SmartCity Blog

The Halifax Index - What is it & Why does it matter

by David Fleming 

We’re one week away from the release of The Halifax Index (Halifax’s new economic progress tool). As the lead researcher and writer, I thought I’d explain where this project came from, why I think it’s important and what you can expect from the first Index. 

When AGREATERHalifax, Economic Strategy for 2011-16 was being developed, the vision and values that were behind it were different than your typical economic strategy. Ideas and actions around sustainable environment, social capital, and building a diverse and vibrant community emerged from the collaborative development process. As such, it is evident that simple economic indicators like jobs and the amount of production were not going to tell the story of our community's progress. We had to build something different.

Take population growth as an example. When someone is choosing where to live, a number of key questions drive their decision: 

• Will I find a good job?
• Will I find affordable housing?
• Is the local community welcoming?
• Will I be safe and healthy?
• Is there a vibrant arts, culture and recreation community?
• Are there better opportunities in other communities?

The Index’s four sections, “People,” “Economy,” “Quality of Place,” and “Sustainability,” represent a more comprehensive approach to measuring economic progress. Working with local organizations, governments and consulting a variety of publications from other communities, we’ve built a set of indicators that represent the best data available to tell that story. The Index will get better each year as we harness more of the collective wisdom of the community and build strong research relationships between government, non-profit, academia and the business community. 

The first Index is about setting a benchmark for progress. We’ve identified key opportunities and challenges around immigration, our regulatory climate, urban area growth and a cultural change we need to make that will help our community progress towards its goal. We’ll unveil these findings, and others, at the first annual Halifax State of the Economy Conference on May 23rd-24th, 2012. 

Remember that the Economic Strategy is just a blueprint. It requires action from everyone to realize our vision for Halifax. If we do the right things and continue to work together, the Halifax Index will tell a story of a community that’s vibrant, diverse, healthy and full of opportunity for many. 

 

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. 

Shipbuilding contract will reinforce Halifax's competitive advantage

Congratulations to all Nova Scotians! We HAVE won the prestigious combat component of the Canadian Shipbuilding contract. This is the Olympics…the Superbowl… the World Cup… and the Stanley Cup, all rolled into one!

The grass has long appeared greener in Ontario or Alberta.  Now, given the opportunity, many talented people will have the opportunity to return home to earn a good living near their friends and families.  As important…many will never have to leave.

With the shipbuilding contract indeed earned by Nova Scotia, we will ensure a generation of work for young and experienced workers alike.  We will bring our talented Nova Scotian workers home, and demonstrate our competitive advantage to attract Canadians and new immigrants to the East Coast.

The project will certainly re-energize the region and reinforce our position as North America’s preeminent shipbuilder.  It is sure to provide a springboard to develop competencies in a number of related fields which will enable us to create new industries and exciting opportunities.

Halifax, Nova Scotia won the contract based on merit, and the federal government is to be commended for the process. We are simply the best suited location for shipbuilding in Canada. It is in our blood, and has been for centuries.

When the announcement was made on October 19, I sat with some associates and anxiously waited for the outcome.  Prior to the news, I was like a child on Christmas Eve; I couldn’t wait another minute.  When the good news finally came, I celebrated, and proudly exclaimed that we just witnessed a monumental day in Maritime Canadian History!

Congratulations to Irving.  Congratulations to Halifax.  Congratulations to Nova Scotia. Congratulations to our next generation!

ShipsNOWstarthere.

 

Born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Guido moved to Nova Scotia in 1999 and accepted the position as General Manager of the Westin Nova Scotian. Guido is currently Vice President for Canadian Region of New Castle Hotels properties.

Post-Secondary Education: Cornerstone of Our Knowledge Economy

Universities and colleges are economic drivers of communities where they are located.  This is well understood in the United States with its Ivy League schools, private universities, research institutes, and business incubators but less understood in Canada.  Colleagues of mine in the United States with a major university nearby consider themselves lucky because with a bit of work these institutions become growth engines. 

In Canada for example, some observers think of universities as cost centres, forgetting that the public contribution to universities has been falling for decades in real terms and that more and more, they are funding themselves through tuition and externally financed research.   Local governments may at times think of them as a nuisance because of the occasional exuberance of youth or parking or traffic issues, forgetting the residential and commercial tax base that post-secondary institutions shore up.

