Black to Business – Issue 56 – Summer 2013

issue

56

SUMMER 2013

EBONY HAIR SALON Also in this Issue:  Training Partnerships  Trailblazers:

Women of Excellence

“A dynamic and vibrant Black presence within the Nova Scotia Business Community.”

Black 2 Business is the official periodical of The Black Business Initiative Its goal is to support the BBI as it fosters a dynamic and vibrant Black presence within the Nova Scotia Business Community.

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For Advertising Information, Rates, Submitting Story Ideas, Notices or Community Events, and for more Information, call: 902-426-2224

EBONY HAIR SALON

Published by: The Black Business Initiative

Elvera Ross

Editor in Chief: Michael Wyse Design & Layout: Design North Production by: Mirabliss Media Productions

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Cover Photograph: Paul Adams

from the Chair & the CEO

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The Black Business Initiative Centennial Building Suite 1201,1660 Hollis Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1V7 Phone: 902-426-2224 Fax: 902-426-8699 Toll Free: 1-888-664-9333 E-Mail: bbi@bbi.ns.ca Web Site: www.bbi.ca

1 Message

Ebony Hair Salon

5 TRAILBLAZERS Michelle Williams-Lorde & Laurissa Manning

7 BBI BRIEFS

8

Regional Shout-Outs

8 Youth on the Move Kirsten Olivia

9 Beautiful Linens

Catherine Akinkunmi

Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail Sales Agreement no. 0040026687

C O NTENTS 11 People & Business

9

on the Move

13 Training

Partnerships Helping Entrepreneurs Succeed

17 Hindsight Infrared Services Inc. Charles Adams

19 Ross Simmonds Dreaming Big About Digital Marketing

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21 Out & About with the BBI

23 Ask the BBI

Entrepreneur’s Tool Kit

24 Business

is Jammin' Break into Business Camp

25 Geek Speak

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4 Things Holding Businesses Back from Great Content Marketing

27 Community &

Business Events

The Black Business Initiative (BBI) is a province-wide business development initiative committed to fostering the growth of businesses owned by members of the Nova Scotia Black Community.

The BBI focuses on supporting business starts, business growth and business attraction to Nova Scotia. The BBI also places priority on supporting Black owned firms to improve productivity, invest in strategic innovations and enhance regional and global competitiveness.

In 1996, the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia set up the BBI to address the unique needs confronting the Black business community in Nova Scotia. For the first five years of its existence, BBI was funded under the COOPERATION Agreement for Economic Diversification, a joint agreement between the Federal and Provincial Governments. The BBI is currently funded by the federally administered Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Provincial Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism.

BBI Vision A dynamic and vibrant Black presence within the Nova Scotia business community.

BBI Mission To positively influence the Nova Scotia business culture by promoting and assisting in the development of Nova Scotia Black-owned businesses.

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Message from the Chair and CEO Greg Browning, Board Chair & Mike Wyse, CEO

• Am I adequately investing in staff training to grow the capacity of my team to compete?

• Am I strategically planning and taking action to achieve business growth?

• Am I sharing my business knowledge in support of developing the next generation of ‘Job Creators’?

• Am I sufficiently preparing for my exit – retirement, sale, succession, etc.? Does this include Black ownership? If not, why not?

Message

Mike Wyse, CEO and Greg Browning, Board Chair

After a weaker than expected performance in 2012, analysts are projecting real GDP growth to increase from approximately 1.1 percent in 2012 to approximately 1.8 percent in 2013. Though this lags behind the national average, we feel Nova Scotia is poised for economic prosperity. Indicators of potential growth for our region include the $25-billion Irving Shipbuilding contract; Shell’s $970-million offshore exploration project; the Maritime Link; and the new Halifax convention centre. As well, emerging market exports have increased since 2000, and in the construction field, we are seeing more cranes on the horizon than we have in the past decade.

This being said, there is an opportunity for constructive dialogue focused on how to better invest in, support and realize business growth and enhanced competitiveness. How should the Black-business community position itself to take advantage of Nova Scotia’s strong economic fundamentals and proactive business support services?

We believe that the sustainable health of the Blackbusiness sector is directly linked to its ability to realize gains in technology adoption, productivity and innovation supporting a competitive local and global market presence. In this regard, as business owners, please ask yourselves: • Who are the best in my sector globally, why are they the best and what are they doing?

•

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Am I aware of and fully utilizing government grants, loans and support programs for business training, wage subsidies, productivity, research and innovation?

For non-business owners, please ask yourselves: • As a consumer, am I buying local and supporting Black-owned businesses and the economic prosperity of Nova Scotia?

•

Am I supportive of my children and other youth developing the skills and confidence to unlock their entrepreneurial creativity and potential?

• Am I invested in continuous learning to ensure that I have competitive skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow?

The BBI asks these questions because we are interested in continuing to play a valued, clientfocused role in working with firms to help move their economic needles, increasing the number of Black-owned businesses and diversifying the Black-business base.

This is about job creation, equitable participation in the mainstream economy, community development, and securing our economic futures. It is about positioning ourselves to equitably participate in emerging opportunities.

Expanded Black-business success is good for Nova Scotia!

Andre Livingston Halifax Rainmen Halifax, Nova Scotia www.rainmenbasketball.ca

Jason Vaillancourt and Robert Loppie The Bin Doctor Ltd.

Darla Johnston SLIC LASER Inc. Sackville, Nova Scotia www.sliconline.com

(Consumer Recycling Products) Dartmouth, Nova Scotia www.bindoctor.com

Garnet Wright Stone Gallery Halifax, Nova Scotia www.stonegallery.ca

Putting a Name to the Faces of Business Success Barbara Miller Manning GenieKnows Inc.

Cynthia and Cassandra Dorrington Vale & Associates Inc.

(Online Advertising/IT) Halifax, Nova Scotia www.yellowee.com

(HR Strategic Consulting) Halifax, Nova Scotia www.valeassociates.ca

Glen Carvery Carvery’s Construction Ltd. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Dr. Abdullah K. Kirumira BioMedica Diagnostics Inc. Windsor, Nova Scotia www.biomedicadiagnostics.com

Proudly brought to you by:

Cover Story

Ebony Hair Salon Ten Years & Growing Elvera Ross , Owner, Ebony Hair Salon 3 ...

Paul Adams

S

tep inside Ebony Hair Salon on Dartmouth’s Main Street and it’s hard to miss the enormous plant sprouting up from a large clay pot and spidering its way across the ceiling from corner to corner.

