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September 2010
Murphy’s the Cable Wharf recently held an epic water fight between Theodore Tugboat and the pirate ship Mar, a fundraiser for the Atlantic Chapter of the Make A Wish Foundation. The event welcomed over 100 families, all decked out in pirate gear and armed with a water gun. The families boarded either the Mar or Theodore and the two boats cruised up Halifax Harbour, inches apart, while the kids duked it out with water guns on the high seas. Jennifer MacLeod, one of the parents who attended the event, said “it was hard to get my son out of character he was having so much fun.”
Knightsbridge Robertson Surrette recently announced the launch of Meridia Contingency Recruitment. Under the direction of Managing Partner Ian Sullivan, Meridia will focus on fast and cost-effective candidate searches. Contingency recruitment is fast, regionally oriented and targeted with a guarantee of a 30-day turnaround process from start to shortlist for professional and technical roles. “The difference between executive search and contingency recruitment is not always clear,” says Sullivan. “With Meridia we are creating a dynamic and responsive placement services for our clients who are faced with pressing time sensitivity challenges in finding the right candidates.” Learn more at www.meridiarecruitment.ca.
Dr. Ivar Mendez, co-founder and Chair of the Brain Repair Centre, Director of the Neural Transplantation Laboratory at Dalhousie University, and Head of the Division of Neurosurgery at Dalhousie and Capital Health, was among this year’s Scotiabank 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians honourees, recognized at a recent reception in Ottawa hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “It was an honour and a thrill for me to be given this award, but the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister really made the day very special and one I will always remember,” said Dr. Mendez. Mendez was nominated for the award by the Bolivian Embassy in Canada for his clinical research and humanitarian contributions.
A recent report from Macquarie Equities Research, Utilities, Power and Pipelines, comparing “dividends and other valuation metrics for utility, pipeline and dividend-paying power stocks in Canada, the US and Europe,” shows that Emera Inc is well thought of in the global market. Emera is cited in the report as one of “the companies with the best combination of high free cashflow yield and attractive business profile around the Western world.” The report also notes that Emera “appears to be particularly proactive at this time” in terms of mergers and acquisitions, with its “recent ‘tuck-in’ acquisitions in the Caribbean (Barbados Electric) and in the US Northeast (Maine and Maritimes).”
Garry Craig, VP, Finance of Registration Solutions Inc. (RSI), traveled to Nairobi, Kenya this past April to provide on-site registration services to the 14th African-Middle East Microcredit Summit. Over 1,500 conference participants from over 80 countries attended this 5 day conference. “This was a rewarding yet challenging experience” says Craig. The Summit was opened by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki. He was joined by HM Queen Sofia of Spain, HRH Princess Máxima of The Netherlands, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus and Sir Fazle Abed, former Peruvian President. This summit was a follow up for RSI to the 2006 Global Microcredit Summit in Halifax.
Discovery Centre’s CEO and President, Dov Bercovici, has been named President of the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC). Previously serving as Vice-President, Dov was a natural choice for this appointment. “I am very pleased to be President of the Canadian Association of Science Centres,” says Bercovici. “Representing Halifax, Nova Scotia and Discovery Centre on a national scale is an exciting new challenge that will benefit Discovery Centre as it continues to grow and expand.” Rick Emberley, Chair of the Board of Directors for Discovery Centre, adds, “The members of the Board and I could not be happier for Dov and his latest achievement. Since 2007, Dov has done a fantastic job as Discovery Centre’s CEO and President.”
Andre Levingston, owner and CEO of the Halifax Rainmen, has been appointed President of the Premier Basketball League (PBL). Levingston's appointment will not interfere with his role with the Halifax Rainmen. "We couldn't be more thrilled to have Andre on board as President of the League. His experience, tenacity and love of the sport will truly serve the league well. We are confident the PBL will thrive under his leadership," says PBL chairman Sev Hwrynak. Levingston established the Halifax Rainmen in May of 2006. "I want to take what I have learned about what works and what doesn't and translate that into improving the league operations so that every team will benefit equally," he says.
The Nova Scotia Nature Trust recently celebrated the acquisition and protection of two ecologically important properties that are home to the endangered Blanding’s turtle. The properties acquired by the Nature Trust are both in the Pleasant River area, near Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site, and contain crucial Blanding’s habitat. Board Member Cory Miller says, “We are thrilled to have acquired two more properties containing critical turtle habitat which we hope will decrease habitat fragmentation and increase their chance of survival. Through our work here in Nova Scotia, the Nature Trust is making a significant difference to the survival of the endangered Blanding’s turtle for Canada.”
Joy Colpron, formerly of joyinchocolate, is now promoting Amega Global products through her new company, joyinhealing. “Amega Global is a 5 year old company that was introduced to North America in January and is growing at an explosive rate due to the quality of the products and the almost immediate results people are experiencing from using them. The reason for this phenomenal growth is that the products work almost instantly,” says Colpron. For more information, visit www.joyinhealing.info to view videos of the results or visit the main website at www.joyinhealing.ca.
