Nova Scotia Is Set to Become a World-Class Innovation Hub PAGE 14

HALIFAX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2018 | VOLUME 27 ISSUE 9

Nova Scotia is set to become a world-class innovation hub PAGE 14

EMBRACING INNOVATION SMALL BUSINESS WEEK RESTAURANT ROYALTY Hacking the current Everything you need to know Dartmouth retailer business model Pg 20 about the celebration Pg 28 slicing into success Pg 34 CANADA’S BEST PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT DISTRIBUTOR HAS LANDED IN HALIFAX!

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YOUR KARI WATSON LOGO USE PROMO CODE HERE ACCOUNT MANAGER CHAMBER18 FOR FREE SETUPS e: [email protected] (UP TO $100.00 VALUE) YOUR LOGO HERE t: 902 401 0663 For all new orders between Oct 1 & Dec 31, 2018 Volume 27 • Issue 9 You’re creating an environment where it’s OK to fail, 20 Business Voice is published 11 times a year for members of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and Metro Halifax’s as long as you’re learning from it.” business community. Views expressed in Business Voice are those of the contributors and individual members, — Chris Crowell, VP, Corporate Innovation, Volta Labs and are not necessarily endorsed by, or are a policy of, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held COVER STORY: responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. Please address editorial enquiries and changes to information to: Halifax Chamber of Commerce 100-32 Akerley Boulevard, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3B 1N1 Tel: 902-468-7111 Fax: 902-468-7333 [email protected] www.halifaxchamber.com Board of Directors Cynthia Dorrington, Vale & Associates, Chair Margaret Chapman, Corporate Research Associates, Vice Chair Mark Fraser, T4G, Past Chair Directors Lori Barton, Beaumont Advisors Limited Robert Dean, MNP LLP Mark Sidebottom, Nova Scotia Power Inc. Gavin MacDonald, Cox & Palmer Paul Bent, Consultant Saeed El-Darahali, Simply Cast Faten Alshazly, WeUsThem Stefanie MacDonald, Halifax Paper Hearts Captain David Mazur, Maritime Forces Atlantic Richard Butts, Clayton Developments Limited Michele Peveril, Nova Scotia Department of Business Brad Proctor, McInnes Cooper Chamber Staff Patrick Sullivan, President and CEO Nancy M. Conrad, Senior Vice President, Policy Colin J. Bustard, Director of Finance and Administration Becky Davison, Director of Marketing Business Voice is published by 14 The Chronicle Herald Custom Publishing Department Publisher: Sarah Dennis Vice President, Partner Solutions (NS): Jeff Nearing Paul Darrow Manager, Custom Publishing: Lindsey Bunin Editor: Cynthia McMurray • [email protected] Layout & Design: Peter Ross Contributing Writers: Jon Tattrie, Joey Fitzpatrick, Danny Connors, Brian Duggan, Heather Laura Clarke, Marc Zirka, Kathleen MacEachern TABLE OF Customer Relations Specialist: Jennifer MacLean Sales Executives: Wanda H. Priddle, Karen Publicover 902-426-2811 ext. 1163 • [email protected] 20 Cover Photo: Paul Darrow CONTENTS: Copyright 2018 by The Chronicle Herald. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without expressed written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. 04 Events Hacking the 2717 Joseph Howe Drive Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2T2 business model Tel: 902-426-2811 05 President’s message TheChronicleHerald.ca rawpixel Disclaimer 06 New & noted Business Voice magazine makes no warranties of any kind, written or implied, regarding the contents of this magazine and expressly disclaims any warranty regarding the 08 Members 27 Working for you accuracy or reliability of information contained herein. The views contained in this magazine are those of the in the news writers and advertisers; they do not necessarily reﬂ ect 28 Small business week the views of Business Voice magazine and its publisher The Chronicle Herald. 14 Power in numbers feature Nova Scotia is set to become Publications Mail Agreement No. 40032112 a world-class innovation hub Big Erics Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to 34 Proﬁ le: Halifax Chamber of Commerce. 20 Hacking the SPECIAL FEATURES: business model Volta helps companies 31 Shipping, distribution embrace innovation and transportation 23 Trends 32 Small business week

BUSINESS VOICE 3 EVENTS

For a full and up-to-date list of our Chamber events, please visit CHAMBER EVENTS www.halifaxchamber.com/events

LUNCHEON: SMALL BUSINESS WEEK EVENT: LUNCHEON: Changing How we Work for You Business After Hours Annual State of the Municipality SPEAKER: Stuart MacLean, CEO, HOSTED BY: Hotchkiss Home Furnishings SPEAKER: Mayor Mike Savage Workers’ Compensation Board DATE: October 17 SPONSORED BY: RBC SPONSORED BY: WCB Nova Scotia TIME: 4:30 – 6:30 pm DATE: November 22 DATE: October 4 LOCATION: 121 Ilsley Ave., Dartmouth TIME: 11:00 am – 1:30 pm TIME: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm LOCATION: Halifax Convention Centre LOCATION: Halifax Marriott LUNCH & LEARN: Harbourfront Hotel Accessing the hidden job market LUNCHEON: HOSTED BY: reachAbility Association The Airport as an Economic CHAMBER 101 DATE: October 26 Enabler for the Region DATE: October 10 TIME: 12 – 1:30 pm SPEAKER: Joyce Carter, President & CEO, TIME: 12 – 1:30 pm LOCATION: Halifax Chamber of Commerce Halifax International Airport Authority LOCATION: Halifax Chamber of Commerce SPONSORED BY: Air Canada FALL DINNER: DATE: November 29 SMALL BUSINESS WEEK Why entrepreneurs are TIME: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm DATE: October 15-19 choosing Nova Scotia LOCATION: Delta Halifax Visit www.HalifaxSmallBusinessWeek.com DATE: November 1 for a full list of events TIME: 5 – 9:30 pm THANK YOU TO OUR LOCATION: Halifax Convention Centre SEPTEMBER SPONSORS: EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURSHIP: PINTS + POINTERS: A kick off to Small Business Week Leveraging social media DATE: October 15 and inﬂ uencers TIME: 2 – 4 pm DATE: November 7 LOCATION: Halifax Marriott TIME: 3:30 – 5 pm Harbourfront Hotel LOCATION: Garrison Brewing

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK EVENT: BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: Speed Networking Sunnyside Mall SPONSORED BY: BoyneClarke LLP DATE: November 14 DATE: October 16 TIME: 4:30 – 6:30 pm TIME: 2 – 4 pm LOCATION: Sunnyside Mall LOCATION: Halifax Chamber of Commerce

4 OCTOBER 2018 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE New season, new start Innovation can be as easy as introducing new ideas at the monthly staff meeting @prezhfxchamber

I want you to ask yourself this question: What has your business done in the past six months that could be considered innovative? To paraphrase a well-known quote, if you aren’t innovating, you’re dying.”

PATRICK SULLIVAN PRESIDENT & CEO have the resources they need to com- competitive. Innovation can’t stop at pete in Nova Scotia, Canada and on a entrepreneurs and startups. From an global scale. Innovacorp, Nova Scotia’s emerging two-person company working ctober is here and somehow we’ve early stage venture capital organization, out of a desk to a multimillion-dollar cor- Oalready stepped into another season. offers programs to support new and poration exporting globally and every- For many, fall is a fresh start. Students go current businesses. Their Accelerate thing in between, you need an innovation back to school, graduates begin new jobs Program helps Nova Scotia’s technology strategy ready to adapt and mold. I want and summer vacations have come to an companies get investment-ready. Their you to ask yourself this question: What end. Now that the leaves are changing, I Start-Up Visa Program attracts foreign has your business done in the past six wonder — how many of us were prepared entrepreneurs who wish to establish new, months that could be considered innova- for the new season? high-growth businesses in Canada that tive? To paraphrase a well-known quote, A new season shouldn’t only mean will support innovation and job creation. if you aren’t innovating, you’re dying. the chance to start again, it should mean Volta Labs, a place of mentorship and That could be trying a new technology, the chance to try new things. At the community with a focus on quality and hiring co-op students or even a new Chamber, we incorporate our members’ quantity rather than speed, among other weekly team meeting that brings people ideas and priorities into everything we things, provides world-class mentorship and their ideas together more frequently. do. This year, our Fall Dinner is focused and support to new startup and potential Take a leap and try something new. on a common topic through a new angle: entrepreneurs. Volta offers programs like While reading through this issue, pick innovation. This word is used so often the Connector Program, Volta Academy out some ideas you find exciting and take that it can lose its actual meaning: the and Lunch and Learns that guide busi- them back to your team. introduction of something new. It’s a nesses into producing innovative prod- We hope you can join us at our critical time for new ideas in Nova Scotia. ucts and services in Nova Scotia. annual Fall Dinner on November 1 to get Why? Nova Scotia is now home to seven Businesses, big and small, need inspired by our vibrant, evolving busi- post-secondary institutions, advanced innovation strategies in our fast-chang- ness community. The Chamber is in your hospitals and research labs and thousands ing world. We need to think about corner and we can help you achieve the of tech, financial and life-science firms. our next move and how we can stay success your business deserves! People are coming back to Nova Scotia because of new and greater opportunities for success. Chris Crowell, Volta Labs’ 4R]] fd W`c R]] j`fc V]VTecZTR] djdeV^ _VVUd VP of Corporate Innovation, moved with his family back from Toronto to work in Halifax and we hope that’s just the *!#(!'$*&' beginning. >c6]VTecZT T`^ 9R]ZWRi Businesses may hesitate to try new things. Capital acquisition, customer loyalty and competitive markets are just a few of the mitigating factors affecting an entrepreneur’s ability to start a business or an established professional’s chance to introduce a new technology in their business. With organizations such as Innovacorp and Volta Labs on your side, Locally Owned and Operated Franchise new, emerging and settled businesses