Owner Elvera Ross has nicknamed it Psycho Sid. “Someone told me I needed to give it a name and talk to it every day,” she says

The plant serves as a living reminder of how much Ebony has grown over a decade. When Ross celebrated her tenth anniversary in business this winter, she added another memento on the salon’s back wall. It’s a Bible verse from 2 Corinthians: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”

“I give God all the praise,” Ross says.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for my Heavenly Father.”

Ebony began, as many businesses do, when its owner saw a void in the marketplace. Ross set out to help people who don’t know what to do with textured hair. Her inspiration came from a close relative who is biracial and her mother had no experience dealing with curly locks.

“In all her school pictures, she always had a ’fro,” Ross says. “That was my motivation.”

Up to that point, Ross was doing hair at home on the side. Her day job as a manager at McDonald’s gave her the training she needed to set out on her own.

“I learned payroll, inventory, how to run a business,” she says.

But entrepreneurship had more lessons in store for her. She quickly discovered how different it is when your title is owner and not manager.

“One of the biggest differences was that when I closed the doors at McDonald’s, I didn’t take it home,” she says. “When I close these doors, it goes with me.”

One of her earliest mistakes was to try to do too much too soon. She found herself with too much overhead. “I was trying to make everybody happy, and not using that business sense,” she says. “I had to go without paying myself.”

“More and more, when I ask people how they found us, they say the Internet,” ... “But we still get people who walk in off the street and say they had no idea we were here.”

Since the early days, Ebony has grown into a popular, often bustling spot that offers natural hair care for both women and men. Barber Jermaine Gordon, who moved from Toronto and started working at Ebony four years ago, describes it as one of the best places he’s ever worked.

“It’s a great atmosphere – we’re all like family here,” he says. “And it’s really diverse. People who move here from Newfoundland find us and come here to get their hair cut.”

Ross tries to cultivate a family atmosphere for her employees. “I’m so thankful for the staff and I wouldn’t be here without them,” she says.

by: Chad Lucas

That atmosphere rubs off on customers as well. The clientele comes from all races and colours."I had one Caucasian lady say to me, ‘You guys make me feel like I’m sitting in my kitchen,’” Ross says. “We get that comment all the time. Everybody’s involved in the conversation. It’s a nice atmosphere and the customers like it.”

As she looks toward her second decade in business, Ross has her eye on another void in the market — the online world. She plans to expand into selling more natural hair care products online, especially in the underdeveloped market in other Atlantic provinces. For example, Ross says, dozens of black students attend the University of Prince Edward Island but they have a tough time finding decent hair care in Charlottetown.

She also sees how improving her online presence can benefit her real-world salon. “More and more, when I ask people how they found us, they say the Internet,” she says. “But we still get people who walk in off the street and say they had no idea we were here.”

One thing is clear, from Ebony’s beginnings to the Bible verse on the wall: Ross is out to do more than just make a living. She wants her business to bring real value to the people it serves.

“I like working together with people in the community,” she says. “I believe that if you pass blessings on, you get more.”

Ebony Hair Salon Elvera Ross, Owner 126 Main St., Dartmouth, NS (902) 433-0425 4 ...

Women of Excellence

Trailblazers

by: Emily Rendell-Watson

Each year, the Halifax Cornwallis Chapter of the Canadian Progress Club recognizes 19 incredible women with the ‘Women of Excellence Award’. Michelle Williams-Lorde and Laurissa Manning are two recipients of the award whose contributions and devotion to both the community and their professions are truly inspiring.

Laurissa Manning Core Essentials

Michelle Williams-Lorde Dalhousie University, Schulich School of Law

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Michelle Williams-Lorde Michelle Williams-Lorde believes it’s not the end goal of a degree or a job that counts; it’s how she is able to live her life in a way that does right by other people.

Williams-Lorde, professor at the Dalhousie University Schulich School of Law and Director of the Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq Initiative (IB&M), received the Women of Excellence award in the education and research category.

“Quite honestly, the first thing that went through my mind was that there are so many people who have done so much more than I have done. I am appreciative, but there is more that needs to be done that I should be doing. It is very humbling,” says Williams-Lorde, who is hopeful her students and alumni will eventually be recipients of this award.

Williams-Lorde’s biggest hope for the future of the IB&M Initiative is that it is able to keep access to legal education open. She would also like to see racial discrimination abolished not only in legal practice but worldwide.

The IB&M Initiative will celebrate its 150th graduate this spring and Williams-Lorde believes that it is what program graduates choose to do with their education that will bring about positive change, and she is confident the graduates will continue her fight.

“I’d like to see, and do my part to create a city, a province, a country, a world where our children do not have to put up with negativity. That they be valued for who they are and the gifts they bring to the world.”

Despite her numerous accomplishments, Williams-Lorde says she is most proud of her relationships with friends and family.

Williams-Lorde says her desire to help others comes from the experience of racism in Nova Scotia and seeing how it impacted her family, friends and community. Her research on restorative justice in the African Nova Scotian community largely stems from these experiences.

“At the end of the day, this stuff, you don’t take it with you,” she says as she gestures to her office. “It’s really about relationships and mutually encouraging each other to do our best with where we are in each of our lives.

We each have our own trail to blaze and it’s our life’s work to blaze that trail, at the same time remembering those who were before us, encouraging those coming behind and encouraging others who are blazing their trails in different ways.”

Laurissa Manning The home page of Laurissa Manning’s Core Essentials website reads: “One of the greatest moments in life is realizing that two weeks ago your body couldn’t do what it just did.” For Manning’s clients, this feat can be attributed to her dedication to providing them with unique fitness training and nutrition.

Winner in the entrepreneur and innovation category for the Women of Excellence award, Manning’s approach to fitness and nutrition is a special one.

As a youth, she was overweight and did not participate in sports.

“When I hit junior high, I started going to the gym with my mom. It became something that I just really enjoyed doing for myself,” says Manning, who opened Core Essentials in 2009 and now believes that fitness is a lifestyle change as opposed to a quick fix.

Manning says the most important aspect of Core Essentials is the community environment.

“One of the goals I had when opening Core Essentials was that I would know every person’s name when they walked though the door. For me, that’s the least you can do for someone who is investing in your company and believing in you as well. Think about how good you feel when someone calls you by name. Even if they don’t know anything else about you, they know your name and that means something.”

Community isn’t the only way Manning has differentiated Core Essentials from larger gyms. Her studio offers RealRyder bikes, which lean 18 degrees in each direction, as well as rowing machines filled with 19 litres of water. The gym also holds a 100-minute Century Bike Ride every month that benefits youth sport.

“For Core Essentials it’s important to try and stay current and do what’s important for our clientele. Winning the award let us know we’re moving in the right direction,” says Manning, who comes from a family of entrepreneurs.

