H A L I F A X C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E | A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2 | V O L U M E 3 1 I S S U E 4 / 5
100 YEARS OF
PG. 18
PLUS: 2022 SPRING DINNER Breakthroughs in healthcare Pg 22
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
DR. DANIEL BOYD
Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalhousie University
GABRIELLE MASONE Founder & CEO, Coloursmith
DR. SHASHI GUJAR
Executive Director, Cancer Immunotherapy, Innovation & Global Partnerships Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University
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A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS: 04 President’s message 05 Chamber Events 06 New & Noted 13 Members in the news 18 100 years of Business Voice magazine 22 Breakthroughs in healthcare 24 Member Profiles
Oberland Agriscience Easter Seals Nova Scotia
26 Working for You 31 Off the Eaten Path
Board of Directors – Officers
Mark Sidebottom, Nova Scotia Power, Chair Faten Alshazly, WeUsThem, Vice-Chair Gavin MacDonald, Cox & Palmer, Past Chair Roger Boutilier, Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS Ann Divine, Ashanti Leadership Karim George, InTouch Communications
Directors
Michele Peveril, Halifax Port Authority Brad Proctor, McInnes Cooper Richard Butts Caroline Wolfe Stewart, Nova Scotia College of Nursing Andrew de Freitas, TMSI Ltd. Christopher Googoo, Ulnooweg Hon. Joanne Bernard, Easter Seals Nova Scotia David Rideout, MetroWorks Chris Cowper-Smith, Spring Loaded Technology Martha Casey, VOLTA Captain (N) A.S. Williams, CD, Maritime Forces Atlantic Kimberly Stephens, Acadian Seaplants Denise Allen, Food Processors of Canada Donna Harding, Engel & Völkers Paul Way, TD Private Wealth
Chamber Staff
Volume 31 • Issue 4/5 Business Voice is published 11 times a year for members of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and Metro Halifax’s business community. Views expressed in Business Voice are those of the contributors and individual members, and are not necessarily endorsed by, or are a policy of, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. Please address editorial enquiries and changes to information to: Halifax Chamber of Commerce 100-32 Akerley Boulevard Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3B 1N1 Tel: 902-468-7111 Fax: 902-468-7333 info@halifaxchamber.com www.halifaxchamber.com Cover and table of contents photo credit: Blush Décor
Patrick Sullivan, President and CEO Becky Davison, Vice President, Marketing Kent Roberts, Vice President, Policy Sandra White, Director of Finance and Administration Emma Menchefski, Communications Manager Emily Bednarz, Communications Coordinator
24 Trends BUSINESS VOICE
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Happy anniversary, Business Voice! Celebrating Business Voice, Asian Heritage Month, and National AccessAbility Week
@prezhfxchamber
PATRICK SULLIVAN PRESIDENT & CEO
S
pring has sprung, winter is melting away and, somehow, we are already on our way to summer. After the last two years, it sure feels good to be looking ahead, rather than trying to focus on the issues of the day. This very special issue is celebrating a number of things, including the 100th year anniversary of Business Voice. Business Voice has known many names, many editors, and many Chamber staff since it began a century ago. As you can see on the cover of this issue, the publication was originally called the Commercial News. Our favourite part of flipping through the archives has been discovering how much has changed, and how much hasn’t. The Chamber is still tirelessly advocating for competitive taxes and increased immigration to support population growth. One headline that stands out from the first edition of Commercial News is, “When Halifax reaches a million people…” 100 years later, and we've passed the benchmark for our province! Speaking of immigration: May is Asian Heritage Month, and our friends at Lumi Studios have a whole lot planned to celebrate! Look for the Off the Eaten Path food festival and cultural events to learn more about Asian Heritage in Halifax.
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A "buy local" advertising campaign from Oland's Brewery in the October 1962 edition of the Commercial News (later named Business Voice).
There’s no better way to get to know your neighbours than over a meal. Make your plans for May on page 31. Also in May, starting on May 29, is National AccessAbility Week in Canada. It’s an important week that draws attention to how far we have to go to become a fully accessible province and country. A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
It also highlights the important contributions persons with disabilities make to our communities each and every day. Learn how local organizations are advocating for accessibility on pages 25 and 35. Happy Spring, readers! I look forward to seeing you all soon. ■
EVENTS
CHAMBER EVENTS FREE UPCOMING EVENTS
For a full list of Chamber events, visit: halifaxchamber.com/events
2022 SPRING DINNER
ONLINE EVENTS, TRAINING, AND WEBINARS
APRIL 21
2022 ANNUAL GENERAL
Meet the future of medical research: happening now, happening HERE.
MEETING
MAY 4, 2022
APRIL 26 COMPUTERIZED ACCOUNTING — LEVEL 1
PLANNING FOR GROWTH
EXCEL AT (MICROSOFT) EXCEL — LEVEL 1 APRIL 27
ANNUAL STATE OF THE MUNICIPALITY
ELEVATE YOUR LEADERSHIP
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
APRIL 28, 2022
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
MAY 26
11:00AM - 1:30PM HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE
UNIVERSAL REALTY GROUP ge ike sava mayor m
WONDER WOMEN CE CONFEREN
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 8:00AM - 3:00PM CEDAR EVENTS CENTRE TICKETS ON SALE AT:
HALIFAXCHAMBER.COM
PREMIER TIM HOUSTON
ANNUAL STATE OF THE PROVINCE MAY 3, 2022 HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE 11:00AM - 1:30PM Presented by:
THANK YOU TO OUR MARCH / APRIL SPONSORS:
THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022 GRANITE SPRINGS GOLF CLUB BUSINESS VOICE
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NEWSMAKERS
NEW & NOTED We welcome our new Chamber members AFRICA CANADA TRADE AND INVESTMENT VENTURE INC
ATLANTIC BLOCKCHAIN COMPANY
BLUE NILE MASSAGE & WELLNESS
Ken Oguzie
Mrugakshee Palwe
My name is Fantanesh Attomsa, and I am the founder of Blue Nile Massage & Wellness — a holistic health practice here in Halifax. I am a multi-passionate entrepreneur that is committed to making wellness more accessible. My goal is to empower others to take control of their health through practice and education. Fantanesh Attomsa
Halifax, NS Kenneth.oguzie@activafr.com activafr.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Import/ Export/Trading
AKWEKON INNOVATION & CONSULTING Understanding the dichotomy between common business practices and Indigenous business principals is imperative as we move into the future. AKWEKON guides organizations and their leaders on how to solve some of their most complex problems by reconciling these two conflicting worldviews to build unique and distinct solutions. Michael Maracle-Polak 1715 Lower Water St Suite 712 Halifax, NS (647) 884-9742 info@akwekon.ca akwekon.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES Management Consulting
ARBUCKLE MEDIA Arbuckle Media is a digital firm building powerful e-commerce platforms and generating demand for product-based brands. Joel Arbuckle
1701 Hollis Street Suite 800 Halifax, NS (902) 209-7718 joel@arbuckle.media arbuckle.media ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA - Marketing
Halifax, NS (902) 300-4383 mrugakshee@atlantic-blockchain. com atlantic-blockchain.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Business Consulting
ATLANTIC TOURS LIMITED Atlantic Canada's most comprehensive tour operator. We offer customdesigned group programs, scheduled guaranteed departures in Canada and globally, professional step-on-guides, private cruise shore excursions, and city stay packages. Core products include escorted scheduled vacations to Canada with emphasis on Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador. Anita MacDonnell 22 Waddell Ave Dartmouth, NS (902) 423-7172 amacdonnell@atlantictours.com atlantictours.com TRAVEL & TOURISM - Travel Services
BLK WOMEN IN EXCELLENCE Blk Women in Excellence is an organization that was established in 2020 by Founder and President Tia Upshaw. The organization’s objective is to educate, encourage, and support black women entrepreneurs. We accomplish this through rigorous entrepreneurship cohorts, discussion panels, mentorship initiatives, professional speakers, networking events, and overall advocacy. Shantia Upshaw Halifax, NS (902) 402-9158 blkwomeninexcellence@gmail.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Bus. Service Centres
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Bedford, NS (902) 830-4274 Bluenile.massagetherapy@gmail.com bluenilemassagetherapy.com HEALTH CARE - Massage Therapy
BURST THE CONTINUUM CONSULTING INC. Ute Fiedler
Halifax, NS (902) 209-6109 Utefiedler333@gmail.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Business Consulting
CAA ATLANTIC CAA Atlantic serves more than 270,000 Members in Atlantic Canada. In addition to being the preeminent Auto Club in the country, CAA is also one of Canada's leading travel agencies, is a leading provider of insurance products, and offers Members an outstanding rewards program. CAA has a long history of advocacy as the voice of the travelling public. Shane Coupland 330 John Savage Ave Dartmouth, NS (902) 443-7592 scoupland@atlantic.caa.ca atlantic.caa.ca TRAVEL & TOURISM - Travel Services
NEWSMAKERS CAMPGROUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA Shane Devenish
Halifax, NS (905) 315-3156 info@ccrvc.ca campingnovascotia.com TRAVEL & TOURISM - Accommodations (General)
CANDYBOX MARKETING INC. Candybox Marketing is Canada’s premier digital marketing agency with 35+ in-house experts based in Downtown Halifax. We believe in building sweet marketing plans that (actually) work to help grow your business. Dean Hovey-Smith
1701 Hollis St Suite 800 Halifax, NS (902) 706-5011 dean@candyboxmarketing.com candyboxmarketing.com ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA - Internet Marketing
CANOE 22 SOCIETY The Canoe ‘22 Society is the hosting organization for the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships on Lake Banook, in Dartmouth, from August 3-7, 2022. We are hosting an anticipated 75 countries with over 1000 athletes, coaches, and support personnel. Rhea Koivu 20 Boathouse Ln Dartmouth, NS rhea@canoe22.com canoe22.com SPORTS & RECREATION - Canoe/ Kayak/Rafting
CLUETT INSURANCE
CONFEDERATION M&A
Family-owned and operated for over 40 years, Cluett Insurance is a large independent insurance brokerage in Atlantic Canada. Cluett is a trusted insurance brokerage offering clients the most comprehensive multi-line products and services available. We offer stability, trust, and a sense of security. Service and satisfaction guaranteed. Nicole Augurusa
Confederation M&A is a full-service mergers and acquisition advisory firm with expertise and experience for businesses in various industries. Our proven approach gives our clients the assurance and tools they need to be successful in a transaction, whether on the buy or sell side of the deal. Charles Ackerman
CMHA HALIFAX-DARTMOUTH BRANCH
CRAYON STRATEGIES INC
629 Windmill Road Dartmouth, NS (902) 466-5328 marketing@cluettinsurance.ca cluettinsurance.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE - Financial/ Insurance Services
CMHA Halifax-Dartmouth supports the resilience of people living with mental illness through social support programs and the provision of information, resources, and advocacy in a space that is inclusive, safe, and respectful. We strive to create an environment of hope, to reduce stigma, and to promote mental health for all. Margaret Murray 2020 Gottingen Street 100 Halifax, NS (902) 455-5445 margmurray.cmha@bellaliant.com cmhahalifaxdartmouth.ca HEALTH CARE - Health and Wellness
1 Canal Street Dartmouth, NS (902) 222-6507 charles.ackerman@ confederationgroup.ca confederationgroup.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE - Financial Services
Crayon Strategies is an equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) consulting firm. Leveraging our expertise and lived experiences, we carefully guide organizations through their cultural competence journey to create impactful strategic plans that achieve real change. We provide EDI consulting, EDI education and training, strategic development plans, and audits. Crystal Witter Dartmouth, NS (902) 277-2979 crystal@crayonstrategies.ca crayonstrategies.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES Consulting (General)
COMMON GOOD SOLUTIONS
EASTERN HOUSE WASH INC.
