In a press conference held shortly before last Christmas, Business New Brunswick minister Greg Byrne reaffirmed their commitment to bring affordable high speed Internet access to the entire province in 18 months.

On Monday, December 15, the Toronto’s Eaton Centre was the site for giving instead of shopping, as members of East Coast Connected helped children in need.    

See the interview here at the 7:00 mark.

Enrolment in Maritime universities has dipped this year, according to statistics released last week by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.

Nova Scotia experienced the biggest drop, with enrolment dropping 6% between 2007-2008 and the peak in 2004-2005. Overall, there has been a 2% decrease in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI between this year and the last.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay is proposing the construction of new military and coast guard vessels which would involve a revival of the neglected shipbuilding industry in the east coast.

The Conservatives have promised to build as many as eight Arctic offshore supply boats for the navy, replace the country's 12 patrol frigates, as well as modernize the fleet of medium and heavy icebreakers.

When it comes to recycling, composting, lowering thermostats and installing high efficiency bathroom and light fixtures, the Green Gables province turns out to be the greenest of them all, according to a recently released 2006 Statistics Canada survey.

On Wednesday 12 November, the East Coast Army (ECA) celebrated its launch at First Canadian Place’s Vertical Restaurant. Hosting “A General Welcome” was none other than Newfoundland and Labrador’s General Rick Hillier (ret), Canada’s former Chief of Defence Staff. As the charitable and social wing of its parent group East Coast Connected (ECC), Hillier got the ECA off to a great start by highlighting the privileges and responsibilities of being an Atlantic Canadian living “away from home.” This mandate was driven home by media personality Seamus O’Reagan, who spoke in support of Great Big Sea’s upcoming charity concert in Toronto for Newfoundland’s Daffodil Place.  

Art lights up the night in Halifax 

It’s hard to believe that over a month has passed since the first-ever Nocturne: Art at Night event hit the streets of Halifax with such energy, momentum and excitement.  People of all ages came out to celebrate arts and culture, pour into galleries and explore the city's streets for Halifax's first annual, magical, signature late-night arts event. 

"Atlantic Canada needs an Ideas Epidemic."  This was just one of the many bold solutions floated at the inaugural 21inc Ideas Festival, held this November 5-7 at the Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews by-the-sea, NB. 

Over 230 Atlantic Canadian leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors region and elsewhere attended this high energy event, learning and being inspired by emerging ideas that are shaping the future. 

Last week, the New Brunswick Advisory Council for Youth released a series of recommendations to the Government of New Brunswick made by youths to tackle population decline within the province.

Entitled "Rock the Boat: Here Today, here to Stay", the report summarized a series of surveys taken by 200 youths in 15 communities across New Brunswick:

SAINT JOHN, N.B. – National road-safety campaign Operation Red Nose will kick off the holiday season by launching the 2008 New Brunswick provincial campaign in Saint John on November 14, 2008.

The launch will take place in the Red Room, located on the 8th floor of City Hall. Special guests include honorary campaign chair Roly MacIntyre, Insurance Bureau of Canada VP Atlantic Bill Adams and Operation Red Nose national program coordinator Chantal Lefebvre.