Truro enjoying ‘a really positive shift’€¦ · really busy and it’s such a unique business idea,” says Truro Chamber of Commerce presi-dent Joanne McRae. “They’re getting

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Truro enjoying ‘a really positive shift’Q&A with Truro Chamber of Commerce president Joanne McCrae

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

Joanne McRae became presi-dent of the Truro Chamber of Commerce in March, and before that she’d served as the Cham-ber’s treasurer and vice president. By day, she’s a CPA, CA and man-ager with Assurance and Business Advisory practice with MNP in Truro and Dartmouth.

Q: What does it mean to you to be heading up Truro’s Chamber of Commerce?

A: I grew up in Colchester County and my father ran a small business, so I got to see the dif-�culties that can bring. Because of that, I became interested in business and wanted to become a CPA. In my job now, I get to hear about the di�culties my clients are having — as small business owners — and I have the oppor-tunity to help them.

Q: What can you tell us about the current state of Truro’s business community?

A: I think we’re seeing a really positive shift in Truro — and in Colchester County as a whole. We’re seeing a lot of new small businesses coming to the area and there’s a great entrepreneur-ial spirit in the air.

�at’s leading to a lot of young entrepreneurs running busi-nesses in the area, like Levels Game Loft, NovelTea Bookstore Cafe, Aroma Maya Coffee and Wink Day Spa. It’s been great to see some youthfulness in come into the business community.

We’ve really been seeing a vi-brancy in Truro’s downtown core over the last year. �e Truro Farmers’ Market is where lots of local vendors start their busi-nesses, and now we’re seeing some move into their own store-fronts in the downtown area. �e Elgee family was so success-ful selling their meat pies and

sausage rolls at the market that they’ve just opened their own cafe — Great British Grub — on Prince Street.

Q: How is Truro working to at-tract new visitors to the area?

A: Truro is a great geographic location for tourists, too. You

can make it your home base and travel to di�erent spots during the day, since we’re so central.

When the regional tourism marketing association was dis-solved a few years back, the Chamber stepped into the role and tried to help bring together stakeholders. Now there’s a tour-ism committee where we have representatives from the local municipalities, and local hospi-tality businesses.

We work together to market the area and try new ideas, and we’ve had a lot of success bring-ing new people to Truro and Col-chester. New attractions like the Rath Eastlink Community Centre and Civic Square have certainly helped with that, and local busi-ness owners like Derek Forsyth (who owns �e Nook and Cranny Brew Pub, the Salty Dog Brewing Company, Sauced Wood-Fired Pizza and Hubtown Sports Bar along with his wife, Jenna) have been a big part of organizing events downtown. We love hear-ing that people from Halifax are coming to Truro, rather than our people always going there.

Q: What is Truro doing to gener-ate economic development?

A: Last year, we established a Regional Enterprise Network (REN) called the Truro & Col-chester Partnership for Economic Prosperity. It’s supported by the towns of Truro and Stewiacke, the County of Colchester, Millbrook First Nation, the business com-munity through the Truro & Col-chester Chamber of Commerce and the province of Nova Scotia. �e goal is to generate economic

development in the area, and we know we’re going to continue to see growth.

We’ve also really focused on youth engagement. We hosted an event in Truro called Live & Work that was all about show-ing the youth in our community about the opportunities for them after graduating from commun-ity college or high school — if they chose not to go to university or community college. We used the Farmers’ Market as a central location and had local businesses open their doors on a Friday afternoon, and the students got to walk around downtown and meet with business owners. It was very successful.

Q: What’s on Truro’s schedule for the next few months?

A: We already have two huge events booked for Civic Square this summer. Joel Plaskett is headlining an early Canada Day concert on June 30, and Rock the Hub is returning August 24-26. We have Sloan, Big Wreck and Christine Campbell performing August 24, I Mother Earth, Fin-ger Eleven, The Motorleague and Jessie Brown on August 25, and Matt Mays, Wintersleep and Adam Baldwin on August 26.

�e RECC will be hosting the Down Syndrome World Swim-ming Championships from July 20-28, which will bring about 400 athletes and their families to the area. It’s also hosting the Grand Slam of Curling Masters again in October. Based on what we’ve seen over the last two years, there’s sure to be even more hap-pening soon.

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

While Truro’s business com-munity saw a few closures in 2017, it was mostly a year of celebrating grand openings, new locations, and new investors.

Here’s a look at some of the happenings from 2017 ...

• Shave and a haircut, two bits:

�e Tweed Suit Barbershop opened on Esplanade St. and it didn’t take long for locals to fall in love the unique, old-fashioned experience. It’s an interesting mix of old and new, as there are vintage barber chairs and hot towel shaves, but reservations are taken exclusively online.

• Slaying the dragons:

Truro dentist Anil Makkar ap-peared on CBC’s Dragon’s Den seeking investors for his New Age Performance Mouthware products. He struck a deal but had to keep it a secret for �ve months until the episode aired.

�e products actually ignited a bidding war between all six dragons, but in the end Makkar and his partners, Rob Charlton and Pete Czerwinski, settled on a deal with Dragons Michele Romanow, Arlene Dickinson and Joe Mimran.

“People in Truro have been so supportive of this whole thing,” Makkar told the Truro Daily News in October. “It just kind of breaks me up a little bit emo-tionally because this town has been awesome.”

• A new and improved Jimolly’s:

Jimolly’s Bakery Cafe moved from one side of Inglis St. to the other, reopening in a cor-ner spot with lots of light and a wood-burning stove. �e popu-lar spot is named after brother-and-sister basset hounds named Jim and Molly.

• From Sears to Stuffies:

One end of the Truro Mall should be quieter now that Sears has closed, but Stu�y Riders set up shop nearby and now that part of the corridor is usually busy with kids (and adults) rid-ing around on motorized stu�ed animals. �e furry creatures can be rented for $8 per 10 minutes, and can hold up to 400 lbs.

John Manning, operations manager for Stu�y Riders, says he’s never seen such a positive response.

“Malls are struggling right now because shoppers just want to go to the big box, stand-alone stores, and the malls have to compete with that,” Manning told the Truro Daily News in April. “So we get in there and we drive more customers to the mall. It’s like a phenomenon.”

• Big changes for Esplanade:

2017 was a year of changes for the shopping plaza on Esplan-ade St. It was feeling the loss of Carsand-Mosher, and welcomed new businesses like Great Can-adian Dollar Store, Tran Nails, Levels Game Loft, and the smaller Carsand Photo Imaging.

“Levels Game Loft has been really busy and it’s such a unique

business idea,” says Truro Chamber of Commerce presi-dent Joanne McRae. “They’re getting a di�erent market than you would traditionally see at a business in the downtown core.”

• Still shining after a flood:

�e Truro location of Inglis Jewellers su�ered a severe �ood back in 2016 and had to move to a temporary location on Esplanade. But the Bald Boys persevered and reopened their beautifully-renovated space, so they’re happy to be back where they belong.

Inglis Jewellers recently won

the Community Credit Union Business of the Year award for their ongoing community sup-port.

“�ey lost their building due to that �ood, but they continued operating through it all and never forgot about giving back,” says McRae. “�ey contribute to the community so much, and they’re an excellent example to other businesses.”

