Viola Desmond Pardoned

An historic day occurred in Nova Scotia last week. A Nova Scotian woman was posthumously granted a free pardon by our province for a conviction more than a half-century ago. This is the first time a free pardon has been posthumously granted in Canada.

The late Viola Desmond, of Halifax, was an African Canadian wrongfully jailed and fined in 1946 for sitting in the white peoples' section of a New Glasgow movie theatre. Mrs. Desmond passed away in 1965.

A large crowd gathered for a special ceremony on April 15th, when Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis exercised the Royal Preogrative of Mercy to grant the free pardon.

Among the guests was Viola Desmond’s sister, Wanda Robson.

"What happened to my sister is part of our history, and needs to remain intact," said Wanda Robson, sister of Mrs. Desmond. "We must learn from our history so we do not repeat it. If my parents were here today, it would warm their hearts to see Viola recognized as a true Canadian hero."

"This is a historic day for the province of Nova Scotia and a chance for us to finally right the wrong done to Mrs. Desmond and her family," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "This is also an opportunity for us to acknowledge the incredibly brave actions of a woman who took a stand against racism and segregation."

Images and video from the ceremony can be viewed online at gov.ns.ca

Biomedical Job Creation

Mabou, NS-based Halifax Biomedical will add up to 75 new jobs to the province’s biomedical sector with support from a payroll rebate from Nova Scotia Business Inc. 

Founded in 2004 by New Glasgow native Chad Munro, Halifax Biomedical is a consulting company in the field of biomedical engineering. It works to protect and improve patient health by providing quality clinical research services and advanced research products. The company has developed a stereo x-ray imaging system known as the Halifax SR suite. It is an advanced medical imaging technique that uses two simultaneous x-rays to precisely monitor total joint replacements.

Originally based in Halifax, the company moved to the Cape Breton island community in 2004, maintaining its Halifax office as a satellite service centre.

"Mabou is the ideal location for our company and we look forward to growing here," said Chad Munro CEO, Halifax Biomedical Inc. "We are firmly committed to the community and look forward to creating employment opportunities for people in the area."

Techlink Ranking

Sydney-based Techlink Entertainment International Ltd. topped the list of Atlantic Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies recently released by Progress magazine. The company is a leading innovator in gaming and responsible-gaming technology. Techlink’s products are in use regionally and in international markets.

While it is the company’s technology that garners them attention, and more importantly, business, it’s the employees, the people behind the innovation, that help them achieve success.

“This is a special ranking,” says Techlink CEO John Xidos. “It says a lot about our company, products, and successes. More importantly it speaks to the dynamism of our people. They’re trend setters all of them – exceptional, in fact.”

Of the 27 companies that qualified in Progress ranking, 18 are from Nova Scotia. Of the top 5, three companies are based in Nova Scotia. Halifax Biomedical ranked 4th and Terra Beata Farms Ltd. (Lunenburg) ranked 5th. 

You can read more about the regions fastest growing companies in the next edition of Progress, which will be out later in April. 

World Culinary Tourism Leaders to Visit NS

A bevy of culinary tourism leaders from around the world will be introduced to Nova Scotia’s hospitality and culinary excellence in September. Halifax is hosting the Culinary Tourism Thought Leadership World Summit & Consumer Marketplace September 18th to 23rd.

In partnership with Taste of Nova Scotia and organized by the International Culinary Tourism Institute (ICTI), the theme of the summit is "One World, One Table: Using Culinary Tourism for Economic Development".

Erik Wolf, the president of the International Culinary Tourism Association and recognized founder of the culinary tourism industry, will preside over the summit which will feature sessions from expert speakers, showcases of tourism industries throughout the world, educational workshops, and a business-to-consumer culinary travel marketplace.

Interested in hosting a conference in Halifax or elsewhere in Nova Scotia? Find resources at novascotialife.com/business.

Spring Issue of “Open to the World"

The latest edition of Nova Scotia’s Open to the World magazine is now available online. This issue showcases some of the province’s most innovative companies. In it you can read about the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy, meet Stephen Lund and his team at Nova Scotia Business Inc., and learn about the anticipate economic benefits of the upcoming Halifax 2011 Canada Winter Games. Also, Innovacorp's I-3 innovation business plan winners gave judges much to get excited about. Plus, how the First Nations community of Membertou faced adversity and is now creating a resilient and diverse future.

Read Open to the World.

Student to Cannes

A young Halifax filmmaker, and student at the University of King’s College, will be heading to the acclaimed Cannes International Film Festival.

Daniel Boos’s portfolio of short films won over jury members, and impressed France’s consul general to the Atlantic Provinces.

According to a recent article in Metro Halifax, Boos’s “winning compilation film reel showed extraordinary professionalism, technical skill and artistic flair of considerable talent.”

“Filmmaking has been a central passion of mine ever since I was a small child,” he said in an email interview with Metro Halifax. “Initially, it was just a pastime. I would get my friends together and shoot a movie.”

To learn more about Nova Scotia’s vibrant film industry, visit Film Nova Scotia.

Atlantic Book Awards

Nova Scotian writers shone last week as the best in Atlantic Canadian literature was honoured at the annual Atlantic Book Awards held April 14.

At a ceremony held at the Dartmouth waterfront’s Alderney Theatre, first time novelist Shandi Mitchell, CBC journalist Linden MacIntyre, non-fiction writers Greg Cochkanoff and Bob Chaulk, and other authors, illustrators and designers were recognized for their contribution to the region’s storytelling tradition.

Also an award winning filmmaker, Mitchell beat out authors MacIntyre (winner of this year’s Giller Prize for The Bishop's Man) and Michael Crummey (author of Galore) for the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award for her debut novel Under this Unbroken Sky. Mitchell also took home the Maragaret and John Savage First Book Award.
Awards were given out in the categories of fiction, non-fiction and historical writing, poetry, and illustration.

Read more at atlanticbookawards.ca. 

Nova Scotia Come to life Charter Members

The Come to life initiative is a private-public partnership that works with partners throughout Nova Scotia to promote our province as a great place to live, work, study, visit, invest and more. These partners represent successful businesses, associations, educational institutes and together demonstrate - through their individual stories of success - the breadth of opportunities available here. Learn more about Nova Scotia, and meet some of the people behind our province’s most successful and innovative enterprises in our Charter Member section. There you can find feature stories and links to their websites.