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Pay InvoiceMember in the News - January/February 2011
Humanitarians, beer drinkers and grads, share this space with To Be Canada’s lads. WestJet’s making Wishes come true; The Y, Symphony and Feed are too. Standouts are awarded recognition by peers; new staff and positions warrant a “Cheers!” We’re starting New Year with fresh views of all our Members in the News.
Since its launch and incorporation in February 2010, To Be Canada has opened offices in Halifax, Toronto, Rio de Janeiro and Mumbai. To Be Canada also recently completed a corporate matchmaking project for Offshore/ Onshore Technologies Association of Nova Scotia (OTANS) in which the company arranged business meetings with several prequalified clients for 11 Atlantic Canadian companies during their visit to Rio de Janeiro for an oil & gas exposition. “The approaching 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil will bring many more opportunities for Canadian companies,” says To Be Canada CCO Marcos Miranda. For more information phone (902) 407- 8840.
Loblaw Companies Limited has committed to hiring 1,000 new graduates from across Canada by 2014 with its grad@Loblaw program, which offers recent college and university graduates a full-time position and the opportunity to gain a strong foundation in the grocery retail business. A number of Dalhousie University graduates are currently in the comprehensive 18-month program, which offers mentoring and hands-on experience. “At the heart of the grad@Loblaw program is the company’s commitment to recognizing the fresh perspectives that recent graduates often bring to their jobs while creating a dynamic environment that offers mentorship and experiences to nurture their talent and skill set,” says Judy McCrie, executive vice president, Human Resources, Loblaw Companies Limited. For more information visit www.loblawgrad.ca.
WestJet was recently presented with a Make-A-Wish International Corporate Partner Award for 2009, presented at the Make-A-Wish Foundation's 30th Anniversary Celebration Conference in Orlando. Following its nomination by Make-A-Wish Canada, WestJet was selected as one of the recipients of this prestigious award by the Board of Directors of Make-AWish International. "This is an honour for all of our 7,900 WestJetters," says Richard Bartrem, WestJet vice president, Communications and Community Relations. "Our airline is built on a foundation of caring and we're delighted that WestJetters' efforts to be a part of the wish-granting process have been recognized. WestJet provides the gift of flight to Make-A-Wish Canada through our WestJet Cares for Kids program."
The Canadian Red Cross has recognized Dr. Ivar Mendez, professor and head of Dalhousie University’s Division of Neurosurgery and chair of the Brain Repair Centre, for his humanitarian work with a 2010 Humanitarian Award. “Early on I made a decision,” says Dr. Mendez, who arrived in Toronto as a teenager with his family from Bolivia. “For every invitation I had to speak at Harvard or any other big centre, I would spend the same amount of time in a Third World country, doing what I can to contribute.” Learn more at dalnews.dal.ca.
John Young has joined PCL Constructors Canada Inc. as construction manager in its Halifax office. He will oversee a portion of PCL’s operation, assist with business development and focus on client relationship management. Young carries the designation of LEED Accredited Professional through the Canadian Green Building Council and Professional Quantity Surveyor through the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. PCL was recently named once again to the Aon Hewitt Associates’ 50 Best Employers in Canada.
Strictly Staffing Inc. recently celebrated its seventh anniversary. “We would like to thank our many clients, candidates and colleagues who have helped us grow and prosper in the HRM,” says President Sherry Johnson. “We are also extremely pleased to welcome Alex Tessier to Strictly Staffing Inc. as our Human Resources Consultant. Alex joins us after finishing up his Bachelor of Commerce with a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Saint Mary’s University.” Stay tuned for the company’s official new website launch in the New Year.
After a very busy 48-hour Coast-to- Coast Food Fight, Feed Nova Scotia lifted the final food donation off the scales, bringing the total for Halifax to a whopping 69,246 kilograms – 69 metric tonnes and more food than the food bank has ever raised through a single event. The weight was enough to claim second place in the 2010 Coast-to-Coast Food Fight competition, coming in after Regina, which raised 240,800 kilograms, and ahead of Victoria, which raised 62,000 kilograms. “This event was a huge undertaking,” says Dianne Swinemar, executive director of Feed Nova Scotia. “Sixty-nine thousand kilograms is more than we usually raise in a whole month and we did it in just two days. I’m proud of what we accomplished here in Halifax.”
Judith Richardson of PONO Consultants International Inc. recently returned from an executive leadership course at the Tuck Business School (Dartmouth College) where she successfully completed the requirements of The Tuck-WBENC Executive Program. Richardson is one of three Canadian business owners who participated in the program as this is the first time Canadians have been invited; PONO is the first business in Atlantic Canada to become a certified Woman Business Enterprise. “The program was designed to provide women business owners with a systematic way of assessing and improving their businesses," says Leonard Greenhalgh, professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and director of the Tuck-WBENC Executive Program.
