SmartCity Blog

Turning Over a New LEAF

By Samantha Lodge

As 2013 is fast approaching, eco-friendly trends are on the rise. More people are recycling and conscious of their water and electric consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are down.

In Halifax many organization are using sustainable energy practices. One of those is Nova Scotia Power. NS Power has an environmental approach to energy which helps plan for a cleaner and greener community. Its building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified and they are adding and increasing the use of cleaner sources of electricity including wind, hydro and tidal power. Today, about 17 per cent of the electricity we use every day in Nova Scotia comes from renewable energy sources.

In a recent episode of SmartCity we see one of their best practices in play when the show’s host, Craig Layton hops in the back seat of the all electric car the Nissan LEAF and goes for a ride with Eric Tomchuk, a meter for NS Power.

The Nissan LEAF is used “eight hours a day, every day” with meter readers like Eric. The award winning cars became a part of the NS Power team as part of the ShareReady program, and represents NS Power’s commitment to lessen the impact energy sources have on the environment.

Employees at NS Power are encouraged to take the LEAF home, take their family and friends for a ride, and see how it all works.

“If electric cars are going to come on the system we want to know how that’s going to work,” said Communications Specialist, Rob Wadden. “They want us to take it out and enjoy it. I have 3 and 5 year old sons and I took them out in the community – loved it! [I] drove it around [and] people [were] stopping and looking. [They] wanted to take a look to see if it had a tailpipe.”

With no tailpipe and no gas tank this car takes clean energy to a whole new level, even including a solar panel on the rear spoiler of the car so drivers can conserve more energy. A full charge can get the driver about 150 kilometres and costs approximately $1. With innovation like this I think it’s safe to say we’re a step closer to clean and cost effective energy consumption. 

But according to Robin McAdam, Executive Vice President, Strategic Business & Customer Services at NS Power it’s no wonder you’d see this car driving around Halifax. “This is a city that leads Canada in terms of environmental consciousness.”

And it shows! NS Power wasn’t the only company who saw the importance of getting into smart energy incentives. It is through the power of relationships with other local businesses that the ShareReady program is able to operate. When everyone from O’Reagan’s Nissan Halifax, Port of Halifax and Wilson’s fuels are partnering for the ShareReady program Halifax really lives up to the title of a smart and sustainable city.

 

You Might Also Like

• SmartCity E1: Leveraging diversity is smart business
• SmartCity E2: Networking and Collaboration Helps Halifax Grow
• SmartCity E3: Augmenting Reality in Halifax
• SmartCity E4: Entrepreneur find success in Halifax
• SmartCity E5: Autoport Halifax: A Key Connection in Automobile Distribution

 

Author: Samantha Lodge

Samantha is the Communications and Marketing Assistant at the Greater Halifax Partnership. She moved from Newfoundland to Halifax to attend university, and ended up rekindling her love of the east coast. She feels that being close to the ocean in a city with so much excitement is the ideal situation – Halifax’s talented music scene is an added bonus!

Autoport Halifax: A Key Connection in Automobile Distribution

Everyone has a dream car. The one you always envision yourself taking the driver’s seat. But I ask myself how do I get my dream car; my bright green, shiny MINI Cooper? Well besides the obvious financial boundaries I have as a student, I would go to a local car dealership to find my prized wheels. However, this stylish compact car from Britain has to make its way to Halifax somehow, right?

Mystery solved! Last week’s episode of SmartCity introduces you to the Autoport Halifax Terminal and its general manager, Emery Robidoux.

One of the largest of its kind, the Autoport in Halifax handles more than 190,000 vehicles a year. While they are not all MINI Coupes, or Aston Martin’s like SmartCity host, Craig Layton searches for, they do handle a wide range of car types and models.

The organization has about 600 employees with a range of skills to offer. Handling vehicles from North America, Europe, Japan and Korea means the Autoport has to have a wide variety of skilled workers to be able to service whatever automobile may enter its terminal.

Factor in the large shipments they handle at a time (some 7000 vehicles in the lot when Craig visited) with the 60,000 square feet service bay, and it’s obvious that the Autoport has to be able to keep track of the entire fleet somehow.

Emery explains the system the Autoport uses in “The Automobile Supply Chain Story” video posted on Autoport’s website.

“We have a system called ATS and it’s an inventory system. Some of our guys like to think of us as an IT company because the system is leading edge. If there’s an event or move to a vehicle, it’s updated real time in our system so we know exactly where that vehicle is at any point in time during its life cycle while it’s in our possession.”

