ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
MANAGING GROWTH
The ingredients that go into the
successful entrepreneur. Pg 22
CBCL honoured at Halifax
Business Awards. Pg 28
Tips for handling the growing
pains of a small business. Pg 32
BUSINESS VOICE
HALIFAX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
|
MARCH 2013
|
VOLUME 22
Debt on
Arrival
Every newborn
in Nova Scotia
comes into the
world owing
$14,008
in provincial
debt.
Pg 18
HALIFAX’S BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 2
CONTENTS }
We need to celebrate the successes.”
– Stephen Lund, President and CEO
of Nova Scotia Business Inc.
24
COVER STORY
04 Events
06 President’s message
07 For immediate release
13 New & noted
1 8 Debt on arrival
The implications of rising government debt
22 Entrepreneurial mindset
Are entrepreneurs born or made?
28 Profile
18
Debt on arrival
Every newborn in Nova Scotia comes into
the world owing $14,008 in provincial debt
22
Barbara Helgason / 123RF
CBCL
Are entrepreneurs
born or made?
30 Halifax Business Awards
wrap-up
32 Trends
34 Working for you
46 Message from the Chair
SPECIAL FEATURES
Entrepreneurial
mindset
38 Golfing getaways
45 Travel & vacation planning
Cultivating
entrepreneurs
Paul Darrow
Board of Directors
Volume 22 Issue 2
Paula Gallagher, Deloitte, Chair
Andrew Boswell, Nova Communications, Vice-Chair
Ian Penny, CIBC, 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
Rob Batherson, Colour
Carol MacMillan, The Shaw Group
Stephanie Coldwell, Coldwell & Associates Consulting
Level Chan, Stewart McKelvey
Valerie Payn, Halifax Chamber of Commerce
Cheryl Hodder, McInnes Cooper
Barbara Meens Thistle, Nova Scotia Power
Dan McKeen, Bell Aliant
Ruth Rappini
Capt (N) Angus Topshee, Maritime Forces Atlantic
Francis Fares, Fares Real Estate Inc.
Darren Nantes, Nantes Group
Garnet Wright, Stone Gallery
Chamber Staff
Valerie A Payn, President and CEO
Nancy M. Conrad, Senior Vice President
Colin J. Bustard, Director of Finance and Administration
Becky Davison, Communications and Membership
Engagement Coordinator
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
656 Windmill Road, Suite 200
Dartmouth, NS B3B 1B8
Tel: (902) 468-7111
Fax: (902) 468-7333
[email protected]
www.halifaxchamber.com
Business Voice is published by
Herald Custom Media
Publisher: Sarah Dennis
Director, Herald Custom Media: Jeff Nearing
Editor:@e[o<_jpfơjh_Yaš`ǃ_jpfơjh_Ya6^[hơbZ$Yơ
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Cover Image By: Barbara Helgason / 123RF
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of Business Voice magazine and its publisher
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BUSINESS VOICE
3
CALENDAR
CATEGORY
CHAMBER EVENTS
March
S U N DAY
M O N DAY
T U E S DAY
W E D N E S DAY
T H U R S DAY
F R I DAY
S AT U R DAY
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DISTINGUISHED
SPEAKERS SERIES
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 2013
SPEAKER: Mr. Gregg Saretsky,
President & CEO, WestJet
TIME: 11:30am – 1:30pm
SPONSORED BY: Halifax International Airport Authority and the
Halifax Gateway Council
LOCATION: Regency Ballroom,
Lord Nelson Hotel
NETWORKING AT NOON CONTINUING
DATE: March 20, 2013
EDUCATION
TIME: 12:00 – 1:30pm
LOCATION: 8th Floor, World Trade
and Convention Centre
DATE: Monday, March 25, 2013
TIME: 12:00 – 1:30pm
TOPIC: Digital Marketing Series
PRESENTED BY: Adam Kruszynki,
CHAMBER 101
Revolve
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
TIME: 12:00 – 1:30pm
LOCATION: Halifax Chamber of
Commerce Boardroom,
656 Windmill Rd
Commerce Boardroom,
656 Windmill Rd
PROFESSIONAL SALES
DATE: Friday, March 15, 2013
TIME: 12:00 – 1:30pm
LOCATION: Halifax Chamber of
Commerce Boardroom,
656 Windmill Rd
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
PRESENTED BY: Contract Me
TIME: 5:00 – 7:00pm
LOCATION: Keystone Business
Centre, 1533 Barrington St
LOCATION: Halifax Chamber of
DISTINGUISHED
SPEAKERS SERIES
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 2013
SPEAKER: Minister Maureen
MacDonald
TIME: 11:30am – 1:30pm
SPONSORED BY: ICANS
LOCATION: Halifax A,
Halifax Harbourfront Marriott Hotel
4
MARCH 2013
THANK YOU
TO OUR JANUARY
AND FEBRUARY
SPONSORS:
Please see page 13 & 30 for the
Halifax Business Awards coverage
and sponsor recognition.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The buck stops here
Excessive debt is a burden on everyone
Can you imagine having an extra
billion dollars this year — and every
year — that we now pay in servicing
the debt?”
VALERIE PAYN PRESIDENT
A key issue facing Nova Scotians
today is our provincial debt. Chamber
members have expressed concern over
our province’s growing debt, as it now sits
at an astounding $14 billion!
In the year ahead, what policies will
6
the government implement to ensure the
province’s debt is reduced?
To remain competitive on the
global stage our province needs to prove
that our fiscal house is in order. Going
forward the Chamber will continue to
MARCH 2013
monitor the province’s growing debt, and
endeavor to make paying down the debt a
top priority for the government. We must
ensure that debt is not only a priority
for today, but that we can, as a province,
make sure our children aren’t faced with
this huge burden.
In a similar vein of ensuring that
Halifax remains competitive, this month
we have also focused on entrepreneurs
and delved into their mindset to see
what makes them tick. We’ve examined
business owners at various levels of
their business growth to understand the
hurdles and the importance of their role
in our economy. I hope you enjoy hearing
from some of our members and learning
their stories.
NEWSMAKERS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Movers and shakers, our members are newsmakers
NICOM NOW CERTIFIED TO HANDLE
CONTROLLED GOODS
Nicom IT Solutions recently became
certified to handle military-related goods
and technology in accordance with the
federal government’s Controlled Goods
Program. “One of our clients called to
say we should get prepared if we want to
work on certain projects with them, then
another large national firm called and
asked us if we were certified,” says Pat
d’Entremont, Partner. “So we decided
to just do it.” Nicom can now be exposed
to sensitive data in the course of its work,
including drawings, parts lists, and
assembly instructions that contain sufficient information to replicate assemblies
used on satellites, spacecraft, munitions, missiles, and other military and
aerospace systems. Learn more at www.
nicommaritime.com.
to create access to their bathtub, but for
whom the traditional shower conversions
or walk-in bathtubs was just out of their
budget,” says Chris Bowie, Co-Owner.
To learn more about this service, visit
www.beautiful-baths.ca.
TRACEY’S LANDSCAPING
OFFERS ASSISTANCE
Tracey’s Landscaping Limited recently
offered to repair a vandalized playing field
free of charge at Hillside Park Elementary
School, after a vehicle had driven around
the field leaving deep ruts and tearing
up the grass. “I knew it was something
we could help fix and I can’t imagine
what school would have been like if I
didn’t have a place to play,” says Daren
Tracey, Owner. “In the spring, we plan
to repair the ruts and to hydro-seed the
area once proper approvals are obtained
through the Halifax Regional School
Board and Halifax Regional Municipality.” For more information, please see
www.traceyslandscaping.com.
BEAUTIFUL BATHS OFFERS
NEW INSTALLATION SERVICE
Beautiful Baths Renovations recently
signed an agreement with Safeway Safety
Tubs to install their line of Walk-Thru
Inserts for Nova Scotia. This new service
will complement the existing offerings of
tub-to-shower conversions and walk-in
bathtub installations already offered.
“We are excited with this new product
because it offers a very economical
alternative for homeowners who need
Daren Tracey, owner of Tracey’s Landscaping, has offered to assist in repairing a vandalized
school playing field free of charge.
“Your Space...
Our Furniture
Solutions.”
PLAN | SUPPLY | INSTALL | DISPOSE | SUPPORT
SHOWROOM:
3132 Robie Street, Halifax
Tel: 902.421.2116 | Fax: 902.425.3517 | www.interspace.ca
BUSINESS VOICE
7
NEWSMAKERS
NEWCAP ACQUIRES SYDNEY STATION
Newcap Radio recently received CRTC
approval to purchase a radio station in
Sydney, Nova Scotia. “The acquisition
of The Eagle in Sydney provides a great
complement to our existing station, The
Giant, and we look forward to expanding
our presence in the community,” says
Rob Steele, President and CEO. To learn
more, visit www.newcap.ca.
Lisa Belanger, Owner,
Mudwraps to Manicures
Chair. “Ms. Oldfield and her management team have been instrumental in
guiding our Port through challenging
times, ensuring diversification and
significantly enhancing our outreach to
new markets while building our infrastructure capabilities and maintaining a
solid financial base. We see positive signs
that our diverse business is performing
well with great potential into the future
as global and local economic conditions
continue to improve.” For more information, visit www.portofhalifax.ca.
The acquisition brings the total number
of GoodLife Fitness Clubs in Canada to
almost 300. “At GoodLife, our vision is
to give all Canadians the opportunity to
live a fit and healthy good life. We know
that one of the biggest factors in helping
individuals remain consistent with their
fitness routines is a convenient location,
so we are excited to continue growing
across the country,” says David “Patch”
Patchell-Evans, CEO. Learn more at
www.goodlifefitness.com.
ICANS PRESENTS CA AWARD
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia (ICANS) recently
awarded their 2012 Ross L. Towler CA
of the Year Award to Dr. Mary Oxner,
PhD, CA, CFA, an Associate Professor
in the Department of Business Administration at St. Francis Xavier University’s
Schwartz School of Business. “The award
is presented to an individual who exemplifies and celebrates the dedication of
Nova Scotia CAs working tirelessly
for good causes in their communities,”
explains ICANS’ CEO and Executive
Director, Michele Wood-Tweel, FCA.
“Dr. Oxner personifies an excellent symbol of volunteerism and leadership, and
serves as a wonderful mentor to our students and new graduates.” To learn more
about ICANS visit www.icans.ns.ca.
MT&L JOINS NATIONAL
MUDWRAPS TO MANICURES
CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
NOVA SCOTIA NATURE TRUST
RECEIVES AWARD
Mudwraps to Manicures celebrated
its 15th year in business last month. “We
would like to thank our lovely, loyal clients for their continued support over the
years,” says Lisa Belanger, Owner. “We
will have some great specials in March,
and a sneak peek of our new spring shoes
and great handbags. We invite everyone
to come to our location at 1083 Bedford
Highway to see what’s happening with
us!” For more information visit www.
mudwrapstomanicures.com.
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust was
recently honoured with the 2012 Parks
Canada Sustainable Tourism Award for
its role in protecting natural heritage.
“We are honoured that TIANS recognizes our contribution to protecting Nova
Scotia’s most special places, and hope
this recognition helps to build momentum and public support for land conservation even more,” says Corey Miller,
President. “We have incredible natural
landscapes and seascapes in Nova Scotia,
but the actions we take or don’t take to
protect them today will define the legacy
we pass on to the next generation.” Learn
more at www.nsnt.ca.
KAREN OLDFIELD RENEWED AT THE
HALIFAX PORT AUTHORITY
The Halifax Port Authority recently
announced that Karen Oldfield has
been renewed as President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to have
Karen’s leadership role continue at the
Port of Halifax,” says Geoff Machum,
8
GOODLIFE FITNESS EXPANDS
GoodLife Fitness recently announced
the acquisition of seven independently
operated Gold’s Gym locations in Canada.
MARCH 2013
NATIONAL Public Relations, recently announce that it has significantly
enhanced its equity position in MT&L
Public Relations. The move reflects the
increasing importance of the region in
Canada’s national affairs. “We’re delighted to join NATIONAL, whose values and
commitment to client success strongly
align with our own,” says Janet MacMillan, Principal. “Our longstanding
association with NATIONAL has enabled
us to collaboratively provide our clients
access to specialized expertise, research,
and a national and global perspective
that’s unparalleled.” For more information, visit www.mtlpr.ca.
AIR CANADA SIGNS AGREEMENT
WITH SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS
Air Canada and South African Airways
(SAA) recently announced a code share
agreement that will make it substantially
easier for customers to travel between
Canada and South Africa. Effective
December 13, 2012, customers connect-
NEW
APPLY BY MAY 2, 2013
Limited Seating Available!
Director Education Coming to Halifax
Enterprise Risk Oversight for
Directors (EROD)
By directors for directors™
The ICD’s new one-day Enterprise Risk Oversight for Directors course will help directors to better
understand how boards and management can more effectively work together to identify, rank and
mitigate enterprise risks.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course will expose participants to a new framework for the oversight of enterprise risk specifically
designed for boards of directors. By attending this national course, participants will:
• Gain an understanding of how to establish and oversee an organization’s appetite and tolerance for risk;
• Learn how to apply and implement a risk oversight model; and
• Develop clearer insights into the interrelated and compounding effects of multiple risks.
