PDF - Halifax Chamber of Commerce
Transcription
PDF - Halifax Chamber of Commerce
DISPLAY YOUR PASSION SONIC BOOM INTRAPRENEURSHIP Helping companies showcase their value Pg 20 Blending business and music Pg 22 Building a culture of innovation Pg 30 BUSINESS VOICE H A L I F A X C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E | J U LY & A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 | V O L U M E 2 5 I S S U E 0 6 dynamic infusion Immigrants critical to Nova Scotia’s economic future PAGE 14 HALIFAX’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE LEED. NEVER FOLLOW. We are proven leaders. Certified, even. Purdy’s Wharf is the first commercial property in Atlantic Canada to earn LEED EB: O&M certification from the Canada Green Building Council. It’s where your business needs to be. For leasing information, contact us at 902- 421-1122 or visit purdyswharf.com. CONTENTS } Demographically, Nova Scotia is in big trouble.” Paul Pickering, 15 Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia COVER STORY 14 Dynamic Infusion Immigrants critical to Nova Scotia’s economic future 04 Events 05 President’s message 06 New & noted 09 Members in the news 14 Energy infusion Immigrants critical to Nova Scotia’s economic future 20 Display your passion Young entrepreneurs help companies showcase their value 22 Profile: Sonic Entertainment 24 All ships rise 25 Working for you Illustration: rawpixel/123RF 27 Trends 32 Halifax partnership 33 City desk Display your passion Young entrepreneurs help companies showcase their value 20 38 Where are they now? SPECIAL FEATURE 34 Aerospace and defence Photo: Clayton Morrissey Board of Directors Volume 25 Issue 06 Carol MacMillan, The Shaw Group, Chair Mark Fraser, T4G, Vice Chair Rob Batherson, Colour, Past Chair Business Voice is published 10 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 Directors Cynthia Dorrington, Vale & Associates Level Chan, Stewart McKelvey Lori Barton, Beaumont Advisors Limited Don Bureaux, NSCC Jamie O’Neill, Uprise Consulting Margaret Chapman, Corporate Research Associates Mark Sidebottom, Nova Scotia Power Inc. Michele Williams, Grant Thornton LLP Captain (N) Sutherland, Maritime Forces Atlantic Sreejata Chatterjee, LeadSift Gavin MacDonald, Cox & Palmer Paul Bent, CPA, ICA, CD.D Robert Dean, WBLI Saeed El-Darahali, SimplyCast Chamber Staff Patrick Sullivan, President and CEO Nancy M. Conrad, Senior Vice President, Policy Colin J. Bustard, Director of Finance and Administration Becky Davison, Marketing Manager Melissa MacDonald, Communications Specialist 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 Business Voice is published by The Chronicle Herald, Custom and Community Publishing Department Publisher: Sarah Dennis Vice President, Business Development: Jeff Nearing Editor:@e[o<_jpfơjh_Ya`ǃ_jpfơjh_Ya6^[hơbZ$Yơ Design Department Manager: Julia Webb Layout & Design: Pete Ross Contributing Writers: Erin Elaine Casey, David Pretty, Jon Tattrie, Carol Dobson, Becky Davison, Kayla Cotton, Courtney Osborne, Mike McCarther, Gregory Phipps, Ian Munro, Mike Savage Customer Relations Specialist: Jennifer MacLean Sales Executives: Peter Coleman, Victoria MacDougall, David A. McNeil 902-426-2811 x1163 Cover photo: V.J. Mathhew/123RF Disclaimer Business Voice magazine makes no warranties of any kind, written or implied, regarding the contents of this magazine and expressly disclaims any warranty regarding the accuracy or reliability of information contained herein. The views contained in this magazine are those of the writers and advertisers; they do not d[Y[iiơh_boh[ǃb[Yjj^[l_[mie\8ki_d[iiLe_Y[ magazine and its publisher The Chronicle Herald. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40032112 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Copyright 2016 by The Chronicle Herald All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without expressed written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. 2717 Joseph Howe Drive Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2T2 Tel: (902) 426-2811 TheChronicleHerald.ca BUSINESS VOICE 3 CATAGORY EVENTS CHAMBER EVENTS DATE: July 13, 2016 TIME: 12:00 – 1:30 pm LOCATION: Halifax Chamber of Commerce Building The Links at Brunello DATE: July 20, 2016 TIME: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm LOCATION: 120 Brunello Blvd, Timberlea For a full and up to date list of our Chamber events, please visit www.halifaxchamber.com/events BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NETWORK SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS! DATE: August 19, 2016 TIME: 12:00 – 1:30 pm LOCATION: Halifax Chamber November 2, 2016 of Commerce Building of Commerce Building HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA December 1, 2016 2017 HALIFAX BUSINESS AWARDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NETWORK DATE: July 15, 2016 TIME: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm LOCATION: Halifax Chamber 2016 FALL DINNER January 26, 2017 2017 ALL SHIPS RISE CONFERENCE DATE: August 17th, 2016 TIME: 12:00 – 1:30 pm LOCATION: Halifax Chamber February 15, 2017 SPRING DINNER 2017 of Commerce Building May 4, 2017 THANK YOU TO OUR JUNE SPONSORS: For You, Your Employees, and Your Business 1 2 FOR YOU AND YOUR EMPLOYEES * " +$ " ( %" ! (# * %$ #%" #&# * "# " $( # !" $ # !")# #&# "! "$ FOR YOUR BUSINESS * !"#& " $$ $ !$$& " " $ %" %### # * ' " ## $ ' $"& $ & " # % %$ # * " % # (## %" %### # * $" #%" !( $ #!# " %" +$ Take advantage of our National Buying Power. Contact our Business Development Team to get started 4 1-844-856-9876 J U LY & AUG US T 2016 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE An introductory message Looking forward to working with Chamber members president@halifaxchamber.com I believe a strategic plan requires input from all stakeholders, and I look forward to working with the board and our members to develop a plan over the coming months that will take us toward a prosperous future.” PATRICK SULLIVAN PRESIDENT & CEO I am pleased and humbled to have been chosen as the incoming President and CEO for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. I am lucky enough to have spent my formative years in Halifax with parents that grew up here, although my father was in the Canadian Forces and spent my early years living away. I attended Mount Saint Vincent University and like many young people, left early in my career and spent time in Toronto. During the course of my career I have lived both here in Halifax and Toronto and have been back and forth a number of times with my wife, Patti and my children. In 2012, I came back to Halifax from Toronto and joined government. There, I gained valuable insight into the inner workings of government through a number of budget cycles and seeing two elected governments in power. After more than 25 years in the private sector, my time with government was interesting and a significant learning opportunity. It’s one that I hope to take advantage of in the coming years. My immediate goal at the Chamber is to begin the learning process from Valerie, the board, the staff and most importantly, our members, about how I can best serve the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. I would like to take advantage of Valerie’s knowledge for as long as I can to ensure a smooth transition from the outgoing CEO to my new role. The board has pledged it’s support and I will certainly take advantage of this strength. I hope to reach back to previous governors to learn from their significant experience with the Chamber and the business community in Halifax. Valerie has built a strong team at the Chamber and I have now met everyone. They will be my day to day guides as I begin my time at the Chamber and I know I will need their counsel and support as we move forward. I began my career as a marketer, learning from the consumer and I believe the most important thing I can do as the incoming CEO at the Chamber is to learn from our members. I plan to spend the next few months of my new role meeting members, attending events and listening. I will listen to what our members want, BUSINESS VOICE what they need in a Chamber and a CEO, and how they see the future for the Halifax business community. The Chamber’s strategic plan, currently in place since 2013, will run to 2018. That is only a short 18 months away. I believe a strategic plan requires input from all stakeholders, and I look forward to working with the board and our members to develop a plan over the coming months that will take us toward a prosperous future. I look forward to meeting and working with you as we move forward together. 5 NEWSMAKERS CATAGORY NEW & NOTED We welcome our new Chamber members ATLANTIC PHOTO SUPPLY COLORWORKS INC. DURASPACE We operate the only professional photo lab in Atlantic Canada and offer photo prints from wallet size up to mural. Create photos on canvas prints, fine art prints, photo gifts and home decor photo products with your own photos. Quality printing is our commitment. Complete camera shop from digital cameras to telescopes, studio lighting and all photographic gear. Allen Sutherland 202 Brownlow Avenue, Unit CCF Dartmouth, NS 902-423-6724 www.atlanticphotosupply.com PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES – Photography Paul Susnis has been painting and decorating all his life, so when he came to Nova Scotia in the mid-1980s to open a paint store he wanted to do it right, by offering the best possible products and friendly personal service. Paul Susnis 3667 Strawberry Hill, Halifax, NS 902-455-1337 cw.accounting@eastlink.ca www.susnispaint.com INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING – Paint/Paint Equipment David Wilcox Bedford, NS 902-316-3611 dwilcox@duraspace.org duraspace.org COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY – Computer Software CANADIAN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING SERVICES Ehab Mdoukh 177 Main Street, Unit 302, Dartmouth, NS 902-830-8669 ehab@cbmasi.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE – Bookkeeping D.P. MURPHY HOTELS AND RESORTS Hospitality … Like Never Before, in the Maritimes. The portfolio of accommodation properties includes eight year-round properties throughout the Maritimes, and one seasonal resort which is located in the National Park, Prince Edward Island. Our Company’s focus is always on the customers. Christie Neate 250 Brackley Point Road Charlottetown, PE 902-368-3727 cneate@dpminc.com www.dpmurphyhotelsandresorts.com TRAVEL & TOURISM – Accommodations (General) FLUFFY BOTTOM BABIES INC. Ivy Liu 1595 Bedford Highway, Bedford, NS 902-443-5005 ơZc_d6ǃbkƃoXejjecXơX_[i$Yơ SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL – Retail (General) LIVE ART DANCE As a key presenter and advocate for contemporary dance, Live Art Dance is the only company east of Quebec to program an annual series of nationally and internationally recognized artists. Live Art has distinguished itself as a premiere dance presenter and has anchored Halifax’s presence on the international dance-touring map. Deb Twohig 6068 Quinpool Road, Halifax, NS 902-420-0003 deb@liveartdance.ca www.liveartdance.ca ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT – Theatre ECONOMY SHOE SHOP / SEAHORSE TAVERN Victor Syperek 1663 Argyle Street, Halifax, NS 902-423-8845 argylecobblers@eastlink.ca RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE – Restaurant 6 J U LY & AUG US T 2016 NEWSMAKERS NEOCON INTERNATIONAL RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES CENTRE SOSHEL TECH INC. An award-winning automotive design house and production facility with export sales making up 98 per cent of portfolio with products such as interior cargo storage and protection that create vehicle sizzle. Grade “A” clients include Nissan, Honda, Ford, Toyota and GM. Founded in 1993 in Nova Scotia, Neocon employs well over 200 engineers, technicians and plant personnel. Pat Ryan 35 Akerley Boulevard, Dartmouth, NS 902-468-6663 pryan@neoconinc.com www.excoautomotive.com/neocon INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING – Manufacture/Process The Resource Opportunities Centre is a nonprofit community development organization which serves the Prospect Communities and operates the stateof-the-art Prospect Road Community Centre. A volunteer board, an Executive Director, a staff of 40+ people and countless volunteers promote the ROC's vision of a welcoming, innovative, and thriving community. Shirley Jollimore 2141 Prospect Road, Halifax, NS 902-852-2711 executivedirector@prospectcommunities.com www.centre.prospectcommunities.com NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS – Community Centres We’ve created a solution FOR the restaurant industry BY people who have worked in the industry and have a passion for it. Featured is a new mobile app that allows restaurants to connect directly with restaurant-goers to feature their specials and deals while collecting data and feedback from their guests. Matt Nicholson Fredericton, NB 506-478-3827 matt@getfeaturednow.com www.getfeaturedapp.com COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY – App Development PROVINCIAL WOODWORKERS AND LAB SYSTEMS LTD. SCOTTISH LION IMPORTS Steve Mageau 23 Gloster Court, Dartmouth, NS 902-468-3034 steve@provincialwoodworkers.com www.provincialwoodworkers.com INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING – Millwork RECTOR COLAVECCHIA ROCHE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Rector Colavecchia Roche is a clientfocused firm of chartered accountants for businesses seeking expertise, value, and trust they can build on. We invest in long-term relationships with our clients to help them achieve financial and personal success. We have in-depth expertise with land developers, construction companies, professionals and non-profit organizations. Lawrence Roche 230-3 Spectacle Lake Drive Dartmouth, NS 902-463-9571 decisionsmatter@grcpa.ca www.rcrca.