SmartCity Blog

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.

In Case You Missed It: Oil and gas industry prepares for Shell exploration

By Mike MacKenzie

The prospects for Nova Scotia’s offshore oil and gas industry continue to be promising one week after Shell was awarded a $970m contract to explore four deepwater offshore parcels south of the province. In case you missed it, here are two stories from this past week that focus on the future of the industry and companies who are already positioning themselves to take advantage of exploration opportunities.

A report completed by the Nova Scotia Department of Energy has received industry praise for its comprehensive analysis of the province’s offshore potential. The report, entitled Play Fairway Analysis, estimates that Nova Scotia reserves of offshore oil and natural gas are three-times higher than previously thought, opening the door for further exploration into what could be a substantial opportunity for Nova Scotia’s oil and gas industry.

A 350-page document that took three years to complete, the report includes a level of comprehensive study and analysis that private companies themselves would often undertake before deciding to embark on a project, meaning that the province has removed much of the guesswork and many of the costs associated with exploratory drilling. And while the Department is currently selling its findings to major companies throughout the world, the report was anything but a solo effort: experts from Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s universities, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the offshore regulator also contributed. Read more about the report and what it could mean for Nova Scotia.

A Dartmouth diving company is already suiting up in anticipation of potential work related to Shell’s contract. Dominion Diving Ltd. has made investments in both training and new equipment that can be used in locations up to 400 metres deep. Company president Matthew Lohnes also announced that the company is sending 15 employees skilled in robotics operation overseas for advanced training. Dominion currently employs 47 people, but Lohnes says that number could easily double if the company is successful in gaining work for Shell during the contract.  Other companies, including Helly Hansen Canada and Cherubini Metal Works Ltd., are also looking ahead to potential spinoffs and opportunities.  Read more about how Nova Scotia's oil and gas industry is positioning itself for success.

That’s what happened this 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.

Downtown dishes it up

By Mike MacKenzie

This past week saw the launch of Big Day Downtown – The Series, the first of 12 episodes featuring many of the great businesses, activities and events happening in downtown Halifax.

  

Episode one treated viewers to some of the many culinary delights found in downtown Halifax. Host Kristen Pickett stopped by Morris East, a trendy restaurant known for their wood-fire grilled pizzas, and spoke with owner Jennie Dobbs and head chef Lauren Marshall. Since opening, Morris East has impressed customers with their simple but classy take on fine dining and a commitment to use fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant also has a new booth at the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market where they sell many of their bottled sauces and mixes.

Also on Kristen’s itinerary was a stop at Bistro LeCoq, a new restaurant on Argyle Street that offers downtown Halifax a taste of the French Countryside. With copious use of the French cook’s best friend – butter - and even a larger infusion of flavour, head chef Ashley Davis explains that Bistro LeCoq prides itself on offering simple, succulent meals that are hearty and delectable at the very same time.

Morris East and Bistro LeCoq are just two of the over 450 restaurants in Halifax that not only keep local taste buds happy, but also our city happening and our economy strong. As of 2010, restaurants and lounges employed over 15,600 Haligonians, making them a vital part of our city’s economic prosperity. So head out and grab a bite in downtown Halifax – keep both food and local jobs on the table.

For more on Halifax’s restaurant scene check out:

• Downtown Halifax Business Commission – Restaurant Directory
• Destination Halifax - Explore Halifax's culinary delights with the Visit Halifax Mobile App

 

This video series was produced by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission and sponsored by The Greater Halifax Partnership.  New episodes of Big Day Downtown – The Series will premiere on Eastlink Magazine each Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

 

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 Impresses Economic Experts

By: David Fleming

Halifax continues to receive positive endorsements from Canada’s economic experts.

On the heels of RBC’s 2013 provincial forecast upgrade (with Halifax being the epicentre of this growth) and Halifax’s unemployment rate dropping to its lowest rate since December 2008, CIBC has ranked Halifax 4^th (up from 7^th) out of 25 cities in its Metropolitan Economic Activity Index. While the city doesn’t lead any of the categories, it has a steady enough performance in all of them to boost its ranking.