BUSINESS VOICE 5 NEWSMAKERS NEW & NOTED We welcome our new Chamber members

AKTIVE MOTORS INC. BREAKWATER STUDIOS LTD. BUSINESS SOFTWARE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT Aktive Motors is Halifax’s newest We are an award-winning film produc- (BSIC) European automotive service and repair tion company with a global reputation shop that specializes in European cars. for cinematic stories and unforgettable Software is instrumental in driving busi- Christian, the owner, is a European- characters. We believe in emotional ness growth and creating more efficient trained, Red Seal Master Mechanic, with humanist filmmaking. We believe the processes that contribute to increased more than 30 years of knowledge and ordinary often holds the extraordinary. productivity. We take the time to under- experience. He is dedicated to providing We believe old Hollywood craftsmanship stand how your business processes run customers with exceptional old-fash- and cutting-edge wizardry must coexist. and assess them according to industry ioned service to optimize their vehicles’ Let us help you tell your story. best practices. We work with you step- performance. Kristi Wenaus by-step to evaluate any area in need of Christian Skovbjerg 5174 Bishop Street improvement and/or automation, using 710 Windmill Road Halifax, NS the best-fit technology based on the spe- Dartmouth, NS 902-405-4440 cific needs of your business and industry 902-407-0017 [email protected] in order to help you solve any challenges. [email protected] www.breakwaterstudios.com With 20 years of technical knowledge www.aktivemotors.ca ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT – and business experience in various TRANSPORTATION – Film/Television industries, we are also able to assess Automotive Repair/Parts complex situations, devise effective BULLETPROOF solutions and implement them for you AMP DISPOSAL INC. The Bulletproof team is passionate quickly and in a cost-effective manner. AMP Disposal Inc. is a locally owned and about helping organizations reach Mohamad El Chami operated company in HRM. We offer new heights of productivity and effi- Fredericton, NB hooklift container rentals for disposal of ciency, SECURELY. We prioritize both 506-471-6453 construction, demolition and house- the people and technical aspects of a [email protected] hold cleanups. We have various hooklift productive IT environment, bringing a www.bsicons.ca container sizes to meet the needs of personalized element to implementation COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY – commercial and residential customers. that bridges any physical distance. Our Software Consulting We pride ourselves on fast, friendly and services include cyber security, managed CANABO MEDICAL CLINIC reliable service. IT services, IT consulting, Microsoft and Aric Betts SharePoint, education and training, QA Canabo Medical Clinic (CMC) is the Bedford, NS and testing and IT procurement. country’s largest network of medical 902-221-7553 Bill Parsons cannabis clinics. Established in 2014, we [email protected] 84 Chain Lake Drive, Suite 104 have 22 clinics across Canada from www.ampdisposal.ca Halifax, NS St. John’s to Kelowna. Canabo uses these ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT – 902-434-1085 therapies to treat patients suffering from Environmental Services [email protected] chronic pain and disabling illnesses. www.bulletproofsi.com Canabo educates patients, physicians, AQUALITAS INC. COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY – employers and the community by Nancy Stapleton IT Products/Services advancing medical cannabis research. 310-1550 Bedford Highway Raghbir Dhillon Bedford, NS 810-1809 Barrington Street 902-835-2784 Halifax, NS [email protected] 902-999-8295 www.aqualitas.ca [email protected] SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL – www.canabomedicalclinic.com Cannabis HEALTH CARE – Health Care Services, General

6 OCTOBER 2018 NEWSMAKERS

DADA’S KITCHEN NEWSCOTIA APPS W&M CHILDCARE FRANCHISING INC. Nikunjkumar Buha Innis Campbell Halifax, NS Bedford, NS Willowbrae Childcare Academy is a lead- 902-422-6319 902-818-1265 ing educational franchise that delivers a [email protected] [email protected] superior experience for parents, child- RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE – www.newscotiaapps.com care professionals and, of course, our Cafe/Deli COMPUTERS, IT & TECHNOLOGY – children. We want to share our success App Development and know-how with interested entrepre- ELWOOD PENS neurs. Our franchise focuses on owner, POWER HR INC. Elwood Pens was founded by Dylan non-operator and requires no industry Thompson-Mackay. Named after his Power HR Inc. builds deep, professional experience. Offering prime franchise grandfather, Elwood MacKay, the com- relationships through candid commu- locations in Canada and the United pany started from a small barn in Pictou nication. We are a boutique human States, we have the experience and County, Nova Scotia. Our mission at resources company focused on lead- knowledge to guide you from startup to Elwood Pens is to inspire others to write ership effectiveness. Our belief is that operations. their own story. Five per cent of all sales growing and inspiring leaders results in Wayne Cochrane go to non-profit organizations in the business success. Organizations that 94 Garland Avenue, Suite 201 community. invest in building their leadership capa- Dartmouth, NS Dylan Thompson-MacKay bility attract and retain top talent. 902-481-5435 1574 Argyle Street, Suite 4 & 5 Susan Power [email protected] Halifax, NS Quispamsis, NB www.willowbraechildcare.com 902-407-5480 506-647-5901 PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES – [email protected] [email protected] Child Care www.elwoodpens.ca www.powerhr.ca SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL – HR, EMPLOYMENT & STAFFING – Gifts Human Resources

GEORGE INGLIS SHRED-IT — STERICYCLE PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN Locally operated in Halifax/Atlantic George Inglis is a Dartmouth-based Canada and globally experienced means photographer and graphic designer. peace of mind and confidence with the He specializes in headshots and event world leader in information security. photography for individuals, businesses Shred-it has 25 years’ experience and and non-profit organizations. He is knowledge in more than 18 countries known for truly engaging people so that with more than 400,000 customers. their personalities and best expressions We’re the world’s best practice in infor- shine through. He’s also an experienced mation security and privacy protection. graphic designer, with a thorough under- Garry Levere standing of branding for both print and 89 Cutler Avenue, Unit 107 web platforms. Dartmouth, NS George Inglis 613-795-5509 Feel 2 Oakdale Crescent [email protected] Dartmouth, NS www.shredit.com/en-ca/service- IN THE KNOW 902-483-2412 locations/ca/halifax [email protected] BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – BE CONNECTED www.georgeinglisphotography.ca Shredding Services PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES – ANYTIME - ANYWHERE. Photography 6WD\ FRQQHFWHG IRU SURWHFWLRQ DXWRPDWLRQ DQG SHDFH RI PLQG QR PDWWHU ZKHUH \RX DUH

Are you a new member? To submit your 50-word description for New & Noted, please contact Kayla Whalen, Administrative Assistant at [email protected] or 902-468-7111 within the first six months of membership. _ ZLOVRQVVHFXULW\FD

BUSINESS VOICE 7 NEWSMAKERS MEMBERS IN THE NEWS How our members are growing Halifax

TIM MOORE & MOORE SUITES APPOINT NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO Curtis Scaplen, once a senior employee of a Fortune 500 company in Toronto and most recently with Stanfield’s Ltd., has joined as a partner in our organization. His vision is “to grow nationally through close ties and connections to the cities in which NOVA SCOTIAN CRYSTAL’S NEW we operate. I am not only thrilled for the STEMMED TULIP BEER GLASS RELEASE opportunity with Tim and Moore Suites, For Nova Scotian Crystal’s new tasting experience. Whatever beer you’re I am also committed to making a positive Stemmed Tulip Beer Glass, we drew enjoying, it allows you to experience it impact to the region.” Moore Suites will on the expertise of Stefan Gagliardi with a deeper focus and to deconstruct the soon have more than 70 units in HRM of Alexander Keith’s Brewery. He is a flavours. The wide base, followed by the offering nightly/weekly/monthly stays Certified Cicerone® (beer sommelier) and tapered neck, concentrates aromas before and it is a major partner in the Toronto the curator of a diverse line of small batch allowing them to explode. The flared rim organization. Curtis can be reached at brews. After much discussion, we designed distributes the liquid, evenly splashing [email protected]. this shape for a more contemplative your palate with pleasure.

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8 OCTOBER 2018 NEWSMAKERS

BLACK STAR WEALTH LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE Black Star Wealth is pleased to share the launch of their new website and refreshed brand. “Our business has evolved and our team is revitalized and ready to help our clients reach their financial goals. We wanted our new look to reflect that,” says Wendy Brookhouse, Founder and CEO, BEDFORD DENTIST Black Star Wealth. We are helping people RECOGNIZED FOR GOOD WORK reach their financial goals faster than ever WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PATIENTS by providing a holistic approach to money. IN NOVA SCOTIA Using our One Number Solution,™ our Dr. Daniel Albert of Hammond Dental team can help you Level Up! Check out our Centre was recently given an Award of new website at www.blackstarwealth.com Distinction from the Dartmouth Medical and start the conversation today. Association in recognition of his work with special needs patients. Working at Dartmouth General for 20 years, Dr. HHB COMMUNICATIONS Albert and his dental assistant, Angela MANAGER NAMED 2018 O’Hanley, have been providing dental COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR care for special needs clients who require Alison MacDonald, Communications general anesthesia. This specialized work Manager for Halifax Harbour requires a caring and sensitive approach Bridges (HHB), has been named the as each patient has different needs both 2018 Communicator of the Year by the medically and in terms of comprehension Canadian Public Relations Society — of work required. Together this team has Nova Scotia Chapter (CPRS-NS). This improved the quality of life for many prestigious award honours outstanding patients in Nova Scotia. individuals who have contributed to the public relations and communication industry in a way that has significantly BIDE AWHILE WELCOMES NEW impacted their community. MacDonald BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND led the communications campaign for AWARDS NANCY MANSFIELD The Macdonald Bridge suspended spans VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR deck replacement project, also known as NEW NAME, NEW MANDATE At our AGM, our membership approved the the Big Lift, which wraps up in 2018. Waterfront Development is becoming 2018-19 board of directors, welcoming seven Develop Nova Scotia — the Crown new members including Jenny Allen, Stacey HOP! SKIP! JUMP! AWARDED corporation responsible for leading sus- Chisholm, Amanda Harwood, Jeff Lanthier, TOP CHOICE AWARD tainable development of high-potential Gillian Martin-Greenough, Aaron Veinotte hop! skip! jump! Indoor Play Space property and infrastructure across Nova and Tessa Williams. Our executive now con- is proud to receive the Top Choice Award Scotia, all with the view to drive inclusive sists of Kate Peddle as President, Carolyn for Top Indoor Playground in Halifax economic growth in our province. While Baker as VP, Travis Newport as Secretary, for two consecutive years. It is truly a our commitment and love of our place at Treasurer Amanda Mitchell and Stephanie pleasure to receive the award and a great the water’s edge remains steadfast, now, Willan as Past President. Returning mem- motivation to continue to work hard as Develop Nova Scotia, our mission is to bers include Allison Coffin, Dave Quinton, and ensure continued success for years support the creation of sustainable places Paul Briar, Geoff Richardson, Marc to come. hop! skip! jump! Indoor Play right across Nova Scotia that attract and Tetreault and Michelle Venturini. Former Space would like to take this opportunity inspire people and investment. Read treasurer, Nancy Mansfield, was named to thank our customers for voting us more at developnovascotia.ca. Volunteer of the Year. number one.

