11 minute read
Editor’s Letter
The magic in the movement
Iremember being in a grocery store in Florida a few years ago and flipping through the wire rack of paperbacks near the check out. Amidst the cheesy romance beach reads, a title jumped out at me – Couples that Walk Together Stay Together. I didn’t buy the book. I picked up one of the cheesy romance novels, but the words about walking together and staying together have always been bookmarked in my memory.
Last spring, in the early days of the pandemic when my husband and I got tired of looking at each other across the top of our computers, we would bundle up and walk. It didn’t matter the weather. We just walked. Sometimes in silence, sometimes in debate, but always in rhythm with our footsteps. Our walks have become one of the most reassuring aspects of our relationship. Rhythm as it turns out, has a lot to do with feelings of security and love. For me it’s the time, even when we are in disagreement, when we have our best talks, make the best plans, and come up with the best solutions. Walking is part of our love language.
Nine years ago, I called a neighbour and asked her to go for a walk. We lived across the road from each other, two of our children were similar age and we volunteered at the same nonprofit. We were acquaintances but not friends. Since that first walk, we have logged thousands of kilometres together. From our downtown loop, and hikes on local trails, to treks in the Amazon rain forest and the plains of the African Maasai Mara. Some of the most adventurous moments in my life have happened because we fell into step as friends.
Walking solo, I sometimes become a time traveller. My mind wandering the perimeters of the present, then drifting to what was and what could be. It’s often during these moments, putting one foot in front of the other, that I write stories in my head, hoping that the ideas will hold until I can return to my keyboard.
I’ve learned that there is more than magic in the way our thoughts become clear and mood gets a lift. The benefits of walking go beyond the basics of fitness. New research suggests that when we engage in activities where our feet hit the ground the force creates a wave through our bodies that is apparently strong enough to send blood back up through our arteries to our brains. That extra blood flow does a lot of good work in your noggin. The next time you go for a walk to clear your head you will know why it works. Freelancer writer Trish Joudrey knows all about the benefits of a good walk. Last year she had plans to create a wellness program for schools based on her experience on the famed Camino Trail when the pandemic knocked her of her path. Dusting off her disappointment she set her sights on a new destination. Starting from her back door, she created her own epic walk without setting a foot on an airplane. Trish shares segments of her personal journey and adventures close to home in North Shore Camino on page 30. Keep an eye out for details on how to register for your own At Home on the North Shore Camino journey where you can set your personal trekking goals and share your experiences. You might even want to take a page out of Melanie Mosher’s book and start your own gratitude journal as she describes in “Counting Flowers, Counting Blessings” on page 44. Quilt designer Myla Borden takes a walk of a different kind in our “Off the Wall” series on page 15. Stitch by stitch and block by block she creates one-of-a kind quilts that speak to the journey of her ancestors, and reminds us that we are all walking through time. How we get there is what defines us. We are excited to share another issue of At Home on the North Shore and we hope that it moves you in many ways.
editor’s
LETTER
PHOTO BY NORTHOVER PHOTOGRAPHY
See you on the trails
ABM leads IT solutions for today’s fast-paced businesses
For 30 years, ABM Integrated Solutions, a Halifax-based IT solutions provider and integrator, has been serving large and small organizations across a wide range of industries in Atlantic Canada.
Today, ABM Integrated Solutions has evolved beyond what it means to be a technology outsourcer into an organization dedicated to delivering technical excellence across the Atlantic region. “Our mission is to be a reliable and trusted partner for our customers, providing technology solutions and services to empower their success,” says Craig Lynk, President ABM Integrated Solutions.
ABM aligns strategically with small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), delivering technical integrations, solutions, and platforms. ABM understands the pace of change and the ongoing challenges organizations face within the new digital economy. Technological challenges and advances are constant, and to stay competitive, businesses today need to remain current. In many ways, organizations’ technical programs need to secure and drive a successful business strategy.
That’s why today, ABM considers itself more than just another technology company, but rather an organization that supports a wide range of SMB customers as a partner, delivering exceptional IT solutions tailored to the individual needs of their customers. “We help organizations be their best by doing what we do best,” says Mr. Hall-Hoffarth, “we provide inclusive programs designed to enable the organization and allow companies to focus on their business goals and objectives.”
But don’t just take his word for it.
Cortney Burns, the Director of Finance and Administration at the Greater Moncton International Airport, had this to say, “as with most organizations, cybersecurity is a critical focus for Greater Moncton International Airport (GMIA). ABM provides technical guidance and expertise, with a focus on ensuring our systems and information are protected from unauthorized access, both inside and outside of our organization. With the support of ABM, we implemented several security initiatives that have improved our technical readiness and increased our security posture to support key business initiatives. ABM continues to be a valuable resource in meeting the needs of GMIA.”
One recent ABM client, Cherubini went further to say, “we had a complex system integration that required a high level of technical expertise and knowledge we couldn’t eld in-house,” said Michael Gasparetto, the company’s Managing Director. “ABM not only solved our problem, but they also worked with us to greatly improve our overall IT infrastructure and service promise.”
To do what Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “we do our best to understand and support our customer’s needs.” ABM frequently works with world-class partners such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the global edge-tocloud platform-as-a-service company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. “We’ve found ABM’s particular ability to execute complicated infrastructure projects to be extremely bene cial,” said Paula Hodgins, President of HPE Canada. “The ef ciencies are passed on to clients in reliability and valueadded functionalities. which, in the long run, means cost-competitiveness.”
