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Cape Breton’s Famed Forest Stewards: The Christianos of Finewood Flooring

Jessica Klein — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:45:56 +0000

(Finewood Flooring - photo: Jessica Klein Herenbrink)

On my way to visit Eastern Nova Scotia’s Woodlot Owners of the Year, Peter and Candace Christiano, I stop to pick up a hitchhiker travelling with a big blue tote. My new passenger, Sam, also a woodlot owner, is well acquainted with the Christiano’s operation. In September of last year he’d been out to tour their woodlot and learn about the style of forest management they use. As we drive the short winding stretch of the Cabot Trail, from highway 105 to Middle River, I discover Sam is building himself a house in the woods. After a hectic holiday he is glad to be getting back to the peace and quiet of his country home. He also tells me, before hoping out of the car, that the Christianos’ have one of the most impressive legacy birch trees he’s every laid eyes on.

From the highway, a short snowy tree-lined road quickly opens up to the mill and offices for Finewood Flooring. The Christianos are busy at work when I arrive half an hour early. “People always think we’re way out there,” Candace Christiano tells to me with a laugh. “But we’re only twenty minutes from Baddeck!”

As we sit down in the cosy office for Finewood Flooring, Candace Christiano shows me a magazine article from the ‘70s, written about the young couple who had recently immigrated from New England. At that time, land was unaffordable in their southern home, so the Christianos followed the coast north, to see what else was out there.

In Cape Breton they found affordable land, but the young couple wasn’t sure if that could make a full-time living here. However, the industrious pair soon found a way to do it, and they set to work building their home and business in Middle River. Now 30 years later, the Christianos employ about 10 people from the local community, who help them manufacture tongue and groove hardwood flooring boards. As we tour the mill, Candace tells me it was a fairly steady and natural progression from their early beginnings in carpentry and woodworking. As new machinery was acquired, they were able to evolve the business. A strong appetite in the European market for maple flooring has really helped the business flourish.

At Finewood Flooring, all the wood that comes to the facility gets used. Rough cut boards are sorted into various products based on imperfections and the quality of the wood. If a slit in the board prevents it becoming 5 inch wide plank floor board, then it is marked and cut into smaller size flooring. What isn’t used in production, the scraps and waste, is pelletized and used to heat the manufacturing building, or sold as pellets. The Christianos see their value-added product as being an efficient use of local resources. Not only are they reusing the by-product, but they are also saving the cost of shipping that material by exporting a finished product rather than raw materials. Finewood Flooring products are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as having come from healthy forests where forests, wildlife, waterways and the rights of local communities are conserved.

Having come from an area that had a well-developed economy for value added wood products, the Christianos were surprised to see how under-utilized hardwood timber was in their new home province. They can now point to a few major barriers that contribute to this situation. For starters, they had to prove to many people that there actually could be a hardwood industry in Nova Scotia. Peter Christiano explains that the timber economy that has established here, is actually suited to a forest type that is in transition. The mills and timber grants are set up to harvest softwood conifer trees which are more common to the boreal forests of the North, but which have become prevalent here as farmsteads are reclaimed and the forest transitions back into mature Acadian forest. The infrastructure and timber leases for Crown land are based on the softwood industry and access to the hardwood components and the infrastructure needed to sustainably harvest those resources, are still not readily available.

(Eastern Nova Scotia’s Woodlot Owners of the Year, Peter and Candace Christiano - photo: Jessica Klein Herenbrink)

Aside from the mill, the Christianos also own a 75-acre woodlot, where they have practiced uneven aged forest management. This style of forestry uses techniques to promote the growth of high value, long living, marketable trees. It closely resembles a natural forest, having a variety of tree species of varying ages. Trees are usually harvested individually or in small groups. Having managed the woodlot for over a quarter of a century, their forest is a model for other woodlot owners, and earned the Christianos the Eastern Nova Scotia Woodlot Owner of the Year award in 2011. The Christianos were also just awarded the Don Eldridge Stewardship Award on January 18th by the Forest Product Association of Nova Scotia.

Despite the positive accolades coming their way, this forward-looking couple still see serious challenges ahead for their community and the hardwood industry. Though forestry practices and conditions seem to be slowly improving, the Christianos deal with the same problems facing the region at large. When I visited, they had just lost an employee to the Tar Sands of Alberta. How to create an environment where people can thrive and live sustainably in rural Cape Breton communities is an issue always close at hand, even while standing in the middle of a good living model for sustainable local enterprise.

