JANUARY 2021
DOWNTOWN TRURO PARTNERSHIP HISTORY, CULTURE & COMMUNITY PRIDE F R OM GR A I NS TO G L A S S E S BLACK DIAMOND DISTILLERY’S EARL GREY MULE HALIFAX STANFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PANDEMIC PUTS PRESSURE ON ATLANTIC CANADA’S LARGEST AIRPORT
EPIC EATERIES & SWEETERIES THE KNOT PUB - LUNENBURG, NS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT SHANNON FERGUSON CO-FOUNDER & CEO OF FANSAVES
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spotlight on january W e are excited about the great opportunities in front of us as we move into a new decade and clean off the slate from what was a truly unprecedented year for most both professionally and personally. We know that we still have many hurtles ahead of us however, we are up to the chal- lenge of connecting, engaging and inspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders to make the most of their opportunities, share their challenges and celebrate their suc- cesses with each other. No one has seen more challenges than the Halifax Stanfield International Airport in 2020, Covid-19 damped what should have been an amazing year and celebration for the airport as it was a double anniversary year for Halifax Stanfield International Airport. However, the management team of the Halifax International Airport Author- ity find themselves preparing to rebuild air connections for the community at Atlantic Canada’s largest airport and connect to the world. Building businesses in communities is what the Downtown Truro Partnership is all about. In this month’s issue we learn that Truro is a special place that offers facilities and businesses usually associated with much larger cities, without comprising on its small-town charm making it the perfect destination for conferences and trade shows or getaway with friends or a planned staycation with the family. Regardless of what you are looking for Truro and the surrounding area truly has something for everyone. In this month’s “in the spotlight” we chat with Shannon Ferguson, one of the amazing and energetic entrepreneurs behind FanSaves. We also have two new monthly features debuting for this month; Epic Eateries & Sweeteries that will dive into some of the best places across North America for leg- endary and extraordinary eats and treats. From Grains to Glasses will spotlight what is new in the Craft Brewing and Distilling industries as we get ready for this year’s Ultimate Craft Cooler. We want to thank everyone that made this issue possible and we look forward to sharing more stories about successful businesses and brands, while spotlighting the people behind making it all happen.
MANAGING DIRECTOR Rod Gregg EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lee Ann Atwater COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH & ADMIN LEAD Ashley Tanner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leah Batstone Janice Buckler Shannon Ferguson Anita Flowers
Calli Gregg Jenn Mantin Ceiledh Monk Dan Monk Brittany Pickrem Christi Rideout Elizabeth Spencer
SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD Troy Gregg GRAPHIC DESIGN LEAD Aaron Jeffrey WEB DESIGN LEAD
Sean Bridge PUBLISHER AIDACA Media
Remember we are all in this together.
Lee Ann Atwater, Editor
P.O. Box 35007, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3M 0G3 P: 902 405 2000 E: info@spotlightbizmag.com spotlightonbusinessmagazine.com
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What’s in the Spotlight on the cover
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FROM GRAINS TO GLASSES BLACK DIAMOND DISTILLERY’S EARL GREY MULE
HALIFAX STANFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PANDEMIC PUTS PRESSURE ON ATLANTIC CANADA’S LARGEST AIRPORT Halifax Stanfield is one of the most critical pieces of transportation infrastructure in Atlantic Canada, and a key economic generator that is and will be essential to our region’s recovery. All of Canada’s airports, including Halifax Stanfield, have played an important role
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in the spotlight SHANNON FERGUSON CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF FANSAVES In this month’s issue we spotlight Black Diamond Distillery’s Earl Grey Mule canned craft cocktail. If you are a reader than you know that Andrea and David Scade of Black Diamond Dis- tillery, both feel strongly about producing all their own alcohol and do not believe that true craft spirits can be produced using shortcuts like flavour additives or mass-produced spirits. Andrea and David strive to stay true to the quality and authen- ticity of what they produce, using natural, pure, organic ingredi- ents, never waiver from the truest form of their craft – because they believe their customers deserve the best. We can tell you that their Black Diamond Distillery’s Earl Grey Mule canned craft cocktail delivers on that promise. “From Grains to Glasses” is a monthly feature that will spot- light what is new from the Craft Brewing and Distilling indus- tries. And you might light to give a try.