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE – Accounting Innis Campbell Bedford, NS 902-818-1265 info@scottishlion.com www.scottishlion.com SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL – Wholesale SMARTCAT MARKETING SmartCat Marketing is a collaboration of top talents. We deliver positive experiences and results in graphic design, web site development, online marketing, social media strategies and advertising direction. As a SmartCat client you can expect us to give you back your time and respect your budget. We deliver customized marketing programs at competitive rates. Nicole Gallant Dartmouth, NS 902-209-9626 smartcarmkt@gmail.com www.smartcatmarketing.ca ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA – Graphic Design BUSINESS VOICE THE MORTGAGE GROUP ATLANTIC LTD. The Mortgage Group, an award-winning Canadian mortgage company, has been providing residential and commercial mortgage services since 1990. In Atlantic Canada with a team of over 40 Mortgage Brokers, we can provide the best mortgage to meet your current and future needs. Contact us today. You will be glad you did. David Skinner 2 Bluewater Road, Suite 115 Hammonds Plains, NS 902-835-6420 davidskinner@mortgagegrp.com FINANCE & INSURANCE – Mortgage STONE HEARTH BAKERY A DIVISION OF METROWORKS Stone Hearth Bakery is a kosher commercial bakery with a primary goal to operate a viable social enterprise supported by a work adjustment skills training program. Proud to produce premium quality European-styled breads, bagels and specialty baked goods that are distributed throughout the Maritimes and can be found in most major grocery stores. John Hartling 7071 Bayers Road, Suite LL05, Halifax, NS 902-454-2851 jmattatall@mymetroworks.ca www.mymetroworks.ca RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE – Bakery 7 NEWSMAKERS TWO MEN AND A TRUCK UPPER CUTZ BARBER SHOP VSI WORLDWIDE TRADING INC. Nova Scotia offers comprehensive home and business moving and packing services. Our goal is to exceed customers' expectations by customizing our moving services to specific needs. We move apartments, condominiums, homes, businesses, and everything in between. We’re here to help with managing relocation stress. Kevin Hayes 192 Joseph Zatzman Drive, Unit 3 Dartmouth, NS 902-444-2636 kevin.hayes@twomen.ca www.twomenandatruck.ca TRANSPORTATION – Moving/Storage At Upper Cutz Barber Shop we specialize in fading and train our staff to provide exceptional haircuts and service. Our barbers Christy Goodwin, Jamie Tucker and Michelle Parent who have a huge passion for men’s hair styles. Open seven days a week to. Book us online https:// bookyouruppercutzbarber.resurva.com. Christy Goodwin 6494 Bayers Road Halifax, Nova Scotia 902-425-2889 sassy_cuts@hotmail.com uppercutzhfx.ca PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES – Hair Services VSI Worldwide Trading exports vehicles to markets where they are otherwise not available. Primary market is Western Europe, other markets include South America and the Middle East. VSI has partnerships and can source vehicles from Mexico & the Caribbean. In addition to exporting sourced/sold vehicles VSI helps individuals and organizations ship their vehicles abroad. Carolanne Lawrence 45 Borden Avenue, Unit # 04 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia 902-481-8153 ca@vsiworldwide.com www.vsiworldwide.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – Import/Export/Trading INDIVIDUAL MEMBER Una Hassenstein 902-722-1340 una.hassenstein@novascotia.ca OTHER – Individual Member Are you a new member? To submit your 50-word description for New & Noted, please contact Melissa MacDonald, Communications Specialist at Melissa@halifaxchamber.com or 902-481-1238 within the first six months of membership. SHAPING Linda Yates AST Class of 1998 Ordained Minister LEADERS Leaders come in many forms. AST helps develop post-graduate students to meet the theological and ethical challenges of today’s world. For over 40 years, AST has provided an arena for ecumenical teaching and research, public discussion, and community engagement. Welcome to a different kind of university. astheology.ns.ca 8 J U LY & AUG US T 2016 NEWSMAKERS MEMBERS IN THE NEWS How our members are growing Halifax QUEEN’S MARQUE: A $200M INVESTMENT TO BRING CULTURE TO HALIFAX WATERFRONT MORE THAN $61,000 RAISED AT 10TH ANNUAL CUA LUNG RUN SHUCK SEAFOOD + RAW BAR OPENED END OF APRIL On May 7, The Lung Association of Nova Scotia raised more than $61,000 for lung health in Nova Scotia! More than 300 walkers, runners, families and strollers took to the course in downtown Halifax to help raise funds and awareness for lung health in Nova Scotia. With an emphasis on fundraising, this was a free event where participants were encouraged to fundraise as much as possible leading up to the day of the event. The top fundraiser was CUA President & CEO Marie Mullally and the top fundraising team was the CUA Crusaders. The next Lung Association of Nova Scotia event is the Runway Run in Fall 2016. At Shuck Seafood + Raw Bar, an RCR Investment Company, we take great care to source products that have a positive impact on our environment. Award winning Chef Luis Clavel uses a delicate hand on seafood dishes to highlight the quality and freshness of the product and we have an ever changing selection of raw bar items. Sommeliers Melissa Carey and Ana Correa designed an eclectic yet affordable wine list that is complemented with local craft beer, Nova 7, cider on tap and signature cocktails. The interior is simple and understated with board and batten construction and exhibits a traditional yet modern East Coast vibe. The Queen’s Marque proposal is a joint venture from Armour Group Ltd. and the Waterfront Development. It includes a hotel, office space and a residential building, combined with art installations and roughly 23,000 square metres of plazas, courtyards and other public space. Two of the buildings are shaped like ships in port, tapering on the water side. Waterfront pedestrians can walk under the buildings as they are supported in part by dock-like pilings. The project is scheduled to go before Halifax’s Design Review Committee Thursday for a pre-application presentation. A formal application will follow. The expected completion date is slated for 2019. TALENTWORKS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE ACQUISITION OF STRICTLY STAFFING Strictly staffing has built a well-known brand in the professional contract staffing space. This purchase will allow Talentworks to continue building our capacity to serve a broader client base with a wider range of recruitment services. We welcome current staff and clients aboard and look forward continuing to provide the quality service Strictly Staffing clients and contractors have come to expect. Get your message out on target and on time. A full-service commercial printer with direct-mail capabilities, unique in Atlantic Canada, Bounty Print offers a wide range of services for all your printing needs including a newly installed wide format division. Bounty’s industry-leading team has the knowledge and experience to deliver great value and impact for your next print project. BOUNTYPRI NT YOUR FULL-SERVICE COMMERCIAL PRINTER 902.453.0300 W W W . B O UNT YP R INT . CO M BUSINESS VOICE 9 NEWSMAKERS SMART WOMEN IN MEETINGS AWARDS 2016 SMART Meetings magazine recently honoured the talents and triumphs of 25 female event professionals in North America. Characterized as executive leaders, doers, innovators, entrepreneurs and rising stars Leanne Andrecyk, managing partner with ZedEvents great productions, was honoured as 1 of only 2 professionals selected from Canada. Leanne currently sits on the editorial board for Corporate Meetings & Events magazine, serves as VP of marketing and communications for MPI Atlantic Chapter and is a member of the judging committee for the Chamber’s Halifax Business Awards. Winners were judged on innovation, industry involvement and philanthropic activities. You can read the full feature in the online edition at www.herald.ca/s5D YOUNG N.S. ENTREPRENEUR READY FOR PRESTIGIOUS G20 YEA SUMMIT Sean Court, a 22-year-old Nova Scotian entrepreneur will head to the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit 2016 (G20 YEA) in Beijing, China from Sept. 7-8, 2016. Court operates Halifax-based Beaumont & Company, an exhibit and display firm that helps clients display their value. “While at the summit I hope to do my best to meet and network with as many of the 800-plus young entrepreneurs in Canada and from the G20 nations. I plan to develop national and international networks and contacts to help grow ties to Atlantic Canada and engage the G20 leaders and policymakers in the cause of entrepreneurship.” 10 DARTMOUTH-BASED METAL FABRICATOR CHERUBINI METAL WORKS HAS WON ITS FIRST QUEBEC CONTRACT Cherubini Metal Works will supply an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes of steel for Montreal’s $3.7-billion Turcot Interchange. The contract includes fabricating box girders for use in a 300-metre bridge that will take six to eight lanes of traffic. “This is our first major project in Quebec and solidifies work for the company and our employees for the next year,” said Steve Ross, General Manager. Cherubini is currently completing work on the $22 million Sir Robert Bond Bridge in Newfoundland and will begin work on the St. Peter’s Canal bridge in Cape Breton this summer. HEALTHWIZE WELLNESS CENTRE IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW PRODUCT ACQUISITION HEALTHWIZE Wellness Centre now offers Black Mica is a unique water treatment. The treatment removes chlorine (100%), fluoride (86%), 250 contaminants, 186 industrial chemicals, 99.95% pharmaceutical drugs, reduces lead, arsenic & mercury (undetectable levels), kills 4 types disease-causing microorganisms, reduces 99.85% bacteria, viruses, parasites, pulls 86% heavy metals from the body adding 100 beneficial minerals. Dr. Brain Clement, Hippocrates Health Institute says, “one of the most beneficial products he’s seen.” It’s incredible watching the “curing process” — those contaminants settling in your water jug as “yellowish dust!” For additional info., contact Wendell @ (902) 443-2946 or e-mail healthwize@ns.sympatico.ca J U LY & AUG US T 2016 VENOR ANNOUNCES NEW TEAM MEMBER Venor, an Atlantic Canadian talent management firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Brittany Stewart to its Halifax office. Brittany will bring her fresh perspective and caring, customer driven approach to the team. “As a young professional, I am excited to work for a local company and look forward to growing and building relationships in this region. It’s an exciting time to join and be part of great initiatives happening in our community focused on retaining our young talent.” Venor specializes in professional recruitment, executive search, career management and early stage talent preparedness and placement. venor.ca NEW MERCHANDISE CROWD PURCHASING COMPANY LAUNCHES IN CANADA CROWD-SWAG.COM, of Duggan International Group, a new merchandise crowd purchasing website has officially launched. Crowd-Swag allows event organizers, charities, fundraisers, musicians & artists, schools, reunions, sport teams and everyday people can upload their designs to the Internet design site; create a campaign and sell direct to their audience. “Instead of putting out upfront money and buying a bunch of tees or other types of merchandise — hoping participants or fans will buy from you, Crowd-Swag gives people a venue to sell direct with zero risk and hassle,” says company president, Darlene Duggan. NEWSMAKERS Never before have there have been