This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on March 9th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Sustainability is something we hear a lot about these days; people are becoming increasingly conscious of how the decisions we make today will have an impact on our future, environmentally, financially and socially.

But what is the best way for a community to tackle such a broad issue? Over the next few weeks, the city’s new business network, Sustainable Saint John, will meet with current and potential members to discuss the issue of sustainibility and identify the best ways for the network to proceed.

“The city can’t do this on its own, so we have to think how do you mobilize the entire community to promote this theme of sustainability,” says deputy city manager Andrew Beckett.

Charting the Path Forward is a two-part workshop event that will examine the key success factors for the network and the best course of action to ensure the factors are met.

Sustainable Saint John is a regional network launched in 2009 by the city’s environment committee, with support from the province’s Environmental Trust Fund and in partnership with the Saint John Board of Trade. The network was formed as a result of feedback from Saint Johners expressing the need to think and act sustainably by balancing the community’s economic, environmental and social needs. Recent community initiatives such as Vision 2015 have articulated this vision for a sustainable community.

“We started to develop the tool kit about a year ago, and there was a great level of interest from the local communities and great stories exchanged between local businesses on how they were promoting sustainability,” Beckett said.

The Sustainable Saint John Business Toolkit was developed to help businesses and organizations create their own sustainable action plan.

“Sustainability is an issue that is gaining momentum across the country,” said Saint John Board of Trade president Imelda Gilman on the business group’s partnership with the Sustainable Saint John network.

“The business case for sustainability is very strong. We look forward to playing a supportive role and helping to promote it to our members and other businesses in the Greater Saint John area.”

In a community like ours, it is crucial that both environment and social sustainability be taken into consideration. Getting businesses and organizations committed by way of an official network gives them the means to share resources, feedback and new ideas that will ensure the city remains on a course that will not simply see us sustain ourselves, but prosper in the future.

Sustainable Saint John’s Charting the Path Forward workshops will take place March 16 and March 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lily Lake Pavilion.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

Click here for more information on the workshops.

Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase had a great article in this weekends Telegraph-Journal on property taxes, check it out:

This week homeowners in New Brunswick were delivered their pre-Easter presents – only it wasn’t the Easter Bunny bringing colorful and tasty delights, but rather the tax man and his grim property tax bills. This certainly has made many people grumpy. Saint John Common Council decided to hold the tax rate despite a growing chorus of discontent from the citizens that their property taxes are too high, and despite the tax accountability measure issued by the provincial government, which recommended that the tax rate be dropped by about 5 cents.

Stephen Chase walks uptown with the Saint John Arts Centre in the background. Deputy Mayor Chase dismisses the idea that Saint John homeowners carry a lower tax burden than residents of municipalities where property values are higher. He says the city’s high tax rate and rising property tax assessments are putting pressure on families in a community where the average household income is relatively low.
I did not support holding the tax rate because I believe the tax rate is too high and that combined with rising property tax assessments, the tax bill is becoming unwieldy for many homeowners. One argument used to support not lowering the tax rate is that Saint John’s tax burden is the lowest in the province. The argument is meant to say that on a household basis, the tax bill is lower than elsewhere because of lower property assessment values.

This is a false argument.

I offer two points that support my assertion.

While historically Saint John’s property assessments may have been low, the times are changing. Property assessments are increasing and mostly evident in newer construction. To illustrate, I will compare two similar properties in Saint John and Fredericton.

A newly built semi-detached home on Downsview Drive in Saint John is currently on the market for $188,000. It is assessed at $173,600 and has a tax bill of $3,098.

In a comparable neighbourhood in Fredericton, a newly built semi-detached on Canada Street is on the market for $189,900. It is assessed at $156,700 and has a tax bill of $2,265.

The difference in the tax bill between the two properties is $833 in favour of the Fredericton property.

The Saint John property, with only a marginal edge on property assessment of 10 per cent over the Fredericton property, pays a tax bill 27 per cent higher. Hardly a lower tax burden.