WHO WOULD BENEFIT? WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
• Directors of private for-profit and publicly-listed companies
• Directors of medium and large not-for-profit organizations, Crown corporations, and public ABCCs
• Graduates of the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program; or
• Experienced business executives who have just joined a board and/or are considering director roles.
COURSE FORMAT
The course will utilize a combination of pre-readings, lectures, breakout groups and group discussions in
a series of modules tied to a case study and drawing from the CICA Risk Framework.
Participants will be provided with a copy of the CICA Risk Framework and a case study as pre-readings
for the course. The CICA Risk Framework will provide participants with a foundational guide to risk
oversight while the case study will enable participants to test their application of the framework to
a well-known, real-life business case.
CITY
Halifax
COURSE DATE
APPLICATION DEADLINE
FACULTY
VENUE
May 27, 2013
May 2, 2013
John E. Caldwell, CA
McInnes Cooper
Apply Early – Limited Seating is Available.
Upon admission into any of our short courses, non-members will receive a complimentary one-year ICD
membership (value of $395). For directors holding the ICD.D designation, this course may be used as 8 CEUs.
For application details, contact ICD at 1.877.593.7741, or [email protected].
www.icd.ca/education
NEWSMAKERS
ing between the carriers in London or
New York will be able to book a single
itinerary and make seamless connections. “Air Canada is extremely pleased
to offer customers traveling between
Canada and South Africa the added convenience of code sharing with our preferred
partner, SAA. With flights coordinated
to minimize connection times, plus the
simplicity of a single itinerary, it will be
easier than ever to fly between Canada
and South Africa,” says Yves Dufresne,
Vice President Alliances and Regulatory
Affairs. Learn more a www.aircanada.com.
entrepreneurial services practice. Todd
King joined the firm in December, bringing
deep knowledge of private sector tax
services, estate planning, mergers and
acquisitions, and U.S. tax. “Todd’s breadth
of expertise, particularly his concentration in U.S. tax, will serve our clients well
as many continue to grow their businesses
across the border,” says Grant Gailbraith, Managing Partner. “All of us at
Collins Barrow Nova Scotia share his
commitment to service excellence and
are very proud to have him on board.”
Learn more at www.collinsbarrow.com.
EQUALS6 ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP
RACHEL SUMNER JOINS
BAREFOOT FACILITATION
Equals6, the professional social network
for students, and YouTern, the online
community that connects young talent
with internships, mentors and career
advice, recently announced a partnership
designed to help top, young job seekers find meaningful employment. “At
Equals6, we are constantly looking for
ways to help our student members get the
resources, advice and connections they
need to crack the job market,” says Andy
Osburn, CEO. “By partnering with
YouTern, our members will gain exposure to a remarkable source of internship
and early career opportunities.” For more
information, visit www.equals6.com.
LED ROADWAY LIGHTING SIGNS
CONTRACT WITH NS POWER
LED Roadway Lighting Ltd. has
announced a contract with Nova Scotia
Power to supply up to 85,000 Satellite
series fixtures for deployment across the
province. The fixtures will be installed
starting in Q 4 2012. “This is the second
large scale utility retrofit announced by
LRL this year. The fact that utilities are
converting to LED technology at such a
scale demonstrates that the economics
of conversion are sound,” says Charles
Cartmill, President & CEO. “We are
pleased that our products are consistently
selected by clients worldwide after extensive commercial and technical evaluations. We hope that other utilities around
the world see the feasibility of conversion
and move forward with LED street lighting conversion projects.” Learn more at
www.ledroadwaylighting.com.
COLLINS BARROW
ADDS NEW PARTNER
Collins Barrow Nova Scotia has gained
another partner to support its growing
10
Barefoot Facilitation Inc. recently
welcomed Rachel Sumner to their team
of associates. “Rachel will serve as the
E-Learning consultant for a two-year
initiative with the Alzheimer Society of
Alberta and Northwest Territories, aimed
at implementing the First Link program,”
says Gerard Murphy, CEO. “She’ll be
instrumental in leading the creation of
an online environment through which
people living with dementia and their
care partners can access information, education and support. Please read Rachel’s
profile and discover why we feel so privileged to have her on board.” Visit www.
trybarefoot.com for more information.
thoughts on the New Year and beyond
in Halifax. A preview video montage
is currently posted to the Dear Halifax
Facebook page. The project aims to put a
spotlight on the vision Haligonians have
for the municipality. Be sure to stay tuned
for a video from Valerie Payn, President
& CEO of the Halifax Chamber of
Commerce!
SHERRY REDDEN JOINS ISIS
Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services (ISIS) recently announced
that Sherry Redden has assumed the
role of Manager, Business and Workforce
Integration. Sherry brings experience
in both the private and public sections
to the position, including over fifteen
years in the career development field and
almost ten years with ISIS Employment
Services. Previously, Sherry managed a
Career Resource Centre in Kentville, taking it from “turn-key” to offering a full
complement of resources and services for
the unemployed and underemployed, as
well as partnering to offer business and
educational services. She has also been
a business owner, winning an award
through the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce in a business plan contest. For more
information or to contact Sherry, please
visit www.isisns.ca.
NEW HIRES TO K&D PRATT
CCEPA ANNOUNCES
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Canadian Centre for Ethics
in Public Affairs (CCEPA) recently
announced the appointment of their
new Executive Director, Susan Letson.
Susan has been a leader in executive
recruitment in the Atlantic region for
over fifteen years, and has held senior
positions with two national firms, KPMG
and Caldwell Partners International. She
is also past Chair of the Halifax YWCA,
Symphony Nova Scotia, and Debut
Atlantic, as well as past Vice Chair of
the United Way of Halifax. For more
information or to contact Susan, please
visit www.ccepa.ca.
DEAR HALIFAX PROJECT ANNOUNCED
Over the course of the 2012-2013 holiday
season, the Dear Halifax project began.
The initiative is focused on drawing out
what people “wish” for the future of the
city. Throughout the course of the project
citizens, students, musicians, business
owners, and elected officials shared their
MARCH 2013
K&D Pratt recently announced the
addition of two new employees to their
team: Bob Thibault, Account Manager,
Instrumentation Maritimes and Matt
Hudson, Account Manager, Wireless/
Technical Services. Bob has extensive experience in plant automation,
instrumentation and control, as well as
having advanced knowledge of electrical
control, safety systems, plant automation
and plant visualization systems. Matt will
be responsible for designing, selling and
servicing high speed wireless networks
for businesses. Matt will also play an integral part in the promotion of inspecting
and servicing fire suppression, fire alarm
and sprinkler systems. For more information or to contact Bob or Matt, please visit
www.kdpratt.com.
COMMISIONAIRES NOVA SCOTIA’S
BIG ANNIVERSARY
Commissionaires Nova Scotia is
celebrating 75 years of trusted security
for Nova Scotians. “Throughout this
anniversary year, we are celebrating
NEWSMAKERS
Commissionaires Nova Scotia celebrates
75 years in service this year.
our people and their accomplishments,”
announces Colonel Mike Brownlow,
CEO. “It is our diverse group of commissionaires, clients, staff and volunteer
governors, and their dependability, loyalty and trust that has made us the envy
of Nova Scotia’s security industry.” CNS
is also pleased to announce the appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon
Davis as new Chairman of the Board of
Governors and Lieutenant-Colonel
Bill Brydon as its new Director of
Operations. Learn more about CNS at
www.commissionaires.ns.ca.
POWER PROMOTIONAL
CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
Power Promotional Concepts is
celebrating its 15th year in business.
Since 1998, Power has been a promotional products distributor operating in
Burnside Industrial Park. The company’s
management changed hands in 2010,
and Power got an updated logo and a new
website. “We pride ourselves on providing top quality promotional products and
exceptional service, and we look forward
to doing this for many more years,” says
Rachelle Goguen, President. “In 2012
we also launched a new subdivision
called Hoopla! Custom Wedding and
Party Products, which offers custom imprinted products for weddings, reunions,
and other events.” For more information
visit www.powerpromo.ns.ca.
Dress For Success showcases their newly renovated office space.
region as Regional Community Investment & Public Affairs Manager. “Ellen is
a respected professional with more than
ten years of experience and expertise
generating revenue and increasing
support bases for national and local not
profit and for profit organizations,” says
Peter Mallette, Executive Director,
Prostate Cancer Canada Atlantic Region.
For more information or to contact Ellen,
please visit www.prostatecancer.ca
DRESS FOR SUCCESS COMPLETES
RENOVATION PROJECT
Dress for Success Halifax recently
completed renovations to their office.
“We are thrilled with our newly renovated
space and are grateful to the ‘partners’
who contributed to this project,” says
Brenda Saunders/Todd, Executive Director. “Special thanks goes to Wisequest
Contracting, who provided ALL flooring
labour for free, as we would not have been
able to complete this project without their
contribution. We’d also thank Centura
Floor and Wall Tile for their contribution
of product. We are excited to be able to
provide this improved space for our clients
and volunteers!” To find out more visit
www.dressforsuccess.org/halifax.
KEVIN SCHWENKER RECEIVES
DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL
Local entrepreneur and Certified Management Consultant, Kevin Schwenker of Schwenker & Associates was
recently honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal during a
special ceremony held in late November
2012 at the CN Tower in Toronto. Kevin
was one of 38 Canadian volunteers nominated for the medal by the Canadian
Youth Business Foundation (CYBF),
a national non-profit that provides youth
aged 18-39 with business start-up support. Kevin has acted as a mentor with
CYBF since 2005, where his expertise
and dedication has played an instrumental role in helping launch young and
emerging entrepreneurs’ careers and
businesses in Atlantic Canada. He was
previously recognized by CYBF as the
Atlantic and National Mentor of the
Year in 2010.
ELLEN TOWNSHEND JOINS PROSTATE
CANCER CANADA ATLANTIC
Prostate Cancer Canada Atlantic
Region recently announced the addition
of Ellen Townshend to their team as
Manager of Corporate Development.
Ellen comes to PCC from Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia where she was the
Director of Fund Development, and was
previously employed by CIBC Atlantic
Kevin Schwenker (second from left) poses with fellow winners of the
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
BUSINESS VOICE
11
NEWSMAKERS
NIMBUS REACHES BEST-SELLER LIST
Grandma Says: Weather Lore from Meteorologist Cindy Day, published by Nimbus Publishing, recently reached the
national year-end bestseller list. “We’re all
really delighted at the success of Grandma
Says,” says Patrick Murphy, Managing
Editor. “It’s certainly a testament to
Cindy’s ability to convey her enthusiasm
for meteorological phenomena to a broad
readership. Of course, we all know Canadians love to talk about the weather, so
I’m sure that plays into it as well!” To find
out more, visit www.nimbus.ca.
TOWER INTERIORS
WINS TWO AWARDS
Tower Interiors was recently honoured
with two top awards at two separate
events. They received both the Consumer
Choice Award in the category of Interior
Design for the third year in a row, and
also the NSHBA Peak Award for Most
Outstanding Kitchen Renovation at the
NSHBA Awards Gala in November. “It is
such an achievement to be recognized by
our peers for excellence in the construction industry,” says Pam Tower, President. For more information regarding
Tower Interiors and their achievements,
please visit www.towerinteriors.ca.
PREMIERE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Premiere Entertainment Group
(PEG) recently launched a new website, showcasing how the small agency is
connected to big talent. “With over 20
years in the entertainment, festival and
event industry, PEG has the experience
and international connections to execute
unforgettable events by identifying the
right talent for the client,” says Drew
Robertson, Investors Group Financial
Services Inc. “PEG Entertainment takes
the time to understand the goals of our
events and makes sure we are in the best
possible position to achieve those goals.
I consider them to be a partner in many
of our biggest event successes.” To see the
new site, visit www.pegentertainment.ca.
LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
FUNDS RESEARCH
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
of Canada (LLSC) is engaging participants across all four provinces through
strategic meetings and excellent donor
development. Atlantic Canada is seeing
how LLSC’s campaigns are helping fund
blood cancer research. Corporate teams
were responsible for $82,000 at this
year’s Light The Night walk. The 2012
event raised $274,000 for blood cancer
research and patient services and over
half a million since its first walk in
2011. For more information visit
www.llscanada.org.
JIM MUSGRAVE TO LEAD
ADR INSTITUTE
Cox & Palmer recently announced that
Jim Musgrave, QC has been appointed
President of the ADR Institute of Canada, a national organization that provides
leadership in the development and
promotion of dispute resolution services
throughout Canada. Earlier this year, Jim
earned his designation as a Chartered
Mediator, the most senior mediation designation offered by the Institute. To learn
more visit www.coxandpalmerlaw.com.
HEATHER ROBERTSON CORRIGAN
NAMED CIDA BOARD CHAIR
The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) Board of Directors recently
elected Heather Robertson Corrigan,
BID, FIDC, IDNS, as the 2013 Board
Chair. Heather is Principal of Robertson
MacLean Design Limited and a registered interior designer with the Association of Interior Designers of Nova Scotia.