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16 SPOTLIGHT ON INDUSTRY 18 CONTRACTORS CORNER Being the daughter of an entrepreneur 42 KEEPING YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Even during a pandemic remember why you became an entrepreneur 48 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS 50 STARTING UP The Most Important Key to Starting a Business 58 DOING BUSINESS DURING COVID-19 Understanding the important Stages of Ongoing Change Management 62 INN ON PRINCE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE Amazing Facility in the Heart of Downtown Truro 68 HANDING OVER THE REINS What is in store for the Family Business this decade? 72 SPOTLIGHT ON INNOVATION 74 BUILDING BRANDS WITH BRITTANY Seven Ways to Make Customer Fall Head Over Heels for You Brand 80 PRIVACY-FOCUSED MESSAGING APPS Are users switching rather than sharing? 82 SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH & WELLNESS 84 HOLISTIC HEALTH Nutrients A to Z: Vitamin Q 86 WORKPLACE HEALTH How to tackle Workplace Stress 90 MOM TO THE RESCUE Why I Still Stayed Home
in the nation’s response to the pandemic from the beginning. In 2020, Covid-19 damped what should have been an amazing year and celebration for the airport as it was a double anniversary year for Halifax Stan- field International Airport. Spotlight on Business spoke with Joyce Carter, President and CEO and Paul Baxter, Senior Vice President Operations & Chief Operating Officer of Halifax International Airport Authority on how they are preparing to rebuild air connections for the community at Atlantic Canada’s largest airport and connect to the world.
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EPIC EATERIES & SWEETERIES THE KNOT PUB LUNENBURG, NS, CANADA This is our first edition of Epic Eateries & Sweeter - ies that will dive into some of the best places across North America for legendary and extraordinary eats and treats. Our first stop is Lunenburg, NS. a small port town on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. Nowadays this small town located along the shoreline of a natural harbour at the western side of Mahone Bay is known as much for its amazing food offerings as it is for its ship building and vernacular architec- ture because of eateries like The Knot Pub and their amazing peanut butter pie. 54
DOWNTOWN TRURO PARTNERSHIP HISTORY, CULTURE & COMMUNITY PRIDE
Many see Truro as the simple Hub Town of Nova Scotia. It is that place you travel by on your way to other destinations. Spotlight on Business sat down with Jenn Mantin, of the Downtown Truro Partner- ship, to learn more about what this amazing small town has to offer. It does not take long to understand that Truro is a special place and that it offers facilities and business- es usually associated with much larger cities, without comprising on its small-town charm making it the perfect destination for conferences and trade shows or getaway with friends or a planned staycation with the family. Regardless of what you are looking for Truro and the surrounding area truly has something for everyone.
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If you have been lucky enough to work with Shannon Ferguson and FanSaves, like we have, then you know she is a true pro- fessional. You know that she is as passionate about helping you grow your business as she is about growing her own and that she is always willing to share the secrets to her successes. Which is not much of a secret, because it comes from her hard work and determination. We sit down with this innovation and energetic entrepreneur to learn more about Shannon as openly shares where her drive and passion comes from.
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B y putting a spotlight on your business, organi- zation or community with effective and interactive media and advertising we will help you capture the interest of business leaders and potential clients, giving you an opportunity to promote your brand and grow market share through mobile, online, print, video and social media support, helping your business connect and stay engaged with your customers.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
NADA SHOW 2021 February 9th – 11th, 2021 Virtual Conference
VIRTUAL SMALL BUSINESS EXPO February 18th, 2021 Virtual Conference
BOTTLED IN A BOX February 12th, 2021 Various Locations Truro, NS, Canada Since the current government social distancing restrictions are in place and things in the event world still won’t be up to par for a BOTTLED Truro Wine & Spirits Festival in person this year. So, Triangle Events decided if you can’t come out and check out all your favou- rite local wineries, cideries and distill- eries, while enjoying some delicious treats and have a super fun night out, well they would just bring the event to you. So, this year, they are introducing “BOTTLED in a Box” the stay-at-home version of the BOTTLED Truro Wine & Spirits Festival! This stay-at-home event offers all the same amazing Nova Scotian wines, ciders, spirits, and mead that attendees have come to know and love from the BOTTLED Truro Wine & Spirits Festival but delivered right to your doorstep for you to enjoy with friends and family, while social distancing, safe and com- fortable in your home. The best part is you do not need a des- ignated driver! For more information on this event go to https://www.triangle-events.ca/events
Join thousands of dealers, dealer- ship managers, exhibiting compa- nies and the world’s leading auto industry representatives as we connect online at this year’s NADA Show. All the excitement you love and expect from the Auto Industry event of the Year will stream live for 2021. For three amazing days, award-win- ning dealer education, franchise meetings, industry networking and, of course, NADA Expo, the virtual dealer marketplace, will deliver non-stop content to help you connect, learn and build your business from the comfort of your home, office or dealership. For more information on this event go to https://show.nada.org/
What you can expect of this event is to connect with Industry-Leading Vendors in the Virtual Exhibitor Hall to get the best deals and discounts for various products and services to run a successful business. It is a completely Virtual Experi- ence from the comfort and safety of your home or office as you enjoy Virtual Webinars present- ed by Industry Experts and Busi- ness-Critical Keynotes from incred- ible speakers to drive immediate action & business growth along with Virtual Speed Networking and Industry Meet-Up Sessions that create new opportunities in a Fun, High-Energy and Collaborative Environment. For more information on this event go to https://www.thesmallbusi- nessexpo.com/city/national-10/
