The centre is the largest year-round private employer in Saint Andrews.
Gudie Hutchings, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development said COVID-19 has deeply impacted business.
“Canada’s ocean sectors were also so hardly hit by the pandemic and we all know we must remain competitive in our ocean spaces. With the current global health, economic and environmental crisis and the challenges, Canada needs to seize opportunities to build back better and to position our ocean sectors for sustainable growth,” she said.
Executive director and CEO of the Centre Chris Bridger said the pandemic initially slowed down aquatic research activities but the biggest financial impact was felt from cancelled school trips, university field courses and lower numbers of guests to the aquarium.
He said the number of guests went from 40,000 to 14,000 in 2020 and more than $1.5 million of revenue lost during the fiscal year compared to previous years.
“The REGI funding announced today has provided necessary relief so we could maintain most of our regular staffing levels at this time which gave us the capacity to envision our recovery,” he said.
Bridger said coming up next for the centre, the website for the centre is going to be relaunched and there will be an enhancement of the brand of experiences for oceans education-related for tourism.
“Some time ago before Christmas, there was some news that our town council passed a resolution on developing some land that the Hunstman has for a potential Knowledge Park type of initiative,” he said.
Bridger said he can’t release many details yet, but the center is looking forward to getting everything done.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.
The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was little changed in late-morning trading as the financial sector fell, but energy and base metal stocks moved higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.05 of a point at 24,224.95.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 94.31 points at 42,417.69. The S&P 500 index was down 10.91 points at 5,781.13, while the Nasdaq composite was down 29.59 points at 18,262.03.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.71 cents US compared with 73.05 cents US on Wednesday.
The November crude oil contract was up US$1.69 at US$74.93 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up a penny at US$2.67 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$14.70 at US$2,640.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up two cents at US$4.42 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.