The Council for Interior Design Accreditation is an independent, non-profit,
accrediting organization responsible for
setting standards and evaluating degree
granting interior design programs. There
are 177 CIDA-accredited programs in the
U.S., Canada, and Qatar. For more information about the Board of Directors,
please visit accredit-id.org.
Mary Dempster, newly appointed COO at
Ambassatours Gray Line.
AMBASSATOURS GRAY LINE
WELCOMES MARY DEMPSTER
ABOARD
Ambassatours Gray Line recently announced the addition of Mary Dempster to their team as Chief Operating
Officer. In this position, Mary will be
responsible for the operations of all of
Atlantic Ambassatours group of companies (Absolute Charters Inc., Ambassatours Gray Line, Maritime Motor Coach
Service Centre) and leads the executive
committee while reporting directly to
the President and Advisory Board. In
her past experience, Mary has served
as Chair of the Nova Scotia Human
Resources Council, as an executive committee member and board member of the
Tourism Industry Association of Nova
Scotia, and is past president of the Hotel
Association of Nova Scotia. To contact
Mary, please visit www.ambassatours.com.
To make a submission to For Immediate
Release please contact Cynthia Younker,
Member Services Manager, at cynthia@
halifaxchamber.com or (902) 481-1227.
Deadline for submissions is six weeks before
publication, on the 15th of each month.
12
MARCH 2013
NEWSMAKERS
NEW & NOTED
Here’s who’s new to the Chamber this month
2203818 Nova Scotia Limited
David Herman, President
155 Grinstead Ln
Stillwater Lake NS B3Z 1P1
(902) 820-2051
[email protected]
REAL ESTATE - COMMERCIAL
2ARC Inc.
Alize Barth, President & CEO
1959 Upper Water St, Suite 1700
Halifax NS B3J 3N4
(902) 406-8872
www.2ARC.ca
CONSULTING - BUSINESS
Adadem Import and Export
Adeola Adebayo, Manager
2 Brewer Crt
Halifax NS B3N 0B9
(902) 402-7657
www.adademexport.com
IMPORT/EXPORT/TRADING SERVICES
Auricular Acupuncture, Aromatherapy,
Infra-Red Sauna, Psychotherapy, Reiki
and Reflexology.
Faith O’Reilly,
Owner and Holistic Therapist
37 Old Miller Rd
Cole Harbour NS B2Z 1C2
(902) 222-4721
[email protected]
www.experienceamalavida.ca
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
meniscus tears and those who have
recently undergone orthopaedic surgery,
compression stockings and custom
made orthotics.
Ashley Shannon, VP, Operations
1554 Dresden Row #3070
Park Lane Mall
Halifax NS B3J 2K2
(902) 448-1020
mmm$ơhj^h_j_iơdZ_d`khoYơh[$Yec
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Arthritis & Injury Care Centre
Aviron Marine Limited
AICC has 7 clinics servicing patients
in Atlantic Canada. A privately owned
orthopaedic clinic providing quality,
functional orthopaedic products for the
arthritic patient, those suffering from
ligament deficiencies such as ACL and
Yvon Dufour, President
65 Macdonald Ave
Dartmouth NS B3B 1S5
(902) 481-9335
[email protected]
MARINE/PORT AGENTS/SHIP BROKERS
Presented by:
aioTV Inc.
Jim Anderson
1 Research Dr, Suite 215
Dartmouth NS B2Y 4M9
(902) 482-6467
`ơdZ[hied6ơ_e#jl$Yec
www.aio-tv.com
COMPUTER SOFTWARE - DEVELOPMENT/
SALES
Ali Nadeem - Independent Consultant
Ali Nadeem, Independant Consultant
Bedford NS
(902) 452-4497
[email protected]
CONSULTING - BUSINESS
Ama La Vida - Whole Body Wellness
Nestled in a peaceful, natural light filled,
private, professional home-based studio
surrounded by trees, flowers and wildlife.
Ama La Vida offers a uniquely personalized healing experience. Start with a
consultation to create a wellness plan
then engage in treatment sessions of
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Canada Games Centre – Gold
Immunovaccine Inc. – Gold
Obladee, A Wine Bar – Silver
Bullfrog Power Inc. – Silver
Tire Valet (Hfx) Inc. – Bronze
Mindful Scientific Inc. – Bronze
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Ironworks Distillery – Gold
CBCL Limited – Gold
Bishop’s Cellar – Silver
ADP Canada Co. – Silver
Liquid Gold Olive Oils & Vinegars Inc. – Bronze
Admiral Insurance – Bronze
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
CGI Information and Management Systems – Gold
Taleb Abidali, Cresco – Gold
Green Power Labs Inc. – Silver
Shawn Levangie, Trail Blazer Products – Silver
B4 Checkin – Bronze
Peter Mallette, Prostate Cancer Canada Atlantic – Bronze
Category Sponsors:
BUSINESS VOICE
13
NEWSMAKERS
Awareness Golf School
Coach Atlantic Group
This is a state of the art golf training
facility for golfers of all abilities. Ed
Hanczaryk (top 50 Teacher) and Todd
Bishop, PGA Instructor will systematically take your game to the next level.
Our new VIP Corporate winter programs
provide unique opportunities to reward
top performing employees or clientele.
Todd Bishop, Partner/Golf Instructor
10 Akerley Blvd, Unit 52
Dartmouth NS B3B 1J4
(902) 450-0111
[email protected]
www.awarenessgolf.com
GOLF
Marsha Doiron, VP Marketing
7 Mt Edward Rd
Charlottetown PE C1A 5R7
(902) 566-5664
[email protected]
www.coachatlanticgroup.com
TRANSPORTATION/WAREHOUSING
BoomersWork.ca
Boomers Work is a website-based
human resource service…a recruiting
tool which differs from other employment services as we “match” individuals
seeking assignments with organizations,
not for profits and corporations seeking
immediate experience of seasoned managers, supervisors and executives.
Don Stoddard,
VP-Corporate Development
101-1649 Brunswick St
Box 323 Halifax Central
Halifax NS B3J 2N7
(902) 492-8301
www.boomerswork.ca
RECRUITMENT SERVICES
BrenDaniel Productions Corp.
Brenda Fay, President
278 Lacewood Dr
PO Box 25037
Halifax NS B3M 2N0
(902) 222-9529
www.brendaniel.com
CONSULTING - MANAGEMENT
Canadian Business Management
Accounting Services
Ehab Mdoukh, President
32 Londra Crt
Dartmouth NS B2W 5A5
(902) 830-8669
[email protected]
ACCOUNTING - BOOKKEEPING
14
Cooke Capital
Your business is unique, so why settle
for one-size-fits-all approaches for your
corporate health insurance? Value is our
priority, and we earn our credibility. We
offer only authentic, stable, and transparent insurance that works within your
budget. We ask the right questions and
no company is too small.
Nick Mombourquette,
Life & Group Benefits Advisor
480 Parkland Ave, Unit 6A
Halifax NS B3S 1P9
(902) 429-5666
[email protected]
www.cooke.ca
INSURANCE SERVICES - GENERAL
Cosmos Properties
Cosmos Properties & Developments is
an award winning company recognized
for its hard work and contribution to the
community offering luxury, quality and
affordable apartments. Each building has
unique features and a multitude of amenities that can meet all your needs, located
in Clayton Park and Clayton Park West.
Amanda Giuannoulis,
Property Manager
80-80 Camelot Ln
Halifax NS B3M 4K8
(902) 457-5375
[email protected]
www.cosmosproperties.ca
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT/
DEVELOPMENT
Dartmouth Memorial Gardens
Having a Pre-Arrangement Specialist is
the best way to begin your understanding of the relevant issues and the benefits
of pre-planning. I can provide you with
the details of our exclusive Family Security Benefit Plan, a proven plan we’ve
MARCH 2013
developed to ensure Canadians can take
advantage of the best protection, the
real savings, and the peace of mind they
deserve.
Avril Shand
767 Main St
Dartmouth NS B2W 3T9
(902) 462-3455
[email protected]
www.dartmouth-memorial.ca
FUNERAL/CEMETERY/ESTATE PLANNING
SERVICES
Davis Writing Solutions
We work with business owners and
executives to achieve excellent and clear
written communications with audiences
such as customers, shareholders or staff.
Davis Writing Services provides leaders
with a thorough, detailed and confidential approach to advertising, proposals,
white papers, newsletters, regulatory
submissions, press releases and any
other written communications.
Scott Davis
Box 8027
Halifax, NS B3K 5L8
(902) 405-7675
[email protected]
CONSULTING - STRATEGIC DIRECTION
Design Marketing
“For 35 years, Design Marketing has
presented itself as a leading supplier
of promotional products. Our skill is
getting consumers to think differently
about you and your brand. Whether your
needs are employee recognition or client
appreciation, we are here to help you be
personal and creative”.
Sherry Isnor, Sales Director
100-163 1600 Bedford Hwy
Bedford NS B4A 1E8
(902) 468-3440
www.designmarketing.net
PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS/SALES
Erin Holdings Ltd.
Michael Garagan, President
5517 Kane Pl
Halifax NS B3K 2B2
(902) 455-7741
[email protected]
CONSULTING - BUSINESS
NEWSMAKERS
Freshman Storage & Moving
Freshman Storage & Moving hires only
students and provides storage and
moving services for people in Nova
Scotia, with an emphasis on affordability
and good customer service. We offer
summer storage (with moving included)
to students and have fully climate controlled storage units available for rent all
year. “Students putting a FRESH spin on
storage & moving.”
Carlisle Norwood, CEO
RR1 37 Rolling Hill
Chester NS B0J 1J0
(902) 440-0453
[email protected]
www.freshmanstorage.com
MOVING/STORAGE
Independent Technology Solutions
(Halifax) Ltd.
Our mission at ITS Halifax is to be the
“IT Department” for our small business
clients. With a focus on friendly, timely,
cost-efficient and effective resolution to
your IT needs. We are eager to meet with
you to discuss your IT issues, concerns
and requirements. We will provide a high
level of assistance to you and help you
find efficient ways to meet your goals.
Please contact us. We are friendly, competent and eager to work with you!
J. Urban Cannon, President
630 Old Sackville Rd
Lower Sackville NS B4C 2K3
(902) 865-6085
[email protected]
www.itshalifax.com
IT CONSULTING
LKL Consulting Services
Kevin Landry, Managing Director
Halifax NS
(902) 478-9924
[email protected]
www.lklconsultingservices.com
CONSULTING - MANAGEMENT
MedMira Inc.
MedMira’s mission is to be the leader
in the development and manufacturing
of premium, quality testing solutions
built on its unique, value-add rapid
flow-through diagnostic technology. The
Company’s testing solutions provide
hospitals, labs, clinics and individuals
with reliable, rapid diagnosis for diseases
in just three minutes.
Robyn Cook, Director
155 Chain Lake Dr, Unit 1
Halifax NS B3S 1B3
(902) 450-1588
[email protected]
www.medmira.com
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Membertou Trade
and Convention Center
The Membertou Trade & Convention
Centre is a culturally distinct 47,000
square foot facility. It provides many
conference and meeting options with
a professional team to produce a top
notch event. The facility can accommodate any size event with their high
level tech support and full catering and
banquet services.
Audrey Firth, General Manager
50 Maillard St, 3rd Floor
Membertou NS B1S 3W3
(902) 562-6826
www.membertoutcc.com
EVENTS - FACILITIES
earned over 10 million likes on Facebook
and a Daytime Emmy.
Jason Nickel, Founder
1567 Argyle St
Halifax NS B3J 2B2
(902) 980-0279
`ơied6`d_Ya[b$Yec
^jjf0%%`d_Ya[b$Yec
WEB DEVELOPMENT/TRAINING
Office of the Employer Advisor
Nova Scotia
Mary Morris
833 Sackville Dr, Suite 5
Lower Sackville NS B4E 1S1
(902) 401-8490
[email protected]
oeans.ca
NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Open Top Tours Inc.
Colin Guthrie, Ph.D. President
115 East Side Rd
Ketch Harbour NS B3V 1K5
(902) 346-2182
[email protected]
CONSULTING - HUMAN RESOURCES
Open Top Tours provides visitors to
Nova Scotia a unique and intimate way
to enjoy all that Nova Scotia has to offer
in Open Top Jeeps. Tours include golf
and beach packages, wine tasting, or relaxing on our spectacular beaches. Our
guides are multilingual, and will provide
vignettes along the way.
Karl Dias, Owner & Operations
218 Five Island Rd
Hubley NS B3Z 1B6
(902) 499-6674
[email protected]
www.opentoptours.ca
TOURISM
Municipality of East Hants
Panoptika Inc.
Kim MacDonald, Director of Economic
& Business Development
230-15 Commerce Crt
Elmsdale NS B2S 3K5
(902) 883-4355
a`l_X[hj6[ơij^ơdji$Yơ
www.easthants.ca
GOVERNMENT
Develop a strategy. Change your perspective. Discover new ideas. Focus your
strengths. Build bridges with your customers. Panoptika means “seeing everything”...
looking at all the possibilities to help develop new, unique approaches to marketing
relationships. Online communities, focus
groups, individual interviews, surveys,
Innovation Games. Your customers are
talking. Are you listening?