DAIRY FORUM 2021 January 25th – 28th,2021 Virtual Conference The International Dairy Foods Association is excited to invite you to join us for Dairy Forum 2021— Dairy Evolved, where we will col- laborate, innovate and inspire our industry to embrace and lead change for continued growth! Dairy Forum 2021 is shaping up to be our most exciting, forward-think- ing Dairy Forum yet—and now Dairy Forum is more accessible than ever in a virtual format. Enjoy four days of top-notch program- ming, networking, and speakers talking about leadership, technol- ogy, global trade, sustainability, product innovations, and navigat- ing the political landscape. Best-in- class virtual technology allows us to offer opportunities for all attendees to schedule private meetings with other attendees and to network and socialize with guests. For more information on this event go to https://www.idfa.org/events/ dairy-forum-2021
U.S. EXPORT & REEXPORT COMPLIANCE FOR CANADIAN OPERATIONS January 26th – 27th, 2021 Virtual Conference The Canadian Institute and the American Conference Institute invite you to attend the 10th Annual Virtual Forum on U.S. Export & Reexport Compliance for Canadian Operations, this the only compre- hensive event for the export and reexport community in Canada. Over the last decade, this acclaimed event has gathered senior U.S. and Canadian government officials, as well as legal and compliance experts from aerospace, defense, technology, sat- ellite, space, telecom, energy, logis- tics and many more industries. As in past years, the 2021 agenda is specifically designed to focus on the most complex issues posed by the interplay of U.S. and Canadian export/re-export controls, as well as the nuances of applying U.S. require- ments to the Canadian context. For more information on this event go to https://www.canadianinstitute. com/export-canada/
THE B2B CANNA COLLECTIVE January 26th – 27th, 2021 Virtual Conference
Cannabis Industrial Marketplace is revitalizing live expos providing top-tier vendor and educational opportunities while maintaining all health and safety regulations. Combining decades of technol- ogy and expo experience, we are pleased to introduce “The B2B Canna Collective” bringing together mature and emerging market opportunities. The B2B Canna Collective is an immersive in-person B2B expo with Four (4) smaller venues following distancing guidelines, all digitally connected delivering a SAFE and INTERACTIVE expo. For more information on this event go to https://www.cannabisimp. com/us-expos-hybrid/
WANT TO HAVE YOUR EVENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT? Send an email 4 weeks in advance to production@spotlightbizmag.com with all the details of your event.
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Shannon Ferguson – Co-Founder and CEO of FanSaves IN THE SPOTLIGHT I f you have been lucky enough to work with Shannon Ferguson, like we have then you know she is a true professional. You know that she is as passionate about helping you grow your business as she is about growing her own and that is always willing to share the secrets to her successes. Which is not much of a secret, because it comes from her hard work and determination. by Lee Ann Atwater Spotlight on Business Magazine sits down with this innovation and energetic to learn more about one of the co-founders of FanSaves, as Shannon openly shares where her drive and passion comes from.
San Francisco 49ers! I also love photography and editing pictures as well as graphic design and film editing. I’m a big fan of reality TV so I try my best to carve out time for my favourite shows: Big Brother, Survivor and the Bachelor. I also love to travel but Covid has put a damper on that. “ I grew up playing competi- tive hockey so any time I can lace up my skates, I like to get out on the ice.”
SPOTLIGHT: Tell us a little about yourself, your hobbies, when you are not planning strategy, innovating or helping clients connect with cus- tomers? SF: I grew up playing competitive hockey so any time I can lace up my skates, I like to get out on the ice. We built a nice rink on the river in our backyard so you can often find me out there or inside cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs and
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Working mainly in Sports Tech isn’t a huge surprise to anyone who has known me for a while. I’ve always been a big sports fan and growing up as a competitive athlete, this is an industry that just makes sense for me. Progressing from working with two hockey teams to now helping teams from many different sports is awesome and introducing new verticals has also been right up my alley because it allows me to meet so many awesome people from many different walks of life.
Now let’s learn more about Shannon Ferguson the entrepreneur, have you always been in the apps design and brand marketing industries? SF: I graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with honours in 2008, receiving my BA in Com- munication Studies. I followed that up with a post-grad diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Loyalist College in 2009. Most recently I com- pleted the Sports Industry Essentials course from Columbia University. As you can probably tell, I love to learn and hope to one day study law as well. I was eager to begin my career in broadcast journalism once I graduated in 2009, right in the middle of the recession. During my intern- ship at Entertainment Tonight, it was clear that many of the positions I aspired to get right out of school were not being hired for. I ended up working in marketing and PR for a few years and then moved to Montreal and landed a great job in Sports Marketing for an online Sportsbook. I loved that job and while I was there, I started my first blog, The Love Hawk, which allowed me to share my writing with the world through dating and relationship advice. My blog helped me get international exposure and before long I was contributing to the Huffington Post, Elite Daily and other publications. Not only was I able to grow my confidence, but I was also able to teach myself how to build a website, promote my own brand and create my own digital assets. Life then took me on a bit of a ride to Calgary and Toronto, where I continued to work in advertising and marketing, but in 2015 my Mom passed away suddenly so I gave up big city life to move home to Cornwall, Ontario. After dealing with compli- cated grief, I decided to start my first company, Rhoice Marketing & Events. This business led me to helping a new professional hockey team that came to town and it was through my work with this team that I met my FanSaves co-founder and boyfriend, Kris McCarthy and in the summer of 2017, we started our business which has grown so much since then.