Common Good Solutions (CGS) is part consultancy, part educator, and part social impact incubator. We offer a full range of social enterprise consulting, training, and coaching services that support entrepreneurs and organizations from launch, to growth, and beyond. Sara Corkum
Shaun Tapper
5557 Cunard St 2nd Floor Halifax, NS (902) 802-9975 sara.corkum@commongoodsolutions. ca commongoodsolutions.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Strategic Direction BUSINESS VOICE
Halifax, NS (902) 877-9160 sgtapper@gmail.com easternhouse.com INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING Pressure Cleaning
EDNA RESTAURANT Cora Tudor
2053 Gottingen St Halifax, NS (902) 429-2550 coraltudor@gmail.com ednarestaurant.com RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE Restaurant 7
NEWSMAKERS ELIZABETH FOUGERE, RMT I have been a Registered Massage Therapist since 2019, after graduating from ICT Northumberland College’s 2200 Hour Massage Therapy program in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I treat a variety of acute, subacute, and chronic conditions, creating treatment plans specific to each client’s needs. Elizabeth Fougere 530 Portland Street Unit 204 Dartmouth, NS (782) 882-1518 Elizabethfougere.rmt@gmail.com elizabethfougerermt.com HEALTH CARE - Massage Therapy
EMERA Ashley Beairsto
1223 Lower Water Street Halifax, NS (902) 450-0507 ashley.beairsto@emera.com emera.com ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT - Energy Management
ESO ESO is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today’s EMS agencies, fire departments, hospitals, state/provincial offices, and national/federal agencies. Brent Townsend 7071 Bayers Road Halifax, NS (902) 818-6773 brent.townsend@eso.com eso.com HEALTH CARE - Health Care Management
EVERYWON RECREATION THERAPY SERVICES
GLASS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION
Jess Seward
Glass Brothers Construction is a family-owned business that specializes in providing weathertight packages for Custom Residential ICF Homes and commercial ICF projects. We have 16 years of experience, and referrals generated 95% of our business in 2021— underscoring the relationships we build with our clients through integrity and professional competence. Bruce Glass
Dartmouth, NS (902) 579-0989 ctrs.jess@gmail.com everywon.ca HEALTH CARE - Disability Services
FEM ENTITY Irene Rose Saliendra
Halifax, NS (902) 943-3880 irenesaliendra@gmail.com fementity.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES Consulting (General)
FEW FAVOURITE THINGS (DESSERTS) Angella Hull
Middle Sackville, NS (902) 293-8545 angellahull@yahoo.com RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE Bakery
FOR YOU NEWCOMER COUNSELLING AGENCY INC For You Newcomer Counselling Agency Inc is located at Duke Tower, Halifax, Nova Scotia. The company’s objective is to recruit internationally for local universities and help international students adapt to life in Nova Scotia. Iven He 5251 Duke St Suite 601 Halifax, NS (902) 580-0612 iven@foryoucanada.com foryoucounselling.com EDUCATION & PROF. DEVELOPMENT - Education/Schools
HANNAH HICKS ART Hannah Hicks
103-287 Lacewood Drive Suite 210 Halifax, NS (902) 932-7073 HannahHicksArt@gmail.com hannahhicksart.com ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT - Art
HIGH POWERED CUSTOMS APPAREL High Powered Customs Apparel is a successful and privately-owned customized screen printing company based out of HRM. We specialize in high-quality products, exceptional customer service, and quick turnaround time. We are happy to accommodate single item orders as well as large quantity orders. Stefan Williams
Dartmouth, NS (902) 717-4178 highpoweredcustoms@gmail.com highpoweredcustoms.com ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA - Corporate Apparel
EUNOIA LIFESTYLE SHOP INC. Cathy Akinkunmi
5659 Almon St Unit 100 Halifax, NS (902) 407-5570 hello@eunoialifestyle.ca Eunoialifestyle.ca SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL Retail (General)
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99 Wyse Rd Suite 1137 Dartmouth, NS (902) 418-4559 bruce@glassbrothersconstruction.ca glassbrothersconstruction.ca REAL ESTATE/CONSTRUCTION Builders Residential
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NEWSMAKERS HOOK LINE & TINKER Hook, Line & Tinker embraces creative imperfection and the joy of making. We’re a small-batch production studio designing fabulous, modern embroidery kits (and we run a little gift shop too: Green Eyed Monstera). Our kits are supplied to more than 350 independent retail shops around the world. Laurie Dolhan 751C Herring Cove Rd Herring Cove, NS (902) 430-4677 laurie@hooklinetinker.com hooklinetinker.com ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT - Crafts
ITALIAN MARKET Juliette Marks
6061 Young Street Halifax, NS (902) 455-6124 julie.marks@italianmarket.ca italianmarket.ca SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL Grocery
KICKSTART COACHING & CONSULTING Kickstart Coaching & Consulting specializes in individual career development, sales and marketing strategy, sales training, and leadership development. Our mission is simple: to use our experience and expertise to help our clients confidently advance their ideas and realize their vision. Lucinda Underwood
Halifax, NS (902) 999-1586 lucinda@kickstartconsulting.ca kickstartconsulting.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Business Consulting
KINESIN DATA TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
MAKS HOME ACCESSORIES DISTRIBUTION INC.
Getting the most out of technology and company data is a challenge for all organizations. Kinesin brings proven, full-stack data services, custom software development, and in-depth data engineering and analysis to your team. Leverage world class experience to maximize the impact these tools can have on your business success. Ian Roddis
Maksud Khandokar
Halifax, NS (902) 402-3044 maksud.khandokar@gmail.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Import/ Export/Trading
MARITIME ELITE GIRLS BASKETBALL ACADEMY Lezlie States
600 Bedford Hwy Ste 210 Bedford, NS (902) 789-7696 hcc@kinesin.ca kinesin.ca COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY - IT Products/Services
Halifax, NS (902) 478-2227 coachlez@megabasketball.ca megabasketball.ca SPORTS & RECREATION - Sports Development
LIFE BEYOND THE HURT ORGANIZATION
Marcus Simmonds
Khalieha Cunningham
Halifax, NS (782) 234-0778 lifebeyondthehurt@gmail.com lifebeyondthehurt.com NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS Community Service
MAJAK ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & TRAINING We provide environmental management and protection services for a variety of industry sectors including mining, agriculture, telecommunications, fisheries, and industrial facilities. This includes development of environmental management systems for your regulatory and policy needs while respecting your confidential business information. We also provide educational sessions about environmental health risks. Rugi Jalloh Dartmouth, NS (902) 802-8622 info@majak-env.com majak-env.com ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT Environmental Services
BUSINESS VOICE
MARKY B'S HEALTH PRODUCTS Halifax, NS (902) 989-4694 info@markybs.com markybs.com HEALTH CARE - Health and Wellness
MATCHBOOK ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS CPA A virtual accounting firm specializing in cloud accounting, bookkeeping solutions and setup, and tax services to small businesses in Canada. We offer a variety of custom-designed plans to ensure your financial goals are met and provide unlimited accounting expertise whenever you need it. Tracey Nelson Halifax, NS (902) 489-6469 tracey@matchbookaccounting.ca matchbookaccounting.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE - Accounting
MAVERICK XM Alana Nafthal
40 Water Street Suite 206 Windsor, NS (902) 698-0693 alana@maverickxm.ca maverickxm.ca ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA - Marketing
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NEWSMAKERS MEGAN MCDOUGALL RMT Megan McDougall has been practicing as a massage therapist since 2017. She is forever learning new modalities to best help her clients. Megan specializes in fascial decompression with block therapy, a combination of block placement and diaphragmatic breathing to melt fascial adhesions and promote alignment. Megan McDougall 600 Bedford Highway unit 233 Halifax, NS (705) 220-7202 meganmcdougallrmt@gmail.com Blocktherapynovascotia.ca HEALTH CARE - Massage Therapy
MOD ACCOUNTING AND TAX PROFESSIONAL CORP
PEACOCK FACADE & FLOOR INCORPORATED
We are a women-led online accounting and tax CPA firm providing business solutions for entrepreneurs and social enterprises from coast to coast to coast. We partner with clients and team members across the country, providing services in accounting, tax, advisory, human resources, and every business issue in between. Brianna Courneya
Gail Best
Halifax, NS (587) 409-0700 brianna@modaccounting.ca modaccountingtax.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE – Accounting
MI'KMA'KI NATION OUTFITTERS
NORDSPARK
Mi'kma'ki Nation Outfitters launched a retail clothing line in 2018 with the goal of sharing art and culture of Mi’kmaw Nations. Our retail products are designed and developed with Mi'kmaq pride and culture in mind. Daniel Basque
We are a digital management consulting firm solving wicked digital business problems — from sales and marketing automation to new business models and strategies for small to medium sized businesses. Giles Crouch
Halifax, NS (902) 476-4937 eastroc2004@hotmail.com mikmakinationoutfitters.ca ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA Embroidery/Screen Print
Bedford, NS (902) 448-0488 giles@nordspark.com nordspark.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Business Consulting
MICHNAT FASHION
OVERLAYANALYTICS
Michnat Fashion is an Afrocentric clothing brand where we infuse African prints into our designs to create contemporary feels. The vision is to promote diversity in the fashion industry. Our designs are versatile and vibrant, customized and tailored to boost your confidence and make you stand out. Funmilayo Odeniyi
Josh Beaver
Dartmouth, NS (902) 580-0380 support@michnatfashion.com michnatfashion.com ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT - Crafts
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Halifax, NS (902) 818-2994 josh@overlayanalytics.com overlayanalytics.com COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY - IT Products/Services
P3 HAIR & BEAUTY SUPPLIES Princess Octavious
2735 Robie St Halifax, NS (902) 453-1973 princessoctavious03@gmail.com p3hairandbeautysupplies.com PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES Personal Care
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47 Cranton Drive Porters Lake, NS (902) 221-7104 Gailbest@live.com peacockfacade.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Import/ Export/Trading
PERPETUAL DYNAMICS INC Perpetual Dynamics Inc. is a small family owned investment business. We focus on investing in the community around us through income properties with the hope of benefitting our family and the area we live in. We aspire to evolve as our family grows by enriching and diversifying this asset portfolio. Jacqueline Chu Dartmouth, NS (902) 292-5447 Jackie@perpedyne.com perpedyne.com REAL ESTATE/CONSTRUCTION - Real Estate Residential
PILLAR TO POST HOME INSPECTORS - HALIFAX We strive to provide only the best home inspections possible, and this is why our customers and realtors trust our knowledge and experience. We value this trust very highly, and we believe that clarity about a house’s condition greatly reduces the stress of making the buying decision for your new home. Ryan Barry Lawrencetown, NS (902) 452-8858 ryan.barry@pillartopost.com dartmouth.pillartopost.com REAL ESTATE/CONSTRUCTION Inspection Services
RJEV CONSULTING INC. Robert Jones
Halifax, NS (902) 441-8131 bobjones@rjevconsulting.com rjevconsulting.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Project Management
NEWSMAKERS ROOTED ROSE COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE At Rooted Rose, we practice the community acupuncture model in which registered professionals provide quality services at low-cost, accessible prices. Treatments are given in a large open room where other patients quietly rest in the periphery; this helps us to mitigate costs and provide our clients with increased accessibility. Bria Goodreid