With over 100 acres, the Autoport includes the CN railhead where the serviced and checked vehicles are loaded up to reach their destination city. CN Rail is the only transcontinental railway system in North America and a key part of the Halifax Gateway. Its presence in Halifax makes it possible for the Autoport to operate and provides them an efficient way to transport automobiles.

The Autoport uses Halifax’s diversely skilled workers and top of the line technology to service and transport new automobiles across the country. At the end of the day Halifax has helped bring that smile to your face as you sit behind the wheel of your new, shiny car.

 You Might Also Like

• SmartCity E1: Leveraging diversity is smart business
• SmartCity E2: Networking and Collaboration Helps Halifax Grow
• SmartCity E3: Augmenting Reality in Halifax
• SmartCity E4: Entrepreneur find success in Halifax

 

Author: Samantha Lodge

Samantha is the Communications and Marketing Assistant at the Greater Halifax Partnership. She moved from Newfoundland to Halifax to attend university, and ended up rekindling her love of the east coast. She feels that being close to the ocean in a city with so much excitement is the ideal situation – Halifax’s talented music scene is an added bonus!

CityMatters: Despite Challenges People Love Halifax

By David Fleming

Last week, Metro News Halifax published a series of articles from CityMatters 2012, a citizen survey performed with partners MQO Research and the Greater Halifax Partnership. Its aim is simple; to ask Halifax residents how they feel about the city, the economy, and their satisfaction with living in the city and other key quality of life factors.

The Greater Halifax Partnership has also published the slideshow from our investor “sneak peek” and the raw data from the survey. While Metro News Halifax covered the individual areas, for me the most interesting thing is looking at some broad themes and how the city is progressing.

CityMatters - MQO Presentation from Greater Halifax Partnership

 

There is a clear mandate for downtown revitalization. 

84% of residents believe that the revitalization of downtown is important or very important. Only 14% believe that current efforts are very good. The good news is many of the intangibles of a vibrant downtown (restaurants and cafes, safety, arts and culture and tourist-friendliness) are highly rated and a number of high profile developments have recently been started such as the Nova Centre ($500 million), Central Library ($55 million), TD Centre ($26 million) and RBC Waterside($25 million).

A concerted effort to encourage more businesses, residents and development in the downtown, along with improvements in transportation are priority for the revitalization effort.  Groups like the Strategic Urban Partnership and the Community Design Advisory Committee are focused on similar themes. 

There is work to be done to create confidence in the economy.

Unlike most Canadian cities, Halifax’s economy grew every year during the recession. The challenge for most regions that do relatively well during a recession is that they tend to grow a little slower after. Contracts being negotiated by Halifax Shipyard for the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy come with silence during the planning stages and public confidence that swelled has returned to pre-announcement levels.  Much of the preparatory work at all levels is happening now, but without bricks and mortar or job postings, it is difficult to see it.

In particular, residents scored good job opportunities as one of their lowest rated attributes in the city; particularly 18-34 year olds. In order to grow confidence in our economy, we need to work together to create more and better opportunities and connect our residents do them.   

Despite these challenges, people love living in Halifax.  

 At the end of the day, people feel like Halifax is a safe place to raise kids, a friendly city with a high quality of life and good health care. We know this from the Halifax Index too and our measures of quality of place. Largely, people would recommend Halifax to others as a good place to live.  These are all really positive attributes for a community to build on into the future. 

 

You Might Also Like: 

• CityThink 2011
• The Halifax Index - What is it & Why does it matter
• BMO: "Halifax has growth in its sails"
• AGREATERHalifax: Halifax's 2011-16 Economic Strategy

 

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.

Oceans, Transportation a focus of China mission

By Jackie Guo

As a representative of the Greater Halifax Partnership I joined premiers, senior government officials and business leaders from ten provinces and territories on a Council of the Federation trade mission to China from September 10 -20.

Led by Premier Darrell Dexter, the mission focused on furthering Canada’s business relationship with China, with the Nova Scotia delegation specifically looking to strengthen ties in sectors such as energy, transportation and logistics and ocean technology.

Beijing (Sept. 13-15)

The delegation met with senior government leaders including Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Commerce Minister Cheng Deming as well as senior leaders from the State Oceanic Administration. Through the meetings and dialogues, we learned that China has placed Canada as a strategic business partner and is looking for opportunities in energy, resources, education, environmental services, ocean technologies and high precision manufacturing among others.

During the Beijing stop, two Chinese companies signed agreements to work with Nova Scotian companies. Atlantic Canada Resources, a seafood exporting company, signed an agreement with Hope Group in Beijing to distribute seafood in China. Also, the University of Cape Breton signed an agreement with Synfuels to develop technology in delivering clean energy.

