The record, 2 octobre 2009, vendredi 2 octobre 2009

THE I "he Recent Revival ol'Radnc) See inside RECORD The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 WEEKEND EDITION 95 CENTS + TAXES Water Woes Concerns over projected tourist attendance at Omaterra raising concerns Page 2 The Great Intersection Debate Waterville to hold public hearing over redevelopment of intersection Page 11 The Good Ole Hockey Game The NHL regular season kicks off tonight with the Habs in Toronto to take on the Leafs.Get up to date with the Habs Report and an Olympic preview Pages 12 and 13 PM #0040007682 Friday.October 2, 2009 mm Top Ten after Te bishop s invites ten I graduates back their success and tin line ol it ion figgaa Hi i JESSIE AUUS Country star Johnny Reid will be making his way back to the Townships this weekend for a double-edged visit.First, he’s among the Bishop's “Top Ten after Ten" to be honoured at homecoming (he was a Gaiter) and then to perform a sold out concert at Centennial Theatre IÜ3 Trigg HI Trigg MORTGAGES THAT HELP SHELTER YOUR PROJECTS.For your house, it's more than a bank, it's Desjardins.MORTGAGE LOANS 1 800 CAISSES desjardins.com/home Certain conditions apply.Desjardins Money working for people t page 2 Friday, October 2, 2009 HFrnun ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ WÊM Projections for Omaterra causing concern Projected 50% increase in tourist attendance has some asking questions By Doug McCooeye Omaterra, a large water-based show planned for July 2010 in the Magog River in downtown Sherbrooke, has been the source of some intense debate in recent months.In early July of this year, the Municipal Council passed a motion to allow Cités des Rivières (the Sherbrooke Corporation) to spend $3.4 million to fund the project and prepare the show’s site.Only one councillor, Jean-François Rouleau, opposed the decision.Later that same week, Omaterra’s executive producer, Christian Morrissette, said the show’s conservative projected revenue was at around $1.8 million for the first year.Morrissette, citing a 2007-2008 study done by market-research firm Zins Beauchesne, also anticipated 23,000 spectators for the show’s entire run, some 800 people per show.According to the study, 20-percent of the show’s spectators will come from outside the Can-tons-de-l’Est region.By year three, that number is projected to be at 50-percent.Luc Fournier, a producer for RÉMI, a grouping of 20 of the biggest festivals that are put on throughout Quebec each year, openly questioned those figures.“The projected peak [for Omaterra] is equivalent to shows that have existed for many years," said Fournier in a recent La Tribune article.“Notoriety is earned after five to seven years, not in one year.” Fournier feels that the projection of 50-percent of the show’s spectators coming from outside the region by year three is a lofty goal.“It is also very, very, very optimistic,” said Fournier in the La Tri- bune article.“When we have fifteen-per-cent of tourists who come from outside of the region for a festival, it means that we are having a successful event.” Earlier this month, Councillor J.F.Rouleau echoed Fournier’s sentiments during a Municipal Council meeting, pointing out that many festivals in Quebec have struggled in recent years.On Monday, Cités des Rivières shot back.In a press release issued to various media outlets, the Sherbrooke Corporation stood by the projected numbers.“Even if people want to claim that Omaterra’s business plan is optimistic, the Sherbrooke Corporation, Cités des Rivières, believe that it is realistic and, in this vein, salutes the initiative of the Municipal Council who have been in favour of this cultural event [.] since May 2008,” stated the press release.The statement also addressed the 50-percent-by-year-three issue: “According to the statistics presented by Tourism Sherbrooke, a tourist attraction like the Orford Express train manages to attract a clientele where 75-percent come from outside of the Cantons-de-l’Est.The objective of Omaterra to attract a 50-percent tourist clientele is therefore realistic.” Despite the statement, adjustments may be made.After a summer that saw a decline in revenue for many of the big festivals throughout Quebec, Zins Beauchesne is in the process of re-evaluating their 2008 figures to see if changes should be made.Starting in July 2010, Omaterra is scheduled to be put on at least 32 times a summer, with four shows per week.Ticket prices are set at $44 for adults and $22 for kids.If Zins Beauchesne decides that changes should be made (their latest study is expected to be finished by late November), those ticket prices may come down.Draw results: 2009-09-30 F-TTIaJSg Prizes $2,000,000.00 $75,000.00 $750.00 $75.00 $10.00 $5.00 $714.511.00 Winners By Doug McCooeye Winners 1 4 143 7,155 135,721 102,908 otal sales Next grand prize (approx.) Prizes $12,432,037.00 $85,269.10 $1,970.30 $74.60 $10.00 $5.00 $16,603,222 $4,000,000 6/6 5/6+B 5/6 4/6 3/6 2/6+B Total sales 10,098 8.712 2/6+B 3588877 THE NEW TERMINAL BASED LOTTERY! Draw every Fridays.In the event of discrepancy