“I’ve always been taught if you do something that you love you can be successful at it,” says Manning. Although she puts in a lot of hours every day, she loves training clients and other fitness professionals.

“The most important thing to me, if you are going to open a business, is make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. Then do your research. You can be passionate about anything, but make sure it’s viable, that it’s something people want or that you can make it into something people want.

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BBI Briefs

@@@@ @ @ @ @ Regional Shout-Outs Bring Your @@@@ Business to a @@@@ New Audience @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ ADVERTISE in the next @@@@ Issue of B2B @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@ @@@@

Congrats to Darla Johnston of Slic Laser on her 10 years anniversary. Slic Laser keeps growing and growing with more and more options to keep that skin Slic. Slic Laser specializes in more than just laser hair removal. They now offer botox, JUVÉDERM fillers and you can extend your eyelashes with latisse.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Slic Laser yet check out the coupon in this magazine and visit their website: sliconline.com / for other promotions.

Congrats to Jessica Bowden on her induction into Rev. Dr. W.P. Oliver Wall of Honor. The prestigious ceremonial wall was created in memory of Rev. Dr. WP Oliver, the founder of the Black Cultural Society. Jessica Bowden is a true renaissance women. Born in Nova Scotia, Jessica’s unprecedented accomplishments over her 25 years created opportunities and paths, where none existed for thousands of youth. Providing key tools to assist in building confidences, encouragement, and inspiration to help teens and their curious parents navigate through the difficult years.

Congrats to Corey Katz of Corey Katz Photography on being chosen as a finalist for the 2012 Excellence in Business Awards for Best Young Entrepreneur. He also recently found out he’ll be the head photographer for Celtic Colours Festival this year!!!!

BBI was proud to be a pitch coach for the Dragon’s Den Auditions that took place at CEED on February 16th. Tune in starting in April to see if you recognize some local entrepreneurs.

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For Advertising Information & Rates call: 902-426-2224 e-mail: bbi@bbi.ns.ca

by: Sindi Skenderi

YOUTH ON THE MOVE

Her parents are very supportive of her career choice, as they see how hard she works and how passionate she is about singing. The songstress started singing at a very young age in her church choir, and around 16 she knew she wanted to do it for the rest of her life. “Being able to share my gift and give a value to others... see how much people appreciate it, that’s how I knew,” she says.

Kirsten Olivia wants to take her soulful

voice to far places, while still keeping her community close to her heart. Graduating from the Music and Arts program at the Nova Scotia Community College, Kirsten is ready to use all the opportunities given to her in hometown of East Preston to her advantage.

Only 20 years old, the singer received a big compliment when she won the award for rising star at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Awards. The association is committed to the advancement of Nova Scotian entertainers in the music industry through events like concerts, awards shows, youth events, fundraisers, and jazz festivals.

Along with performing her best known song, Mr. Opinionated, in the awards show, Kirsten had the chance to sing with one of her biggest idols growing up. “I sang back up for Divine Brown at the show ... her song Old Skool Love was one of my favorite songs when I was young,” she says. Other idols who inspired Kirsten’s music and voice were Lauryn Hill, Yolanda Adams and Peggy Scott, to name a few. “I grew up listening to soul because of my parents, my mom loves Yolanda Adams... it was just a big part of my life,” says Olivia.

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Kirsten is so passionate about her music because she knows it is her calling. “I do enjoy business, but I’m just more of the artsy type ... I want to express myself,” she says.

Extremely determined, she takes every opportunity that comes her way and makes the best of it. Working with her teacher Jeff Goodspeed, she practices her gift in school as well. “There’s a Cuban Exchange Program at my school where we plan a month of gigs and events in May... I joined right away,” says Olivia.

Her genuine personality and her goose bump-inducing voice have started her off on a good career path, but Kirsten wants to take her music to new heights. She acknowledges that it is good to start small and build up your fame at a steady pace, but she would also love to travel and experience the music scene in new places. “We have a bunch of opportunities, but the industry here for my type of music is not big enough for what I want to do,” says Kirsten.

While she loves and really appreciates the support she gets from her community, she aspires to visit Toronto and get her foot in the water there. Ideally, she would visit for a short period of time, get a feel of the city, attend some conferences and events, and then come back home, “before I bite off more then I can chew,” she says. Even if she has a chance to travel there, Kirsten values the importance of remembering, as well as representing, where she comes from. “I love seeing all my faces [supportive, representative] whenever I preform, not of just the Black community but Nova Scotia as a whole,” she says.

Kirsten believes that the most respected and valued artists are those who do not let go of their roots, no matter how successful they become. Her obvious humility and levelheadedness are the qualities that will surely help her attain her dreams in singing and songwriting.

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by: Carol Dobson

Catherine Akinkunmi’s Beautiful Linens

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Laura MacPhee

W

hen

you’re

planning your fairytale wed-

ding or any special event, you want the first word out of your guests’ mouths to be “WOW.” It’s amazing how something as simple as fine linens in stunning or classic colour combinations, chair covers, sashes, and backdrops can turn a plain room into something memorable.

Catherine Akinkunmi is the creative mind behind Beautiful Linen Rentals and she brings joy to her clients by doing just this.

She started the business two years ago because she was looking for linens for her daughter’s birthday party and found the products available for rental were too expensive. She always enjoyed being creative, so decided to source less expensive but high quality products for the wedding and special event market to fill a needed niche.

“I found a company that manufactured products I liked in China,” she says.

“They sent me pictures of the items I wanted and then I ordered them and we arranged the shipping to Halifax.

The Black Business Initiative helped me with my business planning and supported me as I got started. Because I have an MBA, I found it wasn’t that difficult to put my business plan in place.”

She has also become a certified International Event and Wedding Planning professional (IEWP). She is

a presence at the main bridal shows held in Halifax every spring and does a lot of her marketing through her website and Kijiji. Her services range from assisting the bride who wants to do most of the wedding herself but needs to rent linens, backdrops, chairs and tables, to complete startto-finish wedding planning.

“Our initial consultation involves taking time to learn about the couple and offer a packet of recommended vendors and resources, amazing deals and promotions offered by a number of vendors we work within the industry. We also assist in creating a budget to ensure everything stays on track. This is a fun and informative session and you will leave feeling ready to take on the next step.”

She sometimes finds herself offering practical advice to the bride so she can have the wedding of her dreams without totally breaking the bank. “I often make suggestions of items that can be purchased at the dollar store that can blend in with the décor, so that everything comes together the way the bride wants it and they appreciate that,” she says.

“If you apply a little ingenuity, a do-ityourself wedding can be impressive.”

