Farmers' market awaits its rainmakers
Citizens have plopped down almost three-quarters of a million dollars of their retirement money to invest in a new harbour-side home for the Halifax Farmers' Market, bringing the structure one step closer to realization. But while organizers are optimistic, some of the government funds needed to move forward with the project remain unsecured and each delay sees staggering increases in construction costs.

More and more companies faced with globalization challenges
As a community economic development agency, our first role is to provide the necessary leadership to allow our region to deal adequately with the many challenges and opportunities it faces. During the last fiscal year, many companies in our region have been confronted with the challenges of globalization.

The Co-op Alternative: 'Deconstructing Dinner' looks at community farming in BC
It's been a topic of discussion throughout many broadcasts of Deconstructing Dinner: while there is clearly a widespread interest in supporting more localized food systems, the bigger picture of how such systems can be physically, economically and politically sustained is a far more complicated and serious matter.

Close to $300,000 funding for women’s projects announced at Tri-County Women’s Centre
Close to $300,000 funding for three projects designed to significantly improve the lives of women and girls throughout southwestern Nova Scotia was announced by Gerald Keddy, conservative Member of Parliament for South Shore - St. Margaret's, at the Tri-County Women’s Centre in Yarmouth this afternoon.

Go wild! Popularity of organics feeds appetite for indigenous foods that grow in wild
Milkweed pods marinated in cider vinegar? Curry soup with cattail hearts? Wild salmon with white spruce sauce? Brie with wild rose petal jelly? Who knew that many of the things that grow along Canadian trails, ditches and back roads are not only edible, but in demand? A red-winged blackbird perches on a cattail. The cattail hearts are harvested in late spring and are similar to hearts of palm.

McGill conference tackles global food crisis
The world is currently facing one of its most serious challenges in ensuring there is enough food for everyone. Changing dietary and food consumption patterns, rising energy prices, climate change, and dramatic natural events like floods and storms are all contributing to critical food shortages and sharply higher prices. As prices have risen, market forces have also begun to play a role in driving cost even higher. The world’s poor are the hardest hit.

Roseau River In Turmoil
The community has had its water turned off by the Pembina Valley Water Co-op, because it is four months behind in paying its bills. Chief Terry Nelson has called it an act of terrorism, but Water Co-op C.E.O. Sam Schellenberg refutes that notion. He says everything was done to avoid this situation, but all they received were promises from Roseau leadership.

Provincial government announces the details for Northern Initiative fund
The provincial government released guidelines and criteria on Monday for the $100-million Northern New Brunswick Infrastructure Initiative. Roland Haché, minister of environment and minister responsible for the infrastructure initiative, outlined details of the program during a technical briefing at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Beresford.

New Co-op slated for Hall Beach
This summer's sealift won't just bring Hall Beach residents the usual vehicles, appliances and cans of Coke. It will also bring something a little out of the ordinary - a brand new multimillion dollar Co-op store - or at least, the materials for one. Construction of the new 6,000-square-foot store, which will also have an attached 3,000-square-foot heated warehouse and office space, will cost $2 million to $3 million.

Microfinance, Macroimpact
A few weeks ago, I wrote in The Province business section about the Canadian division of a microfinance non-profit called Opportunity International that funds banks for the poor in 28 countries. What I didn't get to write about was other microfinance fundraising initiatives launched right here in B.C. On Vancouver Island, for instance, some small donors to OI Canada are making a big difference.