The Christianos believe that there is so much that could be done to create a more vibrant industry and community. From creating more value-added wood products and services to establishing family-friendly forest trails that provide opportunities for learning about our forests and developing an appreciation for what they provide us with.

After a healthy discussion about current affairs, and trying our best to get to the bottom of what’s wrong with the world, the Christianos and I decide to close the book for another day. Shaking hands with these fine folks, I am grateful that they didn’t heed the advice from the one piece of hate mail they received, following publication of the 1970’s magazine article. That of course being along the lines of: “Go back where you came from, draft dodgers! We don’t need you ‘round these parts!” How far from the truth! So let us not be quick to judge hitchhiking forest dwellers like Sam. For, like the Christianos, he’ll probably be able to teach us a thing or two about sustainability.

A Mid-Winter cycling supper: Velo Cape Breton’s Annual Potluck – January 21

Hannah MacDonald — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Whether your bicycle is facing winter roads or winter storage, the Velo Cape Breton Annual Potluck is a tasty winter break for island cyclists. On Saturday, January 21st at 5:30 pm, join cyclists the island over for a winter feast and cycling celebrations at the cozy Dobson Yacht Club in Westmount. Everyone is welcome!

This Annual Potluck has been an important event in Velo Cape Breton’s schedule since 2005. Each year, the Potluck is a time for cyclists to get together regardless of weather and enjoy a good meal and good stories. On top of great food, the supper cyclists will also be treated to an overview of the year’s rides and the Velo Cape Breton cycling awards.

The 2012 rides schedule will be revealed on Saturday night. The jam-packed schedule includes many favourite rides and a few new additions. For those looking for a more relaxed peddle, come hear about the “Family-Friendly Cycling” events and the “Learn to Ride” workshop and course series. The much-anticipated details of the “Epic Rides” will be announced, which includes the ever-popular Across the Highlands Challenge. New for 2012 will be the Lobster Roll – 100! With 100 kilometres of Cape Breton waters, the Potluck won’t be the only meal to look forward to this year.

Each year, Velo Cape Breton members honour their fellow local cyclists for their dedication, volunteering, commuting and improvement. Eight awards will be given out to island cyclists and businesses.

Feel free to bring your friends and a supper dish. To simplify cooking tasks, everyone with a last name beginning with A to K is asked to bring a dessert. Everyone with a last name M to Z is asked to bring a main course dish. Please join us at the Dobson Yacht Club for a great meal and a great evening!

Kim Dunn Trio to perform at fundraiser for Northside Community Guest Home – January 28

WGO staff — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:22:07 +0000

(Kim Dunn - photo: Murdock Smith)

The Kim Dunn Trio are set to perform at the Northside Community Guest Home’s second annual Dinner Theatre and Silent Auction fundraiser. The event will be happening on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at the Florence Firehall (41 Kempt Street, Florence, NS) at 6pm.

The evening will consist of a silent auction, three course meal, and entertainment by the Kim Dunn Trio. Dunn, a North Sydney native, has had a successful music career for over 30 years working with the who’s who of East Coast artists and beyond including Rita MacNeil, Bruce Guthro, Matt Minglewood, Jimmy Rankin, Lennie Gallant, David Myles, Jill Barber, Dave Gunning, George Canyon, Alison Krauss, Peter Gzowski, Philip Glass and many more. After producing, musical directing, arranging and playing on countless albums by other artists, Dunn has brought his song-writing and singing to the foreground with his first solo project, Take This Hammer. He will be showcasing this self-produced debut CD for supporters of the Northside Community Guest Home Foundation this January, blending elements of Jazz, Blues, Pop and Folk together for a special evening that shouldn’t be missed.

The event will be hosted by 103.5 the Eagle. It supports the Foundation’s Complete the Dream campaign which aims to raise $300,000 for additional equipment, furnishings and activity items for Cara House. Cara House is the Guest Home’s latest addition, which opened its doors last November to 39 new long term care residents and which allowed for an expansion of programs and services for all 144 residents. The Complete the Dream campaign thermometer is up to approximately $220,000.

Tickets for reserved seating and tables are on sale until January 20, and can be purchased by contacting the Foundation Office at 794-8781, 11 Queen Street, North Sydney.

ACAP Cape Breton kicks off 20th anniversary celebrations with music and talk – January 9

WGO staff — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:24:56 +0000

(Heartwood Slacks, pictured here performing at Governors Pub in Sydney, will be helping ACAP Cape Breton kick off their 20th anniversary on Monday, January 9 at ACAP Cape Breton’s Centre for Sustainable Communities, 582 George Street - photo: myspace.com/heartwoodslacks)

Twenty years ago, ACAP Cape Breton was created under the federal Atlantic Coastal Action Program. Now, this environmental non-profit, charitable organization is the Island’s centre for environmental information and programs.

