SmartCity Blog

Arts will thrive in wake of Ships

On behalf of the staff, many volunteers and legions of artists that we celebrate each year throughout Halifax and the province, the Greater Halifax Arts Coalition (GHAC) would like to congratulate Irving Shipbuilding and its partners, including the province of Nova Scotia, on the successful bid to Build Ships Here!

GHAC is made up of the leaders of 18 professional arts organizations that are dedicated to supporting our community through the presentation of world-class events, bringing the artistic culture of our region to audiences around the world and to creating a vibrant environment to live, work and play.

We recognize that a strong economy is essential to ensuring that those who breathe creative life into communities throughout the region are able to thrive and flourish. The spin-off benefits of this historic contract will impact suppliers, fabricators, other business and the lives of so many around the region – including those in the Arts.

Now, as we all start to gear up for growth and innovation, we see a prominent role for the professional arts community and look forward to playing our part. Nova Scotia’s artists create great work and inspire creativity, innovation, and excellence. Our theatre companies travel the world. Our musicians are broadcast across the country. Our audiences, whether they are long-time Nova Scotian residents or newcomers to our communities, experience a sense of pride and social cohesion as they join us in celebrating the diverse and vibrant lifestyle Nova Scotia has to offer.

Winning this contract means we can look forward to increases in population, disposable income and prosperity throughout the region. We look forward to the future, and working together to see our wonderful city and province and the entire Atlantic region grow and prosper.

Members of the Greater Halifax Arts Coalition:

• Christian Barry, 2b Theatre Company
• Gregor Ash, Atlantic Film Festival Association
• Brookes Diamond, Brookes Diamond Productions
• Heather McGean, Dalhousie Centre for Arts
• Laurie Gillis, Debut Atlantic
• Charlie Rhindress, Eastern Front Theatre
• Jonny Stevens, Halifax Pop Explosion
• Heather Gibson, JazzEast
• Paul Caskey, Live Art Dance
• Jim Morrow, Mermaid Theatre
• Sara Coffin, Mocean Dance
• Scott Long, Music Nova Scotia
• Amy Melmock, Neptune Theatre
• Maggie Stewart, Onelight Theatre
• Elizabeth Murphy, Shakespeare By The Sea
• Erika Beatty, Symphony Nova Scotia
• Christopher Shore, Theatre Nova Scotia
• Susan Leblanc Crawford, Zuppa Theatre

 

About GHAC:

Halifax is a hub for performing arts and culture in the province, and our professional arts organizations are leaders in Atlantic Canada. The 18 professional arts groups in GHAC employ more than 900 people, engage another 2500 volunteers, and perform for more than 933,000 audience member every year. Our cumulative annual budgets are over $22 million, and almost all of this is spent in Nova Scotia.

Other links:

• Ships Start Here: Next 30 by Erika Beatty

 

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.

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

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.

Halifax, Meet Your Neighbours

Halifax’s population continues to rise. In 2010, Statistics Canada estimated that, for first time, the population has crossed 400,000 people. We represent 43% of the population of Nova Scotia and 17% of the population of Atlantic Canada and those numbers are steadily rising. This leads me, as an economist, to two key questions:

• Where is this growth coming from?
• What does this mean for the people of Halifax?

Where is the growth coming from?

The largest factor in the increase of Halifax’s population today is immigration. Net immigration (Immigrants – Emigrants) accounted for 79% of the population growth in Halifax in 2009/10 and this number continues to rise. We attract immigrants from various places; other locations in Nova Scotia (27%), other provinces in Canada (8.1%) and other countries around the world (43.8%).

The natural growth (births – deaths) is declining. It becomes clear, when looking at how our natural growth has declined over the last 5 years that we need to look externally for our population to grow.

We have a lot of work to do; Nova Scotia attracts less than 1% of the Canada’s international immigrants annually. As the natural increase stagnates, it has become more important than ever to reach out globally for population growth and to develop a Halifax that talented people from everywhere want to be a part of.

 

   

What does this mean for the people of HRM?

If you are a regular news reader, you have heard about our aging population and the looming shortage of talented employees (known as the emerging talent gap). Recent reports from Statistics Canada show that in 2015-2021, Canada will have more seniors than children for the first time ever. 

As employees retire, there won’t be as many Halifax residents to replace them, especially in areas where specialized skills are required. As such, immigration is critical to the sustainability of our workforce, our attractiveness to new investors, as well as our tax base. If we can ensure that Halifax is filled with talented, motivated and innovative people from around the world, we will be able to ensure that Halifax thrives for everyone.

Next week, I will discuss the advantages of different types of immigration and why international immigration (our largest source) offers the greatest number of benefits to Halifax residents from a tax perspective. As well, I’ll touch on how a good immigration strategy is a great example of sustainable policy for a city like Halifax.

David Fleming

David is the Research Coordinator for 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. He maintains the economic data section of the website and provides economic analysis on key issues relating to Halifax.

SmartCity Business Show: Episode 5 in Review

Fady Nashat has come full circle. Fady moved to Canada from Egypt to pursue his studies and begin a new life in Nova Scotia. The connector program has helped him to establish himself in the community and secure a job at Keane Inc., a global investment firm in Halifax. He now meets with current Connector Program participants to share his experiences and offer advice. Fady’s story embodies the full potential of this program.

This episode gives insight into what the program means to other connectors, too. Dick Miller, a connector and VP of The Shaw Group, explains the reality of the program: “You visit them in three or four year’s time and the next thing you know they’ve got their children, they’re engaged in the community, and that’s what it’s about”.