BUSINESS VOICE 9 NEWSMAKERS

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS Pete’s Frootique and Fine Foods is excited to congratulate Dianne Hamilton on her 25th anniversary with our company (celebrated earlier this spring). Dianne, now the Director of Operations, first joined Pete Luckett as the company’s controller. Dianne has been here to see it all, starting with one location and a small staff of 15, she played a vital part as we’ve INTRODUCING ICE PATCH HOLLOW INDOOR PLAYGROUND grown in to a company with nearly 300 AT SUNNYSIDE MALL! employees, two locations and a wholesale After years of dreaming about bringing side of Pete’s Frootique. The Ice Patch business. Dianne is a fearless and pas- his characters to life, local children’s Hollow play space was created from the sionate leader who knows that customer author Brian Hiltz has opened Ice characters and settings of his two books, and employee satisfaction are keys to Patch Hollow Indoor Playground in Joey the Penguin and Preston Goes Green. success. Congratulations, Dianne! Sunnyside Mall in Bedford. Ice Patch There is lots of play equipment, slides, Hollow has its own entrance right next ball shooters, an interactive game floor, WOOZLES TURNS 40 to Shoppers Drug Mart on the opposite a toddler’s section and much more! Forty years ago, on an overcast October day, a new store opened in a renovated house on a side street off Spring Garden BREAKWATER STUDIOS WINS AN EMMY! Road. Woozles — known as a place for Breakwater Studios is thrilled to happened when celebrated pianist Gloria and about children — had more than 600 announce that Montage: Great Film Cheng challenged the world’s greatest customers its first day. Mortgage lenders Composers and the Piano won a Los film composers — Williams, Newman, and bankers were dubious about this Angeles area Emmy award for Best Giacchino, Broughton, Desplat and venture, but four decades later, Woozles is Independent Programming in July 2018! Davis — to write original pieces for solo now Canada’s oldest children’s bookstore The stars of this film have been piano. These recording sessions profile and continues to delight children of all nominated for 73 Academy Awards these titans of film music like we’ve ages with hand-picked books and toys. and taking home nine. Here’s what never seen before. Woozles has a rich history — we didn’t even have a cash register for our first eight years. Check out www.woozles.com for more about our history and our birthday.

NEW GUEST KITCHEN Whether you are moving to town, work- CANNABIS AND WORKPLACE SAFETY ONLINE COURSE ing on a long-term project or just want the OFFICIALLY APPROVED AND ENDORSED BY THE PSKN comforts of home while on the road, you will love our new guest kitchen. Featuring SayleGroup Inc.’s Cannabis and knowledge and skills to protect them- stove and range, fridge, dishwasher, Workplace Safety Online Course has selves and their coworkers from this microwave, pots and pans, you can now been reviewed, approved and endorsed unique workplace hazard. Every employer cook your favourite meal or comfort food by the Professional Security Knowledge must ensure they take reasonable precau- outside your room. Ideal for long-term Network (PSKN). The course is easily tions during this transition — one being, stays, frequent travellers, teams or any- disseminated and uses clear language allocating training that provides your one with dietary restrictions and needs. so that your most exposed personnel workforce with their legal occupational The Holiday Inn Express & Suites (your workforce) can gain the important health and safety “Right to Know.” Halifax Bedford, everything you need.

10 OCTOBER 2018 NEWSMAKERS

VINTNER’S CELLAR AND PETE’S POP UP THE SOCIAL BOUTIQUE Pete’s Frootique & Fine Foods is menus have been created by our own CELEBRATES TWO YEARS excited to announce their new pop-up Chef Cassie Campbell. “Halifax is known Dress for Success Halifax is pleased shop. With a focus on food innovation for being an innovation hub,” says store to congratulate and announce the and new trends, Pete’s Pop Up will be manager Frank Yunace. “And we wanted second anniversary of Vintner’s Cellar located in the Dresden Row location and to focus on food innovation. We wanted to and The Social Boutique, located at The the menu will change with the seasons. try something new.” For more information Village Centre in Bedford. This partner- The ‘Summer Sizzle’ and ‘Fall Favourites’ follow Pete’s on social media @petesns. ship has grown since both opened their doors two years ago. Vintner’s has been an ongoing supporter and contributor to The Social Boutique. “With the contri- Join us in supporting butions and support from companies small businesses. like Vintner’s, we are able to move our message forward on a larger scale and with more speed,” says Julie Wisen, Board President. Pictured left is Cavell Ferguson (owner of Vintner’s Cellar) and Brenda Saunders/Todd (Founder and #SHOPLOCALHFX CONTEST CEO The Social Boutique). www.dressforsuccess.org/halifax OCTOBER 19, 2018 WISE CRACKS WINS THE GOLD Join the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and BDC in celebrating small business in Halifax. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE IN FRANCHISING You can get involved by taking a photo of you with one of our Wise Cracks, a Halifax leaky basement stickers or window clings around the city, or supporting local businesses. repair company, won the Consumer Choice Award for the sixth year in a Post your photo on Twitter and tag @halifaxchamber and row. The award is chosen by consumer @bdc_ca for a chance to win one of many exciting prizes! votes within a given area. Besides being a Halifax area waterproofing company, the business also franchised its system a number of years ago, boasting 20 locations across Canada. In 2018, they recently won both the Franchisees Choice Designation and the Gold Award of Excellence from the Canadian Franchise Association. The awards are presented annually to franchise brands that have demonstrated the strongest #SHOPLOCALHFX relationships with their franchisees.

BUSINESS VOICE 11 NEWSMAKERS

PARTNERSHIP WITH JUNK WORKS HALIFAX NOW OFFERING SELF-SERVICE DROP-OFF BINS NEW EDGE SHARPENING Junk Works Halifax is now offering an tonne in weight allowance with a small Big Erics is excited to announce a part- alternative to its popular full-service junk charge for overage (maximum weight is nership with Peter Nowlan of New Edge and debris removal with the introduction three tonnes). We will take pretty much Sharpening. A chef’s knife is the single of Junk Works driveway friendly, anything except hazardous waste. For most important tool in any commercial/ 12-cubic-yard walk-in bins. Load yourself pricing and information call 1.888.888. home kitchen, so keeping it sharp is critical. and pay only for the space you use. JUNK (5865) or book online at This new partnership means that Big Erics Our all-inclusive fees include up to one www.junk-works.ca/locations/halifax. is now a drop-off location for knife sharpening in Dartmouth. Peter is a craftsman, meticulous and sharpens for many local chefs. He sharpens each knife manually in the free-hand, traditional way using quality Japanese water stones. We are pleased to now offer this amazing service to all home and restaurant chefs, just bring in your knives and leave them with us.

LUNG ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA HOSTED A TOBACCO CONTROL SYMPOSIUM The Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Smoke-Free Nova Scotia hosted the Tobacco Control Symposium on Sept. 28, 2018. The symposium, which featured renowned guest speakers, Dr. David Hammond and Dr. Peter Selby, was focused on three key themes: end- game strategies, evidence-based tobacco cessation and emerging topics in tobacco control. Knowledgeable discussions were led by health and addictions professionals around clinical tobacco treatment, program development, addictions and mental health. For more information, visit ns.lung.ca.

12 OCTOBER 2018 NEWSMAKERS

HALIFAX PARTNERSHIP NAMES INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO The Halifax Partnership’s board of directors has named John Rogers as interim President and CEO. He joined the Partnership on Aug. 1. John is an accomplished business leader who is passionate about Halifax and committed to our city’s growth and success. He joins the Partnership with decades of legal, business and management experience, most recently as CEO at THOUGHTFUL MODERN DESIGN TO COMMEMORATE Stewart McKelvey. Under his leadership, HALIFAX EXPLOSION the Partnership will continue to build Twelve commemorative steel art pieces corten steel, telling stories from the past on the growing momentum, confidence were installed across the HRM this spring. and perforated stainless steel, represent- and optimism in Halifax, working with The markers, designed by Rayleen Hill ing the lives lost and our reflections of the our investors and partners to accelerate and her firm,RHAD Architects, each event for the centenary. Three of the mark- economic development and growth. have two material elements of laser-cut ers can be found in Fort Needham Park. T4G WINS ANNUAL MICROSOFT PARTNER AWARD TWIRP COMMUNICATIONS HON. DIANA WHALEN T4G Limited is proud to announce that PRESENTS TO JAMAICA APPOINTED TO FEDERAL our team has won the 2018 Microsoft BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ON NATIONAL Canada Data & AI Innovation and the AGENCIES PHARMACARE IMPLEMENTATION Industry Innovation for Commercial: Anita Kirkbride, Social Media Consultant Chamber member and former Provincial Manufacturing, Retail or Financial at Twirp Communications Inc. Finance and Justice Minister Hon. Services awards. These annual awards attended a trade mission to Jamaica with Diana Whalen has been appointed to recognize Microsoft partners who the Centre for Women in Business and a Federal Council that will be looking demonstrate excellence in innovation ACOA in June. Kirkbride hosted 12 busi- at an implementation plan for National and implementation of customer solu- ness development agencies, entrepreneur- Pharmacare in Canada, bringing local tions based on Microsoft technology. ship centres and incubators for a break- representation to this important discus- “We are thrilled to be recognized as fast-learning session about social media sion. The Council will submit a report to among the best in the Microsoft partner trends in the global business community. the Minister of Health and Minister of community,” says Geoff Flood, President “I was awed by some of the innovations Finance in 2019. The report will provide of T4G Limited. Each of T4G’s winning coming out of their entrepreneurship com- the government with recommenda- submissions leveraged machine learning munity. I’m excited for the opportunity tions on how to best move forward on and artificial intelligence to derive new to work with them to leverage the power implementing a national Pharmacare customer value. Winners were selected of social media marketing.” Kirkbride program that meets the needs of, and is based on the outstanding work the com- expects to return to Jamaica for Global affordable for, Canadians, employers and panies provided to their customers and Entrepreneurship Week in November. governments. community.