In particular, the labour market has improved, boosting employment levels to their highest levels in history. This employment growth has been predominantly full-time work too, as the percentage of total employment that is full-time has crept above 80%. Furthermore, increases in housing starts and MLS sales show that the housing market in Halifax is seeing lots of action.

What is the takeaway from all of this good news? For me, it’s feeling confident about our economy. We saw stable growth throughout the recession, a feat few others can attest to. Now, we’re seeing more and more reasons to be confident in our economic future.

Why is confidence so important? Confidence is the lifeblood of the economy. With it, businesses invest and become more productive and consumers spend more liberally. There are a number of reasons to be confident in Nova Scotia’s short and long-term prospects. From Halifax Shipyard being Canada’s Shipbuilders for the next 30 years, to Shell bidding nearly $1 billion on exploration drilling off of southwest Nova Scotia, there are big things on the horizon. In the short term, the economy continues to grow, our population is on the rise and more people are finding jobs every day...and, in the enduring words of Randy Bachman, “you ain’t seen nothing yet.” 

 

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.

In Case You Missed It: Small Business and Big Finds – Part 2

In case you missed it, this week in Halifax also had its share of exciting finds and big announcements– both close to home and on the other side of the world.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board announced Friday that Shell Canada has won the right to explore four separate offshore deepwater parcels believed to contain significant potential for oil and gas. Shell, with offices in Halifax, has committed to spend $970M over the next six years to explore these parcels, which are located 200 kilometers south of Halifax. The announcement is great news for Halifax’s oil and gas industry, as Shell’s commitment to explore the parcels could eventually pay dividends for both the company and our region.

In other exciting news, Erdene Resource Development Corp., a Halifax junior precious metals company has found encouraging amounts of gold while undertaking exploration in Mongolia. Things have been moving fast for the company: the potential deposits were only identified late last year, but the success so far has everyone, including CEO Peter Akerley, feeling like they may have made a significant discovery. And on top of this big find, the company also received their first royalty cheque for $165,000 after a partner company started commercial production at a property in Georgia.

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

For more information, check out:

http://www.shell.ca
http://www.erdene.com/

 

Mike MacKenzie 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: Small Business and Big Finds – Part 1

This has been another great week for both new business and business expansion in Halifax. In case you missed it, here’s a look at a few of this week’s top stories:

Halifax-based Massage Addict received great attention and a number of accolades from an appearance on CBC TV’s Dragons’ Den. The duo of Lori MacKenzie and Chris Harker successfully pitched their business to the Dragons’, who were impressed with both Massage Addict’s existing success and ambitious plans for growth. Three of five Dragons wanted a stake in the company’s future, but MacKenzie and Harker ended up striking a deal with Jim Treliving, CEO of Boston Pizza, with both saying that his expertise will be valuable to the company as they look to expand into franchises. Follow them on twitter (www.twitter.com/MassageAddictCA) and read on for more info: http://bit.ly/zCHDKh; http://bit.ly/wbyN8x

A well-known restaurant group was also making headlines this week after announcing plans for two new restaurants. The Hamachi group is expanding their successful line of eating establishments to Bedford with the introduction of ‘Hamachi Mura Sushi & Thai,’ and ‘Son Vida — Tapas — Restaurante — Vino.’ The new locations will bring the number of restaurants owned by the group to eight, adding delicious new options to the culinary scene in Bedford. Learn more about this exciting new chapter for the group: http://bit.ly/xiSAfE; http://bit.ly/xGjHQN

Two new ventures were also turning heads this week for an innovative approach to business.

Elegant Productions entered the wedding coordination/planning market with a new angle: While different companies offer a range of planning products for the perfect day, the duo of Katelyn Hipson and Lauren Martin go one step further by helping clients pull off the perfect proposal. The two are banking that this feature will make their company an attractive option to the aspiring groom who wants to do right by his prospective bride. Follow them on twitter, (www. twitter.com/ElegntProductns) and read more about their plans to ‘ring’ out in an already established industry: http://bit.ly/wVx3F2; http://bit.ly/zjItXE

And finally, the duo of Tasha Richard and Rachel Sumner introduced Halifax to Platform Space this week. The new Bedford-based company offers flexible and multi-use workspace for business professionals who need a location to host a meeting, hold a conference call, or just buckle down and get some work done in a quiet spot. The pair is confident that their idea will be particularly attractive to emerging businesses and entrepreneurs – two groups that often find themselves without a dedicated location suitable for a variety of business needs. You can learn more about this exciting new venture here: http://bit.ly/yIJZgQ; http://bit.ly/xy2iHv

 

Mike MacKenzie 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.

