Members in the news

How our members are growing Halifax

VOLTA ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR $25,000 AT THE VOLTA COHORT PITCH EVENT

Sixteen early stage technology startups based in Atlantic Canada have been selected to pitch their business ideas during the Volta Cohort Pitch Event on Wednesday, November 24. Following the Volta Cohort Pitch Event, up to five companies will be selected to receive mentorship, resources and $25,000 in investment as part of the year-long Volta Cohort program. Since the program began in 2017, 39 startups have been awarded investment. Volta Cohort companies currently employ approximately 175 people, and have raised over $20 million in major VC financing since the program’s inception. These companies continue to demonstrate the significant impact the program has and continues to have on the Atlantic Canadian startup ecosystem and economy.

BELL JOINS THE PIER AS FOUNDING PARTNER

‘The PIER’ at the Seaport is proud to announce Bell as a Founding Partner and exclusive telecommunications provider for its living lab that will help shape the future of the transportation, supply chain and logistics industries in Canada. Bell will deploy its 5G-ready managed wireless private network (WPN) throughout The PIER so that companies working in the collaborative workspace can benefit from robust connectivity and coverage in a secure environment. Bell’s 5G network, the most awarded 5G network in Canada, will enable IoT solutions at the port that will reliably support business-critical functions with real-time data monitoring and reporting to reduce complexity and derive deeper insights.

FLYING FOR A CAUSE

Dimitri Neonakis graciously donated a flight to the links golf course in Yarmouth to raise money for Feed Nova Scotia on October 7. Steve MacLellan, owner of Design Your Future Financial Services won the open auction and enjoyed the 45-minute flight and 18 holes of golf while donating to a great cause. Dimitri also flies children with disabilities in his private jet!

OCEANSTONE RESORT ANNOUNCES HYDROTHERMAL SPA ADDITION

Oceanstone will be the first to pair a hydrothermal spa alongside its award-winning lodging and culinary offerings on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The new spa will include best-inclass hydrothermal amenities including a first for Canada with Eclipse thermal cabins, a superior design in aesthetic and thermal experiences unrivalled by other outdoor cabins currently in the market. "When I was first introduced to Oceanstone, it was clear to me that it's a very special place. With its proximity to the region's largest city and, of course, the iconic Peggy's Cove, Oceanstone can hold its own on the world stage. This has provided us with the confidence to invest in Oceanstone and contribute to the long-term prosperity of Nova Scotia and the region," says Dean Leland, owner of the Resort.

30 YEARS GROWING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Launched by Charles V. Keating in 1992, the Festival of Trees has raised more than $6.5 million for community-based mental health supports and services over the past three decades. Keating was a visionary who believed in a community that could work together to break down stigma and provide support to those living with mental disorders. Many advancements in mental health care over the past three decades are as a result of his early efforts. The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia's 30th Festival of Trees is a testament to the legacy of Charles Keating and his dedication to changing the way people think about mental illness and addiction. For info: mentalhealthns.ca/festival-of-tress.

SEND ITEMS TO PEOPLE IN NEED

COVID-19 has made it challenging for charities to manage in-kind donations, so we created a way to help get every charity the items they need. Your team can grant wishes virtually, receive a tax receipt and the donations are shipped safely to the charity or you can choose to pack them yourself as a team building activity! You can choose to have a Wishlist curated for a specific charity, or support our communities’ greatest needs by fundraising towards our Nova Scotia Community Outreach Program which works with charities across the province to support people who need help the most. This free program is offered by The Unity Values Foundation, email Support@ UnityValues.com to get started!

THE SONA TEAM IS GROWING!

We are extremely excited to welcome Jennifer O'Neil to the SONA team! Jennifer has filled the position of VP of Revenue & Service within our head office in Larry Uteck. With a passion for helping others and building authentic relationships with those she works with along with 20+ years of experience in sales management we are thrilled to have her on board. We can't wait for you to meet her!