Molson Canadian Nova Scotia Music Week 2010 will welcome talent buyers from all around the world to see our own home-grown talent. The international buyers and panellists will take part in “The New Music Experience”, a comprehensive four day music industry conference happening November 4-7, 2010 at the Rodd Grand Yarmouth Hotel. “The New Music Experience” conference, produced by Music Nova Scotia and Music Ally is open to all showcasing artists and registered delegates and will be comprised of panel discussions, keynote interviews, speed meetings, and hands-on digital training. Learn more at www.musicnovascotia.ca.
Symphony Nova Scotia Resident Conductor Martin MacDonald recently received the Canada Council for the Arts’ $1000 Jean-Marie Beaudet Award in Orchestra Conducting for 2010. “It is an absolute honour to be granted such a prestigious and wonderful distinction from the Canada Council for the Arts,” says Martin. “The Council has generously supported my conducting activities for some time now, and I can never thank them enough for their continued support of my career and the careers of other Canadian conductors and musicians. I remain committed to this country, making music for Nova Scotians and all Canadians and contributing to the thriving orchestral scene that we have here in Canada.”
Remedy Facial Bar & Spa celebrated its 10th Anniversary this summer. “We have worked hard to create professional, expert services, find unique and superior products and serve them up in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere,” say spa owners Angela and Chris. “ We want to thank all of our clients, friends, family, and staff for making this such a special year. See you at the Spa!” Learn more at www.remedyspa.com.
Tanya Sieliakus, managing partner of HR pros, has been appointed to the Human Resources Committee of the Board of the East Coast Music Association. A certified human resources professional, Tanya will bring her skills and experience to the activities of the Committee.” With a keen interest in music and its industry, I am excited to offer my expertise to the Association,” says Seliakus. The committee chair, Lynn Daigle of Malkin Music, is also expressing her satisfaction with the new addition.
The Courtyard by Marriott Halifax Downtown has welcomed Chef Pierre Butt to its culinary team. Butt, a graduate of the NSCC Culinary Program, has spent the last 10 years of his career working on large cruise ships, most recently with Holland America. Since joining the Courtyard team in April, Butt has designed new and improved breakfast, dinner, room service and catering menus and has also piloted a “green” initiative at the property by installing a sustainable herb garden on the roof. In other news, the hotel has received a prestigious Gold Service Award for Overall Guest Satisfaction in 2009 – an award based on customer feedback from Marriott's 789 Courtyard Hotels throughout North America.
Bob Kelly, Chairman/CEO of BNY Mellon, is the new Chancellor for Saint Mary's University. “Mr. Kelly has been a friend of the university for many years. He has returned to campus frequently to speak to our students and participate in our events. We are delighted he has agreed to take on this new role,” says Michele Wood-Tweel, Chair of the University Board of Governors. Born in Nova Scotia, Kelly is a graduate of Saint Mary’s (BComm ’75), a Fellow Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia.
Atlantic Business Magazine Editor Dawn Chafe and Contributing Editor Alec Bruce have each won Gold in the 2010 Tabbie International Business Press Awards. Chafe took first place in the Editor’s Column category for ‘Michael’s Big Fat Fib’ (published July 2009), described by the judges as an elegant, intelligent and entertaining argument to continue the alternative energy debate. Bruce was similarly successful in the Regular Column category with ‘Winner Takes All’, a pithy and persuasive column on competitiveness. In the words of the judges, it’s a must-read element of the publication. To see the winning entries, visit www.atlanticbusinessmagazine.com
m5 Group recently announced the appointment of Gina Connell as Vice-President of m5 Public Relations Inc.’s Nova Scotia division. “Gina brings with her a wealth of public relations experience over the past two decades,” says Karen McCarthy, Senior Vice President of Communications. “Her issues and crisis communication counsel alone is impeccable, having honed her skills at other Nova Scotia workplaces like the Halifax International Airport where she oversaw communications during the devastating 9-11 catastrophe in 2001.” Most recently Connell worked for Extreme Group as a Group Account Director where she was responsible for client service operations in the company’s Halifax office.
The Atlantic Film Festival Association, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Guild of Canadian Film Composers recently announced the participants of the second annual mentorship program for emerging film composers and directors. Composers Lukas Pearse, Craig Dodge, Catherine Wilson and Dinuk Wijeratne were selected as finalists along with directors Jason Levangie, Christian MacDonald, Eva Madden-Hagen and Megan Wennberg. During the 30th Atlantic Film Festival in September, these four composers and four film directors will be paired up and given the opportunity to collaborate on the composition of an original score for a three-minute film cue with the participation of Symphony Nova Scotia. The finished pieces will be presented at a screening during the Film Festival.
Floria Aghdamimehr of Recognize Your Potential has been elected co-chair of two organizations: Partners for Human Rights and the Chebucto West Community Health Board. “I am honored to serve in this capacity for both of these organizations,” says Floria. “I am very passionate about these areas as they both affect health and well being, with the focus on the individual, workplace, and community.”
