SmartCity Blog

Digital businesses making big moves

By Mike MacKenzie

February has been a good month for Halifax's digital technologies industry. Whether locking down deals or looking forward to growth opportunities, digital businesses have been making big moves.

Early next month, representatives from eight made-in-Nova Scotia digital gaming businesses are heading to San Francisco for the industry’s largest annual gathering of top game developers. Held each March, The Game Developers Conference represents a big opportunity for small businesses when it comes to opening doors and closing deals - last year alone, Halifax-based theREDspace made connections that resulted in over $500,000 worth of business. It’s a trend that Nova Scotia Business Inc. hopes will continue, as they accompany the developers and work to promote the province’s digital gaming cluster.

Halifax-based DHX media is posting large numbers, with $1.8M in net income for Q4 in 2011. That figure is up 115% from last year, growth that analysts say is thanks to an increased focus on merchandising from the business that produces, distributes and licenses children’s entertainment programming. Last year, the company joined forces with Vans – the makers of popular urban footwear – for a line based on the company’s television series Yo Gabba Gabba. According to company executives, it was a step in the right direction as the business continues to look for ways to diversify revenue.

Local gamers who aspire to develop their own creation will soon get their chance at this weekend’s Halifax Game Jam. Hosted at The Hub, the weekend-long event will group developers, artists, and other creative people together in the quest to create awesome video games. No experience is necessary, and the Jam starts this Friday, March 2 at 6 p.m., wrapping up at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 4. No cost, no registration, and no sleep.

 

With a promising start to 2012, what do you think is next in line for Halifax's digital technologies industry?

 

Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

Showcasing Halifax Arts & Culture

By Mike MacKenzie

A strong economy fuelled by strong businesses will keep people working in Halifax, but that alone isn’t necessarily enough to make people excited about living and staying here.

That's where arts and culture come in.

One organization showcasing the arts and culture scene in Halifax is the Downtown Halifax Business Commission. This past week, episode five of Big Day Downtown – the Series went live, featuring a look at the city's renowned theatre community.

Host Kristen Pickett visited Petrie’s Halifax Feast Dinner Theatre and spoke with owner Jim Petrie about the business’ proud tradition of coupling great entertainment with fantastic food. On average, Petrie’s Halifax Feast produces four shows a year, keeping audience members in stitches with fast-paced musical comedy that leaves people coming back time and time again.

After taking in the Feast, Kristen visited George Pothitos, Artistic Director at Neptune Theatre. Now in its 49^th season, Neptune has long been renowned and respected throughout Canada as our region’s premiere producer of professional productions. With full seasons of both large and small shows, Neptune remains an integral part of Halifax’s arts and culture scene. And as the organization prepares for its 50^th year, theatre lovers can look forward to productions and events that celebrate Neptune’s proud history.

With so much on-the-go in Halifax, how do you show your support for arts and culture?

 

Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

In order to increase the liveability of Greater Halifax and build a community people are proud to be part of, more must be done to foster and grow initiatives that strengthen Halifax’s broad and diverse culture.

Population Growth in Halifax - Census 2011

By David Fleming

The first release of the 2011 Census data from Statistics Canada shows that Halifax’s population grew by over 17,000 people, or 4.7% from 2006 to 2011.

This was below the Canadian average of 5.9% for the period, however in terms of actual number of new persons, Halifax ranked 13^th out of the 33 cities listed.

Halifax is now home to over 390,000 people, up from 359,000 in 2001. When comparing Halifax against its benchmark cities (and the largest Atlantic ones), Halifax ranked 2^nd in actual growth and was first among Atlantic cities.

 

Census Metropolitan Area	2006 Population	2011 Population	Actual Growth	% Growth
Quebec	719,153	765,706	46,553	6.5%
Halifax	372,858	390,328	17,470	4.7%
London	457,720	474,786	17,066	3.7%
St. John’s	181,113	196,966	15,853	8.8%
Regina	194,971	210,566	15,595	8.0%
Victoria	330,088	344,615	14,527	4.4%
Moncton	126,424	138,644	12,220	9.7%
Fredericton	86,226	94,268	8,042	9.3%
Charlottetown	59,325	64,487	5,162	8.7%

Source: Statistics Canada Census 2011

Growth in Population, Federal Electoral Districts in Halifax, 2006-11

 

If you look at the sub-regional federal election districts, each of the four districts showed population growth, with Halifax West seeing the largest relative growth and Dartmouth-Cole Harbour the least.

