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January 15, 2008
New Members:
Second notice:
Maritime Wealth Management - Financial Planning and
Wealth Management Services 902-429-2696
www.maritimewealth.com
Complimentary “second opinion” for Chamber members
Editor’s Note: With the recession in full swing in
Canada, we are now facing some pretty stark realities
with numerous job losses and bankruptcies here in NS and
across the country. Every day brings another big story
communicated loud and clear by our mainstream media.
Rather than repeat bad news here, E-News will continue
to focus on items that we think you will find useful,
might not otherwise get media play and/or pertain to
forward-thinking about how we’re all going to survive
these lean times and prepare for the boom that lies
ahead. If you have a press release or a story idea about
your business, please send it to
info@whcc.ca
In order to work with flow of breaking news from
mainstream media, which tends to flow more towards the
middle of the week, we are also adopting a slightly
changed production schedule. E-News will be published by
Fridays instead of Tuesdays. We feel this change will
also help members to better meet deadlines for
contributions and will allow us to cover more timely
stories.
(Thanks to Karl Jackson at
CBDC Hants-Kings for this heartfelt contribution.)
West Hants
and Area News
Network at the Hill
Every Wednesday this winter season, you can join other
business professionals at Ski Martock for Network @ the
Hill. This program has been developed to give business
people from all over the province a chance to network
with others while having fun on the slopes. Ten local
business owners kicked off the first one on January 7th.
“We had a good first start and we expect 20 people next
week if the weather co-operates,” said organizer Dave
Chandler. Starting at 1 pm, meet in the lodge to
register for your lesson, then on to the hill with a
free ski or snowboard, At 2 pm attend your lesson to
improve your skills and finish off with our social hour
back in the lodge. Whether you attend once, or every
Wednesday, everyone is invited to join the fun. Your
$20.00 fee will cover a lesson with one of Ski Martock’s
certified instructors, a lift pass for the afternoon and
social hour back in the lodge. If you are already a
season’s pass holder, pay just $10.00 for your lesson.
If you need equipment rentals are a further $10 (so $30
gets you everything). Throughout the season we will be
offering demo days to try out the latest equipment, or
for advanced skiers and snowboarders we will have gate
racing days, whatever your skill level, we will have
something for you. Directions are at the website
www.networkatthehill.com.
To receive updates by email contact Dave Chandler at
dave@networkatthehill.com
or call Dave at (902) 403 9302.
Negatives open gate for business
If a simple picture says a thousand words, then art
rooted in photography surely must be a book. This is the
story of Farm Gate Imaging, a home-grown business in
West Hants owned and operated by Vanessa Lentz. Located
in Hillsvale, FGI offers both commercial photography
services and art works made from her photographs using a
special transfer and mixed media process that captures
your memories in the new 'old world' style. “With this
alternative photographic transfer process, you too can
have a piece of artwork reminiscent of the masters
adorning your living room walls,” says Lentz. With
several years local experience with school groups and
4-H, Lentz specializes in school, equine and sport
team/event photography. Formally trained in photography
at the Holland College Centre of Creative Arts in
Charlottetown, Vanessa worked for several years in
portraiture but then found herself moving away from
photographic work where she explored several traditional
avenues of employment. “In the end, life just wasn’t
complete without my art,” says Lentz.. Vanessa’s work
can be viewed online on her website and purchased
through the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Gift Shop or by
contacting her directly. All photos are printed by a
professional, industry standard lab. “Home-printed
photos often fade within a few years," says Lentz.
“We’ll help you remember the good times long after the
event has passed.” Farm Gate Imaging Phone: 757-2808 or
www.farmgateimaging.ca
Warm up with Oulton Fuels
The price of furnace oil is as low as it has been in the
last four years and some suggest could go lower –
especially if you take advantage of rebates available,
says Jon Oulton of Oulton’s Fuels.
