Despite the temptation, we're not going to weigh in on the municipal elections today. Maybe tomorrow.
Instead, we'll touch on a couple of multi-million dollar initiatives that have taken place (and are taking place) here in Colchester County, both of which appeared in this newspaper in recent days.
The first concerns the amazingly successful ‘to our health' campaign, a multi-year community fundraiser which has raised $26.1 million towards the total cost of the new $184-million Colchester East Hants Health Centre.
Now think about that $26.1 million figure for a moment. Based on Colchester County's population of just over 50,000 and East Hants' estimated population of 22,000, that's a shade less than $400 raised for every man, woman and child in the health centre's catchment area.
Impressive? Oh, yes. And it's certainly been a worthwhile investment as anyone who has been fortunately enough to tour the new health centre will attest to.
For those who haven't, the Colchester East Hants Health Authority is inviting community members to an open house this Saturday and next Saturday (2-4 p.m. both days). With just over one month to go before the grand opening, it's a unique opportunity to see the state-of-the-art facility first hand.
Another project that warrants attention is the new Perennia Innovation Centre, a $9.2 million, 25,000-square foot facility located in the former AgriTECH Park in Bible Hill.
Raise your hand here if you're one of the 95 per cent (and we're just guessing here as the figure is likely higher) of Colchester County residents who have never set foot in this facility.
Doesn't matter.
What matters are all the amazing projects that are being conducted in this business incubator, which is designed to help Nova Scotia entreprenures develop and launch bio-resource products into the marketplace.
The products are plant, animal or marine-based and include such things such as a hot-pepper fish sauce (popular in West Africa), natural fruit drinks made from strawberry/rhubarb and grapefruit/rhubarb combinations, cheese and seaweed products, and work aimed at improving breeding rates in cattle.
It's fascinated work and it's going on in our own back yard. Perhaps, in time, some of these ventures will turn into a major success story.