Steve Willson, Partner
1959 Upper Water St, Suite 1700, Tower 1
Halifax NS B3J 3N2
(902) 406-8874
[email protected]
www.panoptika.ca
CONSULTING - MARKETING
MPCG
Nickel Media
Nickel Media is a web development
company that specializes in advanced
digital production for web and mobile
devices. Jason Nickel has a reputation for
providing quality development services
for clients that include Nike, Toyota, and
Google. Success for takethislollipop.com
BUSINESS VOICE
15
NEWSMAKERS
Performance Plus
Rehabilitative Care Inc.
Linda Simpson, Rehabilitation Director
1300-340 Albert St
Ottawa ON K1R 7Y6
(800) 427-6214
[email protected]
www.pprc.ca
CONSULTING
Roddis Communications
Roddis Communications is here to
help businesses with all aspects of their
marketing communications. Based
in Halifax we help clients throughout
across Canada with business strategy,
web design, graphic design, branding,
and customized marketing campaigns,
using our skills to help improve their
business and bottom line.
David Roddis, Principal
Stillwater Lake NS
(902) 877-6528
[email protected]
www.roddis.ca
MARKETING/RESEARCH/SALES
Stepping Stone
Rene Ross, Executive Director
2151 Gottingen St
RPO 47032
Halifax NS B3K 5Y2
(902) 420-0103
[email protected]
www.steppingstonens.ca
NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop
Virtual Management Group - VMG
Virtual Management Group (VMG) is
committed to help start-ups, small and
medium enterprises in their quest for
sustainability, profitability and growth
by providing virtual consulting management services to help them run more
efficiently, lower operating cost and
become more profitable. This is a new
approach to managing your business.
Sonia Menendez, President
2594 Agricola St, Suite 111
Halifax NS B3K 4C6
(902) 404-3688
[email protected]
VIRTUAL OFFICE
Nancy McTiernan, Owner
601 Hwy 2
Elmsdale NS B2S 1A8
(902) 883-7417
FOOD MANUFACTURER
Are you a new member? To submit
your 50-word blurb for New & Noted,
please contact Cynthia Younker,
Member Services Manager, at cynthia@
halifaxchamber.com or (902) 481-1227
within the first six months of membership.
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.
Bounty’s industry-leading team has the knowledge and experience to deliver
great value and impact for your next print project.
BOUNTYPRINT
YOUR FULL-SERVICE COMMERCIAL PRINTER
902.453.0300
WWW.BOUNTYPRINT.COM
16
MARCH 2013
2013 Conference
June 4-5, 2013
Renowned Keynote Speakers Coming to Halifax
Marshall Goldsmith
Recognized as the #1 Leadership Thinker
in the world and #7 Business Thinker in
the world at the Thinkers 50 Ceremony
by the Harvard Business Review
Dr. J.P. Pawliw-Fry
Author, performance coach and
thought leader on the subjects
of leadership, performance and
managing.
Learn from world-renowned speakers and Atlantic Canadian leaders to
enhance your skills and create a culture for business success.
Register Early - Last year sold out!
Platinum Sponsor:
Register Online
www.hrans.org
COVER STORY
Debt on
arrival
By Jon Tattrie
Every newborn in Nova Scotia
comes into the world owing
$14,008 in provincial debt.
18
Tim Krochak / The Chronicle Herald
A
few years back a couple of Nova
Scotia MLAs blew thousands of taxpayer
dollars on some dubious power generators, wide-screen TVs, office furniture
and the like. There was widespread
public outrage.
But when the province’s auditor
general recently revealed that all of our
MLAs had spent $881 million of taxpayer
money on absolutely nothing at all, it
barely generated a shrug.
AG Jacques Lapointe was so concerned
by the disconnect that delivered a long
report to the Legislature calling the lost
money a deeply ethical, as well as economical, issue. So where did the missing
$881 million go? To financial institutions
in Canada and around the world. It’s how
much the province had to pay in 2012/13
to “service” our $13.2 billion debt.
“Observing the trend of government
borrowing, I started getting concerned,”
Lapointe explains, “especially given the
current global environment. It started
bringing to the forefront the fact that
government debt can in fact have some
serious repercussions.”
As rioters set Greece alight and Britain
slashes public services to the bone, Nova
Scotia’s AG saw the province pointing
in the same direction. “I decided I had
to put, in effect, an opinion piece in the
report based on the debt levels we were
reporting inside of it,” he says of his
2012 report. “In my mind, it’s really gone
beyond a question of what is sound business practice, and becomes a question
of whether it’s right or wrong.”
In my mind, it’s really
gone beyond a question of what is sound
business practice, and
becomes a question
of whether it’s right
or wrong.”
– Jacques Lapointe,
Nova Scotia’s
Auditor General
MARCH 2013
He says for decades we’ve taken for
granted that governments can borrow
to spend with no clear plan to repay. But
Lapointe says ultimately, the buck of
debt doesn’t stop with the premier,
but with us, the people.
“The core ethical issue is not one for
government, but for those of us who are
receiving the services that government
is giving us. The core ethical question
becomes whether it is right or wrong for
all of us today to allow government to
provide us with services — education,
hospitals, everything else — without
paying for them.”
That monstrous $13 billion debt means
every baby born in the province this year
comes into the world yoked by a bill for
$14,008. No parent would buy a new car
and sign their child’s name on the debt.
“We would automatically assume it was
wrong. But on a provincial or national
level, we seem to accept it as all right,”
Lapointe says. “You’re born with a millstone around your neck.”
He rejects the argument that governments should borrow to invest, and that
accruing capital debt is solid economic
practice. He calls that transposing private sector ideas into the public sector.
“I no longer accept that as a rationalization.”
He has a very short list of exceptions.
We can borrow if Nazi Germany is
invading, for example, or if there is a national emergency. He also permits major
projects like Churchill Falls, where without
borrowing it would never happen. But
COVER STORY
We, simply put, cannot continue to spend more than we make.
Someday, someone must pay.”
– Paul Bent, Chairman of the Halifax Chamber
of Commerce’s Provincial Affairs Committee
INVESTING VS SPENDING
Fred Morley, chief economist at the
Greater Halifax Partnership, is not so
worried. He says focusing on debt is the
wrong approach. “I worry about growth.
While debt can be limiting, the key is:
do you have enough growth to service it,
and is debt as a proportion of growth-inGDP shrinking?”
Ted Pritchard / The Chronicle Herald
that’s pretty much it. He argues borrowing hurts the economy, making it harder
to create the wealth to pay the debt
down. That $881 million could go a long
way in policing, education and health
care. But all it does is tread water to keep
us from drowning.
“There’s a massive redistribution of
income involved in this, too. If you raise
taxes to pay interest, you’re taking money
out of the hands of the taxpayers and redistributing it to those who hold government bonds,” the auditor general says.
Paul Bent, chairman of the Halifax
Chamber of Commerce’s Provincial
Affairs Committee, says the problem is
heightened by Nova Scotia’s flat and aging population. “The economic impacts
of spiraling deficits are enormous,” he
says. “We, simply put, cannot continue
to spend more than we make. Someday,
someone must pay.”
Our infrastructure is also aging and
will require money in the future. Interest
rates will increase, ballooning the debt
with them. If future generations are
spending massive amounts of money
servicing the debt, it’ll be hard to pay
for other things.
“Quite frankly, if we do not respond
to this by creating sustainable economic
activity for our province and creating
opportunities for our youth, they will not
stay to pay for yesterday,” Bent says. “Inevitably, we will all experience a significant decline in our standard of living.”
But, as Billy Joel said, we didn’t start
the fire. Our parents, and their parents,
accumulated much of the debt. “While
we didn’t start this, I believe it is our
responsibility to act and act now,” Bent
says. “We cannot abuse our access to
credit to mortgage their future, particularly by spending in areas of little or no
return or sustainable social or economic
advantage.”
If your growth is slow
and your debt is persistently increasing,
run for cover. If your
growth is good and
population and incomes are increasing,
we should all take
a breath.”
– Fred Morley,
Chief Economist
at the Greater
Halifax
Partnership
Barbara Helgason / 123RF
So he urges government to invest in
growth. “If your growth is slow and your
debt is persistently increasing, run for
cover. If your growth is good and population and incomes are increasing, we
should all take a breath,” he says.
Morley notes that while Nova Scotia
has been in a tough spot for some time,
program spending per person is among
the lowest in Canada.
COVER
CATAGORY
STORY
:[Xj"Z[ǃ_Y_jơdZZ[Xji[hl_Ying are three different categories that involve gigantic
numbers, and they’re often
misunderstood or confused.
Here’s a primer to keep your
What role and responsibility do
we have to make sure that young
people see the opportunity in the
province, feel that they have a
place here and receive the very
best options?”
Peter Parsons / The Chronicle Herald
Know your
debt terms
– Elizabeth Beale, President
of the Atlantic Provinces
Economic Council
ǃ_]kh[iijhơ_]^j0
DEBT:
This is the total amount of money
we owe. It grows when a government
spends more than it takes in, or when it
borrows to finance major construction
projects like highways or hospitals. As
of March 2012, Nova Scotia’s debt was
$13.2 billion.
DEFICIT:
Every year the provincial government
plans how much it will spend, and estimates how much it will take in. When
these two figures don’t match, you have
a surplus or a deficit. A surplus is when
a government takes in more than it
spends. A deficit is when a government
spends more than it takes in. Forecasts
have Nova Scotia with a $277 million
deficit in 2012/13. That will be added
to the debt.
DEBT SERVICING:
This is basically the interest on the debt.
As of December 2012, Nova Scotia was
forecast to spend $881.3 million servicing its debt in the 2012/13 financial year.
20
MARCH 2013
CUTTING VS GROWING
Not surprisingly, the opposition parties
are quick to list the NDP’s financial failings. Jamie Baillie, the Progressive Conservative leader, calls the debt a disgrace.
“Every child born in Nova Scotia today
starts off more in debt than ever before,”
he says. “For me, that has to stop.”
He accuses the NDP of adding $1 billion to debt during its term in office. That
drags the economy down and points the
economic compass towards Athens. The
slowed economy leads to out-migration
as workers “vote with their feet” to leave
Ted Pritchard / The Chronicle Herald
If you think that’s a big number, grab
your jaw: the Canadian Federation
of Independent Business estimates
Canada’s total federal and provincial
debt passed $1 trillion in 2010. Our
combined share of provincial and
federal debt amounts to about
$31,850 per person.
Elizabeth Beale, President of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, agrees.
She says debt-to-GDP in Nova Scotia
was at nearly 40 per cent in 2005/06, but
has declined to 36.3 per cent in 2012/13.
She argues the direction of that number,
not the debt, is the important financial
indicator.
She credits the improvement to two
moves by the NDP government early in
its mandate. “They increased income
taxes for the higher levels and also, in
particular, increased the HST by two
percentage points,” she says.
Those were steps Beale had urged.
Spending has also been curbed, she
argues. “They’ve done a better job than
some other provinces. Ontario and
Newfoundland still had higher rates
of program spending,” she says.
The important thing, she says, is to
turn the focus from aging boomers and
their increasing health costs to educating
young Nova Scotians.
“What role and responsibility do we
have to make sure that young people see
the opportunity in the province, feel that
they have a place here and receive the
very best options?” she asks. “Their role
here is absolutely vital if our economy in
the province is going to move ahead.”
So a baby born with debt may be better
off if that turns into enhanced career
earnings in an economically robust province. “I think you can make a distinction
between spending by government that
would be considered part of the operating budget and regular program expenditures, and other expenditures that you
might consider to be an investment in
the province’s future,” Beale concludes.
Governments have to
control the debt and
the first thing they
have to do is get back
to balance.”
– Stephen McNeil,
Nova Scotia
Liberal Leader
COVER
CATAGORY
STORY
We teach our kids to live within their means,
to match their expenses to their incomes.
These are principles that the government
ought to live by.”
– Jamie Baillie, Nova Scotia
Progressive Conservative Leader
Christian LaForce / The Chronicle Herald
McNeil says spending on “corporate
welfare” while cutting education is bad
ethically and economically, citing the
NDP government’s decision to acquire
the assets and liabilities of the closed
Bowater mill in Queens County. “That
money ends up on the debt of province,”
he says.
ple who have serious disease and illnesses
effective treatments. That definitely has
an ethical component,” the former health
minister argues.
Her government has a four-year economic plan and MacDonald says the vagaries of
interest rates, global economic fluctuations
and a score of other factors make solid plan-
Devaan Ingraham / The Chronicle Herald
for other jurisdictions. That leads to less
revenue and more debt. “It becomes a
vicious circle, a downward spiral that’s
hard to get out of,” he says.
Baillie, a Fellow Chartered Accountant
who left his job as president of Credit
Union Atlantic to enter politics, says
the debt was not built up by investing
in good things, but by overspending.