BIOLOGIC LAUNCHES NEW PRODUCT

Precision BioLogic is pleased to expand our family of factor deficient plasmas with the launch of our new CRYOcheck Factor VIII Deficient Plasma with VWF in Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. The launch follows market authorization by Health Canada and respective in-country regulatory authorities. CRYOcheck Factor VIII Deficient Plasma with VWF is intended for use in clinical laboratories to identify factor VIII deficiency in human plasma and aid in the management of hemophilia A.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF HEALTH PLANS (IFHP) APPOINTS NEW CHAIR

The International Federation of Health Plans (iFHP) announced today the appointment of Bernard Lord, Medavie CEO to Chair of the Federation, effective October 28, 2021. “I am honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal time for the industry and health care delivery,” said Bernard Lord, Chair of the Board of iFHP and Chief Executive Officer, Medavie. “Over its 50-year history, the Federation has championed best practices in a sector that touches the lives of millions of people across the world. In times like these, improving the health and wellbeing of people across our communities, globally, is more important than ever.

BEST LAWYERS IN CANADA 2022

We are pleased to announce that both Nancy F. Barteaux, Q.C. and Andrea Baldwin are included in The Best Lawyers® in Canada 2022 publication by Best Lawyers®. Nancy is yet again awarded for her excellence in the Labour and Employment Law practice area. Andrea, recognized for her outstanding work in Immigration Law, leads our firm’s new Immigration practice. Best Lawyers is an annual peer-reviewed list of lawyers recognized for their practice-area expertise, ethics, and professionalism. Congratulations, Nancy and Andrea from the team at Barteaux Labour & Employments Lawyers Inc.!

ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION

The over-incarceration of indigenous women has unified the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia and Valent Legal to fight against the systemic failures of the Canadian criminal justice system. The combined services aim to break the cycles that can lead to criminalization by offering critical supports for transitional housing, programming both in jail and in the community to help women develop essential life skills, and a range of court navigation services to provide women with the access to justice they deserve. Visit efrymns.ca for more information or to make a donation in support of helping society’s most vulnerable women.

#1 RE/MAX TEAM IN NOVA SCOTIA

Thomas Bagogloo and The Bagogloo Team have been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally as a proven top performer and have been acknowledged by RE/MAX with multiple awards including a RE/MAX Diamond Club award for 2020 and they are on track again this year to be the #1 RE/ MAX Team in Nova Scotia. A title held by the team since 2009. What distinguishes Thomas and The Bagogloo Team within the Halifax Real Estate market and contributes to his Team's ongoing success is their broad network of contacts throughout North America and Worldwide, as well as in-depth market knowledge and insight into trends affecting the local market.

WILLFUL PARTNERS WITH OSTEOPOROSIS CANADA FOR OSTEOPOROSIS MONTH

Over 2 million Canadians are affected by osteoporosis. We’re proud to partner with Osteoporosis Canada for Osteoporosis Month this November. Osteoporosis Canada helps educate Canadians on the importance of bone health and improve the quality of life for those diagnosed with Osteoporosis. We’re thrilled to be supporting them in their mission to make Canadians unbreakable. A legacy gift (or bequest) is a gift in your will left to a charity, school, or non-profit organization. It can be a piece of property, cash amount, or percentage of your estate. You can learn more about leaving a legacy with Osteoporosis Canada at wilfull.co.

ATLANTIC BUSINESS MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES 30 UNDER 30

Congratulations to Atlantic Business Magazine’s 2021 30 under 30! We wanted to congratulate the Chamber members included among the impressive group of young folks: Taylor Mundy, SPCA, Jessica Ghaney, Funding Talent, Nic Stana, Grandway Marketing, Templeton Sawyer, Omar and Mohamed Soliman, Couryah. Congratulations to all!

HALIFAX PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION HALIFAX

Halifax Partnership is pleased to announce Patrick Farrar as the new Director of Innovation Halifax. Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion for growing startups and scaleups in Canada. “We are thrilled to have Patrick join our team to continue supporting the rapid growth of startups and scaleups in Halifax. Patrick will work with partners to advance Halifax’s Innovation District while connecting entrepreneurs and established companies to the city’s research and innovation assets and opportunities,” says Wendy Luther, President and CEO of Halifax Partnership. Prior to joining the Partnership, Patrick led several Canadian startup organizations, including Venture for Canada as COO and the Startup Zone as CEO.

NOVA SCOTIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS WINS

The Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS (NSAR) was recently recognized on two fronts for the great work it does on behalf of its membership. At Political Action Committee (PAC) Days held virtually, it was announced that NSAR was awarded the Best PAC Team in the Large Board category. Great news for our tremendous PAC Team which has won this award multiple times. NSAR also was awarded the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) Award of Excellence (their highest award) for our Certified International Property Specialist program.