Programs like this attest to the fact that our business community is no exception from Halifax’s hospitable and friendly reputation. Immigrants and international students are here to work, play, and live and I think by now the benefits of hiring newcomers are indisputably evident. I hope to see the switch from participant to connector continue, and I look forward to joining the thriving, diverse workforce that we are currently building.

 

For more information on becoming a participant in the program or becoming a connector, click here.

For more photos for the Mayor's Welcoming Event, click here.

Maeghan Murphy, Marketing & Communications Co-op Student

Maeghan is with the Partnership on a four month work-term. She is in her third year of Public Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University and had her first taste of the working world on her work-term with Nova Scotia Power this summer. Although she'll always be a Cape Bretoner at heart, Maeghan is happy to now call Halifax her home.

SmartCity Business Show: Episode 4 in Review

There are a lot of numbers and figures to process when you’re dealing with an international hot-spot like the Port of Halifax: 11,000 local jobs, $1.5 billion in economic impact, and connecting with 150 countries from all over the world. The economics of it all are crucially important, and undoubtedly impressive, but what else does the port mean for our city?

To me, the port means summer days in downtown Halifax watching thousands of visitors arriving on enormous cruise ships, ready to discover Canada’s East Coast. I see excited families, couples and independent travelers enjoying our traditional pubs and seafood restaurants. I see them admiring the talent of our local artists and musicians on the boardwalk. I see them learning about our interesting history and seeing how we’ve gotten to where we are.

But I picked up on something else, too. I notice the sense of pride we have when people are enjoying what we have to offer. The Port of Halifax gives to both our visitors, and to us. Our guests get the chance to experience our beautiful city and remind us of just how lucky we are to live here.

 

Maeghan Murphy, Marketing & Communications Co-op Student

Maeghan is with the Partnership on a four month work-term. She is in her third year of Public Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University and had her first taste of the working world on her work-term with Nova Scotia Power this summer. Although she'll always be a Cape Bretoner at heart, Maeghan is happy to now call Halifax her home.

SmartCity Business Show - Episode 3 in Review

When I was a kid, I remember the excitement of coming to Halifax, the big city. One of my favourite places to go was the airport because it had escalators and a “see-through” elevator. I could have spent hours throwing pennies into the fountain and looking through the gift shops, but nothing beat the excitement of knowing I would soon be sitting in a window seat. Now that I’m older, I’ve learned that our airport plays an essential role in our economic health and there is around-the-clock work that goes into making sure everything is running smoothly. 

That hard-work continues to pay off. The Halifax Stanfield International Airport has been voted the best medium sized airport in the world for the last seven years, and celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Joyce Carter, CFO and CSO of the Halifax International Airport Authority, credits excellent service and innovation to its major success. Needless to say, our airport is a part of Atlantic Canada’s identity, and we need it to continue to thrive so we can, too.

Not everyone can say that they’ve got a gateway to the world in their backyard, and I think that’s something we should be proud of.

  

Maeghan Murphy, Marketing & Communications Co-op Student

Maeghan is with the Partnership on a four month work-term. She is in her third year of Public Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University and had her first taste of the working world on her work-term with Nova Scotia Power this summer. She'll always be a Cape Bretoner at heart, but Maeghan is happy to now call Halifax her home.

Fred's Second Day of Christmas: A "Doer's" Conference

By Fred Morley

On the Second day of Christmas
My network gave to me... a night off...you can only take so much spinach dip.

One of the early ideas was a “Big Ideas Festival” a place where big thinkers and dreamers could come together to roll out and discuss the next big ideas about cities, the environment, talent, culture and other topics that are important today and will be vital to us in the future.  One smart executive, when presented with this idea, suggested we should have a “Doers Conference”.  Doers and Dreamers....rings a bell somehow. 

A “Doers Conference”...why not?  Why not bring together the best “doers” in Halifax, present them with our best community ideas and then form the teams, arrange the financing, build the support and get things done.  Santa always seemed more of a doer to me.

No more explanation necessary.

 

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

Fred's Third Day of Christmas: Attracting the World's Smartest Young Talent

By Fred Morley

On the Third day of Christmas
My network gave to me... the EduNova Christmas Party. 

EduNova is a Nova Scotia cooperative founded to promote international education in Nova Scotia.  Given the numbers of university students flowing into Nova Scotia these days, I’d say Ava and her team are being very successful.  Almost 10% of enrolments in Atlantic universities are international students.

Ok, I didn’t get to this reception either.  Again something called me to City Hall.   It would have been fun to get to the EduNova reception to see their new offices on Barrington St.  It’s great to see a few organizations taking up space in historic buildings in downtown Halifax.  We need more organizations like EduNova with the vision to see themselves in this kind of office space in the core.

This leads me to the next idea, universities as economic drivers in communities.  Now this idea isn’t exactly new but I don’t think we’ve realized the full potential of this in Nova Scotia.  In this province, universities directly and indirectly account for $1.2 billion in GDP each year, employ about  19,000 people and generate about $864 million in annual income and generate about $220 million in taxes.  Talk about the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. 

Universities are not only big economic generators in communities they are also centres of research and development and when they get it right, they also facilitate innovation and commercialization that helps drive business growth.  They are also talent magnets.  What other kind of organization attracts the world’s smartest young talent, integrates them into our community, and gives them marketable skills.  

All we have to do as a community is keep them. 

The Greater Halifax Partnership sees this as a real opportunity and has been driving some success through our International MBA Student Connector Program.  We would love to expand our connector efforts to all students in Halifax if we could find the right partner......Hello?  Idea alert... You don’t need to have Rudolph’s bright red nose to see that hanging on to new grads is probably a good idea.

 

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