BOYNECLARKE LLP recently announced that Mark L. Ryer has joined the firm as an associate in the practice of law with a focus on business and estate planning, tax and trust law matters. Ryer earned his Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Acadia and his M.B.A. (Finance) and Bachelor of Laws at Dalhousie. He also recently completed Parts I and II of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants In-Depth Tax course, recognized as the most comprehensive tax training in Canada. Born and raised in Halifax, Ryer volunteers his time with “Work for Widows” and the Rotary Club. Learn more at www.boyneclarke.ca.
A recent $5.8 million provincial investment in 21 research infrastructure projects will bring significant economic and social benefits to Nova Scotians. Lois Levine, executive director of the Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust (NSRIT) says, “The benefits to Nova Scotians are tremendous. The province’s funding of research infrastructure through NSRIT provides remarkable opportunities and solutions for job creation, healthier populations, environmental sustainability, an increased knowledge base and an improved economy for Nova Scotia.” NSRIT matches funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The beneficiaries of recent funding for research projects include Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Agricultural College and Saint Mary’s University.
Remedy Facial Bar & Spa’s charity Waxathon event was a huge success. “Thanks to the many clients (both new and regular) who came out on this day to support a wonderful cause,” says owner Chris Sanderson. “We were very ambitious in our goal and are thrilled to announce we raised over $910! This along with silent auction prizes from Chef Craig Flinn of Chives Canadian Bistro Restaurant and Remedy Spa brought the total donation to Christmas Daddies 2010 to $1,070+.”
Halifax immigration lawyer Suzanne Rix was named a Lexpert Rising Star – Leading Lawyer Under 40 at an industry awards dinner in Toronto on November 25. Recipients of the Rising Stars Award are chosen from Canada’s leading lawyers who are under 40 years of age and are nominated by their peers for their outstanding professional achievements and community leadership. Suzanne is a partner in the Halifax office of Cox & Palmer.
HR pros has been selected by the Business Development Bank of Canada to deliver a series of five human resources workshops to small business owners in Moncton, New Brunswick. These workshops will be followed by one-on-one training sessions with each of the participants during the November to March timeframe. Tanya Sieliakus, managing partner at HR pros, will be leading this project.
BeerAdvocate has listed beers from Propeller Brewery and Garrison Brewing Company amongst the Top 50 Beers in Canada. Garrison’s Imperial IPA ranked 11th with a score of A-, while Propeller’s London Style Porter and Extra Special Bitter ranked 25th and 29th respectively, both with scores of B+. The list is generated using statistical formulas that pull data from millions of user reviews. Read the full list at beeradvocate. com/lists/top-ca.
Symphony Nova Scotia recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Halifax’s The Nutcracker. “It’s the fairy tale of the ages,” says Leica Hardy, The Nutcracker’s choreographer and artistic director. “Like all great stories, it’s about imagination, coming of age and the power of kindness.” When Hardy choreographed this version of The Nutcracker more than 20 years ago, she had no idea it would become Halifax’s longest-running annual seasonal tradition. “We started out with a three-year contract!” she laughs. “It’s amazing to me how The Nutcracker has become such an important part of the cultural fibre of our community. It’s the marriage of puppetry, live music and live dance that makes it so special.”
Halifax took to the airwaves on November 19 on 96.5 KOOL FM to raise more than $33,000 for housing programs for homeless women in Halifax Regional Municipality. Each year the YWCA provides more than 12,500 bednights to women and families, who otherwise would be homeless. “We are helping women who face multiple barriers to remaining housed,” says Tanis Crosby, executive director, YWCA Halifax. “Safe and stable housing is the first step many of these women will take towards getting their lives back on track.”
BBB of the Maritime Provinces held its 6th Annual Maritime Business Ethics Awards at the World Trade Centre. Honoured Chamber members include Propeller Brewing Company (under 15 employees); Survival Systems Limited (16-50 employees); and Northeastern Investigations (51-100 employees).
E3 Office Furniture & Interiors Inc. was recently made the sole authorized dealer for Davies Office Refurbishing in Canada. Davies, the largest supplier of remanufactured Steelcase, Haworth, and Herman Miller modular furniture in North American, remanufactures furniture to like-new condition using 90 percent recycled content at huge savings to customers, and backs all products with a 10 year warranty. “With this alliance customers can also save by tradingin their old furniture, and we are able to firmly establish our company as being the leading supplier of sustainable office furniture solutions”, says Terry Hickey, President of e3.