SHANNEX INCORPORATED
SUMMA STRATEGIES CANADA
Shannex Incorporated is a family-owned company and a trusted provider of senior accommodations, services and care. At Shannex, close to 5,000 team members work together to create an exceptional resident experience and a positive, fulfilling work environment where every voice matters, and individuality is celebrated. Lindsay Cross
Summa provides a full suite of public affairs services that are grounded in a firm understanding of the political environment, government processes and legislative procedure. Headquartered in Ottawa, we help our clients interpret and navigate their landscape of opportunities and challenges with the federal government and provincial governments across Canada. Shay Purdy
103 Portland St Dartmouth, NS (902) 403-6665 info@rootedrose.ca rootedrose.ca HEALTH CARE - Acupuncture
621 Starboard Drive Halifax, NS (902) 454-7499 lcross@shannex.com shannex.com PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES Retirement Living
ROWAN MCINNES - POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT, DAL
SIMPLY GO NATURAL COSMETICS
Rowan McInnes
Joyce Adom
Halifax, NS OTHER - Student Member
SANKOFA BOOKKEEPING AND CONSULTING Bernadette Hamilton-Reid
Halifax, NS (902) 414-1944 sankofagifts@gmail.com FINANCE & INSURANCE - Bookkeeping
SATTVA BOUTIQUE Sattva Boutique is a shopping destination for women who enjoy stylish, modern, high-quality, and socially aware products. By curating a unique collection of clothing, accessories, jewelry and natural beauty products, we create opportunities for customers to look and feel beautiful in all aspects of life. Sarah Andrews 2453 Agricola St Halifax, NS (902) 431-2453 Sarah@sattvaboutique.com SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL Retail (General)
Halifax, NS (902) 293-6216 jadom@simplygonatural.com simplygonaturalcosmetics.com INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING Manufacture/Process
SMARTMED INC. Arman Izadi
1505 Barrington St Unit 100 Halifax, NS (902) 414-2884 arman@notableshift.com notableshift.com COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY Computer Software
SMYRNA RESTAURANT
Halifax, NS (613) 235-1400 spurdy@summa.ca summa.ca ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA - Public Relations/Affairs
SUMMIT SEARCH GROUP Summit Search Group is a Canadian professional recruitment firm committed to helping great employers hire intelligent, educated, motivated professionals in order to advance the corporate bottom line and to enhance individual career goals. Our Atlantic team is comprised of tenured professionals who truly partner with our clients for successful outcomes. Cynthia McCuthcheon
647 Bedford Highway Suite 103 Bedford, NS (902) 405-3607 cynthia@summitsearchgroup.com summitsearchgroup.com HR, EMPLOYMENT & STAFFING - Exec/ Technical Search
Downtown Halifax charcoal grill delicacies served with warm Mediterranean hospitality. From the Middle East to the isle of Santorini, we offer spreads and plates to feed one twice over. It is our sincere promise that you will leave us warmly, satisfied, and looking forward to your next visit. Lucia Toker 1569 Dresden Row Unit 8 Halifax, NS (902) 441-3876 manager@smyrnarestaurant.com Smyrnarestaurant.com RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE Restaurant BUSINESS VOICE
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THE CFO CENTRE The CFO Centre Limited provides the skills and experience of large company CFOs to small and medium sized enterprises on a part-time basis. A parttime CFO with big company experience can provide analysis, advice, and positive intervention when required, at a fraction of the cost of an in-house CFO. Stephen Slauenwhite 1701 Hollis St Suite 800 Halifax, NS (800) 918-1906 stephen.slauenwhite@cfocentre.com cfocentre.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES Management Consulting
THE COMEDY COVE Located in the heart of Dartmouth, one floor down (all great comedy clubs are in the basement) inside the charming Hearth Stone Boutique Hotel. Open three nights a week, providing top notch professional stand up comedy. Wonderful bar and resto services. Perfect for corporate functions and fundraising. Marc Sauve 313 Prince Albert Rd Dartmouth, NS (902) 433-5230 marc@funnyfundraisers.ca thecomedy-cove.com ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT Entertainment
TREV CLOTHING Trevor Silver
Dartmouth, NS (902) 452-8732 info@trevclothing.com trevclothing.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES - Sales
TRIMAC ENGINEERING Joel MacNeil
380 Bedford Highway Halifax, NS (902) 832-2929 jmacneil@trimaceng.ca trimaceng.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES Engineering
UMKA IMMIGRATION CONSULTING Umka Immigration Consulting is fully licensed by CICC to represent you in your permanent or temporary residence applications to IRCC, including Atlantic Immigration Program, work permit, and LMIA applications to ESDC when you want to cover your labour shortages with temporary and/or permanent foreign workers. Cenk Kemal Haznaci 50 Eileen Stubbs Ave Suite 130 Dartmouth, NS (613) 518-8646 contact@umkaimmigration.ca umkaimmigration.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES Immigration
UNITY WIGS & HAIR SERVICES Nadine Sparks
52 Queen St Dartmouth, NS (902) 464-0872 unityhairdartmouth@gmail.com unityhairandesthetics.business.site PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES - Hair Services
WADDEN ELECTRIC INC. At Wadden Electric, quality and integrity are at the heart of everything we do. We proudly serve Halifax and surrounding areas, and we specialize in residential and commercial electrical services including: repairs, renovations, new construction, solar, and automation. Our electricians are fully-licensed, professional, and committed to the highest level of service. Jonathan Wadden 160 Thornhill Drive, Unit B Dartmouth, NS (902) 405-1475 jonathan@waddenelectric.com waddenelectric.com INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING Electrical/Mechanical
Are you a new member?
To submit your 50-word description for New & Noted, please contact Mandi Bowser, Administrative Specialist at mandi@halifaxchamber.com or 902-468-7111 within the first six months of membership.
VDISCOVER CONSULTANCY Manju Modak
Bedford, NS (902) 221-4800 contact@vdiscoverconsultancy.com vdiscoverconsultancy.com EDUCATION & PROF. DEVELOPMENT - Prof. Development
VINTAGE HARDWOOD FLOORING Mike Cooke
114 Chain Lake Drive Halifax, NS (902) 450-5727 mike@vintageflooring.ca vintageflooring.ca HOME & GARDEN - Flooring
Growing Nova Scotia together. NSAR is working to better the housing market, helping over 700 families buy their first home through Nova Scotia’s Down Payment Assistance Program. Together, we can keep the momentum going.
nsrealtors.ca
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS How our members are growing Halifax OFFICE INTERIORS AWARDED Office Interiors has been named one of Atlantic Canada's 2022 Top Employers — a testament to their belief that their people are their greatest assets. With ‘’Our People’’ being one of their core values, they put special importance on treating everyone with respect and dignity, hiring the best, rewarding based on performance, and encouraging personal growth. CEO Jim Mills adds, ‘’It’s all about taking care of our people who take such great care of our customers.’’ They feel this award is really about the great group of people who work at Office Interiors and bring a positive attitude to the workplace. They’re excited to continue inspiring people to love the way they work just as they do!
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO CELEBRATE! On Thursday, March 24, 2022, Easter Seals Nova Scotia celebrated 100 years of helping Canadians at the 100th Anniversary Gala. The dinner event hosted 400 people at the beautiful Halifax Convention Centre in downtown Halifax. We would like to thank our guests, sponsors, co-hosts Michelle
Mahoney and Paul Tingley, our guest speakers from the Take PART program Benjamin, Elliot and their parents, and musical guest Terry Kelly for joining us to celebrate 100 years of helping Canadians with disabilities and for making the 100th Anniversary Gala possible!
BUSINESS VOICE
OUR TEAM IS GROWING! We are pleased to announce that we have recently welcomed two new Account Executives to the SONA Team! Scott Irwin and Mark Giguere join us with previous experience working in the merchant services space. They are looking forward to working with businesses both locally in the HRM and across North America to ensure they have the best solution to fit their needs. If you or someone you know has a passion for technology, strong core values, and would enjoy being an entrepreneur supported by a dedicated team, get in touch. We are always looking for like-minded individuals to begin their journey with us! For more information, contact info@ sonapay.ca or visit sonapay.ca.
APPILI THERAPEUTICS NEW FUNDING Appili Therapeutics announces new funding of over US$10 million from US Department of Defense to help advance biodefense vaccine candidate ATI-1701. Learn more about ATI-1701 and Appili’s mission to address urgent unmet needs in infectious disease at: appilitherapeutics. com.
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NEWSMAKERS PSA EXPANDS ITS PRESENCE IN THE PORT OF HALIFAX
BILL BLACK TO RECEIVE HONOURARY DEGREE AT AST CONVOCATION Atlantic School of Theology (AST) announced that it will award a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, to Bill Black. Bill Black has lived all of his 71 years in Halifax. He has been a leading member of the community combining a successful business career with strong commitment to community service and to his family. He is being awarded the Doctor of Divinity for his values-based leadership and his strong commitment to faith and community. Bill’s contributions to the community include serving on many not-for profit boards. He was chairman of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the IWK Hospital, and Symphony Nova Scotia. He has taught Sunday School for 35 years and is a long serving lay reader at All Saints Cathedral and St. John’s church in Lunenburg. In 2015 he was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada. More recently, Mr. Black has served as a member of AST’s President’s Council since 2018. Bill Black will give the address at AST’s 2022 Convocation, which takes place Saturday, May 14, 2022 at St. Andrew's United Church.
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PSA International Pte Ltd and Halifax Port Authority are pleased to announce PSA’s acquisition of Ceres Halifax Inc. from Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha. PSA Halifax will now operate two container terminals in Halifax, namely Atlantic Hub and Fairview Cove, jointly branded under PSA Halifax. With fast and efficient CN Rail service, backed by a unique and growing network of coastal feeder opportunities, PSA Halifax’ Atlantic Hub and Fairview Cove will offer superior logistical support and environmentally-beneficial options for a broad range of shippers.
PARK'N FLY HALIFAX REOPENS Park'N Fly is thrilled to announce that their Halifax location has reopened. The self-park facility, conveniently located at 668 Barnes Drive in Enfield, will provide travellers with the same friendly and convenient service that they have come to expect from Park’N Fly. Visit www. parknfly.ca for details.
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DESIGN MARKETING LIMITED LAUNCHES NEW LOOK Design Marketing Limited has a new look! Check out our new website by visiting designmarketing.net.
NEW CO-OPERATORS LOCATION IN DARTMOUTH Shane Kennedy and his full service investment and insurance agency through the Co-operators will be moving as of May 2nd to 38 Marketplace Drive Dartmouth. The strategic move to a new, centrally located and expanded location will offer great parking and easy access. The new office will be located minutes from Dartmouth Crossing, Burnside Business Park and next door to Starbucks on Windmill Road. We are also excited that we will be offering expanded hours to better serve you. Drop by to say hello!