At the same time that I was running my market- ing company and creating FanSaves, I was also hosting a local TV show, Community Matters, on Cogeco and getting to work in TV in my hometown allowed me to accomplish the big goal I had set out to conquer in 2009 of being on TV. I worked there for three years, until my workload with FanSaves became too busy. I’m so grateful for all my experiences and the many winding roads that led me to FanSaves and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. When did you make the decision that you wanted to become an entrepreneur and start your own business and how did you select this industry or business focus? SF: MyMomopened her own international freight forwarding business when I was nine years old, so I basically grew up around entrepreneurship. As an only child to a single Mom, I got a lot of hands-on experience filing papers, alphabetizing folders, making photocopies and working on her old MS-Dos computer which I believe helped me become the entrepreneur I am today. I learned early on how necessary it is to be a strong leader, to be able to manage time efficiently and manage people with grace and that you have to keep moving forward even when things go wrong, knowing they will get better.
“I’m so grateful for all my experiences and the many winding roads that led me to FanSaves and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.” Did you have a mentor? If so, who was it and what was the most important lesson they taught you? SF: My biggest and most important mentor will always be my mother. In the time we had together on this earth, she taught me so much about life, business and the importance of being a kind human being. She was so strong and I’m so grateful I got to
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grow up around such a resilient woman who never gave up and who always found time to help those who needed it. The most important thing my Mom taught me was to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. After she passed away in 2015, I called on her strength often to get me through and I still hear her voice of encouragement daily. I truly believe I’ve found somuch success with FanSaves because of everything my Mom taught me before she left and I only wish she could see all that I’ve accom- plished because I know she’d be so proud.
What is your greatest strength and what is something that you struggle with as an entre- preneur and or businesswoman? SF: I think my biggest strength is the ability to just get things done. I’ve always been great at organization and project management and when I get an idea to do something I don’t stop until it’s done. I believe they call that tenacity. I do struggle with always wanting things to be perfect but I work hard daily to remember that it’s impos- sible for everything to always be perfect and that “perfection is the enemy of progress.” What motivates you as an entrepreneur and small business owner? SF: I love working for myself and don’t think I could go back to working a 9-5 for someone else. That motivates me a lot on the tough days and helps me to remember my why. I also love knowing that what we’ve created from scratch is truly helping people and knowing that we have created something that has the potential to be really huge. Where do you see yourself 5 years from today? SF: Still running FanSaves while spreading my message of determination and success. I’ll be
“My biggest and most important mentor will always be my mother.”
“I also love knowing that what we’ve created from scratch is truly helping people and knowing that we have created something that has the potential to be really huge. ”
What was the inspiration behind FanSaves? SF: Kris and I created FanSaves to solve a problem we were having when selling sponsorship for two minor pro hockey teams. Businesses wantedmore than the traditional rink board, scoreboard ads and wall signage we were offering to them. They wanted something that brought people into their stores while tracking ROI and customer demo- graphics, so we decided to create an app that offers fans discounts and deals from sponsors of their favourite teams. Since then, we’ve grown to service more verticals than just sports and are currently helping over 43 organizations across North America, including Chambers of Commerce, universities, colleges, events and media, like Spotlight on Business! Can you tell us about a particular project that you have worked on or are going to be working on that stands out to you? SF: We recently launched our new Flash Deals feature on FanSaves which was a big project and helps FanSaves be more pandemic proof. Flash Deals allow businesses to sell packages or gift certificates through our website, giving them the chance to generate revenue even if their business is closed because of lockdown. Currently, I’m also a YLAI (Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative) Fellow which will help me improve my leadership skills and business strategy from mentors and other business leaders, like how to take our business from 5 to 50 employees, over the next four months.
standing on a stage after my book signing, speaking to up-and-coming entrepreneurs about what it takes to build a successful business and brand while overcoming obstacles like grief, loss and divorce. I really want to make an impact and help others through my own success. As a small business owner herself, Shannon understands the power of being able to connect and stay engaged with your customers. We per- sonally believe that the sky is the limit for this amazing and talented entrepreneur, and we are very excited to have her as part of our Spotlight on Business Family and we are confident that your mother would be very proud of your accomplish- ments but more importantly the caring person that you have become.
“I think my biggest strength is the ability to just get things done.”
