Latest news with #InformationMorningCapeBreton
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Annapolis County wildfire continues to burn out of control despite rain overnight
Crews will be back at the scene of an out-of-control wildfire burning in Nova Scotia's Annapolis County today. The blaze near Long Lake remains out of control and has grown to an estimated 1,977 hectares, or roughly 20 square kilometres, Natural Resources said in update posted to social media on Sunday evening. It said the wildfire had advanced past Godfrey Lake to the intersection of Fairns and West Dalhousie roads, near a number of homes that have been evacuated, and to the south side of Spectacle Lake. Officials have evacuated 107 homes in the West Dalhousie area, affecting roughly 215 people. Dustin Enslow, the deputy warden of the Municipality of the County of Annapolis, said rain that fell overnight is providing some hope for crews. "At this point, there hasn't been any additional evacuations orders," Enslow told CBC's Information Morning Cape Breton on Monday morning. CBC meteorologist Tina Simpkin said between 15 and 20 millimetres of rain fell in the area of the wildfire overnight Sunday. Scott Tingley, manager of forest protection for the Natural Resources Department, said Sunday that while rain is appreciated, it wouldn't be enough to make a measurable impact. Enslow said evacuees are on edge. "They are very anxious and nervous and worried about what's to come, but at the same time, they are thankful for the support of everyone who is actually fighting the fire and the overwhelming support from the rest of Nova Scotia," said Enslow. The update from Natural Resources said a large ground force of more than 200 firefighters — including 77 from the department, 120 local firefighters, 20 from Ontario and five from Prince Edward Island — were on the scene trying to save homes on Sunday night. Two contracted helicopters were dropping water on the fire, and as of 7:45 p.m. local time, there were no reports of damage to any structure. Tingley said sprinklers, hoses and barriers were in place to protect houses in the area. In a news release on Sunday afternoon, the federal government announced it has approved a request for assistance from Nova Scotia. The full extent of the resources that will be deployed is not yet known, but Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management and community resilience, said the government is working with the Canadian Armed Forces and other partners to "ensure Nova Scotia has the support it needs." According to Patricia Jreige, spokesperson for Nova Scotia's Department of Emergency Management, the province asked Ottawa for permission to use CFB Greenwood to land and refuel the four skimmer planes that have arrived from the Northwest Territories. Evacuees allowed to briefly return home Over the weekend, evacuees were allowed to briefly return home with an escort to pick up clothes and grab essential items like medications. Enslow said Sunday that most of the people affected are staying with family and friends, but others have been camping. There are 13 wildfires burning in the province. Long Lake, which started last Wednesday, is the only one listed as out of control. Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Index forecasts a low risk around the province but notes the possibility of moderate risk in some areas due to the smoke. MORE STORIES
CBC
10-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Watch live: CBC's Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish all-candidates debate
CBC Cape Breton invites you to an all-candidates' debate for the upcoming federal election in the riding of Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish. Steve Sutherland, host of CBC Radio's Information Morning Cape Breton, will moderate on Thursday April 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. AT. All candidates have been invited to participate in the debate at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, 606 Reeves Street. The debate will be held in the centre's Bear Head Room. The candidates include: Conservative - Allan MacMaster Independent - Rebecca Wall Liberal - Jaime Battiste NDP - Joanna Clark PPC - Ryan Smyth Doors open at 6 p.m and registration is not required. The debate will be livestreamed here, and on the CBC News Nova Scotia YouTube channel. CBC Radio is also recording the debates and will air excerpts on Information Morning and Mainstreet in Cape Breton leading up to the federal election on April 28.
CBC
08-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Watch live: Sydney-Glace Bay all-candidates debate from CBC Cape Breton
CBC Cape Breton invites you to an all-candidates' debate for the upcoming federal election in the riding of Sydney-Glace Bay. Steve Sutherland, host of CBC Radio's Information Morning Cape Breton, will moderate on Tuesday April 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. AT. All candidates on the ballot in the Sydney-Glace Bay riding have been invited to participate in the debate at Centre 200 in Sydney. The following candidates have agreed to take part: Canadian Future Party - Chris Gallant Conservative - Anna Manley Independent - Joe Ward Liberal - Mike Kelloway Marxist-Leninist Party - Nikki Boisvert NDP - Kimberly Losier PPC - Jeffrey Evely Doors open at 6 p.m and registration is not required. The debate will be livestreamed here, and on the CBC News Nova Scotia YouTube channel. A second debate for the riding of Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish will take place Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. All candidates have been invited to participate in the debate at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, 606 Reeves Street. The debate will be held in the centre's Bear Head Room. The list of candidates is not yet complete as nominations officially close on April 7. Details on confirmed candidates will be available on April 9. CBC Radio is also recording the debates and will air excerpts on Information Morning and Mainstreet in Cape Breton leading up to the federal election on April 28.
CBC
03-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Join CBC Cape Breton for two all-candidates' debates
CBC Cape Breton invites you to two all-candidates' debates for the upcoming federal election. Steve Sutherland, host of CBC Radio's Information Morning Cape Breton, will moderate both debates for the newly defined ridings of Sydney-Glace Bay and Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish. Sydney-Glace Bay debate Tuesday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. Candidates on the ballot in the Sydney-Glace Bay riding have been invited to participate in the debate at Centre 200 in Sydney. Canadian Future Party - Chris Gallant Conservative - Anna Manley Green - Ryan Pero Liberal - Mike Kelloway Libertarian - Mike Pittman Marxist-Leninist Party - Nikki Boisvert NDP - candidate not yet confirmed PPC - Jeffrey Evely Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish debate Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. Candidates in the Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish riding have been invited to participate in the debate at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, 606 Reeves Street. The debate will be held in the centre's Bear Head Room. Conservative - Allan MacMaster Green - Bill Matheson Liberal - Jaime Battiste NDP - Joanna Clark PPC - Ryan Smyth For both events, doors open at 6 p.m. Registration is not required. The list of candidates is not yet complete as nominations officially close on April 7. Details on confirmed candidates will be available on April 9. Watch online CBC Radio is also recording the debates and will air excerpts on Information Morning and Mainstreet in Cape Breton leading up to the federal election on April 28.