NEWSMAKERS
B-LINE PARTNERS WITH THE PIER TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF TENANTS AND MANAGE THE NEW NORMAL OF HYBRID WORK B-Line, a state-of-the-art workplace management and contact tracing platform, announced its collaboration with The PIER (Port Innovation, Engagement, and Research), Canada’s first living lab for transportation, supply chain, and logistics. As a global Centre of Excellence for research and collaboration in port innovation, planning, and strategy, The PIER is the newest organization to implement B-Line's modern infectious disease prevention and workplace management
platform with its staff and visitors. Having integrated their system in multiple office spaces across North America, the key to B-Line’s success has been their ability to provide employees and organizations with the tools to make accurate data-driven decisions around workplace optimization while ensuring occupant confidence to manage the transition to hybrid work. Learn more about B-Line features and benefits at bline.io.
SUPPORTING RESPIRATORY RESEARCH IN NS The Lung Association is once again offering researchers in Nova Scotia the opportunity to apply for funding to support respiratory research in Nova Scotia. The aim of the Legacy Research Grant is to provide financial support for research projects that generate evidence, outcomes, and/or knowledge and its translation into improved respiratory health and health services for Nova Scotians. $75,000.00 is available this year, with support being provided by Research NS. For more information or to apply visit www.ns.lung.ca
Look Who’s Coming in 2022 Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society Annual Meeting
Risk and Insurance Management Society Canada Conference
National Black Canadian Summit
...and more. For a full listing of events visit: HalifaxConventionCentre.com
BUSINESS VOICE
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NEWSMAKERS NEW RESEARCH APPROVED FOR ATLANTIC SALMON AQUACULTURE AND FORESTRY Two multi-million-dollar research and innovation projects, one to benefit Atlantic Canada’s salmon aquaculture industry and the other to aid the sustainability of the Maritimes’ forestry sector, were announced by the federal Minister of Innovation Science and Industry, the Honourable FrançoisPhilippe Champagne. The two ventures were among 10 research initiatives included in the Minister’s announcement of approved projects from the latest competition round of Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program, known as GAPP. The aquaculture project, to be managed by Genome Atlantic, is a four-year $4.7 million initiative to improve commercial Atlantic salmon broodstock. The forestry project is a three-year $6.2 million venture to speed up development of new varieties of red and black spruce that can withstand climate change. The tree species are widely used in Eastern Canada’s forest industry. The project will be managed by Génome Québec and supported by Genome Atlantic. Read the Genome Canada release at genomecanada.ca
COLIBRI FSA TEAMS WITH PAYLITE Colibri Financial Service Agents, focused on providing banking related cost savings for businesses throughout Atlantic Canada, is proud to announce its newest partnership with PayLite Merchant Services Inc., specializing in reducing merchant service rates for businesses across Canada. John Pelley, President and Co-Founder commented “The PayLite team shares our essential values and can significantly reduce fees for our clients. With this partnership, our ability for generating client savings has grown.” Located in Bedford, NS Colibri optimizes financial services arrangements leveraging 40+ years of specialized banking experience. Colibri has tailored action plans to achieve millions in savings. 16
SINCE 1897
CELEBRATING OUR PAST, SUPPORTING YOUR FUTURE Generations of Nova Scotians have trusted VON to provide outstanding home and community care, welcoming us into your homes and communities since we opened one of our first-ever branches in Halifax in 1898. Between those who have received care and those who provide it, almost everyone in the province has a connection to VON. Now, 125 years later, the demand for home and community care is greater than ever. And we’re still leading the way, by working to modernize community health care so more Nova Scotians, today and in future, can remain in their homes. Find out more at VONConnect.ca.
SOCIAL WORKERS HOLD DAY OF ADVOCACY FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NOVA SCOTIANS The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers held a day of advocacy for mental health on March 16, 2022. The NSCSW’s first Advocacy Day — which they hope to make an annual event — brought together social workers with other community stakeholders and government leaders to discuss the mental health needs of Nova Scotians. Social work was essential before the pandemic, and has been crucial during the pandemic; now, more than ever, social workers are in critical demand. The conference was a part of a month-long series of events planned by NSCSW to provide Nova Scotian social workers, their colleagues and their communities with opportunities for learning and advocacy. Advocacy Day was the central event of NSCSW’s National Social Work Month celebrations because advocacy and social justice are central to what it means to be a social worker. The day presented opportunities for government leaders to hear directly from community stakeholders about the policy issues that matter most. Learn more at: nscsw.org.
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JIVE'S 2022 REEL JIVE Productions recently released our new 2022 reel! Reflecting on each of these jobs fills us with pride for our work, and excitement for what’s to come. Whether it’s for small businesses, or major national brands, we want to take your brand image to the next level. JIVE's services are expanding. We now not only offer photography and videography, but also droning, animation and podcasting. For more information, visit jivephotographic.com.
COMPASS DISTILLERS DONATES TO SUPPORT NOVA SCOTIA BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION Compass Distillers announced their largest donation to date of $10,000 CAD to the Nova Scotia Beekeepers Association (NSBA), in the form of a cheque. Compass Distillers continue to donate $1 from every bottle of Gin Royal sold, to the NSBA. The provided amount today is an accumulation of sales spanning from September of 2020 to February 28th, 2022. The NSBA will be investing the donation into local research and beekeeper education; with their number one strategic goal of the industry being honey bee health. They look to further their current research projects, increasing their over-wintering capacity of locally-raised queens and being part of a national research effort. The donation will help them to invest in a project with the Atlantic Tech Team for Apiculture to create an infrastructure that helps educate and support smaller beekeepers who wish to expand their operations. Gin Royal itself is a tribute to the bees and pollinators whose work allows us to create beautiful spirits. More than half of the botanicals used in gin are pollinated by bees, and without them, there would be no gin. Compass Distillers would like to thank their customers and supporters for making this donation possible, while also making Gin Royal an award-winning and best-selling Nova Scotian fermented and distilled gin.
NEWSMAKERS
HALIFAX SEAPORT FARMERS’ MARKET MOVING TO THE FORMER CUNARD CENTRE
ATLANTIC BUSINESS NAMES 25 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN BUSINESS
TRIBE NETWORK’S BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM OPEN
The Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market will take over a portion of Pavilion 23 – formerly known as the Cunard Centre – in the Halifax Seaport district in July 2022. The Market will continue sharing its temporary location at Pavilion 22 with cruise operations beginning April 11 until the July relocation. Cruise vendors will be welcomed back to Pavilion 22 for the summer and fall. The new space will occupy approximately 18,000 sq. ft. of Pavilion 23 located in the west end of the space. The Halifax Port Authority is working to fill the remainder of Pavilion 23 with tenants that complement the Halifax Seaport district.
Congratulations to all the women named as the 25 Most Powerful Women in Business for 2022 in Atlantic Business Magazine! We would like to give a special note of congratulations to friends of the Halifax Chamber on the list, including Jennifer Angel (Develop Nova Scotia), Sue Stanfield (Take It Outside Inc./ Jaxnboo Inc.), Pamela Glode-Desrochers (Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre), Jessica McCall (Nova Scotia Business Inc.), Ann Divine (Ashanti Leadership & Professional Development), and Chantal Brine (EnPoint). Read more at atlanticbusinessmagazine.ca.
Tribe Network’s Black Entrepreneurship Program provides Black entrepreneurs and business owners in Atlantic Canada with access to services and opportunities in the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem to help START, BUILD and ACCELERATE their business. The Black Entrepreneurship Program is open to aspiring entrepreneurs with an entrepreneurial ambition and entrepreneurs with established businesses. Black entrepreneurs who register can win up to $10,000 in prize money. The program is supported with $2.8 million in federal government funding. For more information, visit tribenetwork.ca.
DROP ZONE HALIFAX
AUGUST 13, 2022, 1801 HOLLIS STREET
CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND CHANGE LIVES! FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.EASTERSEALS.NS.CA/DROPZONE BUSINESS VOICE
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COVER STORY
Looking back on 100 years of Business Voice magazine Reflecting on a century of keeping our members informed By Emily Bednarz and Emma Menchefski
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ince 1921, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce (formerly known as the Halifax Board of Trade) has released a regular print publication to promote our members, provide important updates, and celebrate growth and industry in our city. The publication and the Chamber have gone by different names, and much has certainly changed in Halifax over the last century. As our team dove into the archives, though, we noticed echoes of the key messages we promote today: local procurement, advocacy, diversity, the cost of living, workspaces, employment, development, transportation…even daylight savings! Population growth has also been a
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recurring theme over the years. Edwards Advertising (see below) dreamt of a time when Halifax could see one million residents — a milestone just passed for the province. We may not have subways that “thunder under the length of Barrington Street.” But, as the ad predicted, Halifax has become “not only a seaport, but an airport” and “not only a town with a history, but a city of industrial consequence.” For insights on growth and development in Halifax, we interviewed several new and established businesses, asking them: why is it a good time to do business right now in our city? Their answers mirror the enduring sense of optimism and innovation we’ve seen in Halifax
for decades. Halifax is a good place to do business because of its growth, its development, its reputation, and its focus on community-building. Over the last century, the Chamber has relentlessly advocated for businesses, organizations, and opportunities in Halifax. As the Foreword from the first issue of the Commercial News states: “This is the first issue of the official Monthly Bulletin of the Halifax Board of Trade — the issuing of such publication needs no apology.” Like our predecessors, we believe that keeping the business community in Halifax engaged and informed is as important as ever. No apologies! ■
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COVER STORY
CATHY AKINKUNMI OWNER EUNOIA LIFESTYLE SHOP "Halifax is a unique and thriving city — especially in recent times! Our population boom and our growth have led to embracing more diverse cultures. There are many demographic niches that are emerging stronger. Our urban centers are growing, and our suburbs are developing rapidly. It's truly a great time to do business in Halifax, in spite of the pandemic. Even with all of the recent development, our small-city feel is still intact. The city kept its heart and soul of community-centered commercial activities. The business districts ensure that, and the people of Halifax do too!" eunoialifestyle.ca
SARA NAPIER PRESIDENT & CEO / EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT UNITED WAY HALIFAX "Every day, United Way Halifax works with extraordinary people who want to make Halifax the best it can be. By partnering with hundreds of businesses, we offer our expertise in poverty solutions, inclusivity, social purpose, and employee engagement. In 2022, we’re managing through COVID recovery, we’re growing rapidly, and new opportunities abound. At this inflection point, it’s critical to use our collective passion, vision, and values to leverage every opportunity fully, address our growing pains and challenges, and create a present and future that leaves no one behind." unitedwayhalifax.ca
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COVER STORY
POET COMEAU OWNER LAKE CITY CIDER "It's an exciting time to be part of the Halifax business community and, of course, in our borough of Dartmouth. The city is growing and expanding, creating space for those entrepreneurial spirits to carve their dynamic endeavours into our city. The craft beverage sector continues to utilize the best parts of the province to offer a dynamic tasting experience only found here. With positivity and hope floating through the fresh salted air, it's hard to deny the force and energy for the future. How high will the bar be raised? Perhaps as high as the winds will take us." lakecitycider.ca
RODNEY CORRIGAN PRESIDENT LOGISTEC STEVEDORING INC "LOGISTEC Stevedoring Ltd. is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2022 and its 50th year as a key stakeholder at the Port of Halifax! We are very proud of our strong maritime roots. We care deeply about the Halifax community and about reducing our environmental footprint through the Green Marine certification program. This year, we celebrate our rich heritage and our close connection to Halifax. We will continue to work with all port stakeholders and businesses to best serve our customers, to attract new business, and to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come!" logistec.com
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COVER STORY
REBECCA CABLE-MUNROE SITE DIRECTOR ADMIRAL "Halifax has a reputation of offering amazing hospitality and quality of service, which is of huge importance to our overseas customers and positive word-of-mouth brand traction. The diversity in this city is truly remarkable and such an integral part of our business community. It leads to bold ideas and viewpoints which benefit all industries. Embracing our differences is an important part of being successful and Halifax is fortunate to be able to tap into a deep cultural well that has produced a rich and vibrant private sector." joinadmiral.ca
OSSAMA NASRALLAH OWNER THE HARBOUR WATERCRAFT & ADVENTURE RENTALS "Year after year, Halifax becomes more impressive, flooded with visitors, and nurtures more attractions. We are excited to operate a business on our beautiful waterfront, providing people with the opportunity to explore Halifax from a unique perspective and experience some breath-taking twilight views. Every customer that uses our service has one common phrase once they return from their excursion, with a huge grin on their face: 'I just realized how much more beautiful Halifax is.' That daily interaction fuels our 'why' over and over." theharbourwatercraft.com
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SECONDARY STORY
Behind the breakthroughs in healthcare Spring Dinner shines spotlight on exciting healthcare advancements happening in Halifax ALL IMAGES CONTRIBUTED
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alifax is home to some of the world’s leading research in healthcare. We boast world-class universities and talent. Local hospital foundations raise millions of dollars every year to support their advancements. Nova Scotia is uniquely positioned to provide solutions to the world’s leading issues in healthcare. We hope you will join us on Wednesday, May 4 for our 2022 Spring Dinner, where we’ll shine a light on the stories and successes that are changing the medical field around the world. In the meantime, take some time to get to know the local speakers behind the breakthroughs in healthcare! Be sure to reserve your ticket to 2022 Spring Dinner today at: halifaxchamber.com/events f****ing God, this is amazing. This stuff was dug out of the earth, formed and shaped into this thing, and now someone is going to be able to walk again. That was the spark of inspiration for me.
