Canada’s home, car and business insurers are launching a series of half-day educational workshops across Atlantic Canada to help commercial businesses and non-profit organizations get the most for their insurance dollar.

The workshops are scheduled to begin in mid-May, with the Newfoundland workshop taking place in St. John’s on May 25, 2006 at Delta St. John’s from 8:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

“The workshops are one of several activities underway to help improve the commercial insurance environment for businesses and voluntary organizations in the Atlantic Provinces,” said Don Forgeron, Vice-President, Atlantic, Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Participants will learn everything they need to know when looking for commercial insurance. They will also gain valuable experience using risk management tools to help them design their own simple, effective risk management programs and demonstrate to insurers that they understand the risks associated with their organization and are taking steps to minimize those risks.

“The need for these workshops became evident through the work of the Atlantic Task Force on Insurance Availability and Affordability last year,” said Forgeron.
The Task Force, which included representatives from businesses, non-profit groups, provincial governments, and the insurance industry, released its final report in November 2005. It made 27 recommendations aimed at improving the commercial insurance environment for businesses and voluntary organizations in the Atlantic Provinces. A copy of the report is available at http://www.ibc.ca/taskforce.

The workshops will benefit small and medium-sized business owners, non-profit association leaders, employees and volunteers. Advance registration is required to attend the workshops. On-line registration is available at http://www.ibc.ca/Atlantic-Workshop-Online-form.asp While there is no cost to attend the workshops, participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, which will be donated to the local food bank. Cash donations for the local food bank will also be accepted.

Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national trade association of the private property and casualty insurance industry. It represents more than 90% of the non-government home, car and business insurance in Canada.

The Annual General Meeting of the Downtown Development Commission (DDC)is set for Friday, May 26 at 8:30 am. The AGM will be held at the Anna Templeton Center on Duckworth Street. The 2005 Audited Financial Statements and 2005 Annual Report will be presented. All members of the DDC are invited to attend.

St. John’s will welcome some large and luxurious visitors this year. A record number of cruise ships will squeeze their way through The Narrows of St. John’s harbour this season, bringing a record number of passengers and crew to the capital city.

A total of 21 luxury ships carrying close to 30,000 people from around the world are expected, much to the delight of city and tourism officials, and business owners.

“This year is a banner year,” said O’Keefe, Chairman of the city’s cruise committee and secretary of Cruise Newfoundland and Labrador, “but I expect we’ll have a few banner years over the next few years.”

First on the list of cruise-ship callers will be the Amsterdam, which arrives 7:00 am Friday for a four-hour stay. One of the larger cruise ships on the list of visitors this year, the 2378 metre Holland American Line vessel will carry more than 1,700 passengers. It’s the first of two scheduled visits this year, with the Amsterdam set to return September 4.

Other larger liners – carrying more than 200 passengers apiece – expected include the Sea princess and the Star Princess from Princess Cruises. Two first-time visitors from the Royal Caribbean cruise line are also on the list – Jewel of the Seas and Constellation.

O’Keefe said it was Royal Caribbean’s request that prompted the city to widen The Narrows in 1998-99. “We know now that within the next few years we are very, very big on their radar,” O’Keefe said.

The influx of cruise ships is good news for businesses in and around the city. According to O’Keefe, the cruise ship industry will generate an economic spin off of between $3.5 million and $4 million in St. John’s. “That permeates every aspect of the economy,” he said. “That includes the port authority fees, restaurants, gift shops, everything.”

Those benefits are what has prompted the city to spend close to $170,000 a year promoting and marketing St. john’s as a cruise ship destination. “It’s a good return on our investment,” O’Keefe said. “For every dollar spent, you get a return of about $17.”

With a changing industry – in which more cruisers are looking for different destinations – O’Keefe said St. John’s is attracting more interest. “The City of St. John’s has quickly become what many regard as an exotic destination,” O’Keefe said. “Over the next few years, it’s going to be our day in the sun.”

Rosie Gillingham, The Telegram, May 11, 2006

Please be advised that a closure of Duckworth Street from the intersection at Prescott Street westward to Cathedral Street from approximately 6.00 AM until 4.00 PM May 7 to allow the set up of a crane to perform several lifts of equipment to the roof top eleventh floor of TD Place.

The contractor has provided the City of St. John’s Traffic Division and Council with the appropriate information and documentation as required and has received approval to proceed.

Access to businesses and offices for parking and deliveries on the block will be granted where possible. Flag persons will be stationed at barricades at Prescott Street and Cathedral Street to direct and control traffic.

If you have any further questions please contact Mr. Dave Lundrigan of Tristar Mechanical Ltd at 747 5577.

As more businesses and new developments provide increased employment opportunities in Downtown St. John’s, the need to compliment these services with a pool of potential workers escalates. Memorial University's Department of Career Development & Experiential Learning (CDEL) can help facilitate the process of bringing Downtown employers together with Memorial students and alumni in potential employer/employee relationships.

If in the future your business or organization will be hiring an entry level • internship • part-time • contractual • summer • odd job • co-op candidate, the CDEL can assist you by posting jobs, collecting resumes, and providing the interview facilities at no cost to you! CDEL can put you in contact with thousands of Memorial students and alumni who are highly qualified and eager to showcase their skills. Your employment opportunities can be invaluable to the future development of a Memorial student or alumni, both professionally and financially.

Not hiring right now! There are countless other opportunities to get involved with on campus events that help shape student futures at little or no cost to you. For more information about CDEL and how they can assist you, please visit their website at www.mun.ca/cdel, contact Lynn Walsh or Chris Hounsell at 709.737.2033 or via email lwalsh@mun.ca / chrish@mun.ca.