Shanghai  (Sept. 17)

The Nova Scotia delegation focused on the ocean technology sector and the Halifax Gateway. The Port of Halifax and Halifax Stanfield International Airport held a joint reception in Shanghai to showcase Halifax's transportation and logistics assets and how Halifax can serve Chinese businesses and their supply chains in North America. Port of Halifax President & CEO Karen Oldfield and Vice President Jerry Staples delivered key messages to over 100 audiences including representatives from China Shipping, China Eastern Airlines, and many other Chinese businesses that are looking for opportunities in Atlantic Canada. Premier Darrell Dexter also gave a keynote speech about the provincial government's commitment to helping businesses succeed in Nova Scotia.

Hangzhou (Sept. 18)

The Nova Scotia delegation – which included representatives from Dalhousie University and Rosborough Boats - visited a second institute of oceanography, as well as the Zhejiang University Department of Ocean Science and Engineering in Hangzhou. These two organizations along with the Polar Research Institute are key ocean players in China. The meetings were constructive and both sides expressed interest in exploring areas of further collaboration.

Hong Kong (Sept. 19-20)

Hong Kong was the last leg of the mission. We visited the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKE) on September 19 where Premier Dexter rang the bell to start the trading day and then participated in an event with senior business leaders organized by the Hang Seng Bank.

The last day, we visited the Sai Wan War Cemetery where thousands of Canadian soldiers fought during World War II. The relationship between China and Canada is much deeper than tourism and education exchanges, and the fallen Canadian soldiers are remembered by both Chinese and Canadians.

This mission to China was by all accounts a success and has helped to further the relationship between our two countries.

You might also like this

• Mission aims to increase trade and cooperation with China
• Photos from the trade mission
• Halifax's International Relationships
• More International Students Coming to Canada
• Why Halifax? 

 

Jackie Guo is the Coordinator of International Student Connector Program at the Greater Halifax Partnership.

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.

Growth and Innovation in Shipping and Trade - Port Days 2011

Port Days – the Halifax Port Authority’s (HPA) annual business conference – is back again, taking place this year on Wednesday, Sept. 14 and Thursday, Sept. 15.

Port Days offers a great way to bring stakeholders from all areas of the industry together to share ideas and discuss current issues. Our industry has rebounded well from the recession and we need to keep discussing opportunities for growth and innovation to facilitate future development.

The theme for Port Days 2011 is ‘Growth and Innovation’ featuring a variety of business sessions and networking opportunities for individuals and organizations involved in shipping and trade.

On Thursday afternoon, keynote speaker Andy Ellis, Senior Vice-President of Supply Chain and Logistics for Wal-Mart Canada Corp., will speak on the increasingly important topic of environmental sustainability in the retail industry.

Kicking things off Thursday morning are two discussion panel business sessions.

The first business session - moderated by HPA Business Development Manager Patrick Bohan - will look at intriguing cargo growth developments involving technology, infrastructure and entrepreneurship. Panelists include Gordon Neal, Chief Executive Officer of Aqualife North America Inc.; Pat d’Entremont, Partner at Nicom IT Solutions Inc.; and Jeff Brownlie, Finance and Administration Manager, Halifax Grain Elevator Limited.

The second session will examine trends and interrelationships in the industry that may determine what's to come for containerized cargo long term. HPA Vice-President, Commercial Paul DuVoisin, will moderate the discussion with panelists Paul Waite, Vice-President Intermodal, CN;  Tim Harrington,  Vice-President, Sales,  NYK Line (Canada) Inc.’s; and Brad Doell, Vice-President, Supply Chain & Procurement, Nova Scotia Liquor Corp.

With a noteworthy roster of speakers and panelists at this year’s Port Days, this will be an invaluable opportunity to learn, make connections and do some meaningful business.

To learn more or to register go to https://secure.portdays.com/PortDays/Default.aspx.

 

Port Days 2011

 Wednesday September 14, 2011

• Port Days Golf Tournament & BBQ – 7:00 a.m. registration, 8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start at Glen Arbour Golf Course, followed by BBQ Lunch
• Opening Reception - 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Cunard Centre
• Trade Show - takes place Wednesday during Opening Reception and Thursday during Breakfast and Business Sessions at the Cunard Centre

Thursday September 15, 2011

• Chairman's Breakfast, 7:00-8:45 a.m., Cunard Centre. Guest speaker is The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans as well as The Atlantic Gateway. Remarks from Mark MacDonald, Chair, Halifax Port Authority.