To highlight ACAP Cape Breton’s work the board and staff are inviting all Cape Bretoners to take part in a year-long celebration. The events begin on Monday, January 9th with a kick-off open members’ meeting. From 7 to 8:30pm the public is invited to a sneak peek into the 20th anniversary celebrations, to learn about ACAP’s activities, and to hear guest speaker Fred Baechler’s presentation entitled “WATER: Damn, That’s Neat Stuff!”. Entertainment will be provided by local music group Heartwood Slacks beginning at 6:45pm.

The new Make A Splash: Water Education Tool Kit will be also be launched at this event. The Tool Kit was created by ACAP Cape Breton in partnership with the CBRM Water Utility and the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board to highlight local water issues to elementary school students.

“We’re looking forward to sharing the work we’ve been doing with the public and to provide opportunities for learning and discussion,” says Susan King, Executive Director. “Fred Baechler is a local hydrogeologist and engaging speaker. We are thrilled to launch the new Water Education Tool Kit that provides local information to students in a fun and interactive manner. This is the first event of the 20th anniversary celebrations to mark the impact of ACAP Cape Breton in the community.”

The meeting is open to the public and will take place at ACAP Cape Breton’s Centre for Sustainable Communities at 582 George Street, Sydney on Monday, January 9 at 7:00 p.m.

The Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) Cape Breton is a non-profit, charitable community organization. Located at 582 George Street in Sydney, this dynamic group integrates environmental, social and economic factors into projects focusing on action, education and ecosystem planning.

Harbourview Montessori Art Gala, December 15, celebrates co-operation

Ken Chisholm — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

(Among the artwork to be displayed is this piece by seven-year-old grade 2 student Lucas Richards)

Charles Dickens, in his classic tale A Christmas Carol, has Scrooge’s nephew say that this is the one time of the year “…when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely”, making this is a time of sharing, hope, peace, and co-operation.

The Harbourview Montessori School brings those virtues to their latest funding raising effort, A Celebration of Co-operation: Art Gala, at the Membertou Trade Convention Centre on Thursday, December 15, 6 pm.

The event is the first art gala for Harbourview, located on the Murphy Road in Westmount, and, while local artists have donated works, the spotlight is on artworks created by the school’s students.

Student Braedon MacLean explains, “We’re doing it raise funds to buy educational materials for the classroom and for the community so other people can see about what we do in the classroom.

Malik Rahey, another Harbourview student, explains that 2012 is the International Year of the Co-operative, and the Art Gala will “help show how co-operatives send money back into the community that they get in the community.”

“Co-operatives also help give food to other people,” Fatima Shrafat explains, and her fellow student, Holly Doucette adds, “Everybody’s an owner in a co-op; we learn about co-ops all the time.”

(Ten-year-old grade 5 student Maggie Nemeth's painting)

Maggie Nemeth says the gala will feature artwork by the students based on the idea of co-operation and one of her contributions is of two people holding up a peace sign.

Fatima’s features people holding hands to show they are a family and they’re co-operating. Holly has contributed one painting of a silvery tree growing out of the word “peace” and a falcon because there is co-operation in nature and she “likes falcons”. Bailey Karrel has painted a landscape with a peaceful waterfall coursing through it.

Many of the students, like Holly and Fatima, draw and sketch outside of the classroom, or, like Jacob Vere, take photograph. They are all excited to have the public to see their art on display for the first time.

The Art Gala, hosted in partnership by the students of Harbourview Montessori School and the Co-operatives and Credit Unions of Nova Scotia, will have a silent auction of the children’s artwork along with that of contributing local artists (including Doray, Marie Moore, and Bev Niven), along with refreshments and musical entertainment.

Tickets are $20, and are available at: Harbourview Montessori School, Murphy Road, Westmount; East Side Mario’s, Mayflower Mall, Grand Lake Road; Home Hardware, Prince Street, Sydney; and Wentworth Perk, George Street, Sydney.

Inaugural Bicycle Ride on the NEW Canso Causeway – December 11

WGO contributor — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

(The Canso Causeway's new guard-rail and metre-wide paved shoulders will improve safety for cyclists - photo: Dave Yetter)

by Micheline Guillot & Jacques Cote

From 1952 to 1955, approximately 10,092,000 tons of rock quarried from nearby Cape Porcupine were dumped in the 1.3km by 65 ft. gap of Canso Strait to connect the North American continent to Cape Breton Island. Despite all this, Cape Breton Island remained a true island as a result of the 24 m (79 ft) wide and 570 m (1,870 ft) long Canso Canal, which is located at the eastern end of the causeway to allow ship traffic to transit the Strait of Canso.