SOLID STATE PHARMA WELCOMES NEW TALENT

Solid State Pharma is pleased to welcome Obinna Esomchukwu, Dr. Braden Kelly, Dr. Amir Joorab Doozha, Dr. Evans Monyoncho, Anahit Kondyan, Lauren Collicutt, Dr. Kenson Ambrose, and Kassandra Emberson to our team! Obinna joins us as a lab analyst, having completed his MSc in pharmaceutical sciences. Braden is our computational engineer, with a PhD in engineering. Amir, Evans, Kenson, and Kassandra are our newest scientists, with backgrounds in analytical chemistry, crystallography, and physical chemistry. Anahit joins us as a reviewer, having completed her BSc at Dalhousie, while Lauren is our new administrative specialist extraordinaire. To learn more about SSPI, visit solidstatepharma.com.

GOODLIFE FITNESS OPENS JOSEPH HOWE CLUB

GoodLife Fitness has opened the doors to its new Halifax Joseph Howe club. The new 30,000 square foot club is the largest in the region and is located at the site of the former Loblaw Atlantic headquarters on Joseph Howe Drive. The 24/7 club will feature a Turf Zone for functional fitness, a MindDEN meditation room, lifting platforms, personal training, free weights, cardio and strength training machines, virtual fitness a 60-person group fitness studio, stretch zone, sauna and more. The club will also be home to REGYMEN, a stand-alone fitness studio that features a HIIT-style workouts in a night-club like atmosphere, with music and lighting.

LOCAL FIRM TACKLING PSYCHEDELICS

Kydder Group Inc. is emerging as one of Canada’s top psychedelic regulatory communication firms. Led by Principal & Founder, Michael Kydd, the firm is providing insight and direction to some of the most prominent psychedelic and life sciences companies and associations across the world. Driven by a desire to support change in Canada’s mental health and palliative care regimes, Kydder Group is spearheading Canada’s first Memorandum of Regulatory Analysis to amend current Health Canada regulations, hopefully resulting in controlled legal access to psilocybin therapy for palliative and end-of-life Canadians in 2022.

PINEAPPLE BYTES CELEBRATES 6 YEARS SERVING YOU

One of the most frustrating parts of running a business is wrestling with software. You didn’t start a business to spend hours on the phone talking to tech support agents for the simplest things. You want a software that is tailored to you. You want a partner to call that will respond to your requests straight away, not just take your details and call back in a month’s time. Pineapple Bytes was founded on this idea of providing the best, local tech support from people who actually shop at your store. Thank you to our customers for 6 fantastic years!

FILMING IN HALIFAX'S HISTORIC BARS

Popular Demand Pictures (PDP) is excited to announce that we have wrapped up filming season two of our TV series Pub Crawl. Pub Crawl is set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and showcases the city's unique pub scene while telling the story of Halifax through the lens of its most historically significant bars. The series was hosted by well-known actor Rob Ramsay, and produced by PDP founder, Jon Mann. We couldn’t be more grateful for the bars and pubs that opened their doors and shared their stories with us. To learn more email us at info@populardemandpictures.ca !

BIONOVA ANNOUNCES MYCOFUTURES NORTH ATLANTIC AS 2021 BIOINNOVATION CHALLENGE WINNER

MycoFutures North Atlantic from Newfoundland was named the winner of BioNova’s Eleventh annual BioInnovation Challenge (BIC) business pitch competition at BioPort 2021. The company is leveraging the complexity and sustainability of mycelium, the root system of fungi, to create a luxurious leather alternative that will help alleviate the environmental impact of natural and synthetic leathers currently on the market."The BioInnovation Challenge provided us with invaluable investment attraction training and resources to launch our startup with the right business plan and strategy,” said Stephanie Lipp, CEO & Co-founder, MycoFutures North Atlantic. “It was an incredible opportunity and we look forward to building a successful company right here in Atlantic Canada."

DAWN DELANEY JOINS IRIS COMMUNICATIONS

Dawn Delaney has joined Iris Communications as Vice President, Communications, supporting a growing roster of clients and complementing the firm's service offering. Dawn is a strategic communicator and storyteller skilled in media relations, issues management, crisis communication, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement. Most of her career has been spent managing sensitive issues, acting as a trusted advisor and coach, and guiding leaders on how to simplify complex subject matter to effectively engage with a variety of audiences. An MSVU graduate, Dawn spent over a decade working with the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), Husky Energy, Cenovus, and TransAlta.