She has a studio in west end Halifax that is open by appointment for her clients. She offers two tiers of service – the service for the bride who is looking at managing most of the wedding on her own and the complete bridal service. One of the services she provides is creating a mock setup of the decor plan where the bride can come into the studio to see how the colours she’s chosen blend together, so she has an idea of how the final setup will appear.

Akinkunmi’s company also provides similar services for corporate events, such as meetings, receptions and dinners at local hotels and other venues.

“I have organized events for Dalhousie University and the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation,” Akinkunmi says. “I also work with a number of venues who rent items from me in colours that they don’t have already in stock.”

She says, “One of the highlights is seeing the look on the bride’s face when she walks into her reception.

Afterwards, I often get e-mails telling me how happy the couple has been. Those are good testimonials to receive because I want their wedding to be perfect and I’m always excited to relive those precious moments in a person’s life.

Beautiful Linen Rentals Cathy Akinkunmi, MBA, iMSIT, IEWP Lead Designer Halifax, NS Wedding and Event Rentals & Design (902) 719-8584 www.beautifullinenrentals.ca facebook | skype id: blr-halifax

Fun Facts Last Book Read: How to get People to Say Yes Advice: You have to have passion in what you are doing. If you do not have passion, you will fall by the wayside.

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People & Business on the Move

Congratulations to the children involved with the North End Community Health Centre’s Hope Blooms. Current participants in the project have been invited to take part in the CBC entrepreneurial show “Dragons’ Den”. The children raised enough money to travel to Toronto to participate in the popular show, which taped on April 27. They plan to ask for entrepreneurial advice from the “Dragons” but also to pitch for financial assistance — a repayable loan — to keep operating the “social enterprise.”

Saint Mary’s Justine Colley is the best university women’s basketball player in the country. The superstar hoopster was named the Canadian Interuniversity Sport player of the year in Regina, becoming the first Atlantic conference representative ever to win the Nan Copp Award.

Dartmouth singer/songwriter Kirsten Olivia won the emerging artist award at the 15th annual African Nova Scotian Music Awards gala (see her story in this issue). Halifax-based rapper GQ Number One received the rising star award.

Hip-hop performer J-Bru, who has toured across Canada and overseas with Classified, won artist of the year.

The BBI Industry Development Award went to StahMeNah Records. The Council on African Education (CACE) Pioneer Awards were Universal Soul and Matthew Smith. The late James Paris, an R & B singer from Truro who started playing in the 1960s and later performed gospel music, received a lifetime achievement award. Carson Jackson, was this year’s winner of the CACE Heritage Award.

Senator Donald H. Oliver was this year’s honouree at the James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies Distinguished Speakers 11 ...

Series at Dalhousie on March 4. “The Real McCoy” is just one example of Black Canadians’ long-standing contributions to Canada and the world showcased by the Senator in his talk. Senator Oliver presented on his 50 years of diversity advocacy, first as a Dalhousie-educated lawyer and, for the past 23 years, on the Canadian Senate.

Beau Dixon, a Peterborough Ontario-based actor and musician, brought his one-man show, Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story, to Nova Scotia for a series of school and public performances in Springhill, Amherst, Oxford and New Glasgow, and Halifax earlier this year.

The Ujamaa Association, a community development initiative in Halifax, hosted a provincial Black family meeting at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law on April 5 and 6 in Halifax. “The main purpose of the meeting is to discuss the many problems facing the black (community) and to deal with healing,” Rocky Jones, Ujamaa’s co-chair., said in the ChronicleHerald.

Marko Simmonds directed the Nova Scotia Mass Choir’s 10th annual Martin Luther King tribute show since September, scripting the concert along with the Nova Scotia Mass Choir’s president Sandra Slawter and past-president Rosella Fraser.

Each year, the concert honours local heroes. The soloists this year included Charlie A’Court and Cyndi Cain, while Shauntay Grant was a featured performer, performing her spoken word poetry.

The Ward One Community/ Recreation Centre in New Glasgow received funding for a project under the Legal Enrichment and Decision-Making Program, Project LEAD. The grant will go towards the Youth Leadership Retreat to provide 55 youth of African descent with three days of learning about their heritage, positive decision-making and leadership.

African Canadian artists who established a Black presence in art, were highlighted in a series of Saturday Art Talks at the Dartmouth Heritage Museum this spring – Ruth Johnson and Edith MacDonald Brown,from Africville, Edward Mitchell Bannister, of St. Andrews, NB, George McCarthy from Shelburne, and Audrey Dear Hesson of Halifax.

The Dalhousie African Students' Association (DASA) and the St.Mary's African Students' Society (SMASS) hosted their largest ever African Night at the Cunard Centre in late March. This year's theme was "The New Face of Africa" showcasing the diversity of African cultures with music, comedy, and fashion. The University of Kings College’s Moe Hashem was the emcee at the gala celebration.

The Southeastern Community Health Board (SECHB) held a celebration to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21 at the Black Cultural Centre. The event included a display of drawings by grade six students from local elementary schools, performances by students from local junior high schools as well as an Aboriginal Opening Ceremony, and a performance by Samm "Splash".

Craig Marshall Smith and Patricia Doyle Bedwell participated in a discussion on Racism from a NS Perspective, at Saint Mary’s University on March 22.

The panel was sponsored by SMU’s International Centre.

The African Children’s’ Choir, The Ruddicks, and Bruce Gibson performed at a special concert in honour of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination held at the Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre in Springhill on March 29.

The Secret Codes, an exhibition of original African Nova Scotian Picture and Narrative Quilts presented by the Black Artists Network, Vale Quilters of New Glasgow and The BBI, with funding support from TD Then and Now Black History Month Series was on display at the Waterfront Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College and the St. Francis Xavier Art Gallery earlier this winter. The quilters exhibited were Myla Borden, Marilyn Brannan, Heather Cromwell, Bolivia Czernon, Frances Dorrington, Marlene Dorrington, Laurel Francis, Debra Jordan, Shirley MacKenzie, and Connie Glasgow White.

Garnet Wright, of the Stone Gallery, was the subject of a profile in the December edition of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Voice” magazine.

Belated congratulations to Laurissa Manning and Michelle Williams Lorde for being among the 2012 winners of the Progress Women of Excellence Award.

(Featured in this issue’s Trailblazers) Jonathan Duru, of Aberdeen Tours, was profiled in the business section of the Chronicle Herald. With the upcoming tour season upon us, he will once again be offering tours to the Black Cultural Centre to visitors to the province, especially those on cruise ships.

“The Panther Next Door” was broadcast on February 23 on CBC television across the country. This film told the story of Deanna Sparks and Ronald Hill, a fugitive member of the Black Panthers who sought refuge in Lake Loon, NS in the early 70’s.