 


Drivers of Prosperity & Innovation

Fact is, these institutions grow economies in unique ways.  A 2011 economic impact analysis focused on Dalhousie University points this out in specific ways.   These institutions are big employers, in Dalhousie’s case 5,400 jobs on-campus support another 10,000 jobs off campus. Dal pays close to $300 million in direct wages driving big volumes of personal spending and investment in Halifax.  Add to this, capital spending, much of which flows to local companies and the impact is huge.

Students also spend money, in Dalhousie’s case; $88 million is spent every year by 17,000 students.  Universities also provide services to the community…in the case of Dalhousie…a whole range of medical services drawn from health practitioners in training. Dal’s dentistry school serves, 12,000 people. Medical residents and student nurses keep our hospitals running.

Universities in particular also draw vital research dollars into the community.  Dal alone drew in $132 million in research last year.  This has huge potential benefits for spin-off activity and new business start-up. Big Nova Scotia head-officed companies like Ocean Nutrition Canada and ImmunoVaccine Technologies had their start in university partnerships. 

Talent Magnets

Perhaps the most important role universities and the community college plays in Halifax is their role as talent magnets.  About 35,000 post-secondary students are currently in classrooms, labs, coop terms, and apprentice postings in Halifax. 

These emerging professionals represent a vital competitive advantage for business in Halifax.  Because of these institutions, Halifax business have access to one of the best and deepest labour pools in the country.

As the impact of demographic change washes over our economy this resource will become even more important.  However, this advantage doesn’t belong to us by right. As the competition for skilled people heats up companies from across the country and around the world will be trying to capture this talent. 

So post-secondary education is clearly a cornerstone of the Halifax economy, the driver of knowledge based industry and our biggest and best competitive advantage.  These places of higher learning have never been more important to us and their value is on the rise. What we do with it is up to us.

Universities Economic Impact: Fast Facts

Atlantic Canadian universities’ direct contribution to GDP was $2.6 billion in 2008 (a 31% increase since 2004). In Nova Scotia alone, our 11 universities (six of which are in Halifax) contribute:

• $1.2 billion to GDP
• Employ 8,079 people (over 6,000 jobs in Halifax)
• Generate $220 million in tax revenues
• Responsible for 50% of provincial R&D
• Generate over $860 million in personal income
• Attract more than $150 million in annual funding 

* Figures from The Association of Atlantic Universities, The Economic Impact of Universities in Atlantic Provinces: The Current View 2006 - 08,  May 2010

Halifax is Canada’s smart city.  We have one of the largest concentrations of universities and colleges in North America and one of the best educated workforces in all of Canada.  This series explores and celebrates the numerous post-secondary assets in Halifax; the sector’s impact on our economy and community; research and commercialization; and partnerships between post-secondary and business.

 

Fred Morley is the Execuive Vice President and Chief Economist at the Greater Halifax Partnership.

 

How homework pays off

One of Halifax’s greatest challenges in the next decade is attracting and retaining highly skilled and educated talent. 

Over the past few years, the Partnership, in collaboration with many of you, has used its Halifax Connector Program to help immigrants and newcomers find their way to gainful and appropriate employment here in Halifax. 

This is the fourth of seven stories showing what you have made possible.

How does one decide to leave a city as large as Tehran and choose a city as small as Halifax to study – then live?  By doing the homework. 

Zahra Pahlevani’s father wanted her to see a different part of the world so in 2004, he sent her to study at the American College of Dubai, for US students living abroad and then wondered where she could go next. His research led her to St. Mary’s University (SMU) to continue her business degree in 2006. 

This choice disappointed Zahra at first.  She had many international friends after two years and was sad to leave them so quickly.  “But now, I am so happy that I am here.  I can see that he made the right choice for me.”  Zahra has lots of new friends – both local and international – in Halifax and, “I met them all at SMU.”

Zahra graduated from SMU in October 2008, “the worst time to graduate because of the recession.  I couldn’t find work so I moved to Calgary for 60 days.  I realized then that Halifax had captured my heart and I needed to return.”  She moved to the closest place that had a job: Antigonish, a two and a half hour drive from Halifax.