more than 600 speakers, 80% from across 108 nations, speaking in a single forum. Never before has India seen such a large gathering of powerful women coming together to discuss, learn, forge partnerships and do business together.” For more information: www.halifax@dressforsuccess.org TIC TALKERS TOASTMASTERS DRESS FOR SUCCESS HALIFAX Brenda Saunders/Todd continues to help women around the globe, as she recently spoke at the World Economic Forum International Conference in New Delhi, India. Dress for Success Halifax President, Julie Morine says: “Never before has any organization or chamber taken up such a mammoth task of having women from across the globe discuss global issues that concern the world at large and take leadership positions. “The proof is in the pudding”, says President, Anne Marie Drake, when she announced that “Brenda Saunders/Todd, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) of TIC Talkers Toastmasters Club is doing exactly what she has been trained to do through her membership at our club on Tuesday’s from 12-1pm. She recently spoke as a main stage speaker, as well as, two panelist sessions at the Women’s Economic Forum, with 1,500 attendees from 105 countries that took place in India and we are very proud and pleased to have been able to provide the environment for her to practice and hone this skill.” If you want to develop speaking or leadership skills, please email: contact@tictalkers.ca NEW TERM BEGINS FOR NOVA SCOTIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® PRESIDENT The Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® is pleased to welcome new President Roger Sanford for the 2016-17 term. A REALTOR® in Pictou County for over 30 years, Stanford has moved through the Executive Committee on the NSAR Board of Directors and will now The Leading Provider of OfÀce Space Solutions in Atlantic Canada SLATE delivers unique ofÀce solutions tailored to meet a tenant’s design. We have long standing relationships with our tenant’s, which include some of Atlantic Canada’s Largest companies. We offer a regional portfolio and are truely invested in your success. Halifax, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, St. John’s, Corner Brook Ryan Schnare T +1 902 492 2068 E ryan.schnare@cbre.com www.atlanticanadaofÀce.com CBRE Limited | Halifax, NS www.cbre.ca BUSINESS VOICE 11 NEWSMAKERS a great understanding of small and medium sized businesses in our region. Superior customer service is foremost her first priority with her clients. She joined Advantage Wireless because of the extensive portfolio of superior solutions offered, such as Mobility, Fleet Management and VOIP Solutions, while still being locally owned, knowing that she could enhance her clients experience making an immediate impact with excellent customer service. serve more than 1,500 members. During his term as President, Sanford will oversee an awareness campaign for buyers and sellers. He notes: “To accomplish this, we all need to Play A Part. As Nova Scotia changes over the next year, let’s continue to not only be a part of it, but lead. You need to know that each one of us makes a difference to the provincial economy.” THIS YEAR MARKS THE 35TH NS LEADERSHIP PRAYER BREAKFAST The annual breakfast invites people who find themselves in leadership positions to come together for a time of prayer for our province, it’s communities and its people. Brian McConaghy, founder of Ratanak International, was guest speaker to over 300 attendees. Mayor Mike Savage was MC, Premier Stephen McNeil read scripture, Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais and Michelle Porter (Souls Harbour Rescue Mission) led in prayer, and Linda Carvery and Bill Stevenson presented inspirational music. Co-chairs of NSLPB are David Finlayson and Bruce Havill. The event is held in the spring each year and all are invited to attend. HOME INSTEAD HAS “THE TALK” ADVANTAGE WIRELESS WELCOMES ADDITION TO ITS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS SALES TEAM Advantage Wireless is excited to welcome Sarah Hendsbee to its Business Solutions Sale team, joining April of 2016 as a B2B Senior Wireless Solutions Sales Adviser. She brings with her a wealth of industry experience while having Home Instead Senior Care Network has launched a new public education program, Let’s Talk About DrivingSM. The new program offers free resources and tips to help families build a roadmap, together with their senior loved one, for limiting or stopping driving when the time is right. To view program resources and tips, visit www. LetsTalkAboutDriving.ca or, contact Home Instead Senior Care by calling 902-429-2273 to learn how family caregivers can help seniors plan ahead for driving cessation. a premier location for your business AEROTECH BUSINESS PARK 209 Aerotech Drive - near the Stanfield International Airport FOR LEASE Office/warehouse space from 622 F2 - 1,339 F2 Competitive rates on-site parking & rear loading facilities !##(%-&&0 !##(%-&&(%-&&#%&$ 12 J U LY & AUG US T 2016 dal.ca/execed/lpm LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Manage the Practice. Practise the Law. Running a legal practice requires not only a strong grasp of the law, but also the skills to run a business. The details of running your office — marketing & social media, human resources, client care, finances, and sales — on top of practising law can be overwhelming, and may require you to draw on skills that were not necessarily part of your legal education. Offered in partnership with the Schulich School of Law, this program, taught by experienced leaders from legal practice and Faculty in the Rowe School of Business, will develop the practice management skills you need to keep your business competitive and growing. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN In Nova Scotia, each practising member of the NSBS is required to complete and implement an annual professional development plan. Individual modules in the Law Practice Management Program can be applied to the annual professional development plan. Dynamic infusi A ny doubts about the critical role that immigrants will play in Nova Scotia’s future economic growth will be quickly quelled in a conversation with Paul Pickering. He’s the workplace culture coordinator for the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS). “Demographically, Nova Scotia is in big trouble. We’re looking at a workforce that’s projected to shrink by 15 per cent over the next 20 years. This is not a fiveyear blip — this is a long term, potentially devastating problem. Even if we bring every group in Nova Scotia up to full employment, we’re still at a deficit. We need to be looking at any underemployed 14 population which certainly includes bringing in more immigrants.” Doing so requires that we confront some lingering negative presumptions about immigration, chief of which is the belief that immigrants take jobs from locals. “Immigrants actually create jobs,” says Sherry Redden, Business and Workforce Integration Manager at ISANS. “They’re three times more likely to start businesses. Of the 230 new clients we worked with last year, 71 of them opened new businesses. They’re also 70 per cent more likely to still be in business after three years, while the national average is about 48 per cent.” J U LY & AUG US T 2016 According to Redden, immigrants also bring valuable global connections with them. “They have markets they can connect with to export their products and markets for the things they need to create products,” she says. Product diversification is another unexpected windfall, with one example springing up from the local community gardens that ISANS helped refugees grow all over Halifax. While many people grow pumpkins en masse and then discard the leaves, farmers from the Bhutanese community use these leaves to make delicious traditional recipes. Redden observes that this is just one instance COVER STORY ion Immigrants critical to Nova Scotia’s economic future By David Pretty Illustration: rawpixel/123RF Demographically, Nova Scotia is in big trouble. We’re looking at a workforce that’s projected to shrink by 15 per cent over the next 20 years. This is not a five-year blip — this is a long term, potentially devastating problem.” — Paul Pickering, Culture Coordinator, Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) of cultural awareness “increasing the economic base” of something that was once thought to be useless. Paul Pickering is also quick to point out that “far from the idea that immigrants take jobs, the vast majority of people are stepping into skills gaps and bringing experience and expertise that the market can use. So they actually complement the existing workforce.” And then are the logistical problems that immigration can address. “The BUSINESS VOICE average number of children that came in with a recent group was seven,” Pickering illustrates. “We’ve got rural schools closing because there aren’t enough kids, but seven to 10 kids would save that school. One or two families coming into 15 COVER STORY I think one of the biggest challenges that most immigrants face is finding sustainable employment or a way to build a business that’s not taking on someone else’s problems.” — Ashwin Kutty President & CEO, WeUsThem Photo: Paul Darrow a region can literally change that entire community.” Pickering maintains that it’s not enough to treat immigration as an easy solve for our workforce woes — new arrivals have to be placed in positions that LET’S DO BUSINESS TOGETHER 16 they want to assume. “Native-born Nova Scotians have a 60 per cent chance of working in their field, while immigrants have a 40 per cent chance,” he says. “This suggests that the pharmacist may be driving a taxi cab and although taxi cab 902 469-8151 J U LY & AUG US T 2016 drivers are wonderful and we need them, if you’re trained as a pharmacist, it probably isn’t what you want to do.” It’s an opinion shared by local entrepreneur Ashwin Kutty. Originally from India, Kutty’s parents immigrated to Nova Scotia to look for education opportunities for their children. After completing his studies at Dalhousie University, Kutty went on to hold several key positions with the Nova Scotia Health Authority. His work experience inspired him to co-found WeUSThem, an awardwinning marketing, communications, advertising and public relations agency. Kutty may have found considerable success as a business innovator in Nova Scotia, but this didn’t translate to his entire family. “Our biggest challenge was trying to find a business that was part of our skill set as a family and whether or not we could run it,” he says. Despite an extensive background in construction and real estate, his family couldn’t find “a clear pathway to success, a pathway to actually build something together.” The family tried to open a convenience store in Rawdon, but soon realized that it “wasn’t their business” and they shut it down. According to Kutty: “I think one of the biggest challenges that most immigrants face is finding sustainable employment or a way to build a business that’s not taking on someone else’s problems. We have to find a sustainable way to hold on to immigrants because people are returning to employment or entrepreneurial ventures in their home countries, which is what happened with my family.” COVER STORY Photo: Contributed We do this in partnership with ISANS at our Spring Dinner. We reach out to our corporate table purchasers and ask if they’d be willing to give one seat to an ISANS client. This is a small, yet impactful, way of making connections in the business community. At our most recent Spring Dinner. We had a record 28 tables host ISANS clients for the evening.” — Melissa MacDonald, Communications Specialist, Halifax Chamber of Commerce This sentiment is echoed by Sherry Redden: “Often times immigrants can’t get loans, so they have to find a job and invest their own money to start a business, which may be three to four years down the road. They need a place where they can get employment and language services in addition to information about laws and permits. They want a settlement service that sees them as a whole person.” According to Redden, ISANS has “taken this to heart” and developed a curriculum that addresses these specific requirements. Clicking on the “Do Business” tab of the ISANS website reveals a slew of valuable resources, including information on market research, import and export laws, financial institutions and sources for community support. In addition to their comprehensive, 67-page Connections guide, ISANS also hosts an ongoing series of free seminars about such diverse and practical topics as business plan creation, developing communication skills, job search strategies, details on provincial employment standards and growing awareness of cultural sensitivity. All of this, according to Redden, forms a “holistic package” designed to get people as “settled” as much as business-savvy. It’s a strategy well in-step with Ashwin Kutty’s philosophy: “We need to understand the basics of what people actually require. We need education for our children, a roof over our head and food for our family. And those three components are served by the Chamber BUSINESS VOICE through their networking opportunities or they can go to ISANS and develop their language skills or build a business plan to position themselves for some level of success. Not to just go through the immigration process but to communicate with people locally.” HOST TABLE One unique communication opportunity is the Host Table program offered by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce through their Driving Diversity initiative. “We do this in partnership with ISANS at our Spring Dinner,” says Melissa MacDonald, Communications Specialist for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. “We reach out to our corporate table purchasers and ask if they’d be willing to give one seat to an ISANS client. 