In Memoriam The Black Business Initiative would like to extend condolences to the wide circle of family and friends of the late Dr. Daurene Lewis – a trailblazer in business, politics, and education.

It also sends sympathy to the family of the late Pat (Elms) Skinner, of Antigonish, a community leader and founding member of the Black Cultural Society, who lost her life in a car accident in February.

New BBI Staff Sharifa Upshaw Administrative Assistant/Receptionist Sharifa Upshaw was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was raised in Middle Sackville.

Upon completion of high school she studied Business Administration at Nova Scotia Community College- Waterfront Campus and graduated with her Diploma in Business Administration in 2012. Prior to working with the BBI, Sharifa worked for the last five years in the retail industry. She is the newest member of the BBI team and is excited about embarking on a new career path with the BBI. 12 ...

by: Carol Dobson

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TO BE SUCCE SSF UL at anything, one must realize the value in developing a practice of and commitment to continuous lifelong learning. Entrepreneurship is no exception. The importance of enhancing business and workplace skills is key to increasing the competiveness and productivity of one’s business. Since its very beginning, one of the fundamental deliverables of the Black Business Initiative (BBI) was to provide training to support entrepreneurial success.

BBI’s Training Department is one way the BBI continues to invest in the growth and competitiveness of Blackowned firms.

custom training support services to meet the specific needs of its clients.

Through program partnerships with the Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism (ERD&T), Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education (LAE); Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI), Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), Constructing the Future (CTF); Employment Nova Scotia (ENS) and its START Program to name a few, BBI is expanding its training reach, impact and outcomes. Through collaborative efforts with these organizations, the BBI is ‘driving’ the training agenda, successfully designing and delivering training, certifications, and skills enhancement processes in a broad variety of industry sectors and skill levels.

“If firms want to move their economic needles, an investment in training to enhance the firm’s capacity to compete will pay great dividends,” Michael Wyse, the BBI’s CEO, says.

Within the past year, BBI has increased its training activity by 75 per cent.

In part, this included training seven African Nova Scotian Energy Home Auditors; five solar panel installers; sending six companies to three leading international construction trade shows; launching another Constructing the Future Program; training its own staff in proposal writing, computers and business communications; and assisting a business owner with training to become the first African Nova Scotian

“Developing an entrepreneurial mindset and nurturing the growth in our clients is the core of our training department,” says Cheyanne Gorman-Tolliver, the BBI’s Director of Training. “The Black Business Initiative has been partnering with the Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism (ERD&T) as well as the Department of Labour and Advanced Education (LAE) to successfully deliver training in a variety of business-related areas.”

continued on page 15

It begins with nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset, developing creative solution and cultivating an aptitude for innovative adaptation. The BBI specializes in

14 ...

to be certified as an Energy Home Auditor and a vendor for Efficiency Nova Scotia (see profile story in this issue).

“We are striving to help Black-owned firms better position themselves for future economic success,” Wyse says.

“BBI uses an assetsb a s e d approach.

Our training programs are carefully tailored to meet the specific needs of clients and builds on their existing skills while learning new ones.”

Cheyanne G o r m a n Tolliver says.

“Our training department has become a vital force in driving the growth strategy in the African Nova Scotian business c ommuni t y.

The generous support from government and the community 15 ...

will allow BBI to continue offering valuable and relevant training programs to our clients.”

“Our partnership offers BBI clients a proven method to identify and enhance essential skills in a way that is customized and works for them,” Margo Hampden, from the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, says.

“The Workplace Initiative partnership offers training in a wide variety of programs such as Essential Skills of Business, Project Management, Communications for Supervisors, Social Media, Human Resources, and Construction Math, just to name a few.

“Our training program is very flexible and supportive to everyone involved, such as employees, management, business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs.

The core of our training focuses on the essential skills. The essential skills are the root of everything you do in every job or task you do in a job regardless of your position, occupation, trade, or title. If we can develop and grow the essential skills of Nova Scotians, this will make us a stronger, more competitive Nova Scotia.”

Glynis Simms of Just Right Childcare has participated in BBI training programs since she started her business in 2007 and she believes they have made her a better business person. “My business is providing quality care and programming for children 18 months to school age,” she says. “My background is in [working with children] and youth and I worked for many facets in that line of work, including schools, hospitals, group homes and community service. I decided to take my profession to another level and obtained an equivalency in early childhood education and from there opened a child care/preschool centre.”

“My background is in [working with children] and youth and I worked for many facets in that line of work, including schools, hospitals, group homes and community service.

I decided to take my profession to another level and obtained an equivalency in early childhood education and from there opened a child care/ preschool centre.”

Glynis Simms, Just Right Childcare Musician Marko Simmonds took the Finance for Business course so he could manage the business side of his career as the operator of RMS Music Productions. It’s enabled him to manage his bookkeeping as well as helped him determine the true value of his work when it comes to pricing gigs, venues and the style of music that his clients request. “I learned a lot about the formulas you can use in Excel spreadsheets,” he says. “I had a basic understanding of Excel but the course really advanced my knowledge.

I also learned how to use a tax software program and now I use it to keep track of all of my expenses.”

Terence Hyacinth, who’s in the hairdressing industry, agrees with Simmonds on the value of the finance course. He says it helped him broaden his horizons and gain a better understanding of the budgeting process, balance sheets and cash flow. “The course really helped my computer skills,” he says. “I’m a lot faster than I was before.”

The Constructing the Future program has been a boon to two more Nova Scotians.

“CTF was a great program that influenced a major change in my life,” Darrel Viner says. “I learned many new skills that I now apply in the work force. The instructors were very knowledgeable and always willing to share what they knew. CTF gave me the confidence and ability to obtain a full time position.”

“I learned a lot about the formulas you can use in Excel spreadsheets,” he says. “I had a basic understanding of Excel but the course really advanced my knowledge. I also learned how to use a tax software program and now I use it to keep track of all of my expenses.”

Marko Simmonds, Musician His words are echoed by another participant, Khothatso Mokoena, who says, “The experience I have received in the CTF program has been nothing but positive. We are introduced to different aspects of trades, better yet it is hands on learning and theoretical based. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is thinking about getting into trades especially young black males and females, since we as black people are underrepresented in skilled trades.”

Nicole Thomas, the owner of BigMove PSC, which sells plus sized clothing for

women, says the training she received was helpful. “I needed to learn more on how to run a business. After thinking I could run a business alone, I failed.