While in Antigonish, Zahra heard about the Connector Program and Project Coordinator Cindy Dean who connected her to Jamie Welsh at Deloitte.  “Both Jamie and Cindy were very helpful and encouraging.”  It was these meetings that gave Zahra the confidence to continue looking in Halifax.

In the end, a networking friend forwarded a job opening to her for Satlantic, an export manufacturer of water quality measurement equipment and Zahra got an interview. 

“The moment I walked into their building, I knew it was the right place for me.”  That feeling was followed up with a job offer, and Zahra now works as a Marketing Associate.

Tehran is a long way from Halifax, but when you do your homework, follow your heart and have some connected people helping you along the way, it really does turn out for the best.

Kelly Hennessey, ABC, is an accredited public relations writer and consultant.

You can find Kelly at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kellyhennesseyabc or contact her at kelhennessey@ns.sympatico.ca

A Bid for a Better Future

In my early teens I went to St. Joseph’s Junior High in the Halifax’s North End.  Walking up Russell St. to school early in the morning or heading home late I would often pass a shipyard worker with inevitable lunch can and a thermos.  I went to school with lots of kids whose fathers worked at the yard and I got to know firsthand that the work was often unsteady and that good years were often followed by bad ones.  This has changed somewhat in recent years with the acquisition of the yard by Irving.  But with hoped for success in winning a portion of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy the yard could move to a level of stability and prosperity unheard of for generations.

The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy will see two of four major yards in Canada take on $35 billion in construction and maintenance work over the next 30 years.  How Important to Nova Scotia is winning the $25 billion combat portion of this project?  Nothing is more important for the future of our province.  Indeed nothing else even comes close.  The project will provide high wage high value jobs to a new generation of workers.  It will boost consumer spending, government’s tax take, and it will turn Halifax into one of Canada’s high growth cities for the future.

It’s been said that this project is the most important defence related initiative in the province in the 100 years since the Navy was established.  In fact, it is the most important project of any kind in 100 years.  The raw numbers bear this out.  The project will generate upwards of 4000 jobs in Atlantic Canada, mainly in Nova Scotia, with spinoffs spread across the Atlantic Region and across the country.  The project could generate as much as $7 billion in Nova Scotia wages, much of it destined for spending on homes, cars, and other things.  The project could pour close to $1.3 billion into provincial tax coffers, money the province will desperately need to deliver the increased health care and other services we will need in the near future.

  Of all the major projects on the books in Atlantic Canada this is the largest.  Nova Scotia’s largest energy project, Deep Panuke is worth an $800 million project which and will generate 400 direct and indirect jobs.  Nova Scotia’s largest residential construction project, Clayton’s Bedford West Development, will be worth $1 billion over 20 to 25 years and house 20,000 people when completed.  All of Newfoundland’s planned investments in offshore oil development and exploration are worth about $6 billion.  The Atlantic Region’s largest mining project is the Voisey Bay Nickel processing facility with an investment of $3billion.  It will include 3000 person years of construction and 400 fulltime jobs thereafter.  All of these vital and important projects pale in comparison to the potential of the combat ship project contemplated for Halifax Shipyard.

The project will allow new small business to start up and grow while driving new opportunities for dozens of existing businesses.  It will provide first job opportunities for new community college and university grads and may even attract some of the talent that has flowed west in recent years.  Indeed the project could spur higher levels of business confidence as thousands of workers and hundreds of businesses begin to contemplate 30 years of steady work and steady business at Halifax Shipyard.

Nova Scotia’s important Tourism industry accounts for about 2% of GDP or $646 million in provincial gross  domestic product.  Employment is 22,400 generating direct income of $475 million.  This project would be like adding 50% to the value of the tourism industry in one year and continuing that impact every year for a generation.

So yes times could be about to change.  One of Canada’s great family companies and some of Canada’s most talented workers have thrown in together to provide a mix of shipbuilding expertise and a history of accomplishment that can’t be matched anywhere in Canada.  Already 250 apprentices are in the vanguard of the next generation.  This next generation is hopeful that merit, superior technical expertise and a history of accomplishment will win the day.  They are hopeful that there will be no political thumbs on the scales of decision makers on this project. It’s too important.  The size and scope of this project and its potential to drive positive economic growth in our province is unprecedented.  Nova Scotians have begun to stand with the men and women of Halifax Shipyard in their bid for a better future for all of us.

