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Sponsored Content • The Chronicle Herald Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Meet the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
OFFICERS 1. Gavin MacDonald
Partner, Cox & Palmer Role on the Board: Chair 2. Mark Sidebottom
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he Halifax Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors plays a key role in the Chamber. They advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, as well as provide leadership. They are our champions in the community. In 2020, the Halifax Chamber signed up as an early adopter of the 50 – 30 Challenge announced by Hon. Navdeep Bains, then Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. The 50 – 30 Challenge aims to foster a conversation with the goal of increasing the representation of diverse groups in positions of economic influence and leadership, which will create a more diverse, inclusive and vibrant economic future for Canadians. To ensure the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors reflects our business community, we are committed to 50 per cent gender parity and 30 per cent significant representation of under-represented groups. Find out more at Canada.ca/50-30challenge.
Chief Operating Officer, Nova Scotia Power Inc. Role on the Board: Vice-Chair 3. Margaret Chapman
Chief Operating Officer and Partner, Narrative Research Role on the Board: Past Chair 4. Richard Butts
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Consultant Role on the Board: Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee 5. Faten Alshazly
Principal and Chief Creative Officer, WeUsThem Role on the Board: Chair of the Membership Committee 6. Roger Boutilier
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Chief Executive Officer, Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS Role on the Board: Chair of the HR and Governance Committee
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DIRECTORS 7. Stefanie MacDonald
Owner and Designer, Halifax Paper Hearts Role on the Board: Membership Committee 8. Michele Peveril
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Director, Corporate Governance and Audit, Port of Halifax Role on the Board: Chair, Accessing a Skilled Workforce Task Force
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9. Brad Proctor
Nova Scotia Employment Lead Partner, McInnes Cooper Role on the Board: HR and Governance Committee 10. Captain (N) A.S. Williams, CD
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Base Commander, CFB Halifax, Maritime Forces Atlantic Role on the Board: Accessing a Skilled Workforce Task Force
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11. Caroline Wolfe Stewart
Senior Director, Strategy and Operations, Nova Scotia College of Nursing Role on the Board: Chair, Fostering Private Sector Growth Task Force 12. Andrew de Freitas
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National Account Manager, Domestic Intermodal and Atlantic Region, Sales and Marketing, Canadian National Railway Role on the Board: Fostering Private Sector Growth Task Force
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13. Christopher Googoo
Chief Operating Officer, Ulnooweg Role on the Board: Membership Committee
14. Hon. Joanne Bernard
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President and CEO, Easter Seals of Nova Scotia Role on the Board: Accessing a Skilled Workforce Task Force
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15. David Rideout
President and CEO, MetroWorks Role on the Board: Accessing a Skilled Workforce Task Force 16. Martha Casey
CEO, Volta Role on the Board: HR and Governance Committee 17. Karim George
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18. JULIA WEBB
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Founder and CEO, InTouch Communications Inc. Role on the Board: Membership Committee 18. Ann Divine
Founder and CEO, Ashanti Leadership and Professional Development Services Role on the Board: HR and Governance Committee 19. Chris Cowper-Smith
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President and CEO, Spring Loaded Technology Role on the Board: Audit and Risk Committee
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Sponsored Content • The Chronicle Herald Tuesday, February 16, 2021
NEWSMAKERS
NEW & NOTED We welcome our new Chamber members 2 DOORS DOWN FOOD + WINE
ARTHUR’S URBAN MARKET
2 Doors Down is a contemporary Canadian restaurant with locations in downtown Halifax and Dartmouth Crossing. Focusing on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, we serve fun and creative dishes in an unpretentious, modern setting. We also focus on seasonal cocktails, craft beer, cider and offer an approachable wine list. Available for private bookings and events.
With offerings like our artisan bakery, we strive to inspire a more European-style approach to grocery shopping, where a daily trip to the market is as important as enjoying the meal itself. It’s all a part of sharing our passion for food with our customers, helping them make healthier and informed choices.