So I reached out for help. I took the Foundation for Success and the Finance for Business courses, and they were what I needed. The programs I have taken through the BBI have helped a great deal. I understand where I went wrong and I’m working very hard to make my dream come true. This business is helping me learn more about myself, and it’s inspiring me to reach out to people big or small to let them know about not settling for less than they deserve. I feel that this is more than just a business, it’s a movement.

My business is just beginning to be something amazing. I tell everyone the BBI has been a big great help to me and my business.”

The BBI has also enabled entrepreneurs, such as Garnet Wright, the owner of The Stone Gallery, to attend trade shows as a means of broadening horizons.

“I attended three trade missions sponsored by BBI and NSBI,” Wright says. “Green Build 2012 in San Francisco CA was the one that stood out to me to be the most memorable. It was a trade show expo focused on the latest technologies and sustainable building materials. The show was the largest I've ever seen. There were more than 1500 exhibitors from all over the world.

I learned about energy efficient building practices, that I can incorporate into my plans for home construction back here at home. I was also able to connect with suppliers of materials that are not currently available here in eastern Canada. This trade mission opened my eyes to a world of opportunities in green, sustainable and energy efficient building practices I plan to incorporate into my business.”

“I attended three trade missions sponsored by BBI and NSBI,... This trade mission [Green Build 2012 ]opened my eyes to a world of opportunities in green, sustainable and energy efficient building practices I plan to incorporate into my business.”

Garnet Wright, Stone Gallery

If you are an existing business owner and want to build capacity within your company or a new entrepreneur starting on the journey of business skills development, contact BBI today.

Mahogany O’Keiffe, Training Associate is waiting to provide you with training related information, opportunities and support to succeed, 426-8688 or lucas. mahogany@bbi.ns.ca

16 ...

by: Carol Dobson

Hindsight Infrared Services Inc.

Charles Adams, President/Owner

17 ...

Paul Adams

W

hen

you’re

building new

a

home

you want to make sure it is as energy efficient as possible, especially with the way the cost of heating a home keeps climbing up and up. That’s where Charles Adams, the President/ Owner of Hindsight Infrared Services Inc. and Hindsight Plumbing and Heating comes in.

After an almost 12-year career as a building inspector with the Halifax Regional Municipality, he struck out on his own last year as a Certified Level 1 Thermographer (Building Investigation), and a Certified Energy Advisor for the ENERGY STAR and EnerGuide programs. This is in addition to his work as a plumber for more than 30 years and as a certified home inspector.

The services he offers include building diagnosis using infrared technology to investigate heat loss, insulation, moisture, electrical, HVAC issues and quality control so that the new home can achieve its EnerGuide for New Houses rating. In addition to the infrared technology which allows him to capture information unavailable to the naked eye, he also conducts heat loss tests, such as the blower test, to determine where air is leaking from a home.

“We’re hired by Efficiency Nova Scotia to do quality control under its Performance Plus program so that the homeowner knows that the work

done by the contractor who built their home is up to ENS’s level of satisfaction,” Adams says. “This allows the homeowner to get the rebates the government offers for energy-efficient homes.”

In addition to the quality control work, Hindsight can work with clients at all stages of the EnerGuide for New Houses Program. This begins at the blueprint stage where they can provide clients with information and strategies on how to build an energyefficient structure.

Once the new home is registered with the EnerGuide program, Hindsight will enter its blueprints into the latest HOT2000 software, which allows clients to see where their EnerGuide rating is at the plan stage and determine what is required to reach the homeowner’s goals for energy efficiency and provide information about the available government rebates to assist with those upgrades.

“We can provide detailed predrywall inspections which includes infrared imaging, visualizing moisture issues, insulation deficiencies and air infiltration problems instantly and without destructive testing. This service helps insure that the building envelope is viewed at that crucial time before all is covered, checking the building wrapping, insulation, vapour barrier and sealing,” Adams says.

When the home is nearing completion, Adams is able to do the final evaluations, such as the air tightness test, final thermal scan, and final inspection prior to occupancy so the home owner is able to use the

EnerGuide rating achieved to apply for the available government rebates.

Adams relishes the opportunity to do this work on his own, as his own boss. He says he’s reached a point in his career that he’s “snaked enough drains” and would rather be learning and applying new technologies. To date, he’s a solo operator but says having another person with similar skills and certifications would be something to consider.

So far, his business is confined to new construction as opposed to retrofits being conducted on older homes to improve their EnerGuide ratings. But, as he looks around his Lower Sackville area and sees the amount of new construction being carried out, he’s confident he’ll have enough to keep him busy for a long time.

Hindsight Infrared Services Inc Charles Adams Lower Sackville, NS T: 869-0203 C: 237-0908 E: hindsightinfrared@me.com www.hindsightinfraredservicesinc.com

Fun Facts Last Book Read: The Book of Negroes Advice: Research is essential.

Don’t be turned off by small hurdles.

18 ...

by: Chad Lucas

Ross Simmonds

Dreaming Big About Digital Marketing

19 ...

Photo contributed

I

t’s 9 a.m. on a Monday and Ross Simmonds is stocking up on coffee before a drive to Sydney.

He’s on his way to speak with students at Nova Scotia Community College. Later in the week it’s business professionals at Innovacorp and last week it was tourism leaders on Prince Edward Island.

When he’s not on the road giving talks, he might be writing a blog post, consulting with a client, planning weekend adventures with his startup company, Dreamr, or keeping on top of the latest social media trends.

With more than 6,000 followers, Simmonds is one of the most popular Nova Scotians on Twitter. All that leads to plenty of long days that end at 3 a.m., but he doesn’t mind.

“When you’re passionate about something, you don’t really recognize that you’re not sleeping as much as you should be,” he says with a laugh. “But that’s why I always have caffeine.”

The 25-year-old from East Preston is making a name for himself as a digital marketing strategist. Forbes Magazine recently picked up one of his blog posts — on business lessons to learn from hip-hop guru Jay-Z — and ran it on their website.

get back to my roots in terms of running my own company and working for myself,” he says. “I came to the realization that I’m either going to do this (now) or regret it when I’m older. I could always find an excuse, so it was time to put the excuses aside and say, ‘Let’s do it.’”

an awesome weekend,’” Simmonds says.

Simmonds spends much of his time speaking, writing, and consulting with clients to help them make the most of the web. It’s easy to get him talking about the opportunities he sees in the wide-open online world.

Simmonds wants to see Dreamr develop into the kind of site that people check first when they’re coming up with weekend plans. And he wants to grow it beyond Nova Scotia into other marketplaces.

“I honestly think that now is the most exciting time to be in business,” he says. “The power of the Internet today is to run tests and learn quickly. You can see in real time what people are saying about you, see what their thoughts are on your design, see if they’re actually buying things from you. I think for businesses it’s about recognizing the importance of changing, and just embracing constant change.”