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Spotlight on Industry Headlines
SENATE CORONAVIRUS AID PROPOSAL CALLS FOR BILLIONS FOR AIRLINE INDUSTRY T he nearly $908 billion Senate coronavirus aid pack- age would set aside $45 billion for the struggling transportation sector with $17 billion of those funds heading to the airline industry, according to a breakdown of the proposal. This will be in addition to the $25 billion the airlines have received under the CARES Act in March of last year to keep paying their workers and forgo job cuts until Oc- tober 1st. G eneral Motors is targeting significant growth for its resurrected military defense unit, which quietly relaunched three years ago and recent- ly started fulfilling its first major U.S. military contract. GM sees a $25 billion market in creating new prod- ucts for the military based off its existing vehicles, parts and technologies, according to Jeff Ryder, GM Defense vice president of growth and strategy. Ryder, an aerospace and defense industry veteran, said the military needs electric powertrains and vehi- cles as well as autonomous systems — focuses of its parent company. GM is investing $27 billion in such technologies through 2025. GM’S DEFENSE UNIT SEES POTENTIAL MULTI BILLION-DOLLAR MARKET IN EV American and United began furloughing more than 30,000 workers in October after Congress and theWhite House were unable to reach an agreement on another round of coronavirus aid that could have included more support for airlines. Tens of thousands of other workers have accepted buyout and early retirement packages.
BRITISH LAWMAKERS APPROVE POST-BREXIT TRADE DEAL WITH EU B ritain’s House of Commons has voted resoundingly to approve a trade deal with the European Union, paving the way for an orderly break with the bloc that will finally complete the U.K.’s years-long Brexit journey. With just a day to spare, lawmakers voted 521-73 to approve the agreement sealed between the U.K. gov- ernment and the EU. It will become British law once it passes in the unelected House of Lords and gets formal royal assent from Queen Elizabeth. S paceX launched its latest prototype rocket on a flight to about 40,000 feet altitude and the test flight appeared successful until the very last mo - ment. Starship prototype Serial Number 8, or SN8, launched smoothly into the sky above SpaceX’s facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The rocket appeared to complete sev- eral of the development objectives it was aiming for, including testing its aerodynamics and a flip to pre - pare itself for landing. However, the crewless rocket exploded on impact as it attempted to land, after flying for nearly seven min - utes. SPACEX’S PROTOTYPE STARSHIP ROCKET REACHES HIGHEST ALTITUDE BUT FAILS TO NAIL THE LANDING
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CONTRACTOR’S
BEING THE DAUGHTER OF AN ENTREPRENEUR by Ceiledh Monk T he day my dad asked me to review his “day after” book was the day I realized that being the child of an entrepreneur was dif-
side of the company running all our social media accounts, writing articles, and taking photos when needed. Off the clock, I’m the daughter of an entrepreneur which means I’m always around if my dad needs a second opinion. Unofficially, I’ve been working with my dad since he went out on his own 12 years ago and, even before that, as my dad has owned income properties since I can remember.
ferent. In case you don’t know what I’m referring to, this is a book outlining how to proceed or cease operations without my dad. Now I know the most crucial information about the structure of the company and who to call, God forbid, the day following a fatal accident. As we went through the information, I understood the impor- tance of the plan, but nevertheless, I remember sitting there with a lump in my throat and trying to soak it all in. My name is Ceiledh Monk and I’m the daughter of Dan Monk, the owner of Monk Renovations. In 2015, I started as a carpenter/painter’s helper and flyer deliverer during the summer break while in school. Now, I’m involved on the marketing
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As you may know, and my dad will admit it, entre- preneurs are often workaholics. You may assume this would take away from family time, but to be honest, thinking back on my childhood, I didn’t feel that way at all. It has always been evident to me that my dad’s #1 priority was family, and it continues to be. Maybe you wouldn’t consider cleaning out or renovating an income property as quality time with your dad, but I would with mine. Without his hard work and sacrifice, especially during the start up years, he would have never been able to come to my high school hockey games at 4pm on weekdays or take a long weekend to visit me at university in Ottawa or bring the whole family to Germany at Christmas time to see me during my year abroad. Through- out the years, knowingly or not, my dad has taught me the value of resilience, empathy, and drive. I’ve grown a deep respect for entrepre- neurs, and I value supporting local, small busi- nesses whenever possible and encourage you to do the same.
trends, and consistently monitoring the quality of our interactions and profile insights. One of the things I’ve come to enjoy most about working with social media is being able to work from anywhere in the world. I’m currently studying International Business at Carleton University in Ottawa and enjoy being thoroughly involved in the business students’ society. I recently returned from my year abroad in Augsburg, Germany which is a city in Bavaria. During my first semester, I traveled around Europe every free moment I had and when the pandemic hit, I bunkered down with my best friend and her family. In hindsight, I’m so thankful to have had this authentic experience of learning local recipes, speaking German all day, and growing an extension of my family in Germany.
After graduation, I want to gain more work experience, travel and explore new cultures and languag- es, and continue to build my global network. In the long run, I’m determined to grow my own social enterprise as it is my passion to make an impact on the world. I’m not exactly sure which industry or where my base will be but that will come in good time and I’m certain my experience as the daughter of an entrepreneur will guide me. I’m thrilled to continue my journey – I hope we can connect and you can follow along.