Suburban Halifax (Halifax West – 51.3% and Sackville-Eastern Shore – 24.6%) accounted for three quarters of Halifax’s total growth, with Halifax (17.6%) and Dartmouth-Cole Harbour (7.3%) accounting for the other quarter.

While the overall results are not spectacular, Halifax’s economic stability and major projects including  Halifax Shipyard, Shell’s deepwater drilling and the Maritime transmission link, should provide a significant boost to future census counts.

Population growth (as exhibited by Canada's western provinces) tends to follow economic activity, so growth forecasts that predict big jumps in economic growth in Nova Scotia - like the most recent forecasts from RBC, TD, and BMO - bode well for the province's, and especially Halifax's, future census counts. 

For more information on Halifax's economy visit www.greaterhalifax.com/economy.

 

Author: David Fleming

 David is the Junior Economist and Project Development Coordinator at the Greater Halifax Partnership. He studied Economics and Philosophy at the University of Prince Edward Island, and has experience working with private, public and non-profit organizations. 

 

Big Ships & Faster Travel via Halifax

By Mike MacKenzie

This past week was a promising one for the Halifax Gateway, with good news that will benefit business and industry looking to capitalize on Halifax’s strategic location as a shipping and transportation hub.

In case you missed it, here are two stories from this past week that show how the Halifax Gateway makes the connection.

Port of Halifax Expansion

The Port of Halifax is gearing up to receive some of the world’s largest container vessels. A $35-million expansion of the Port’s South End Container Terminal is approaching the finish line, with only one-third of the project yet to be completed. The depth of the port’s berth has been extended from 14.5 to 16 metres and its pier extended to 80 metres, which will further open the port to some of the biggest vessels in the world.

The big ships, known as post-Panamax vessels, are much wider than traditional transport boats with many holding a capacity of over 15,000 containers. With 142 visits in 2011, post-Panamax vessels already have a history of calling in Halifax, but Michele Peveril of the Halifax Port Authority says the new extension will allow greater flexibility in scheduling additional calls with the large ships.

NEXUS fast-tracks U.S.-bound screening

Many passengers flying to the U.S. through Halifax’s Stanfield International Airport will soon have shorter wait times for screening. This past week the Canadian Government announced the extension of the NEXUS program to include trans-border travel into America. Under the program, passengers holding a NEXUS card will be fast-tracked at security screening and customs checkpoints.

While the NEXUS program is already in use for domestic and some international flights, this announcement marks the first time NEXUS passengers will be able to fast-track screening for U.S. bound travel.

That’s what happened this past week. So in case you missed it, you’re now in the know.

Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

Reinventing Downtown Halifax

Anyone who has passed through a neighbourhood in Halifax's Regional Centre recently has likely come across a construction project.

Development means more than just newer, fancier buildings.  Residential and commercial development in the Regional Centre benefits all of Halifax.  These projects create jobs and increase density, infusing more money into our local economy and translating into more opportunities for people to both live and work in Halifax.

Building a vibrant and attractive Regional Centre is a priority for our city (see Halifax's economic strategy AGREATERHalifax for more). While development in Halifax is a good thing, there needs to be a coordinated effort to ensure that our city grows and thrives in the right way. That’s why episode 4 of Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s Big Day Downtown series focused on planning and development in the heart of the city.

Host Kristen Pickett met with Andy Fillmore, project leader of HRMbyDesign, to discuss the city’s 25-year vision for growth in downtown Halifax, a plan that was developed based on a shared community vision.

 

Andy talks about the plan’s potential to reinvent the city’s core, with buildings that give Haligonians more opportunities to live and work downtown.  One such development is the former Sam the Record Man building on Barrington Street, now slated to be a commercial mixed-use building that will give the area a major facelift.