DR. DANIEL BOYD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY Can you describe the day when you decided to set out on your line of research? My interest in material science and biomaterials started when I was probably 16 or 17 —the first time I held an artificial hip in my hands. I was like, oh my
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My research today is about finding new glass materials to treat different kinds of diseases. My love of glass research started in my PhD. We were making a liquid that you could inject into the spine to stabilize a fracture. We learned that we could change characteristics of that material if we changed the glass chemistry. Changing that glass chemistry became a monumental puzzle that I loved picking apart and putting back together. What question or challenge were you setting out to address? In essence, I'm the geek and I just need someone to give me a set of user needs for a particular market to see if I can build it. We spend our days doing two things. First, the basic science discovery work — so that when a set of user needs comes calling, we're going to be able to discover a new material quickly. But on A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
the other end, once we get a set of user needs defined, I engage a very different innovation protocol to materialize that into an actual commercial product. Why was Halifax the place to conduct your research? The answer is simply community. My ability to talk with end users is really easy in Halifax, and it's not that easy everywhere else. The collaboration isn't as present in other jurisdictions as much as it is here. For my research to materialize as a real product that will benefit patients and doctors, we require clear user needs to be established. To do that, you have to have access to doctors, and Halifax provides a fantastic home for that type of interaction because everyone is so collegial here. People are so freaking friendly. It doesn't matter what I'm working on. I'm a phone call away from having meeting with someone who can fill me in on user needs and get me started. Learn more about Dr. Boyd's research at:
abkbiomedical.com
SECONDARY STORY I am working on finding a cure for cancer by training our immune system. One in two Canadians will get a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, so there is a huge need for effective cancer therapies. We are developing cutting-edge innovations to kill cancers. Atlantic Canada is a community-oriented place, where scientists like myself feel hugely supported. I personally love the fact that our community shares the passion that we have to come together to fight the deadly disease of cancer.
DR. SHASHI GUJAR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY LEAD SCIENTIST LABORATORY FOR CANCER BIOLOGY METABOLISM AND IMMUNOTHERAPY What question were you setting out to address when you started? And why was Halifax the place to do it?
What part of your research is the coolest to you — the part that you’re most excited to talk about? We have discovered that when we train our immune system, we can kill cancer cells that are present at the local sites as well as those that are spread in the patient's body. More importantly, this antitumor immunity can establish active protection even after the discontinuation of the therapies — thus making sure that the cancer relapse doesn't happen. The fact that we can train our immune system to fight against cancer, similar to what we ingredients into contact lenses. That was a big problem for us because in order to develop this product, we had to first resolve a serious technical problem that plagued the industry and has for years stifled new product development. In turn, we developed a novel platform technology that offers an innovative solution to overcome the problem. With the help of our proprietary technology, we're able to tackle colour vision deficiencies, and help to launch dozens of other groundbreaking contact lens products.
GABRIELLE MASONE FOUNDER & CEO COLOURSMITH What question or challenge were you setting out to address when you started? Coloursmith was started to tackle colour vision deficiencies — in particular, to develop a set of contact lenses capable of functionalizing colour vision with targeted narrowband light filtration. But to our surprise, there was an underlying technical problem preventing the incorporation of any good light filtering
Why was Halifax the place to conduct your research? There's a huge amount of value in the region. Many Canadians may not think of Atlantic Canada as a viable option for their business, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, they’ll find that we have top notch financial and legal services, a growing VC community with growing female representation, and the third lowest operating costs for a research centre outside of the 50 largest cities in Canada and the USA. Not to mention we’re conveniently located with a diverse talent pool, boast a high density of colleges and universities, and are backed by supportive business ecosystem. There BUSINESS VOICE
did against COVID-19 using vaccines, is simply amazing! What message would you like to share with the public when it comes to understanding and supporting the scientific process? All I can say is research saves lives! When we do cancer research, we are on a constant hunt for new ways by which we can beat cancer. Especially with technological advances, sometimes we find new paradigms that are different from the old ones — but the goal always is to find the best solutions for promoting our best health possible! Learn more about Dr. Gujar's research at: gujarlab.com
are literally dozens of reasons to be here. I couldn't imagine a better place for our company to be. In this era of mistrust and misinformation, what message would you like to share with the public when it comes to understanding and supporting the scientific process? Mistrust, like fear, serves a very important purpose. It keeps us alert. It sparks curiosity and can drive us to action. But action against science accomplishes nothing, and fear can be manipulated to the detriment of all people. It’s vital that we try to understand through a variety of perspectives and judge for ourselves. It’s our responsibility to stay quizzical! Learn more about Gabrielle's research at: coloursmith.com
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MEMBER PROFILE
The buzz at Oberland The insect farm that’s closing the food loop By Emily Bednarz
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very year, people across the globe acknowledge Earth Day on April 22. It’s a day to draw renewed focus on issues like climate change, clean energy, and environmental protection. While Earth Day is just one day in a year, it serves as a reminder for the urgent action that’s needed. In 2020, Halifax adopted HalifACT: a community response to the climate crisis that voices a commitment to a net-zero community by 2050. While many businesses and organizations across Nova Scotia incorporate sustainability into their daily work, some, like Oberland Agriscience, build sustainability into their core mission in innovative and surprising ways. Oberland Agriscience is a Halifaxbased insect farm. The company grows black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on an industrial scale using organic by-products, like spent grains from local craft breweries. Oberland works to “close the food loop” by transforming the BSLF into protein for use in pet food, aquaculture, and agriculture feed. In other words: food waste feeds the insects, and the insects become food for other animals. Generating protein from flies might sound unappetizing, but companies like Oberland are at the forefront of global efforts to reduce waste, foster sustainability in agriculture, and build resilience in food security. “One thing we have hopefully learned through this pandemic is that we need to build resilience into our systems,” says Oberland Agriscience Founder and CEO, Greg Wanger. “By helping local companies deal with their organic by-products and wastes, upcycling them to high quality protein at Oberland, and then helping to feed our aquaculture farms and our pets, Oberland is a link in the chain.” Closing the “food loop” is at the heart of Oberland’s mission. “A circular economy is an efficient economy,” says Wanger. “Working with local partners both upstream and downstream of us we can help to streamline processes, transport logistics, and minimize wastes and by-products.” In addition to pet food and animal feed, Oberland also co-produces
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an organic fertilizer. Wanger hopes to see the fertilizer used “in fields and gardens around Nova Scotia and beyond, reducing our need for petroleum-based fertilizers,” he says.
From NASA to Halifax Wanger was working at the NASAJet Propulsion Lab in San Diego, California when his wife accepted a job as a Professor with Dalhousie University. Wanger had been having conversations with a mentor who started a Black Soldier Fly farm in Los Angeles. “We talked about the global protein crisis, food waste issues, and green technologies,” says Wanger. “To me, it seemed like a great opportunity to start a soldier fly operation here in Halifax. Food waste is an issue everywhere, and I wanted to see if we could help the aquaculture industry by supplying some more sustainable feed for their fish.” Wanger loved being able to transform the conversation into an operation, but the process wasn’t without its challenges — particularly in navigating the business learning curve. “Admitting where my gaps were and finding talented key personnel for those roles has allowed Oberland to grow to where we are today,” says Wanger.
A shared vision Wanger credits his team for Oberland’s success — but how was it assembled? What leads someone to work at a fly farm? “Our team has grown very organically,” says Wanger. “Roles have mostly been filled by word-of-mouth or through some of the great programs offered here in Nova Scotia, like Careers in Sustainability and Green Youth Programs. Surprisingly often, we get referrals or cold calls from people who have heard about us in the news and social media and want to come work for a bug farm.” The dedicated team at Oberland Agriscience represent diverse professional backgrounds — from banking, to business, to biology. “We have a very engaged workforce here at Oberland,” A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
says Wanger. “Our diversity is our strength. We all have our talents, and we continue to work hard to cement a culture that gives people that sense of belonging and worth. People should feel good about coming to work.” Despite their varied backgrounds, the team shares common goals and motivations. “One motivation for our team is that our core values — like environmental stewardship, good governance, and good work-life balance — match their own.”
