2017 Record Year for Tourism in NS
Dear tourism industry stakeholder:
It is my pleasure to announce that 2017 was Nova Scotia’s best tourism year in history and fourth consecutive year of growth. Together we welcomed 2.4 million visitors to the province, an increase of nine per cent over 2016, and generated $2.7 billion in annual tourism revenue, an increase of seven per cent. This is exciting progress as our industry works to reach the Ivany Report goal of $4 billion in tourism revenues by 2024.
I hope you will take a moment to review the 2017 tourism performance highlights and share the fantastic news with your colleagues, stakeholders, and investors. Full year results are available on tourismns.ca.
Together we are building a dynamic and innovative tourism industry that plays a key role in growing Nova Scotia’s economy and vibrant communities. I am so proud to call this province home and to work alongside you in this exciting and fast-growing industry.
Congratulations on another record-setting year!
Sincerely,
Michele Saran
CEO
Tourism Nova Scotia
Events Truro Colchester & Rath Eastlink Community Centre Secure Grand Slam of Curling Masters for this October
Events Truro Colchester & Rath Eastlink Community Centre Secure Grand Slam of Curling Masters for this October
The Rath Eastlink Community Centre is set to host the Grand Slam of Curling Masters, running Oct. 23 to Oct. 28, 2018. Owned and operated by Sportsnet, a Rogers Media company, the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is an annual series of seven curling tournaments that attract the world’s best curlers.
The Masters will be the second stop on the 2018-2019 Grand Slam schedule. Featuring 15 of the top men’s teams and 15 of the top women’s teams in the world, the Masters is an elite-level competition with $250,000 and valuable tour points on the line.
In 2015, the event enjoyed huge success in Truro, as over 130 volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure fans and athletes had a great experience. Following the tournament, local Curling Clubs saw a noticeable jump in the level of interest in the sport.
“The Truro Colchester Community is proud once again to play host to the best male and female curlers in the world,” said Craig Burgess, Community Chair of the Organizing Committee. “Come join us again and make this the best curling venue in the grand slam series!”
In 2015, the event generated $1.94 million in economic activity from above average ticket sales compared to other tournament locations. Organizers anticipate even greater success at this year’s Truro-Colchester venue.
“We are thrilled to have this pinnacle event return to the Community Credit Union Arena,” Said Matt Moore, GM of RECC. “In 2015 this event was a very special milestone for our facility as our first on the international stage, so I know there will be no shortage of enthusiasm and excitement when the brooms and rocks start flying.”
Events Truro Colchester (ETC), a partnership between the Town of Truro and County of Colchester supported by other community organizations, was established following the 2015 success of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters. Since that time, ETC has promoted our region as a marque events destination and served as host to major sporting and cultural events. The group has developed a Strategic Plan, brand mark, and website (eventstc.ca) to assert Truro-Colchester into the competitive world of event attraction.
“It’s so exciting to be in the game so-to-speak when it comes to having major sports and music events staged right here in our community. Not only does it fill our hotels and restaurants with visitors, it makes this an even more enjoyable place to live,” said Colchester Mayor Christine Blair.
“The Events Truro Colchester group continue to do a great job! They continue to come to us (Town Council) with event recommendations that fit well within our scope and mandate. We look forward to the Grand Slam and many more events in the future,” stated Mayor of Truro, Bill Mills.
More information on volunteer opportunities, tickets, and sponsorship will become available in the coming weeks at here.
Media Contact:
Matt Moore
Rath Eastlink Community Centre
[email protected]
Nick Sharpe
Rath Eastlink Community Centre / Events Truro Colchester
[email protected]
Annual General Meeting News Release
March 14, 2018
News release
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce sets priorities for 2018, elects new officers
TRURO – The Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated 128 years serving the business community at its Annual General Meeting held in Truro. A new slate of officers and directors was elected by the membership which will see Joanne McRae, a manager with MNP LLP Truro, step into the president’s seat.
McRae said building stronger partnerships with business stakeholders and all levels of government was a focus of the chamber during the past year.
“The efforts that have been put into these initiatives have shown the positive results that can be achieved when government, businesses and local organizations, like the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce, can work together for the business community in our region,” said McRae. “The partnerships that have been developed over the last few years bring our region a new strength and are key to continuing to move forward.”
McRae was elected to serve a one-year term.
She said during the next year the Chamber will continue to collaborate with organizations, government and business to help grow and support the businesses within our region.
“Small and medium sized businesses are the heart of the Canadian economy and it is important that organizations like this one exist to advocate on your behalf to ensure your interests are protected,” said the president. “I look forward to continuing to meet with our members and hearing your concerns as well as working with our Board of Directors to find new and innovative ways to provide support to you.”
Outgoing president Alex Stevenson reviewed many of the key initiatives of the Chamber during the past year such as achieving accreditation with distinction, hosting a Project Management Professional Certification Exam Preparation Course, the fundraising campaign to establish a regional enterprise network, working with a tourism stakeholder group, networking opportunities and organizing initiatives to support youth, among many others.
“I believe we’ve been successful building on momentum, delivering on key initiatives, focusing on our Mission and Vision, and working collaboratively to support a prosperous business environment,” said Stevenson. “Going forward, I’m confident our incoming president, Joanne McRae will do an outstanding job and I wish the board, staff and the executive continued success in 2018 as they continue their important advocacy work on behalf of the members.”
