HSIA Welcomes US Airways

Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) will welcome the inaugural flight of its new airline partner, US Airways this week. The first flight is scheduled to arrive at Halifax Stanfield from Philadelphia at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow.

“We are very pleased to welcome US Airways to our community,” says Tom Ruth, HIAA President & CEO. “This announcement is great news for air travellers, and the Atlantic Canadian economy as a whole, and demonstrates our commitment to expanding air service in Halifax,” he says.

This year-round service is US Airways’ first service to Halifax.

“This new service to Philadelphia, three times a day, will provide both business and leisure travellers with more options, more choice, and direct access to another key U.S. market and major airline hub,” says Jerry Staples, HIAA Vice President Marketing & Business Development. “We have been working with US Airways on this route development for some time and are delighted to see it become a reality,” he says.

HIAA is a charter member of NS Come to life.

For more information visit flyhalifax.com
 

Bell Aliant Brings FiberOp to Cape Breton

State-of-the-art television and Internet access is coming to businesses and homes in six Cape Breton communities.

Bell Aliant (a charter member of Nova Scotia Come to life) is investing $15-million to connect 30,000 homes to its 100 per cent fibre-optic network this fall. The Province of Nova Scotia will contribute a $2 million forgiveable loan to the project. The introduction of this new technology is expected to generate up to $4.5 million in tax revenue, and more than half of this investment will be used to create good jobs and services to support those jobs.

"This investment is the right decision for families in Cape Breton," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "To build a bright future and a thriving province, Nova Scotia has to remain competitive in the global economy."

Bell's FibreOp service delivers unprecedented Internet speeds, the fastest ever seen in the region. The technology will make opportunities for telehealth, distance education, and working from home even more accessible.

Growth in Nova Scotia Exports

International exports by Nova Scotia-based businesses are expected to increase in 2010 according to a forecast released recently by Export Development Canada (EDC).

The province should experience a growth of 12 per cent in 2010, and outperform all other provinces in 2011 with 17 per cent growth according to the provincial export forecast.

“Nova Scotia’s strong performance is based on improved demand from the United States, which translates into a broad-based rebound of Nova Scotia’s main export sectors including natural gas, fish, tires, and newsprint,’ said Peter Hall, Chief Economist for EDC. “Natural gas exports, in particular, will drive the province’s exceptional export growth in 2011.”

The agrifood sector accounts for 24 per cent of the province’s total exports, and EDC believes the province’s largest export sector will grow by 2 and 8 per cent in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Read more from Export Development Canada.
 

Olympic Win for Nova Scotia

While winning the Team Spirit Award for most-spirited participants, Nova Scotian tradespersons took home a total of 8 medals from the 16th annual Canadian Skills Competition held recently in Waterloo, Ontario, further demonstrating the highly skilled workforce available to Nova Scotian businesses.

The competition is the only national, Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology event of its kind for young students and apprentices in the country. Over the course of the two-day competition 40 different events were showcased in six major trades and technology categories.

Read more from some of the winning Nova Scotians.

NSCC Earns Leeds Silver Certification

The Harbour Wing of Nova Scotia Community College's (NSCC) Waterfront Campus is now the second building in Nova Scotia to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.

The LEED designation was created in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council to establish a common standard of measurement for green buildings. Points are awarded based on how sustainably a building is constructed and operated. NSCC’s receipt of the award further demonstrates the college’s commitment to growing with the environment in mind.

The LEED Silver certificate was presented to NSCC president, Dr. Joan McArthur-Blair by the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) recently during the BuildGreen Atlantic Conference and Trade Show at the Waterfront Campus in Dartmouth.

"LEED Silver certification for the Harbour Wing of the Waterfront Campus is an important step on our journey towards sustainability," said Dr. McArthur-Blair. "We continue to explore and investigate new green technologies as we work together towards a greener future for our province. The best example of this is the soon-to-open Woodside Wing, home to our Centre for the Built Environment."

SheepDog Inc. + Google in Calgary and Vancouver

Nova Scotia web-app and tech company Sheepdog is teaming up with Google for a pair of events on the state of cloud computing and how you can leverage the cloud for your business.

Cloud computing utilizes the Internet to augment the way businesses and individuals share, store and retrieve information. Use of “virtual servers,” and other web-based technology as an alternative to costly technical infrastructure enables businesses to save by moving programs and resources “off the desktop” and into “the cloud.”

If you are interested in joining Google executives, Sheepdog, and other CIOs from throughout Vancouver (June 9) and Calgary (June 10), to hear the latest on Google's enterprise initiatives and discuss why companies are switching to Apps, visit sheepdoginc.ca

MedMira Listed by UK Supply Chain

Medical technology innovators MedMira recently announced its patented Reveal Rapid HIV Test is now one of three rapid HIV tests listed by the National Health Services (NHS) Supply Chain in the United Kingdom, and the only one able to address both point of care and laboratory testing requirements.

The NHS Supply Chain manages the procurement and delivery of healthcare products for over 600 hospitals and healthcare organizations in the UK.

“This is another step forward in our continuing sales and marketing thrust in Europe. Inclusion on the NHS list is key to accessing new opportunities to participate in healthcare tenders and provide our rapid tests to both the private and public sector healthcare organizations,” said Hermes Chan, CEO, MedMira Inc.

“Once again progress in developing market opportunities was achieved through our strategic partner network. Working with our partner Vitest and one of its local associates in the UK, Home Health, we were able to accelerate the introduction of Reveal into the NHS system which brings the most innovative products to healthcare providers and their patients in the UK.”

Learn more about MedMira at medmira.com

NS Wines Recognized

Nova Scotia wineries received 16 awards at the 30th annual All Canadian Wine Championships held recently in Windsor, Ontario.

“The growth of the industry in this province is very much a team effort. We are proud to be a part of this industry in Nova Scotia and there is not another province we would rather be in,” says Karen Enright, owner of Annapolis Highland Vineyards and first time winner at the awards.

“We are absolutely thrilled about our awards. On Friday I was clicking the site every five minutes to see the results. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw our Pinot Gris won gold.”
Nova Scotian wines were among the more than 1,100 representing 170 wineries form across Canada.

Other Nova Scotian honourees include L’Acadie Vineyards, Jost Vineyards and Domaine de Grand Pre Wines.

Now is the time to pick up your passport to Nova Scotia wine country. Visit four of our 11 wineries and you could win a Wine Lover's Trip on VIA Rail, a Go North Tours tour for four to Nova Scotia wine country or a $100 gift certificate to dine at Tempest, 5 Fishermen, Gio or a Taste of Nova Scotia restaurant of your choice.

StFX Dinner in Toronto

St. Francis Xavier University recently entertained more than 500 of Canada’s business and political leaders at the historic Carlu venue in the heart of Toronto.

Hosted by the Honourable Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Financial Group and Chair of the StFX Board of Governors, StFX welcomed Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler Group LLC, as keynote speaker. StFX alumnus Seamus O’Regan was the evening’s emcee.

Find photos and more information about the event at StFX.ca

StFX is one of 11 world-class universitites based in Nova Scotia - Canada’s University Capital. To learn more about our province’s excellent post-secondary education options visit universitycapital.ca