17 COVER STORY Photo: Paul Darrow It was a great inspiration for my new small business as a makeup artist. I was able to start working just few months later and this event was a big open door for my career.” — Joelle Peskett, Makeup Artist This is a small, yet impactful, way of making connections in the business community. At our most recent Spring Dinner. We had a record 28 tables host ISANS clients for the evening.” The last event back in April proved to be particularly memorable for Joelle Peskett, an aspiring business owner who emigrated from Lebanon in 2011. A graduate of the Christian Chauveau PERSONALIZED YOUR NUMBER ONE Purchase 20 dozen and get an additional 4 dozen FREE! PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT PROVIDER YOUR LOGO HERE STARTING AT 35 $ HEADLINEPROMOTIONS.CA 1-844-497-3449 $ * * PER DOZEN 18 Artistic Make-up School in Paris, Joelle was delighted to join her “welcoming, supportive and friendly” hosts Mark Sidebottom and Karen Saunders at the Emera table. She went into the event FREE business cards BONUS! 500 with every order* *Offer valid until June 30th. While quantities last, certain restrictions apply. Minimum purchase required. Offer applies to Tour Preferred X, Tour Preferred and AeroBurner Pro logo golf balls only. Includes 1-4 colour imprint charge and set-ups, one location. J U LY & AUG US T 2016 COVER STORY hoping to “meet and interact with local business people” but the experience turned out to be life-altering. “I met the president of the Chamber of Commerce, a very beautiful, strong, kind woman by the name of Valerie Payn,” Joelle relates. “I did the makeup for her photo shoot and she was very pleased that I organized it in such a short period of time. It was a delightful experience and I consider it to be one of my greatest achievements in Halifax. It was a great inspiration for my new small business as a makeup artist. I was able to start working just few months later and this event was a big open door for my career.” The “Driving Diversity” program is just one initiative that the Halifax Chamber of Commerce has spearheaded to foster a welcoming and inclusive business climate for immigrants. The Chamber hosted a roundtable recently with the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration to “discuss immigration issues facing Nova Scotia and how the business community can help,” MacDonald says. She also notes that their annual pre-budget submissions consistently make a case for increased immigration which, in turn, has led to a strong working relationship with the provincial government on this issue. “Immigration is a key part of the Chamber’s plan to see Halifax become one of the top three growth cities in Canada by 2018,” MacDonald says. “To do that Halifax needs to be a more competitive city and in order to be competitive we need to grow, which means we need to attract and retain talent and keep them at the top of their game.” ISANS continues to do its part. Sherry Redden gives considerable praise to Paul Pickering “who does free sessions on workplace culture, diversity training, the challenges and benefits of hiring immigrants as well as the business support programs that encourage people to hire immigrants.” She also mentions the unflagging support of Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Vice President Glenn Davis, who “has been sending out information to all 52 chambers about our programs and services that promote hiring immigrants across the province.” Ashwin Kutty was scarcely aware of such resources when he founded WeUsThem a decade ago, but he’s since witnessed the benefits first-hand. Halifax needs to be a more competitive city and in order to be competitive we need to grow, which means we need to attract and retain talent and keep them at the top of their game.” — Melissa MacDonald, Communications Specialist, Halifax Chamber of Commerce “I was talking to someone who recently immigrated here to further his family’s education,” Kutty explains. “He was looking for some stable mechanism of employment or for doing business here. So I talked to him about what ISANS and the Chamber provides for networking possibilities.” After connecting with some executives in town and learning what the possibilities were based on his education and experience, they discovered that securing an official CPA and various other certifications was integral to moving on to the next step. According to Kutty, he’s “looking forward to pursuing BUSINESS VOICE that right now with the hopes of getting to a financial position with a local company” and, thanks to ISANS, “his wife is now working as a translator for Syrian refugees.” “That’s a story where learning occurred based on direct feedback from potential employers, from folks that can speak to what the requirements and needs are, rather than having someone guess their way through it,” Kutty observes. “I think if we focus on the specific needs of immigrants, and literally meet them as they arrive to tell them about all these different venues, I think that would be great.” 19 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS James Court, left, and Sean Court at the Moncton Coliseum in front of a custom, interior-lit LED trade show booth their company designed, fabricated and now installs at seven shows across Canada. Photo: Clayton Morrissey Display your passion Young entrepreneurs help companies showcase their value By Erin Elaine Casey Find your passion and make a job out of it. We hear it all the time — from motivational speakers, the latest business how-to books, and our favourite TED Talks. But as most of us know, it’s easier said than done. Many would-be entrepreneurs, even in their 40s and 50s, still don’t know what they want to be when they grow up. Laurie Cameron, President and CEO of CEED Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development, thinks young entrepreneurs have something to teach us about harnessing passion. “We’re recognizing young people as a force that’s having a big impact in business and innovation,” she says. “Let’s encourage that energy and creativity. We need to think about how we build the climate to unleash that hidden but dynamic potential.” That’s what makes Sean and James Court so special. At just 22 and 23 years old, they’ve turned their passion for helping other entrepreneurs showcase their products and services into a highly specialized enterprise. The brothers own Beaumont & Co., a business that designs, 20 builds, installs, and stores one-of-a-kind custom exhibits and displays for trade shows, sporting events, festivals, and retail locations. It installs worldwide for businesses of all sizes, national brands, special events, and conferences. Clients include Atlantic Lottery, Kent Building Supplies, several provincial government departments, and both American and Canadian customers in the seafood industry. James and Sean are part of the new generation of young entrepreneurs diversifying the business landscape in Halifax and beyond. “We offer turnkey solutions,” explains James. “Normally, if a larger company is attending several trade shows, they have their own team to manage this, but it takes up a lot of the marketing department’s time. It causes a lot of stress and headaches, and we take those away. We become a small arm of these larger companies.” The brothers grew up in Charlottetown, PEI and spent several years working in the family advertising business. This hands-on education prepared them for working with many different kinds of J U LY & AUG US T 2016 clients, and gave them an appreciation for how hard it is for businesses to set themselves apart from the competition. “We really pay attention to what our clients’ needs are, and help them display the value of what they’ve built,” says Sean. “We realize how much hard work people put into their companies, often generationally. When we see that, we have no shortage of passion. They’ve built it up, built the products, everything is perfect, but they need help standing out at international trade shows. It’s not easy to stand out, but especially in Atlantic Canada, with so many great products, they really should be standing out.” Beaumont & Co. is standing out in its own right. The company offers a full range of display services, and does it sustainably. Traditional banners, booths, and other exhibit components are made of vinyl and other materials that are time-consuming to transport and set up, but Beaumont uses 90 per cent fabric and recyclable aluminums. It’s lightweight, portable, and the fabrics are biodegradable. It’s greener, easier to set up, and much more affordable to ship and store. YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Sean and James are deeply committed to giving back in other ways, too, sponsoring events and doing whatever they can for the community. They are currently looking for more talent for their offices on the Bedford Highway, and plan to hire coop students and graduates to work in sales and project management. “We really want to sponsor and help younger entrepreneurs, say 18 to 39. We want to give them a chance,” explains James. “The younger generation has a lot of big innovative products and services, but sometimes they’re not given a foot in the door from larger businesses,” adds Sean. He’d like to see more “bridging the gap” between newer and more established businesses. “We do see many good things happening such as larger corporations incubating entrepreneurs and corporate responsibility guidelines ensuring some supply chains include small businesses. We need to keep thinking about who’s going to fill the gaps — who are the next entrepreneurs? There’s got to be more hands-on, measurable, tangible investment in younger entrepreneurs.” Beaumont & Co. is also focused on helping other companies export more effectively, to the United States and farther afield. Its own export strategy includes attending more than 50 trade shows a year, including NACS — the National Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing — in Atlanta, Georgia this fall. Beaumont & Co. is also a major sponsor and official custom exhibit and display provider for the DEFSEC — the Canadian Defence Security and Aerospace Exhibition Atlantic show — in September. An entrepreneurial spirit and wisdom beyond his years have earned Sean a spot at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (YEA) Summit, taking place this September in Beijing, China, in conjunction with the G20 Summit in Hangzhou. The G20 YEA is a global network of approximately 500,000 young entrepreneurs and the organizations that support them. After a rigorous application process, Sean was selected as one of about 35 delegates from Canada. The delegation has a full itinerary of meetings and networking, and a major focus will be looking at how entrepreneurship is placed in school systems. They’ll meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Shanghai and work directly with the Business 20 — or B20 — a coalition that provides a platform for the international business community to participate in global The biggest thing is to really think hard about what value you’re going to bring to the marketplace. It’s not that complicated. Business is made for people, products are made for people, services are made for people.” — Sean Court, Co-Owner, Beaumont & Co. economic governance and international economic and trade regulation. Sean’s biggest goal while in China? Bridging with representatives from as many G20 nations as possible. “I’m BUSINESS VOICE honoured to be chosen, so I want to do my best before I go, while I’m there, and when I come back,” he says. “It’s a great platform for Atlantic Canadians in particular. I’ve been reaching out, speaking