BUSINESS VOICE 13 COVER STORY

It’s inspiring, because we need more of that in our economy. We fi nd people willing to take on a challenge that is globally relevant and willing to build a world-class business out of it.” — Malcolm Fraser, President, Innovacorp

POWER IN NUMBERS NOVA SCOTIA IS SET TO BECOME A WORLD-CLASS INNOVATION HUB BY JON TATTRIE PHOTOS BY PAUL DARROW

hen Kim Kardashian and her sis- together did better as a group than alone, create work out of thin internet that has Wters posted photos of themselves and the most popular was on a picnic delighted Malcolm Fraser since he took in underwear sprawling around a park blanket at nighttime, followed by two over as Innovacorp president in 2017. “It’s this summer, most people didn’t see past black-and-white shots. Why did Dash inspiring, because we need more of that the skimpy outfi ts. Halifax startup Dash Hudson do this? Because, since its found- in our economy. We fi nd people willing Hudson saw the analytics beneath the ing in 2013, the Halifax-based company to take on a challenge that is globally rel- underwear and observed the sisters had has grown from a startup team of fi ve to evant and willing to build a world-class given Calvin Klein an Instagram engage- 65 full-time employees selling Instagram business out of it,” he says. ment of 2.43 per cent above its average insights to Conde Nast, Vevo, Estee He reels off a list of Nova Scotia 0.42 per cent. Lauder and many, many more. up-and-comers that have caught his Dash Hudson also found the sisters It’s the kind of innovative ability to eye: Densitas, which uses health data

Join us: Malcolm Fraser and three entrepreneurs speak at our 2018 Fall Dinner. Thursday, Nov. 1 at the Halifax Convention Centre Details: www.halifaxchamber.com/events

14 OCTOBER 2018 COVER STORY

to provide more effective diagnoses of breast cancer; clean agri-tech company TruLeaf, which he says is “redefining what it means to grow vegetables” and Proposify, which helps people handle sales proposals and relationships with business prospects. Fraser says a lifetime of living as an entrepreneur himself means the Innovacorp job is the first one he’s ever had. Back in 1995, he started Internet Solutions Ltd. (ISL), later called MODE, to break ground online. “We were helping companies understand what the internet is, how to use it to help grow their business,” he says. In 1997, he started a company that used internet-enabled cellphones to do wireless payments. “The way we kept ISL a competitive business was constantly innovating and Jenny Pratt, Thomas Rankin and Laura Park of Dash Hudson. taking on state-of-the-art knowledge and delivering it to our clients as advice and services,” Fraser says. “We didn’t have I love Halifax and wanted to do something that was the same cohesion in the province that is focused on supporting these types of interesting. I wanted to sell out into the world, not businesses as important to the growth of thinking about things too locally. Halifax is a place where our province and our economy. You were a little bit on your own, doing your own really smart people like Laura and Jenny are living and thing.” want to do interesting things.” Fraser is paying that hard-earned wisdom forward now, and thinks estab- — Thomas Rankin, Co-Founder & CEO, Dash Hudson lished Nova Scotia companies can do more to help startups. Specifically, he and his team at Innovacorp want local Volta helped them grow, as did Creative Like Rankin, both are Maritimers who businesses to be more open to “piloting” Destruction Labs, ACOA, Innocacorp got their MBAs from Dalhousie. Pratt new approaches from startups. and Build Ventures. says their clients often assume they’re “I don’t mean buying, but helping “I love Halifax and wanted to do based in New York and it’s only once the companies validate, in a commercial something that was interesting,” he says. the relationship is established that they situation, whether their product or ser- “I wanted to sell out into the world, not learn the truth. “They always have lots of vice works and delivers on the promise thinking about things too locally. Halifax questions about Halifax,” Pratt says. “It’s that has been proposed,” he says. is a place where really smart people like always a fun icebreaker for those custom- Thomas Rankin, Co-Founder and Laura and Jenny are living and want to do ers that are curious.” CEO of Dash Hudson, posts a different interesting things.” Park says the young company stays picture of launching a tech startup in That would be Jenny Pratt, his fresh by hiring co-op students from pro- Nova Scotia. He grew up in Halifax and Director of Customer Success and Laura grams at Dalhousie, Acadia University earned his MBA at Dalhousie University. Park, Director of Demand Generation. and the University of Ottawa.

BUSINESS VOICE 15 COVER STORY

Just being in Halifax is very benefi cial for any company that is ocean-related. The market here, the entrepreneurship community and ecosystem — it kind of promoted us to work here.” — Mo AlGermozi, Co-Founder, Graphite Innovation and Technologies Marcel Gaier and Mo AlGermozi of Graphite Innovation and Technologies.

Dash Hudson says Halifax has in Halifax,” Rankin says. “I think the Nova Scotia success. He started Graphite played a big role in getting the business community is super-supportive here. Innovation and Technologies (GIT) with up and running. The only thing missing, The government programs are amazing. Marcel Gaier in 2017. GIT produces a they say, is a little more celebration. I think we get more here than most places material called graphene nanoplate- “I think awareness that there are real and do, so there’s no excuse.” lets. “At fi rst, we didn’t know what to do interesting opportunities for people here Mo AlGermozi is another raised-in- with this powder, but our engineering NOW OPEN IN BAYERS LAKE 145 Hobsons Lake Drive, Suite 405 Halifax, NS

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16 OCTOBER 2018 COVER STORY

From a local perspective, how the Halifax government and some of the business environment they’ve created for us and the support they’ve given to the company, has really helped the company through some tough times, helped them survive and helped them persevere. — Michael J. Mangano, President & CEO, ABK Biomedical

Michael J. Mangano and Gary Donofrio of ABK Biomedical. backgrounds came together and we found U.S. and earlier president of Australian- moving to ABK. He was surprised to a way to make a coating,” AlGermozi says. based Sirtex Medical. He’d only been fi nd the local community taking such an That was two-and-a-half years ago president and CEO of Nova Scotia’s ABK interest in business success. “I love it, I and they’ve turned the powder into a paint Biomedical for three weeks when he think it’s fantastic. I underestimated it.” to protect marine vessels and structures spoke to Business Voice, and he admits ABK was founded by Dalhousie against corrosion and fouling. “We’re look- he’d barely heard of Halifax before graduates Bob Abraham, Daniel Boyd ing to take over most of the paint industry in this region in the next couple of years.” PRESENTING SPONSOR: AlGermozi says he wanted to stay in Nova Scotia and was able to do so with the help of the entrepreneurial community here, as well as government and university support. “Just being in Halifax is very benefi cial for any company that is ocean-related,” he says. “The market here, the entrepreneurship community and ecosystem — it kind of promoted us to work here.” Launch Dal helped GIT get started featuring and Creative Destruction Labs helped Three entrepreneurs who are choosing Nova Scotia them reach the next level. AlGermozi spotted one diffi cult gap for startups, however: many programs help founders hire staff , but few help them hire them- "How do we encourage an selves. That means he had to work full time in his family’s solar business while ecosystem of growth and also launching GIT. “There aren’t many programs that help founders get some- sustainability in our region?" where with their personal lives,” he says. “You can hire people, but you don’t have programs that are solely for founders.” He thinks fi nding a way to let funders work full time on their startups THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 could benefi t everyone. “We got help in every way possible. This is just from a HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE | 5-9PM personal experience,” he adds. Michael J. Mangano brings a diff erent perspective. Before coming to Halifax, HALIFAXCHAMBER.COM he was CEO of ReShape Medical in the

BUSINESS VOICE 17 COVER STORY and Sharon Kehoe. ABK was created to in Boston as well, having the MITs and Mangano thinks Halifax can learn commercialize the novel technology they Harvards, is a great advantage for com- from Boston, where an innovative hub developed at Dalhousie. They got support panies in our industries,” he says. snowballs clusters of fresh businesses, from ACOA, BioNova and other avenues. “From a local perspective, how the talented workers and happy clients. Mangano sat on ABK Biomedical’s Halifax government and some of the Mangano was reached waiting for a board for a year before starting as CEO, business environment they’ve created for flight in Boston, and ABK says that’s one and in that time saw how the univer- us and the support they’ve given to the area Halifax could improve: more direct sity-rich environment has helped the company, has really helped the company flights to major U.S. cities. company grow. “We’re a science-based through some tough times, helped them His priorities with ABK are to see company in health care and in med-tech, survive and helped them persevere. The them finish development of two key so to have Dalhousie and the [other] company would not be here without the technologies and either take them com- universities there is huge. Having worked local support.” mercial or be acquired. He expects that to happen over the next couple of years. “We’re very excited. ABK has been around for a little while. They’ve spent a lot of time doing great science, and that science has produced great patents and a great technology platform … we’re going to round those off into products that are 7RR EXV\ ZRUNLQJ LQ \RXU really going to help patients and doctors,” he says. “The whole company is really EXVLQHVV WR ZRUN RQ \RXU excited right now.” And perhaps everyone can learn EXVLQHVV" :H FDQ KHOS from keeping up with the Kardashians. Dash Hudson reports the Calvin Klein campaign did best when it showed all the 902.424.6650 1.800.260.6682 novascotiabusiness.com #BDCsbw _ _ _ sisters together: “That clearly indicates that while they’re individually influential, they’re a powerhouse when together.”

