july2017

132 133 of our windmill farm,” Boucher says. “When phase three is complete, we will be producing over 40 percent of our electricity from wind power, and will probably be one of the only municipalities to reach the mandate set by the province for the year 2020. That’s something we’re very proud of and we pass that savings on to our electricity customers and constituents.” In addition, Boucher says that the Town Coun- cil recently passed a motion to allow grid-ty- ing, which means that homes and businesses that have photovoltaic panels on their roofs, to create their own electricity, can tie back into the municipal grid to consume electricity when needed, or feed excess capacity back to the grid for a rebate. Since the wind farm consortium has worked so well, Boucher adds that the three AREA municipalities are now investigating the possibility of expanding their electricity genera- tion to include solar technology. Another aspect of Antigonish that gives this small town a progressive blush is its connection with the university, which Boucher characteriz- es as symbiotic. “It’s an equal relationship,” she avers. “They bring so much to our town, but we also offer so much to the university by provid- ing a quality of life that makes it easy to recruit quality staff and quality professors. Also, when parents bring their children here to see if they want to attend St.F.X., often people will remark on the type of town that we are and they want to send their children here. “On the other hand, as a major employer, the university is essential to the lifeblood of our town.We have students that work in our town. St.F.X. has a Service Learning program where ANTIGONISH, NOVA SCOTIA PREFERRED VENDORS n Nova Construction Co. Ltd. novaconstruction@ns.sympatico.ca Nova Construction Co. Ltd. provides a wide range of heavy construction, road building, site clearing, and earth moving services. The rental of heavy equipment is also avail- able. The company operates four surface coal mines and owns and operates a regional shopping mall.  n GHD www.ghd.com students get credit for volunteering in the community. The students also coach many of our minor sports programs as well as tutor and mentor our youth. The university is a big part of who we are.When something good happens on campus, it’s good for the Town of Antigonish, as well. Something else that the university brings to the town is diversity.We have a lot of inter- national students and professors. It enables our town to be progressive.” Nheiley agrees. “Having the university in town causes us to have very vibrant and active com- munity groups; we have amazing restaurants and other lifestyle amenities such as the stage theater; we have a movie theater that most towns our size cannot support,” she states. “For a small, rural community, it’s an amazingly pro- gressive place.We have a resident base as well as the seasonal student population that pushes the town forward, which is fantastic.” Boucher sums up Antigonish’s charms: “It’s a quaint town with a rich history. There’s a small- town feeling, but it still has the amenities of a city as far as our infrastructure, culture, and our community, which is thriving.We’re very close to trails and beautiful beaches, we have a huge sporting community; we have great places to shop.” That’s Antigonish, Nova Scotia.Who could want for more?