October 16, 2007

Second Notice of a new member:

Forster Emerson HR Management Inc.
HR Consulting - Halifax - http://www.forsteremerson.com

It’s Small Business Week! Check out our Events listings for various events around Hants County this week – there is even one tonight if you can make it!

Member Survey:

The Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce (APCC) Board is convening a strategic and business planning meeting on October 15th in Moncton. As input to that discussion, we are very interested in understanding individual member views and perceptions on various issues that relate to the priorities and objectives on which APCC’s agenda for the coming year will be focused. We therefore ask and encourage West Hants Chamber members to complete an on-line survey we have developed. The survey can be completed in less than ten minutes. To respond to the survey, please click here;  (If for some reason the link does not work, please copy and paste or type the URL into the address bar of your web browser to reach the survey page.)


West Hants and Area News

Mermaid Theatre Artistic Director Honoured

West Hants Chamber congratulations are extended to Jim Morrow, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia¹s Artistic Director, for being awarded an honourary Doctor of Humanities degree by his Alma Mater. Morrow¹s contributions to the Canadian arts community were recognized at the Fall Convocation held on Saturday, October 13th at Acadia University in Wolfville. Citing his activities as director, designer, arts advocate, teacher and mentor, the University acknowledged Morrow¹s leadership in raising the standards of family audience theatre in North America, and for bringing international acclaim to the company he has guided since 1992. Morrow¹s unique adaptations of children¹s literature incorporating innovative puppetry, striking visual effects and original music have enabled Mermaid Theatre based in Windsor to serve as impressive cultural ambassadors to four continents.

Local Businesses scratching up SPCA support

Tammy Acker, a promotions volunteer with the Hants County SPCA, says that West Hants businesses continue to give this ‘pet’ charity a real boost in all kinds of ways - especially at the start of the year’s biggest challenge: the onset of winter. “Thanks for Stephens and Yeaton, for instance, we were able to establish a real presence in the Pumpkin Parade this year for the first time in a long time, which we hope will mean more donations coming in,” she said. “It makes me feel so good when I know I am helping out these animals, to help them get fostered and adopted into loving homes they deserve. They give so much love and comfort back in return,” she added. Acker said the group, with “backbone” Faye Bonang, is really stepping up efforts to boost the charity in order to meet the ever-increasing costs of the care associated. “Donations have been down in recent years, we don’t get any government funding and we’re always in a losing situation,” said Acker. “Before it can be fostered, each animal receives a thorough vet check and first needles, flea treatments, and the cats get leukemia tested,” she added. “They don’t go anywhere until the vets at Avon Animal Hospital give them a clean bill of health.” Consider helping those who can’t help themselves by submitting a photo of your family’s favourite pet into the SPCA’s 2nd annual Pet Photo Contest. Money raised goes towards these medical costs associated with fostering, spaying and neutering of stray cats and dogs. The grand 1st prize is a photo session and 8 x 10 print donated by award winning local photographer Garey Pridham. Second prize is an animal-themed basket by donated by Jennifer Daniels at Daniel’s Flowers. Entries are being accepted at Daniel’s Flowers, Head Start Barber Shop and by mail to the Hants County SPCA. There is also a concert scheduled for October 21st at the Windsor Community Centre. (Details below in the events listings.) Interested members of the public are invited to attend meetings on the second Tuesday of each month in Room 101 at Avon View High School. For more info, please visit www.hantscosp.ca or call 757-2000.

Did you know? Every animal needing fostering or adopting requires approximately $250 worth of medical care that the SPCA funds from donations.

Boxing event packs promotional punch

Valley Boxing Academy will be holding its first event of the fall on Saturday, October 20th at 7 pm and plays host to a 10 bout card at the Windsor Community Centre. Several local boxers, including Samantha and Jonathan Chambers, Graham MacKenzie, Shane Upshaw, Cameron Howatt, and Tyler Benjamin will go up against boxers from throughout Nova Scotia. Also scheduled to make their debuts will be David Griffin, Samantha Hood, and Heather "Lights Out" Ledson. For more information or advance tickets, email chris.schofield@valleyboxing.com or call (902) 830-9531. A limited number of Corporate Sponsorship packages are also available for $100 and include 4 Ringside Table Tickets, Unlimited display of your company's promotional material and signage, program ad, ring announcer recognition throughout the evening, and the opportunity to present trophies for the bouts. Bar service will also be available. Adults $10/Students & Seniors $7. Children under 12 get in free. For more information, please call 830-9531 or login to www.valleyboxing.com