Expansion at Oberland Last year, Oberland Agriscience purchased 2.5 hectares in the Ragged Lake Business Park. “It is exciting to see the construction of our new expansion facility taking place across the street,” says Wanger. “This March, we began clearing the land and doing site prep work. Concrete will begin flowing later this spring, with the planned commissioning of the facility in Spring 2023.” The expansion will increase both their production levels and workforce. “Currently, we are processing about one to two tonnes of organics for our insects per week,” says Wanger. “In our new facility, that number will rise to more than 40 tonnes per day! Our estimates are that we will need to hire another 15-20 personnel for our expansion.” Sustainability continues to be at the core of Oberland’s business model, and the expansion is no exception. “We are making significant design decisions in our expansion to be one of the most energy efficient and traceable insect farms in Canada,” says Wanger. The facility will be powered by 100% renewable energy, and plans are in place to monitor impact. “We are working with ROCarbon Labs to measure and validate our impact,” says Wanger. “Along with our accountants, Oberland will have a third-party carbon accountant. If it isn't measured, it isn't done!” ■ Learn more about Oberland Agriscience by visiting: oberlandagriscience.ca
MEMBER PROFILE
Building a world where everyone is included Easter Seals celebrating 100 year anniversary in Canada By Emily Bednarz and Emma Menchefski
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century ago in Windsor, Ontario, ten Rotary clubs came together to create Easter Seals: a network of charitable organizations that provides opportunities to children, youth, and adults with disabilities. Since then, Easter Seals has become the largest national organization of its kind. Their organizations serve over 40,000 people across Canada, in every province and territory. The organization was first incorporated in Nova Scotia in 1931, going under a number of names before becoming Easter Seals Nova Scotia in 2009. “The organization has built a tremendous legacy in Nova Scotia,” says Joanne Bernard, President and CEO. Bernard cites Camp Tidnish and New Leaf Enterprises among their many successes. For several decades, the programs have offered employment and recreational support to children and adults living with differing abilities. In addition to maintaining their programs, Easter Seals advocates for accessibility legislation, both provincially and nationally. “The quest for accessibility and inclusion for persons living with disabilities has always been one of the enduring guiding principles of Easter Seals,” says Bernard. “Our provincial mission statement of ‘we see a world where everyone is included’ is not just our vision. We strive every day to make it our reality.” As Minister of Community Services in 2016, Bernard introduced Bill 59: the Accessibility Act for Nova Scotia. The bill was passed into law in 2017, committing Nova Scotia to becoming fully accessible by 2030. “It’s a very lofty goal,” says Bernard, noting that a similar bill was passed nationally in 2019. “Both the province and the country have made tremendous advances in accessibility,” she says. “It takes time, but the needle is finally moving in the right direction.” It's tireless work, but it’s endlessly fulfilling for Bernard. “My most favourite
CREDIT: EASTER SEALS NOVA SCOTIA
part of working at Easter Seals is being able to witness the joy, sense of accomplishment, and sense of belonging on the faces and in the words of children, youth, and adults who, for the most part, live in a world that is not made for them,” she says. Bernard has seen countless success stories in her work with Easter Seals Nova Scotia, but one stands out. “I was talking to a dad at a sledge hockey game,” she recalls. “I asked him what the program meant to him.” The father replied: “If anyone had told me after the diagnosis of my son that I would be buying him hockey tape at Canadian Tire years later, I would have told them they were crazy.” Bernard was struck by the father’s example: a seemingly ordinary errand. “It’s a task that millions of parents do every day,” she says. “But if you are the parent of a child with a disability, that small act is significant.” Our business community can help to make moments like this an everyday BUSINESS VOICE
reality. It all starts with a change in mindset. “The business community needs to flip the switch and stop thinking of accessibility as a cost to business,” says Bernard. “Accessibility means more people can access your goods and services. Accessibility means you tap into a willing and able workforce. Accessibility sends a message of being an employer of choice. Accessibility is opportunity.” According to Bernard, accessibility is a particularly important issue for our province. “Nova Scotia has the highest per capita rate of disability in the country at 27%,” she says. “It is time to move the needle forward in all realms of our society — not because we have to, but because we want to.” As Bernard said at the 100th year Easter Seals anniversary gala on March 24, “Accessibility is not a cost – it's an investment.” ■ Learn more about Easter Seals Nova Scotia by visiting: easterseals.ns.ca 25
WORKING FOR YOU
Charting growth and equity in the Chamber community Accessing a Skilled Workforce Task Force Chair reviews tenure By Michele Peveril
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worked for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce about 25 years ago, fresh out of university. Local Boards of Trade had amalgamated to become the “Voice of Metro Business.” Bill Black chaired the Board, and the Chamber talked taxation, small business support, entrepreneurship, and economic prosperity. The Halifax population stood at 329,000. More people were moving away than were staying. Fast forward 25+ years. From my vantage point on the Chamber Board of Directors, I have been grateful to see headlines like: “Halifax could reach a population of half a million within 5 years,” “Halifax’s downtown population growing at fastest pace in Canada,” and “Nova Scotia sets immigration record in 2021.” Member prosperity remains at the core of the Chamber’s Strategic Plan, but the focus areas have broadened. This is reflected in the 2019-2023 Halifax Chamber of Commerce Strategic Plan and Task Force priorities. The Fostering Private Sector Growth Task Force priorities are: 1. Optimize the size of government through reduced tax burden, efficient spending, and increased revenue. 2. Foster a frictionless business environment through reduced regulatory burden. 3. Support the growth of Nova Scotia’s export sector — for both goods and services. 4. Promote and support the growth of Halifax as a major Canadian city. The Accessing a Skilled Workforce(ASW) Task Force priorities are: 1. Support the Chamber’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion
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policy and action plan. Promote and encourage immigration to achieve Ivany population targets. 3. Promote entrepreneurship training and development. 4. Ensure youth retention and successful job placement through work-integrated learning. Over 40 Chamber members volunteer on these Task Forces combined. On a bi-monthly basis, the Task Forces gather to support the Chamber’s staff and Board of Directors in advancing these priorities. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, these volunteers continued to bring their ideas and action items to the table. Having led the ASW Task Force these past two years, I see first-hand how volunteers and staff are making progress on these priorities. The cooperative approach of many not-for-profit, private, and public sector groups has made a difference. The Task Force is currently brainstorming the next steps to support the Chamber’s efforts in promoting entrepreneurship development and ensuring youth retention in the workforce. In the meantime, the Chamber has regularly hosted events and published articles in Business Voice magazine that reflect these priorities. Over the past year, the ASW Task Force has placed particular focus on promoting immigration and supporting Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEA&I). 2.
Promoting Immigration During a recent meeting of the Chamber-led Nova Scotia Business and Labour Economic Coalition (NSBLEC), Ava Czaplay, Deputy Minister with Nova Scotia’s Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration, outlined the latest A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
statistics concerning immigration in Nova Scotia: • Nova Scotia’s population reached a milestone of 1 million last year. • 4,100 immigration applications were approved, with a focus on skilled newcomers and essential services. • Inter-provincial migration increased for the sixth year in a row. • The provincial retention rate remains strong at 71% — the highest in Atlantic Canada. I recall standing in the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic when the 2014 report from OneNS launched. There were urgent calls to action on the international immigration and inter-provincial migration fronts. In that report, population challenges featured prominently as the cornerstone to building a prosperous economy. Significant progress has been made since, with the Chamber supporting many other groups that collectively drive immigration forward. The OneNS dashboard shows that, in recent years, inter-provincial migration is “progressing and surpassing” targets while international immigration is “progressing on track.” The gains in OneNS immigration targets, however, stand in contrast to slow progress in other areas. For example, the Goal Status under “Employment Rate for First Nations and African Nova Scotians” is listed as “not progressing; not on track.” The employment rates for First Nations and African Nova Scotians are significantly lower than the provincial figure. Clearly, there remains substantial work to be done in the business and broader community when it comes to underrepresented groups in the workforce.
WORKING FOR YOU
Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion The Halifax Chamber has introduced a policy and action plan around DEA&I, and the ASW Task Force is committed to supporting these efforts. A few recent highlights are: • A more diverse and inclusive pool of nominees and finalists for the Chamber’s 2022 Halifax Business Awards. • The creation of an online DEA&I Tool Kit. • An African Heritage Month special email bulletin, delivered to over 5,500 subscribers with a 69% open rate (a new record!). • Seven articles in Business Voice magazine related to DEA&I in 2021. • Ten Chamber events this past year related to DEA&I, including a series of “Vibrant Community” events, a 2022 webinar series hosted by Josh Creighton (Community Engagement Specialist at the Chamber), and a Blanket Exercise event on National Truth and Reconciliation Day. There are still challenges when it comes to fully engaging underrepresented groups in the workforce, and there are many groups working on addressing these challenges. We can achieve real and impactful change by working together. The aim is to keep building momentum through multiple approaches, and the goal is to generate broad, positive impact on employment rates and DEA&I in Nova Scotia. The Indigenous Blanket Exercise, for instance, may have been just one day of education, but I can safely say that the 50 people in attendance were moved by what they experienced. This is a small step towards reconciliation. If Chamber members have ideas related to these Strategic Plan focus areas, please connect with Kathleen MacEachern, Senior Policy & Research Analyst at the Halifax Chamber, to pass along your input. The ASW Task Force will continue to meet bi-monthly to support the Chamber’s work in these areas. Thank you to the volunteers who devote time to the Task Force and continually bring forward new ideas. As I wrap up my Board and Task Force roles, it is encouraging to see how the Chamber and our business community have advanced in the past 25 years — and particularly in recent years.
STRATEGIC PLAN 2019 - 2023 We create value and prosperity for our members. We provide services they need, events that will help them learn and we advocate for conditions in the economy that enhance their prosperity. Fostering Private Sector Growth
Accessing a Skilled Workforce
Optimize the size of government through:
Support the Chamber's Diversity,
Reduced tax burden, efficient spending, increased revenue
Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
policy and action plan.