to different CEOs, the Chamber, gathering as much information as I can so I can represent Halifax and Nova Scotia and then bring it all back home. It’s exciting to go, but for me it’s even more exciting to come back and tell people how valuable their input was.” The balance of working hard in their own business while supporting the growth and sustainability of other businesses gives Sean and James a unique perspective. What’s the one piece of advice the brothers would give to new entrepreneurs? “The biggest thing is to really think hard about what value you’re going to bring to the marketplace. It’s not that complicated. Business is made for people, products are made for people, services are made for people,” says Sean. “Ask yourself: How can I create the most value possible for my potential clients?” adds James. “Focus on the value, and the rest will come to you.” 21 PROFILE Photos: Contributed Sonic boom Local company blends business and music By Jon Tattrie t was the early 1990s and Louis IThomas’ music career was starting to take off. As a member of Thomas Trio and the Red Albino, he’d put out two records, had videos on MuchMusic and toured Canada. “Ultimately, when the group I was in disbanded, I didn’t really have a lot of interest in continuing on, and trying to put another band together,” Thomas says. “I was sort of the pseudo-tour manager for the band, so I’d met a lot of promoters and agents.” He tried his hand as a booking agent in Toronto. He got a job with one of the big agencies and started booking bands across the country. He later went it alone and heard about an upstart Newfoundland outfit 22 No one’s going to show up at your door and discover you. I think you need to go to your audience and have an excellent work ethic, those are the artists I gravitate to now.” – Louis Thomas, President, Sonic Entertainment Group J U LY & AUG US T 2016 called Great Big Sea and started booking them shows. He began managing them in about 1993. He moved home to St. John’s to work with the band on their break-out album, Great Big Sea. Thomas eventually relocated his fledgling business to Halifax, which he saw as a middle ground where he could work with East Coast bands and stay connected to the rest of Canada. “By default, I started the other things. I started a record company because I couldn’t get one of the bands I was working with signed,” he says. The label needed a name, so he called it Sonic Records. Someone needed to promote the concerts, so he started Sonic Concerts. He added a recording studio (The Sonic Temple), artist PROFILE management and concert promotions, all living today under the Sonic Entertainment Group banner. Thomas is president of the company. He still works with Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea (for his new album, So Let’s Go, and his new book, Where I Belong,) Matt Mays, Matt Anderson, Hey Rosetta! and others. When some cast members of the Trailer Park Boys decided to try touring as a sketch comedy act, SEG stepped into help with that. From Thomas’s perspective, a touring comedy troupe is very similar to a touring rock band. Though his band broke up two decades ago, that experience still guides his work at Sonic. “No one’s going to show up at your door and discover you. I think you need to go to your audience and have an excellent work ethic,” he says. “Those are the artists I gravitate to now. “You really need to keep the hunger when you’re on stage; you can’t phone it in. It’s similar to playoff sports. You need to have that attitude.” Thomas has nine full-time employees, all tax-paying East Coasters, and he thinks a prosperous future needs governments that understand the value of culture as an export and as a draw to living in the area. “It’s important to help elevate it and ensure that artists who are from here… are able to have a global career based out of Atlantic Canada.” That sounds like music to the ears of aspiring East Coast musicians. Ship Shape Cox & Palmer is committed to working with suppliers as they negotiate contracts under the national shipbuilding initiative. Our lawyers know the industry, are experienced with the complex contracts, and have a proven track record of helping clients successfully negotiate arrangements that set them up for success. We are focussed on ensuring that you, as a shipbuilding supplier, have the independent representation you need to make strategic decisions today that will support your business in the future. David Reid Harry Thurlow dreid@coxandpalmer.com 902.491.4131 hthurlow@coxandpalmer.com 902.491.4232 BUSINESS VOICE 23 ALL SHIPS RISE IN THE TOP 50 Congratulations to Chamber Members who were recognized in this year’s Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEOs Kayla Cotton and Becky Davison at the All Ships Rise Networking Trade Show on May 13 at Pier 21 . Cory Bell, President Lindsay Construction Chamber Member Since 1976 Don Bureaux, President and CEO Nova Scotia Community College Chamber Member Since 1996 Dr. Richard Florizone, President & Vice Chancellor Dalhousie University Chamber Member Since 1969 A special opportunity Tom Hickey, CEO Atlantic Road Construction and Paving Ltd. Chamber Member Since 2013 Roger Howard, Regional President RBC Atlantic Canada Chamber Member Since 1972 All Ships Rise Networking Trade Show a success BECKY DAVISON, MARKETING MANAGER, HALIFAX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE On May 13, the Chamber staff travelled over to Pier 21 for the fourth annual All Ships Rise Networking Trade Show. The event broke Chamber records with well over 30 booth holders and 250 guests — it was a networking success. We will continue to grow this event, and bring like-minded Chamber members together in the quest to negotiate contracts and subcontracts for all of the major projects in Nova Scotia, and to promote growth in Halifax. Our booth holders ranged from Sandler Sales Training, to the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Education and Development, to the Black Business Initiative. On the other side of the coin, with All Ships Rise now being in its fourth year, we are moving ahead with our partners 24 and trainers, providing free and affordable support to members. Your Halifax Chamber strives to promote the importance that every one of us contributes to growth and development of our city. In our business and in our community. We want our members to get involved with our All Ships Rise initiative to see where the Chamber can help. A number of our trainers were booth holders, or guests at the All Ships Rise Trade Show, promoting the impressive and extensive opportunities they offer. The goal of our training programs over the past few years has been to offer resources to our members needs at an affordable cost. Over the next few months the Chamber team, with the support of volunteers, will be assessing the training offered and rebranding the program to better suit the evolving business environment in Halifax. Please watch out for a launch of our new program in the fall! Halifax is at an opportune time in history, and we want to assist our members to take advantage of every single one out there. And perhaps create a few of their own! We want to thank our many members, guests, booth holders and trainers. In particular, our Business Leaders; BDC, Dalhousie University Rowe School of Business and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education and our Business Influencer, the Sobey School of Business. J U LY & AUG US T 2016 Roger King, President Supplement King Canada Chamber Member Since 2013 Ashwin Kutty, President and CEO WeUsThem Inc. Chamber Member Since 2013 Dr. Ramona Lumpkin, President & Vice-Chancellor Mount Saint Vincent University Chamber Member Since 1999 Travis McDonough, Founder & CEO Kinduct Technologies Chamber Member Since 2014 Dan Merzetti, President & CEO DSM Telecom Chamber Member Since 2002 Erik Sande, President Medavie EMS Chamber Member Since 1993 Ken Shea, President & CEO East Coast Credit Union Chamber Member Since 1993 Janet Simm, President & CEO Northwood Group of Companies Chamber Member Since 1991 Ian Smith, CEO Clearwater Seafoods Ltd. Partnership Chamber Member Since 1995 WORKING FOR YOU Chamber appoints new task force chairs Create a positive business environment Grow and nurture the skilled workforce PAUL BENT, CPA,CA, ICD.D Paul recently retired after a 37 year career in public accounting, 35 of which were with Grant Thornton LLP. Paul served in a number of roles over his 25 years as a Partner in the Firm including as a client service partner, a member of the Firm’s professional standards team and for the last four years of his career, Chaired the firm’s National Partnership Board. In addition to his experience and insights gained from his time in public accounting, Paul has been an active member in the Chamber for a number of years, beginning with a term Chairing the former Provincial Affairs Committee, a predecessor committee of the Create a Positive Business Environment Committee. For the past three years Paul served under Darren Nantes on this committee and chaired the taxation sub-committee before taking on the position with the recent retirement of Darren from the board. Paul also has extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector where he has served on a number of boards. DON BUREAUX, PRESIDENT, NOVA SCOTIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE Paul brings significant energy and enthusiasm to the role and is fully aligned with achieving the goals of the Chamber as laid out in the strategic plan. Paul is fortunate to have a committee comprised of dedicated volunteers from a broad cross-section of Chamber members who similarly share the goals and objectives of making Halifax one of the top growing and progressive cities in Canada. Early priorities for the committee include confirmation of the active files to be pursued in the coming year and effectively managing the time and contribution of members to issues of importance to the Chamber and its members. Current files including taxation (provincial and municipal) as well as regulation and red-tape reduction are likely to remain front and center in the coming year. As a sub-committee of your Chamber board, we want to be both a catalyst for and supporter of positive change (YES) advancing the cause for our members and our community. As President of NSCC, Don Bureaux serves as the chief executive officer for the operation of a network of 13 campuses, over 100 programs in five academic schools and over 24,000 students and more than 2,000 staff. For over two decades, Don worked with adult learners within colleges and universities as well as with national and international professional designation-granting bodies. His work over the years has allowed him to collaborate with educational institutions in North America, Europe and Asia to promote the concept of entrepreneurial cultures as a foundation for learningcentered environments and student success. Don has worked with a number of foreign educational institutions and governmental bodies in the development of success-based models for both students and staff within postsecondary institutions. He has worked with the boards and staff of numerous not-for-profit organizations in Nova Scotia in the areas of board governance, policy development and strategic planning. BUSINESS VOICE As president, Don has been able to, through positions of leadership, continue his work across these disciplines in communities throughout Nova Scotia. He believes his experience will support the exciting work ahead as the Chamber’s new Chair for the Grow and Nurture the Skilled Workforce Task Force. The task force aims to help increase by 20 per cent the number of skilled workers in the province by 2018. Don feels that changing the narrative about the potential of our future is the first step to making some of the critical changes needed. He adds: “The opportunities and challenges before our province provide the membership of the Chamber a chance to leverage our resources and lead by example to support the intent of the Ivany Report and the initiatives being proposed by government in both education and immigration.” 