“We recommend looking at upgrading your furnace now
because even a 15% gain in efficiency could equal a
lot,” he said. “Combine that with the government money
available, it equals real savings – as much as $1,200 a
year – so it pays for itself within a few years.” The
Province has zero interest loans available for anyone
who is upgrading. “Typically these measures are targeted
at low-income families, but these no-interest loans are
for everyone.” Any mechanical device can lose efficiency
over time, so it’s important to keep to an annual
maintenance schedule. Oultons Fuels also offers a free
tune-up the first year to anyone who gets an
installation by one their qualified service staff.
Besides replacing your furnace, there are many new
technologies that can each give home owners a savings of
up to another 10% when installed on an existing oil
heating system. Some of these items include:
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Programmable thermostats
(set to automatically set back the temperature at
night).
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Heat Managers:
electronic devices added to your oil burner to
manage the burn rate and the thermostats as they
call for heat.
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Outdoor sensors: used
primarily with hot water heating. These can help the
boiler ramp up at a steady, efficient pace if the
outside temperature falls but can also hold heat
production if the outside temp rises.
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New forced hot air
furnaces come with “E.C.M.” technology. This is in
the fan blower motor. It ramps the fan up and down
as the heat is needed.
“These new furnaces give a
major improvement in comfort because the temperature
stays constant,” says Oulton. “And as a side benefit,
uses a lot less electricity.” Oulton also recommends
also placing your tank inside if possible – check with
your home insurer first to find out where it’s safest.
“Aside from condensation and less general damage to your
tank, you can save up to 10% just because the oil is
stored at room temperature.” If you put in a new boiler
and an indirect hotwater heater, gets its heat direct
from the boiler, you can save upwards of 30% over
current usage and get upwards of $2,000 to offset the
cost to install. “All in all, you can get
technologically advanced and trouble-free oil heating
equipment for a very reasonable price, zero interest and
terrific efficiencies,” Oulton says. And as a result you
will be a whole lot more comfortable in winter and be
kind to the environment and your wallet at the same
time. For more information about rebates, visit
www.heatsmart.ca or
Oulton’s Fuels at
www.oultonfuels.com
Windsor - 798-1118 or their new office in Port Williams:
542-3835.
Chase the winter blues away
Utata Gallery and Art Centre in Windsor announces a show
for January that is guaranteed to chase away the winter
blues! Joi D’Vivre is all about celebrating the senses.
“This show works on the notion that life is good and we
should celebrate it,” Executive Director of Utata,
Catherine Jamieson, says. “Art is a way to remind
ourselves of what’s truly grand and noble about the
human condition.” Wolfville artist Judith Leidl’s life
affirming, vibrant paintings captivate and inspire. She
will be showing several newer pieces as well as a
selection of her collage and print work. Internationally
recognized for her innovative work, Judith's use of
color and shape will help chase away any winter blahs
you might be feeling. "Take in" a little art in a whole
new way with extraordinary creations from Culinary
Expressions whose ability to transform food into art is
truly noteworthy. Julia McCarthy, whose second book of
poetry will be published this fall will give a short
reading during the show. For your auditory senses,
renowned harpists and recording artists Jennifer Wyatt
and Ardyth Robinson will take you on a unique journey of
story and song. The show opens on January 21, 2009 at
7:00PM. There is an opening night admission charge of
$10 for non-members (Utata members attend free of
charge). The artwork will remain in the gallery until
February 4, 2009. Utata Gallery and Art Centre is
located in downtown Windsor at 40 Water Street. Open
from 10-10 daily, they offer an Art Gallery, classes and
workshops, daily events and an outreach program. They
are online at
http://gallery.utata.org/
and can be reached by calling (902)792-2710.
What’s Upstairs at the Superstore?
You’re invited to participate in a broad selection of
free and fee-based food workshops including “What’s for
Dinner?” (Mondays 12-1pm), Gourmet cooking (6:30 – 8:30
pm) and Kitchen Kids (Jan 22). For more information,
please contact Jennifer Alexander, Community Co-ordinator
on 798-9537.
To register at the customer service desk or by also
calling 1-866-727-0771.