Within all of this, Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “reliability and customercentricity are the keys to our success.” “We work with businesses to understand not only their immediate needs but also their long-term objectives. We continue this collaborative approach to nd the best solutions within our partner networks, working closely with HPE, Aruba (a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company), and Fortinet (to name a few) to deliver best-in-class, cost-effective solutions. Then, we apply an integrated, tailored approach to drive service excellence and bottom-line results for our customers.”
In fact, ABM’s Managed Services and Service Desk offerings are speci cally designed for SMBs that require in-depth analyses and ongoing support for their growing technology needs, aligned with real-world outcomes.
But what does this mean?
ABM can bring ef cient and accessible cloud computing solutions to businesses, providing secure, effective computing options that help reduce IT overhead, enhance security, and improve bottom-line pro tability. As part of ABM’s suite of offerings is the ABM Advantage Basic Plan, which allows clients to focus on cost management while also providing them with options to choose from a large selection of IT products and services. To go a step further, ABM’s Advantage Plus Plan leverages the company’s technical expertise to eliminate distractions associated with selecting and managing products and services aligned with business outcomes. ABM also offers the Advantage CIO Program, which goes beyond software, hardware, and support services. The CIO works directly with a client’s leadership teams to forecast business change, create long-term IT roadmaps, and oversee large-scale development projects.
ABM also focuses on safeguarding valuable stakeholder relationships in a variety of ways by conducting comprehensive security assessments for their customers. Additionally, as a Fortinet partner, ABM can provide monitoring services to ensure a client’s environment remains secure. In fact, ABM’s Peace of Mind offers professional security assessments that help instill con dence for all stakeholders.
The bottom line is, regardless of the need or the scale of the solution – whether it be a large, complex project in a fast-paced environment or a smaller initiative with a tight timeline – ABM supports customers by providing effective solutions designed speci cally for an individual business’ needs.
“Whether a business is expanding an of ce, taking its on-premise servers to the cloud, or requiring the expertise of a virtual CIO, we have integrated technology plans that will meet the need,” Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says. “For SMBs, the accelerating pace of IT change is a fact of life. We know this from our experience, and we have the technical expertise and knowledge to help your organization prosper, both today and tomorrow.”
ALLISON GAUDETT Spring is a heavy hitter that I personally anticipate to come out swinging with rejuvenation, inspiration, and hope. Because, well gracious me, I need it. Alexander McQueen’s hopeful reminder, “There is no better designer than nature,” will be my beacon this season. Stepping outside the front door or, in most cases the back door since that seems to be the Maritime way, can be the awakening this creative needs. I think you will see all of these ideas come together in my new column Redefined by Allison where there is always room for translation.
TRACY STUART shares her love for breakfast foods with her favourite poached egg recipe. In her opinion, the vibrancy and flavour profile of this dish is sure to make anyone’s mouth water. Tracy believes that breakfast is not just about getting food on the plate and rushing out the door, instead it’s about starting your day at a relaxing pace, enjoying the process of cooking, by awakening the senses, and bringing joy to the plate. Tracy trained as a whole foods chef and also holds a Master of Science, Bachelor of Physical Education; she is a two-time World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist in rowing.
JANET WHITMAN Contributing editor and staff reporter Janet Whitman is a city- and nature-loving journalist who divides her time between Halifax and her cottage on the Northumberland Shore. She’s happiest digging in the dirt, picking up a hammer or messing around in the kitchen. In this issue, she learns a little Presbyterian church history and gets a primer in stained glass repair.
AMY PUNKÉ For the past seven years Dr. Amy Punké, has been practicing as a licensed Naturopathic Doctor on the beautiful North Shore of Nova Scotia. With her earlier education in acute care as a Respiratory Therapist, Dr. Punké’s healthcare training has spanned almost 20 years taking her to Arizona, Toronto and now back to her hometown of New Glasgow. Dr. Punké shares how a good night sleep will make your day.
PHOTO: STEVE SMITH,VISIONFIRE STUDIOS LORI DALING With the warmer temperatures and longer days, there is a skip in my step and certain lightheartedness that I feel every Spring. A colourful home speaks to that same part of my soul. The mud and mess of Spring is soon forgotten as the flowers appear and birds start singing. Bring on the sunshine, and let’s welcome it in.
MELANIE MOSHER is the author of three books for young readers. Grateful for warmer weather and more daylight hours, when she’s not in her own garden counting flowers, she can be found road tripping to places like the Old Barn Gallery in Pomquet. Learn more about Melanie at melaniemosher.com
STEVE SMITH It’s slowly starting to feel like Spring …and this Spring 2021 edition of At Home on the North Shore is a welcome sight. Pandemic fatigue seems to be everywhere, and this edition of At Home comes around like an old friend, hopefully to pick up your spirits and make you smile. Lovely people doing lovely things in trying times. Stay safe, protect each other. There are brighter skies ahead.
SARAH BUTLAND With a long and dreary winter behind us, I am ready for more vibrancy, spring colours, warmth and happy vibes. The same colours and creativity that are captured in Myla Borden’s quilts which you can read about in the “Off the Wall” artist’s feature. The imagination continues with the reading and reviewing of Ray Burns book, The Confession of D.B. Cooper.
TRISH JOUDREY Welcome Spring! It’s time to shed those winter layers, get outdoors, and think about making new goals. Trish has hiked worldwide, in places such as Mount Kailash, Machu Picchu and walked the Camino de Santiago twice, but she believes you just can’t beat the shores and trails of Nova Scotia with fresh ocean breezes and plenty of flora and fauna to discover. This is where she does her best thinking. In her article, “At Home Camino,” she discusses what you need to design your own Camino, and inspire you to take that next step. Trish Joudrey is a freelance writer living in Halifax. You can visit her travel website here: trishjoudreytravels.com