SMALL OCTOBER 15 -19, 2018 A perfect match For the past several years, the BUSINESS Halifax Chamber’s Fall Dinner pre- WEEK senting sponsor, Stewart McKelvey, has shared their speaking opportunity with a charity of their choice. This year, they chose the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which was actually perfect timing as the Conservancy was working on open- ing Halifax’s ﬁrst Wilderness Park. The future of Halifax is increasingly connected to the innovation econ- LET’S COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE omy and as always, the Chamber is working to attract and retain talent. SMALL BUSINESSES IN HALIFAX. Halifax has a unique offering — the ocean. We have easy access to lakes and forests and now, we have an amazing Wilderness Park with breath-taking views, right in the heart of Halifax. So, when choosing the perfect spot to highlight some of the companies that are helping bring innovation and numerous other economic and social beneﬁts to our city, the Wilderness View the full schedule of events at Park was the obvious choice. HalifaxSmallBusinessWeek.com

18 OCTOBER 2018 Alternative Legal Thinking for Start-ups Cox & Palmer’s alt program provides emerging companies with second-to-none, aﬀordable legal advice and mentoring, with a view to building a solid foundation for your venture’s next stage of growth. At Cox & Palmer, we share a passion for innovation and partnership and truly believe that entrepreneurs with great ideas and some motivation can change the world (or at least their community, for starters). Due to a start-up’s limited (or non-existent) budget at the early stages, retaining strong legal advisors ends up falling off the entrepreneurial radar. That’s where we come in. Our multi-disciplinary legal team has extensive experience in equipping start-ups with the necessary tools and advice to compete on the local, national, and international stage.

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BUSINESS VOICE 19 EMBRACING INNOVATION

Hacking the business model Volta helps companies embrace innovation By Joey Fitzpatrick

uild a better mousetrap and the world An innovation outpost is a space validates the plan. Bwill beat a path to your door, it has where companies can explore innovative “So the risk profi le for your new ven- been said. The same principle no doubt ideas and develop prototypes outside the ture is dramatically reduced,” Crowell applies to scratch and win tickets — so a constraints of the corporate structure. says. “Once you’ve demonstrated that recent Atlantic Lottery hackathon was “When you’re not being inundated the product is viable it’s a whole diff erent designed to do just that. A call went out to with meetings, answering emails, etc. it ball game.” local designers, who were challenged to allows more time for refl ection,” Sandalis The innovation outpost model has come up with innovative themes, designs explains. “It gives you a space to explore proven successful at the Kitchener- and mechanics for the next generation of and come up with new solutions.” Waterloo hub known as Communitech, scratch tickets. With $4,000 in prizes up One of two things typically happens where participants read like a who’s who for grabs, a total of 10 teams presented when a company launches a prototype of Canadian fi rms, including Manulife, 21 new ticket designs. at an innovation outpost, explains Chris TD Bank, Canadian Tire, Thomson Atlantic Lottery has held six of Crowell, VP Corporate Innovation at Reuters and CIBC. these hackathons, tackling a range of Volta. Beyond the benefi ts for project topics, over the past three years at the “If a prototype fails, it fails quickly delivery, the sandbox concept can have a company’s corporate innovation outpost and at low cost. Those are the type of fail- dramatic impact on organizational cul- at Volta Labs. ures you can learn from, and they don’t ture and behaviour, Crowell adds. “We’ve developed multiple proto- impact the larger organization.” “You’re creating an environment types that are in various stages of devel- But if the experiment is successful, where it’s OK to fail, as long as you’re opment,” says Michael Sandalis, Manager when it is brought back into the parent learning from it,” he says. “You cannot of Innovation Execution and Outpost Lab organization, it now has a proof-of-con- have an innovative environment if people Lead at Atlantic Lottery. cept and perhaps some market data that are afraid of failure.”

20 OCTOBER 2018 EMBRACING INNOVATION

McInnes Cooper also provides presentations and helps develop curric- ulum at Volta Academy on issues around corporate structure and the incorpora- tion process. “This has to be done right, but what we were hearing from clients was concern about cost — companies wanted to be able to do this themselves,” Robinson says. “So we’ve actually launched a couple of packages for emerging business clients that wholly came out of working with clients in that industry and at Volta in particular.”

d te ibu DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY ntr Co Volta is still the place where young, tech-savvy entrepreneurs can launch their ventures. Volta’s Cohort program You’re creating an is designed to inject investment and environment where management expertise into early stage, high-calibre companies. Successful it’s OK to fail, as long applicants receive $25,000 in funding, mentorship and working space at Volta. as you’re learning The fi rst wave of the program came in from it. You cannot November 2017, when fi ve companies were selected from 15 applicants. rawpixel/unsplash have an innovative Among those successful compa- environment if people nies was Trip Ninja, which got its start four years ago when co-founder Andres are afraid of failure.” Collart saw an opportunity for disruptive — Chris Crowell, technology in the travel sector. VP, Corporate Innovation, “I was planning my fi rst trip to Europe and I wanted to visit fi ve desti- Volta Labs nations,” Collart recalls. There was no eff ective tool for planning a multi-des- tination trip, and that’s the niche that NEW SURROUNDINGS Because McInnes Cooper works Trip Ninja’s licensed technology has now A lot has changed since Volta fi rst with both emerging companies, and fi lled. They take a customer’s travel dates opened its doors in 2013 on Spring the venture capital investors who can and the destinations they want to visit Garden Road. An attractive new setting help those companies grow, the branch and fi nd the lowest cost fl ights available. occupying three fl oors at the Maritime offi ce at Volta is a natural fi t. The fi rm “Our technology is licensed to travel Centre provides 60,000 square feet of has acted for approximately 20 Volta agencies so that they can better service space, making it the largest innovation member companies on venture capital their customers by fi nding the lowest hub outside of Toronto. and angel investor fi nancing, including possible fares,” Collart points out. “It’s a bold move for Atlantic Canada, companies who now have or previously Cohort members meet regularly and something we’re really proud of,” had offi ce space at Volta and other Volta with Volta board members, where they Crowell adds. members. deliver progress reports and discuss One of the centrally located offi ces Besides working in proximity with challenges. The mentorship and personal at Volta’s new digs is occupied by the law existing and potential clients, simply contacts made through the program have fi rm McInnes Cooper, one of the found- being immersed in the world of technol- been critical to his company’s continued ing sponsors of Volta. ogy and innovation brings its own bene- growth, Collart adds. “With a number of clients in the fi ts, Robinson adds. “One member of the Volta board emerging business sector, being there “This helps drive our own internal was extremely helpful in us raising our physically — and as a member — helps us focus on innovation,” she says. “We want last round of investment,” he recalls “He stay close to our clients and know what’s to be involved in developing new ideas provided coaching and strategy, and also going on in their industry,” says Julie and new solutions that we can then bring opened up his network and provided Robinson, a partner in Corporate Finance to our existing clients and to our future personal introductions to potential and Securities with McInnes Cooper. clients.” investors.”

BUSINESS VOICE 21 EMBRACING INNOVATION

OCEANS OF DATA She launched the company in 2013 while in the province, especially in oceans, big Sightings of great white sharks, monitoring global shark populations. data and technology. With the support whales and other large marine species off “It was created as a place where of innovators at Volta I am confi dent that Nova Scotia’s coast have been creating people around the world can get involved my success will be accelerated.” quite a stir recently. The stories are in citizen science,” she explains. Having startups and established told anecdotally, through mainstream Much of the data is collected and companies sharing real estate and shar- and social media. But, these one-off logged into eOceans’ database by rec- ing ideas benefi ts both parties, as each reports fail to capture these sightings in reational divers. The company collects has its strengths and weaknesses. Big a systematic way. And when taken out of data on sharks, rays, jellyfi sh, seahorses, companies have customers, brand rec- context, can have costly implications for turtles, marine mammals, garbage and ognition and resources. But they’re often tourism and fi shing industries alike. oddities. She is currently collecting and slow-moving, risk-averse and resistant to “There is no one place for the analyzing data for the tourism sectors in change. Startups lack the deep pockets, millions of ocean explorers to track and Fiji, Thailand, Indonesia and marine-pro- but they’re quick, nimble and not afraid quantify their observations in order to tected areas across the Atlantic region. to take risks. convey what is happening to their indus- Ward-Paige incorporated in January “The outpost is a place where big try and the ocean around them,” says of this year, and in May was accepted into companies can get a little bit of that Dr. Christine Ward-Paige. Her company, the Volta Cohort program. startup DNA into their organization and eOceans, provides an activity tracking “Volta provides a stimulating and acquire the methodologies and mindsets app for individuals to log and share their motivating atmosphere for people who they need to become more innovative,” experiences. The data collected provides want to change the world and thrive,” Crowell says. “They also attract the kind a deeper understanding of the oceans at Ward-Paige says. “There’s a lot of talent of talent that makes them more disrup- individual, community and global scales. coming out of the academic institutions tive, nimble and faster to market.”

Volta is an ecosystem that leverages a company’s Taking the incremental successes and failures, so that the whole guesswork startup community can learn, grow and move faster.” — Dave Kim, Co-Founder & CEO, Harbr out of A commercial construction project “He told us that an issue like that commercial generates vast amounts of data from normally would not get to him for three diverse sources. Information relating weeks,” Jeff Kielbratowski says. “When to scheduling, surveying, budgets, we can shed light on what’s happening construction estimates, weather, job hours, delays, on the job site, developers can make accidents, materials and invoices is all better decisions.” By Joey Fitzpatrick gathered by various software systems. Site supervisors can upload But nothing in this process gives the information throughout the workday owner/developer access to much- using a mobile phone or tablet. The It was a modest home renovation needed, real-time information on Harbr system also gives developers that opened up a business opportunity what’s happening on the job site. a legal document they can use in the for the tech fi rm and Volta member, “The owner wants to see one event of a dispute. Because every entry Harbr. Dave Kim was installing a holistic view. That’s what our mobile is logged, it’s a straightforward way to fi replace, but the project was stalled for app does,” Kim says. “Site supervisors identify where a breakdown occurred days because of a missing piece. The are typically doing this process man- and where responsibility lies. This problem was made more frustrating ually with pen and paper. They might makes it more likely that a dispute by an absence of communication. This log the information every day and then will be resolved before reaching a got Kim and friends Ashley and Jeff fi le a weekly report on Friday.” courtroom. Kielbratowski pondering the issue of The time lag involved in this pro- Being a part of Volta is an excel- information sharing in the construction cess means that by the time information lent fi t for a company like Harbr, Kim sector, and how they might bring some reaches an owner’s desk it might be 30 points out. “Building a startup is hard high-tech solutions to bear. days behind what is actually happening enough,” he says. “It’s even harder “We began by targeting residen- on the ground. In one instance, Harbr’s when you’re trying to do it within your tial construction,” Kim recalls. “It software was able to fl ag a problem — a own silo. Volta is an ecosystem that didn’t take us long to realize that our sub-contractor was not showing up on leverages a company’s incremental market lay in the commercial sector. the site — and the owner was able to successes and failures, so that the They deal with the same problems — pick up the phone and resolve the issue whole startup community can learn, just on a much larger scale.” the same day. grow and move faster.”