Natural Gas Lease
Elmworth Energy’s hunting for shale gas in the
Kennetcook area secured a 10-year production lease from
the government of Nova Scotia. Environment Minister
Richard Hurlburt announced approval of the lease, which
covers work in Hants and Kings counties. "The objective
is to find the spot of a half-million-acre site that
best allows for extraction of the resource," says Howard
Anderson, president of Elmworth Energy. The company
staff will meet with Energy Department representatives
in 2009 to confirm specific work plans.
Who is hiring?
Windsor and area
Kentville and area
HR Certificate at Acadia
Open Acadia, Acadia University, is pleased to offer the
Human Resources Management Certificate. Human Resource
Management supports all of the activities related to the
challenges businesses, large, medium and small,
non-profit organizations, government departments, and
institutions face in managing their workforce. Today’s
HR professional must be well versed in all areas of an
organization in order to make a strategic contribution
to the organization. Acadia University’s Human Resources
Management Certificate provides professionals with an
introduction to and knowledge of the various areas and
disciplines within HRM. This program is designed to fit
your demanding schedule. All course work is completed
during the modules. There are no out of class
assignments, required readings, or final examinations.
Complete the certificate by attending all nine modules
and get a jump start on your HR career. The certificate
consists of nine one-day modules beginning February 5 at
Acadia University. Click
here for the complete
schedule, module descriptions, fees, and to register.
Register today!
Regional
and National Snippets
Federal Budget Jan 26
If you’ve been living on Mars or under a rock for the
past month, you may not know Governor General Michaelle
Jean accepted Prime Minister Stephen Harper's request to
suspend Parliament, delaying the possible defeat of his
minority government by a Liberal-NDP coalition. When
Parliament resumes January. 26, the first order of
business will be the presentation of a federal budget.
For updates regarding this and other economic
initiatives, visit
http://www.fin.gc.ca/fin-eng.asp.
The other key change to note is that Michael Igatieff is
also the interim-leader of the Liberal Party, replacing
Stephane Dion. Ignatieff has been criss-crossing Canada
with Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison to give Canadians an
opportunity to get to know him better. Meanwhile, the
Liberal Caucus has successfully recruited one of
Harper’s Privy Council senior advisors, Kevin Chan. Chan
will begin an undefined "senior role" in the office of
the leader of the Opposition starting April 1, a date
suggested by the Privy Council to allow for a cooling
off period between roles.
NS Student jobs application now
online
An efficient, secure and user-friendly process for
employers wishing to participate in the Student Career
Skills Development Program (SCSDP) and the Cooperative
Employment Program (CEP) offered through Nova Scotia
Economic Development is now available by completing the
secure online application at
www.gov.ns.ca/econ/sep/
The SCSDP partners with non-profit organizations that
have career-related jobs for post-secondary students.
The CEP provides required work experience for eligible
post-secondary co-operative students in not for profit,
municipal and government-funded organizations. These
programs have been successfully providing wage
reimbursement to employers who hire post-secondary
students in their field of study for more than ten
years. The Rural Broadband for Nova Scotia Initiative is
helping to make this innovation possible in all
communities across the province and through Community
Access Program (C@P) sites.
The upcoming program deadline for the Student Career
Skills Development Program is January 30, 2009. With the
assistance of employers, programs offer meaningful
opportunities for students to enhance their skills in
their field of study and contribute to our economy by
growing and retaining talent within the province.
Christmas boost
A new report by Moneris solutions found that Canadian
Christmas shoppers spent more money using credit and
debit cards this past holiday season than in 2007. The
study concluded that department stores across the
country saw 9 percent rise in the amount charged to
credit and debit cards and that clothing stores had a 6
percent growth. “Canadians braved both the economic
decline and December’s inclement weather to go on and
spend more this December than they did last year,” said
Brian Green, senior VP of Moneris. The study also
indicated that discount stores suffered a decline of 11
per cent in credit and debit card dollar volume, but did
not offer statistics on how many are cash-only based.