Another thing I’ve learned over the past few years is to never undervalue my experience working with my dad in the family business. As anyone who has been involved in a family business knows, you are given more trust and responsi- bility in decision making than you would have at most other jobs. Over the past few years, I’ve gained lots of practical experience in marketing and social media by trial and error, researching
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Pandemic puts pressure on our region’s largest airport HALIFAX STANFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT H alifax Stanfield is one of the most critical by Leah Batstone
pieces of transportation infrastructure in Atlantic Canada, and a key economic gen- erator that is and will be essential to our region’s recovery. All of Canada’s airports, including Halifax Stanfield, have played an important role in the nation’s response to the pandemic from the beginning. In 2020, Covid-19 damped what should have been an amazing year and celebration for the airport as it was a double anniversary year for Halifax Stanfield International Airport. In addition to the 60th anniversary of the opening of the airport, the airport also celebrated 20 years of “new man- agement” under the Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA).
Spotlight on Business spoke with Joyce Carter, President and CEO and Paul Baxter, Senior Vice Presi- dent Operations & Chief Operating Officer of Halifax International Airport Authority on how they are preparing to rebuild air connections for the community at Atlantic Canada’s largest airport and connect to the world. On September 10, 2020, Halifax Stanfield International Airport (Halifax Stanfield) marked its 60th anniversary, but the occasion was not honoured like it would have been in previous years. After all, in September, the COVID-19 pandemic had been underway for six months, and with no end in sight, there was little cause for celebration. Instead, the airport was facing the stark reality that its 60th year was shaping up to be one of the worst in aviation history. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically affected airports across Canada and around the world, and Halifax Stanfield is no exception. The airport, which had just wrapped up another successful year of strong passenger and cargo activity in 2019, first felt the effects of the pandemic when the virus was causing significant disruption in Asia, where there’s a big appetite for Nova Scotia seafood. Cargo flights from the airport dropped suddenly, from an average of seven to eight weekly flights to Asia, to just one. “The health and safety of our passengers, employees and community has always been our top priority,” said Joyce Carter, President and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA). “As soon as we saw the effects of COVID-19 could extend to our part of the world, we activated our pandemic plan and began working with our partners on next steps.”
“The health and safety of our passengers, employees and community has always been our top priority,”
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
Carter said little did they know, this was only the tip-of-the-iceberg, in terms of the impact COVID-19 would have, not only the airport, but on the entire province, industry and citizens around the world. By March, travel restrictions were implemented by the Government of Canada and Government of Nova Scotia, requiring anyone entering the country or province, respectively, to self-isolate for 14 days. A provincial State of Emergency was declared, and governments advised against non-essential travel. At the airport, an enhanced cleaning program was introduced, public seating was removed in the food court, and hand sani- tizers were deployed to ensure those who were travelling for essential reasons were comfortable and supported along their journey. In response to the border restrictions and increasing COVID-19 cases around the world, the airport saw far fewer travellers, resulting in drastic cuts to air service frequencies and flight options – most of which are still in place today. Looking back at 2019, Halifax Stanfield served 4.2 million passengers, with 200 flights a day flying to 46 destinations across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Today, there are only about a dozen
flights each day connecting Halifax to a handful of domestic destinations. Passenger traffic on average has been down 90 per cent throughout the pandemic and no improvement is expected with the second wave underway and domestic self-isolation requirements for those entering Nova Scotia continuing.
The Inland Group of Comapanies salutes Halifax Stanfield on their 60 Year milestone!
From handling fewer than 200,000 passengers in their first year, to well over 4 million this past year, Halifax Stanfield has proven to be the region’s leading center of economic, social and cultural life. For over 25 years, Inland has been a proud service provider and partner to the airport, airlines and Halifax community.
www.inlandgroup.ca
As a non-share capital corporation, HIAA relies on passenger and flight activity to generate revenue needed to operate. HIAA reinvests end-of-the-year surpluses into airport operations and on-going facility improvements. A portion of the surplus also goes toward paying rent annually to Trans- port Canada, as part of its long-term land lease agreement to manage the airport. Operating in a user-pay system means when very few people are travelling, the airport generates very little revenue to support operations. “If you were at the airport today, you’d see there are hardly any vehicles in the parking lot, very few people in the building…it’s like a ghost town” said Carter. “It is difficult to imagine any business that could remain open and operating with 90 per cent less activity than normal for months on end.”
for 60 years . home
Bringing us
“ It is difficult to imagine any business that could remain open and oper- ating with 90 per cent less activity than normal for months on end.”
Thank you YHZ .
437PrinceSt., Truro,NS902.895.1651 innonprince.com
Photo by Ross Parmly
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
Despite the reduction in activity, Carter said as a critical piece of transportation infrastructure, Halifax Stanfield must remain open to safely move goods, essential workers, and facilitate medevac and other important services that support Canada’s economy and recovery. “But whether one flight lands here, or one thousand flights land here, we have substantial fixed costs associated with safely managing our airfield, terminal building and property,” she added. As part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced passenger traffic, HIAA looked at every opportunity to reduce costs. The airport has consolidated operations in the terminal, closed parking lots, shut down esca- lators and even dimmed lights, when possible. HIAA also laid off 25 per cent of its workforce because of the pandemic’s impacts, which according to Carter, is a step they deeply regret having to take.