Organic Winery

Nova Scotia’s first organic winery, L’Acadie Vineyards, is expected to be open by next May, reports ALLnovascotia.com. Owner Bruce Ewert confirmed to the online business magazine that construction of a 3,000 square foot barn-yard winery building is underway on his property in the Gaspereau Valley. Ewert is an award-winning wine maker formerly with Pyramid wines, also an organic winery, in British Columbia. He and his wife, Pauline Scott, have planted 10 acres of the province’s signature grape and plan to produce 2,500 cases a year.
 

Provincial & Regional Issues:
 

Election: Naughty or Nice?

Will both Prime Minister Harper and Premier MacDonald be asking Santa for a majority this Christmas? The by-election for Cole Harbour –Eastern Passage has come and gone, and still the Legislature has not been recalled to welcome Becky Kent, the NDP’s newest member as the by-election’s victor. Although time still permits it to be entirely possible, increasing media speculation indicates mid to the end of October is later than usual to call the House back for a Fall Session, which requires 30 days notice and would typically end before Christmas. If the House does resume, conventional wisdom suggests it will be a brief session that may not last long enough to accommodate much more than legislation requiring health care workers’ to settle contract disputes with binding arbitration, which has already been heating up. NSGEU President Joan Jessome is refusing to sit around the government table to discuss a deal that she says aims to take away rights from the union’s workers. It seems unlikely any government would want to risk an election as such as contentious issue is surfacing. But adding in the fact that province is making several high spending announcements as of late, and orchestrated a positive letter exchange and photo op with Prime Minister Stephen Harper regarding the Offshore Accord, political pundits aren’t ruling out a campaign counting on Nova Scotians’ Christmas cheer. A group of NS MLAs from each party are scheduled to begin a road show in the Spring to target low voter turnout in the province.

Kings company gets government juice

The provincial government is giving Cider House Company in Kings County company a $500,000
dollar repayable loan. It'll be used to help the company to expand its export market, diversify its products and create up to 30 jobs over the next three years. The company plans to lease an area of the former Avon Foods building in Berwick to install fermentation tanks. Great Valley Juice in Port Williams will press the apples into juice, which will be transferred to Berwick for storage and fermentation. Bottling will take place at Maritime Beer in Dartmouth.

New Airport Hotel

Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) issued a request for proposals to develop a new on-site airport hotel by 2010. “Having a branded hotel connected to the terminal building will raise the level of service for our customers,” said HIAA VP of Marketing & Business Development, Jerry Staples. “Such a development will provide another significant advantage as we market the airport to increase air service for Atlantic Canadians,” Staples said in a recent news release. The closing date for proposals is December 20, with the selection of a developer expected in March 2008. http://www.hiaa.ca

Gateway gets green light

Ottawa and the Atlantic Provinces signed an agreement Sunday that advances a project aimed at improving the flow of goods in the region and making Nova Scotia a major entry point for international container traffic. Ottawa announced in its spring budget that it would earmark $2.1 billion in funding for gateway projects over the next seven years, by improving ports, rail lines, border crossings and road networks. "We know that the global economy is rapidly changing," MacKay, who is also the MP for the Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova, told reporters. "In this new economy, strategically located gateways and major border crossings play a vital role in fostering Canada's competitiveness." The Atlantic Gateway project looks to integrate the transportation system in the region and boost container traffic from Europe and as far away as Asia. There was no mention of specific projects but the CBC's Craig Paisley said, "They're hoping if they can create some infrastructure here and make some improvements to the port … that they can attract international business and big shipping lines to come to Halifax." "Canada's prosperity and quality of life depend on our success as a trading nation," MacKay said. "An Atlantic Gateway strategy will benefit the Atlantic region and all of Canada by taking advantage of the region's geographical position and transportation assets." A lot of shipping lines in the emerging markets of India and China are not aware that it would take them 1½ days less to reach Halifax than New York City, MacKay has previously said in promoting the Atlantic Gateway project. Finance Minister Michael Baker weighed in by saying that Nova Scotia has two of the gateway jewels in Halifax's port and airport. "Developing the Port of Halifax and making sure the rail and road infrastructure can support the Port of Halifax is critically important to Nova Scotia. Those are vital things," Baker said, adding that there is potential for millions of dollars in infrastructure development, but determining where that money goes is part of the process government faces in developing the strategy.  (Source: CBC News)