 Fred Morley is the Executive Vice President and Chief Economist at the Greater Halifax Partnership.

Childhood Experience Morphs into Day Job

One of Halifax’s greatest challenges in the next decade is attracting and retaining highly skilled and educated talent. 

Over the past few years, the Partnership, in collaboration with many of you, has used its Halifax Connector Program to help immigrants and newcomers find their way to gainful and appropriate employment here in Halifax. 

This is the third of seven stories showing what you have made possible.

Long before there was a Halifax Connector Program, Jamie Welsh, CA, Senior Manager at Deloitte, had a reference point and a clear understanding of people of other cultures.

In middle school, he befriended two exchange students from Taiwan.  “It was a great experience and I’m sure I learned more than the students did,” said Jamie.  Jamie’s mom worked at Saint Mary’s University where there has always been a significant international student population and this led to Jamie living on campus while taking his degree and immersing himself in the international culture SMU offered. 

Not long after Jamie was hired at Deloitte, he became very involved with the Halifax office’s recruiting practices. This was when his childhood experience merged with his day job and he decided whenever possible he would help immigrants find careers in Halifax. 

But it wasn’t easy.

“In Halifax, those who do not have a strong command of conversational English find the local job market challenging.  This is despite the fact that exchange students obtain very high Grade Point Averages and they are achieving these marks in a foreign language, because English is not their mother tongue.”  The students Jamie sees, he encourages to get out, socialize, network and meet people because conversational language skills are one of the keys to getting that first job.

Although Jamie was already connecting immigrants to jobs, one young immigrant in particular inspired Jamie to become an ‘official’ Connector with the Partnership.

“Max was bright, had a high GPA in finance from SMU.  He came to me after several months of unsuccessful searching in the local job market.  He comes from an Ukraine/Russian background so when he spoke it was clear from his accent he wasn’t from here – but he had that conversational piece and he was professional.  I felt he would fit well in the financial services industry,” says Jamie.

Unfortunately, Max had limited direct experience and during his time in the job market one recruiter suggested he consider working at a retail outlet for customer service experience, and come back in a year’s time.

“I couldn’t believe someone thought that working in retail was in any way going to help Max land a job in the financial services field,” said Jamie.

This led Jamie to sign up as Connector and connect Max to three financial institutions he felt might see his potential and give him a chance.  Within three weeks, Max had a job offer in hand from Citco.  “The truth is, Max should have been able to do this himself in our community.”

Why is Jamie so passionate about being a Connector?  “This program is a critical part of reaching the city’s long-term strategy of attracting and retaining qualified labour.  It proves that by helping one professional newcomer secure a job in their field of expertise, you have helped make our community and our local economy more successful.”

For Jamie, being a Connector is more than a job.  It’s incorporating the core beliefs with which he was raised and applying them to make a real difference in people’s lives in a city he loves – one person at a time.   

Kelly Hennessey, ABC, is an accredited public relations writer and consultant.

You can find Kelly at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kellyhennesseyabc or contact her at kelhennessey@ns.sympatico.ca

Canadian Economics and Clean Air

One of Halifax’s greatest challenges in the next decade is attracting and retaining highly skilled and educated talent. 

Over the past few years, the Partnership, in collaboration with many of you, has used its Halifax Connector Program to help immigrants and newcomers find their way to gainful and appropriate employment here in Halifax. 

This is the second of seven stories showing what you have made possible.

Two-thirds of Canada’s entire population would fit in Huijing He’s hometown of Shanghai, a city described by Wikipedia as the ‘birthplace of everything modern in China.’  Yet she left it all behind to pursue a commerce degree at Saint Mary’s University in a city with less than half a million people – and only 1 percent is Chinese.

“I was very much interested in North American culture,” says Huijing, who goes by her English nickname, Sisley, chosen for her favourite fashion designer.  “I was bored at university at home and thought it would be a great opportunity to study abroad while I was young.”  Upon graduation with her degree in finance in May 2010, Sisley decided to stay in Halifax.