“Our people are a big part of the reason we are consistently recognized among the best airports of our size in the world. It has been a very diffi - cult time for our entire team.” It’s not just airports that have been affected. Airlines, businesses inside the terminal building, businesses on the airport property, and even supply chain partners, have all felt the effects of COVID-19’s extraordinary disruption to aviation. According to the Canadian Airports Council (CAC), tens of thousands of jobs have been lost in airport employment zones, with air sector unemployment as high as 50 per cent. The CAC expects airports will lose as much as $4.5 billion in revenue and add $2.8 billion in debt to cover operational deficits by the end of 2021. Tobeginplanning forwhatwill beyearsof recovery efforts, HIAA assembled a Recovery Task Force led by Paul Baxter, Senior Vice President Opera- tions & Chief Operating Officer. The Task Force’s goal was to produce a plan to help rebuild pas- senger confidence and manage evolving opera -
tional and human resource requirements. They looked at modelling the future to understand not only passenger recovery, but how the industry will respond to establish a safe, secure, efficient, and financially responsible post-pandemic airport operating model. According to Baxter, three major factors were identified as the biggest obstacles to the air - port’s recovery: federal and provincial border
restrictions, travel advisories, and quarantine measures; the financial viability of airlines, airport businesses and airport authorities; and consumer confidence in air travel. “We knew that when the time was right, instilling consumer confidence would be key to rebuild - ing passenger traffic and air service lost due to COVID-19,” said Baxter.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
In June, Halifax Stanfield conducted a Passen - ger Expectations Survey, to understand what travellers wanted to see when they were ready to fly again. Over three-quarters of respondents unsurprisingly expected the airport to prioritize physical distancing, increased hand sanitizer, and enhanced cleaning. Eighty-six per cent of respondents said they believed HIAA would take the steps necessary to ensure the airport was a safe and healthy environment. “It was beneficial to understand what passengers expect to see when they travel at our airport and know that the measures they wanted to see were already in place,” said Baxter. “We were very pleased that, because of these efforts, we were accredited by the Airports Council Internation- al (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation program. This program was created during the pandemic to recognize airports that are providing a safe experience for travellers by introducing recom- mended global health measures and industry best practices.”
Although the situation continues to be dire, airports across Canada are adapting and evolving to find innovative solutions to their current chal - lenges. It’s expected that in the future, airport processes and infrastructure will change to increase consumer confidence by allowing for more physical distancing, fewer face-to-face interactions, touchless technology, and even permanent “health checks” for inbound and outbound passengers. No stranger to aviation industry crises through- out her 20 plus-year tenure at HIAA, Carter says health checks could become a permanent feature of air travel, much like the security screening measures that were introduced after 9/11. In fact, the Canadian Air Transportation Security Author- ity (CATSA) has already implemented tempera- ture checks at many Canadian airports, including Halifax Stanfield.
But what Halifax Stanfield is most interested in seeing introduced at all Canadian airports, said Carter, is standardized COVID-19 testing. She said four other Canadian airports, with support from their respective provinces and the federal government, are exploring using airport testing to increase public safety and in some cases, amend the 14-day isolation requirements. This is a science-based approach to support safer air travel that will bridge the period needed to effectively roll out vaccines around the world. “We are pleased to see other airports and prov- inces looking for ways to safely combine testing with reduced quarantine requirements. But most importantly, we applaud the government’s decision to collect data and increase community safety by testing at airports. We believe this can be part of a layered approach to public health measures that will include a vaccine, masks, dis- tancing, and other measures, to enable the safe
“Our people are a big part of the reason we are consistently recognized among the best airports of our size in the world. It has been a very difficult time for our entire team.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
restart of air travel.” Carter adds that HIAA is eager to support the communities it serves by assisting the Govern- ment of Nova Scotia with a COVID-19 testing pilot project at Halifax Stanfield. She said the airport has already shared a proposal with gov- ernment officials outlining how airport testing could work. “Testing at Halifax Stanfield could not only help bring back some of the air service we’ve lost that is needed by our community members, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to collect valuable data and information about how this virus spreads and what we can do to keep our communities safe,” said Carter. “It’s an important step towards a national, harmonized approach to safely moving towards economic recovery and growth in a post-pandemic world.” In the meantime, Carter said for the employees at Halifax Stanfield, it feels like they are on the longest layover of life. However, despite all these challenges, the airport continues to provide an essential transportation link for the safe and efficient movement of people, and goods. This
“ It was beneficial to under - stand what passengers expect to see when they travel at our airport and know that the measures they wanted to see were already in place,” purpose is extremely evident as they navigate COVID-19, one of the most difficult situations the aviation industry has ever faced. For example, airports will play a key role in the COVID-19 vaccine deployment across the country, as our vaccines arrive by air. “Though the immediate future remains uncer- tain, before COVID-19, Halifax Stanfield had grown and established itself as an important con- tributor to the region, one that we have proudly served for 60 years. It’s for this reason that I’m confident we’ll get through this extremely chal - lenging time, and be ready to serve again, when the time is right.”
