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Pay InvoiceScouts Canada’s uniform is getting a makeover. “Scouts Canada is thrilled to partner with the Joe Fresh brand,” says Steve Kent, Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors of Scouts Canada. “The uniform revitalization reflects the organization’s commitment to innovation and to meeting the changing needs and wants of its members and Canadian youth. It’s been more than 20 years since the Scouts uniform was reviewed, and the vision was clear from the outset – the uniform had to reflect not only who Scouts were but also who Scouts are today. The new uniform respects the great heritage of Scouts Canada and signals its bright future.” The new clothing will be available starting September 2011.
The Nova Scotia SPCA, the SPCA Newfoundland & Labrador, the PEI Humane Society, the New Brunswick SPCA and the Fredericton SPCA have announced a collaborative initiative in support of animal welfare in the Atlantic region. The Atlantic Network is the first such provincial and regional collaboration of this scale in the country and will focus on sharing ideas, growing membership and exploring efficiencies and cost sharing. “Each of us has an important role to play in the protection of animals and animal welfare,” says Kristin Williams, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia SPCA. “By working together, we can create a more compassionate society. Collaboration is essential and this network has incredible potential.”
Haynes Law, an insurance litigation law firm based in Halifax with a history spanning more than two decades, has joined McInnes Cooper effective May 1, 2011. “The move reinforces and expands our provision of top quality legal services in the insurance sector,” says Bernie Miller, Managing Partner of McInnes Cooper. “Our clients will greatly benefit from McInnes Cooper’s regional reach, and our lawyers will gain the strength and support of a growing regional business law firm,” says Ross Haynes, Q.C., lawyer and founder of Haynes Law. “We will continue to service our clients seamlessly, with the attention and quality they have come to expect – now with support in additional locations wherever needed.”
The Heart & Stoke Foundation of Nova Scotia recently announced the recipients of its inaugural Heart&Stroke Walkabout Walkability Award. The Waterfront Development Corporation Limited (WDCL), Inverness Education Centre and the Town of New Glasgow were this year’s recipients. "The waterfronts are open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day and there is never a fee to walk at the water's edge," says Colin MacLean, WDCL President & CEO. “People have run, cross country skied, snow-shoed and ridden horses along the Halifax waterfront, but as the most visited destination in the province, we can attest, that the majority of visitors walk the waterfront.”
Progress Media Group recently released its 2011 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in Atlantic Canada. Chamber members on the list include Norex Group in second place, up from seventh in last year’s list, along with JewelPop Inc (3), GreenGym (8), Garrison Brewing Co. (9), AML Communications (15), VistaCare Communications (18), Archway Serach Consultants (19), Premiere Executive Suites (21), Southwest Properties (23), STI (24), and Clear Picture Corporation (25).
Blue Ocean Contact Centers is a 2011 finalist for ContactCenterWorld.com’s Best Contact Center Outsourcer. The only Canadian center nominated, Blue Ocean was chosen as a nominee based on excellence in company strategy, technology, recruitment and training programs, employee satisfaction and performance. “This is a top accolade in our industry,” says Blue Ocean COO, Andrew O’Brien. “We’re honored to be among the best in the Americas and to be representing Canada at this prestigious event.” Blue Ocean was a silver medalist for this award last year. Award winners will be announced in Orlando, Florida this month.
The editors of the Canada's Top 100 Employers project have announced the 2011recipients of the Canada's Greenest Employers competition. Recognized Chamber members include Compass Group, KPMG LLP, Loblaw Companies Limited, Research in Motion Limited (RIM), Royal Bank of Canada, Stantec Inc., and TD Bank Financial Group.
Tanya Sieliakus of HR pros Inc has been appointed to the East Coast Music Association's (ECMA) Board of Directors. As a Member of the Board, and Chair of the Human Resources Committee, Seliakus will provide strategic human resources management direction to the organization. "I really enjoy all types of music and I am thrilled to be able to contribute to the success of the ECMA," she says. Seliakus was also recently appointed Human Resources Advisor to the Executive Director for Laing House, a volunteer position advising the Executive Director on all facets of human resources management and providing both strategic direction and tactical support.