“I like it here.  The population is smaller, there are no line-ups, less traffic and the clean air is good too!  Most of what I learned was about Canadian economics so I thought it would be good to stay here, work for a few years, and put what I learned into practice.  Then I can contribute a little bit back here too.”

Sisley began her work search using the Partnership’s Connector Program.  “An international student who was a friend of mine told me about the program.  He had been ‘connected’ and found a six-month contract.”  He introduced Sisley to the Partnership’s Connector Project Coordinator, Cindy Dean, who connected her to Dina ¬Pellosis Tabuzo at Royal Bank of Canada and Joyce LaBossiere at World Financial Group.  These banking contacts helped Sisley with her resume and “they helped me improve myself.
 
“It was nice talking with them because I got ideas about looking for jobs and I think at the end of September, Joyce got back to me and told me a friend of hers was looking to fill an internship position at AEG Financial Services in Bedford.

“I contacted the person at AEG who turned out to be the owner of the company and we just started talking.  At the end of the interview, I got the job.

“The whole process with the Connector Program went very well for me. I met two Connectors and that is pretty much how I got my job. I think people have to make the most of it when you meet someone new.  Once there is a chance [for a job], you have to really try hard to get it.”

From Shanghai to Halifax.  For Sisley, Halifax is where great things happen – in a small size.

Kelly Hennessey, ABC, is an accredited public relations writer and consultant.

You can find Kelly at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kellyhennesseyabc or contact her at kelhennessey@ns.sympatico.ca

Seeing our City afresh

One of Halifax’s greatest challenges in the next decade is attracting and retaining highly skilled and educated talent. 

Over the past few years, the Partnership, in collaboration with many of you, has used its Halifax Connector Program to help immigrants and newcomers find their way to gainful and appropriate employment here in Halifax. 

This is the first of seven stories showing what you have made possible.

Halifax is a lot smaller than Atlanta, Georgia but Rita Wuebbeler likes the small town feel of this city and how easy it is to run into someone she knows.

“I am amazed at how accessible everyone in Halifax is,” says Rita.

Rita had built a successful international consulting business specializing in cultural competence building in Atlanta and immigrated to Halifax in 2009 to be able to marry her long-time partner, something not possible in Georgia.  Once here, she wanted to establish a Canadian subsidiary of her consulting business and found the Partnership’s Connector Program through her network of contacts via Cathy Jacob of Fire Inside Leadership.

“Cathy was the person who introduced me to Cindy Dean [Project Coordinator for the Connector Program], who in turn put me in touch with my personal ‘GHP connector’ Lynn Coveyduck, Executive Director of Junior Achievement. Lynn connected me to 3 other people right away,” says Rita.  One of them was Mike McMurray from NSBI who in turn connected her with Christine Smith, Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada; Doug Phelan at ACOA and Bill Aasvangen and Sandy Gordon at the World Trade & Convention Centre, to name just a few. These connections led to many more in a very short amount of time.  Speed networking indeed.

“When I heard about the Connector Program, I thought, ‘this sounds great, but how much does it cost?’ It’s amazing that it’s free,” says Rita. “I thought I was in Paradise when people starting opening up their calendars to meet with me.  People here were unexpectedly generous.”

Rita has since developed an impressive network of professional contacts that has enabled her to host an international trade seminar at the World Trade Centre and other professional development programs throughout the city.

Rita first immigrated to the US from Germany 25 years ago. She’s well accustomed to North American culture so her learning curve is pretty flat compared to some newcomers.  But because she travels the world with her business, she sees Halifax through a fresh lens – and offers us new view, too.

“There is so much going on in Halifax,” says Rita.  “You have Bill Clinton at the Cunard Centre and the Queen of England, the Black-Eyed Peas, Paul McCartney and a Pow Wow on the Commons as well as the Canada Winter Games throughout the city and the province.”  It is impressive how quickly Rita can rhyme off these events.

“There’s an open and lively dialogue about the new convention centre and while I won’t publicly weigh in, this conversation leads me to believe you can make a difference here,” says Rita.  “I think it’s a vibrant city full of possibilities – and I am happy to be part of it.”

Now, thanks to Rita’s fresh perspective, we have a new view plane on the City for all to see.

Kelly Hennessey, ABC, is an accredited public relations writer and consultant.

