Royal Visit 2010

A stunning naval show punctuated with a Snowbirds aerial display, an event recognizing community-minded Nova Scotians and the cultural experience of DRUM!, an enthusiastic welcome and a closeup look at a Mi'kmaq cultural village, highlight the itinerary for the Royal Couple's tour of Nova Scotia from today to Wednesday, June 30.

Premier Darrell Dexter is encouraging Nova Scotians to attend as many events as possible. "Not only will they be impressive and entertaining, they offer a rare opportunity to be a part of history. This is only the fifth time the Royal Couple have toured Nova Scotia, and the first since 1994."

For details of the Royal Visit to to gov.ns.ca/royaltour. You can also follow the proceedings on Twitter @royalvisitand on Facebook.
 

Road to Life

"Going down the road." For many East Coasters, this is a familiar phrase. It’s what many Nova Scotians did in the past, seeking opportunity and fortune.

That trend is changing and more expatriates are deciding to return to the province they call home.

CEOs and government leaders are hoping the trend will continue and are making efforts to ensure expatriates know about the opportunities Nova Scotia has to offer. For instance, by 2014 there will be more than 56-thousand jobs in Nova Scotia due to retirement and growth.

Out migration was a topic at the recent Atlantic Business Summitt in Toronto, organized by East Coast Connected. Nova Scotia's Deputy Premier, Frank Corbett, told a room full of expatriates about the success happening in Nova Scotia.

"We want our expats to be a part of our growth, a part of our future”, said Mr. Corbett. "Things have changed in Nova Scotia. Our province is moving forward."

The Deputy Premier pointed to a number of success stories happening in Nova Scotia including Amherst's LED Roadway, HB Studios, Techlink and DSME Trenton, a large and diversified company from South Korea.

Read more at novascotialife.com.

NS Designers Market to G8 Women

Known internationally for its beautiful scenery, tantalizing seafood and laid back culture, Nova Scotia is also home to fashion designers whose innovative creations are capturing the world's attention.

Inspired by the women of the G8, four Nova Scotia fashion designers have contributed their unique designs for fashion collections celebrating each of the G8 women and their individual styles. See what they've put together for Carla, Michelle, Samantha, Laureen, Nobuko, Margarida, Angela, Svetlana and Geertrui.

 
Led by Nova Scotia Business Inc., the Craft Alliance and the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council (a Nova Scotia Come to life charter member), the innovative campaign has received wildly positive attention across LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and bloggers alike. It’s already generated significant buzz for the world-class designers and industry, and could lead to new business opportunities in the province and beyond.

Read more from the Chronicle Herald.
 

Nova Scotia Takes on Big Apple

In addition to the creative marketing of NS's fashion designers, Nova Scotia Business Inc. recently ran a print campaign in New York to highlight the strong financial services industry in our region.

200,000 copies of a publication produced in partnership with Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage were included in the July 24 edition of the New York Times (Wall St. District distribution only), The Bergen Record and Westchester Rockland Journal News.

The insert highlights Nova Scotia as a strategic centre for international financial services companies. Specifically targeting the financial district, NSBI delivered packages of coffee, a Come to life mug, and the publication to target companies with a personal note from their business development executives.

Utilizing LED Streetlights

About 14,000 municipally owned street lights in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) will be replaced with the more energy efficient LED variety in phase 2 of a project that began last year.

Since last fall HRM has been testing an LED streetlight pilot project with support from the provincial government and LED Roadway Lighting, a manufacturer of LED streetlights based in Amherst. The deployment of 300 LED fixtures has demonstrated energy savings of approximately 53% over existing high pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights.

In a similar move, the town of Berwick has received provincial support for the implementation of a comprehensive streetlight replacement program.

Open to the World: Summer Issue

The current edition of Nova Scotia Open to the World magazine celebrates brainpower. The issue highlights advances in biosciences, showing how investment in innovation, infrastructure, and technology transfer are resulting in biofuel expertise, specifically the fuel energy potential of microalgae. Other features include an inside look at the economic and social benefits of an aging population; how teamwork is strengthening and sustaining the province’s black business community; and how the Canadian Navy both creates and sources local technology expertise that is recognized as among the best in the world. Plus, the issue celebrates local food and an award-winning author describes the effect Halifax’s living waterfront has on his own creativity and cultural identity.

Province Meeting Environmental & Sustainability Goals

A report issued last week describes some of the progress being made in the province to lead the charge in environmental sustainability.

Among highlights in the report - the province met its goal to implement a sustainable procurement policy to ensure government considers environmentally sustainable products and services when making purchases.