Secondly, the tax burden must be considered relative to the individual household wealth in the community. Based on the latest census data, let’s consider the income levels in Saint John:

The medium household income for all family type households in Saint John is $51,042. In Fredericton, it is $60,705. In Moncton, it is $56,292. The medium household income for married couple households is $63,053 in Saint John, $72,382 in Fredericton and $67,281 in Moncton.

This data indicates that the City of Saint John has lower household income than either Fredericton or Moncton. What this means is that even though a property may have a lower tax bill than a comparable property in Moncton or Fredericton, the lower household income wipes out any notion of a lesser tax burden. In fact, with rising property assessments and weighed down by Saint John’s high tax rate, the tax burden on Saint John households could be the greatest in the province.

The argument that Saint John can justify a high tax rate because the overall tax burden is comparably lower than other cities in New Brunswick is no longer tenable. Growth and prosperity in Saint John will require a tax rate that is competitive to other municipalities. This will attract home buyers and new construction – both of which are required for sustainability.

Stephen Chase is deputy mayor of Saint John, elected at large by voters across the city’s ward constituencies.

The Saint John Board of Trade’s latest Currents magazine featured a great article on T4G Limited and our GeekFest event (including some details on our team’s idea):

Read the entire article here!

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on March 2nd, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Reasons for volunteering are as varied as the types of organizations that rely on volunteer support to exist.

And while a connection to the cause is crucial, building your knowledge of board development is also an important ingredient for creating a successful volunteer experience. The Saint John Volunteer Centre offers programs that demystify some of the more complicated components of serving on a board or committee, and is helping to produce more efficient, knowledgeable boards throughout Greater Saint John.

The Saint John Volunteer Centre has been a volunteer resource for more than 35 years and has offered an education services program component for the last five years. The purpose of the education services program is to enhance the overall well-being of our community by providing support and resources for board members, staff and volunteers of non-profit agencies. This includes needs assessments, educational opportunities, individual and group consultations and workshops.

“We try to base the workshops on board development and volunteering for different organizations and boards,” says Brian Boudreau, training resource co-ordinator at the Saint John Volunteer Centre. “We get a lot of people who are already involved on a committee but are interested in learning more about what’s required when moving up to the board level. We want to help people know what it’s like to sit on a board or committee.”

Once participants have completed a workshop, they are asked to give their feedback on what kinds of topics they would like to see a session address in the future and this information is used to develop a schedule each year for a program called Noon Nuggets. The volunteer centre’s Noon Nuggets program is a series of one-hour, brown-bag lunch board development and volunteer management workshops offered over the noon hour. The workshops, offered with support from the United Way, take place monthly from September to June and are open to the public. Noon Nuggets draws upon the experience and expertise of community members, who lead the sessions, which cover a range of issues pertaining to work with non-profit agencies.

“When they leave, we hope they are leaving with a better understanding of what they are (or aren’t) doing and how they should operate,” Boudreau said.

The education services program allows volunteers to become more efficient, effective members of their organizations, and also give them an opportunity to share their particular knowledge or expertise with other members of the community. When the “do’s and don’ts” of how a board or committee should operate are clearly and commonly understood, the volunteers are able turn their attention back to the issues or activities at hand, rather than being mired in the organizational details.

Upcoming Noon Nuggets topics for the remainder of the 2010 series include: program evaluation, community interfacing, how to read financial statements for the non-profit sector, fitted volunteer recruitment and compassionate communications.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on February 23th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

This week, FUSION is partnering with the International Institute of Business Analysis’s (IIBA) Fundy Region Chapter to host a Party with a Purpose. IIBA International is an independent non-profit professional association that serves the growing field of business analysis. By hosting February’s Party with a Purpose, the local chapter aims to increase the profile of the profession and awareness of their organization.

“We want to bring awareness of the IIBA and our local chapter activities to a broader audience,” says Jeff Sheehan, communications director for the IIBA Fundy Region Chapter board of directors. “Too many people still ask what a business analyst is.”