At the end of 2017 there were 430 members in the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce making it the largest Chamber in Nova Scotia outside metro.
Other newly elected executives and directors are: Vice-President Ron Smith, Business Development, Old Fletcher Farm Property Limited, a division of Masstown Market Limited; Treasurer Amanda Pothier, owner Atkinson’s Accounting; Solicitor George White, Patterson Law; and directors Dr. David Gray, Dean of Dalhousie Agricultural Campus; Karen Baillie, Elegant Steps; Karen Gillespie, Nova Scotia Community College; Bob Brown E. Lynds Enterprises; Nancy Johnstone, Lock and Stone Property Management; Peter Thiesen Pulse Property Care; Connie Baird, Party Time Rentals and Sam Abushenaf, PuroClean Restorations; David Ritcey, Hampton Inn Truro; Julie Taylor, Skin Decision; Trina Langille, Warmth By Design; and Matthew Mossman, Bell Media. Alex Stevenson, manager of commercial banking CIBC, will remain on the board as past-president.
The Chamber’s Annual Dinner Gala and Awards will be held on April 12 at the Best Western Glengarry.
The Chamber has issued a call for nominations for BDC Business Person of the Year and the Community Credit Union Business Excellence awards.
To reserve a seat at the gala or for more information about award nominations, call 902-895-6328 or email [email protected]. Deadline for nominations is March 16, 2018.
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Media Contact:
Sherry Martell
Executive Director, Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce
902-895-6328
Matching Employees with Business Culture
Business Builder Breakfast: Matching Employees with Business Culture
Join us next Tuesday, March 20th, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Marigold Centre, 605 Prince St, for our Business Builder Breakfast on: Matching Employees with Business Culture with presenter: Glenn Bowie, Area Director, Sales and Marketing, New Castle Hotels and Resorts
Free event open to members and the community with light breakfast included!
To RSVP, please call (902) 895-6328 or email [email protected]
This event is sponsored by White LeBlanc Wealth Planners/Hollis Wealth.
WLWP is on the move!
White LeBlanc Wealth Planners is on the move!
Tap Into New Skilled Worker Markets
Tap Into New Skilled Worker Markets with the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
Chamber to host Automation Discussion Panel
TRURO - A panel discussion on automation will be held in Truro on Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marigold Cultural Centre, 605 Prince St., Truro.
The event is being hosted by the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce and is open to everyone.
The demand for higher productivity, improved quality, cost reduction and efficiency is driving the introduction of automation in all sectors, industries and markets.
“Businesses in our region are already managing the impacts and benefits of automation, and have been for a number of years,” said Alex Stevenson, President of the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce. “Going forward the scope and pace of automation will increase, as will the resulting impacts on business, customers and workers.”
The seven-person panel representing business and industry organizations will discuss how the implementation of technology is already having an impact on business and organizations. It has already changed the way businesses engage with customers while evolving the workforce with many advances to be realized in the future.
A study by McKinsey Global Institute, A future that works: Automation, employment and productivity, reports that with current demonstrated technologies, less than five per cent of jobs are candidates for full automation. However, the report says almost every occupation has partial automation potential, further estimating that about half of all the activities people are paid to do have the potential be automated.
“The panel the Chamber has assembled will offer varying perspectives on the anticipated impacts of automation and how it will transform how business is conducted going forward,” said Stevenson.
The panel will be moderated by Michele Bursey, Senior Account Manager with BDC Truro, and will feature guest speakers Abid Ahmad P. Eng., Academic Chair for Mechanical and Industrial Technologies, the Aviation Institute and the Design and Innovation Center, NSCC; Maxine MacLean, P.Ag. Policy and Communications Coordinator, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture; Michel Raymond, Executive Director, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters; Stephanie Jones, Owner, McDonalds Restaurants; Keith Gillis, Owner, G & G Computers; Eric MacKeen, General Manager, Tri County Ford; and Craig Paul, Director Business Solutions and Information Technology, Halifax International Airport Authority, Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport.
There is no cost to attend this event sponsored by Halifax International Airport Authority. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided following the discussion. To register for this event contact the chamber office 902-895-6328 or email [email protected].
Media Contact:
Sherry Martell, Executive Director
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
902-895-6328, [email protected]
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY SYMPOSIUMS
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY SYMPOSIUMS
The Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education is pleased to invite you to come and meet with us and talk about workplace safety- what is happening and to help inform our work. This is a continuation of our efforts to meet with individuals, employers, employees, safety professionals and others that wish to advance health and safety in their workplaces.
When and Where
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
606 Reeves Street, Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
8 am to 4 pm
Or
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
1055 Marginal Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia
8 am to 4 pm
Program Highlights
The day will be highlighted by breakout sessions on such topics as:
- Continuing our conversation on challenges, prioritizing and next steps
- Focused conversation on setting priorities for inspection and outreach planning
- An interactive session on the Workplace Safety Strategy and the future direction
Information and Registration
- Plan to attend one session only
- Same program will be offered at both
- This Symposium is being presented at no charge to stakeholders
- Pre-registration is required
- Registered attendees will be advised of any schedule changes or cancellations due to inclement weather
To Register or more information, please call 902-422-1886 or email [email protected].
These Symposiums are presented by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education in partnership with the Nova Scotia Workers’ Compensation Board.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP)
Join us for an information session on the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Project (AIPP) with presenter Lena Metledge Diab, Minister of the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration. Learn more about how the Pilot can help your business address current labour gaps!