“Right now we’re trying to figure out what that looks like,” he says.

Change is something Simmonds embraces. “I enjoy doing multiple things,” he says. “I don’t think I’ll ever be the type of person who just has one thing to focus on.”

In December, inspired by a “quarterlife crisis,” Simmonds decided to leave a successful position at the public relations and marketing firm Colour and set out on his own.

One of his passions is Dreamr, a company he runs with two partners that puts together unique social experiences for young professionals.

Their outings so far include a paintball battle, a sushi-making and sake-tasting night, and a 60-person soccer baseball tournament.

He comes by his enterprising spirit naturally: his grandfather was an entrepreneur and his uncles run paving companies. “I knew I would

“We try to create experiences that when people tell their colleagues about them in the office on Monday, they’ll say, ‘Wow, that sounds like

One of his favourites was a beachside yoga session and organic picnic at Rainbow Haven. “I’m not an expert yogi—I didn’t know my body could bend in those ways,” he says. “But it was a lot of fun.”

It may be just one of many balls he has in the air, but it’s a fitting combination of Simmonds’ passions: making the most of social media to produce something tangible and lasting.

“The real power is when you can take people from online and bring them to real life again — what I like to call going from pixels to the flesh,” he says. “That’s when the magic happens and you can see people building stronger relationships with each other. You can make those memories that will last forever. That’s what we try to create.”

Find Ross online at www.rosssimmonds.com or dreamr.ca. You can also read his regular column – Geek Speak - in each issue of Black 2 Business magazine.

20 ...

ANSMA AWARDS SHOW

21 ...

Adams Photography

Out with &theAbout BBI

March 2, 2013

J-Bru accepts the ANSMA Award for Artist of the Year at the 15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

Laurinton Garreth Warren of StahMeNah Records accepts the BBI Development Award from BBI CEO, Mike Wyse at the 15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

Divine Brown was the feature performer at the 15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

Lou Gannon, Jr., President of ANSMA on stage at the 15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

Kirsten Olivia accepts the ANSMA Award for Emerging Artist at the 15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

Marko Simmonds performs at the 15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

Universal Soul accepts one of the two CACE Pioneer Awards at the15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

The Award winners pictured with Minister Percy Paris at the 15th Annual ANSMA Awards Show

21 ...

ANSMA at the ECMA AWARDS March 6-10, 2013

Asia & NuGruv perform at the ECMA / BLACK VIBES showcase at Casino NS

J-Bru performs at the ECMA / BLACK VIBES showcase at Casino NS

with the BBI

Cam Smith and his crew, winner of the 2013 ECMA African-Canadian Recording of the Year

BBI at various functions

Mike Wyse, BBI CEO at BBI Holiday Social at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia

BBI staff / guests at 2013 Canadian Progress Club Women of Excellence Awards

Out & About

Adams Photography

Deves Matwawana performs at the ECMA / BLACK VIBES showcase at Casino NS

Mike Wyse, CEO BBI and Heather Spidell, President, CEED sign an MOU

22 ...

??????? ??????? Entrepreneur’s Tool Kit ??????? Is your business looking to invest in your employees or hire new ones? ??????? The Nova Scotia government has two initiatives your business can tap into. ??????? ??????? ??????? ??????? WIPSI ??????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? START ??????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ??????

For assistance with WIPSI and the START program contact: Emma Beukema, otuki.emma@bbi.ns.ca ?????? ??????

Ask the BBI

by: Emma Beukema RBDM

The Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI) is a funding incentive designed to encourage businesses to invest in employee and management skills development and improve productivity. It is also designed to help companies adapt to the introduction of new technology and innovative processes, and enhance international competitiveness.

The following activities may be eligible costs under WIPSI:

The START program encourages employers to hire Nova Scotians requiring work experience or apprenticeship support resulting in good jobs for Nova Scotians and good employees for employers.

What costs can be covered:

• Purchase of training from a formal training institution or qualified external or internal training provider • Registration, tuition or course fees • International training • Management skills development • Skills development training leading to certification • Training that supports workplace diversity • Other skills development and training based on a valid Businesses, industry associations and business case private-sector unions are eligible for the training incentive, with the exception of businesses primarily involved in wholesale, For more information or to apply to WIPSI visit: www.gov.ns.ca/econ/pip/wipsi/ retail, accommodation, and food service.

All businesses and organizations (Not for profit and Social Enterprises) that have business locations and jobs in Nova Scotia are eligible. The START program has a focus on small- to medium-sized enterprises.

23 ...

• • • •

Individual’s wages Mandatory employment related costs Training costs Other costs as determined by Employment Nova Scotia, Workplace Initiatives and the Apprenticeship Training Division

For more information or to apply to START visit: www.gov.ns.ca/employmentnovascotia/programs/start.asp

Last year over 1000 youth from across Nova Scotia participated in Business is Jammin’ activities.

Join us as we get ready to roll out another exciting fun-filled Summer Entrepreneurship Program. Youth aged 8-18 will have the opportunity to learn valuable skills in a fun educational and safe environment. Discover the entrepreneurial skills within and maybe even try running your own Business for a Day, a week or the whole summer!

Start Now!

Have Fun! Be Your Own Boss!

Take Control!

It’s Easy!

Earn Money!

24 ...

4 Things Holding Businesses Back From Great Content Marketing The great thing about content marketing is that it lives in a variety of different forms. Whether you’re creating a video, an E-book or even a Facebook status update, content marketing is all about providing value and building a relationship with your target audience. Content marketing is when a brand makes an effort to develop a variety of pieces of content that its audience will find valuable. This content can provide the audience with entertainment, conversation or an element of education.

I consistently come across people who want to discuss the power of social media and how they can make content marketing work for their business. I often chat to them about my favourite tips and tricks for content marketing and how they can use these strategies and tactics to find meaningful results. While I don’t think content marketing has reached its tipping point and the formula for success isn’t found in the form of a cookie cutter, I am always open to chatting about how content and social media are changing the way we do business.

with Ross Simmonds

Through these conversations, however, I have been quickly realizing that most businesses won’t succeed at content marketing. Content marketing isn’t exactly rocket science but it can be challenging. Here are four reasons many businesses struggle: Not Embracing Technology

Eighty-five percent of Internet users have Facebook accounts; 49 percent are on Twitter. Stats like this speak for themselves when it comes to recognizing the importance of social media and technology as a whole. Brands are still resisting the jump and ignoring the realities of social media and the Internet playing a significant role in the success and failure of businesses today.