through reduced regulatory burden
Promote & Encourage Immigration to achieve Ivany population targets
Support the growth of Nova Scotia’s export sector, both goods and services
Promote Entrepreneurship training and development
Promote and support the growth of Halifax as a major Canadian city
Ensure youth retention through work integrated learning to ensure successful job placement
Frictionless business environment
Honesty Diversity Integrity Innovation Accountability Collaboration
halifaxchamber.com Despite the challenges highlighted by OneNS and the pandemic, Halifax has stepped up to wrestle with these issues and set our community on a solid path. Collectively, we have reversed the trend in Nova Scotia of seeing more people move away than stay. In the meantime, the Chamber continues its essential work — supporting diversity, prosperity, and opportunity in Halifax. Volunteer Members of the Chamber’s Accessing a Skill Workforce Task Force • Michele Peveril, Port of Halifax • Brad Smith, Mainland Building Trades • Captain Sean Williams, CFB Halifax • Chantal Brine, EnPoint • Chris Googoo, Ulnooweg • Cynthia Dorrington, Vale &
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• • • • • • • • • • • •
Associates David Rideout, Metroworks Faten Alshazly, We Us Them Jennifer Montgomery, Blue Door Group Jennifer Oldham, Intertalk Systems Joanne Bernard, Easter Seals of Nova Scotia Kenneth Oguzie, Africa Canada Trade and Investment Venture Lauren Murphy, The Clean Foundation Robert Wooden, Dalhousie University Robyn Byrne, Wilsons Heating & Security Suzanne Fougere, Events East Group Suzanne Rix, Cox & Palmer Yemi Akindoju, Vanity Fashions Limited ■ 27
WORKING FOR YOU
Tackling climate change challenges Halifax's opportunity to step up
WENDY LUTHER PRESIDENT AND CEO HALIFAX PARTNERSHIP
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limate change is already affecting Halifax’s residents, communities, and economy – from rising sea levels to the economic and social impacts of extreme weather. The questions on my mind, and on the minds of many, are what kind of future Halifax do we want to live in, and how can we mitigate the impacts of climate change by pursuing and maximizing economic opportunities that put the well-being of our people and planet first? In 2019, Halifax Regional Council declared a climate emergency, joining countries and major cities around the world, including nearly 500 Canadian municipalities. HalifACT is our city’s collective response to that declaration and is one of the most ambitious climate action plans in Canada with a goal to achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. HalifACT is as much an economic development plan as a climate action plan. It is a roadmap and a commitment to reduce emissions, switch to clean and reliable energy sources, and demonstrate local leadership in preparing for current and future climate impacts and resiliency. The advancement of Halifax’s green economy to address climate change here
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and around the world is a major theme of Halifax’s new inclusive economic strategy for 2022-2027 – People. Planet. Prosperity. This new strategy focuses on ensuring that Halifax’s prosperity benefits the many and not the few and creates the kind of city we want future generations to inherit. Halifax is well positioned to advance a green innovation, infrastructure, and jobs agenda driven by major investments from business and all orders of government, accelerated innovation, and strong partnerships between the private, public, post-secondary, and not-for-profit sectors. The transition to a low carbon economy will require the private and public sectors to invest more than $22 billion over 30 years in building retrofits, renewable energy, energy storage, transit systems, and active transportation infrastructure. Increased investments in renewable energy and the shift to electric vehicles will require an expanded and modernized electric grid, storage systems, and charging stations. The production of green hydrogen will also require a smarter energy grid with greater capacity. Nova Scotia Power is developing opportunities for more wind and solar generation, battery storage, electric vehicles, and smart grid technology. There is also rising demand from residents and companies to make homes and businesses more energy efficient. These investments and new opportunities will stimulate business growth and innovation and generate employment, helping to build and strengthen our clean technology and renewable energy sectors. As HalifACT reports, based on the low carbon pathway modeled for Halifax, the first ten years of actions (2020-2030) will result in an annual average 9,000 person-years of employment. Areas of employment growth include active transportation, local renewable generation, commercial vehicles, district energy, development and retrofitting of A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
non-residential and residential buildings, personal vehicles, and transit infrastructure. Halifax’s ecosystem is supporting the growth of our local, provincial, and regional green economy. Our city is becoming a hub for cleantech innovators and cross-sector collaborations to harness the power and potential of renewable energy and clean technology. Local companies and organizations leading the charge include CarbonCure (which won the prestigious NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE in 2021 for its low-carbon concrete technology), NOVONIX, Dalhousie University (which is leading world-class battery technology R&D in partnership with Tesla), Nova Scotia Power, Heritage Gas, LED Roadway Lighting, and Planetary Hydrogen. Through the Halifax Innovation Outpost, a joint initiative of the Halifax Regional Municipality and Halifax Partnership to advance corporate innovation and address social and environmental challenges, we are supporting local startups, companies, and community organizations in developing prototypes aimed at reducing carbon emissions in Halifax. In February, we ran an innovation challenge focused on tackling climate change through green tech, green building, and green jobs. We awarded seven startups and community organizations $5,000 each, and we continue to support them while they develop ideas and prototypes that can be tested in reallife settings. As we look to the future, everyone of us has a role to play in creating a resilient and prosperous Halifax. The “ACT” in HalifACT stands for Acting on Climate Together, and this is what it will take to address the climate challenges before us and pursue our best opportunities for sustainable economic growth. ■
WORKING FOR YOU
When performance issues lead to dismissal Ensuring compliance with the Labour Standards Code
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ometimes employers may feel they need to fire an employee for performance issues and are uncertain about how to comply with the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code (Code). Employees of less than three months can, with few exceptions, be dismissed without notice. And special rules apply to employees of ten or more years. This discussion is focused on the dismissal of an employee who has worked for their employer for three months or more, but less than ten years. Let’s consider Megan, who has decided to dismiss an employee, Mark, who is disrespectful to colleagues. Megan has a few options under the Code: 1. Provide written notice and have Mark work the notice period. Megan knows she can’t reduce Mark’s hours or otherwise change his terms/conditions of employment during this period. 2. Give Mark pay in lieu of notice and end Mark’s employment immediately. This this may be a good option if Megan is concerned Mark would be rude to customers if he worked the notice period. 3. Provide some combination of working notice and pay in lieu. If Mark was entitled to two weeks’ notice, Megan could provide one week’s working notice and one week’s pay in lieu. If Mark was guilty of uncondoned wilful misconduct or disobedience or neglect of duty, Megan wouldn’t need to give Mark notice, or pay in lieu, under the Code. To determine if performance issues reach the threshold of wilful misconduct or disobedience or neglect of duty, Labour Standards considers: • the severity of the performance issue – behaviour such as theft or workplace violence might be grounds for immediate termination, meaning notice or pay in lieu is not required; and/or
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whether the employer provided sufficient progressive discipline to justify termination without notice. While the Code does not mention progressive discipline, decisions by the NS Labour Board provide guidance and some general factors to consider, such as whether the employer has: • made performance expectations clear to the employee; • warned the employee to change behaviour; • given the employee a reasonable chance to change behaviour; • warned the employee that not improving behaviour could lead to dismissal. What might progressive discipline in Megan’s situation involve? Megan meets with Mark to discuss concerns about his behaviour. She provides information on supports available in case personal issues are affecting his work. She makes a record of their discussion. After another incident of disrespectful behaviour, Megan meets with Mark again and provides a disciplinary letter, outlining the difference between what she expects and how Mark has been acting. Megan warns Mark that his job is in jeopardy if his behaviour does not improve. A month later, following another incident, Megan provides Mark with a letter advising that he is suspended BUSINESS VOICE
one day without pay for disrespectful behaviour. Megan warns Mark that if it happens again, his employment will be terminated immediately. It is important to follow guiding principles. If Mark filed a Labour Standards complaint alleging his employer fired him in violation of the Code, Labour Standards would investigate the matter by collecting and considering evidence on both sides of the issue. Labour Standards would also consider Labour Board decisions that provide guidance on the issue. This information provides some insight into how the Code applies to situations where an employer fires an employee for performance issues. Employees who feel they were wrongfully dismissed might choose to pursue an action through the courts — which is outside of Labour Standard’s scope. In such situations, an employer may wish to speak to a lawyer. ■ Questions? Learn more at: novascotia.ca/lae/employmentrights/ employernowork.asp Contact us directly at: LabourStandards@novascotia.ca or 1-888-315-0110
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WORKING FOR YOU
Blue Nose Marathon returning to Victoria Day weekend Marathon team on community-building and celebration By Emily Bednarz
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ince 2004, the Blue Nose Marathon has brought together a diverse group of participants, volunteers, charities, sponsors, and community leaders. “It is a weekend to celebrate being active, being a part of the community, and all the training our runners have maintained over the winter,” says Sherri Robbins, Executive Director of the Blue Nose Marathon. Now entering its nineteenth year, the Blue Nose Marathon will return to its familiar schedule after three years of change and uncertainty. In 2019, the Blue Nose was moved to June to accommodate the Memorial Cup. In 2020 and 2021, it was hosted virtually in November due to the pandemic. “The Blue Nose Marathon traditionally takes place on Victoria Day weekend, kicking off the summer and race season,” says Sherri Robbins, Executive Director. “We are thrilled to be returning to Victoria Day weekend. We consider it to be Blue Nose’s home.” Returning to the regular timeslot reflects a greater sense of hope and optimism in Blue Nose Nation, the marathon’s community. “It’s meaningful as we are coming out of the pandemic, hopefully, and learning to live with COVID-19” says Robbins. “People have been missing these opportunities and our events.” The Blue Nose team is looking forward to hosting a large crowd in 2022. “We welcomed over 4,500 to Blue Nose Marathon last November, and we expect to surpass that and be closer to pre-pandemic numbers for 2022,” says Robbins. Marathon participants have several races to choose from in addition to the Blue Nose Full Marathon, including the Killam Marathon Team Relay, Medavie Blue Cross Half Marathon, GoodLife Fitness 10KM, Lifemark 5KM, and
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IMAGE CREDIT: STOO METZ
Doctors Nova Scotia Youth Run. Even if you’re not running that weekend, there are several ways to support the event. The marathon welcomes new members to their Giv’er Crew, which consists of over 1,000 dedicated volunteers who help bring the event to life. You can also donate or fundraise for one of the many Blue Nose teams that support upwards of sixty local registered charities. “The impact of these charities is tremendous,” says Robbins. “We have charities supporting mental health, eating disorders, diseases — such as lung cancer, MS, and Cystic Fibrosis — the environment, animal welfare, and so many more.” A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 2
The marathon makes a significant impact for charities, but it also contributes to our business community. “The downtown area is abuzz throughout race weekend,” says Robbins. “The city is pulsing with energy, especially at the start and finish lines.” The marathon holds longstanding relationships with sponsors and suppliers, but for the first time in thirteen years, the title sponsorship of the Blue Nose Marathon is up for grabs! ■ For more information on participating, volunteering, donating, and sponsorships, visit: bluenosemarathon.com
SPECIAL STORY
Going off the 'eaten' path Halifax’s first Asian Food Festival hosting second event this May By Emily Bednarz
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his spring, Halifax will be welcoming back Off the Eaten Path, the city’s first Asian Food Festival. The festival is a time for local foodies to sample snacks, meals, and beverages from some of Halifax’s best Asian food restaurants. In honour of Asian Heritage Month, Off the Eaten Path is returning for a second edition in May 2022 after its inaugural event in October 2021. The 2021 edition dished out almost 1,000 meals from 26 vendors, who represented six different countries. For 2022, the festival is divided into two parts: from May 16-22, restaurants will be offering special meals and deals for dine-in or takeout. The festival is then capped off by the Asian Culture Carnival at the Halifax Waterfront on May 28. Off the Eaten Path is the result of a collaborative effort to bring vibrancy and diversity to the streets of Halifax. The festival is spearheaded by Project Lead Joyce Liu, who is also the Founder of Lumi Studios —a media and production company — and The Wave Projects, a not-for-profit organization focused on creating connections between people and places. Across these projects, Liu works with a dedicated team of professionals, including Mariam Fahmy, Clara Yu, and Richard Yang. The multilingual team represents a striking combination of expertise — from food, to communications, to urban planning. This combination gets at the heart of the festival’s mission: to “activate urban spaces” through engaging events that foster a sense of belonging, especially for youth, immigrants, refugees, and newcomers in Halifax. “With an emerging cultural diversity amongst many Canadian cities, it’s become instrumental to develop inclusive practices in our communities,” says Liu. “Off the Eaten Path foresees multicultural food festivals as tool for a community engagement.” The festival team started the planning process with a number of questions, says Liu. “We asked, what are the loopholes in our system that are delaying the growth of diverse businesses in accessing
IMAGE CREDIT: LUMI STUDIOS
equitable opportunities amongst the business community?” Engagement, exposure, and connection came to the forefront. “We realized it was vital to these diverse businesses' success that they efficiently connect with the local business community and with customers,” says Liu. A recent report generated by The Wave Projects outlines the impacts of the inaugural festival, in food sales and beyond. The team surveyed participating restaurants, project partners, and community members. Those surveyed indicated that the 2021 Asian Food Festival successfully engaged the community, promoted an understanding of the diversity in Asian culture, and fostered a sense BUSINESS VOICE
of belonging for people living in Halifax from diverse backgrounds. The festival also provided specific benefits to Asian-owned businesses in Halifax. Participating business owners reported that the festival provided them with exposure, developed their digital marketing skills, opened them to a wider audience, and offered a chance to introduce community members to their culture. “We helped build strong business bonds between Asian businesses and the city’s business associations,” says Liu. “Which inevitably builds a stronger community.” ■ To learn more, visit: offtheeatenpath.ca 31
TRENDS
Three signs a customer won’t pay your bill And how to be proactive so it doesn’t happen
BRIAN SUMMERFELT PRESIDENT AND CEO METCREDIT
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f you’ve been in business any length of time, you know the sickening feeling. Staring at a list of overdue accounts receivable, knowing one or more has decided not to pay — ever. It puts you in an undesirable position. You’ve worked hard for every customer and every piece of business you've taken on. The only thing worse than a new customer ignoring your bill is when a once-reliable account suddenly stops paying out of the blue. Customers seldom stop paying without a single warning sign, and there are red flags that may signal an account could be in trouble. Here are three things to consider when following up with your customer:
1. A change in payment habits When your best-paying customer's account is overdue, it’s worth a call to see what has changed. It could be as simple as the usual Accounts Payable person being on vacation. If it’s a bigger issue, extra communication may be needed for you to remain a payment priority. One way to raise the priority of your invoice is by clearly reiterating the consequences of non-payment to your customer. If your policy is to send files to a credit-reporting collection agency after a specific number of days (we recommend 60 days past due), you can remind the customer that non-payment may impact their future ability to obtain credit.