“It’s an important step towards a national, harmo- nized approach to safely moving towards economic recovery and growth in a post-pandemic world.”
“ I’m confident we’ll get through this extremely chal- lenging time, and be ready to serve again, when the time is right.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
DOWNTOWN TRURO PARTNERSHIP HISTORY, CULTURE & COMMUNITY PRIDE by Jenn Mantin
M any see Truro as the simple Hub Town of Nova Scotia. It is that place you travel by on your way to other destinations. Spot- light on Business sat down with Jenn Mantin, of the Downtown Truro Partnership, to learn more about what this amazing small town has to offer. It does not take long to understand that Truro is a special place and that it offers facilities and businesses usually associated with much larger cities, without comprising on its small-town charm making it the perfect destination for conferences and trade shows or getaway with friends or a planned stay- cation with the family. Regardless of what you are looking for Truro and the surrounding area truly has something for everyone.
“Rich with culture and history, Downtown Truro is a unique small town, located centrally in Nova Scotia. Truro has always been rich with history, culture and community pride.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
Rich with culture and history, Downtown Truro is a unique small town, located centrally in Nova Scotia. Truro has always been rich with history, culture and community pride. However, in recent years it is making major strides towards being one of the most vibrant and thriving towns in Nova Scotia. When it comes to the business community our downtown offers a unique mix of local busi- nesses – shops, restaurants, cafés and professional services – owned by the people who call Truro home.
Downtown Truro offers the best of both worlds – small town ambience combined with a full range of shops, services and recreational opportunities. With museums, art galleries, a premiere cultural centre, a state of the art new library, civic square and outdoor skating rink, as well as being steps away from the beautiful Victoria Park, it is clear why Downtown Truro appeals to residents and visitors alike. If you haven’t been here before, it’s time to come check out all we have to offer! “Downtown Truro offers the best of both worlds – small town ambience combined with a full range of shops, services and recreational opportunities.”
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Youmay have noticed a fewchanges in Truro lately.
The Downtown Truro Partnership (DTP) is the “Business Improvement Association” or organization that represents the downtown business community. The DTP develops and implements economic development, marketing, and promotional initiatives on behalf of the business community. Our goal is to assist in making downtown Truro a beautiful, welcoming, and exciting place to visit, live or do business. The DTP also invests in the community at large, providing or leveraging funds and development for green and public spaces and infrastructure, and providing community engage- ment opportunities through social and cultural events.
Same great people. Same great service. 437Prince St., Truro 902.895.1651 reservations@innonprince.com
“Our goal is to assist in making downtown Truro a beautiful, welcoming, and exciting place to visit, live or do business.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2021
Our organization is comprised of just under 400 businesses, all who fall within a particular geo- graphical downtown boundary called the Urban Regional Core (URC). These businesses pay a self-imposed area rate or tax, in lieu of a member- ship fee. The organization is led by a volunteer Board of Directors – the volunteers being drawn from the member base – and maintain a small staff including their Executive Director, Office Administration and Events and Promotions coor- dinator. The DTP has been in operation for over 40 years, and in partnership with the Town of Truro, has been the driving force behind many of the downtown development and promotional initiatives that take place year over year. Downtown Truro has always been ‘home’ to his- torically renown businesses such as Stanfield’s Ltd. and MacQuarries Pharmasave. As a trans- portation hub, Truro is naturally an attractive place to do business, and over the years has drawn many key stakeholders to our downtown core. In recent years, we have seen a huge influx of new diverse businesses; niche boutiques, ethnic restaurants, microbreweries, specialty spas and salons, to name a few. This surge in new business has been welcomed by the residents and the sense of pride in our growing business community is evident in the community’s efforts to support local.
Over the past year, like many other business communities across the country, Downtown Truro has been affected dramatically by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many restaurants, shops and services made the difficult decision to close their doors during the months of March, April, and May of 2020, and still today they are dealing with the daily struggles of limited capacities, enforcing mask wearing, additional cleaning measures, reduced hours, etc. It has been a chal- lenging year, to say the least, but if anything, it has proven how innovative and resilient our downtown business community is. Over the past year we have seen many businesses pivot their business models to accommodate for the current climate. Many retail stores have expanded from their brick-and-mortar locations and now have an additional e-commerce platform and restaurants have created new, trendy outdoor dining areas to allow for additional seating.
E V E N T COUN S E L L I NG R E N T A L S CO R P O R A T E WE DD I NG S COMMUN I T Y & F UND R A I S E R S P R I V A T E F UNC T I ON S LIFE'S AN EVENT, CELEBRATE IT WITH US!
W W W . T R I A N G L E - E V E N T S . C A
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