IIBA was first formed in 2003 and has since become the leading association in the world of business analysis. The organization aims to help business analysts develop their skills and further their careers by providing access to industry articles and webinars, member forums and the opportunity to achieve the professional designations. IIBA has fulfilled its mandate through the creation of the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK), a collection of industry knowledge and best practices, and the Certified Business Analysis Professional designation (CBAP).

“Globally, the IIBA has experienced double-digit growth in membership since its launch five years ago. This represents an incredible networking opportunity for business analysts,” says Sheehan of the institute, which has grown to include more than 100 chapters and 10,000 members worldwide.

The Fundy Region IIBA Chapter received its official charter in July 2007, and works to actively promote the business analysis profession in our region. Since its inception, the Fundy region chapter has grown to include more than 50 members, representing the health, energy, information and communications technology, and natural resources sectors. The chapter hosts events and activities monthly, including IIBA Awareness, CBAP designation study groups, networking opportunities and guest speakers. Although there is a membership fee to join IIBA International, people interested in getting involved at the local level can do so at no cost.

During this month’s Party with a Purpose, the IIBA Fundy Chapter representatives will provide an overview of the IIBA and the Fundy chapter, and will highlight their premier sponsor SwiftRadius, a regional IT consulting firm. “We hope to offer a little insight into a role that is becoming more defined as an actual profession, and is becoming recognized around the world,” Sheehan said.

February’s Party with a Purpose will take place this Friday at Lemongrass from 5:30 to 7p.m.

For more information, please visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

This column previously appeared in Here NB on February 18th, 2010.

SAINT JOHN – A community activist and networking group is spreading its reach this spring, with new chapters set to open across the province.

Members of Fusion Saint John have spent the past six years working to improve the city, offering everything from networking parties to urban planning and development committees aimed at retaining residents and improving life in Saint John. Recent recipients of a $25,000 grant from the provincial Population Growth Secretariat, the group is set to open new chapters and welcome new acolytes in Fredericton and Moncton.

“Fusion Saint John is a successful model because it brings together young professionals and gives them a place where they can take on challenges that are important to their community. We want young people to be involved,” said Phillippe Ouellette, acting director of the Population Growth Secretariat’s retention branch.

Fusion Saint John’s made a name for itself with offerings like Newcomer’s Night and Party With a Purpose networking evenings. The group also hosts Operation Red Nose to fight drunk driving in the winter, and has a host of committees covering everything from immigration to arts and culture.

Ouellette said the great thing about the Fusion model is its flexibility and freedom.

“Members can define it the way they want and choose which committees they want to form so they can mobilize around the important issues.

Leadership opportunities are what these types of initiatives breed, and healthier communities that people want to live in,” he said.

The group has already opened branches in Bangor and Halifax, and expects to see new groups formed in Fredericton and Moncton by spring.

Early meetings in Fredericton saw over a dozen interested citizens show up to discuss the next step, said Oullette.

“Fredericton’s not Toronto; we’re not going to be the next big city, but we can have an exciting culture with lots of arts and a vibrancy in our cities. People with a vested interest in having that are the best people to create that. They can really make that happen,” said Ouellette.

Contact Saint John reporter Paige Aarhus at aarhus.paige@herenb.com

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on February 16th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

On March 8, KV Networks will host its 5th Annual International Women’s Day Breakfast, one of a number of events taking place across our region to mark International Women’s Day 2010.

KV Networks is a business networking group for women entrepreneurs in the Kennebecasis Valley and surrounding areas. The group was formed five years ago and aims to promote women in business and provide a support network for members to further their business goals.

“When the group started there was only six of us, and it was about support for women doing non-traditional things and being entrepreneurial,” says Janet Kyle, one of KV Networks’ founding members, of the group which has since grown to more than 50 members. “Our approach is very casual, but very worthwhile and effective.”

The group meets twice each month on Thursday mornings. Meetings alternate between roundtable discussion and information speakers, where members and guest speakers discuss their own industry and areas of expertise.

“A lot of women have left 9-5 jobs to do something a little outside the box, while still juggling the other aspects of life,” Kyle said. “We meet to support each other and act as a sounding board. There’s a powerful, positive energy at our meetings.”