CBC
23-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Q&A: When Japanese vehicles were assembled in Cape Breton
Social Sharing The first Japanese cars in North America rolled off the assembly line in Cape Breton, beginning in 1968 with an Isuzu Bellett at the Toyota plant in Point Edward. A year later, the first Toyota — a Corolla — followed in its tire tracks. Cape Breton's connection to Toyota all started with the Canadian stereo TV manufacturer Clairtone and Frank Sobey. On Thursday, CBC Radio's Information Morning Cape Breton interviewed Dale Edward Johnson, an award-winning automotive journalist. Johnson recently gave a presentation on the Cape Breton Toyota plant through the Canadian Automotive Museum in Oshawa, Ont. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. What was it that caught your attention about the Toyota plant in Cape Breton? Well, it just seemed to have such an unlikely beginning. You mentioned Clairtone and they were this incredibly successful Canadian company that made really high-end stereos starting in the 1950s. And they were both really high quality stereos, but they were also a big hit because of their very futuristic styling. Their sales went from something like $60,000 in 1958 to $11,000,000 by the mid-1960s. And they were looking to diversify. The two people behind this were Peter Munk and David Gilmour. And in 1964, they bought the rights to market and then produce Japanese cars in Canada. Two brands: Isuzu and Toyota. Most of the imports in those days were from Europe. This was something all new — cars coming from Japan. But they got going in 1964. They set up this company that could import cars. They started importing these vehicles, but of course the next step was to actually produce them in Canada, and that's where Sydney comes in. Frank Sobey, he had been mayor of Stellarton for years and of course behind the Sobeys grocery store chain. And at that time he was head of Industrial Estates, which was the Nova Scotia Crown corporation that was trying to help diversify the economy as it was transitioning from the mining industry. In 1963, he had helped Volvo set up shop in Dartmouth, bringing parts over from Sweden and assembled the cars in Canada. So this was sort of the model that this new company wanted to use. So that's how this plant got started in Sydney — through Clairtone and through the Nova Scotia government. What can you tell us about the operation here? The initial goal was to have 1,000 cars a year rolling off the assembly line and they were going to have 50 employees to start. And of course they were hoping to grow this. So some pretty rosy projections in 1965. But unfortunately, just after this time in 1966, Clairtone started running into financial problems. In fact, again — with the help of Frank Sobey — Clairtone relocated from Toronto to Stellarton in order to cut their costs. So a big new factory is built in Stellarton. The building is still standing, but Clairtone was going through these financial troubles. In the book by Nina Monk about her father's company, she says [her] father's short-lived ambition to become an automotive magnate hastened Clairtone's downfall. There simply wasn't enough money or managerial talent to go around. And between mid-1966 and mid-1967, Clairtone and this new car company both fell apart. So they were both struggling. Clairtone just spread itself too thin and that's why both companies were struggling. So getting the plant up and running was then delayed from 1965 — when plans were first announced — [and it] didn't get going until December of 1967. But it did indeed get going. In 1967, the first assembly line for Japanese cars in North America opened in Sydney at Point Edward, a former military facility. They started turning out something called the Isuzu Bellett sedans, and by January 1968, a total of 80 of these cars had been assembled at the plant. During the calendar year of 1968, a total of 584 Isuzu Belletts were made so this was small but it was a production line. They were cranking out cars and it meant a lot of jobs for people in the area too. So they ended up producing something like 9,000 vehicles between 1967 to 1975, when they eventually shut down. Do you know if the Toyota company recalls this plant at all? Yes, they do indeed. I read about this plant years ago. It was very small but at the time, I found a clipping [that said] it was pumping $6,000 a week into Cape Breton's economy. But yes, Toyota is very aware of this. Last summer, Toyota marked its 60th anniversary of selling cars in Canada. They organized a tour that went from St. John's to Victoria and they invited journalists to take part in sections of this cross-country trip to see some of the facilities and dealerships and so on. I was invited to drive the section from Halifax to Montreal, but I was always curious about this plant in Sydney, so I actually arrived a few days early so I could go to Cape Breton and take a look at where this facility was. That was a stop for the first group that went from St. John's to Halifax was to stop by the site of this original plant in Sydney, so they're well aware of it for sure. What does Toyota say about the site? I spoke to Stephen Beatty, who was an executive with Toyota. He has since retired. And I mean, it's just a vacant lot now where the plant was. But he said that it was very worthwhile. He said, and I've got a couple of quotes here which I think explain it well. He said you had to enter new markets and you had to understand what they were about. You had to build new vehicles that would meet the needs of the local markets. And Point Edward and Canadian Motor Industries were sort of the proving grounds for that over time. So it was to become more aware of the Canadian marketplace, if you will. But he also said unfortunately that plant was literally just too far away. You had to bring knockdown kits from Japan all the way across to Nova Scotia and from there distribute them back across Canada. But he also said it was a good plan of how to work with the Auto Pact and other regulatory requirements of the day. But ultimately it was just not a financially viable manufacturing operation.