A goal that was fulfilled five years ahead of the target date was to build an energy-efficient and sustainable demonstration building. The Nova Scotia Community College Centre for the Built Environment was built with government assistance and meets that commitment. It will open this summer.

Another goal to make buildings more energy efficient was achieved ahead of schedule and also exceeds the target level set by the act. New residential buildings, renovations or additions, and commercial buildings less that 600 square metres must now meet EnerGuide 80 standards or building code equivalents.

The goal to protect 12 per cent of the province's land base is also on-track. In 2009, the province designated three new wilderness areas totaling more than 18,000 hectares. Government set aside $70 million, for use in 2009-2010, to support large land purchases with most of the land to be protected.

Read moreat gov.ns.ca.

Membertou 400 Celebrated

 The largest pow-wow in Atlantic Canadian history and the first national pow-wow or Mawio'mi (Mow-ee-OH-mee) ever held east of Montreal wrapped up yesterday.

The momentous event, held on the Halifax Common, brought together communities from across North America showcasing competitive dancers and drummers and introduced the rich traditions of our region’s First Nations.

The celebration of the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Grand Chief Membertou began on Thursday with a re-enactment held at the historic Annapolis Royal. The Mawio’mi event began at noon on Friday and drew 70,000 visitors over the weekend.

"Membertou 400 is a colourful, joyful, spiritual celebration of our culture," said Deborah Ginnish, executive director of Membertou 400. "It is for people of all races and religions, and it is like nothing we have ever seen before in Atlantic Canada. And, for many of us, it is a life-long dream come true."

Visitors to the Halifax Common experienced a traditional Mi'kmaq village with cultural demonstrations; native dance, including fancy, traditional, jingle and grass dances, drum competitions, a marketplace with more than 40 Aboriginal vendors and Aboriginal cuisine tasting.

For amazing photos from the event, visit facebook.com/grandchiefmembertou.

Greater Halifax Planning for the Future

Greater Halifax Partnership’s (GHP) strategic plan (“Strategies for Success 2005-2010") expires this fall. The occasion marks an opportunity for all three levels of government and the private sector to work together to lay out a plan for the next 5 years to lift the province’s capital city to the next level of economic development and growth.

 GHP is leading a review and renewal process with an ambitious time frame. The plan must be complete to coincide with government budget planning cycles which will be developed over the winter months. GHP is working in partnership with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, HRM, Nova Scotia Business Inc., ACOA, the Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development, the Mayor's Economic Advisory Committee and others to drive this process.
Consultation materials and important links can be found online at greaterhalifax.com

Help Rank NS Events

Some of Nova Scotia’s most exciting events are ranked among the top 100 in Canada by WestJet’s interactive online events portal - Fun ‘n Festival Series. You can help raise the profile of our local events by visiting the site and voting.

Among the featured Nova Scotian events is Yarmouth’s Seafest.  The annual celebration of all things edible and aquatic, it needs your vote to become Canada's favourite festival! Log on at www.westjetfestivals.com and vote for the Yarmouth Seafest and you could win one of six Canadian festival experiences! (The Calgary Stampede, Just For Laughs in Montreal, Halifax Buskers, Global Comedy Festival in Vancouver, Niagara Wine Festival or the Kitchener Waterloo Octoberfest) Vote Now!

Other great Nova Scotian festivals you can support are the International Busker’s Festival, the recent Catch Festival, Liverpool’s Privateer Days, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, the Pictou Lobster Carnival, and the Atlantic Film Festival.

Thank you for your support!

Fall Surfing Competition Confirmed

The Canadian Surfing Association and Billabong will be hosting the 5th annual September Storm Contest in Nova Scotia this fall. Tune in to ScotiaSurfer.com for details. and information on local surf schools and rental outfits welcoming visitors more interested in testing the summer waters.

Trailer Park Boys Top Grossing Canadian English Film

The director and writers of the NS film Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day were presented with the inaugural Golden Box Office Award (the “Goldie”) from Telefilm Canada’s new executive director, Carolle Brabant last week. Acknowledging the film as the top grossing in Canada, the award includes a $40,000 cash prize.

Telefilm presented the prize to Mike Clattenburg, director, and his co-writers John Paul Tremblay, Robb Wells, Mike Smith and Timm Hannebohm on Friday, June 25.

The second feature film for this franchise with a devoted following , Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day grossed $1.32 million in its opening weekend alone, opening in the third spot across Canada. The film went on to gross $2.9 million in total.
 

“Telefilm took a huge chance investing in the Trailer Park Boys concept back in 1999 but it paid off with the success of our first and second features films,” said Clattenburg. “Without Telefilm’s unfailing support, we could never have made our two movies or the series.”