New members are welcome. While a membership fee of $2 is collected at each meeting, and donated to local charities or non-profit groups, there is no formal membership process. Members come from a variety of backgrounds and represent a huge range of entrepreneurial enterprises, from financial planning to hypnotism.

“Being new to town, I had explored several other network groups and gone to other meetings, but joined KV Networks because it is an open, inclusive environment for meeting people from a wide range of ages and business areas,” says Teri Woosnam, who has recently relocated to Saint John to operate her own business, and joined KV Networks after it was recommended to her by a customer. “It’s about promoting business, but also network, helping people and sharing information.”

In addition to the biweekly meetings, which are open to anyone interested in attending, KV Networks hosts two public events each year, featuring guest speakers and door prizes. In addition to the International Women’s Day breakfast event, the group also marks Small Business Week with an event.

The 5th Annual KV Networks International Women’s Day Breakfast will take place March 8 from 8:15 to 10:30 a.m. at Kings Valley Wesleyan Church. Tickets are $20 each and the registration deadline is March 3. For more information, visit www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

Saint John 225 is the official anniversary celebrations of the City of Saint John and its incorporation as Canada’s original city.

Saint John was incorporated on May 18, 1785 and in 2010 we’re heading into our neighbourhoods to celebrate our city.

This is the year Saint John tells its story: the stories of the people, events and places that have shaped Saint John.

We are proud of our cultural, architectural and artistic heritage. Saint John 225 will showcase the talents of Saint John area artists and performers in all genres including music, dance, theatre, visual arts, film and writing.

Saint John is a 2010 Cultural Capitals of Canada, a designation awarded by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage that provides significant funding for the promotion of the city’s arts, culture and heritage.

Visit the website today!

Not only did Google Street View become available in Saint John, NB today; but, I actually found myself and my Jeep!

Cool eh?

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on February 9th, 2010.

The article was written by FUSION Saint John’s Claire Ryan:

Next Monday, the Saint John YMCA-YWCA will join its Y counterparts across Canada to kick off the 2010 Strong Kids campaign.

More than 50 YMCAs across Canada participate in the Strong Kids campaign, which is focused on raising funds to support children, teens and families who can’t afford the full costs associated with participating in Y programs or activities.

At the local level, the Saint John Y’s goal is to raise $80,000. Money raised in Saint John will stay in the city and provide financial assistance for children and youths who want to participate in a Y program. The majority of funds raised will be used for “camperships,” which send kids to residential and day camps, membership sponsorships, youth leadership programs, child care support as well as health and wellness sponsorship programs.

The theme for this year’s campaign launch is “Kids Helping Kids,” with walkathons scheduled for six Y locations in Saint John to raise awareness for the campaign and teach those already enrolled in Y programs what it means to help those less fortunate, linking to the Y’s focus on community support and development.

“Each Y is undertaking its own activity to mark the occasion, so we came up with the idea of the walkathon,” says Shilo Boucher, chief operating officer at the Saint John Y.

“It’s a great way for our program participants, children, parents, members and staff to get involved, learn more about Strong Kids, and understand how the funds are used and how important they are to the Y and our community,” Boucher said.

“It’s very powerful as we have over 70 students who come to the Y’s Broadview location every day, many of whom are members themselves, or have children in child care. So it will be an opportunity for these the students to have an impact on their community.”

The Strong Kids campaign also offers an opportunity for people to be a part of the Y beyond making a donation; people are also encouraged to generate support by sharing their “Y story” online, or volunteering at one of the 13 Y locations in Greater Saint John.

“As a charity, we rely heavily on volunteer time and expertise,” Boucher said. “In 2009 we had over 278 active volunteers contributing over 6,500 hours of service.”

Supporting the Strong Kids campaign in Saint John will allow our local Y to continue to maintain a strong presence in the city, in terms of both the programs it offers and the fact that many are offered at multiple locations in the city.

Claire Ryan is on the FUSION Saint John board. Reach her at cryan@mtpr.ca.

Visit the Saint John Y’s website for more details!