“We teach our kids to live within their
means, to match their expenses to their
incomes,” he says. “These are principles
that the government ought to live by.”
He argues each generation should pay
its bills and leave the province in better
financial shape than it found it. “We start
to hold ourselves accountable to the next
generation, to our kids, by measuring the
impacts of today’s decisions — including
when to borrow — over the generations.”
To that end, Baillie introduced the Next
Generation Act, which would force the
Legislature to stop kicking the debt down
the road. If the government borrows to
build a hospital, it should pay for it by the
same generation that uses it. “You don’t
want to be paying for a hospital that was
built, used up, and torn down 25 years
ago,” he says.
But Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says
the act would “handcuff ” future governments and prevent them from spending
in times of recession, which could further
hurt the economy. He says his priority
would be the deficit. “Governments have
to control the debt and the first thing they
have to do is get back to balance,” he says.
“But also focus on creating economic
growth so that debt is not taking up such
a large percentage of what is our natural
yearly revenue.”
It’s important we don’t adopt
an ‘at any costs’ mentality.
You can cut off your nose to
spite your face.”
Nova Scotia Finance Minister Maureen MacDonald also dismisses the Next
Generation Act, saying you can’t cut your
way to prosperity. Halifax is not Athens,
she points out, and is not heading that
way. The debt is manageable and her
government is on track to deliver a balanced budget in the spring of 2013. “It’s
important we don’t adopt an ‘at any costs’
mentality,” she says. “You can cut off your
nose to spite your face.”
MacDonald argues we have ethical
duties beyond cutting debt. “Cancer
patients in Nova Scotia have every much
right to the latest drugs that are more
effective as cancer patients in any other
part of the country. You can’t say you’re
going to be constrained in providing peo-
ning beyond that a fool’s game. She argues
her short-term planning partnered with
long-term strategies is working.
Whether the NDP can balance the
books will be revealed in the spring budget. Until then, Jacques Lapointe is just
happy the issue of debt is being discussed.
The AG wants all of us to think differently
and to develop an aversion to borrowing.
He points to former federal finance minister Paul Martin balancing the federal books
in the 1990s as proof it can be done. “It
required a complete change in attitude,”
he says.
Until then, consider bringing cash to
the next baby shower you’re invited to, so
the newborn can start digging out of her
$14,008 hole.
– Maureen MacDonald,
Nova Scotia Finance
Minister
BUSINESS VOICE
21
ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
Cultivating
entrepreneurs
Are entrepreneurs born or made?
By Tom Mason
Photos by Paul Darrow
B
oris Mirtchev loves to create experiences. The Halifax entrepreneur runs the Hamachi Restaurant Group with his business
partner Ken Greer. In the past decade they have developed eight
new restaurants in the city, and introduced hungry Haligonians
to culinary delights like fresh sushi, Japanese teppan-yaki,
Spanish tapas, Asian fusion and Belgian brasserie fare.
Hamachi House, Mirtchev’s first restaurant, was born out
the fact that he couldn’t find quality sushi in Halifax. He was
running a seafood exporting business at the time and making
regular business trips to Japan. “There was a big gap in the
restaurant market here, one I wanted to fill,” he recalls.
It was a huge risk. Sushi was largely an untested market in
Halifax, and there was no guarantee that Haligonians were going to take to the idea of raw fish. Opening the restaurant meant
bringing professional sushi chefs to the city, buying expensive
kitchen equipment and leasing a building in high-rent part of
town — a large outlay of cash for the young entrepreneur. But
Mirtchev was acting on more than just faith. Everything in his
life had prepared him for that moment.
Mirtchev was born in Bulgaria, but as a young child he and
his family moved to Mozambique. He grew up in that African
nation watching street vendors ply their wares; many of them
children his own age. “I was fascinated by the way they could
make money out of nothing,” he recalls. “They would take what
little money they had, go out and buy a box of tomatoes, sell
it and make a profit. Mozambique was a poor country, and yet
people were able to get by because they knew how to be entrepreneurs.”
It was a lesson in perseverance that he took to heart when
he came to Canada in 1991 to study at Saint Mary’s University.
By the time he received his MBA Mirtchev had already decided
that Halifax was where he wanted to stay. He worked as a manager trainee at a local Taco Bell and then jumped to the seafood export business. Hamachi House seemed like the logical next step.
The story of any successful entrepreneur raises an interesting question: Are entrepreneurs born or made — do they
come into this world with the skills required to succeed, or does
their success spring from the surrounding culture? An MRI
22
Boris Mirtchev, left,
and chef Mar Olores
prepare a delectable
and visual feast for guests
at Hamachi House.
brain study recently conducted by scientists at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology revealed some tantalizing clues. The
study conducted by MIT neuroscientists and business professors
used 63 volunteers — self-identified entrepreneurs and business
managers. The subjects were placed in an MRI and asked to play
a virtual slot machine game that required them to continually
decide whether to keep playing a machine or switch to a new
one that might offer better pay-offs. The study found that the
brains of risk-adverse managers tended to fire on the left, or
logical hemisphere, when involved in a risky decision-making
task. The brains of entrepreneurs, one the other hand, tended to
fire equally in both hemispheres. Entrepreneurs use the logical
side of their brain to make critical decisions, but they balance
those decisions with a healthy dose of right-brained creativity
and emotion.
MARCH 2013
The life of a serial restaurateur may
sound romantic, but Mirtchev points out
that it’s mostly hard work. “It’s a daily
challenge to stay profitable,” he says. “You
need to maintain high sales and high cost
efficiency, watch your cash flow, and make
sure you’re hiring the right people. You
need to be aware of changing demographics and business trends, foresee the best
and worst case scenarios and react to
them.” There are sleepless nights, headaches and stress, but for Mirtchev the
risks have paid off with business success.
“I never thought about the risks,” he says.
“I always wanted to be an entrepreneur.”
A BREED APART
I never thought about
the risks, I always
wanted to be an
entrepreneur.”
– Boris Mirtchev
If the hit CBC reality show Dragon’s
Den has taught us anything, it’s that
Canadians are fascinated by that unique
brand of individual known as the entrepreneur. They are risk takers, energy
junkies, consummate inventors capable
turning the mundane conundrums of
daily life into money-making operations;
the artists of the business world. They
are also outliers — in this part of the
country at least — rebels who walk a
tenuous business tightrope without
the benefit of a safety net.
Entrepreneurs – Continued on page 24
BUSINESS VOICE
23
ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
Help available
Entrepreneurs – Continued from page 23
iqoncept / 123RF
Programs designed to help
budding entrepreneurs
The Centre for Entrepreneurship
Education and Development (CEED) in
Halifax is a vital resource for budding
entrepreneurs in the Halifax area. CEED
is a not-for-profit organization that helps
entrepreneurs with loans and financing
options, a self-employment benefits program and a variety of courses, workshops
and support programs.
THE SELF-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
PROGRAM
The Self-Employment Benefits Program
assists aspiring entrepreneurs to become
self-sufficient through self-employment.
The 40-week program is available to
residents of HRM who are eligible for
Employment Insurance benefits, and
provides income and entrepreneurial
support as they start a business. The program is comprised of mandatory business
training workshops and provides ongoing
support from CEED’s SEB Business
Development Officers.
Program participants qualify if their
unemployment benefit period has been
established or has ended within three years,
or if their benefit period included a maternity or parental claim within five years.
They also must be a resident of HRM.
THE PROGRAM IS DIVIDED INTO
THREE PHASES:
PHASE 1 (WEEK 1-10):
Business Planning
Business plan must be complete by
week 10.
PHASE 2 (WEEK 11-25):
Business Plan Implementation
Business must be open and generating
revenue by week 20 with a review by
CEED staff of the viability by week 25.
PHASE THREE (WEEK 26 - 40):
Revenue Growth Phase
Business must show sales growth and the
ability to support the owner as a full time
venture.
24
SEED CAPITAL PROGRAM
For 15 years CEED has assisted over 525
businesses in Halifax Dartmouth & Bedford through the Seed Capital Program.
The program offers up to $20,000 in
low interest rate financing for business
start-ups by entrepreneurs age 18 and up.
Young entrepreneurs age 18-34 may also
use the funds as a business growth loan.
The program also allows each client to
access up to a $2,000 grant for business
training and consulting.
CANADIAN YOUTH BUSINESS
FOUNDATION LOAN PROGRAM
(CYBF)
CEED is the CYBF Community Partner
in Halifax, Dartmouth and Bedford. For
entrepreneurs aged 18-39, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)
offers up to $15,000 in low interest rate
financing for business start-ups or within
the first year of operations. The loan may
also be used to purchase a business or
to purchase a vehicle for business use.
Business Development Bank of Canada
(BDC) offers an optional double matching (up to $30,000) of the CYBF funds.
CYBF clients also participate in a world
class mentoring program that matches
young entrepreneurs with experienced
business professionals.
MARCH 2013
Nova Scotia was once a land of
swashbuckling risk-takers and sea captains, but somehow that entrepreneurial
spirit has been lost over time. Stephen
Lund, president and CEO of Nova Scotia
Business Inc. says we have to find ways to
bring it back.
“We can look to other jurisdictions
that are considered ‘entrepreneurial
cultures’ and learn from them,” says
Lund. “Silicon Valley and Israel are obvious examples. Israel is considered the
“start-up nation” with more start-ups per
population than any other country in the
world. It is ingrained in their culture. A
key to this is the IT training young people
receive in the military. But they also have
a strong venture capital sector and more
than 220 international R&D centres,
where graduates go to get their basic
training and work experience before
branching out on their own.”
Those entrepreneurial-friendly
jurisdictions have another competitive
advantage, says Lund: their business
communities celebrate and encourage a
climate of risk-taking. Trying and failing
in business is not regarded as a mark of
disgrace. “In Silicon Valley failure is a
badge of honour and venture capitalists
look at it as a learning experience,” he
says. “We need to celebrate the successes
we see now and not crucify the failures.”
Lund thinks that regardless of
whether entrepreneurs are born or not,
they need to be nurtured and encouraged if they are to become successful.
“You can be born with entrepreneurial
tendencies, but they may never reveal
themselves. The right environment,
encouragement and mentorship are all
important. To me entrepreneurship is
a state of mind. We need to encourage
students to consider this a career and it
starts early on in school. I look to hire
people with entrepreneurship qualities
who can apply their skills in a corporate
setting.”
Entrepreneurs – Continued on page 26
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ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
Entrepreneurs – Continued from page 24
When Nancy McTiernan and her
husband Greg started selling fudge at
the Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop seven
years ago it was an instant hit.
PASSION REQUIRED
Nancy McTiernan learned her entrepreneurial skills in a more practical way. She
grew up helping her parents run a garden
centre business that operated in the
family’s Enfield back yard. When she and
her husband Greg took over the 30-yearold business themselves seven years ago,
Nancy started selling fudge at the garden
centre’s front counter to help make ends
meet. It was an instant hit.
Today the garden centre is gone,
a victim of changing business fortunes.
But the business that morphed out of that
simple point-of-sale fudge operation is a
going concern. McTiernan works seven
days a week at Sweet Spot Chocolate
Shop, often spending 14 hours a day
making 125 different kinds of chocolates
and candies, all made individually by
hand using only made-from-scratch
ingredients. In the three weeks leading
up to Christmas last year Nancy, her
husband and their five employees stuffed
100,000 individual paper cups with their
designer treats. “I love every minute of it,”
she says.
Like most entrepreneurs McTiernan
is driven by the highs and lows that come
with running her own business. “I don’t
think it’s for everyone,” she says. “A lot of
people just don’t have the dedication to
put the time into a business that you need
to put into it. If you don’t love it, if you’re
26
not willing to work at it all the time,
you’re probably not going to succeed.”
Successful entrepreneurs all share
McTiernan’s attitude, according to
Shawn Cunningham, the manager of
CEED financial programs for the Centre
for Entrepreneurship Education and
Development (CEED) in Halifax. They
have a drive to succeed that outweighs
the hard work required to run a business.
“To be successful in business they have
to have a passion, you have to believe in
your product or service and be prepared
to champion it. If they have that passion
they can learn the rest. There’s so much
information and support out there if they
are serious about starting a business. But
they have to have that commitment first.”
Cunningham says entrepreneurship
has been gaining a measure of respectability in recent years. Statistics suggest
that more Nova Scotians are choosing
entrepreneurship as a career path.
“We’ve experienced an increase in
demand for financing over the last few
years. We issued 50 or more capital loans
to small businesses last year. That’s up
from about 30 loans per year traditionally.”
“Over the last few years we have had
great entrepreneurial success stories in
this province,” says Stephen Lund, “with
companies such as GoInstant, LED Roadway, Ocean Nutrition, Clearwater, Ascenta Health, Newpace, SheepDog Inc.
and Carboncure. The Canadian FederaMARCH 2013
tion for Independent Businesses ranked
Halifax at 55 out of 103 cities on the City
Entrepreneurial Index for 2012. Kentville
faired even better, coming in at 38.”