There are currently 40 development projects either on-the-go or in the works in downtown Halifax alone, for a combined worth of over a quarter-billion dollars. And according to Andy, this is just the first part of HRMbyDesign’s broad vision.

So the next time you walk by a construction site in your neighbourhood, look beyond the concrete. There’s a whole lot more going on than just a new building.

Development projects in Halifax:

View Development in HRM in a larger map

Development Stats

Knowing how important development is to the strength of our city, it’s encouraging to read recent development-related statistics. In 2011, Greater Halifax saw:

• Construction begin on 2,954 residential units;
• Non residential construction worth $382.1-million; and
• Building permits worth $805-million.

Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

 

Halifax Businesses Find Green Alternatives

By Mike MacKenzie

Going Green was a focus in business news last week. In case you missed it, here's how three local businesses have found eco-friendly alternatives to traditional operations. 

Farnell Packaging Ltd. is a company that produces plastic packaging for a number of food-production facilities in our region. Although dealing with material that is inherently disposable, the Dartmouth-based business has made a point of looking for ways to reduce waste, recycle old materials and reuse them for other purposes. Farnell’s dedication to the environment dates as far back as the 1970s, when management first started encouraging employees to separate paper from other waste materials. Now the company is winning awards for designing sustainable packaging, including recognition from the Packaging Association of Canada. Read more about Farnell and its commitment to reduce, re-use and re-cycle.

Wilson Fuel Co. Ltd. made waves this week when they announced plans to explore the idea of installing electric car charging sites at locations within Greater Halifax. The company, which owns and operates gas stations throughout Atlantic Canada, is meeting with Nova Scotia Power to discuss the feasibility of the idea and to examine whether Halifax is ready to consider an electric alternative. Dave Collins, Vice President of Wilsons Fuel says that the stations under consideration would charge an electric vehicle in approximately 30 minutes, so the company is also looking at installing stations at businesses where people tend to spend at least that much time. Learn how electric car charging stations may be coming to a location near you.

Ambassatours Gray Line also received international recognition this week for its efforts to go idle-free. The Halifax-based bus company recently implemented a program to encourage bus drivers to cut their idling time down to an average of five minutes a day, a standard that was tracked and measured using GPS technology. Sean Buckland, manager of charter sales, says the program was so successful because of the buy-in of Ambassatours’ own drivers, many of whom have children and see the value in leaving a healthy environment for the next generation. According to the Children’s Clean Air Network, the program managed to reduce the company’s two-year fuel and maintenance costs by $60,000 and its carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equal to the weight of six motorcoaches. Read more about idle-free efforts at Ambassatours.

So in case you missed it, you’re now in the know.  For more Halifax business news visit http://goo.gl/Fzs8p.

 

Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

Small Business Packs a Big Punch in Halifax

Anyone who has ever spent time in Halifax’s downtown core knows that small businesses are a big part of the city’s unique vibe and culture. But what they might not realize is that these same outlets and boutiques are also crucial to Halifax’s economic prosperity.

Downtown Halifax Business Commission launched episode 3 of the Big Day Downtown Series on Sunday, featuring a number of the independent designers and retailers that make up Downtown Halifax’s funky shopping scene.

 

Small businesses (defined as a business employing anywhere from 1-49 people) constitute a whopping 97% of all business organizations in Halifax, meaning that the stops on host Kristen Pickett’s itinerary are not just trendy little outlets, but also important economic drivers.

Kristen’s first visit was to Turbine Clothing, a shop located at Bishops’ Landing on the Halifax Waterfront.  Lisa Drader-Murphy, President and Designer of Turbine Clothing, says she’s found her niche catering to a specific demographic of career women. As Lisa puts it, her clients desire a wardrobe that is filled with flair and style while still professional.

After exploring the wares at Bishops’ Landing, Kristen made her way to Barrington Street for a stop at FireWorks Gallery. Bruce Trick, designer and goldsmith at FireWorks, says the business prides itself not just on making jewellery but rather on the creation of what he calls wearable art. Every piece at FireWorks is hand-crafted and created after significant input from the customer and an individualized inspiration that’s kept owners of a FireWorks creation happy long after they first put it on.