Craig Flinn
1533 Barrington St. Halifax, NS 902-422-4224 craigflinn@chives.ca www.go2doorsdown.com RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE – Restaurant
440PARK STRATEGY MANAGEMENT
Ninety per cent of companies have a strategic plan, but 89 per cent of those companies’ plans fail. We help companies get better results by showing them how to directly connect strategy and execution. We enable functional leadership with easy-to-deploy tools that facilitate strategy formulation, visualization, measurement, execution, operations and monitoring. Mark Fraser
Bedford, NS 902-441-9113 mark.d.fraser@hotmail.com www.440park.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – Management Consulting
902 SIGN GROUP LTD.
902 Sign Group Ltd. is a Nova Scotia-based company that specializes in outdoor digital billboard advertising. Currently, our display network extends throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in three unique markets. We are also working on expansion throughout mainland Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada. Keith Buckland
90 Esplanade, Suite 201 Sydney, NS 902-371-5931 keith@902advertisinggroup.com www.902signgroup.com ADVERTISING, PR & MEDIA – Signage
A TINY LAB FOR EARLY LEARNING Jillian Farris 2236 Maitland St. Halifax, NS 902-429-2539 jillian@atinylab.org www.atinylab.ca PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES – Child Care
AGING2.0 HALIFAX John Hamblin Halifax, NS 902-880-0172 halifax@aging2.com aging2.com NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS – Community Service
Are you a new member? To submit your 50-word description for New & Noted, please contact Mandi Bowser, Admistrative Specialist, 902-468-7111 or mandi@ halifaxchamber.com within the first six months of membership.
Gillian Murphy
1591 Hollis St. Halifax, NS 902-422-5538 gillian@arthursmarket.ca www.arthursmarket.ca SHOPPING & SPECIALTY RETAIL – Grocery
BEATNIK DIGITAL SERVICES Numayer Shuvo Halifax, NS 844-526-2659 numayer@beatnikcanada.com beatnikcanada.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – Business Consulting
CHANGING SEASONS LANDSCAPING Mark Hatt 1036 Old Sambro Rd. Harrietsfield, NS 902-455-2133 changingseason@eastlink.ca HOME & GARDEN – Landscaping/ Lawn Care
CLINTON WILKINS MORTGAGE TEAM
The Clinton Wilkins Mortgage Team is an award-winning mortgage brokerage located in Dartmouth. Serving Halifax, Dartmouth and surrounding areas, TeamClinton is your one-stop shop for your home financing and mortgage needs. If TeamClinton isn’t handling your mortgage, you’re paying too much. Clinton Wilkins
99 Wyse Rd., Suite 100 Dartmouth, NS 902-482-2770 clinton@teamclinton.ca www.teamclinton.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE – Mortgage
CONCENTRA BANK
Concentra Bank is a purpose-based organization striving to enable the success of Canadians. Innovative and future focused, we form partnerships to deliver best-in-industry financial solutions to our customers. Specializing in lending and investment solutions, Concentra offers a wide range of financial solutions, including specialized banking, consumer finance, treasury, wealth/trust services and more. Colin Lewis
Porters Lake, NS 902-209-2454 colin.lewis@concentra.ca www.concentra.ca FINANCE & INSURANCE – Financial/Banking
LE CONSEIL DE DEVELOPPEMENT ECONOMIQUE DE LA NOUVELLE-ÉCOSSE (CDENE) Julie Oliver 1809 Barrington St. CIBC Buliding, Suite 902 Halifax, NS 902-424-3970 joliver@cdene.ns.ca www.cdene.ns.ca BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – Business Service Centres
DAWN HENWOOD COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING
NATURE FOLK WELLNESS STUDIO
Dawn Henwood
88 Portland St. Dartmouth, NS 902-469-0274 info@naturefolk.ca www.naturefolk.ca HEALTH CARE – Massage Therapy
Halifax, NS 902-817-0127 dawn@dawnhenwood.com www.dawnhenwood.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – Writing
FIRST IMPRESSIONS REJUVENATION CLINIC
Our respectful, licensed clinicians, with more than 65 years combined experience in rejuvenation medicine and health care, provide clinically individualized treatments to enhance and maintain your self-confidence and vitality. We restore people’s confidence by naturally restoring their youthful vibrance using the safest and most non-invasive, antiaging treatments. We continue to empower busy professionals to unlock their best self and unlock a new level of unshakeable confidence. Deborah Hart