Those are encouraging trends. Lund
says the price of continuing our traditional ways of allowing entrepreneurs fend
for themselves in this province is slowing
down our economic growth, and keeping
us from tapping into our potential as a
smart economy. “It’s important to recognize that entrepreneurship is a powerful
force to driving innovation, productivity,
job creation and economic growth. Nova
Scotia has a strong network to support
entrepreneurs, and we need to continue to educate Nova Scotians about the
resources and support that are available
for them.”
According to Maritime Provinces
Higher Education Commission only 3.2
percent of graduates start their own business after graduation. Those numbers
still need to improve, says Lund. “We
need to continue to promote the importance of entrepreneurship, and strong
anchor companies need to provide the
early training grounds for our youth.”
“There are a lot of great entrepreneurial success stories out there,” says
Shawn Cunningham. “The business
climate is right — interest rates are low
and the city is growing like we’ve never
seen before. Now is a great time to be an
entrepreneur in Halifax.”
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ENNOVATE CHALLENGE
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PROFILE
Solving today’s problems
Photo: Paul Darrow
CBCL named 2013 Business of the Year By Richard Woodbury
The work done by engineers affects
our everyday lives in so many ways that
we usually don’t even take notice. Whether it’s a bridge you cross on your way to
work, or the system that brings clean
water into your home, you can be sure an
engineer played a role in its development.
And if you live in Atlantic Canada, there’s
a good chance that CBCL Limited was
involved in that project.
“One of my favourite sayings is:
we’ve designed a lot of the infrastructure
of Atlantic Canada,” says Kent Lane, the
director of corporate affairs with CBCL. “I
think that means a lot because that doesn’t
just mean infrastructure as in roads.”
The company provides professional
consulting services in sectors such as
municipal services, energy and power,
transportation and bridges, and environment and planning.
In business since 1955, CBCL is the
largest employee-owned engineering
firm in Atlantic Canada, with approxi28
We’re very proud of
the recognition. We’re
proud of our firm,
we’re proud of our
legacy in the community and we couldn’t
be more pleased.”
– Kent Lane, Director
of Corporate Affairs
with CBCL
MARCH 2013
mately 300 employees, of which 60 (or
roughly one-fifth) are shareholders. With
its headquarters in Halifax, CBCL also
has branch offices in Sydney, Saint John,
Fredericton, Moncton, Charlottetown,
St. John’s and Goose Bay. The company
also does business beyond those borders,
with international work taking place in
the U.S. and Caribbean.
Businesses in every sector are seeing
increased competition as a result of globalization and larger firms entering the local
market, and CBCL hasn’t been immune to
this reality. “There are larger national firms
coming in and taking over smaller firms,
and they are bringing their own strengths
to bear. We are proud we can still compete
with those people,” says Lane.
Besides its local connection, CBCL
brings many other strengths to the table,
including its dedication to client satisfaction, which is achieved in part by ensuring that employees are trained on how to
manage the client relationship. Another
competitive advantage is that CBCL has
a high client retention rate, which is a
reflection of the exceptional work it does.
The company still has clients from its
earliest days of operation.
This year has gotten off to a great start
for the company, as CBCL was named
Business of the Year at the 2013 Halifax
Business Awards on Jan. 24 presented by
the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Lane
says it was a great honour to be recognized
as an important member of the business
community. “We’re very proud of the
recognition. We’re proud of our firm, we’re
proud of our legacy in the community and
we couldn’t be more pleased.”
As a firm in an industry that doesn’t
get a lot of public recognition, the honour
was something new for the firm. “It was a
little surreal to be honest with you, in so
far as sometimes engineering consulting
firms don’t get a lot of glory,” says Lane.
“Architects, lawyers and others often do,
but engineers often don’t.”
While sustainability is the rage in
today’s society, engineers have always
had the longer term in mind. At CBCL,
its motto is: Solving today’s problems
with tomorrow in mind.
“We design for tomorrow and those
things have to stay for tomorrow,” says
Lane. “They have to be presentable to
the public and they have to provide safety
and value to the public.”
Photo: Paul Darrow
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29
BUSINESS AWARDS WRAP-UP
A great night for innovators
Halifax Business Awards celebrate success
January 24 marked the 13th annual
Halifax Business Awards, celebrated in
style at the World Trade and Convention
Centre with 600 in attendance. Thirty
finalists, along with their guests, sat on
the edge of their seats waiting for the
winners to be announced. Live music
from The Chess Club filled the room
and entertained guests throughout the
evening.
This year saw an addition of a
sixth category to our roster: Innovative
Business. The Chamber of Commerce
values its innovative talent pool and
understands it is key to remaining
relevant. Whether that is from creating
a new product or service, streamlining a
current process or improving the supply
chain to give the consumers a better
experience, this is all considered innovation, and should be acknowledged in our
business community.
The Chamber of Commerce would
like to thank all attendees, all of the nominations that we received, the hard work
and dedication of our judging panel and
the great sponsors that make this event
possible every year: Our presenting sponsor: RBC, Our category sponsors: Stewart
McKelvey, BDC, Medavie Blue Cross,
Grant Thorton, Nova Scotia Business
Inc, UPS and our Partners: Advanced
Systems and Simple Touch.
For a full list of winners please see
our ad on page: 13.
Valerie Payn, Halifax Chamber of Commerce; Mike Lordon, RBC; Peter Colon, Chair of the Judging
Committee; Taleb Abidali, Cresco; Jean-Paul Deveau, Acadian Seaplants Limited; Kim Mason, RBC
Photos: Photodelic Studios
Gary Furlong, General Manager
of the Canada Games Centre
Live entertainment provided by:
The Chess Club
30
MARCH 2013
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
OPPORTUNITIES
To place an ad call: 426-2811 ext 1163
Management Inc
BUSINESS VOICE
31
TRENDS
Managing growth wisely
Tips for handling organic growth of your small business
KELLY JOHNSTONE
CA & CPA
One of the most critical issues small
businesses face during the growth stage
is when to add new resources (people or
assets) to the company. This could entail
hiring new employees or purchasing/
leasing assets. In these challenging times
business owners need to ask themselves:
What is my sustainable business level? Is
this a temporary draw on resources over
the next couple of months, or is this the
new normal?
It can be difficult, when you feel the
push for resources, to resist the urge to
immediately increase your headcount or
assets. However, if you are too hasty with
this approach as you can end up losing it
all if you react instead of plan.
SOME EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS YOU
SHOULD BE ASKING YOURSELF:
š Is there an event that has occurred that
is a one-time occurrence? For example,
a major flood if you are a property restoration company, tax time if you are an
accounting firm, one big engagement
if you are a consulting firm.
š Is the overall market growing for your
particular product or service and why?
š Do you have a unique product or service
offering that solves a problem in the
market that doesn’t have a particularly
good solution already? How quickly can
your solution be copied? Is the advantage sustainable?
š Are you stealing business from the
competition, and if so, why? Is it a
sustainable difference and can your
competition easily react to steal business back? i.e. your prices are set too
low to be sustainable, so some customers are just following the deal.
32
Luca Bertolli / 123RF
ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE REASONS
FOR THE GROWTH, THE NEXT STEP IS
DETERMINING HOW TO RESPOND.
š If you believe this growth isn’t sustainable, or you cannot predict sustainability consider hiring consultants, temporary workers, renting assets, getting
into month-to-month leases for extra
space to fi ll in the need until you can
predict the new normal. When comparing costs of consultants versus full-time
hires, remember that the cost of a new
hire can be anywhere from 10 to 40 per
cent above the actual wages, depending on bonus, pension or commission
schemes.
š If you have a business that has predictable ups and downs in workload,
consider making it a requirement that
employees put in increased hours
during busy times in exchange for
reduced hours during off-season.
š Look at pricing and/or customer base.
If you believe this is temporary increase
in work and you would rather keep the
business at the same cost structure,
consider increasing pricing or selecting the customers you would prefer to
work with now and in the future, while
saying no to the customers you would
prefer not to work with, or to less profitable work.
MARCH 2013
If you do decide the growth is
sustainable and you need at add more
people, don’t forget that what worked for
a two-person company may not work if
you are a 20-person company. Business
processes need to be adjusted as you
grow to ensure that the business will be
run in an efficient and effective way. As
well, ensure you have the appropriate
financing arranged to support the business, as growth may put a strain on your
working capital, which may be required
to purchase new assets.
Starting and growing a business is
one of the most rewarding jobs someone
can do. However, make sure you manage
and plan the growth to mitigate the risks
to ensure that running and growing the
business will be financially rewarding,
not just for you and your family, but for
your employees, partners and suppliers.
For more information please contact, Kelly Johnstone (kelly.johnstone@
klmfi nancial.ca) who is the President
and CFO for Hire of KLM Financial
(www.klmfi nancial.ca).
TRENDS
Mentors crucial to businesses
Relationship is beneficial to both parties
With just $500 in his pocket and a
credit card, Kevin Doucette began his
entrepreneurial journey in the early ’90s.
Over the course of seven years, he managed to own and operate three businesses
with 40 employees, leaving him with a
wealth of knowledge and understanding
of the entrepreneurial experience.
Opening an independent business
can be difficult at the best of times, and
coming from a single-parent family,
Kevin has always had to work very hard
to realize his goals. In addition to his
business ventures, Kevin is a graduate
of the Sobey School of Business at Saint
Mary’s University and holds an MBA and
a CMA professional Accounting Designation. His combination of hard work and
education from what he calls the “school
of hard knocks,” coupled with a strong
commitment to community, motivated
him to become an instructor at SMU.
In his Internal Operations and Controls
class, Kevin has the platform to bring
forward his experiences and expertise
to fourth-year business students in the
hopes of helping them avoid the mistakes
he has made, and to inspire them to
become successful entrepreneurs.
Among the students in Kevin’s class
was Josh Robinson, who operated a small
kiosk at the Halifax waterfront. In his
final year at SMU, Josh was contemplating his next venture. “Being a vendor on
the Halifax waterfront allowed me to
see what worked, what didn’t work, and,
more importantly, what was missing
from a service delivery perspective. I
wanted to explore the opportunity of
providing additional choices to the waterfront patrons such as pizza, donairs, wraps
and salads,” says Josh.
Kevin agreed to assist Josh with the
development of his business plan and became his mentor for the Canadian Youth
Business Foundation (CYBF) Start-up
CYBF mentoring opportunities
are rewarding for both the mentor and
mentee, because they are one-one-one,
customized relationships. The combination of Kevin’s expertise with Josh’s idea
resulted in a successful business model.
According to Kevin, having a mentor is
crucial to the success of any business.
“If I had a mentor when first opening any
of my businesses, I am certain the advice
would have prevented me from making
If I had a mentor when first opening any of my businesses,
I am certain the advice would have prevented me from
making some costly errors.” – Kevin Doucette
Program. CYBF is an organization that
provides pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring
for young and emerging entrepreneurs.
As his mentor, Kevin assisted Josh
in developing his business plan, securing
financing, and successfully responding to
the tender process issued by the Waterfront Development Corporation Limited.
It marked the beginning of what is now
Waterfront Pizza & Wraps.
The business model for Waterfront Pizza & Wraps is designed around
operational throughput. Kevin and Josh
wanted to base the service delivery model on speed of throughput, but not at the
expense of the quality of the food. Together
that is exactly what they achieved.
some costly errors. Hopefully, we can
learn from those challenges.” In return,
Kevin has the fulfillment of giving back
to the community and having an impact
on the success of a small business
Today, Waterfront Pizza & Wraps
is doing quite well thanks to Josh and
Kevin’s collaboration. What was once a
student-instructor relationship evolved into
a mentor-mentee relationship, and has now
progressed to a small business partnership.
Kevin, believing in Josh and his business,
has also become an investor.
Kevin is the CFO for Renewable Energy Services Ltd. and is currently mentoring
his new CYBF mentee, Jenna Moores, with
the opening of her new business venture.
Helping you
reach your goals.
SUCCESS IS IN GREAT PEOPLE
Recruitment and placement services
www.accountantstaffing.com
BUSINESS VOICE
33
WORKING FOR YOU
A level plao_d]ǃ_[bZ\ehall
By Skit Ferguson P.Eng, Executive Director, Consulting Engineers of Nova Scotia
EDITOR’S NOTE:
In November, Chamber President
Valerie Payn expressed frustration over
what seems to be the regular negativity
around new business opportunities
announcements. The Chamber feels it has
an important leadership role to champion
a positive business environment and for us
all to start saying yes to opportunity and
growth. We should note that our comments
were directed at us all as a community and
at no specific sector. For this reason we have
offered Consulting Engineers of Nova Scotia
the opportunity to share their concerns and
position on this issue.
Chamber President and CEO Valerie
Payn authored an opinion piece in The
Chronicle Herald in late November entitled ‘Do we want jobs or not’. The article
expresses frustration with the negative
attitude of some groups in Nova Scotia
to the plan to provide a provincial payroll
tax rebate to Projex Technologies Ltd. as
an incentive to set up an office in Halifax.