ServiceMaster Contract Services Atlantic has been awarded the 2010 Consumers Choice award for Janitorial Services for Halifax. “To all the building owners and managers that voted for us, we thank you!” says Gordon Loomis, President. “Our long term clients are our best indication that ServiceMaster goes ‘Above & Beyond’ for you.” The company also has a new ‘Capture and Removal’ system of green cleaning which gives customers a LEED-approved service that provides up to 22 points towards LEED Certification. “This system incorporates a fantastic line of environmentally safe, efficient, food based green products and uses specialized equipment and procedures,” says Loomis. Learn more at bit.ly/kr5itp or bit.ly/ms6BtY.
Stewart McKelvey continues to grow its regional practice with the addition of twelve articled clerks. Ryan Baker, Leah Grimmer, Sean Kelly, Andrea Shakespeare and Tipper McEwan join the Halifax team, with the rest joining offices in Charlottetown, Saint John, Moncton and Saint John’s. The articled clerks will become associates following bar admission ceremonies in each of the provinces, which generally take place in June. “Our clients’ needs are always priority number one so we’re always pleased to know we’ve made good decisions in terms of the talent we’re adding to the team,” says Stewart McKelvey Chief Executive Officer John Rogers.
Nicom Maritime has won a contract with the St. John's Port Authority in St. John's Newfoundland to install its seaport operations system called PORTS (Port Operations and Revenue Tracking System) and to customize it to their needs. The system manages vessel scheduling, billing, and lease management for port authorities. It also provides seaport management with information on vessel traffic, cargo manifests, and commodities moving through the port. Learn more at www.nicommaritime.com.
jane’s on the common recently opened a new catering kitchen at ‘2053’, an art and event space located at 2053 Gottingen Street. In collaboration with Canoe Realty, the 2,000 square foot venue is available for private and corporate events, dinners, meetings and exhibitions. Catering Manager Brandy Blysma and Chef Stephanie Ogilvie are heading up the catering division. The new kitchen has allowed jane’s to open a new store location at the Discovery Centre on Barrington Street offering frozen entrees and brown bag lunches for centre visitors and folks who work and visit downtown.
Disney Cruise Line recently announced that for the first time, they will be calling at the Port of Halifax in 2012, visiting the city nine times during the cruise season. “We are pleased to offer our guests the opportunity to explore the magic of Halifax and its surrounding areas as part of our five-night cruises up the New England Coast,” says Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “We believe our guests are going to love this experience.” Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, adds, “The Disney Magic cruise stop at the Port of Halifax is a wonderful opportunity for passengers to discover the amazing experiences Nova Scotia has to offer.”
Immunovaccine Inc. recently announced interim immunogenicity results for the Phase I clinical trial of its therapeutic vaccine candidate, DPX-0907, in patients with breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. The analysis showed that the DPX-0907 vaccine elicited an antigen specific immune response in the majority of ovarian cancer patients analyzed. “We are encouraged that DPX-0907 is well tolerated when administered at the 0.25 or 1mL dose levels. We saw an immune response in patients with breast, ovarian or prostate cancer," says Dr. Marc Mansour, Immunovaccine’s Vice President of Research and Development. “The responder rate appears to be highest in patients with ovarian cancer.”