• An additional home for My HOME Apparel:

Mariah Kearney opened her second My HOME Apparel loca-tion (this one’s in Moncton) and

the original shop on Esplanade continued to �ourish. It’s about to have a new home of its own, as Kearney is set to move it over to Inglis Place in a very familiar spot.

After 20 years on Inglis Place, Sea Shell Design owner Shelley Austin has made the decision to retire, and her daughter, Kear-ney, will be moving into the old location.

“�is is a great example of how when there’s entrepreneurship in your family, it can continue to spark that interest in the next generation,” says McRae.

A year in review

1 THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018

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The many ways buying locally grown foods pays dividends

CONTRIBUTED

� e popularity of organic foods and stores that cater to custom-ers who prefer such foods con-tinues to grow, and that growth has contributed to a growing awareness among shoppers of where the food they eat comes from. Many consumers now rec-ognize the impact that food pro-duction has on the environment, and that recognition has spurred interest in locally grown foods.

Locally grown foods are those that are grown within your com-

munity or a community nearby. Such foods do not need to be shipped hundreds of miles be-fore they ultimately � nd their way onto your plate, and many people � nd that contributes to meals that are more fresh than meals made up of foods shipped from afar. But freshness is not the only bene� t to purchasing locally grown foods, which pay various dividends for people and the planet.

• Locally grown foods bene-� t the environment. � e phrase “� eld to plate” is signi� cant to consumers who prefer locally grown foods. � at phrase refers to the distance food travels from the grower to the plate on your dinner table. Estimates vary depending on the source, but advocates of locally grown food suggest that it reduces the � eld to plate distance by an average of 2,000 kilometres. Buying locally preserves that energy that is used to transport foods from afar.

• Locally grown foods fuel your local economy. In addition to bene� tting the environment, locally grown foods stimulate your local economy. Local, in-dependent farmers have largely fallen by the wayside in the 21st

century, as industrial agribusi-nesses have taken over the pro-duce sections in grocery stores across the country. But local, independent farmers are mak-ing a comeback, thanks in large part to consumer demand for organic foods. Supporting such farmers who grow their foods locally means you’re putting money back into your own com-munity, a worthwhile e� ort at a time when so many small com-munities are struggling econom-ically.

• Buying locally grown foods contributes to biodiversity. Ac-cording to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organ-ization, more than 75 per cent of agricultural genetic divers-ity was lost in the 20th century. That’s thanks in large part to industrial agribusinesses that cultivate fruits and vegetables that are bred for fast matura-tion. But small, local farms typ-ically grow a wider variety of fruits and vegetables in an e� ort to extend their growing seasons. � at means consumers of locally grown foods have access to more fruits and vegetables, and there-fore more � avour.

• Buying locally maintains beautiful landscapes. Farmland has been on the decline for dec-ades, as cement and asphalt have made millions of acres of once beautiful farmland disappear. Buying locally helps to maintain the green space your community and surrounding communities have left. � at makes for great road trips and even helps to sus-tain local wildlife populations.

• Locally grown foods can be more nutritious. Fruits and vege-tables can rapidly lose nutrients once they are harvested. � at’s problematic when buying such foods from industrial agribusi-nesses that need substantial time to get their products from the farm to the shelves at your local grocery chain. But buying from local farmers increases the like-lihood that the fruits and vege-tables you purchase were just picked and therefore have yet to lose a signi� cant amount of nutrients.

Locally grown foods are grow-ing in popularity, and that popularity can be traced to the freshness of such foods as well as the numerous additional bene� ts that locally grown foods provide.

A3

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> Having trouble a�rac�ng the right employees? > Interested in co-working space? > Need help naviga�ng local business support services? > Thinking about star�ng a business?

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The new kid on the block.The Truro & Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity (TCPEP) is a new organiza�on dedicated to increasing business opportuni�es, a�rac�ng talent and increasing investment in the Colchester region. We are supported by the local business community (through the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce), the Towns of Truro and Stewiacke, The Municipality of the County of Colchester, Millbrook First Na�on and the Province of Nova Sco�a.

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BY ANDREA FORBES-HURLEY

Cultivating a diverse workforce is important and this notion is supported by economic trends and research. With many Atlan-tic Canadian regions experien-cing population decline and the impact of the “brain drain,” as newly minted graduates head west, the topic of enhancing di-versity within our organizations has moved to the forefront of tal-ent management conversations.

Demographic challenges aside, research in recent years has clearly demonstrated that divers-ity has a direct impact on the bot-tom line. As an executive search professional, I often hear from leaders who agree that enhancing diversity is a top priority. So why aren’t we seeing more diverse or-ganizations?

Most organizations are fish-ing in the same pools, following the same processes, asking the same questions and hoping for a di� erent outcome. In order to create more diversity within our organizations we need to take a careful look at the unconscious biases that are often inadver-

tently built into hiring processes. Everyone involved in the hiring process needs to challenge as-sumptions and ask often uncom-fortable questions: Are we picking the “best” candidates because the other members of the hiring panel liked them best? Is it because a candidate looks the part? Or be-cause a candidate comes from an organization we respect? Or because we really connected with the person based on some shared experience? All of these reasons

are biases that commonly creep into hiring decisions and work against e� orts to enhance divers-ity. Here are five unconscious biases to watch out for:

Conformity bias “Groupthink” is a common

phenomenon in hiring processes. A well-known study by Soloman Ashe highlighted the tendency for people to be swayed by the opin-ions of others when participants were asked to rate the length of

a line compared to a sample of three other lines. Although the di� erence in sizes was clear, if participants were told their peers had chosen the incorrect answer, more than 75 per cent also chose the incorrect answer at least once out of 12 trials.

If you have ever been a part of a hiring panel, you have seen the impact the majority opinion can have on others. Panelists may go along with the group because it is easier or because the group re-

sponse causes them to question the validity of their own opinion. � is is particularly true when or-ganizational leaders sit amongst the majority. � is phenomenon can lead groups to overplay the strengths of the candidate the majority favours and underplay the strengths of other candidates.

Halo e� ect Do you ever � nd yourself im-

mediately drawn to a candidate because they work at a company or with an individual that you think highly of? � e halo e� ect occurs when we see one positive aspect about a person and we let the halo “glow” of this association a� ect our perspectives of every-thing else about that person.

Reactions such as, “He worked for her, so he must be good” or “� at company did big things that year, so she must be talented,” in-advertently give credit where it may not be due. As a result, the candidate with the positive as-sociation will have an immediate advantage in the hiring process over those outside a hiring man-ager’s known networks.

See more on page 4

Enhancing diversity: Five unconscious biases to watch out for in your hiring process

3 THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018 • BUSINESS EDGE

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FROM PAGE 3

Beauty bias Research has shown that

people who are rated more phys-ically attractive are immediately perceived to be happier and more successful. � e tendency to correlate attractiveness with the likelihood of individual suc-cess can have a direct impact in hiring decisions. Have you ever heard someone suggest a tall, athletic looking CEO really “looks that part”? In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink, he reveals that 58 per cent of the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are over six-feet tall despite the fact that only 14.5 per cent of the population of Amer-ican men are over six-feet tall. Not surprisingly, studies suggest men’s attractiveness ratings in-crease with height.

Further to this point, what we believe to be attractive is in� u-enced by our individual socio-cultural backgrounds. So, if we return to the example of height, while unconscious biases may fa-vour tall male leaders, statistics suggest that North Americans are on average taller than individ-uals from many other countries, which may further disadvantage underrepresented groups.