Over the years, hundreds of thousands of passengers, tons and tons of coal, land and sea produce, and all sorts of goods transited onto and off of the Island through the rail line and the two lanes of traffic on the Causeway, which has remained virtually unchanged for nearly 60 years.

More and more, cyclists by the hundreds are riding their bicycle on the Causeway while travelling across Canada from coast to coast to visit the home of the famous Cabot Trail, one of the top 10 cycling destination worldwide.

The Causeway has stood up pretty well but the passage of time, the pounding of powerful waves and storm surges coming from both sides all through those years, has meant that some maintenance due to maintain this important link for mainlanders to reach Cape Breton and Newfoundland.

One of the improvements made this year by the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, was the installation of a new wire guard rail and the paving of the shoulders on both sides. This represents a major improvement for the safety of all Causeway users, motorized and non-motorized users included.

To celebrate, Velo Cape Breton Bicycle Association is inviting everyone to join the Inaugural Bicycle Ride across the NEW Canso Causeway. The ride will leave from the Visitor’s Information Centre in Port Hastings (Island’s side) at 1pm on Sunday, December 11 returning by 1:30pm for a hot spicy Nova Scotia cider and a few words by honourable guests. Not having a bicycle is not an excuse because a group will walk to pass the swing bridge and return to the VIC.

Environment Canada is calling for a beautiful nippy day… A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 2. High minus 1–just the right temperature for rosy cheeks and lots of laughter!

CBU Art Gallery provides local artisan holiday market – December 5

WGO staff — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The CBU Art Gallery and Reloved Design are excited to present A Handmade Holiday, the first local holiday artisan market to take in the Great Hall, at the entrance to the CBU Art Gallery, on Monday, December 5, from 11 am to 6 pm.

A Handmade Holiday will provide a chance for community members to shop locally and support regional crafters. Contemporary artisans take on traditional crafts like pottery, jewellery, hand bags, bath and body goods, art, baking and more.

Laura Schneider, Director/Curator of the CBU Art Gallery sees the event as an important way to draw attention to cultural producers in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. “We’re always trying to expose the community, both within and outside of the university, to the broadest range of cultural production we can,” says Schneider. “This event gives us the opportunity to present beautiful works by artisans whose pieces wouldn’t necessarily fit into the art gallery’s regular exhibition programming, but whose contributions to the creative climate on the island are just as important.”

Co-organizer Morningstar Pinto, owner of Reloved Design, is dedicated to supporting the handmade movement and is a firm believer in the importance of shopping locally. “Subsidizing your holiday gift list with a few locally made delights will not only make your heart sing, it will support Cape Breton at a base level,” says Pinto. “If you take out one quarter of your mass produced, out-of-country purchases you will be directly contributing to a thriving economy at home.”

Shoppers are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to Loaves and Fishes. The Art Gallery will be supplying shoppers with refreshments, and a diverse range of musical guests from the CBU community will be on hand to provide entertainment throughout the day.

May your holidays be bright: LED Holiday Light Exchange program returns to ACAP Cape Breton – December 3

WGO staff — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Looking for ways to save money this holiday season? Nova Scotia Power has teamed up with Efficiency Nova Scotia to bring the annual LED Holiday Light Exchange program to the ACAP Cape Breton tree lighting ceremony taking place at the corner of George and Townsend Streets, Saturday, December 3rd, 6 to 9pm.

Residents who bring two strings of traditional glass holiday lights for free recycling will receive one string of LED holiday lights in exchange for free.

The exchange aims to create public awareness on the benefits of LEDs and encourages participants to make a full switch to the more energy efficient lighting.

“We are happy to host the LED Holiday Light Exchange again this year,” notes Susan King, Executive Director at ACAP Cape Breton. “We always have a great community response for these exchanges and it’s fun and easy way to green your holiday at home.”

LED holiday lights use 90% less energy than traditional strings and last ten times longer. “There has been tremendous participation in previous LED Holiday Light Exchanges,” said Rob Bennett, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power. “We’re excited to bring this program to Nova Scotians for the seventh season.”

ACAP Cape Breton has been a long-time host of the LED Holiday Light Exchange and this year will be among 90 other community organizations across the province. Since the program was launched in 2005, over 38,000 sets of traditional holiday lights have been collected and traded for more energy efficient lights – saving enough energy to power more than 100 average households.