620 Nine Mile Dr., Unit 103 Bedford, NS 902-702-2727 Deb@firstimpressionsclinic.ca www.firstimpressionsclinic.ca HEALTH CARE – Health &Wellness
GENUINE PROGRESS INDEX ATLANTIC SOCIETY (GPI ATLANTIC) Gwendolyn Colman Upper Tantallon, NS 902-489-7007 gwen@gpiatlantic.org www.gpiatlantic.org BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – Consulting (General)
LEVESQUE NEGOTIATION
We provide in-person or virtual negotiation training seminars for organizations and individuals. These trainings have an immediate impact on those who attend. Most executives and entrepreneurs are not formally trained in negotiating and negotiation training is critical to success. Every interaction with a customer, supplier or co-worker has an untapped opportunity to make gains and expand relationships. We also provide advice for corporate transactions and large personal transactions. Georges Levesque
857-756-0614 georges@levesquenegotiation.com www.levesquenegotiation.com EDUCATION & PROF. DEVELOPMENT – Training Programs
MERIDIAN DLT (CANADA) LTD.
Meridian DLT brings sustainability to data technology by building green solutions that offer new and unique opportunities, such as Blockchain, IoT tracking, AI, machine learning and more. Our Meridian Green Data Network achieves carbon neutrality by operating only renewable energypowered hardware, run on hydro and solar power. Bill Parsons
Dartmouth, NS 902-476-2265 bill@meridiandlt.com www.meridiandlt.com ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT – Environmental Services
Ashley Cluett
NEONTRAIN INC.
NeonTrain is a progressive training, e-learning and consulting organization. The company’s mission is to enable businesses and organizations to achieve their full potential through employee learning and development using online learning technology. They are partnered with global learning giant D2L. Through this dynamic relationship, the NeonTrain team connects clients to various learning solutions, including access to Brightspace, an industry-leading learning management system. Robert Belliveau
Halifax, NS 902-830-5055 robert@neontrain.com www.neontrain.com EDUCATION & PROF. DEVELOPMENT – E-learning
PRESSÉ MASON BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS Debi Jones 1254 Bedford Hwy. Bedford, NS 902-832-1175 djones@pressemason.com pressemason.com BUSINESS & PROF. SERVICES – Law
SPENCER HOUSE SENIORS’ CENTRE
Spencer House is a unique program and community drop-in centre for older adults (50 plus) located in the heart of historic Schmidtville, near the corner of Morris and Queen streets. We offer programs and services to bring seniors together, reduce isolation and help them remain involved and living independently in their community for longer. Allison Davis
5596 Morris St. Halifax, NS 902-421-6131 allison@spencerhouse.ca spencerhouse.ca NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS – Community Centres
STUDENT MEMBER Crystal Hirtle – Bachelor of Commerce, Dalhousie University Halifax, NS chirtle@dal.ca
THE TEN SPOT HALIFAX Nicole Turlo 5165 South St., Halifax, NS 902-445-1010 nicole.turlo@thetenspot.com www.thetenspot.com PERSONAL CARE & SERVICES – Esthetics
THE UNITY VALUES FOUNDATION Stephen Skinner Halifax, NS 902-456-8628 stephen.skinner@unityvalues.com www.theunityvaluesfoundation.com NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS – Fundraising
WE MAY NOT SHAKE HANDS, BUT WE ALWAYS LEND ONE. Get the support of a strong community. Become a member today. HalifaxChamber.com
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Sponsored Content • The Chronicle Herald • Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program
Screening Mammogram: 2021 Mobile Schedule
What is a screening mammogram? A screening mammogram is two X-ray pictures of each breast performed by a highly trained mammography technologist.
WHERE DO I GO?
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
This year’s mobile schedule is provided here or you can check breastscreening.nshealth.ca for a list of NSBSP permanent locations.