22 OCTOBER 2018 TRENDS Ensuring success How small and medium enterprises can benefit from boutique management consulting firms

• Less brand ego: Boutique consulting the captain, think about your first officer firms are focused on few markets. Hence on board. You will always have a backup, they offer a lesser brand ego and tend to someone to challenge and someone focus more on customer satisfaction. who will challenge you, all in the sake of • Flexibility: Boutique consulting improving your operational efficiency. firms tend to accomodate their clients’ A study from the Harvard Business adhoc requests more easily than big firms. Review (Consulting is more than giving advice - Arthur Turner, September 1982 Often consulting services are looked issue) is proven to remain true in the at as unnecessary, where SME owners brink of the digital revolution in the 21st or managers decide to do everything century. MARC ZIRKA CEO, in-house. Management and strategy consult- TELCOVISION GROUP LTD. Sure, you can do it, but have you ing should have a purpose. Actually, the thought about your capacity and about consulting profession has many purposes the luxury of taking your eyes off the and this study from Harvard* classified As a small and medium enterprise horizon? Do you have the manpower them as a hierarchy: (SME) we all worry about: and the real, not the claimed, expertise Additional Goals: • Top-line revenue in-house? Have you ever thought about • Improve organizational effectiveness • Managing employees the opportunity cost? • Facilitate client learning • Positive cashflow Are consulting fees a real direct cost, • Build consensus and commitment • Reducing overhead costs or are they more an investment, which Traditional purpose: • Finding profitable customers has a direct or indirect positive contribu- • Assist in the implementation tion to your topline, cashflow and overall • Provide recommendations If I tell you this is easy, that would operational efficiency? • Conduct diagnosis that may redefine be untrue. Leading a SME is challenging Is it better to pour our expenses in problems and seeking help for those challenges can marketing costs in the hope of grabbing • Provide solutions to given problems be difficult as we allow our ego to make the attention of our target market? Or • Provide requested information us fear sometimes. It could be due to would it be more beneficial to optimize cost, lack of experience in an area and/or the cost and reallocate a solid portion Getting to the top of this list is easier worse; burn out. to consulting services? Have you at any with a boutique management consulting The challenges are there. But when point questioned your product/service, firm. It’s flexible and willing to provide a we add the complexity of a competitive your quality of service, the competitive tangible added value to its customers. market, the pressure on pricing and the landscape, the operational efficiency? Now, if you have a moment, re-read high expectations of customers to receive Have we ever questioned our own this article and take the time to really con- better quality goods and services; the business? sider its content, you may just realize you leaders of SME companies will have to These are questions many SME had a need you didn’t even know about. face a colossal challenge. leaders have to face every day. If you are *Adaptation from HBR- September 1982 When do you have time for planning, strategizing, analyzing and reflecting on the short-term and mid-term results? Not to mention the five years long term plan? SIGNS A boutique consulting firm is an extended member of the family and much more affordable than you think. The positive attributes of boutique PRINTING management consulting firms are: • Depth of knowledge: Boutique consulting firms focus on niche topics, PROMOTIONAL thus they provide a more focused and specialized expertise. • Cost efﬁciency: Boutique DARTMOUTH HALIFAX consulting firms have less overhead and 60 Williams Avenue 19 Crane Lake Drive a smaller company structure, which Dartmouth, NS Halifax, NS reflects positively on their pricing. 902.434.1434 902.450.0508 www.mmphalifax.com

BUSINESS VOICE 23 TRENDS Lead your business to a digital transformation Follow these five steps to help create a culture of continuous innovation

We live in a society where people want things faster. Consumers demand it. But very few businesses have the culture of innovation they need to keep up with the fast- changing marketplace.” — Jivi Cheema, Business Advisor, BDC

DANNY CONNORS BUSINESS CENTRE 1. Prepare a climate for change 2. Create an action plan MANAGER, BDC HALIFAX The first step in a digital transfor- Solutions to your pain points don’t mation is to establish why you’re doing it. necessarily have to involve technology. Sit down with key employees to do a pain But as part of a digital transformation, A digital transformation can spark point assessment — a review of each area you should investigate how technology your growth, boost your productivity and of the business to see what’s working well and better data can help in each area of rapidly increase your profits. and what’s not. the business. Digital transformation is about Does your company need to improve Create a clear action plan for acquir- much more than getting new techno- customer service or reduce errors? Do ing and implementing the technological logical gizmos for employees. It means you have poor internal communication? solution. The plan should include key changing your company’s culture to Are you losing business to competitors or milestones for progress and steps your use data and technology to make more struggling to fill orders? business will need to take to transform informed, faster decisions and better Cheema says you should ask the itself to maximize the benefits of the meet customer needs. A critical element following questions: technology or data. Also build in con- of the process is to adopt a mentality • Where is your business fragmented tingency planning in case a step doesn’t of continual innovation and quality right now? work out. improvement. • What is the current reality and how Try to include short-term targets “We live in a society where people is it working? for quick, easy wins to keep everyone want things faster,” says BDC Business • Where do breakdowns occur in each motivated. These could be sure-fire Advisor Jivi Cheema. “Consumers area of the business? projects that aren’t too costly or onerous demand it. But very few businesses have • Does everyone understand their role to implement.* the culture of innovation they need to and the business vision? *Read more: 6 steps to creating your technology keep up with the fast-changing mar- • How well does information flow? roadmap. www.bdc.ca/en/blog/pages/it-strate- ketplace. Employees often don’t feel gy-6-steps-creating-your-technology-roadmap.aspx encouraged to bring forth ideas about “You hear all the time that things One of the things we hear a lot is, how to improve the business. Digital are fine, but if you look more closely, you ‘We don’t want to do that because it’s going transformation is about fostering such an often find pain points calling for a solu- to be a really big project.’ “Break it up into innovation culture.” tion,” Cheema says. bite-sized pieces,” Cheema says. Cheema says entrepreneurs should Also have an honest look at your follow these five steps to lead a digital current technology, how you use data and 3. Establish a change team transformation. (Cheema’s advice is any gaps in competencies, resources or Getting employee buy-in starts from inspired in part by Harvard business buy-in for executing a transformation. the top. Management has to not only professor John Keller’s eight-step model Then, explore how digital technology understand the action plan and the need for managing change.) and better data can help your business. for change, but lead the way in technol- Be sure to look at what your competi- ogy adoption. tors and other industries are doing with “Change will not take place if leader- technology. ship does not exemplify it,” Cheema says.

24 OCTOBER 2018 TRENDS

She also advises clients to create a “change coalition” — a team of influential employees from all ranks who believe strongly in the transformation and champion it to others. The coalition can include workers or managers most directly affected by the pain points, tech-savvy employees and even some who resist the change. “You’re building peer-to-peer change,” Cheema says. “Change that implements fastest is peer-led.”

4. Engage and communicate Create a communication plan to explain the change to your team, address Take advantage of your employee concerns and quickly get feed- member beneﬁts. back on hiccups. For example, you can give regular progress updates at company meetings, in newsletters or on a chart Get preferred rates and coverage posted in the lunchroom. that ﬁts your needs.

5. Sustain a change culture You can easily find yourself slipping back into old ways if change doesn’t Get more out become core to your business mentality. You could save big* The aim is to foster a culture of continual when you combine your of your benefits. innovation and quality improvement. member preferred rates As a Halifax Chamber of Commerce “Make change part of your everyday and bundle your home member, you have access to the language and culture,” Cheema says. TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program. “You want to constantly be thinking and car insurance. This means you can get preferred insurance about how you do things and how to do them better.” rates on a wide range of home and car A useful strategy is to regularly coverage that can be customized invite employees to come up with ideas for your needs. for innovation — for example, with an ideas or suggestion box. Or go further For over 65 years, TD Insurance has been and develop a structured innovation helping Canadians find quality home and process. For instance, you can create an car insurance solutions. innovation team to regularly gather quality improvement ideas, brainstorm them Recommended by Feel confident your home and car coverage and bring promising ones to manage- fits your needs. Get a quote now. ment to consider developing.* *Read more about how to brainstorm for innovation: www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/business-strategy-plan- HOME | CAR ning/innovate/pages/how-to-organize-successful-brain- storming-session.aspx It’s important to recognize and reward people for promoting change. Get a quote and see You can recognize employees in internal how much you could save! communications and reward them with 1-866-296-0888 bonuses or points exchangeable for Call or,goto tdinsurance.com/halifaxchamber gifts. Celebrate hitting your action plan milestones. You can also help sustain a culture of The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex program is underwritten by PRIMMUM INSURANCE COMPANY. It is distributed by Meloche Monnex Insurance and Financial Services Inc. in Quebec and by TD Insurance Direct Agency Inc. in the rest of Canada. Our address: 50 Place change by monitoring key performance Cremazie, Montreal (Quebec) H2P 1B6. Due to provincial legislation, our car and recreational insurance program is not offered in British indicators. Use dashboards, newslet- Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan. *Nationally, 90% of all of our clients who belong to an employer group that have an agreement ters and meetings to regularly inform with us and who insure a home (excluding rentals and condos) and a car on July 31, 2017, saved $455 when compared to the premiums employees about KPI achievements. they would have paid without the preferred insurance rate for groups and the multi-product discount. Savings are not guaranteed and may “It becomes a cycle of constant improve- vary based on the client’s profile. Savings vary in each province and may be higher or lower than $455. All trade marks are thepropertyof their respective owners. ® The TD logo and other TD trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ment based on data,” Cheema says.