• Business Sessions, 9:00 – 11:45 a.m., Cunard Centre

  • Business Session One:  Cargo Innovation Panel, 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

  • Business Session Two:  Future of Containerization, 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

• Keynote Luncheon - Speaker: Andy Ellis, Wal-Mart Canada Corp.  Luncheon begins at 12:00 p.m.,  Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Heritage Hall, Halifax, NS

• Terminal Operators' & Stevedores' Reception, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Cunard Centre

• Lobster Feast Dinner, 7:00 p.m. following Terminal Operators' & Stevedores' Reception

 

Michele Peveril is the Senior Manager, Strategic Relations at the Halifax Port Authority.

 

 

 

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 Fourth Day of Christmas: The Research-led Economy

By Fred Morley

On the Fourth day of Christmas
My network gave to me... the DND Christmas Party

The Christmas reception hosted by the Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and the Commanders of Land Force Atlantic Area and Air Component Coordination Element Atlantic was held at the Bridge, at Juno Tower at CFB Halifax.  The reception area of the Bridge provides one of the most commanding and panoramic views of Halifax of any building in the city.  This was a good group.  I would mention a few attendees but that would be name dropping and besides I don’t have clearance.

Lots of ideas at this event, including the regular stream of ideas around how to improve urban transit in Halifax.  I’ve heard great ideas on this from everyone from Navy captains to neurosurgeons.  Most involve steel wheel vs. rubber tire transport and many involve creative use of the CN rail cut running around from the Westend around to the Southend of the peninsula.  Lots of civic engagement on this.

But tonight’s big idea connects to the Navy, the ocean and the big research capability in Halifax.  Why not build the Halifax Research Horseshoe: An International Scale Concentration of Applied Research in University, Defense and Government Labs.

Halifax needs to build on its considerable research base. This is the best way to recession-proof our economy and build the high value companies and the high wage jobs we want.  Other cities and nations have figured this out.  It’s time for us to think this through.

Developing countries around the world recognize the virtue of research concentration.  China is on the verge of overtaking both America and the EU in the quantity of its scientists and both Japan and South Korea are leading the US in R&D spending per person. China is rapidly catching up.  Asia will soon be the dominant continent in R&D, surpassing Europe and North America. 

Economic growth based on R&D passes the test of sustainability and durability.  Just look at the cities that have prospered in the United States during the recession of 2008-09.  Areas like Raleigh-Durham, Salt Lake City, Northern Virginia and a few other high growth areas have one thing in common.  They are research-led economies.  

Why not take that approach in our city.  We have six universities in Halifax. Dalhousie is one of the great research universities in the world and attracting over $100 million in research funding each year.  We have a significant concentration of federal labs including:  Defence R&D Canada – Atlantic, Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre nearby in Kentville, the world famous Bedford Institute of Oceanography, National Research Council Canada institute for Marine Biosciences, Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada – Atlantic, and the Halifax RCMP Laboratory of Forensic Science and Identification Services.  

One of the oldest and largest science parks in North America, The Research Triangle Park, was begun in the 1950s and was built on a concentration of universities and knowledge workers not that different from our own.  It now has 170 companies employing over 42,000 full-time knowledge workers and an estimated 10,000 contract employees. Why not start now and build our very own research concentration here in Halifax.  But let’s not do a research triangle…let's try a horseshoe shape that follows the research presence around Halifax harbour…..for luck.

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

Halifax's Hub City Assets

By Fred Morley

 
Halifax is Nova Scotia’s and Atlantic Canada’s Hub City, one of 9 in Canada identified by the Conference Board.  What this means is that a healthy growing Halifax economy helps the economies around it succeed and they, in turn, help Halifax grow.  It’s a healthy symbiotic relationship.  A stronger Halifax means a stronger Nova Scotia and a stronger Nova Scotia means a stronger Halifax.  It’s not rocket science, but it’s a concept that didn’t carry much weight in Nova Scotia until lately. 

Halifax Stanfield International Airport is one of those hub city assets that make the concept real.  Stanfield accounted for over $1.27 billion in economic activity last year (2008), 11% of all economic activity in Nova Scotia.  The airport handles more passengers than all other airports in the region combined.  With about 5500 direct employees it’s larger than many towns with many of the same services, retailers, hotels, cargo, even a church. 
 
The Halifax airport is an important enabler for many sectors of the province’s economy.  It generates 55% of the province’s tourism revenue, many of them business travelers flying to and from Atlantic Canada’s business hub.   It is critical to our high growth and high wage sectors like banking, insurance, IT and aerospace and defense.  In short the airport connects us to the world and is one of the sectors that give us our Hub City status.

Next….more hub city assets, the port, the health care sector, universities, our regional and head offices.

What do think makes Halifax work as a hub city?

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

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