A screening mammogram looks for breast cancer in women who do not have breast symptoms. Screening mammograms can nd breast cancer in its early stages, even before a lump can be felt. Women with symptoms such as a lump or nipple discharge should see their health care provider immediately to determine if other testing is required. WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
• Every 2-3 years for women aged 50-74 • Women ages 40-49 and 75+ can self-refer into the Program, if they choose • No breast implants • No previous breast cancer • No new breast symptoms HOW DO I BOOK ONE?
You can make the appointment yourself by calling the Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program (NSBSP). You do not need referral from a health care provider to book a screening mammogram. Call 902-473-3960 or 1-800-565-0548 (toll free).
Mammograms can be done at one of our 11 xed sites or 30 mobile stops across NS.
On the Day of your Screening Mammogram: > Bring your health card. > Wear a 2 piece outt with a top that buttons up the front. You will be asked to undress from the waist up. > Do not use deodorant, powder, creams or lotions on the day of you appointment. These products may show up on the X-ray picture and make it harder to read your mammogram. > Be Breast Aware. See your health care provider about any new breast symptoms even if you have recently had a normal mammogram.
COMMUNITY......................... MOBILE LOCATION............................................DATES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Glace Bay ........................Glace Bay General Hospital ................................... March 25–April 21 New Waterford ................New Waterford Consolidated Hospital ................. April 22–May 5 North Sydney ..................Northside General Hospital ................................... May 6–26 Neil’s Harbour .................Buchanan Memorial Hospital ................................ May 27–June 2 Cheticamp .......................Sacred Heart Hospital ........................................... June 3–16 Inverness ........................Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital ......... June 17–26 Pictou Landing ...............Pictou Landing First Nations Health Centre ........ June 28 Tatamagouche ................Lillian Fraser Memorial Hospital ........................... June 29–July 3 Parrsboro ........................South Cumberland Community Care Centre ........ July 5–6 Indian Brook ...................Indian Brook Health Centre ................................... July 7–8 Kennetcook .....................Guardian Pharmacy ............................................... July 9–10 Hantsport ........................Glooscap First Nation Health Centre .................... July 12 Middleton ........................Soldiers Memorial Hospital ................................... July 13–31 Digby ...............................Digby General Hospital .......................................... August 3–18 Long Island .....................Royal Canadian Legion .......................................... August 19–20 Comeauville (Clare) ........Radio CIFA Building ............................................... August 21–28 Shelburne ........................Roseway Hospital .................................................. August 30–Septmeber 8 Liverpool .........................Queens Place Emera Centre .................................. September 9–18 Caledonia ........................North Queens Community Health Center ............. September 20–22 North Preston .................North Preston Community Centre ......................... September 23–24 Sheet Harbour .................Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital ......................... September 27–October 2 Sherbrooke .....................St. Mary’s Hospital ................................................. October 4–6 Guysborough ..................Guysborough Memorial Hospital .......................... October 7–9 Canso ..............................Canso Medical Centre ............................................ October 12–14 Arichat .............................St. Anne’s Community & Nursing Care Centre ..... October 15–23 Cleveland ........................Strait Richmond Hospital ...................................... October 25–November 6 Whycocomagh ................Waycobah First Nations Health Centre ................ November 8–9 Baddeck ..........................Victoria County Memorial Hospital ....................... November 10–20 Eskasoni ..........................Eskasoni Health Center ......................................... November 22–25 Sydney ............................Cape Breton Regional Hospital ............................. November 26–March 2022
* Dates are subject to change if the program encounters any stafng issues, workload changes or equipment breakdowns.
Call 1-800-565-0548 to book an appointment on a date and at a location that is most convenient to you.
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Sponsored Content • The Chronicle Herald Tuesday, February 16, 2021
NEWSMAKERS
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS CONTRIBUTED
How our members are growing Halifax providing creative opportunities to individuals on the autism spectrum. He is an ambitious, energetic and authentic leader who is keen to play a key role in reshaping the economy through social entrepreneurship. Congratulations!