Bishop’s Cellar has launched an online wine store, allowing for delivery of international and local wines to all of Nova Scotia. “Our customers have been asking for this service for a while now,” says Matt Rogers, General Manager, “so we’ve spent a considerable amount of time building this website to be an online reflection of the shopping experience one would receive in our retail location.” Users can search Bishop’s Cellar’s products through a specially designed wine selector tool, which allows the user to narrow their search by type, country of origin, grape variety, body, food pairing or price. In-store features such as “staff picks” will be featured throughout the site, and shoppers will be able to share their favourite wine selections via email and through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
Chalice was recently given the highest rating among Canadian International Aid Organizations in a report issued on the website of MoneySense, a Canadian financial magazine. The MoneySense charity standards grade is based on how each charity performs in four categories: overall charity efficiency, fundraising efficiency, governance and transparency, and reserve fund size. The report indicated that 93% of spending at Chalice goes directly to programs; fundraising costs are $4 per $100 raised. “I attribute this recognition to our dedicated work team,” says Father Pat Cosgrove, President of Chalice. Learn more at www.chalice.ca.
Dress for Success Halifax celebrated their 11th annual Tea Party on April 10, raising a record $45,000. A sold out crowd of 400 women enjoyed a fashion show that unveiled Lisa Drader-Murphy's Turbine spring collection. Additionally, Missy Searl was honoured as the first recipient of the newly introduced honour, Woman of Spirit, recognizing 'ordinary women who do extraordinary things'. “The proceeds from this event will enable Dress for Success to continue to assist women on their journey toward economic independence by providing them with professional attire, career development tools and a network of support,” says President Brenda Saunders/Todd. “Special thanks to MacPhee Chev, first-time gold sponsor of this event.”
Students from 87 schools in Atlantic Canada raised over $325,000 last year for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through the School and Youth program. These contributions through the Pennies for Patients program go directly toward the funding of research. This year Atlantic Canadian students will again join 12 million students and educators working towards finding a cure for blood cancers. For more information visit www.schoolandyouth.org/Canada.
Symphony Nova Scotia and the Symphony Nova Scotia Foundation recently received two big boosts to the Listen to the Future Endowment Campaign. The campaign has received a third matching grant from Canadian Heritage in the amount of $440,990, representing a match of 71 cents for every dollar received by the Foundation between December 1, 2009 and November 30, 2010. Philanthropists Margaret and David Fountain have also made a $500,000 contribution to the campaign. “We are extremely grateful for the Fountains' generosity,” says campaign chair Dale Godsoe. “Margaret and David have a long history of nurturing and inspiring the arts community; such a generous gift will have an impact on Nova Scotia for generations to come.”
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust recently announced protection of 120 acres on the Blanche Peninsula, in the Municipality of Barrington, providing an important refuge for wildlife, including essential habitat for migratory birds. Dennis Garratt, the Nature Trust’s Conservation Manager, says, “The land is located along the Atlantic Flyway, the migratory ‘highway in the sky’ for birds, and serves as an essential stopover area for migratory birds such as shorebirds and songbirds, and wintering grounds for waterfowl.” The site’s significance for birds is reflected in its designation as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Learn more at www.nsnt.ca.
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) of Nova Scotia recently announced that Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) will co-facilitate their Striving Toward Sustainability (STS) workshops. “The STS program provides introductory assistance for businesses in adopting new green business practices, and includes a one-of-a-kind accreditation process, giving recognition to your sustainability efforts,” explains Shannon MacLean, BALLE Nova Scotia Coordinator. “BALLE launched the inaugural STS workshop at the Green Roots 2011 Symposium which was attended by members of NSE. Seeing the value in the program, NSE approached BALLE with a proposal to co-facilitate.” To join an STS workshop or learn more, visit www.ballens.ca.
Frogbox recently opened a franchise in Halifax, the company’s first in Nova Scotia. “We’re excited to be opening this franchise because it’s a new eco-friendly concept that makes the moving process so much easier,” says franchisee Jon Gour. Frogbox was also recently featured on Dragon’s Den and received a large investment from two Dragons, Jim Treliving and Brett Wilson. Learn more at www.frogbox.com/halifax.
To make a submission to Members in the News contact Jennifer Hopper, Member Services Manager, at (902) 481-1227 or jenn@halifaxchamber.com.