A� nity bias � e a� nity bias occurs when

we are drawn to someone we have something in common with (i.e.: you attended the same uni-versity, you grew up in the same community or you have a mutual connection). In Atlantic Canada, we might call this the “who’s your father” bias.

In a small community where it is easy to draw connections

through family, friends or pro-fessional relationships, this can easily feel like a great way to build rapport with a candidate. We have a natural tendency to want to be around people we can relate to. However, decision makers may unknowingly dis-advantage candidates without connections in our region by applying this bias. Hiring man-agers may choose the candidate with whom they found a strong affinity, because they walked away from the interview feeling positively about the encounter, without truly evaluating if the candidate brought the best skills and experience to the table.

Similarity bias Closely related to the a� nity

bias is the similarity bias which involves the natural tendency to want to work with people who are like us. Studies have shown that similarity is one of the most significant factors influencing the attraction to candidates dur-ing assessment and leads hiring managers to be inclined to “hire in their own image.” Unfortu-nately, this bias can perpetuate homogenous organizations of employees that look, sound and act alike.

If your organization is truly committed to enhancing divers-ity, those involved in recruitment and talent management must

take deliberate action to change the status quo: Proactively iden-tify organizations, sites and in-dividuals connected to diverse communities to build awareness of career opportunities. Engage others involved in the hiring pro-cess in a frank discussion about the importance of diversity and revisit that priority at each stage of the hiring process, to keep it top of mind. Question initial re-actions to dismiss the application of a potentially quali� ed candi-date from an underrepresented group and educate teams on the

cultural nuances that may in� u-ence candidate behaviours dur-ing an interview. Build a culture of inclusivity within your organiz-ation by starting a dialogue about diversity and unconscious biases. Challenge your own assumptions and encourage others to do the same, revaluate hiring strategies and processes and monitor the success of these strategies.

Change in workforce divers-ity will not happen without change in the way organiza-tions hire and promote.


A5

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More than just a market at MasstownBY JAMES RISDON

In the produce section, 53-year-old Laurie Jennings is stocking shelves at the Masstown Market.

He owns the place. A sprawling property off the

TransCanada west of Truro, the Masstown Market now boasts � e Peg events venue, the Lighthouse � sh market with its Catch of the Bay seafood restaurant in a Cape Islander-style boat at the end of a dock, a PetroCanada gas station, a Tim Hortons, complimentary kennels, and the farmers’ market itself.

The privately-held business does not divulge its revenues but Jennings will admit it does more than a million sales annually.

And it’s still growing.Despite that success, Jennings

is still more likely be found work-ing on the � oor on any given day than sitting behind a desk, hand-ling paperwork.

“My dad, my grandfather - and myself - all believed you should do the same things as everyone else,” he says. “You don’t ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.”

His father, Eric, opened the Masstown Market as a farm gate operation in 1969, almost half a century ago.

Now, it’s his grandson’s turn. As the business expands with

construction of a 15,000-square foot building to house a creamery

and a meat shop, Laurie Jenning’s oldest son, Tristan, is joining the family business.

A Southern Alberta Institute of Technology-certi� ed butcher, he’ll be running the Masstown Butcher Shop set to open in June.

“We’re not going to kill animals. It’s a butcher shop, not an abat-toir,” says Laurie Jennings. “We’re going to take the meat and turn it

into all kinds of cuts you don’t see very much anymore.”

� at butcher shop is also being touted as a place where shop-pers will be able to get informa-tion about how the animals were raised and allow them to source of the meat.

“� ere needs to be an educa-tional component to this so that people can know where their

food comes from,” says Jennings. “We’ll be able to take this beef and say that this meat comes from this farmer and this is how it was raised.”

Across the stone-paved corri-dor down the centre of the same building as the butcher shop – with its big glass windows and Cape Cod siding -- the Masstown Creamery is going to give custom-ers a peek at just how everything dairy is made.

“We’re going to bottle milk, make cheese and butter,” says Laurie Jennings. “� e production area has windows so that custom-ers can take a look. It’s to tell the story about how the food is made.”

The owner of the Masstown Market is keeping mum on just how much money was invested in the creamery and butcher shop operation. Certainly, there’s more to these businesses than just the cost of the building. But the Mu-nicipality of Colchester’s building

permit o� cials say the original permits � led in late 2016 pegged the value of that building alone at $800,000.

“It’s the biggest project we’ve ever done,” says Jennings. “We’ll have 20 to 30 people working there once we’re set up.”

With its location roughly mid-way between Halifax and Monc-ton, the Masstown market is a regular stop for tourists and motorists who stop to stretch their legs.

“There are people who come here with their friends, show them around, saying, ‘Hey, you should see what they do in the bakery!’” says Jennings.

And the future? Well, it’s still a secret.

But the Masstown business owner hints there is more to come.

“There’s property here – and space,” he says, “And a few things that are more than just notions.”


A6


CONTRIBUTED

Networking is often seen as a means to further one’s career, but developing a group of pro-fessional contacts can also be a great way for professionals to stay abreast of the trends in their particular �elds. Networking also can bene�t small businesses as they look to connect with vend-ors that can help them grow their businesses.

A strong professional network is not built overnight, and many professionals spend years nurtur-ing relationships with people in their networks. Individuals and business owners can take several approaches when building pro-

fessional networks they will rely on for years to come.

• Ask around. Some individuals may hesitate to seek networking advice out of fear of appearing opportunistic. But successful pro-fessionals understand the need to network, so your colleagues will likely be glad to o�er refer-rals if they’re in a position to do so. When receiving a referral, ask if you can use the person’s name, which should help you establish a connection during the introduc-tory process. Resist the idea that using a colleague’s name when meeting a professional you hope to work with is something sinis-ter, as the name will only help you

with the introduction. Once the introduction has been made, it’s up to you to do the rest.

• Get active in your industry. Referrals are not the only way to develop professional contacts. Being active in your industry by joining professional organiza-tions and attending seminars and other industry events is a great way to expand your network. Vol-unteer to work with professional organizations when possible or o�er to host information sessions or educational workshops at your business.

• Reconnect with your col-lege or university. Another

great way to build a professional network is to reconnect with your college or university. When meeting people affiliated with your alma mater, the ice has al-ready been broken in a sense, as the school is essentially a built-in connection. You also won’t have to worry about the awkwardness that might come when meeting a professional contact with whom you have less in common. Alumni organizations and local chap-ters can introduce you to people who earned your degree at your school, and many people love to help out their fellow alumni.

• Employ social media. So-cial media is not just for kids. In

fact, social media is a great way for professionals to make and maintain professional contacts. LinkedIn, for example, makes it easy to connect with fellow pro-fessionals who are looking to do the same. Twitter can be used to promote professional events such as seminars or workshops you are working with. These platforms can be used to grow your network quickly and easily, but be sure to vet each person you connect with to make sure you are a�liating yourself with the right people.

Building a strong professional network takes patience and hard work. But the right network can pay dividends for years to come.

How to build a strong professional network

CONTRIBUTED

Small businesses are continu-ally seeking ways to compete in ever-competitive markets. While they often �ll a niche not easily met by larger corporations, small businesses sometimes �nd it dif-�cult to gain traction in a com-munity and fully showcase all they have to o�er. Getting more involved in their communities, including working collaboratively with nonprofit organizations, can provide the boost small busi-nesses need to connect with their communities.