You can find Kelly at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kellyhennesseyabc or contact her at kelhennessey@ns.sympatico.ca

Immigrants Strengthen the Local Economy

I remember, when I first settled in Halifax as a permanent resident, someone mentioned that it would be great if Halifax had a more diverse flavour.... I  realized that this person meant the cultural flavour! Since I was new to the city I didn’t really have much to say in response. Today, after having lived in Halifax for several years, I would have something to say.. I would tell this person that Halifax is becoming more diverse, and is growing in flavours!

The next time you are in and around the downtown area look out for the increasing number of restaurants and cafes opened by immigrants from different parts of the world.  Let’s start with The Hamachi Group which now has several restaurants in the Halifax area.   Let’s then continue our tour to Pete’s Frootique with its cornucopia of food from the Caribbean, Asian and Middle Eastern countries and then of course from Pete’s home country of England. Are you feeling hungry?

Ok, then let’s walk over to B-Well Sushi Cafe located on Quinpool Ave for some Japanese cuisine at a Japanese-cafe-style.  If Haligonians want to experience something spicier with a Latin flavour then how about Cafe Aroma Latino on the corner of North and Agricola. Here you will find a good selection of traditional food from different Central and South American countries, and enjoy a delicious dish while listening to some salsa music. The flavour continues around the city with Greek, Lebanese, Brazilian, Jamaican, Turkish, Indian, Thai, Italian, Mexican and many other ethnic restaurants.

Aside from restaurants and cafés, immigrant entrepreneurs have also strengthened the city’s economy by offering a variety of services in sectors such as construction. Many of the properties in The Ravines of Bedford South were developed by Cresco which is owned by an immigrant. Other services offered by immigrants include: Cleaning Services, Accounting, Translation, Real State, Finance, Fashion, IT Service, Health, Tailor Service, Import/Export, Communications, Landscape, Photography, Beauty/Wellness, Transportation, Education and Automotive, among others.  Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services (ISIS) offers a business directory (currently being updated) that demonstrates the diverse range of immigrant owned businesses in Halifax and the rest of the province.

There is a common myth that immigrants take jobs from locals. The reality is very different and it’s time to dispel that myth. The more than 200 small and medium-sized businesses established in Halifax by immigrants demonstrate that immigrant entrepreneurs actually create jobs for themselves and locals. They make an enormous contribution to our economy and community every day and there are many stories that demonstrate this success.   

I am the Immigration Employer Support Coordinator at the Greater Halifax Partnership and if you are an immigrant entrepreneur and are considering bringing a family member from your home country to work in your business, you can contact me at mcasallas@greaterhalifax.com  I can provide you with all the information you need to start the process.

Margie Casallas

As a recent immigrant to Canada, Margie understands the unique skills and perspectives that immigrants bring to Nova Scotia. She has eight years of experience in the private sector and is currently doing an Executive MBA at Saint Mary’s University. Margie enjoys traveling and has experienced living in different countries.

Making Dreams a Reality

We all have dreams when we’re young. Some people want to become a movie star; some wish to be an Olympic champion; while others dream about becoming the Prime Minister.  When I was 14, my dream was to be happy and financially successful: to have a big job, own a big house, drive a fancy car, and the list can go on and on.

But for those who fail to plan for the future, dreams remain just that...dreams.

On March 29th, four staff from the Partnership including President and CEO Paul Kent took part in Junior Achievement's Economics for Success Program, helping grade 9 students at Duncan MacMillan High School in Sheet Harbour plan for their future.

We shared our experience and business expertise to help them understand important concepts and explore their personal finance, education and career options.  Careful not to “burst their bubble”, we provided practical planning tips and an idea of the skills needed to have a career and be financially independent and successful. 

It was wonderful to spend a morning with dynamic and promising students. They were engaged and eager to learn how making the right choices could help them achieve their goals. Personally, I had a lot of fun. It made me think back to when I was 14 and how great it would have been to have someone share advice and information about planning for my future.
 
I’m really looking forward to participating again next year in this valuable program.

For more information about Junior Achievement’s programs and services in Nova Scotia, please visit http://nova-scotia.jacan.org/.

Jackie Guo is the Coordinator of International MBA Student Connector Program. In addition to his work at the Partnership, Jackie is an active volunteer for Halifax United Way.