No Experience? No Thank you! Employers Need Incentive to Hire New Grads

As many of our fellow Canadians begin to retire and enjoy their golden years - which they deserve for building the greatest nation in the world - the next generation of Canadians will have very big shoes to fill. Building a country is very difficult, but sustaining this momentum will be more difficult with the current and projected trends in population decline.

We, as a nation, have a major crisis brewing in our system as the future leaders of tomorrow are sitting idle and not gaining the required experience to begin the succession planning required for our private and public organizations. We need to make an impact on this problem today and the federal and provincial governments must step up to the plate to help create incentive programs for employment for new graduates.

A simple idea that would encourage employers to hire new graduates is an incentive to gain a tax credit of $5,000 per employee per year. The limit would be a maximum of 15 employees for the life of the program for a small company and 30 employees for large company.

So let’s do the quick math, 10,000 new graduates * $5,000 = $50,000,000 program that will generate the benefit to our national productively issues and provide an opportunity for employers to train and prepare the next generation of our workforce.

That simple idea could also be created for new immigrants and international students. An incentive to hire international talent will help companies understand the positive impact of diversity and deal with the potential supply shortage that we will see going forward.

This is not about taking away jobs from Canadians. It is about starting a plan to train, nurture and create an overall capacity of qualified workers, whether they are youth or new immigrants. Without this capacity of workers, the jobs could be outsourced to other parts of the world and in turn, hurt the overall economic development that we need.

The impact of such a program once awareness is created with universities, employers and immigration consultants, will increase the attraction of new applications to our universities and potentially higher migration rates to our nation. The total benefit to all Canadians will outweigh the initial costs going forward.

 

Saeed El-Darahali is the president and CEO of SimplyCast, a leading provider of self-service multi-channel marketing services empowering small businesses to create, manage and track their own online and offline marketing campaigns.

SimplyCast was recently featured in the article Businessman: Place trust in new hires. 

Economic development matters more than ever

(Originally published in the January/February 2012 edition of Business Voice) 

One of the things most commented on since Irving Shipbuilding won the right to build Canada’s next generation of combat vessels is the unprecedented level of support, enthusiasm and commitment that burst out in every part of our city and province.

As business people, politicians, civil servants, workers, and citizens, we saw – and felt – firsthand what confidence – real confidence – can do and just how strong a motivator self-belief can be. 

So, as Irving negotiates the fine details of the contract with the federal government, we at the Partnership are focusing on how to make the most of this new-found confidence as we identify and capture future opportunities to grow.

And, make no mistake; there are sound reasons to keep a beady eye on the future.  Economies from around the world are suffering the jitters – again. Growth forecasts in Canada and abroad is single digit at best.   We recognize that we have significant fiscal challenges ahead which must be met if we are to maintain the standard of living we enjoy today.

And this is why we are redoubling our efforts to put in place HRM’s Five Year Economic Strategy.  This plan was built – like the shipbuilding effort – by tapping into an equally unprecedented level of collaboration and alignment between the private and public sectors. 

Measuring Our Progress

The Halifax Index is how we will measure the economic progress of the region as well as the progress and impact of the Economic Strategy.  The Index, to be launched in May 2012, will provide a yearly overview of our challenges, make suggestions for action and inform of any necessary modifications to the Economic Strategy’s Action Plans. 

The Halifax Index is not just one number that tells us how we’ve fared in the past year. It will contain a comprehensive set of key indicators - people, business, culture, environment, activity and quality of place - that make Halifax what it is and make us who we are as citizens.  The Index will provide deeper insight into what’s happening in our community than anything currently available in any other city in Canada.

The Power of Partnership

We are convinced that rewards of partnership and collaboration will become increasingly evident as we implement our economic strategy and grow the confidence we have in our collective future.   