2. Radio silence If a customer stops answering emails or phone calls, something is wrong — it could be a change in contact information or staff, a vacation, or a sudden illness. But it’s not wrong for you to expect that your customers respond to payment inquiries within a reasonable amount 32
of time. Don’t wait to dig deeper and communicate the urgency of the issue. If your escalated efforts continue to turn up dead ends, it may be time to send the file to collections.
3. Two weeks never comes Your customer says they are expecting a big receivable “in about two weeks” that will enable payment of your account. This could be a stall tactic. Remind them of your payment terms and your policy of sending accounts to a credit-reporting collection agency at a specific number of days past due. It’s up to the customer to honour the agreed-upon payment terms and find a way to resolve the account. Avoiding bad debt requires planning and process. Before granting credit (any time you are not paid upfront) by a customer, you can ask them to complete a credit application. You can also ask existing accounts to complete an application
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when you update your policies. If you do pull a credit report on customers, look for accounts in collections, judgments, fraud accounts, or write-offs. Having a relationship with a collection agency that reports to major credit bureaus ensures your ability to collect quickly if anything goes wrong. You don’t need to wait until you have accounts in arrears. We remind business leaders to Know Us, For When You Need Us™ so they've got a plan in place whenever the need arises. It’s not a matter of luck that some B2B businesses have few or no bad debt write-offs. It’s a combination of smart planning, consistent practices — and strong business partnerships. Be vigilant and proactive, and you’re sure to see real improvements to your bottom line. ■ For more information, visit: metcredit.com
TRENDS
Leaving the comfort of home New regulations, new stressors: practicing stress management during stages of change
ROBYN JACKMAN MSW RSW INTENTIONAL OUTCOMES COUNSELLING
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he pandemic created a new routine for those that were able to work from home. With new regulations changing the rules again in Nova Scotia (it’s okay if you’ve stopped counting), we must create a new ‘new’ way of showing up for work. This change can be daunting, especially if, after more than a year of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, corporate offices ask employees to return full time to the office. Some employees are experiencing mixed feelings. Working from home has provided many families a way to continue to earn an income while adjusting to the ever-changing regulations from the schools. It has allowed them the ability to multi-task home and work duties. More than two-thirds of workers say they are concerned about returning to the office full time, according to a recent survey. Many workers fear they will be less safe if they are forced to commute on public transportation or spend their eight-hour shifts in close quarters with colleagues again. The transition may lead to adjusting your schedules again, interacting with far more people than usual, and coping with the stress from
these changes. Going back to the office, however, may lead to positive outcomes. Having firmer boundaries between work and home life can increase productivity. We also get the chance to rebuild social connections and reconnect with our community. We can reduce stress with planning, and we can make the transition smoother by starting a routine. This includes planning meals, setting a consistent sleep schedule, ensuring an adequate amount of physical activity, and investing in relaxation time. It can also include taking breaks at regular intervals to destress and rejuvenate yourself during the work hours. Breaks are a great time to practise self-care. Practising self-care can help you cope with the stress of the change. Creating an emergency self-care kit for work can help when stress levels increase. Each person has different needs for self-care, but you can stock your desk with things like a stress ball, a calming BUSINESS VOICE
essential oil diffuser (assuming you’re not working in a scent-free environment), your favorite snacks, your favorite tea, a cozy blanket, photos of your loved ones, sudoku puzzles, or even colouring books. Practising self-care in a way that builds your self-love and self-esteem helps you show up for yourself, which ultimately helps you show up for work. It’s essential to feel through difficult transitions — taking time to feel the discomfort. Practising self-care helps you restock the emotional energy you need to conquer your goals. Creating a self-care plan is making a commitment to yourself. Practise it as regularly as you can. It is important to know if or when you need more support than self-care can provide. Reach out to a professional if you notice that your stress levels are not decreasing with self-care. Remember: you are not alone. ■ For more information, visit: intentionaloutcomes.com
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TRENDS
Where to start with social media management? Tips for the tech savvy business owner on taking your socials to the next level
Social media has completely altered the way we do business. It's important to have a strong social media presence in order to stay relevant and competitive. — James Gaudet, Digital Marketing Specialist, JG
JAMES GAUDET DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST JG GRAPHIC DESIGN
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ocial media is a dynamic tool for businesses. It’s a way to communicate with the public and build a following, but it can also be a time-consuming task. If you're new to social media marketing, you might not know where to start. To save you time and effort, we’ve put together some helpful tips so you can start your social media management journey on the right foot.
Branding Social media marketing is one of the leading ways to grow your business. But if you want to succeed in social media, you need a cohesive and consistent branding strategy. Without it, you run the risk of confusing your audience and diluting your brand's voice. The key to social media marketing success is not just having a strategy but executing it well. For example, a logo is the first thing you see when you visit a company's website or social media page. It can make all the difference in what users think of your business. It should be memorable yet timeless; unique yet professional. But above all, it should be legible and 34
Graphic Design
discernible from any size or distance. For this reason, brand packages created by JG are typically delivered with multiple formats, including vertical and horizontal versions of the logo files.
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Optimization and Engagement
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Social media has completely altered the way we do business. It's important to have a strong social media presence in order to stay relevant and competitive. Here are some ideas to improve optimization and engagement on your social media channels: • Start by getting inspired! Search through popular hashtags to find topics that are relevant to your company or industry. • Keep it short. Tweets with less than 30 characters are more likely to be retweeted. • Let people know how they can get involved! Include a call-to-action at the end of every post to encourage engagement. • Make it personal. Tell people why you think they should care about what you've posted. • Make sure your business profile is complete and includes relevant information about your work. • Find creative ways to post content that generates high engagement like infographics, contests, and quizzes. • Join relevant groups on Facebook
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or LinkedIn to connect with other businesses in your industry. Invest in an email marketing service to create newsletters that are delivered straight to people's inboxes on a regular basis. Host videos of yourself on Youtube talking about the latest headlines in the industry. Use Instagram stories or Snapchat shows for behind-the-scenes looks at what your company is up to.
Consistency Are the digital files you use high resolution? Are the colour codes consistent from piece to piece? If you printed the same material, would you be able to ensure that the colours match? There are so many different platforms, and people use them in so many different ways that it can be overwhelming. But if you are consistent in your effort, winning is inevitable. Social media is an excellent way to grow your customer base and increase your visibility. But it can also be a bit overwhelming to manage your company's accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and more. It may seem daunting, but whatever you do: keep at it! ■ For more information and advice, visit: jgaudetdesigns.ca
TRENDS
Accessibility: A problem worth solving Our shared responsibility to develop, implement, and enforce accessibility standards
LESLEY DUNN COMMUNICATIONS & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR INCLUSION NOVA SCOTIA
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ccessibility is a necessary condition of inclusion. People of all races, genders, and sexual orientations, have disabilities. Accessibility Awareness Week takes place every year starting on the last Sunday in May. It is an opportunity for you, your business, or your organization to raise awareness of the positive economic and social benefits when persons with disabilities can access resources, services, and employment. Accessibility means more than access for people who use wheelchairs. There are many disability types including mobility, cognition, hearing, vision, independent living, and much more. Sadly, even in the year 2022, people with disabilities often take a back seat when diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are put into place. Inclusion, Disability, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (I.D.D.E.A.) all play an important role in a Coordinated Accessibility Strategy. Almost 50% of Canadian adults have experienced a temporary or permanent disability, which is why we need your help to improve and identify barriers for your employees,
customers, and community members. We need visionaries and activators who understand that “as long as there are barriers for some, there is still work to be done.” In order to achieve full access for Nova Scotians experiencing disability by 2030, it is our shared responsibility to develop, implement, and enforce accessibility standards with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodation, employment, buildings, structures, and premises. We must understand that the experience of disability can vary widely depending on the person’s circumstances and lived experience. Disability should not limit opportunity. When you invest in accessibility, you are investing in the common good. Accessibility is the reason to do things differently in the following areas:
Environment Over one in three people show an unconscious bias against those with a disability — higher than levels of bias on the basis of gender identity or race. To combat unconscious bias, businesses and organizations can foster accessible environments. Environments can be physical, social, and attitudinal; they can also be related to transportation, information and communication, systems, policies, standards, and so much more.
Workforce There are 645,000 Canadians experiencing disability who have the potential to work in an accessible labour market that are currently not working. Businesses with inclusive hiring have 72% more employee productivity, a 45% increase in workplace safety, 28% higher revenue, and 30% higher profit margins. It does not cost more to hire a person with a disability. 60% of the requested accommodations cost nothing. 93% of accommodations are a one-time cost of less than $500.00. Common BUSINESS VOICE
accommodations include flex hours, ergonomic workstations, assistive technologies, or adaptive devices.
Marketplace Close to one in five Canadians live with a disability, representing one of the most significant, under-served market segments. The purchasing power of the Canadian disability community is estimated to be $55.4 billion annually. 71% of customers with accessibility needs will click away from websites they find difficult to use. That 71% has an estimated spending power of 10% of the total online spend. During Accessibility Awareness Week 2022, we invite you to share photos and videos of how you are promoting Inclusion, Disability, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility to actively remove barriers for employees, customers, community members, and visitors to Nova Scotia. We encourage you to: • Celebrate Access Awareness Week at your business or organization through social media and by passing a resolution to improve accessibility. • Commit to better understanding barriers to accessibility by hosting or attending a webinar, speaker series, or discussion. • Commit to removing barriers to accessible communication, goods and services, education, transportation, and/or employment. • Assess an existing policy, service, or program to ensure accessibility and the rights of people with disabilities are central to delivery. When persons with disabilities have access to meaningful employment, resources, and services, Nova Scotia’s economy grows. Businesses have the chance to welcome more customers, improve service satisfaction, and reflect diversity in the workplace. ■ inclusionns.ca
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