25 WORKING FOR YOU Valuable life lessons Cooperative education enables personal and professional growth KAYLA COTTON, PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN, HALIFAX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 26 To place an ad call: 426-2811 ext 1163 COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES A university degree is no longer solely earned after four years of lectures and exams. Students now have the opportunity to gain valuable life lessons relating to business culture and confidence outside the classroom. Several academic institutions in Nova Scotia offer programs similar to Mount Saint Vincent University’s Co-Operative Education program, which allows undergraduate students like myself the opportunity to work for a business or organization in their chosen field and finish their degree with a year of applicable experience. In 2014, 80 per cent of co-op graduates at MSVU secured employment in their field of study in just six months after graduation. This means that students are relieved of the stress that comes from the dreaded job-hunt after the completion of their studies. I’m in my final year of the Bachelor of Public Relations degree at MSVU, and currently undergoing my third four-month work term with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Before my first day, my friends and family wished me luck and cautioned that the first day in a new position was the most difficult. I’ve found this to be normally true. However I’ll admit that not once did I feel nervous or intimidated during my first few days at the office. I felt confident and eager to learn, not only because of the warm and welcoming team, but also because of the experience I’ve gained during J U LY & AUG US T 2016 my past two work terms. I’m not alone with this feeling, at MSVU more than a remarkable 90 per cent of recent co-op grad felt prepared for the workforce after completing their co-op work terms. MSVU gives students the opportunity to conduct their own job search, while the university also has strong relationships with many employers in government, non-profit and private sectors. Thus students gain insight to other career options that they may have not yet realized. There’s many reasons why it’s advantageous for employers like the Chamber of Commerce to participate in the co-op program. Firstly, by gaining access to an educated and highly motivated labor pool for a short period, they are provided with the perfect solution for completing projects or filling temporary workplace niches. Additionally, the co-op labour pool is inexpensive for the employer as they are reimbursed up to half of the minimum $15 hourly wage that students earn. This resource, while limited to each fourmonth work period, can be continually renewed every semester with each new class of students and builds a strong, mutually beneficial relationship between the academic institution and participating business or organization. The Halifax Chamber of Commerce is committed to the growth and support of business culture. This is achieved by many initiatives including matching postsecondary student development to employer needs. By hiring co-op students, employers are guaranteed to grow their team with skilled and enthusiastic young adults with innovative ideas. Resulting in a stronger workforce and a positive business environment. When I graduate and start applying for full-time positions, I’ll have a year of practical, real-world job experience that employers look at first and an edge over other students who lack this experience. My time at university has already taught me a lot more than I bargained for, and at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce it’s a new opportunity each day with networking events and communications responsibilities. I’m thankful that the co-op program exists for me to grow personally and professionally. TRENDS Fairway courtesy The do’s and don’ts of golfing COURTENEY OSBORNE, CPA, CGA OFFICE MANAGER, GRANITE SPRINGS GOLF CLUB Now that summer is finally here, it’s time to enjoy some great Nova Scotia golfing. After being stuck inside for several months, golfers are now hitting the fairways across the province. As a new golfer, I was very naïve as to what good etiquette is on the golf course, so I thought I’d share a few pointers with the readers. 1. ARRIVE EARLY: Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tee-time. This allows you to get checked in to the pro-shop, change clothing if necessary, gather your golf cart, and stretch/warm up before your play starts. Often times, there may be a short walk to the first tee and the starter’s hut, be sure to give yourself enough time to get there. 2. WAIT FOR THE ‘ALL CLEAR’: Wait until the group ahead of you is out of shot range before teeing off. If you do hit your ball towards another group, be sure to yell ‘FORE’ to warn them of the incoming play. 3. AVOID SLOW PLAY: If you cannot keep up with the group in front of you, or you notice a group always waiting behind you, step aside and let that group play through. This allows the speed of play on the course to remain consistent. There are marshals on most courses who will help monitor this, but use your judgement to help everyone stay happy. On a similar note, never look for a lost ball for more than five minutes. We all like to save that penalty stroke, but donning a snorkel and mask to search for a pond ball is not worth it! Photo: Chih Hsein Hang/123RF 4. HELP MAINTAIN THE COURSE: We’ve all seen the huge divots that can be left when hitting the ball. You can help maintain the course by doing a few simple things: Replace the divot when your shot is complete. Rake the bunker (that big hole with sand) after you have taken your shot. Keep the golf cart off of soggy fair ways as wheels can get stuck. Do not follow directly behind another cart on the fairway. Repair ball marks on the green from where your ball has hit. You will mostly likely want to do this before you putt. 5. GREEN PLAY: Congratulation’s… you have made it onto the green… the flag stick is in sight. Now what? BUSINESS VOICE Don’t step in the line of other player’s putts. Do not stand where you might distract another player. If you are asked to hold the flagstick, hold it at arm’s length and attempt to not let a shadow cast on the player’s line of putt. The flagstick should be removed as soon as the player has completed their stroke. Lay the flagstick off the green so as to not damage the green. Once everyone in your group has putted, quickly walk to the next tee. 6. ENJOY THE GAME: We all get frustrated from time to time, but throwing clubs, using profanity, and sulking ruin the game for everyone and can cause some awkward silence. Remember to take time and enjoy the beauty around you! 27 TRENDS Distributed Audio: Sound for All Quality audio makes the difference between background noise and an intentional facility sound-scape MIKE MCCARTHER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTIONS Distributed Audio Systems – Sound for All: Hotels, community centres, schools, malls and stores have always used audio as a key communication method. Now that audio has gone digital, the users are all connected with various smart phones and tablets, and the ProAudio market has had to adapt to become more accessible. This month I sat down with QSC and SF Marketing to explore the advancements in digital, distributed audio systems and the considerations that go into a design. Picking the Sweet Spot Depending on the size and purpose of your facility, the type and quality of audio required will range. For instance, in a school, mall or recreation facility the primary function of audio is to make public announcements for targeted messaging or emergency alerts. In a hotel, convention centre, sports stadium or restaurant, the primary function of audio is to set the mood and deliver quality sound to create a desired atmosphere. While both scenarios involve spreading an audio message, your criteria for choosing a system could vary greatly. Based on your facility and the role audio is designed to play, it is important to break down the solution design into four areas: 1. Speakers & Amplification 2. Wiring & Network Infrastructure 3. Media Streaming & Accessibility 4. System Control 28 A well thought out plan is just as important in this part of your planning process as at any other time. Pick your goals and design a system that meets both the goals and your budget. Quality Sound – Speakers & Amplifiers Speakers and amplifiers all operate on the same basic principles. However, just like everything else, different brands and budget levels are going to deliver vastly different results. If the primary function of the audio system is to delivery audible alerts of voice messaging, a paging speaker may do the trick. If the system is designed to deliver background music, live music or quality sound for atmosphere influence, a higher quality speaker will be required. In both cases selecting the right tool for the job and pairing it to the right amplification and processing system is critical to achieve the planned outcome. Media Streaming & Accessibility When designing a distributed audio solution you must consider the audience and the users who will be interacting with it. What audio source needs to be played through the system? How do the users connect and control the sources, playlists, volume and overall functionality of the system? Will users be using personal devices or facility provided devices? With advancements in home audio and mobile technology, many users are looking for a more personal experience and, depending on your goals, integrating this kind of interactivity from the onset will result in a more flexible and accessible system and a better long term return on investment. J U LY & AUG US T 2016 System & Zone Control One of the most recent advancements in distributed audio solutions is the ability to leverage existing IT infrastructure to deploy sound throughout an organization or facility. Imagine connecting any audio source within the network to any group of speakers. When designing your system, decide early how many zones are required, what type of audio will be played in each zone, and how users will interface with the control of the zone. Wiring & Network Infrastructure One of the major costs and considerations in deploying a distributed audio system is the physical installation, wiring and network infrastructure required to make it all work. Make sure when undergoing a new build or extensive renovation to consider your sound system. There will never be a better time to make investments then at this point. For more information on distributed audio and a live demonstration on QSC’s QSYS platform, please join us for a lunch & learn at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. While the final date is still being determined, you can always fi nd the latest information and register to attend at www.vistacaretech.com/techtrends VistaCare Communications is a full service commercial communications and security solutions integrator based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. www.vistacaretech.com Customer Connect A complete, direct-to-home flyer marketing solution for small business + DESIGN + PRINT + "*6.487,1;8. "79:,*8- $ DELIVERY 6”x 9” 5.5”x 8.5”(8.5” x 11”) B7;+4.92-.-/;44,747;8 B74-.--7;+4.92-.-/;44,747;8 91% 77% % 71 * -;4:9$.*- 784773/78A?.89 )7;8,172,.7/-29:82+;:276,1*66.4 &1.18762,4..8*4- *6*-*"79: @;62: @;62: * (292:.-%:78. =2:126*=..3*/:.8<2.=260A?.89 10 K 0.17¢ 0.30¢ 40 K 0.11¢ 0.24¢ * ";8,1*9.-*"87-;,: 100 K 0.09¢ 0.22¢ 789.8<2,.269:78.*/:.88.,.2<260*A?.8 * %;9:75.860*0.5.6:%:;-?&7:;5$.9.*8,1 REQUEST A QUOTE TODAY! .>: B,;9:75.8,766.,:1.8*4-,* TRENDS Embracing intrapreneurship Building a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship GREGORY PHIPPS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, VENTURE CAPITAL, INNOVACORP “How can an established company react to market realities, remain competitive and fundamentally change the way it operates — internally and externally?” The answer is simple: Act like a start-up. This is not a revolutionary or original thought. The reality is that companies from all verticals and of any size can adopt and sustain a start-up culture. In fact, they must do so, to remain competitive and to stave off obsolescence and potential death of their brands. WHAT IS START-UP CULTURE? When we think of “start-up culture,” we might picture millennials in cargo shorts and sandals, padding around an open-concept office space with bean bag chairs, scratching out plans on a whiteboard in between games of foosball. A true start-up culture, however, involves much more than cool office space and free snacks. Companies of any size can embrace and sustain a culture of innovation by embracing and emulating many of the practices of start-ups and the cultural values common among the most successful ones, including: Innovation. Entrepreneurial startups always embrace the latest innovations. They leverage technologies that are cost-effective and enable more efficient planning, CRM, product development, and marketing automation. Start-ups also use cloud-centric tools that allow employees to contribute and collaborate anywhere, anytime. Passion. Passion is a hard quality to define, let alone find, among candidates for employment or internal promotion. 