These are just two examples of the many small businesses that add so much to our downtown and to our city. Independently owned boutiques and shops are found almost everywhere in Halifax, each having an impact on our overall economic strength and each adding their own distinct flavour to the retail scene. So why not check out some of the hip and trendy things happening at a small business near you? Keep the vibe alive throughout Halifax.

Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

In Case You Missed It: Meeting the Talent Demand

By Mike MacKenzie

This has been a promising week for labour market development news. The announcement of several initiatives and strategies aimed at both engaging underemployed workers and connecting segments of the labour force with non-traditional careers is a step in a positive direction.

In case you missed it, here are some of the stories that made headlines this past week:

Exploring how to encourage more women to adopt skilled-trade careers will be on the agenda when Halifax plays host to a conference put on by the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology. The conference, taking place May 3-5, will focus on improving access to skilled-trade education and removing barriers that often stop women from considering non-traditional career options. It’s no coincidence that this year’s conference is being held in Halifax. With Irving’s $25B shipbuilding program in the works, the demand for skilled labour in the region is expected to increase steadily for the next number of years.

The federal government also announced last week that it’s providing over $600,000 to help injured and disabled workers get back on the job. TEAM Work Co-operative, the recipient of the funds, is putting the money towards existing projects that help workers improve their skills and find relevant employment in their home communities, including Halifax. It is estimated that the funds will help over 120 people return to the workforce.

Finally, the provincial government announced this week that it intends to lobby for an increase in the quota of immigrants it is allowed to accept each year as part of the Provincial Nominee Program. A joint provincial-federal initiative, the program allows provincial governments to nominate immigrants who have the skills to make an immediate economic contribution to the province that nominates them. Nova Scotia is currently able to nominate up to 500 immigrants under the program, which officials say is not enough to meet the upcoming demand for labour in the province.

So in case you missed it, you’re now in the know.

Author: Mike MacKenzie 

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.

Big Night Downtown

Episode two of Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s Big Day Downtown series hit the airwaves this past Sunday with an exploration of the events and activities that make up our city’s happening nightlife scene.

 

While the selection of things to do downtown keeps excitement riding high, events and activities are in fact more than just a great way to have fun; they’re also crucially important to the vitality of our city. Halifax’s economic strategy recognizes that having a rich and diverse arts and culture scene is critical to cementing Halifax as a city of choice for people and business.

While it’s no secret that Halifax has its share of fantastic night clubs and lounges, many don’t know about the wide range of alternative activities that downtown has to offer after the sun goes down.  With that in mind, Big Day Downtown – The Series host Kristen Pickett set out to explore some of the highlights.

Kristen’s first foray was a visit to the Dalhousie Swing Dance Society’s Social Swing Night on Hollis Street. Held once a month, the evening is open to members of the public – even those with absolutely no experience. For only $5, new dancers can arrive at the studio and receive a beginner’s lesson in all things swing.

After trying her hand at dancing, Kristen stopped for a visit with Amie Moore, Manager of Entertainment at Casino Nova Scotia. The Casino is a hotspot for a diverse range of entertainment, with comedians and musicians from a wide variety of genres regularly headlining popular shows. And while the Casino is known for attracting big name performances, Amie also explains that they’re dedicated to showcasing home-grown talent with free ‘local live music’ nights every Friday and Saturday.

So why not head out and explore some of our city’s fantastic nightlife? Have a fabulous time while keeping Halifax vibrant, dynamic and strong.

For more on Halifax’s nightlife scene check out:

• Downtown Halifax Business Commission – Attractions and Entertainment Directory

Author: Mike MacKenzie

Mike is the Communications and Marketing Assistant with Greater Halifax Partnership, currently working as a Bachelor of Public Relations co-op student. A lover of all things communications and strategy related, Mike is often known to spend his free time analyzing the latest-and-greatest PR/advertising campaigns. As a relative newbie to the Halifax scene, he can also be seen strolling the streets of downtown looking for the next cool thing that the city has to offer.