BioNova has named six student finalists for its BIC Junior youth pitch competition for the health and life sciences sector. The competition inspires Nova Scotia’s high school students to create a business idea for the health and life sciences sector that has real commercialization potential. With the support and guidance of BioNova, as well as sponsors MNP and partners Brillant Labs and BBI’s Business is Jammin’, students are given the knowledge and skills necessary to create their business idea and pitch it to a panel of judges during BioPort. The winner of the pitch competition will be rewarded a cash prize of $2,000 to go toward their business initiative or education. LAKECITY WORKS CEO NAMED TO CANADA’S TOP 40 UNDER 40
BNN Bloomberg is proud to announce the 2020 recipients of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 award, a celebration of the top up-and-coming leaders in the country. Among the leaders is LakeCity Works’ CEO, Liam O’Rourke. A Nova Scotian who returned home to help develop his sector, O’Rourke brings a wealth of experience from his work in Montreal, where he launched an innovative social enterprise production house
“To address the ongoing threat of COVID-19, we must not only identify effective agents through rigorous clinical evaluation; we must also ensure they are widely available, which is a particular challenge in COVID-19, where billions of people from every corner of the globe are at risk from this threat,” says Dr. Armand Balboni, CEO of Appili Therapeutics. “This consortium is designed to do just that, with world-class expertise not only in drug development, but also in manufacturing and commercialization to support access. We are thrilled to join this group of industry leaders in their global effort, contributing our drug development expertise and extensive experience with Avigan® to accelerate its development on a globally co-ordinated basis. We look forward to the timely outcomes of our ongoing and soonto-be initiated late-stage clinical trials to evaluate Avigan® as the first orally available anti-viral treatment option for COVID-19.” PROPELLER ARCADE OPENS EXPANSION AND ADDS AN INDOOR BEER GARDEN
Arcade fans will now enjoy a major expansion including a second games room and an indoor beer garden housed in the working brewery, beside the tanks and brewhouse. “This project has been a dream for many months and we’re excited to reveal it, finally,” says Ian Matheson, Propeller Arcade Manager and partner. “Thank you to our many supporters who reached out during lockdown and have returned since we reopened.” The expansion spreads the arcade’s footprint more than 300 per cent, increasing capacity and growing the collection to 30 plus games. The indoor beer garden features picnic tables and lighting design to feature the tanks and brewhouse that make up the Gottingen Street brewery.
WORKSHOP SUCCESS CELEBRATED
The Family Knife is celebrating a big win during challenging times, launching their Profitable Marketing Workshop. “We created this program to help business owners achieve their dreams,” says Joel Kelly, President of The Family Knife. “We were confident we were onto something big, but the results have exceeded our biggest hopes.” At the end of the first year in offering, clients have not only hit their goals; they’re finding new footholds in their markets and rekindling the love they had for their businesses. For The Family Knife, it’s been a labour of love and a journey that’s just getting started. SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER AT EASTER SEALS NOVA SCOTIA
With many of Easter Seals Nova Scotia’s fundraising events cancelled in 2020, we are ecstatic about the success of Kartbahn 250 last Nov. 12, in collaboration with Kartbahn Indoor Racing. This unique go-karting event saw seven teams race to complete 250 laps — all in support of Nova Scotians with disabilities. Kartbahn 250 enhances team collaboration and communication and fosters innovative relationships, making it the perfect team-building opportunity. New racers Atlantic Tiltload, Top Coat Automotive and returning team MacDonald Maniacs took the top three spots. We’re looking forward to a bigger, better Kartbahn 250 this year. Interested teams for 2021 should stay tuned to our social media.
CONTRIBUTED
Parkwood Home Care has expanded. Lorna MacMillan, President of Parkwood Home Care, takes great pleasure in announcing that Mackenzie Corkum and Jennifer MacDonnell are now employed by Parkwood Home Care. The business has grown and therefore provided the need for a full-time Scheduler (Corkum) and a full-time Finance/Office Manager (MacDonnell). “There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream or desire a reality,” said entrepreneur and author Tony Robbins. At Parkwood Home Care, this has proven true. MacMillan began the business single-handedly and now employs more than 55 people, several of which have fulltime hours. The team at Parkwood Home Care is excited for the future.
