Games Torch - Lights up Parliament Hill

The Halifax 2011 Canada Games torch made its debut at the official torch lighting ceremony in Ottawa today.

The 2011 torch was lit from the centennial flame monument. The event included performances by Jimmy Rankin and members of Halifax’s Sacred Heart Concert Choir.

Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay, director of sport, Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection Stephen Gallant and Mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality Peter Kelly, joined in the lighting of the torch along with four-time Olympic medalist and Canada Games alumna Jennifer Botterill and three-time Olympic medalist Isabelle Charest, who emceed the ceremony.

"As we saw this past year in Vancouver, the torch relay represents Canadian pride, physical and mental strength, striving for excellence and inspirational dreams," said Sue Hylland, president and CEO for the Canada Games Council. "As the flame makes its way across Nova Scotia, it is our hope that every resident of that province is touched by its significance and their role in welcoming the country to compete."

The official lighting marked the beginning of the Games torch program. The torch will return to Nova Scotia for community kick-off celebrations in Lunenburg on May 10, Yarmouth on May 12, Cheticamp on May 13 and Amherst on May 14.

The 2011 torch will appear at festivals and events around Nova Scotia leading up to the Games. Details on the torch program, the torch design, and the torchbearer contest are available online. Fans of the 2011 torch can follow its path on Facebook, or via Twitter by using #torchflambeau.

East Coast Connected Ottawa Launch

Atlantic Canadians who have moved away from the region represent a valuable resource to the Atlantic Provinces. An organized group of expats who’ve been utilizing their collective strengths in a knowledge exchange between their homes in Toronto and their roots “back east” have launched a new chapter - in the nation’s capital.

East Coast Connected (ECC) promotes brain circulation allowing both Atlantic Canada and the regions of Toronto - and now Ottawa - to benefit from the best of what each region has to offer through the free flow of capital, knowledge and creativity.

A kickoff event was held last week featuring Max Keeping, former CTV Evening News Ottawa Anchor, as Master of Ceremonies. More than 300 expatriates mingled at the National Arts Centre.

Aggressive Renewable Energy Plan

Nova Scotia is on a path to become a global leader in green energy in 10 years.

A 32 page plan was unveiled on April 23rd by Premier Darrell Dexter. Among the goals: quadruple the amount of renewable sources of electricity for the province; enhanced net metering, which credits consumers for the energy they produce with wind, solar and other renewables; a cautious approach to biomass, with harvesting standards and caps on generation in new and existing plants and encouraging further natural gas use to help balance intermittent sources like wind.

“This is about making the right decisions for our economy and our environment,” said Premier Dexter. “We are putting our energy future where it belongs, back in Nova Scotians' hands.”

The plan is expected create hundreds of jobs in the construction, supply, manufacturing and maintenance industries and a billion and a half dollars in new investment.

A digital copy of the Renewable Energy Plan, as well as images, video and audio from the launch can be found online.

Nicom IT Growing

Nova Scotia-based Nicom IT Solutions Inc. is expanding its product line, increasing its workforce and exploring new export markets with support from a payroll rebate backed by Nova Scotia Business Inc.

The software development and service company has developed a line of custom management software for port and pilotage authorities. The software will streamline port operations and increase security for the movement of containers.

Nicom is expected to add 40 positions over the next five years, mostly in software-development, technical support and sales.

Nicom IT Solutions is a charter member of Nova Scotia Come to life. Read more about the company in our charter member profile section at novascotialife.com.

BioMedica Diagnostics Inc. Reaching New Markets

A Windsor-based company founded by a Uganda-born scientist is planning to market its innovative technology to new markets.

Award winning Doctor Abdullah Kirumira founded BioMedica Diagnostics Inc. in 1999 as a research and development company. As a biochemistry professor at Acadia University, Dr. Kirumira found a need for diagnostic tools in places that do not have easy access to medical facilities. Dr. Kirumira realized that the unavailability of crucial medical equipment was causing unnecessary suffering. More than 15 different portable diagnostic systems have been developed to date for clinical use. In 2007, he was awarded a Bioscience Innovation Award from The Economist magazine for his 1993 invention of a rapid HIV test that is sold internationally, and the Technology Pioneer award from the World Economic Forum in early 2009.