BUSINESS VOICE 25 TRENDS A cultural intelligence advantage Recognizing and valuing employees’ diverse cultures and backgrounds presents unique opportunities for success

Working, leading and managing in the global economy has created the need to understand culture, minimize cultural barriers and maximize the business opportunities that come from diverse strengths.”

1. Understand and learn to work with Paying attention to the strength of the strengths of your cultural values a diverse culture allows us to notice and and the cultural values of your team develop the capacity to meet the needs of BRIAN DUGGAN, PPC members, business partners and clients, customers, partners and teams. A CERTIFIED CULTURAL customers. Understanding allows us cultural advantage creates strength from INTELLIGENCE FACILITATOR to minimize cultural awkward- diversity, allows opportunity for new AND EXECUTIVE COACH ness and increase cultural respect approaches to old problems and can allow and connection that is so vital to leaders to take an adaptive approach to Talented people from diverse back- business relationships. leading your teams to achieve business grounds create new cultural dynamics 2. Develop your overall cultural results. in our workplaces and community. This intelligence. Assess and understand Culturally respectful workplaces is an opportunity to pay attention to our your ability to adapt to diverse are recognized by high engagement and capability to work, manage and lead with cultural environments. Find and retention rates, greater organizational cultural intelligence. develop your organization’s current morale and synergy. The reality of our global economy and potential capability to develop: As our economy diversifies, our pop- demands that business leaders under- • CQ Drive: the level of motivation, ulation changes and the global focus of stand how to engage partners, employees persistence and confidence to business — domestic and international — and teams with diverse cultural back- learn how to work in an intercultural shifts and we want to be prepared to grounds. Working, leading and manag- environment. What are the seamlessly integrate and engage talent ing in the global economy has created the motivations of your people to learn, with diverse backgrounds to make our need to understand culture, minimize is there awareness that allows organizations stronger. cultural barriers and maximize the diverse strengths to emerge? Let’s talk about how coaching and business opportunities that come from • CQ Knowledge: your current workshops can build your cultural intelli- diverse strengths. understanding of cultural gence advantage! Cultural intelligence (CQ) is the similarities and differences among #immigration ability to function and adapt in intercul- your team, partners and customers. #atlanticimmigrationpilotproject tural relationships and workplaces. CQ How well do you understand, #culturalintelligence is a method of predicting and developing acknowledge and respect the #strengthindiversity your personal and team capability to work diversity of those around you? How together. (www.culturalq.com) can understanding diverse cultural Recognizing our own culture and values help your business? Brian Duggan, PCC is a Certified the value of the diverse cultures of our • CQ Strategy: what is your Cultural Intelligence Facilitator and team members creates opportunity awareness and ability to plan for Executive Coach with broad experience to increase competitive advantage, multicultural interactions? Are the as a coach, supporting senior leadership resulting from greater innovation, higher norms of how you work together still and managers to develop the man- talent attraction and retention rates, working? What can you stop or start agement capacity of their teams. He is greater awareness of client cultures, doing to build a stronger team or more successful business and new mar- engagement with clients? recognized for his engaging coaching ket development. • CQ Action: are you, your managers, and facilitating style that results in There are two key ways to identify employees and teams ready and professional development, leveraging and engage your cultural intelligence able to adapt behaviours when the professional, personal and organi- advantage: interacting across cultures? zational strengths of his clients.

26 OCTOBER 2018 WORKING FOR YOU

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT! 2018 CHAMBER GOLF CHALLENGE BRIGHTWOOD GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB June 14, 2018

he rainy weather didn’t dampen the Tfun at the 23rd Annual Chamber Golf Challenge. Thanks to this year’s amazing sponsors, the fun and entertainment were everywhere! Golfers had the chance to compete for prizes, sample many food and beverages, receive some awesome swag and enjoy Brightwood Golf & Country Club’s rolling fairways. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all of our players and sponsors who made this year a huge success! WINNERS: First Place: The Barrington Steakhouse & Oyster Bar Second Place: Rogers Media Third Place: Ceridian People’s Choice Award: Theriault Financial Most Honest Team: Sunnyside Mall

BUSINESS VOICE 27 WORKING FOR YOU

SMALL BUSINESS

WEEK ammentorp/123RF

OCTOBER 15 - 19 Ofﬁcial Partner: #BDCsbw WHAT IS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK? Small Business Week is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship. Events held during the week will bring together entrepreneurs — and those who support them — at workshops, networking events and tradeshows. Small Business Week is about showcasing the amazing things being done right here in our own backyard. We want to provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to learn, make connections, share ideas and celebrate all of their hard work. WHY DO WE CELEBRATE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK? Small-to-medium sized businesses are the foundation of the Canadian economy, accounting for 99.7% of all businesses. That’s a lot of businesses to celebrate! HOW DO I GET INVOLVED? You don’t need to be a small business owner or even a small business employee to take part in all the Small Business Week fun! Attend events, visit your favourite local small businesses and join the #SHOPLOCALHFX movement on Friday, October 19.

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Rina Kruciene/Unsplash

28 OCTOBER 2018 Angelo Redd/Unsplash Calendar of EVENTS:

MONDAY, OCT. 15 WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17 HALIFAX CHAMBER OF CIBC BREAKFAST MIXER COMMERCE – EXPLORING 7:45-9 AM: ENTREPRENEURSHIP CIBC, 18 Parkland Drive 2-4 PM: Bringing our business community Halifax Marriott Harbourfront together for an informal networking session and buffet breakfast. Joghua Rodriguez/Unsplash Hear lessons learned and expert advice from accomplished local leaders. Explore ISANS – NETWORKING IN the networking pavilion, seek out new opportunities and learn best practices for MOTION your business. 5-7:30 PM: Halifax Central Library TUESDAY, OCT. 16 Meet ISANS business owners, expand your network and connect with the resources DOWNTOWN HALIFAX – and services ISANS has to support all Buy LOCAL. employers. BUSINESS EXPO Eat LOCAL. 10-11:30 AM: Brewery Square, THURSDAY, OCT. 18 Go LOCAL. 1496 Lower Water Street FREE TRAINING SUPPORT LOCAL Open to businesses located in downtown 10-11:30 AM & 12-1:30 PM: Halifax featuring stations with information BUSINESSES FOR A Halifax Chamber of Commerce and resources for small businesses with an CHANCE TO WIN A PRIZE! interactive workshop. The Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education is providing free BOYNECLARKE LLP – On October 19, take a photo at training sessions to help you build your your favourite local business with a SPEED NETWORKING business. #SHOPLOCALHFX sticker, 2-4 PM: HOTCHKISS HOME poster or your purchase. Halifax Chamber of Commerce FURNISHINGS – Post your photo on social media Inviting business owners to mix and BUSINESS AFTER HOURS and tag the Halifax Chamber and mingle over snacks before a round of 4:30-6:30 PM: BDC for your chance to win one of speed networking. Make the most of your many exciting prizes! experience by discussing local business Hotchkiss Home Furnishings trends and developing new connections. Join Hotchkiss Home Furnishings as they For full contest details, visit celebrate one year of business in Halifax. HalifaxSmallBusinessWeek.com www.HalifaxSmallBusinessWeek.com

BUSINESS VOICE 29 WORKING FOR YOU A cannabis conversation Chamber hosts a diverse panel of experts to discuss how cannabis legalization will affect businesses

The panel opened with a simple question, • Potential safety concerns “What have you been hearing the most?” • Expectations surrounding The common answer, “confusion.” impairment Confusion by employers, employees, • Office party expectations medical cannabis users and the public. • Who makes the final judgment call Other questions heard, were: on impairment? • Why are the provinces/territories • Dispelling myths rolling it out differently? • Tolerance of cannabis use prior to, • Will my current substance use policy during and after work apply? • Medical usage of cannabis • What do I need to do before While the legalization of cannabis Oct. 17? may prompt questions and concerns, KATHLEEN MacEACHERN It seems that while everyone is the panelists were able to provide some POLICY ANALYST, HALIFAX aware that recreational cannabis will be advice for our members. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE legal this month, most are not sure of the • Oct. 17 is the start not the finish. implications. So, if you, too, are feeling Things will evolve and you will need The Halifax Chamber of Commerce confused and unsure of what to do, don’t time to navigate the new normal. hosted A Cannabis Conversation on July 11 be alarmed as you are in good company. • Educate yourself and staff and create to prepare members for the Oct. 17 legal- The panelists gave a few helpful hints and a policy around cannabis (tip: update ization of cannabis. The room was filled tips to get your organization and people your alcohol policy instead of with 300 members eager to have their ready for the change. starting from scratch). questions answered and anxieties reduced For a smooth transition, try to have a • Chill out! Stay focused on your by our panel of speakers: Tim Pellerin, policy or regulation created and reviewed business strategy. Ian Brown, Shawn King, Nick Beynon, by all employees. This document can • Work through the process. All David Deveaux and Meaghan McIntyre. tackle the following issues: regulations are there — you just need to source them. • The rules around medical cannabis are not changing. The panel wanted the audience to know that things can go right. The legalization of cannabis will bring with it opportunity for provincial economic growth, new entrepreneurial startups and businesses will remain up-and- running as per usual. As legalization is only happening this month, no one has all the answers. The main takeaway from the event is to be proactive. This is unfamiliar terri- tory for everyone and most will have to adapt to situations as they arise. Create a policy, educate your staff and keep a cool head. If you have questions, check out the Government of Canada’s Cannabis Resource page at www.canada.ca/en/ services/health/campaigns/cannabis Ryan Williams Photography or get in touch with Health Canada by phone at, 613-957-2991. You can also From left: Shawn King, Moderator and Host of Turning a New Leaf, Tim Pellerin, Senior Vice contact the Chamber, which is more than President and Chief Operating Officer, NSLC; Ian Brown, Labour and Employment Lawyer at happy to direct your questions to the right BoyneClarke LLP; Nick Beynon, Board Director, Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of organization or individual. Nova Scotia; David Deveau, Regional Director of Occupational Health and Safety for the province of Nova Scotia and Meaghan McIntyre, Clinic Manager, National Access Cannabis Halifax.