Many large companies boast programs that promote social responsibility and community in-

volvement, and it can be a smart move for small businesses as well. �ere are plenty of ways small businesses can get involved with local charities.

• Find a good match. Consider working with a charity that has a connection to your business so that there is a common purpose. For example, a pet groomer may want to work with an animal welfare organization. Service-related businesses, such as law firms or accounting firms, can assist groups that o�er services and business counseling to needy families. Landscapers may �nd a good �t with an environmental protection charity.

• Donate goods or services. Charitable organizations are al-ways in need of more money to fund their e�orts, but small busi-nesses can contribute in other ways as well. Businesses can do-nate supplies and services, such as a printing �rm o�ering to print business cards or brochures for the charity. Business owners and their employees can volunteer their time, which can be a great way for employees to connect outside of the o�ce and boost morale in the process.

• Support a fundraising event. A highly visible way to support a charity is to host or support a fundraising activity. Small businesses can o�er to col-

lect donations at their o�ces or stores. Warehouse spaces can be used to store supplies, while other venues may be ideal spots for dances, walks or charity din-ners. Businesses can ask that the charity mention the sponsorship in event advertisements and mar-keting.

• Financial donations can make ‘cents.’ Giving to charity is a way to increase tax deductions and reduce annual tax bills. Small businesses can work with their �nancial o�cers or accountants to develop a budget for charitable giving.

• Obtain meaningful expos-ure to in�uential people. Work-

ing with established nonpro�ts can help provide a connection to in�uential people in the com-munity and beyond. The more exposure a business can get, the more access it has to networking opportunities. In addition, more contacts in the community can increase word-of-mouth market-ing that increases your customer base and improves your standing in the community.

Supporting local charities can bene�t small businesses in vari-ous ways. Small business owners can explore the various charitable opportunities at their disposal in an e�ort to connect with their communities and grow their busi-nesses.

Supporting a charity can bene�t small businesses

A7

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1. We create a more dynamic business climate: Success leads to success. � e more prosperous businesses we have, the more the local climate will encourage other entrepreneurs to set up busi-nesses and create still more jobs.

2. We gain more property tax income to invest in our infra-structure: The more thriving businesses we have, the more they will be able to expand. � e more they expand, the more property and business tax they will pay, generating money that can be used for the good of our town and our citizens.

3. We improve services: A prosperous local economy is con-ducive to improvements in social, medical, and sports and leisure services, as well as in tourism, the arts, and entertainment.

4. We have more choice and a wider variety of products: � e sales � gures of a business re� ect its financial health, and when business is good, expansion pro-jects multiply. Expansion brings new products and new services to our community.

5. We benefit local commun-ity organizations: Non-profit

organizations receive many donations from local business people. Donations are essential to their survival, so it follows that the healthier the economy, the healthier our organizations.

6. We maintain the unique character of our town and re-gion: � e charm of a municipality is in its dynamism and character.

� ose go hand in hand with its economic health. A municipality that can count on its population to buy locally is a municipality to be envied.

7. We create more jobs in our town and region: A thriving job market depends on the economic health of our region.

8. We have a positive impact on the environment: Local en-terprises purchase a lot more local products, greatly reducing the transportation of products from outside the region.

9. We support our region in the search for investors: If our region has a dynamic economy, it is bound to attract investors. If our municipality receives revenues from business and property taxes, it can work to attract investors as well. Invest-ors are like consumers: they are attracted to regions that are at-tractive.

10. We invest in our region:For all the reasons listed above, buying local is logical, bene� cial, and highly e� cient. Buying local creates the economic leverage that is vital to the dynamism of a region. By working together we can support our local economy.

10 reasons to nurture the health of our local economy 7 THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018 • BUSINESS EDGE

A8

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Dining out is a great way to celebrate life’s milestones or simply reconnect with friends and loved ones. Research �rm NPD Group found that, by the end of 2015, res-taurant visits by consumers increased by 700 million compared to just �ve years prior.

While chain restaurants invest heav-ily in advertising, independently owned restaurants do not have those same re-sources. Multi-unit chains also have more pull with suppliers and might be able to negotiate better deals, or can spread oper-ational costs across various locations. Too often diners are not aware of the vast array of tasty, well-priced and artisanal foods awaiting them just down the street. But dining out at local eateries can be bene�-cial in various ways.

• High-quality food: Many local estab-lishments have complete control over their suppliers and menus. As a result, they can be picky with regard to the vendors they use and the produce, meats, dairy, and other ingredients that they select. Many small, independently owned restaurants team up with local organic farmers and dis-tributors to supply a farm-to-table experi-

ence that many diners now enjoy.

• Freedom of experimentation: Al-though chain restaurants may have to meet approval from administrative boards and marketing departments before they can introduce new fare, independently owned restaurants can let their diners decide which foods remain on the menu and even adapt to community trends. Local restau-rants may take pride in serving cultural or regional foods.

• Ability to customize: Independently owned restaurants may be more amenable to adapting recipes or making substitu-tions to meet diners’ requests. Skilled local chefs can think on the �y and modify reci-pes, which may not always be possible in chain establishments.

• Crowd control: Local restaurants tend to be smaller and more intimate than many chain restaurants. �is can translate into a calm dining experience. When crowds are small, the noise level inside the restaurant may be muted and service may be fast be-cause there aren’t as many tables to serve. Furthermore, local establishments, al-though concerned about making a pro�t, may be less worried about table turnover rate, preferring to let diners linger if it means repeat business.

• Familiar faces: Some diners enjoy being a “regular” at their favorite local res-taurants. Local dining spots also become gathering locations for residents in the know, instead of passing-through tourists or commuters.

Much can be said about the advantages of patronizing local eateries. Men and women who want unique dining experi-ences can give local, independently owned establishments a try.

Local dining spots foster community Too often diners are not aware of the vast array of tasty, well-priced and artisanal foods awaiting them just down the street. But dining out at local eateries can be bene�cial in vari-ous ways.

PHOTO CREDIT 123RF.COM

Diners are often delighted at the caliber of food and service at independently owned eateries.


A9

Don’t miss all that Downtown Truro has to o� er

CONTRIBUTED

Downtown Truro is not what it used to be… And it has not forgot-ten who it was.

When you visit downtown Truro for the � rst time, there is a good chance you will wonder why you haven’t made a plan to come sooner.

If you are just coming back to visit when you’ve not been for a few years, you will be pleasantly surprised by the transformation.

Locals are saying that there is a buzz that’s been building stead-ily over the last � ve or six years. People from away are puzzling over why they keep hearing so much about Truro all of a sudden.

The Downtown Truro Part-nership – the organization that works to promote everything that downtown Truro has to o� er – is coming up on its 40th anniversary in 2019 and there is a

lot to celebrate.

There is a thriving business district that honours its history, while celebrating the new – new businesses, new infrastructure, new opportunities – intermin-gling with businesses that have been in existence for, in some cases, more than 50 years.

� ere is a resurgence of energy being put into collaboration among businesses, organiza-tions and community members – through brainstorming sessions, events, activities and more.

� ere is a beautiful landscape – a new civic square where fam-ilies can be found taking part in various activities on weekends and business people can be found playing catch on their lunch breaks. Not to mention the 3,000 acres of woodland that is just steps away from the downtown core in Victoria Park.