Consulting Engineers of Nova Scotia
(CENS) have been among the most vocal
critics of this payroll rebate since it was
first announced. As confirmed by NSBI,
the rebate formula does not include a
clear definition of what a ‘new’ job is that
will qualify for such a rebate and there
is no provision in the agreement for an
independent audit of the rebate program
to ensure that it is being administered
fairly. A significant number of the staff
currently working at Projex are not in fact
new jobs for graduates or people from out
of province, but are experienced staff from
already well-established local firms, hired
away for higher wages partly due to the
promise of subsidies thorough a provincial payroll rebate.
As a volunteer association representing over 60 Nova Scotia companies
and nearly 4,000 employees in the
consulting engineering industry in this
province, we feel it is entirely reasonable
to have our concerns over this program
addressed. At present, it appears that
the government has chosen one outside
consulting engineering firm and decided
to provide it with generous taxpayer
supported incentives to allow it to estab34
Kristaps Eberlins / 123RF
lish in Nova Scotia, grow and compete
against existing Nova Scotia engineering
firms that have and are continuing to
grow in a very competitive market in this
province. Our association represents over
20 firms that are also members of the
Chamber and employ more than 2,500
people in HRM. Over 30 of our firms are
currently competing for engineering contracts outside of Nova Scotia, including
12 firms that regularly compete for work
in Alberta, all without benefit of Nova
Scotia government subsidies. By introducing a subsidized competitor into the
industry, the government has upset the
delicate competitive balance that exists
in our industry.
The Nova Scotia consulting engineering industry has grown steadily each
and every year for over a decade and now
contributes over $300 million to the Nova
Scotia economy each year. In the past year
alone, CENS member firms added 120
new employees without any company specific payroll rebates. Through a process of
mergers and relocations, seven new firms
have located in Nova Scotia in the past
five years. Four of these firms regularly do
work in Alberta. Additionally within the
past five years, CENS has welcomed seven
new start-up firms to Nova Scotia that
have strengthened our association and
our economy by employing local people
in high tech well-paying careers. None of
this growth required any direct government company specific subsidies. The
industry has thrived due to the smart and
strategic business decisions made by our
MARCH 2013
member firms. We have been in contact
with our members since the payroll rebate
announcement was made, and the opinion
has been unanimous that payroll rebates
are entirely unnecessary in a successful
mature industry in the province, and risk
starting a dangerous precedent in the
engineering consulting and other professional service industries. CENS attempted
to express this opinion to the government
several times in the months leading up
to the payroll rebate announcement,
offering to work with the government to
promote the entire provincial consulting
engineering industry as a whole, but were
dismissed.
CENS is not against new engineering jobs for this province. Our tireless
promotion of the industry and addition
of new member firms, along with the
growth within our existing member firms
and the consulting engineering industry
as a whole is clear testament of this fact.
What we are in support of is a fair and
level playing field for all Nova Scotia
consulting engineering firms so they can
go and do business the best way they can,
something for which we feel all Chamber
members should support. No business
would support a government program
that provides a financial advantage to one
of its direct competitors. A competitive
advantage is something private companies are able to offer their clients, and
not something our government should
be doing by supporting and promoting
one company above all the others in an
industry.
WORKING FOR YOU
Establishing priorities
Chamber makes Finance Minister aware of priority areas
We cannot cut our way to prosperity.”
PAUL BENT PROVINCIAL
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIR
On January 15 the Chamber’s Provincial Affairs Committee Chair, Paul
Bent participated in pre-budget consultations with Minister of Finance, Maureen
MacDonald. During this discussion, Bent
made Minister MacDonald aware of the
priority areas Chamber members have
raised. These priorities areas formed the
basis of the Annual Pre-Budget Submission, they are:
ber acknowledges the government’s
efforts in reducing the Small Business
Tax from five per cent to three per cent,
which Chamber members applaud.
Bent also advised Minister MacDonald that going forward the Chamber will
be placing particular emphasis on the
province’s growing debt. Chamber members have expressed concern over our
provincial debt. It now sits at an astounding $14 billion dollars. The Chamber will
be asking government, what policies will
be implemented to ensure the province’s
debt is reduced? In addition, if interest
rates are raised our debt services will
also be impacted significantly.
Overall, it was a productive informative exchange. Bent stressed the importance of investing in Halifax, and how a
strong Halifax economy is good for the rest
of the province. As Bent stated: “As goes
Halifax, so goes the rest of the region.”
Minister MacDonald appreciated the dialogue and made participants aware that
she will be reaching out for further input
in the weeks to come.
To read the Chamber’s Pre-Budget Submission, go to the Chamber’s
website, under the Working for You tab
click on the Policy Library and under
Committee choose Provincial Affairs.
JOBSHERE – Chamber members are
seeking statistics and information on the
effectiveness of this program. How many
jobs have been created? In what industries? Most importantly, are those jobs
sustainable? Or, alternatively, are we attempting to resuscitate dying industries?
BACK TO BALANCE – the Chamber
acknowledges the government’s efforts
in reducing the deficit. However, recent
reports indicate that the forecasts have
changed and the deficit has increased.
Will the government produce the committed surplus by 2014?
EXPENDITURE MANAGEMENT
INITIATIVE – During the 2009 election
campaign your government campaigned
on a platform that if elected the government would live within its means, and
rightfully so. Last year, former Finance
Minister Steele indicated that the government’s EMI program is on track to
save $772 million. What is EMI’s current
trajectory?
TAXATION – The HST hike and the
2008 recession caused hardship for
Chamber members. Is the government
still committed to rolling back the HST
one per cent in 2014 and another one per
cent in 2015? On the contrary, the Cham-
Annual
General Meeting
Please join us!
What? Halifax Chamber of Commerce AGM
Who? Open to the general public
When? Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 4:00-5:00pm
Where? Suite 101, World Trade & Convention Centre
Why?
Meet the Chamber’s new Board of Directors
and learn about the Chamber’s top priorities
To register visit
www.halifaxchamber.com
BUSINESS VOICE
35
WORKING FOR YOU
The quest for sustainable transp
It may be time to consider a “congestion charge” for Halifax Peninsula By Allen McAvoy, MPA
Ingrid Bulmer / The Chronicle Herald
In December 2012, HRM staff
presented HRM Council with 63-page
document containing strategic priorities
and recommended approaches for Council’s consideration. The approved report
will now guide HRM staff as they develop
the 2013/2014 Budget and Business Plans
in support of these priorities. The report
is wide ranging touching upon cultural
resources, residential development, sustainable transportation, youth engagement, and waste management issues.
Mayor Mike Savage and numerous
councillors have stated that transportation improvement is among their top
priorities. This is not surprising since
HRM has long acknowledged that it must
address traffic congestion and improve
public transit on the Halifax Peninsula.
Consider, for example, the 2006 Regional
Municipal Planning Strategy which noted
that “increased congestion can result in
an inefficient economy, higher costs and
lost business.” Consider also the 2008
Halifax Harbour Bridges commissioned
report, Cross Harbour Traffic Needs
Assessment, that stated if HRM residents
continued to use single person vehicles
Halifax would require a third harbour
crossing between 2016 and 2026.
36
The urgent need for good transportation policies is implied within the
December 2012 report. It noted that
over the first five years of the Regional
Municipal Planning Strategy, “suburban
and rural growth targets have been exceeded, while urban growth targets have
fallen short.” What this has meant from
a transportation perspective is that reli-
Ingrid Bulmer / The Chronicle Herald
ance on vehicles remains commonplace,
resulting in higher traffic congestion and
unnecessary infrastructure strain. Again
it’s not surprising that HRM Council has
directed municipal staff to “undertake
analysis and review major transportation
project priorities” to bring about efficient
and sustainable transportation options,
along with concrete steps that promote
alternatives to single occupant vehicle
trips and encourage behavior change.
MARCH 2013
So, what progressive, comprehensive
transportation policies can the municipality (along with the province) employ to
reduce congestion in HRM? One option
the newly-elected HRM Council can
consider is congestion charging, a fee
charged to drivers travelling on roads
during peak periods. Importantly, since
economists frequently call a congestion
charge a Pigouvian tax many people
assume it is a tax. This is misguided as
congestion charges may be user fees
depending on their design. Moreover,
a tax is compulsory while user fees are
paid when one uses that service. In this
context, a Pigouvian tax is intended to
reduce negative externalities, namely
traffic congestion.
Admittedly, a 2010 Halifax Harbour
Bridges study concluded that “given current conditions, peak period tolling and
one-way tolling on the harbour bridges
would not noticeably assist in reducing
traffic congestion at this time.” However,
this study looked at peak period and one
way tolling on the two harbour bridges,
when a broader approach to reducing
traffic congestion needs to consider congestion charges on not just the Macdonald Bridge and the MacKay Bridge, but
also the Bedford Highway, Kempt Road,
Bayers Road, Mumford Road, Chebucto Road, and Quinpool Road. While
HRM (and the province) could exclude
the bridges from any future congestion
charge, doing so would likely raise fairness concerns from those drivers commuting to the Halifax Peninsula from
the other side of the Halifax Harbour.
If the real objective of congestion
charging is to reduce traffic congestion
and diminish reliance on vehicle use,
it is important that HRM provide viable
transit and transportation alternatives.
To that end, HRM would need to make
substantial investments in transit and
transportation alternatives before implementing a congestion charge. While the
primary objective of congestion charging
is not to produce revenue, research
shows congestion charges can generate
revenues, revenues which, in turn, can
be used to fund ongoing public transit
infrastructure. Significantly, while a
portion of the revenues generated from
ortation
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congestion charging will be required
to administer the congestion charging
system, remaining revenues would need
to be directed to expenditures related to
the congestion charge for it to meet the
criteria of a user fee.
To be sure, though, implementation
of a congestion charge is not without
challenges. In fact, congestion charging
poses dilemmas as it must balance several, and potentially competing, factors,
such as the management of transport
corridors; the minimization of travel
delays; and economic, demographic, and
urban growth needs. If Mayor Savage and
HRM Council are serious about improving transportation and reducing traffic
congestion, then congestion charging is
an option worth reviewing.
However, HRM Council and HRM
staff cannot just announce a congestion
change and think reduced traffic congestion will follow. Rather, knowing that
a congestion charge is a feasible option
presents HRM Council and HRM staff
with an opportunity to, at least, begin
exploring the benefits (and consider the
limitations) congestion charging offers
in reducing traffic congestion on the
Halifax Peninsula.
These issues, and others, were
described more fulsomely in economic
journal that outlined the numerous
administrative, legal, political, and
technical issues that would potentially
come with implementing a congestion
charge on the Halifax Peninsula. To read
this more detailed analysis, see Catherine Althaus, Lindsay M. Tedds, and
Allen McAvoy. (2011). “The Feasibility of
Implementing a Congestion Charge on
the Halifax Peninsula.” Canadian Public
Policy, Vol. 37(4), 541-561. The author
wishes to thank his journal co-authors
for their ongoing interest in and support
of this work. However, any errors or
omissions contained herein remain
those of the author.
Allan McAvoy is a former policy analyst with the Nova Scotia government
and now works as a policy advisor for a
federally-funded health-care agency.
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37
SPECIAL FEATURE
GOLFING GETAWAYS
Links to great destinations
Courses put Cape Breton on the golfing map By Tom Peters
Photos: Highland Links / Golf Cape Breton
For any golfer who truly appreciates
a work of art, it comes as no surprise that
both Highlands Links and Cabot Links
golf courses in Cape Breton have been
ranked among the top 10 courses in Canada by Golf Digest.
Highlands Links, designed by Stanley Thompson, is considered to be one of
the legendary Canadian course designer’s best architectural works. For more
than 70 years it has mesmerized golfers
with not only its design and challenges,
but also for its glorious landscape and
scenery. Often dubbed the “mountains
and ocean course” Highlands Links was
ranked 7th in the country and 55th outside the U.S. by Golf Digest.
Cabot Links, the new kid on the
block and named by Canada’s ScoreGolf
Magazine as best new course in the country in 2012, grabbed the ninth position in
the prestigious Golf Digest ranking.
This incredible two-course combination has pushed Cape Breton, with its
several other excellent courses such as
Bell Bay, The Lakes, Le Portage, Dundee,
Seaview and Lingan, into true golf destination status.
In the past number of years Highlands Links has been undergoing somewhat of a renaissance. Ontario architect
Ian Andrew has restored all the course’s
bunkers according to Thompson’s original design, while a tree removal program
38
has greatly enhanced the condition
of several greens and reopened many
ocean views. The natural beauty of the
surrounding Cape Breton Highlands,
the close proximity to the ocean and the
overall condition of the course provide a
unique golfing experience.
“Highlands Links is pleased to
be ranked the number seven course in
Canada by Golf Digest,” says General
Manager Graham Hudson. “This ranking
compares golf course to golf course in
more specific terms like difficulty, green
speed, design and conditioning. The golf
experience at Highlands Links is truly remarkable and rankings like this support
our internationally renowned reputation
for great golf.”
Cabot Links in Inverness, about two
hours from Highlands Links, has been
collecting an abundance of accolades
from golf scribes in Canada, the U.S.
and Europe. Dubbed Canada’s only true
MARCH 2013
links-style course because of its location
by the sea, its wide open fairways, deep
pot bunkers, sea grasses and other links
features, offers a totally different style of
play and shot variety than one would experience at the tighter, tree-lined design
at Highlands Links.