DGHF WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBER
The Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation (DGHF) is pleased to welcome Kiana Pace, graduate of the University of King’s College and NSCC, as their new Communications and Marketing Officer. The DGHF is so happy to welcome her to the team! The foundation has been a driving force in connecting community and hospital and has positively impacted and supported the delivery of exceptional patient care at the Dartmouth General Hospital through investments in equipment, facilities and programs. To learn more about the DGHF and its programs, visit dghfoundation.ca. CONTRIBUTED
SIX FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR BIONOVA’S YOUTH PITCH COMPETITION
APPILI THERAPEUTICS JOINS CONSORTIUM IN ADVANCING AVIGAN TABLETS FOR THE POTENTIAL TREATMENT OF COVID-19
GROWTH EVEN THROUGH A PANDEMIC
ELSIE MORDEN NAMED TOP 30 UNDER 30
In Atlantic Business Magazine’s second annual list of 30 Under 30 innovators, they celebrate young Atlantic Canadians who live and work in the region, shaping our future prosperity. Congratulations to Elsie Morden, Activist and Founder of the No Time for That Anti-Bullying Society, a registered Canadian charity since 2015 that develops presentations to school-age children and youth about bullying prevention, mental health awareness and youth empowerment. Through funding sources that include grants and donations, she’s given presentations to more than 600 Canadian schools at no charge to the institutions themselves.
CONTRIBUTED
Deborah Hart, CEO and Nurse Practitioner, has been delivering rejuvenation medicine and healthcare services throughout Atlantic Canada, Canada and internationally for more than 25 years. Passionate about health and wellness, safety and education, her mission is to empower people to attain their highest level of well-being and self-confidence. The second location in Bedford also offers individualized treatments for rejuvenation and vitality, including professional skincare, injectables, men’s and women’s sexual health, skin tightening, fat removal and more. Hart educates doctors and nurses through the Atlantic Training Institute for Aesthetic Medicine and the Atlantic branch of the Canadian Board of Aesthetic Medicine. Hart is recognized as a sought-after expert in rejuvenation medicine services and as an expert speaker for national and international specialist associations.
CONTRIBUTED
FIRST IMPRESSIONS REJUVENATION CLINIC OPENS SECOND LOCATION
Office Interiors is excited to announce the acquisition of dpt Communications of Moncton, NB. The acquisition will allow Office Interiors to expand their service and support team across southwestern New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, as well as provide dpt customers with access to the expanded range of office furniture and technology products offered by Office Interiors. dpt Communications has been selling, installing and servicing telephony and voice-processing systems since 1996. “We are very pleased to welcome dpt members and their customers to our team,” says Jim Mills, President and CEO of Office Interiors. “Our shared objective of providing great solutions and the best customer experience made this acquisition a logical next step for both parties.”
CONTRIBUTED
OFFICE INTERIORS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF DPT COMMUNICATIONS
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Sponsored Content • The Chronicle Herald Tuesday, February 16, 2021
OPINION
Want to save lives now? Urgently deploy rapid testing and contract tracing This strategy involves: • Using tests that deliver Rapid Test and Trace Canada results in minutes to find positive cases and isolate Dr. David Juncker them quickly; McGill University • Testing high-risk and Hon. Perrin Beatty, PC, OC asymptomatic individuals; Canadian Chamber of • Implementing effective Commerce contact tracing to quickly identify those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 so they, too, s the second wave of the can be rapidly tested; COVID-19 pandemic continues, infection rates and • Supporting a layered hospitalizations are rising in approach, which includes many parts of Canada. Both maintaining physical lives and livelihoods are tragidistancing and protective cally being lost each day. measures like masks, In a response that was prehandwashing and new viously unimaginable, many safety protocols in stores Canadians were prohibited and workplaces. from gathering to see friends Frequent testing with and family for the holidays antigen tests can be scaled up and many businesses are again quickly, detect contagiousness forced to close, in an effort to and help cut the chains of stop the spread of the virus. infection. Indeed, some counIn Quebec, a curfew has tries have tested their entire been put in place for the first population in days using this time and Ontario has now imapproach, while others are plemented an unprecedented launching campaigns to test general stay-at-home order. millions daily. In contrast, Canada currently administers While vaccinations have begun, we remain many months roughly 