And there is a feeling. That buzz. � at sense of community and pride that has been building for the last several years and is now bursting at the seams.

With more than 300 profes-sional, service, retail and non-pro� t members represented by the urban regional core, down-town Truro is no longer that place you pass by on the highway... it is a destination. It is the place you stop and stay.

It’s the place where you start your day climbing the iconic Jacob’s Ladder in Victoria Park, spend the afternoon with a unique downtown shopping experience, and � nish the day o� sitting out on a nearby patio catching up with friends.

Downtown Truro is the place to be.

works to promote everything that downtown Truro has to o� er – is coming up on its 40th anniversary in 2019 and there is a

steps away from the downtown core in Victoria Park.


A10

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A11

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Make your next staycation an occasion to remember with these helpful tips:

• Invest in your home or lifestyle. In-stead of bankrolling a trip overseas, chan-nel those funds into improvements for your home or yard to create a relaxing atmos-phere you can enjoy year-round. Install that pool or landscape the backyard to make it feel like a tropical paradise. Coasting across the water of a lake or ocean is an enjoyable pastime, so repurpose your vacation funds to buy a boat or some jet skis that you can enjoy throughout the warmer months.

• Become a tourist in your hometown. Chances are you have never experienced the sights of your hometown the way a tourist might. Plan a few days when you can act like someone visiting your town or city for the � rst time. Go to the top of that tallest mountain or get a tour of that local factory. Seek out and visit monuments and

points of history in your community. Hop on one of those sight-seeing buses and learn something new about where you live. You may just be surprised at what you can discover.

• Look for hidden gems. Some local businesses may be willing to open up for “behind the scenes” tours if you ask. � is can be a fun excursion for young children. Ask employees of a movie theater if you can see the projection room. Newspaper o� ces may host tours of their facilities. Even a bowling alley can be fascinating to kids if they can see ball-return mechanisms or how equipment is stored. Watching the zamboni machine clean the ice at a rink also may be an entertaining sneak peek into rink operations.

• Splurge on a show or sporting event. Attend an event you normally wouldn’t un-less you were on vacation. Take a trip to see a Broadway-inspired musical at a nearby theatre or take the family to see your local

sports team play a home game against its biggest rival. Treat yourself to concession stand snacks and a few souvenirs.

• Dine out a few nights. Vacations often entail eating out, especially if meals are not included in a traditional va-cation package. Use your staycation as the opportunity to dine at local restaurants you have yet to visit. Indulge the kids one night and put them in charge of choosing the meals. Forget those diet plans for a day or two and savor that triple-scoop ice cream cone. If the cost of dining out has you con-cerned, select restaurants that o� er cou-pons in community mailers or value packs.

• Read the newspaper or community bulletin. Chances are you can � nd a num-

ber of entertaining and low-cost activities sponsored by your town or other organ-izations close to home. Fireworks displays, movies under the stars, boat tours, and fairs are just a handful of the fun events that may be coming soon.

• Turn off electronics. Take a break from some of your devices during your stay-cation. By doing so, you will be less likely to fall into your daily habits and more likely to make the most of your time to rest and relax.

How to enjoy this year’s staycation

A12

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CONTRIBUTED

Purchasing a house or property is about more than setting up a home. Although quite a number of people buy real estate to es-tablish their future, long-term abodes, many others recognize the potentially lucrative invest-ment that lies within a real estate purchase.

Despite the ups and downs of the economy, real estate has become a common investment vehicle - one that has plenty of

potential for making big gains for those who are willing to put in the e� ort. According to the experts at Entrepreneur, even in a bad econ-omy, real estate investments will usually fare better than stocks. Real estate also continues to ap-preciate despite the occasional economical slow-down.

Like any other endeavor, there is a right and a wrong way to go about investing in real estate. Novices may not know where to begin their � rst forays into the real estate market as investors,

even if they already own their own homes. Buying a property as an investment is an entirely dif-ferent animal than buying a home to establish a residence. However, with the right guidance, anyone can dabble in real estate.

Establish � nancial goals Before you even begin looking

at properties or put forth the ef-fort of meeting with an agent, you must determine what you expect from the investment. � e days of buying real estate and � ipping

it for a fast pro� t may no longer be here. However, real estate can provide a steady stream of long-term income. Understand what you hope to achieve by investing. If it’s to become an overnight mil-lionaire, you may be looking at the wrong investment vehicle in real estate.

Establish a planNew investors who do not have

a plan in place will likely spend too much or have more setbacks than others who have planned ac-cordingly. When investing in real estate, it’s more about the bot-tom line than the property itself. According to Springboard Acad-emy, a real estate academy for in-vestors, look for motivated sellers and stick to a set purchase price. Try to make o� ers on a variety of properties that work in your � -nancial favor. And know what you want to do with the property (i.e., renovate and sell, remove and re-build, or rehab and rent) before you buy. Fit the house to the plan, and not vice-versa.

Start smallIf this is your first time out

there, stick with properties that will turnover quickly. Research areas in and around thriving

centers or close to transporta-tion and shopping. A good starter property is a small house or a condominium that can be refur-bished and then rented. Rental properties o� er steady sources of income when renters are properly vetted, o� ers Investopedia, an in-vestment resource.

Look at many di� erent properties

Become an expert by learning as much as you can about what is out there. Attend open houses; look for vacant/unattractive properties; scour the classi� eds in your local paper; or put the word out there that you’re interested in buying a property. Only look at properties that have motivated sellers, because then you’ll get closest to the price you want to pay. And don’t forget to research the area and the home turnover rate for the speci� c area where you are looking. Don’t make as-sumptions that a property will appreciate without doing your homework.

Real estate can be a worthy investment opportunity. With research, a plan and the right price, just about anyone can be a real estate investor.

Beginner’s guide to real estate investments 12 BUSINESS EDGE • THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018

A13

7643350

Not-For-Pro�t Charity SectionMake a Difference in your Community Today!

Volunteer and Give Generously to Support!

7642280

SERVICES PROVIDED: • 24-hour crisis line, safe shelter for women and children • 24-hour staffing, a safe, comfortable living environment for as long as six weeks supportive counselling • Help in understanding the legal and social services systems (referral & advocacy) group support • A space for women to share their experience and to gain confidence in their own abilities

Outreach Services:• accompaniment to court, lawyers, social services, etc., assistance with peace bond and court applications, individual supportive counselling, information and referral, group support

Support Groups: All groups require a commitment from attendees, that they will complete the course once registered. Moving On, Take Time For Your Life, Child Witnesses of Domestic Violence Abuse Education Program, Anger Management/Con�ict Resolution.

Public Education: Staff are available to make presentations or facilitate workshops focusing on a number of topics to other professionals, community groups, community colleges, schools, and the general public, etc.

“Promoting Healthy Relationships for Life”

The Third Place Transition House providessafe shelter for women and children

fleeing violence and abuse. We also offeroutreach services so you don’t have to be a resident to access services.

All of our services are free.Check out our website at wwwthirdplaceth.ca

For more information and to sign up for groups:Call: 902-893-4844

Crisis line: 902-893-3232 orToll Free: 1-800-565-4878

P.O. Box 1681, Truro, NS B2N 5Z5

7642456


BY JAMES RISDON� e bill to clean up Boat Har-

bour could be another $67 mil-lion, or 50 per cent, more than the latest estimate, says the director of this Nova Scotia Lands project.