Moneris's data covers all merchant categories and
tallies the dollar value as well as the number of
transactions made on its debit and credit card terminals
in the Canadian retail industry. Across the country,
December 22nd was the busiest shopping day for credit
cards, while debit cards were most used the next day as
Canadians filled up their gas tanks to visit their
families. Moneris is one of the largest processors of
credit and debit transactions in Canada. [Source:
moneris.com]
No fault with cap
A Nova Scotia Supreme Court
judge has dismissed a constitutional challenge of the
province's cap on insurance payments. Justice Walter
Goodfellow says the cap doesn't discriminate against
people suffering from soft-tissue injuries. The province
instituted the 25-hundred dollar cap in 2003, after
insurance companies said they were struggling and
drivers' premiums were skyrocketing. The challenge was
brought forward by the Nova Scotia Coalition Against
No-Fault Insurance and accident victims Melissa Gionet
and Anna Marie MacDonald.
Looking ahead for 2009
Nova Scotia’s offshore drilling drought may be over,
more rural areas will get broadband service and
transportation gateway takes shape. Below is a list of
projects that progressed successfully in 2008 which will
be completed in the next few years:
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Calgary-based Encana’s
Deep Panuke offshore natural gas project.
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Bass Enterprises
Production Company will drill an exploration well at
a site about 200 kilometres southwest of Halifax.
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EOG Resources Canada
Inc., Petroworth Resources, Inc., Eastrock Resources
Ltd., Forent Energy, Stealth Venures Ltd. and Donkin
Tenements, Inc. will race to make the commercial
onshore gas discovery in Nova Scotia.
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Triangle Petroleum
Corporation of Calgary will spend $47.5 million by
the end of 2009 looking for shale gas in Kennetcook
area.
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EastLink, Seaside
Communications and OmniGlobe Networks are expected
to announce wider availability of high-speed
Internet service in rural communities.
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Sydney is finalizing its
environmental plan for dredging.
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The HRM by Design plan
for downtown Halifax.
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A new convention centre
will be built in downtown Halifax.
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Cape Breton will add
three more golf courses.
Business calendar
of events:
Saturday, January 17th – Matt Anderson with the
Hupman Brothers
Live at the Mermaid Imperial Performing Arts Centre
Tickets are $22/$19 students and seniors (service
charges will apply), and are available at Moe’s Place
Music Sales, 129 Gerrish St, Windsor (798 - 5565).
Monday, January 26th– Federal Budget
For updates regarding this and other economic
initiatives, visit
http://www.fin.gc.ca/fin-eng.asp
Tuesday, January 27th – Mark Carney, Governor, Bank
of Canada
Carney visits NS to participate in the Halifax Chamber’s
Distinguished Speaker’s Series
11:30 am ~ Networking & Registration; 12:00 - 1:30 pm ~
Luncheon
$50 Members ~ $80 Non-Members (plus HST) Book tickets
using online form on
http://www.halifaxchamber.com
Tuesday, January 27th – Business wokshop
Beyond Your Business: Step-By-Step Succession Planning
Workshop Series
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Wandlyn Inn, Coldrook
February 2nd - Halifax Chamber 2009 Economic Strategy
Scorecard Report
The Chamber’s annual Scorecard measures 28 targets
stemming from Halifax’s Economic Strategy. The Halifax
Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 3rd annual
Economic Strategy Scorecard Event on February 2, 2009 at
the Delta Halifax where Chair of the Board of Directors
Kim West will outline the results and progress in the
2009 Economic Strategy Scorecard Report.
Chuckles:
E-News info:
Our next issue of WHCC E-News will be published on
January 30th Please submit your business news, event or
announcement by January 26th. Every two weeks, E-News is
distributed to - and read by – over 300 local business
contacts throughout the Windsor-West Hants area. If your
business has news or events you would like to share with
our readers, please call our Newsletter Editor, Heather
Desveaux on 790-4009 or email
info@whcc.ca
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