Efficiency Nova Scotia is committed to providing energy saving ideas and opportunities to Nova Scotians. The LED Holiday Light Exchange is just one of the programs Efficiency Nova Scotia provides to encourage customers to switch to more energy efficient products. The Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) Cape Breton is a non-profit, charitable community organization that integrates environmental, social and economic factors into projects focusing on action, education and ecosystem planning.

7th annual central Cape Breton appreciation dinner for Cape Breton Cancer Centre Saturday, December 3

Ken Chisholm — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 +0000

(Well-known local singer Donnie Campbell, pictured here at Celtic Colours in 2010, will be among the performers at a fundraising dinner for the Cape Breton Cancer Centre on Saturday - photo: Murdock Smith)

On Saturday, December 3, there will be a special dinner and musical evening to raise money for the Patient Care Fund of the Cape Breton Cancer Centre sponsored by District 1, Municipality of Victoria County, Grandona Legion Branch 124, the St. Columba Catholic Women’s League, and the Nova Scotia Highland Village Society.

“The first dinner (seven years ago) was a joint effort between the Village and its then food vendor Mablene’s (Donna and Jim MacNeil),” explains, Rodney Chaisson, director of the Highland Village. “It was initially intended as a benefit for our then councillor Dan E. MacNeil who was being treated for a rare form of cancer. Dan E. suggested that the monies actually go to the Patient Care Fund. Thus our annual dinner was born. Jim and Donna are no longer able to help us with the dinner, so this year, the Legion and the CWL have joined us in ensuring that this community dinner continues for years to come. Victoria County has also been a sponsor for several years now.”

“There have been many people in our area that have benefited from the work of the Centre and in particular the Patient Care Fund,” Chiasson explains, “The money is being raised for the Patient Care Fund of the CB Cancer Centre. This fund assists cancer patients with costs associated with cancer treatment.”

Musical guests for the event are Donnie Campbell, Joanne MacIntyre, Anita MacDonald, Jenny Tingley, among others. The event itself takes place at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #124, 4237 Hwy 223, in Iona.

The menu for the evening starts with an array of hand-made appetizers, then an Arugula salad with freshly grated parmesan cheese, topped with cherry tomatoes and hazel nuts, drizzled with a lemon dressing. The entree is roasted hip of beef highlighted with a béarnaise sauce served with baked stuffed potatoes and roasted root vegetables with maple syrup. For dessert there is heavenly chocolate delight. As well, there are gluten free options available.

Cocktails begin at 6pm with the dinner served at 7pm. Tickets are $30 each and are available from the Highland Village (725-2272) or the Legion (725-2178). All tickets must be prepaid.

Velo Cape Breton annual general meeting launches two new programs – November 21

WGO staff — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

(Cyclists gathered at the Fortress of Louisbourg for a ride in July)

Cape Breton is putting two wheels on the map! Velo Cape Breton is inviting all Cape Bretoners to the annual general meeting to learn about the year’s cycling activities and to introduce two new bicycle tools: the CBRM Cycling Routes 2011-2012 map and the Velo CB Cycling Ambassadors.

The annual general meeting will take place Monday, November 21st at the CBRM Civic Centre Community Room (320 Esplanade, Sydney).

“The AGM always makes for a lovely evening, but I’m especially looking forward to this year’s meeting,” notes Andrée Crepeau, president of Velo Cape Breton. “We appreciate the opportunity to show our community the year’s activities, especially the cycling map and ambassadors, but we are always seeking new ideas, members and volunteers.”

The event is open to the public and everyone from the savvy cycler to the beginner biker is encouraged to attend.

From 5:30pm to 6:30pm, members and newcomers can mingle at the meet and greet with local catering of savoury snacks and tasty Cape Breton sweets. At 6:30pm, the annual general meeting officially kicks off. The meeting will include updates on the year’s rides and advocacy, board appointments and volunteer opportunities and the roll-out of two entirely new programs. The CBRM Cycling Routes map will be launched and the Velo CB Cycling Ambassadors will be introduced.

Everyone attending the meeting will walk away with a copy of the CBRM Cycling Routes 2011-2012 map. This map highlights the best urban and scenic cycling routes in the municipality. Also increasing the profile of Cape Breton cycling, the Velo CB ambassadors will be introduced and, hitting the roads this spring, will be actively encouraging bicycling and road sharing around the island.

Velo Cape Breton is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that promotes the use of the bicycle as a safe and enjoyable mode of transportation and recreation. This is accomplished through advocacy, education and rides that are geared to all levels of experience.