“It may be upwards of $200 mil-lion but we can’t measure that yet,” said Ken Swain, program director for Boat Harbour with Nova Scotia Lands, in an inter-view. “We’re still gathering infor-mation (needed to determine the � nal cost).”

� e latest estimate to remove and treat underwater sludge de-posited in Boat Harbour over decades of industrial use is $133 million.

The cleanup will see the re-moval and treatment of up to one million cubic metres of contam-inated sludge, enough to cover a football � eld to the height of a 100-storey building.

It’s a lot of goop.By comparison, the Sydney Tar

Ponds remediation project in-volved cleaning up roughly 70 per cent as much material.

Boat Harbour, originally a tidal estuary, was closed o� dec-ades ago and transformed into a roughly 140-hectare wastewater lagoon for a pulp mill. Tens of millions of litres of wastewater are still dumped into its coves, ponds and settling ponds every day from the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County.

That’s going to come to an end in 2020, the cut-o� date for Northern Pulp to have another

wastewater treatment operation in place.

� en, the cleanup of Boat Har-bour will get underway in earnest. It’s expected to take � ve years.

When that large-scale remedi-ation work begins, it will use know-how tested during a pilot project this summer in a cove that’s about eight per cent of the total area and has been isolated from the rest of Boat Harbour by a roughly $2.5-million, impene-trable berm made of dirt.

� e pilot project will remove sludge contaminated with zinc,

cadmium, mercury and organic matter.

“� e contaminants of concern are dioxins and furans … because they’re carcinogens,” said Swain.

� e heavy metals are a lesser worry because they are not can-cer-causing agents but the con-taminated sludge also contains hydrocarbons.

� e province will be putting out two tenders to handle this work.

� e � rst, expected to be issued in May, will be for work that is to start in July. � at contract, which

will run for about four weeks, will be to build a staging area of about two hectares to receive the sludge and drain much of the water out of it.

Once that’s built, the work of actually removing the sludge, bringing it to the staging area, and taking care of it will begin. � e tender for that work is to go out in June, start in August and run through into January.

“� at will allow us to experi-ence the seasons and see how these will impact the activity,” said Swain.

� e Boat Harbour remediation project, owned by the province, is located adjacent to the Pictou Landing First Nation. Nova Scotia Lands is working to ensure First Nations members are involved in every stage of the project.

“We’ve got four Nova Scotia universities working with us and they have a lot of First Nations people working with them,” said Swain. “It will also be part of the request for proposals that (bid-ders) have a plan as to how to engage the First Nations com-munities.”

Boat Harbour budget on the rise

A14

Building Lots Available in New Sub-division

(maintained by Munic. of Colchester)

Size from .6 acres to 8.5 acres. 6 kms from Truro 76

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Complete Accounting Services | Income Tax Returns Business & Personal | Bookkeeping | Payroll ~ HST Returns

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Electrical ContractorJIM FORBES ELECTRIC

606 Upper River John Rd.Tatamagouche, N.S.

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A15

CONTRIBUTED

Between tax rebates, cash-back incentives and “family and friends” pricing, it seems like car dealerships always have some sort of promotional campaign going on. �is means if you’re in the market for a new car, the hard part isn’t resisting those enticing deals — it’s figuring out which ones are worth your while. At some point during the year, most products and ser-vices do end up being sold at a discount. It’s entirely possible — and highly advantageous — to plan your purchases according to periodic sales cycles. For ex-ample, buying a new vehicle just when the model-year changes to the next one can save you big.

�e end of spring and the be-ginning of summer are typically good times to purchase a vehicle. �is is a peak period for sales and competition between brands is �erce. Also consider that many

automakers unveil new models during the �rst big auto shows of the year (Detroit, New York, Chi-cago and Geneva). A lot of those models will then quickly make their way to dealer ships, which need to make room for the new arrivals.

Another tip: it’s a good idea to wait until the end of the month to make your purchase. When salespeople start to run out of time to make their monthly sales targets, they become more inclined to negotiate. So hit the dealership on the 29th of the month, not the 3rd. �is advice applies to all types of motor ve-hicles, including motorcycles, scooters and ATVs.

Finally, models in high de-mand will typically be sold at the same price all year. In such cases, you’ll need to adjust your bargain-hunting strategy — by shopping around multiple dealerships, for instance.

CONTRIBUTED

Are you in the market for a pre-owned vehicle? Follow these tips to avoid getting stuck with a lemon.

Research the price

Are you looking for a particu-lar model of used vehicle? First things �rst: go online to compare prices to �nd out what the market value is for your car of choice.

Make a budget

No matter what kind of car you’re shopping for, it’s easy to get carried away and go over your budget. Make a list of your wants and needs, and establish a budget that factors in insurance and

maintenance costs. Don’t forget to leave yourself some wiggle room for the unforeseen.

Get your hands on the car’s history

Ideally, you’ll get the chance to view the invoices for any main-tenance work done on the car. Dealerships usually keep the paperwork for all vehicles they’ve done maintenance on, and some private sellers do the same.

Know who the seller is

Be sure you know exactly who you’ll be buying the vehicle from. �ere are ill-intentioned people everywhere, and the car sales business is no exception. The thought of making a quick buck can make people greedy. Know-ing who you’re doing business with is crucial.

Have it inspected

Once you’ve taken all the neces-sary precautions, it’s time to have the car inspected. Bring it to an independent mechanic of your

choosing — if the seller insists on taking it to a speci�c garage, take your business elsewhere.

Take it for a test drive

Take the car out for a spin — don’t settle for simply starting it! Ideally, you should take 15 to 20 minutes to familiarize yourself with the feeling of the car. Try to drive it on city roads as well as on the highway. Listen for any suspi-cious sounds, pay attention to the suspension and keep your eyes peeled for any little details that could reveal the vehicle’s true condition.

Get it in writing

If you buy your car from a dealership, you’ll need to sign a contract. Make sure that it matches your verbal agreement on all points. If you decide to pur-chase from an independent seller, it’s highly recommended that you draft a written agreement, even if you aren’t required to by law. In the event of future problems, it might o�er you some valuable protections.

When is the best time to buy a new car?

Smart tips for buying a used car


A16

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Social enterprises offer goods or servicesthat create both financial and social returns.Summer Street businesses provide trainingand employment to over 100 clients. Theyhelp balance and improve quality of life,contribute to annual revenues and supportour full range of programs.

Social enterprises add diversity to thebusiness community and give everyonean opportunity to support positive change.Like every successful business, SummerStreet offers quality products and servicesat competitive prices. We’re innovative andalways open to new ideas and ventures!Our core businesses include:

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A17

Licensed producers key to safe medical and recreational cannabis use

Tatamagouche Brewing Company: Part of a dynamic North Shore food and drink culture

BY CYNTHIA MCMURRAY

�ere is so much we still don’t know about cannabis. Up until the Liberal government’s an-nouncement that it would be legalizing the recreational use of the plant as of July 1, 2018 (now TBD), the subject of marijuana was essentially taboo. Even many family physicians have been reti-cent to the idea of using medical cannabis, despite it being legal for this purpose since 2001. But that is all about to change, whether we are ready or not, and licenced producers (LPs) are the key to making sure the industry remains safe.