30 @phippsgregory A start-up culture hires, develops, retains, celebrates, incents, rewards, encourages and promotes people who have passion for the business and its success. Workspace. Start-ups create efficient and effective spaces for personal and collaborative output. They value cool work spaces because they want employees to look forward to coming to work and remaining fully engaged while there. They provide the conditions for employees to create and work in comfortable environments, with freedom to personalize their workspaces. Eschewing corporate rules and rigid work structures. Rigid corporate policies and old-school structure is the bête noire to a start-up. Start-ups hold a philosophy of collaborating externally and across the org structure, finding ways to work smarter, and tossing outmoded, cumbersome corporate rules out the window — all to ensure efficient and effective, timely delivery of solutions to customers. The ability to act quickly and decisively. In start-up culture, there’s always a collaborative approach to solving problems, and employees are empowered to swiftly make decisions that can affect company performance and success, decisions they can “own” and be held responsible for. When people are empowered to make decisions and know their contributions are valued, they will step up and make a difference. Keeping the aforementioned top-ofmind, established companies can create a culture of innovation within by adopting some of the following practices: Create a role or department to drive innovation and entrepreneurial behavior. Some people believe that a mandate for everyone in a company to think and act like an entrepreneur must start at the top. Although there absolutely has to be a senior-level embrace of the concept, the action plan can be defined and initiated at a much lower level in the org structure and driven both up and down from there. Establish a new role, with a direct reporting line to the CEO, and define it as Chief Innovation Officer. Encourage intrapreneurship. Create an internal “ideas” incubator to get new J U LY & AUG US T 2016 products or services off the ground in a non-traditional and non-linear way. Create an opportunity for employees to share their ideas for innovative solutions, and you can rightfully declare your company as being entrepreneurial. Launch an internal “pitch” competition to uncover ideas that are of strategic benefit to the company, and like venture capitalists — fund the best of them. If this approach becomes a catalyst to more efficient service delivery and/or incents the development of new products or services, it’s a win-win for the company. Recruit and reward an entrepreneurial mindset. Injecting any established company with former entrepreneurs, venture capital professionals and others with actual start-up experience, is the best way to kick-start a sustainable culture that emulates an entrepreneurial start-up. Think and act like an owner. If you want to motivate employees to think and act like an owner, and all the positive performance outcomes inherent to that approach, you’ve got to make them owners. Almost every start-up embraces the concept of distribution of shares or share options to employees as an effective instrument for attraction, retention and motivation. Corporations of any size can adopt a similar approach with relative ease at any stage in their evolution. Embrace and adoption of those practices embodied within the start-up community need not be daunting or represent a fundamental change to your business or management practices. Their implementation will pay rich dividends in maintaining competiveness, engaging and retaining high-performing employees, and provide for a solid foundation for sustaining growth. Greg Phipps is Managing Director, Venture Capital at Innovacorp. Greg has managed more than 70 investment transactions, in more than twenty companies, in the IT, telecommunications and healthcare vertical sectors. Contact him @phippsgregory and linked.com/in/gregoryphipps dal.ca/execed/leadership CERTIFICATE IN LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION Stay Ahead of the Competition. HALIFAX PARTNERSHIP Keeping score We need to get the strategic decisions right The Index provides a useful compilation of facts and figures about Halifax, its past and future trends, and how it compares to a number of other Canadian cities. Perhaps more importantly, though, it represents a means of tracking progress as the city strives towards the ambitious future envisioned in the Growth Plan.” IAN MUNRO, CHIEF ECONOMIST, HALIFAX PARTNERSHIP Last month the Halifax Partnership published the fi fth annual edition of the Halifax Index. This followed the approval by Halifax Regional Council in April of Halifax’s Economic Growth Plan 2016-21. The Index provides a useful compilation of facts and figures about Halifax, its past and future trends, and how it compares to a number of other Canadian cities. Perhaps more importantly, though, it represents a means of tracking progress as the city strives towards the ambitious future envisioned in the Growth Plan. To borrow a sports metaphor — we are in the middle of the baseball season, after all — the Index is Halifax’s box score. Just as the Blue Jays have their top line numbers – wins for the season, runs in a game — our top level focus for Halifax is on growing the economy (GDP) and increasing the population. In addition to these headline figures, though, are many other factors that are key indicators and drivers of success. The keenest baseball fans are attuned to on-base percentages, earned run averages, and strikeout-to-walk ratios. In the Halifax Index, we drill down in four broad areas: people, the economy, quality of place, and sustainability. In pursuit of the population growth objective, are we attracting and retaining immigrants? Are our young people finding employment here and putting down roots, rather than heading west? Which sectors of the economy are poised for growth? Do consumers have more money in their pockets compared to last year? How confident is the business community about their prospects for the future? 32 Do residents and business owners view Halifax as the kind of community in which they want to stay, invest, and grow? Do they feel safe? How many citizens are suffering from economic distress or serious health issues? Are we on a sustainable path? Is the city core at risk of hollowing out? Are our transportation networks keeping pace with needs? There are among the many factors we track and report on in the Index. An additional feature in this year’s edition is a special focus on rural Halifax. A winning baseball team needs good players in the infield and in the outfield. Similarly, a strong, successful Halifax requires growth in both its urban and rural areas. A baseball manager will review the box score data to determine which pitchers will get to start, how players should J U LY & AUG US T 2016 be placed in the batting order, and who will get brought up from the minors. Get these strategic decisions right, and you are on the way to the pennant. The 2016 Halifax Index, tells us, for example, that workforce participation rates have been declining and labour force growth has been modest. This in turn tells us that we need to redouble our efforts to attract and retain immigrants and youth. Success on that front will grow our population, and our economy along with it. And that is how Halifax ultimately gets the win. For all of Halifax’s stats, download a copy of the 2016 Halifax Index at www.halifaxindex.com. Ian Munro is Chief Economist at the Halifax Partnership CITY DESK Recognizing a great idea Working together to tell a new story MAYOR MIKE SAVAGE One of the privileges of being Mayor is having the opportunity to visit different businesses and meet new people. For a couple of years I have been working with the Halifax Partnership to visit workplaces of all sizes through the Celebrate Business program. But, once in a while the request comes in unexpectedly, as it did recently when the talented Julia Rivard asked me to pop by her Gottingen Street Norex headquarters to welcome hew latest hire to Halifax. Matt Summers, an entrepreneur who hails from the UK and spent the past couple of years in Colorado, found Halifax through a job posting for Halifaxbased web design and invention company Norex. He liked the creative job posting even if the job wasn’t his cup of tea and he struck up a work relationship with the company. When Julia was looking for someone to join the team for another venture, the promising e-learning tool Eyeread, Matt found his fit. He and his young family left Colorado behind for Halifax, a new job in a city that appealed to them. It’s heartening to hear stories like Matt’s, of people finding that special combination of interest and opportunity in Halifax. Before they left Colorado, Matt and his family explored their new city through Google Street View, checking out elementary schools, neighbourhoods, where he would work and where his wife would do her graduate degree. For me, it was a nice way to start a Monday, welcoming a newcomer who is happy to be here. Beyond that, though, it @MikeSavageHFX was the perfect way to turn my mind to the days ahead, as I worked to get ready to take Halifax’s story on the road to a luncheon with business and industry leaders at the Economic Club of Canada, a sales call I had been contemplating for some time. As we worked with the Partnership to prepare presentation materials, it was clear that tone would be critical in getting across the message that Halifax is the right-sized, perhaps even the perfectsized, city to invest in. We poured over competitive costs analyses, reports on start-up communities, housing price comparisons, the latest figures from the airport and Halifax Port, urban GDP predictions, and the city’s new five-year economic growth plan. Halifax has the specialness of place, the deep well of talented people, and a cost-competitive price of doing business. People, place, and thing: something we could confidently hold up. We knew could show that Halifax has helped grow impressive companies such as Emera and Clearwater, while it has also proven to be a good bet for international heavy hitters such as IBM and RBC. And, still, it offers a fit for Matt, someone looking to help a company move from start-up to going concern. It was gratifying to see how leaders in this business community coalesce around an idea. Whoever I called, whoever the Partnership approached, they all were quick with an offer to help spread the word or to fill a table through their Toronto networks. That’s what we do well in these parts, each of us in our own way and collectively working to tell a new story of Halifax. LET’S GET SOCIAL! Questions? Contact Melissa MacDonald, Communications Specialist (902) 481-1238 or melissa@halifaxchamber.com BUSINESS VOICE 33 SPECIAL FEATURE AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE The value of networking DEFSEC event will have 70 companies exhibiting By Carol Dobson Every September, the world comes to Halifax in the form of the Canadian Defence Security and Aerospace Exhibition Atlantic (DEFSEC). For three days, this year from Sept. 6 to Sept. 8, approximately 1,200 delegates from 12 countries around the world will come to Halifax to develop business to business and partnerships between leading suppliers in the defence and aerospace industry and members of the business community in Atlantic Canada. “This year we will be having 70 companies exhibiting at 100 different booth spaces,” Colin Stephenson, the Executive Director of DEFSEC Atlantic, says. “The conference will take up 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibition and business to business meeting opportunity spaces at the Cunard Centre. It gives large contractors involved in procurement for the Canadian Armed Forces the opportunity to meet with local small and medium sized businesses who can feed into their supply chain and, by meeting face to face, can get a sense if they might be a good fit.” DEFSEC Atlantic has an open door policy, whereby local companies are encouraged to attend. Not only is it a chance to open doors with companies supplying Canadian defence and aerospace requirements but also to meet with representatives from the other nations who have sent representatives to the conference. “The United States has a big block of booths,” he says. “Other countries that are attending include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden — mainly European countries.” One of the important reasons why these European countries are present is that Halifax, especially, is the gateway to the Maritime Provinces, and the rest of Canada, with its position on the Great Circle Route, a major advantage for companies shipping either into the country our out via the port. Not only will NATO allies be represented, but Stephenson says countries like