30 OCTOBER 2018 SPECIAL FEATURE SHIPPING, DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSPORTATION Future expansion Port of Halifax growing to keep pace with global shipping industry By Heather Laura Clarke

The Port of Halifax is connected to Digital innovations like the of temporarily extending its South End more than 150 countries and generates Port Operations Centre on the Port Container Terminal so it’s able to berth more than $1.7 billion in annual eco- of Halifax website can also allow and service two ultra-large vessels, some- nomic benefit from its cargo and cruise customers to track key performance thing Farguson says is important for the business, but it’s poised to be even more indicators relating to their cargo in real Port of Halifax to be able to accommo- successful. time, including exact location, route date two by 2020. Lane Farguson, Manager of Media maps, arrival and departure times as The Port of Halifax is one of the Relations and Communications for the well as ‘dwell time’ (time a container deepest and largest natural ice-free Halifax Port Authority, says 2017 was a spends on the dock before it starts to harbours in the world, and it’s strategi- record-breaking year for containerized move) says Farguson. cally located approximately 100 kilome- cargo volume. Real-time truck data helps drivers tres from major shipping lanes to North Nearly 560,000 TEU (20-foot equiv- plan their routes, and has even benefited America from Europe. Its handy location alent units) of containerized cargo moved commuters as dispatchers can schedule means it’s the first inbound/last out- through the port last year, and it’s on deliveries outside of peak times. bound port for marine transport between track to break that record again this year. Farguson says the shipping industry Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia via Farguson attributes part of the port’s is developing “at a tremendous pace” the Suez Canal. success to strong partnerships among key and global shipping alliances form “There are only a handful of ports players, including terminal operators, one-to-five years in advance, which that can do this [accommodate big ves- shipping lines that call on Halifax, CN means Halifax needs to expand slightly sels] on the east coast of North America, Rail, the ILA workforce, marine pilots in order to keep up. and we’re fortunate to be one of those and tug operators. The Port of Halifax is in the process ports,” says Farguson.

BUSINESS VOICE 31 SPECIAL FEATURE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK The entrepreneurial spirit Helpful tips for getting your business off the ground Contributed #BDCsbw

Between October 14 and 20, the technicians, marketing specialists, sales- 6. Don’t dispense with formalities Business Development Bank of Canada people, managers, lawyers, accountants, To build a solid foundation for your (BDC) will be celebrating entrepreneur- etc. company, you need to address all techni- ship during the BDC Small Business 3. Don’t lose sight of your goal(s) calities involved with owning a business. Week and promoting the amazing work In order for your business to have Make sure to get your ideas patented — of some 850,000 Canadian entrepre- growth potential, you need to pave the or at least protected in some way. neurs for the 39th year in a row! Do you way for a prosperous future by setting dream of starting your own company? 7. Be forward-thinking with your Here are eight tips to help you get your immediate and long-term goals. business plan business off the ground. 4. Consider your ﬁnances Your business plan is an invaluable tool that will allow you to clearly present 1. Determine your target market Starting a business obviously requires First and foremost, you need to prop- money. Consider different financing your ideas to potential investors. Make erly define your target market. The best options in addition to bank loans, like pri- sure it’s concise and engaging! way to do this is to carry out thorough vate investors, labour-sponsored venture 8. Join a networking group market research to determine consum- capital funds, assistance funds or funding Networking is a powerful and essen- ers’ potential interest in your products agencies. tial part of building and maintaining and/or services. 5. Manage your time wisely any business. The Halifax Chamber of 2. Surround yourself with experts Allocate your time strategically by Commerce, for instance, offers new and Build a team of qualified profes- taking advantage of less busy periods to existing businesses valuable tools and sionals with different skillsets who will develop a networking plan on which to opportunities to connect with other busi- bring value to your business; for example, start building a client base. nesses and to grow your customer base.

Emma came in with a new perspective and refreshed our business with the skills she picked up in university.

CREDIFAX ATLANTIC LTD.

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32 OCTOBER 2018 SPECIAL FEATURE SMALL BUSINESS WEEK The writing behind the walls Halifax’s Scientext providing architectural specifications for projects across Canada By Heather Laura Clarke

When people admire a newly-com- Organ has extensive experience When architectural firms don’t have pleted building, they may think about and a long list of credentials, includ- an in-house specifications writer, they the architect who designed it and the ing a Master of Arts in Comparative outsource the project to technical writers construction crews who brought it to life. Cultures, which helps him as he imagines like Organ. He studies the designs as they But Halifax writer David Organ specification wordings from multiple evolve, and understands how to combine doesn’t mind if no one notices his con- points-of-view and the prestigious RSW the nuances of applied building sciences, tribution. He knows none of it would be (Registered Specification Writer) desig- quality control, commercial contracts possible without the work he did behind nation from Construction Specifications and product technology to offer evi- the scenes. Canada. dence-based architectural specifications. He’s prepared construction specifi- “A dedicated specialist can produce Not working in-house for architec- cations for multimillion-dollar conven- an outstanding specifications product, tural firms, Organ uses an interactive tion centres, shopping centres, subway reducing risks associated with speci- process so Scientext’s clients retain full tunnels, university buildings and retire- fications and further supporting firm control of the design without the intense ment communities across Canada. credibility,” explains Organ. “There’s a time investment and specialized skills After spending 30-plus years as a lot to consider for each project.” required for quality specifications. senior project manager and specifier with He’s been specifying LEED® and “I’m local, easy to work with, and some of the country’s top firms and public environmentally conscious projects since I go the extra mile to meet needs and service organizations, Organ launched 2003, and has been the architectural schedules … and I can offer personal Scientext Technical Writing Ltd. in 2013 — specifier behind such projects as the new insights and feedback when needed ….” with the slogan “Words that Build”— so he Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre “I find nothing more rewarding than could deliver his specifications electroni- mega-project in Ontario and the new finding the right words to support con- cally to architectural firms. Bible Hill Consolidated School locally. struction of a beautiful design.”

Scientext TM WORDS THAT BUILD

David Organ B.A.(Hons.), M.A., RSW Principal CSA Z317.13 Certified

architectural ŝŵĂŐĞƐ ĐŽƵƌƚĞƐǇ ŽĨ specifications WϯƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞ

scientext.ca 902-441-6141 [email protected]

BUSINESS VOICE 33 PROFILE Big Erics slices into success Dartmouth business expands to Atlantic Canadian restaurant royalty By Heather Laura Clarke

If you love to cook, bake or just binge-watch cooking shows on the Food Network, you’re cordially invited to step inside a dazzling fantasyland of shiny tools and flashy equipment. Big Erics CEO Norm Mensour says he loves seeing people’s eyes light up when they walk into a Big Erics showroom and don’t know where to start. At-home chefs of all ages love coming in to shop for the latest and greatest in kitchenware or just drool over the $1,000 drop-in induction warmers. “They typically come in because they’re looking for the quality tools restauranteurs use, whether that’s a really nice set of knives, pots and pans or a high-quality barbecue for their outdoor kitchen,” says Mensour. “They also love coming to check out the newest kitchen gadgets they’ve seen on cooking shows. Contributed It’s a fun place to look around.” Halifax’s Eric Joy had worked for more than 20 years in the restaurant consulting and design, training, delivery, come in to check out the new products, supply business before launching his own installation and service. but Mensour says they’re usually on the company in 1978 — Big Erics Restaurant With more than half a century of hunt for something specific. That’s why Supplies Limited. Joy knew everyone in expertise, Mensour says their complete we have knowledgeable sales associates the business, and everyone knew and service offering begins with a thorough ready to help them narrow down their trusted “Big Eric” himself. After his understanding of each customer’s needs, selections and give them alternatives. death 13 years later, at the age of 68, his from restaurants to the discerning home “They may want to discuss changes wife, Mildred, son, Tony, and partner, chef and large institutions to indepen- to their menu and look at what they’ll Joe George, continued managing and dent cleaning businesses. need to accommodate that, like new growing the business. “Our core value is our people, and plates or cooking equipment,” says Big Erics continued to be so success- we believe if you treat employees well, Mensour. “We have a test kitchen where ful in Nova Scotia that Newfoundland they’re going to be engaged and commit- we’ll move in the equipment they’re company Sani Pro Inc. decided it would ted to making sure your customers are interested in and help them cook up their be the perfect way to expand to the satisfied,” says Mensour. “Some of our potential menu items to see how every- Maritimes. Sani Pro purchased the people have been working with us for 40 thing works for them.” company in 2009 and adopted the Big plus years, including the former owners Although many Canadians are Erics name, going on to open locations in of the companies we’ve acquired.” shifting their shopping to online retail- Moncton and St. John’s and acquire addi- The showrooms are open to the ers, cooking and baking remain tactile tional businesses: Janitor’s Market Inc., public, and Big Erics is so popular with experiences. Mensour says, luckily, Big Jessome Food Equipment and Cameron’s at-home chefs that Mensour says they’re Erics is in the business of selling products Restaurant Equipment. expanding their showroom hours this fall that need to be examined or tried out in What started as a small Halifax in Dartmouth to better accommodate person. restaurant supply business, grew into those who want to shop after work or on “These are the kinds of purchases Atlantic Canada’s leader in end-to-end the weekend. that you need to see and feel because product and service-based solutions, Their massive Burnside loca- they’re for a specific need,” says Mensour. spanning food preparation and service, tion includes a newly renovated “You can do some research online, but our food safety, facilities maintenance, 10,000-square-foot showroom and a customers want to feel these products — cleaning and sanitation. Mensour says 20,000-square-foot warehouse, which the weight of a knife, the grip of a handle. they offer the best products available, means nearly everything is already in Everything they choose is a part from equipment to tools of the trade — stock when a customer needs it. of their kitchen experience. We love to providing knowledge, personalized Chefs and restaurant managers ignite the senses.”

34 OCTOBER 2018

WHEREVER BUSINESS TAKES YOU

At MNP, focusing on our clients’ success has always been at the heart of who we are and what has set us apart. This client-centric approach is also why MNP has grown to become one of the most trusted accounting, tax and business consulting ﬁrms in Canada.

Committed to Atlantic Canada, our diverse team of business advisors deliver the customized and innovative strategies you need to succeed, wherever business takes you.

Contact Kirk Higgins, FCPA, FCA, Regional Managing Partner, Atlantic Canada, at 902.493.5452 or [email protected]