Tracey noted in her presentation the different
but complimentary roles
of the two Corporations. The
Coast of Bays Corporation provides the planning support for the region
and individual municipalities in creating a climate for economic
growth while the SCCDC works directly with the entrepreneurs in the
region to expand or start a business resulting in an improved economy.
Jamie Leroux followed with a detailed overview of
the programs and services offered by the South Coast Community
Development Corporation along with some profiles of their clientele
base and the financial services they provide.
Wesley Harris then thanked the directors
finishing their term of office this year and welcomed the new
directors to the board. Completing
their term was Linwood Hunt (Fortune Bay North Shore Business), Gerard
Joe (Conne River Band Council), Clyde Collier (Newfoundland Salmonid
Growers Association), Lloyd Jensen (ConHer Municipalities) and Sheldon
Hynes (At Large). The new
directors include Enos Hepditch, Phoebe Foster, Clyde Collier (second
term), Steve Crewe and Steven Kearley respectively.
Max Taylor recognized the contributions of two
directors, Anne Crant and Jennifer Caines, who resigned from the board
due to work commitments and welcomed Hubert Langdon and Calvin Blagdon
to the board. Max also
noted that their board has adopted new terms of office for their
directors. He reminded
the attendees that everyone should consider taking part in the boards
of the Coast of Bays Corporation and the South Coast Community
Development Corporation when the call for directors are made.
MHA Oliver Langdon congratulated everyone
involved in the two Corporations and recognized their effectiveness in
planning for the future of the Coast of Bays. He also noted that the
Coast of Bays Corporation and the South Coast Community Development
Corporation are regularly used as examples of effective partnerships
that work for a common goal – sustainable development for viable
communities.
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