The backbone of social media is content. As a business, you need to recognize that while you cannot control the conversations happening online, the content you share and create can influence them. Through ongoing conversations with potential and previous customers, you can develop relationships with these people and turn them into raving supporters. These supporters and advocates will then spread positive messages about your brand online, and as a result you will see a direct impact in your sales and potential leads.

Departments Working in Silos This isn’t just holding businesses back from great content marketing; it’s holding them back as a whole. Recently, I came across an article about 25 ...

the importance of having your sales team talk to your marketing team and while it seems obvious, it’s something that is still often overlooked.

Organizations must knock down as many walls as possible and open up the internal channels for conversations. The social media team needs to fully understand the sales process, and the sales team needs to help guide the social media teams approach to content marketing. If a sales team will benefit more from providing their leads with links, then the marketing team needs to focus on generating content that can live online. If the sales team will benefit more from providing their leads with whitepapers or e-books, then this is the type of content the social media team needs to be developing and delivering.

Lack of Content Planning Too often businesses jump on Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin and start a blog without thinking about the types of content they’ll be sharing on each of these channels. Organizations need to commit to developing editorial calendars that will help guide their content approach for the year. In doing this, they will find a way to establish an ongoing relationship with their target audience through rich,

relevant content without missing the boat at times when business as usual gets busier than usual.

Buy local. Invest local.

NOVA SCOTIA'S ECONOMY.STRONG.DIVERSE.HEALTHY.

The Black Business Community Investment Fund

Focusing on the WHAT instead of the WHY One of my favourite TED Talks (www. ted.com) is titled “How Great Leaders inspire Action” from Simon Sinek.

The most important point Simon makes is that “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Somewhere along the line, many businesses stopped thinking this way and started focusing on the bells and whistles of their products and services. They promoted the key benefits or features and ignored the value they provided society and the consumers on a more emotional level. One of the quotes from this TED talk that stuck with me is this: “The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what you have; the goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe.”

If businesses thought this way, they would start with why instead of what and impact the perceptions related to their company. In doing so, it’s an easy way to create an army of loyal ambassadors instead of a few customers who are willing to go to the competitors if they offer a product at a better price. When you’re delivering your message through content marketing; take time to focus on the why instead of the what.

Thank you for investing in the

Black Business Community Investment Fund Limited (BBCIFL) History chronicles the enterprising and entrepreneurial spirit of Nova Scotians, whose ingenuity and tenacity inspires men and women of business to this very day.

Driven by that spirit, BBCIFL was born to provide capital to businesses possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, determined to grow and create jobs for Nova Scotians and able to demonstrate community and environmental responsibility.

You are rallying with us in this endeavour through your investment in BBCIFL! The funds raised are proudly and confidently invested in local businesses, consistently capitalizing companies with high performance potential and longterm sustainability – in line with our belief in the enterprising nature of Nova Scotians and their ability to create wealth and contribute to Nova Scotia’s economic prosperity – while generating returns for you in the long term.

Thank you for supporting another successful offering.

Thank you for investing in the future prosperity of Nova Scotia!

Call (902) 426-4281 to find out how you can support local Business Success by investing in our next offering. www.bbi.ca

facebook.com/BBCIFL

twitter.com/BBCIFL

Ross Simmonds www.rosssimmonds.com Ross Simmonds is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University with a double major in Marketing and Human Resources/Industrial Relations. The East Preston, Nova Scotia, native has his own digital marketing company, targeting small and medium-sized businesses.

For information on business opportunities with Encana’s Deep Panuke natural gas project in Nova Scotia’s offshore, visit the Deep Panuke pages on the Encana website at www.encana.com/deeppanuke/business

For information on career opportunities at Deep Panuke, visit the Careers section on Encana’s website or the Career Beacon website at www.careerbeacon.com

www.encana.com twitter.com/encanacorp

facebook.com/encana

youtube.com/encana

26 ...

Community & Business Events

June 21 – 23

July 31 – August 5

RBC Multicultural Festival

Halifax International Busker Festival

Halifax Waterfront area Info: destinationhalifax.com June 30 – July 8

Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Halifax Metro Centre Info: www.nstattoo.ca July 1

Canada Day in HRM

Pancake Breakfasts, Parade, Ceremonies at Pier 21 and Citadel Hill, free concerts and fireworks Info: www.hrmcanadaday.ca

Halifax Waterfront, 1601 Lower Water St. Info: buskers.ca August 2 – 3

APEX Invitational Golf Tournament Truro Gold & County Club Info: (902) 443-4359; fosterparis@hfx.eastlink.ca August 29 – September 8

Atlantic Fringe Festival

July 5 – 7

Halifax, Nova Scotia Info: www.atlanticfringe.ca

Stan Rogers Folk Festival

September 13

Canso, Nova Scotia Info: www.stanfest.com July 5 – 13

TD Halifax Jazz Festival

Business is Jammin’ 5th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Halifax Waterfront, 5100 Salter St Info: destinationhalifax.com

Granview Golf & Country Club; for information: (902) 426-8688 or lucas.mahogany@bbi.ns.ca or www.bbi.ca

July 6

September 20

Black Educators Association 25th Anniversary of the BEA Open Venue: Ashburn Golf Club, Halifax, Nova Scotia Tee-Off Time at 12:00 pm Info: (902) 424-7036 July 6

Black Battalion Memorial

Halifax Chamber Annual Golf Challenge 11:00 AM Glen Arbour Golf Course, 40 Clubhouse Lane Hammonds Plains, NS Info: www.halifaxchamber.com

Pictou, NS Info: www.townofpictou.ca July 26 – 28

Africa Festival of Arts and Culture

Sackville Landing, Halifax Waterfront Contact: (902) 462-4350; George.Mbamalu@dal.ca

27 ...

To submit items for Community and Business events, please contact : Sharifa Upshaw (902) 426-8683; Fax: 426-8699 or email bbi@ bbi.ns.ca

Welcome to the Black 2 Business - Coupon Page.

In each issue we include valuable discounts offered by a variety of businesses.

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The BBI is not responsible for any incidental or consequential damages that may be incurred by users of these Coupons. The BBI offers no guarantee of the information contained on these coupons. Please direct any questions or concerns regarding these offers directly to the coupon vendor.

Custom Design Plumbing & Electrical Additions Roofs & Siding Energy Home Audits Decks & Fences Kitchens & Baths Flooring & Trim Windows & Doors and Much More Committed to Service Excellence!

No Job too Big or Small give us a call...

A part of the BBI’s Composite Group of Companies

Thank You to the BBI’s Sponsors and Partners

If undeliverable return to: The Black Business Initiative Centennial Building Suite 1201,1660 Hollis Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1V7 Agreement No.

0040026687

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0040026687