Emerging Issues – U.S. wants info about us

The Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC), an organization representing all Canadian airlines, is under increased pressure. Policy vice-president, Fred Gaspar, said his has until October 22 to launch a formal objection to a U.S. proposal that Canadian airlines flying through U.S. airspace will have to hand over the personal data of everyone aboard their planes. Gaspar is also urging the Canadian government to submit an official complaint because passenger data will have to be provided even if the destination is not in the States. The Secure Flight program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, indicates the requirement to hand over the passenger information would stick regardless of whether the plane takes off or lands at a U.S. airport, meaning the changes would affect Canadian flights to such holiday hotspots as Mexico and Cuba. However, in-country flights that only briefly cross U.S. airspace (such as Vancouver via Toronto) are excluded. Gaspar told CBC news in a recent interview that the proposal — if enacted — could go as far as having U.S. planes intercept and ground a Canadian airliner. "Let's say … that they don't like the person in [seat] 12C," Gaspar said. "They could then scramble fighter aircraft; they could force us to land." Transport Canada spokeswoman Julia Ukrintz said in a statement last week that the proposed U.S. legislation was "currently going through discussion phase" with Canadian officials. "These are continuous conversations and the U.S. has indicated that it does value Canadian aviation safety procedure already in place," she said. "The proposed U.S. rule currently exempts 75 per cent of flights that overfly the U.S. We are also in discussion with the U.S. on the remaining 25 per cent of overflights," Ukrintz said. Homeland Security's Transportation Security Agency (TSA) wrote that the goal of the proposal is to "prevent known or suspected terrorists from boarding aircraft where they may jeopardize the lives of passengers and others," according to the Globe. Still, Gaspar told the CBC the proposal seems out of place, since Canada already has its own no-fly list in place — a list that was developed, in fact, after close consultation with the U.S. government. "The Canadian and U.S. governments have been co-operating quite extensively on the development of secure civil aviation," Gaspar said Thursday. "Why would you encourage the Canadian government to develop its own no-fly list if you're now saying, 'Thank you very much, it's no value for us?”. Under the proposal, Canadian airlines would reportedly have to disclose each passenger's full name, as the name appears on his or her passport , date of birth, gender, and so-called "known traveller number" (if applicable). The number identifies the traveller as someone who the U.S. government has already screened and ruled is not a security threat. Although it would not be required, Canadian carriers would also be encouraged to transmit further details about passengers, including their itineraries, with a listing of their departure airport codes, airlines, departure/arrival times and arrival airport codes. ATAC has also spoken out against the recent $691 financial rope thrown to VIA Rail by the federal government. “This simply the latest in a long line of bottomless subsidies to Canada’s ailing passenger rail company,” said a recent ATAC news release. “Today’s announcement is an insult to the hard-working Canadians who fly for work, to visit family or take a hard-earned vacation”, said ATAC President and CEO, Sam Barone. “We support the need to ensure viable transportation infrastructure, we simply can’t understand why air passengers are getting ripped off while rail passengers are getting the royal treatment”, he continued. The Association claims that on average, every VIA passenger is subsidized by taxpayers by approximately $45 per trip.
(Source: CBC News, Globe and Mail, www.atac.ca)


Events Calendar

- Submit your event to info@whcc.ca today!
Read the West Hants & Area news for additional events we throw a special spotlight on.

Tuesday October 16th - Waste-less business Workshop
6:30-8:00 p.m. Enterprise Centre, Windsor. Limited to 20 participants
This session will provide a series of tips to help businesses save time and money with their solid waste management programs. Regional and municipal representatives will be on hand following the presentation to answer questions. Hosted by Region 6 Solid Waste Management. Contact Chantelle Marshall at 1-877-284-2687, 798-2284 or cmarshall@enterprisecentre.info

Thursday October 17th: Detecting Counterfeit Currency and Dealing with Shoplifting
will be held at the Minas Basin Development Centre in Hantsport as part of Small Business Week 2007: Detecting Counterfeit Currency and Dealing with Shoplifting. Hosted by the Hantsport & Area Business Association Cost of admission is a food bank item. Time: 7:00 pm