The company’s flagship product, QuikCoag - a cost-effective blood coagulation reagent - is exported to over 30 countries around the world for monitoring the growing prevalence of heart disease.

Through successful marketing, demand for its products has increased and the company is undertaking a $500,000 expansion project to increase production capacity.

"The revenue base from our existing markets is being applied to leverage the introduction of affordable medical solutions in emerging economies," said Dr. Kirumira. "As we move forward to growing our business, NSBI's payroll rebate will allow us to continue focusing on research and development while we take the company to the next level."

The province (through Nova Scotia Business Inc.) is supporting the investment with a five-year payroll rebate to a maximum of $250,000. The rebate allows BioMedica to retain 15 current employees and create up to 25 new full-time, lab technician positions.

Visit Biomedica Diagnostics online.

Membertou 400 Years

A traditional Mi'kmaq village, native dance and drum competitions, demonstrations by First Nation artisans, a free concert by Buffy Sainte Marie and an open-air mass are among the highlights of an upcoming celebration of the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Grand Chief Henri Membertou.

Grand Chief Henri Membertou was a Mi'kmaq shaman and prophet. On June 24, 1610, he became the first person in the Dominion of Canada to be baptized, an act that signaled the Mi'kmaq's desire for peaceful relations with the European nations.

The celebrations will begin with a historic re-enactment of the baptism at the Port Royal National Historic Site on June 24 before moving to Halifax Common for the largest gathering of First Nation people in Atlantic Canada.

More information on the Grand Chief Membertou 400 celebrations.

Mount Saint Vincent Names New President

Dr. Ramona Lumpkin has been appointed the 12th President and Vice-Chancellor of Halifax’s Mount Saint Vincent University effective October 1, 2010. She will take over the position from Alexa McDonough who had been acting as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor.

Dr. Lumpkin is a highly respected academic and administrative leader with over 25 years in the educational field. Since 2001 she has been the Principal of Huron University College, an undergraduate liberal arts institution affiliated with the University of Western Ontario, where she is the first woman leader in the College's 147-year history.

“Mount Saint Vincent University has a reputation for academic excellence and a commitment to the advancement of women and these are two of my passions,” said Dr. Lumpkin. “I am delighted to be moving to Nova Scotia and becoming part of the Mount community.”

Read more about Dr. Lumpkin’s appointment at MSVU.ca

Silver Economy Summit

Imagine pursuing a life-long dream, sharing the expertise and experience of a 30-year career with someone younger, or just doing something with greater meaning in life that also adds to your retirement income.

As our population ages it is important to consider the influence older workers will have in our economy. Such is the subject of the Silver Economy Summit taking place in Halifax May 13 and 14.

The Silver Economy Summit is designed to help Nova Scotians, business and community leaders learn about and adapt their organizations to address the challenges and opportunities of an aging population and succeed in the silver economy.

Summit discussion topics will include marketing and product development for an aging population; working with aging workers to utilize the skills of retired people in community economic development; adapting and creating services to accommodate a different kind of public; the changing role of seniors in the workforce and volunteer organizations; a global view of the trends and early indications that business and community leaders can use to prepare for success in a Silver Economy, and; current academic research into topics that are emerging as vital to success in a silver economy.

Learn more, visit the Silver Economy Summit online.

Stephen King Mini-Series Shooting in Lunenburg

The town of Lunenburg on Nova Scotia’s south shore will provide the setting for a mini-series based on the Stephen King short story “The Colorado Kid.”

A UNESCO designated heritage site, Lunenburg’s historic Old Town district will act as the fictitious Maine town of Haven in the 13 one-hour episodes which will air on the Syfy channel in the US and Global TV in Canada.

Filming of the pilot episode began on April 20. Director Adam Kane (Heroes, The Mentalist, Pushing Daisies) has been assigned to the project which will star Emily Rose (Brothers & Sisters, Jericho), Eric Balfour (Six Feet Under, 24) and others.