I hope we continue – at every level of our community and our province – to work together and to wring out every ounce of opportunity that this great city has to offer our people and the world.

For more information on the Strategy and implementation visit: agreaterhalifax.com. 

 

Paul A. Kent is the President and CEO of the Greater Halifax Partnership

 

In Case You Missed It: Entrepreneurial Spirit is Alive in Halifax

There’s no question that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of our economy and communities. Close to 99% of Halifax's more than 24,000 businesses are small and medium size - that's companies with fewer than 100 employees. The majority (98.5%) have less than 50 employees.

Last week, Halifax's business news was filled with entrepreneurial spirit. In case you missed it, a number of small businesses and grass-roots driven initiatives got some well-deserved attention for their role in driving a vibrant city.

The sibling/wine aficionado duo of Heather and Christian Rankin were the subject of a great story on their new downtown business - Obladee, a wine bar. Since opening in October 2010, Obladee has quickly become one of the hottest spots in downtown Halifax, developing a reputation as a classy but casual establishment. It's one of several new businesses breathing life back into Barrington Street. Check out the article: http://bit.ly/wvaH7B and follow them on twitter @ObladeeWineBar.

Our city is also home to a new bicycle manufacturing company. John Wesley Chisholm, president of Arcadia Entertainment, recently released the kickstand on the Halifax Bicycle Co. with plans to build a range of bikes with light-weight, rust-resistant frames designed to withstand whatever conditions Mother Nature throws at them. Inspired by memories of his grandfather, the television producer hopes to design and build bikes that are simultaneously stylish and practical, while also igniting a passion of   ‘all-things-cycling’ in Haligonians. Read more about John Wesley’s plans to get his new business rolling – literally: http://bit.ly/zqDsiK

And finally, as if it wasn’t enough already, Halifax is about to get more a lot more awesome. Next month will see the launch of the Awesome Halifax Foundation, an initiative whose purpose is to help provide financial support to get awesome ideas- whether businesses, community projects, or funky displays of art- off the ground and up-and-running. For $400, any interested business or individual can become a trustee in the Foundation and have a say in which awesome idea will receive a $1000 grant to get started. With a goal of attracting 30 trustees, one grant could potentially be awarded each month, meaning that Halifax may soon be in line for twelve doses of awesome. Follow them on Twitter @AwesomeHalifax and read the article to find out more: http://bit.ly/zAOwdR.

 

Mike MacKenzie 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.

Why 2% Growth is Awesome

The Conference Board of Canada released its Metropolitan Outlook yesterday showing a 1.58% growth in Halifax’s real GDP per capita for 2011. They even predicted a higher growth rate for 2012. As an economist, that’s the sort of news I like to hear.

Some people may see 2% growth as inconsequential, but this rate of growth is amazing. Looking at the province as a whole, over the past decade and a half real GDP per capita has increased by 2.19% per year. This means that every year, above and beyond increases in prices (inflation), everyone can buy 2.19% more goods and services than they could last year. This is exponential growth and it means great things for the future.

A simple growth equation shows us that it takes approximately 33 years, growing at 2.19% for our real income per capita to double. This means Nova Scotians will have twice as much purchasing power every 33 years (in about a generation). In 66 years, we will have quadrupled our purchasing power.

Say you make a decent living; you’re taking in an annual salary of $35,000 a year. You can afford the food you need, clothes, rent, the basics, and have a little extra money to spend from time to time. Now give yourself an extra $35,000 dollars a year to throw around, with your food, clothes, and rent already paid for. That’s pretty awesome. In a generation, people will be living this dream. In two, they’ll have twice as much as the generation before it.

This is why economic growth is so important. It’s why we should be striving to do more, to push ourselves into the future just a little bit faster. We should be looking at the economy as a tool to build our future, as an engine for growth that can be finely tuned.  We shouldn’t balk at 2% growth; it’s a job well done.

Economic growth leads to a better quality of life, and we are rapidly approaching an unparalleled time of prosperity. By the time I retire, I will have a quality of life that puts my parents’ to shame. It’s a lot to look forward to.

 

Paul Jacob is the Research Coordinator at the Greater Halifax Partnership. He is a self proclaimed nerd and academic enthusiast.