70,000 daily PCR tests, which deliver results in away from the majority of days, rather than minutes. Canadians being immunized. As we wait, more lives are The traditional PCR tests lost, more livelihoods are Canada is currently using are destroyed and a mountain of highly sensitive, identifying new debt — for individuals, the virus before, during and businesses and governments after someone is transmitting — continues to grow. it, and will remain the bedrock With countries like Australia, of medical diagnosis. South Korea and others manThey are, however, inadaging to control COVID-19, equate as a widespread public Canadians must ask themselves health tool to curb a fasthow much longer our patchmoving and prevalent virus. work approach is sustainable. They are also expensive and, In this crisis, rapid testing and hence, being used sparingly. contact tracing are key public They could, in fact, be better health tools other nations utilized to confirm positive have adopted. test results from rapid antigen
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123RF.com
Sandy White and Adam Singfield
testing programs than as the first line of defence. A study from Harvard University and the University of Colorado Boulder provides a blueprint for how rapid testing could contribute to the suppression of COVID-19 in weeks, stating: “... when it comes to public health, it’s better to have a less sensitive test with results today than a more sensitive one with results tomorrow.” Our group, Rapid Test and Trace Canada, estimates that, for roughly $2 billion, Canada could quickly achieve testing levels of 200,000 people per day, while working toward testing five million people daily by April. This would allow us to virtually eliminate active infections this winter, while vaccines are being rolled out to provide long-term protection. Nothing we are proposing is groundbreaking; it is already being done elsewhere. Further, the tests are already in Canada, approved and ready to be deployed. While some small pilots are underway, why isn’t this key technology being
L A U IRT
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WONDER WOMEN CONFERENCE
utilized to the maximum extent possible? Nearly a year into the pandemic, a great deal of work still needs to be done to develop a comprehensive testing strategy for seniors’ homes, hard-hit lower income and minority groups, Indigenous communities and even the general population. Many Canadian businesses are now undertaking to test their employees at significant cost, stepping up to fill the need. Because governments and health services are stretched so thin, activating Canada’s business community is the best way to quickly reach as many Canadians as possible with rapid tests, to alleviate some of the strain on our health-care system. In the worst crisis since the Second World War, we are fighting with one hand tied behind our back. Deploying rapid testing on a wide scale and allowing Canadian businesses to assist in this effort is of critical importance as part of a layered approach in combatting COVID-19.
To advance the effort, Canada needs to commit capital and resources to rapid testing and begin to approve the use of low-cost, rapid at-home tests. In the near future, Canadians would be able to administer tests themselves without the barriers involved with the authorized, rapid antigen tests that require a health professional to administer them. The urgency can’t be overstated. Widespread vaccination of our country is many months away, with worrying supply concerns, while the real harm of the virus continues to be felt every day. The widespread use of rapid testing and enhanced contact tracing can play a significant, positive role in the fight against COVID-19. Canadian governments at all levels have significant ground to make up on this front. In this effort, we all must be part of the solution and bring all resources to bear. The faster we contain and control the virus, the faster we will be able to save lives and safely reopen our society.
THANK YOU to our sponsors for making our first-ever virtual Wonder Women possible! SUPERHERO SPONSOR:
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Sponsored Content • The Chronicle Herald • Tuesday, February 16, 2021
DURING AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE OUR BLACK MEMBERS AND THEIR VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR PROVINCE. As CUPE members, they ensure we all have safe drinking water, that our roads are safe to drive on, that your children are safe and get the best possible start in life. They care for our elderly loved ones and our family members experiencing health issues. So many essential services are delivered by Black CUPE members that it is impossible to name them all. Our members arrive at work every day, committed to providing the important public services that make life better for everyone in Nova Scotia. The pandemic has reminded us of the value of their work. CUPE thanks all of our Black members for their commitment to the people of Nova Scotia and the important work they do in our communities every day.
Our Work in Your Community