Israel and Chile will also be in attendance. DEFSEC Atlantic is the second largest event of its kind in the country, combining the elements of both a 34 “Representatives from DCNS present to Canadian sailors at DEFSEC Atlantic 2015” Photo: Greg Gidney The conference will take up 50,000 sq. ft. of exhibition and business to business meeting opportunity spaces at the Cunard Centre. It gives large contractors involved in procurement for the Canadian Armed Forces the opportunity to meet with local small and medium sized businesses who can feed into their supply chain and, by meeting face to face, can get a sense if they might be a good fit.” – Colin Stephenson, Executive Director, DEFSEC Atlantic trade show and a defence procurement conference. Throughout the three days of the event a mixture of seminars and social events, along with the trade show, provide excellent opportunities for one to one networking. The 2015 show had almost 400 companies represented, along with exhibitors, government agencies, and trade commissioners. At the event’s conclusion, more than 100 business to business and business to government meetings had transpired. “This year one of the panels will be dealing with the human resources challenges facing the aerospace and defence industries in Atlantic Canada,” he says. “There is a great need for skilled workers J U LY & AUG US T 2016 in both of these fields. We’re anticipating heavy retirement in the aerospace industry as baby boomers start retiring. We also need skilled workers for the ship building project. Also, when highly trained and skilled members of the armed forces are transitioning out of the military, we need to have opportunities available for them.” Attendance at DEFSEC Atlantic is open to the private sector and is not restricted to members of any particular industry association. As well, members of the military are encouraged to attend as it is a chance for them to meet companies who may potentially have them as end users of the products on display. Join Forces and Network! DEFS events development t ffor supply l chain h i d l t & partnership t hi potential t ti l September 6 - 8, 2016 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Cunard Centre on the Halifax Waterfront DEFSEC Atlantic is a major networking opportunity for the Aerospace, Defence and Security industries - the second largest of its kind in Canada. Focused on showcasing Atlantic Canadian opportunities, the show’s worldwide reach creates partnership potential for all attendees. Incorporating elements of both a trade show and a defence procurement conference, DEFSEC Atlantic provides access to “the right people” in an engaging and professional setting. All attendees have an opportunity through B2B/B2G programs, social events and expert panel discussions, to interact with all levels of defence, industry and government participants. Right here in Atlantic Canada, large multi-national companies are looking to create partnerships within the region to complete their Canadian supply chains. In the heart of the National Shipbuilding Program activity, meet the builders and end users in the home of Canada’s Navy all in the intimate and scenic setting of the Halifax waterfront. Visit our web site to learn more and book one of the few remaining booth spaces, or make the decision to attend as a delegate. Come see what opportunities are waiting for you! Discover your fit in the expanding opportunities in Aerospace & Defence at DEFSEC Atlantic! DEFSEC Atlantic provides many advantages by giving you access to: - Prime and Tier 2 contractors in a setting where they are focused on supply chain fulfillment, while there are customers present, the focus is on partnership development - an event focused on building B2B/B2G relationships and providing the means to “kick-start” those relationships through the facilitated B2B/B2G program - a relevant and informative seminar series - everything you require in a single venue; with meals provided for everyone, there is no need to leave through the day - the right place to find out what procurement programs are on the horizon and how to become part of them FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE E CONTACT: Colin Stephenson, Executivee Director Mail & Courier: 166 Ingram Drive Fall River, Nova Scotia CANADA B2T 1A4 Produced By The Office: +1 (902) 465-2725 Fax: +1 (902) 484-3222 Cell: +1 (902) 223-2099 E-Mail: colin@defsecatlantic.ca Web: www.defsecatlantic.caa Visit our web site for more information: defsecatlantic.ca “Canadian Partnership Potential. Focused Here, Expanding Worldwide...” SPECIAL FEATURE AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE A strong defence sector Industry quietly contributes to the provincial economy By Carol Dobson Halifax is a military town and has been since June 1749. Of course, back then, there were only two services, the army and the navy. Since then, the fortunes of Halifax have risen and fallen in times of war and peace. Today, there is a third arm to the forces and one which quietly contributes greatly to the provincial economy, our air force and aerospace industries, and their spinoffs. “The shipbuilding program is a very visible part of the defence industry,” Carl Kumpic, the Vice President of international marketing for IMP Aerospace and Defence, says. “So while the navy is very prominent, the army has a presence at Willow Park, and down at 12 Wing Greenwood, the air force has more visibility.” According to Nova Scotia Business Inc., “Nova Scotia has a strong, diverse defence, security, and aerospace industry that generates $600 million in annual revenues and has a workforce of more than 6,000.” One of the major players in the industry, since 1970, has been IMP, which supports both Canadian and international aircraft fleets as well as providing manufacturing support to original equipment manufacturers. A recent project has involved a rewing program for the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s Lockheed Martin P-2 Orion aircraft. IMP has also completed contracts with Egypt, Mexico, the United States and a host of other countries around the world. Even though much of the industry does tend to fly under the radar, it is a valuable contributor to the province’s economy. IMP, for example, employs more than 4,000 people in well-paid, stable jobs, including 2,400 in the Aerospace and Defence business unit. Their prime contract is with the Department of National Defence ensuring our helicopters and aircraft, from the Sea Kings to the Auroras, Hercules, and even the famed Tutor jets of the Snowbirds are able to fly safely. “We have a great capacity to keep the Auroras flying so they can undertake coastal defence, fisheries patrols, search and rescue, and drug searches,” he says. “And, when we are involved with NATO or other international initiatives we want to make sure our people are sent there with the right equipment and training to do their job.” One of the keys to IMP’s success is its ability to retain highly qualified employees, many with a military background and to ensure a corporate culture of attracting and keeping the brightest and the best. Because of this continuity, the company has been able to ensure that aircraft, such as the Sea Kings, with more than a half century of service, are able to fly safely. DELIVERING IN-SERVICE SUPPORT—A KEY INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITY IN CANADA x Proudly 100% Canadian, headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia x Over 65 years of providing Turn Key In Service Support to Canadian and international militaries x 2400 employees located across Canada x Six Operating Units x IMP Aerospace x Cascade Aerospace x IMP Naval and Land Services x IMP Electronic Systems x IMP Aerostructures x Canadian SAR Helicopter Services x A “Key Industrial Capability” now and in the future www.impaerospaceanddefence.com 36 J U LY & AUG US T 2016 Nominations for the Now! Nova Scotia Good News Awards are officially open! We’re looking for anyone and everyone who is making a difference and helping to move Nova Scotia forward. The nomination process is easy, and is open to any Nova Scotia-based individuals, organizations and companies who are helping to create a stronger entrepreneurial mindset. We’re looking for people who: % Choose curiosity over cynicism % Look for opportunities instead of obstacles % Engage in action instead of apathy % Believe that better is always possible Eight awards will be presented in the following areas: TOURISM EXPORTS STARTUPS GROWTH-ORIENTED ENTERPRISES IMMIGRATION LABOUR FORCE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION RURAL INDUSTRIES Visit NowNS.ca to nominate someone today! Visit Herald.ca/NowNS to read the latest in our Now! Nova Scotia editorial series. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Photo: Joseph Robichaud/Tanglewood Studio A growth curve Davis Pier Consulting expanding its presence By Carol Dobson Things have been moving in an upward direction for Davis Pier Consulting since the company received the bronze award for New Business of the Year at the 2016 Halifax Business Awards. “Since we first applied for the award several months ago, we’ve doubled our staff, and increased our work both on Prince Edward Island and internationally,” Mike Davis, one of the partners in the company, says. “We outgrew our space in the Brewery Market and have moved to a larger, more visible space (located on the ground floor of the Market).” Davis, his Partner and Co-founder, Darryl Pierrynowski, and their team of 17 business consultants, project managers, business analysts, change managers, and technical architects offer advice to clients in a number of fields including the public sector, healthcare, and related sectors, as well as the private sector. The firm specializes in implementing organizational improvement with capabilities in strategy, analytics, change management, and technology. It has developed 38 I think one of our strengths is the ability to help clients solve tough problems, through either complex analytical approaches or our ability to manage situations and stakeholders.” – Mike Davis, Partner, Davis Pier Consulting an expertise in areas such as operational improvement, streamlining government regulation, and helping to manage publicprivate relationships to find solutions. “I think one of our strengths is the ability to help clients solve tough problems, through either complex analytical approaches or our ability to manage situations and stakeholders," he says. In addition to the company’s expanded work in other provinces, the company has also begun working with clients in the transportation and logistics industry. Prior to opening Davis Pier in April 2014, both partners had successful practices here in Halifax with management consulting firms, both local and international. It’s a company that has a strong J U LY & AUG US T 2016 commitment to giving back, with members of the staff being involved in many volunteer initiatives, ranging from Ronald MacDonald House, Kids Help Phone, the Canadian Progress Club, the Blue Nose Marathon, and the Canadian Cancer Society. It’s also partnered with Innovacorp on the 2016 I-3 Technology Start-Up Competition. “We’re a traditional management consulting firm with people with various levels of experience, with a nice mix of seniors and juniors,” he says. “Since we received the award, we’ve had so many potential partners reach out about collaborating with us. We’ve had some great discussions that we think will lead to further expansion and growth.” OPPORTUNITY KNOCKED. THEY ANSWERED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE EXCEPTIONAL NOVA SCOTIANS. They were among 36 young Canadian graduates selected from over 800 applicants for the 2015 Venture For Canada program. These grads will spend the next two years honing their entrepreneurial skills at some of Nova Scotia’s most exciting new start-up companies. ADAM ANSHAN QRA Corp DANNY WILLIAMS Norex EMILY MILLER LeadSift MICHAEL HARDY Scrapbook Cafe MUGDHA MULAY Norex RYAN HOGG Affinio SAGAR JHA Metamaterial Technologies SHONA NICOLLE Metamaterial Technologies V Venture For Canada supports Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by matching promising young graduates with the country’s most innovative start-up companies. For more information visit www.VentureForCanada.ca Supporting Our Community Great oþce space never goes out of style. 20,000 SQ. FT. OF OFFICE SPACE * available for lease at Halifax’s premier retail destination. *Option to subdivide to meet tenant requirements. Turnkey premises available. Some conditions apply. For leasing opportunities contact Sherri Kelsie: skelsie@20vic.com or 902.454.8666 7001 Mumford Road Halifax Place, Suite 203 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3L 4R3 20vichalifax.com