Ben Cowan-Dewar, who along with
Chicago-businessman Mike Keiser,
developed and own Cabot Links, says:
“We were honoured to be a part of both
ScoreGolf’s and Golf Digest’s rankings and
to be in such great company with other
courses listed. It’s flattering to say the
least. These accolades mean a great deal
to us at Cabot and they are a testament
to the hard work and dedication of our
staff. Those who built and maintain the
property and course, those who showed
incredible vision to make this property
what it is, should be very proud of their
accomplishments. I know I am.”
Cowan-Dewar and Keiser are building
a second course in Inverness, Cabot Cliffs,
“and we look forward to Cabot Cliffs
further cementing Inverness as one of Canada’s premier golf destinations,” he adds.
Katherine MacDonald, director golf
marketing for Destination Cape Breton,
says the Golf Digest rankings puts these
course in “great company.”
She says being ranked so high by one
of the world’s leading golf publications
“will attract more golfers to come visit us
and try our courses and, of course, the fact
they are connected by the Cabot Trail just
makes it so much more alluring.”
MacDonald was not surprised at
Cabot’s high ranking in its first year of
operation considering all the publicity it
has received.
Ron Whitten, Golf Digest senior editor, wrote recently that Cabot Links and
Donald Trump’s new course in Scotland
were the two most important courses
opened in the world in 2012.
MacDonald, says the work done at
Highlands Links “dovetails nicely with
Cabot because the conditioning of Highlands Links means so much to so many
people. For a lot of people it has become
a regular trip because it is such a spectacular spot. With Cabot and the trail, it is
such a winning combination.”
SPECIAL FEATURE
GOLFING GETAWAYS
Golf in its purest form
The many characteristics of a “true” links course By Tom Peters
It is an exciting brand of golf where each round is different.”
– Ben Cowan-Dewar, Cabot Links’ Owner
The sand along the Inverness shoreline, caught in the breeze from the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, drifts over the dunes,
through the tall grasses and onto the fairways of Cabot Links. This drifting sand
creates a natural link between land and
sea, and defines this Cape Breton course
as a true links golf course.
The term “links” is often tossed
around as a reference to golf courses in
general. A common phrase is: “It’s time
to hit the links!” There are courses that
claim to be links style when in reality, if
you look at the true links characteristics,
40
they may have only a “links flavour.”
A true links course is the oldest style
of golf course. The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland is said to be oldest course
in the world, dating back to the 1400s.
While there may be varied definitions of a ‘true links’ course, there are
definite features that set this design apart
from others.
THE SEA – First and foremost among
these is the connection to the ocean or
sea. The coastal terrain features sandy
and hard-packed land that is traditionally
MARCH 2013
not much good for agriculture. This
would have been a major issue in earlier
centuries, when the imperatives of growing
food would have outweighed the frivolities of hitting a ball.
LOTS OF WIND; NO TREES – The wind,
drifting over the wide open, treeless course,
always provides its own challenges. While
the cool ocean winds can be welcoming
on a sweltering summer day, on other
occasions they can be cold and punishing,
suddenly changing a fade into a damaging
slice or a draw into a punishing hook.
Photos: Cabot Links / Golf Cape Breton
true links characteristics.
The Links Association, a group dedicated to the preservation of true links
golf courses, claims that of the more
than 33,000 golf courses in the world,
only 246 are true links courses. The vast
majority are in the British Isles while one
on that list is in Canada, Cabot Links.
Cabot Links’ owner, Ben CowanDewar, who has played golf in many
parts of the world, puts his spin on
playing links golf.
“Links golf allows a great deal of
room for imagination as there are many
options to choose from when playing
each hole — through the air or along the
ground. There is no single way to the
cup. It’s about taking into account all of
the factors on the golf course — the slope
of the fairways, the direction and force
of the wind, the different approaches to
the green. You are forced to look at each
shot in its entirety, so it is more a matter
of creativity and execution than brute
strength. It is an exciting brand of golf
where each round is different.”
GRASS – The hard ground allows for
various ways to play a shot into a green.
Then there are the sea grasses and thick
gorse, giving golfers additional trouble
off the fairways. While course architect
may have provided the general routing,
the true links design will follow the
natural flow of the land.
DEEP BUNKERS – Deep pot sand bunkers, the undulating fairways, swales
in the sometimes double greens, nine
holes going out from the club house and
then nine back in, all are part of the
BUSINESS VOICE
41
SPECIAL FEATURE
GOLFING GETAWAYS
Golf begins here
Programs designed to bring young people into the game By Tom Peters
Sonya Etchison / 123RF
Earl Woods introduced his son Tiger
to golf at a very early age — legend has
it he was swinging a club at age three.
Davis Love III was the son of a golf
professional and nationally recognized
instructor, so golf was always in his life.
Golf is a sport that many Nova Scotia
youngsters enjoy all summer with parents
and friends who have memberships in
local clubs. But there are many youngsters who, for one reason or another,
42
have not been introduced to this often
addictive sport.
It is part of the mandate of the Nova
Scotia Golf Association to keep the sport
alive and well in the province and part
of that effort is ensuring participation in
golf continues to grow.
In doing so, the NSGA has two programs aimed at introducing the game to
young people: National Golf in Schools
and Future Links.
MARCH 2013
The National Golf in Schools
program focuses on children in both
elementary and high school levels, says
David Campbell, the NSGA’s executive
director.
Campbell says the schools program
“provides the resources and means for
teachers to deliver a golf learning experience in physical education classes.”
There is a kit with all the necessary
equipment and teaching manuals that
can be purchased for $475. The cost is
tax deductible.
“Up until about 2008 we didn’t have
that type of program (for elementary)
in Canada. The program was created
through Golf Canada, the provincial golf
associations, the CPGA of Canada and
Physical Education Canada.”
The resource manual that accompanies the program meets all the learning
outcomes required for physical education
programs and can be run over two week
or four week period.
Campbell says the program is designed in such a way “that you don’t have
to be a golfer to deliver it.”
But the NSGA’s efforts with this
program have had their challenges.
“One of the gaps we are finding
with the program is we need to get our
member clubs across the province to
partner with the schools, to get kids from
the gym to the golf course and play. So we
are trying to foster relationships between
A lot of kids never get
an opportunity to play
golf, so this gives them
that opportunity. It is
primarily a grass roots
program.”
– David Campbell,
NSGA Executive
Director
clubs and schools to encourage kids to
play,’ says Campbell.
There are slightly fewer than 60
schools now involved in the program and
it continues to gain momentum.
As for Future Links, it is a sevenstage program the NSGA provides at the
club level and some clubs have even chosen Future Links as their model for their
junior programs, notes Campbell.
“We hire a summer student every year
and they travel across the province. We see
about 10,000 kids every year. During May
and June we go into schools and encourage
the golf in schools program.”
During the summer months the
NSGA has a mobile clinic, equipped with
clubs, balls and other necessary equipment, that goes to parks and recreation
programs and various NSGA member
clubs to present the Future Links program.
“A lot of kids never get an opportunity
to play golf, so this gives them that opportunity. It is primarily a grass roots program.”
He adds that while there are no
tournaments for kids at this young level
“what we do is encourage skills competitions such as pitching, putting and
driving. You can’t take a nine year-old
and put him on an 18-hole course.”
The NSGA also offers a Future Links
leader program for volunteers who want
to start or enhance their club’s own junior
program.
“We can give them a course that will
teach them how to run a junior program
and give them ideas and programs they
can use throughout the summer.”
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MARCH 2013
TRAVEL & VACATION PLANNING
SPECIAL FEATURE
Two if by sea
Many options for romantic getaways By Carol Dobson
iofoto / 123RF
For a small province, Nova Scotia has lots of great places to get away
with your significant other. There are
charming inns in places like Baddeck,
Annapolis Royal, or Wolfville. There are
wilderness lodges and big city hotels. Or,
you can grab your tent and head out to
one of the province’s campgrounds. The
choice is yours.
One of the top romantic spots, if
you really want to get away to enjoy fine
cuisine, spectacular scenery, and see the
stars at night, is the 175-year old DeBarres Manor Inn in Guysborough. Not only
do they have a romantic setting, but they
can add to the romance by packing special picnic baskets for you to enjoy as you
explore this rugged and charming part of
the province.
“We have original hearth fireplaces and there’s something about the fire
crackling on a chilly evening,” the Inn’s
Doug Anweiler says. “People are always
commenting about the sleep they have —
there’s something about the quality of our
beds and our 600- thread count sheets.
We’re also very private so you’re away
from prying eyes.”
If you’ve been caught up in the
romance of Downton Abbey and want to
see how the other half lived in the time of
private rail cars, the Train Station Inn in
Tatamagouche is perfect for a romantic
getaway during the summer months.
Their cabooses reflect different eras when
train travel was a luxurious and leisurely
way to get from point A to point B, including Victorian and Art Deco style decor.
“When you’re in one of our cabooses, you’re in your own little world,” the
Train Station Inn’s James LeFresne says.
“Not only do you have the bedroom area,
but they have cupolas where you can go
up, sit down, enjoy a glass of wine while
watching the sunset. In the morning, you
can enjoy breakfast in the gentleman’s
waiting room of the old train station,
surrounded by lots of interesting railway
memorabilia.”
If you really want to get away, but
don’t want to take a long drive, the
Oceanstone Seaside Resort in Indian
Harbour is only 40 minutes away from
the city. Peggy’s Cove is only a few
minutes away and many people say their
favourite time to head to Peggy’s is in the
winter, when you can enjoy the beauty of
the rocks, the waves, and the lighthouse
in relative solitude. There are various
walking trails in the area, including at
Oceanstone, if you want to get out for a
cozy walk together, before heading back
to the warmth of the cottages.
“We have wood stoves in our cottages and you can sit by the fire and hear the
waves crashing along the shore,” Lizzie
Moore, Oceanstone’s president, says.
“This winter the waves have been spectacular. We also have views of the islands
in the bay and the Paddy’s Cove light,
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have been really gorgeous.”
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Western Shore, Nova Scotia
Canada B0J 3M0
Toll Free 1.800.565.5075
[email protected]
atlanticaoakisland.com
Independently owned and operated by I.M.P. Group Limited
45
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
A week in the life…..
It was busy, but time well-spent
THURSDAY 8 A.M. — I hosted a Chair’s
PAULA GALLAGHER
BOARD CHAIR
Many people ask me how I find time
to fulfill the commitments that come
with the role of Chair of the Board of the
Halifax Chamber of Commerce. I won’t
lie — it is a time consuming role. But look
at how I get to spend my time. This is a
typical week (seriously):
breakfast, where I heard what’s on the
minds of a dozen or so Chamber members. This month’s lively discussion
topics included the need to recognize the
different issues facing non-profits, the
importance of immigration, our over-reliance on government, and the need for
tax reform in Halifax.
THURSDAY 6 P.M. — I attended the
Chamber’s 2013 Halifax Business Awards
where we celebrated the passion, innovation and perseverance of our business
community. The diversity of businesses
in our city is phenomenal. I’m sure every
person in the room said at least once “I
had no idea we had such a business right
here in Halifax.”
How’s that for a week? I should also
mention I missed a luncheon with the
finalists for the Halifax Business Awards
and a breakfast with the Premier to talk
about transforming Nova Scotia’s energy
sector.
At the end of the week I reflected
that the Chamber’s view really matters.
Political and business leaders seek us out
because we represent the voice of business — and business is the key to growing
our economy. I also reflected that the
Chamber board and our broad membership really care about the organization.
They give us their time and their ideas,
which we greatly appreciate.
So yes, it’s a time-consuming role.
But I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Until next time…
TUESDAY 8 A.M. — I chaired a Chamber board meeting with guest speaker
Sandra McKenzie, Deputy Minister
of Labour and Advanced Education.
Among the many sobering and inspiring
messages from Sandra, the one I will
highlight here is the need for us to hang
on to the youth in our province. All businesses can help by opening our doors to
internships and co-op students.
WEDNESDAY 10 A.M. — Ray Ivany and
his Commission on Building our New
Economy invited me and other Chamber
board members to participate in the first
of many public discussions about the
economic development opportunities
and challenges facing the province. We
talked about the need for us to grow the
economic base by growing the population
of Nova Scotia; the importance of immigration; the need to change attitudes in
the province and to create a more entrepreneurial spirit.
Featuring Jevon MacDonald
Entrepreneur and co-founder of
GoInstant
www.halifaxchamber.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 30 th 2013
Tickets on sale now!
WEDNESDAY NOON — Peter MacKay,
PRESENTED BY:
Minister of National Defence and
Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, invited
a handful of businesspeople to a roundtable discussion on the regional and national economies. He heard from us about
the need to improve productivity, and
research & development, among other
things, and how the federal government
could help.
46
MARCH 2013
COGSWELL STREET
BARRINGTON STREET
ALBEMARLE STREET
BRUNSWICK STREET
DUKE STREET