between this list and the official winning lisf of Loto-Québec, the latter shall prevail ’s Top Ten after Ten All rain and no sun makes Township-pers a dull bunch Weather TODAY: SUNNY BREAKS.HIGH OF 11.LOW OF 4.SATURDAY: LIGHT RAIN.HIGH OF 17.LOW OF 9.SUNDAY: LIGHT RAIN.HIGH OF 14.LOW OF 5.MONDAY: SHOWERS.HIGH OF 16.LOW OF 5.1 ti m n i from all over Cana-a will be congregating in Lennoxville this Homecoming Weekend to celebrate their association with Bishop’s University.The weekend will also mark the start of a brand new initiative at the institution entitled “Bishop’s Top Ten After Ten”.A distinguished panel, comprised of some of the University’s most impressive alumni, have selected ten recent Bishop’s graduates to be recognized for their post-Bishop’s success.In recent months, alumni who graduated from Bishop’s between 1988 and 1998 were encouraged to submit applications for themselves or others for this honour.Of the 140 people who had their names submitted, 95 completed the full nomi- nation process.$cott Griffin then chaired a selection committee of seven illustrious alumni, which included such successful Bishop’s grads as Kelly Murumets (President 8i CEO of ParticipACTION) and Norman Webster (Former Editor-in-Chief of the Montreal Gazette), that narrowed down the field to ten impressive graduates who will be honoured over this Homecoming Weekend.“The committee had to make some really tough decisions,” said David McBride, Director of University Advancement.“There were 85 other pretty impressive people who weren’t chosen this year.” Of the ten graduates being recognized this weekend, the most recognizable is undoubtedly country-music star Johnny Reid (class of ’98).Reid was named Male Artist of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) in 2008 and has been nominated for six CCMA awards this year including Album of the Year and CMT Video of the Year.COURTESY BISHOP'S Pierre Dion Another name, Rober Ghiz (’96), will be recognizable to anyone who is familiar with the Canadian political scene.In May of 2007, Ghiz’s party won 23 of 27 seats in PEI and he became, at the age of 33, the second youngest serving Premier in Canadian history.Cont’d on Page 3 Ben by Daniel Shelton SO WH/tTS Y WELL, MY ESTIMATE?TAKING INTO life ACCOUNT CXPECTANCYy YOUR WBIGITÇ LIFESTYLE, THAT'S NOT TRUE.SOMETIMES I WALK THE POO AND IPO PLAY 60LF.15N0UUYAUYBAPY æ MAKING FUNERAL-ARRANGEMENTS.ANP LASTLY HOW OFTEN 90 YOU EXERCISE7 WELL.¦GULfVV IS THAT A ORlM REAPERS PIE7ANP ALL THAT.NEVER. Briefs Quebec man convicted on terror charges Montreal - Said Namouh has been found guilty of four terrorism-related charges.The 36-year-old Moroccan-born permanent resident who came to Canada in 2003, was found guilty of conspiracy, participating in a terrorist group, facilitating the activities of a terrorist group and extortion for or on behalf of a terrorist group.He had been living in Maskinonge, 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal, when he was arrested Sept.13, 2007.Calling all youth Youth group Forum jeunesse Estrie has launched a call for developmental projects by and for young Township-pers from 12 to 35 years of age to apply for the Fonds régional d’investissement jeunesse de l’Estrie (FRIJ-Estrie).The regional development tool, with a budget of about $170,000, is managed by the Forum in collaboration with the Conference régionale des élus de l’Estrie (CRÉ de l’Estrie) and financially supported by the Secrétariat à la jeunesse (SAJ) in the framework of the Youth Action Strategy 2009 - 2014, Any non-profit organization (including cooperatives), municipality, regional county municipality, and any public body are welcome to apply for the fund.“Yes, one of the primary functions of the Regional Fund for Youth Investment is to financially support concerted actions, but we fervently hope that it can act as leverage in the community to resolve problems or issues affecting young people," said William Tousignant, president of the Forum jeunesse Estrie in a recent press release.Projects must fit into one of five priorities from the strategic planning of the regional youth Forum, or in one of six challenges of the Youth Action Strategy 2009-2014.Funded projects must also contribute to improving the quality of life for youth.The five developmental priorities j include: improving the overall health j of youth, developing the quality of life | in the region, supporting the establishment of a strong and dynamic po-sition for the future, supporting youth participation to become responsible citizens and supporting the educational pursuits.Applicants can download the necessary forms from the Forums website www.forumjeunesseestrie.qc.ca/frijld ocuments.Projects must be filed by the November 20, 2009 deadline.Dennis G(ezos CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT Corporation Tax Accounting and Payroll Services Business ano Tax Consulting 175 Queen, Suite 204 Sherbrooke Tel.: 819-823-0800 www.glezos.ca ^RECORD: Friday, October 2, 2009 page 3 Top Ten after Ten .CENTRE D’ART DE RICHMOND uis-Philippe IN CONCERT1^ * A.Oct.3'" 2009, 8PN