“We would probably be the only industry that is in favour of more regulations. We think the barrier to entry should be high, so that only the most quali�ed and competent companies get into the market,” says Sandy Schem-bri, VP, strategic initiatives for the Truro Herbal Company, a late-stage applicant to become a LP of medical cannabis under the ACMPR (Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations) established through Health Can-ada.

And the process to become a LP in Canada is extremely di�-cult, according to Schembri, who says the Truro Herbal Company began submitting the required paperwork for licencing in June 2014. “…we submitted around 2,500 pages of documents to Health Canada and have spent over $1 million [so far] just going through the licensing process,” says Schembri.

As of now, there are three au-thorized LPs in Nova Scotia — Aqualitas Inc., based out of the old Bowater-Mersey paper mill site near Liverpool , Breathing Green Solutions Inc. in the Went-

worth Valley and Highland Grow Inc., in Antigonish County. �ere are a number of applications still in the que, including Truro Herbal Company and Robinson’s Canna-bis in the Antigonish Valley, so we can expect to see more Nova Sco-tia LPs receiving a licence in the near future.

LPs are, and will continue to be, the only legal supply chain for cannabis in the medical and soon to be recreational market. The reasoning behind this is that LPs are held to very high standards for safe manufacturing practices and testing standards to ensure it is safe and consistent for the con-sumer. What this means is that every dispensary currently oper-ating in the province is 100 per cent illegal. �e only legal way to purchase recreational cannabis will be through the NSLC, which will also o�er online purchasing. The biggest challenge LPs will

face moving forward, is meeting the incredible demand everyone in the industry foresees, accord-ing to Schembri.

According to studies on supply, the government is anticipating a 700,000 kilo supply shortage in Canada after recreational can-nabis is legalized. �is is not ex-pected to even out until 2020, which means cannabis will be in high demand for several years to come.

Schembri says, “… the 60 [plus] current licenced producers in Canada are able to produce 80,000 to 100,000 kilograms [of cannabis per year] and we esti-mate that the total consumption for the whole country is closer to 1 million kilograms [per year], so the shortfall is incredible.”

What is really surprising, how-ever, is that in Nova Scotia alone,

the demand is estimated to be close to 35,000 kilograms per year. When you consider that Truro

Herbal Company will initially be able to produce between 3,000 to 5,000 kilograms of dried canna-bis annually, even with cannabis from other local LPs, there will still be a signi�cant shortage. Ac-cording to Statistic Canada, sales revenue of medical cannabis was $239.4 million in 2016. While Ontario accounted for just over half of that, Nova Scotia had the second highest sales — 17.4 per cent of all sales in Canada.

When recreational cannabis does occur this summer, custom-ers will be able to purchase a wide variety of cannabis through au-thorized NSLC locations. In fact, the NSLC states they will have a signi�cant selection of products (300 or so, depending on the lo-cation), which will be sold in stores-within-a-store in existing NSLC outlets.

For more information on what the recreational side of cannabis will look like, visit the NSLC’s website at mynslc.com/en/Cannabis.

BY MARK DEWOLF

Local craft beer and food cul-ture has grown exponentially in the last few years. Much of the success can be attributed to growing concerns of the environ-ment and health impacts of food and drink shipped in from great distances. �e spin-o� of a wider audience being exposed to local food is the “aha” moment that all local, less-processed food and drink, such as locally made craft beer, simply tastes better.

It’s not just an urban phe-nomenon. Rural Nova Scotia is lapping up the local movement with pleasure. Case in point is Tatamagouche, on Nova Scotia’s North Shore. Less than �ve years ago, legendary local winemaker, Hans Christian Jost and daugh-ter Christiane, opened Tatama-gouche Brewing Company.

“Growing up in Malagash, Ta-tamagouche was where we went for groceries, the dentist, etc.,” Christiane says. “It was always like we were going to the big town. When deciding on a loca-tion for the brewery it was always the area that we wanted to be. When we started our new busi-ness it was very important for us to be part of the streetscape of town. �e community of Tatam-agouche embodies community spirit.”

The Josts originally set their sight on the old town library, but around the same time, as it turns out, the old building beside it, which according to Christiane has been everything from a tire shop, a dance hall, a restaurant and mostly recently a butcher shop, also went on the market. It was a tough decision to open the brewery in the butcher shop, but according to Christiane “it had more square footage which at the time we thought would be neces-

sary.” As it turns out, it wasn’t

enough. This past winter the brewery expanded, taking over the old library space. �ey added new fermenters – allowing them to double production – as well as an enlarged tasting room and patio space for customers to sit down and try there beers. Asked if this was the end of expansion, Christiane responded “no it hasn’t been enough. We have an-other tank on its way and we just bought the property next to us and have expanded production there, as well.”

Asked whether they would con-sider moving the brewery out of Tatamagouche’s downtown core, Christiane says “no, we de�nitely want to keep a presence on Main Street.” �e brewery has become an integral part of tourism in the area. “We offer flights of four-ounce pours. We have di�erent beers on tap here that can’t often

get in city. We have a great team here to answer questions. �ere is a real energy going on.”

It’s all been good for Tatama-gouche Brewing Company, but also for the local restaurant com-munity and neighbouring bever-age alcohol producers. According to Christiane “a lot of restaurants have told us that their sales have gone up because the brewery brings more people into the com-munity. It’s a symbiotic relation-ship. All the restaurants here sell our products and we send cus-tomers to them. We think we’ve helped make the community more of a destination. We round out the experience, as do Uncle Leo’s (Lyons Brook), Caldera Dis-tilling (River John) and Jost Vine-yards (Malagash).”

The brewery completes the food and drink package in the area. Visitors making a base in Tatamagouche have a wealth of activities within driving distance.

Any foodie trip to Tatamagouche requires a pilgrimage to the Sat-urday Farmers’ Market where a small group of enthusiast vend-ors sell all you need for an after-noon picnic or gourmet evening meal. When in the area, you’d also be remiss not to venture to the nearby Train Station Inn for a visit and light lunch on �e Din-ing Car, housed in a converted CNR railcar. It’s a restaurant ex-perience that Christiane notes as “her favourite.” A short distance from Tatamagouche you’ll also �nd Sugar Moon Farm, producers of local maple syrup, and less than a 10-minute drive away in Den-mark, �e Pork Shop, which has even used Tatamagouche beer to make sausages. It all makes for a worthwhile venture to Nova Sco-tia’s North Shore where you are sure to discover Tatamagouche Brewing Company and one of this province’s most dynamic food and drink cultures.

Recreational cannabis will be sold in 12 stores throughout the province. • 26 LaPlanche St., Amherst Mall

•151 Church St., Antigonish

• 274 Dufferin St. Bridgewater

• 640 Portland St. Dartmouth

• 3601 Joseph Howe Dr., Halifax

• 5485 Clyde St., Halifax (a stand-alone store)

• Downsview Plaza, 745 Sackville Dr., Lower Sackville

• 9256 Commercial St., Unit 230, New Minas

• 985 Prince St., Truro

• 104a Starrs Rd., Yarmouth

• 610 East River Rd., New Glasgow

• Nova Scotians 19 or older will also be able to purchase cannabis on-line from the NSLC.