Friday October 18th – The Future of Small Business
Hosted by the Hants Regional Development Authority, this workshop will be held at Churchill House in Hantsport as part of Small Business Week 2007, offering presentation and discussion of the future of small business in a world without boundaries, open to new markets. Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm. For more information, please call Chantelle Marshall 798-2284

Friday, October 19th - 7th Annual Turbine Showcase 2007
Maritime fall fashion and jewellery collection and shopping party. 7:00 pm Fountain Theatre at Kings-Edgehill School. CTV's Liz Rigney will host the event sponsored by Janet White of MacKay Real Estate and Halifax’s MacDonnell Group. Featuring Jazz singer, Pat Watson. Tickets are $40 with corporate incentives for groups of 8 or more. Call 798.3966 or email Julie at office@turbine.ca

Saturday, October 20th – One Rose in Rome
A unique performance by the Unique Soil Theatre Company. Live actors and custom video shot on Italian location make this story a multi-media event not to be missed. Limited seating $10/person $15/couple. 7:00 pm, 4999 Newport Station St in the Old Quarry Worker’s building. For more information, contact Paula Walsh 798-5659.

Sunday October 21st – Ardoise Flea Market
In support of the Ardoise Community Hall. 8 am – 1 pm with a canteen. For more info, call 866-1138.

Sunday, October 21st - Songs for Windsor Strays
Musical event fundraiser for the Hants County SPCA at the Windsor Community Centre. 1 pm
Tickets $10 adults/ $5 seniors & students/children under 5 free. 757-2000 www.hantscosp.ca

Monday, October 22nd - Nova Scotia Business Inc. Lunch
Hosted by the Honourable Rodney MacDonald, Premier of Nova Scotia. Join us for this special opportunity to focus on the continuing strong relations between Canada and the United States of America with keynote speaker, His Excellency David H. Wilkins, Ambassador of the United States of America to Canada 12 noon – 1:30 p.m., Commonwealth Ballroom, The Westin Nova Scotian Hotel Tickets $50 Register on-line at www.nsbi.ca/wilkins by October 19 Contact Candace Sweet at 902.424.6814 or sweetcn@gov.ns.ca

October 23rd - 2007 Entrepreneur Awards Dinner
Hosted by the East Hants & District Chamber of Commerce during Small Business Week 2007: Shooters Lounge and Family Restaurant. Meet and Greet at 6:30, Dinner at 7:30 Contact: For tickets and info, call Heather Kerr at 883-1010 Guest Speaker: President of TMC - The Marketing Clinic and Chronicle Herald columnist Karen Blotnicky

Saturday October 27th – Halloween Benefit Dance
Community fundraising efforts to rebuild the Windsor Curling Club are kicking off with a Halloween dance at the Windsor Community Centre with DJs Herb and Sherry Sanford. Prizes will be given for the best costume. 9 pm - 1 am. Tickets at the door are $10. If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation.


Links you can use:

Who’s Hiring: Windsor-West Hants Job Bank

Canadian Federation of Independent Business

The Decision Point
 

Chuckles:
Fresh out of business school, the young man answered a want ad for an accountant.
He was interviewed by a very nervous man who ran a small business that he had started himself.

"I need someone with an accounting degree," the man said. "But mainly, I'm looking for someone to do my worrying for me."

"Excuse me?" the accountant said.

"I worry about a lot of things," the man said. "But I don't want to have to worry about money. Your job will be to take all the money worries off my back."

"I see," the accountant said. "And how much does the job pay?"
"I'll start you at eighty thousand."

"Eighty thousand dollars!" the accountant exclaimed. "How can such a small business afford a sum like that?"
"That," the owner said, "is your first worry."

The next time you post a flyer for your business or non-profit organization at the mall/ post office, or have a special business announcement to make, please also email it to info@whcc.ca  or fax it to 757-1969. By getting it included in the West Hants Chamber of Commerce E-News free of charge ensures you’re getting it in the inboxes of people who want to know. Every two weeks, E-News is distributed to - and read by - over 200 local business contacts throughout the Windsor-West Hants area. If your business has news or events you would like to share with our readers but can’t find the words, please call our Newsletter Editor, Heather Desveaux on 790-4009.

Our next issue will be published October 30th, and the deadline for submissions is Friday October 26th.