A18

25 Windsor Way(off Lwr. Truro Rd.)

For rates & availability call 902-895-9559 / 902-895-9966

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Labour market: Addressing Atlantic Canada’s talent needs

KEVIN STODDART KNIGHTSBRIDGE ROBERTSON SURRETTE

The topic of Atlantic Can-ada’s labour market is often sur-rounded by commentary about aging boomers and � eeing mil-lennials, both contributing to an imminent talent supply short-age. � e premise being that there simply aren’t enough millennials entering through the front door to replace the retirees exiting out the back door. As a recruitment professional, I want to see our young people stay in the region as much as countless other Atlantic Canadians who lament the “move West” for opportunity mentality. To limit the conversation to re-tention ignores strategies that o� er local organizations distinct market advantages while growing our economy.

In a global economy, organ-izations do not need to halt operations due to limited local resources, rather, successful or-ganizations look to the world to � nd the necessary resources and determine how best to acquire them. Attracting people is a more important and more complex endeavour than sourcing inputs, such as raw materials or ma-chinery. I believe a “global talent supply chain” exists, which o� ers organizations the opportunity to tap into the most quali� ed talent pools, regardless of geography.

Industry leaders within Can-ada’s tech sector, which faces a shortage of programmers and other skilled IT professionals (ex-pected to be more than 200,000 by 2020), have touted progressive immigration policies and global talent as an absolute imperative. Harley Finkelstein, Shopify’s chief operating o� cer, recently stated: “Talent is not de� ned by borders and if they choose to come to Canada, the entire ecosystem will be better for it. Canada is a coun-try where the best talent from around the world can move here and do their life’s work.” Other organizations, such as Enbridge and KPMG, have recognized the benefit of diversity and inter-national talent. Named among Canada’s Top Diversity Employ-ers, their progressive practices

have included deliberate steps to create welcoming workplaces for newcomers.

In Atlantic Canada, we remain in an employer’s market, meaning there are generally more people than there are available jobs. Ac-cording to Statistics Canada, un-employment hovers around 10 per cent as a region (8.1 per cent in N.S., 14.2 per cent in N.L.) com-pared to the national average of 6.6 per cent (February 2017). � is is a significant difference that has dampened the demand for talent in this region. � ere are still exceptions, however, such as highly specialized skills that are in scarce supply and sectors that face chronic labour shortages. In the future, demographers at-test Atlantic Canadian employers won’t be immune to the broader talent shortage and will in turn feel the pressure of fewer avail-able and quali� ed employees.

We are privileged to live in one of the most attractive countries on Earth. In fact, U.S. media out-lets recently rated Canada the second best overall country in the world. Our standard of liv-

ing is amongst the very highest. Canadian employers have a leg up on most other countries when looking to attract talented indi-viduals. In light of recent polit-ical events and anti-immigration rhetoric south of the border, liv-ing and working in Canada has arguably never been more at-tractive. We have the good for-tune of having an enviable brand as a country on the world stage. However, brand image alone isn’t enough to attract talent. Organ-izations with an interest in global human resources strive to make themselves attractive to individ-uals who possess the skills they require.

The savviest employers have shifted their thinking and look at hiring less locally and more globally. Luckily, people are mo-bile. Increased immigration to our region largely depends on how interested employers are in recruiting permanent inter-national employees. Regional em-ployers like Ganong Bros. Ltd. in St. Stephen, N.B., have been rely-ing on international workers to address talent shortages for many

years. � ey have been vocal about the need for policies to help these skilled women and men come and live in the region. Truthfully, lengthy processing times and challenges achieving permanent status are often cited as barriers to e� ective use of immigration in addressing talent needs. New programs, like the Atlantic Immi-gration Pilot launched in March 2017, aims to attract and retain immigrants to Atlantic Canada as permanent residents. With a goal to bring in 2,000 new workers and their families as a part of the At-lantic Growth Strategy, regional leaders aim to address challen-ges faced by employers in sectors with chronic labour shortages and those expected to face such challenges.

� e much talked about Now or Never: An Urgent Call to Action for Nova Scotians (also known as � e Ivany Report) identi� ed immigration as a key strategy to help grow our economy. Now more than ever, Canada can pos-ition itself as an attractive place to settle. While other countries look for ways to keep immigrants

out, we can take advantage of a more global mindset by accessing talented women and men from around the world. Forward-think-ing organizations, like those cited above, have already embraced a global workforce mentality that relies on e� ective immigration; they are using this thinking to their advantage and serve as an example for the rest of us.

� ere is no doubt in my mind that a scarcity of talent is begin-ning to impact Atlantic Canada and will even more so in the years ahead. While the impact is likely to vary by sector and geography, employers’ success in combatting talent shortages will depend on how well they can access global talent and attract people to our shores, while also exploring par-allel strategies. If we continue to look only to those people in our own backyard, our region will submerge in talent shortages that will have an adverse e� ect on our ability to compete. We must broaden our thinking and look at new ways of accessing human resources to ensure our region’s future growth and success.

123RF

In Atlantic Canada, we remain in an employer’s market, meaning there are generally more people than there are available jobs.


A19

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ON SELECT 2018MODELS*

©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Offers valid in Canada only from May 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your province and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice.See an authorized BRP dealer for details. * REBATE UP TO $2,000 ON SELECT 2018 MODELS: Eligible units are select new and unused 2018 Can-Am ATVs and Can-Am side-by-side vehicles. The buyer of an eligible 2018 model will receive up to $2,000 rebate. Rebate amount depends on the model purchased. While quantities last. BRP reserves theright, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. CAN-AM OFF-ROAD VEHICLE: Some models depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or callthe ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. Never carry passengers on any ATV not specifically designed by the manufacturer for such use. All adult model Can-Am ATVs are Category G ATVs (General Use Models) intended for recreational and/or utility use by an operator age 16 or older. For side-by-side vehicles(SxS): Read the BRP side-by-side Operator’s Guide and watch the Safety DVD before driving. Fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Operator must be at least 16 years old. Passenger must be at least 12 years old and able to hold handgrips and plant feet while seated against the backrest. ATVs and SxS are for off-road use only; never rideon paved surfaces or public roads. For your safety reason, the operator and passenger must wear a helmet, eye protection and other protective clothing. Always remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Never engage in stunt driving. Avoid excessive speed and be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Always ride responsibly and safely.

FIND YOUR ADVENTURE AT:1287 Wyvern Road | Collingwood Corner, NS B0M 1E0(902) 686-3218 | cobmtn.ca

FIRST WE RAISED THE BAR. NOW WE’RE LOWERING THE PRICE.


A20

Commercial • Industrial • Residential Markets

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160 Crossley Ave., Truro, Nova Scotia, B2N 6T7(902) 893-8972 • (902) 893-3311E-mail: [email protected]

www.jcmechanicalcontractors.ca

Areas of Specialization in Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Markets

7639644

J.C. Mechanical would like to thank Nova Scotian’s for your continuous business and support in our expert ability to provide quality and professional service year after year. We are proud to do our part in Nova Scotia’s construction industry including hospitals, medical facilities, teaching institutions, to manufacturing, service, maintenance and repair. J.C. Mechanical is your leader in mechanical contracting services


Documents

Truro enjoying ‘a really positive shift’€¦ · really busy and it’s such a unique business idea,” says Truro Chamber of Commerce presi-dent Joanne McRae. “They’re getting