Kenyan Delegation Studies NS Education

A delegation of senior education officials from Kenya visited Nova Scotia recently to gather information about the province's education system.

Kenya is in the process of reforming its education system and is looking to the province as a model.

The 9-member group met with Department of Education staff for presentations and discussions about the school system and how public education operates at the provincial, school board and school levels. The delegation also discussed the department's structure, curriculum development, labour relations, technology and teacher certification.

"A good education allows everyone to realize their true human potential," said James Ole Kiyaiapi, permanent secretary, Kenyan Ministry of Education.

"Nova Scotia's education system is student-centred which is something that appeals to us. We have learned a lot during our visit about how Nova Scotia's education system is put together, from the department down through the to school boards and on to students. We knew it was going to be good but it has far exceeded our expectations. We are having an amazing time."

This is the second such visit in the past year. Last September, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada, Simon Nabukwesi, toured the Strait Regional School Board and met with Department of Education administrators. That paved the way for the latest visit.

Read more at gov.ns.ca.

Science & Technology Advisory Council

Early stage technology companies in the province are getting improved access to scientific and technology expertise thanks to Innovacorp's new advisory council.

"I'm delighted to have a group of this calibre as a resource for us and our clients," said Clifford Gross, president and CEO of Innovacorp. "Their experience, knowledge of science and industry, and contacts in the global community will be invaluable.

"The council will also be a great platform for assessing emerging science and technology issues important to Nova Scotia's economic future."

The Science and Technology Advisory Council, which was announced today, March 16, will be made up of researchers and industry experts in fields related to Innovacorp's focus industries, including clean technology, life sciences and information technology.

For more information about Innovacorp and the new advisory council visit innovacorp.ca.

International Boston Seafood Show

Businesses and organizations from Nova Scotia’s seafood, aquaculture and fisheries industry travelled to Boston on March 20-22 for the annual International Boston Seafood Show, a major event in the North American industry and key opportunity for local producers to grow their business, introduce new products and technology. The show attracts top-tier buyers and sellers of seafood and seafood products from more than 130 countries.

“With over 80 per cent of our seafood production exported on an annual basis, Nova Scotia’s fisheries industry is a significant economic driver, especially in rural coastal communities,” said Sterling Belliveau, Nova Scotia Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “The provincial government encourages producers in the fishing and aquaculture sectors to continue to produce new value-added and high-quality products and identify, develop, and promote domestic and international market and investment opportunities creating good jobs and growing the economy.”

Nova Scotian companies that attended include Bluenose Seafood Inc., Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership, Davis Strait Fisheries Ltd., Fisher King Seafoods Ltd., Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd., St. Mary's River Smokehouses, United Trans Ltd. and representatives from the province’s Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Read more: thechronicleherald.ca

LED Wins Contract to Test GPS Lights

Amherst-based LED Roadway Lighting recently won a $500,000 contract from the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program to test their LED lights equipped with automated GPS technology.

"It could replace existing automatic light switching by photocell," executive vice-president Darren Zwicker said in an interview with Halifax’s Chronicle Herald.

More reliable than photoelectric cell-triggered lights in which cells deteriorate over time, the GPS enabled lights will allow the street lamps to detect their location and automatically switch on and off according to area-specific dawn and dusk times (which change seasonally) resulting in energy savings.

Family Enterprise Award

Family run businesses in Nova Scotia are large contributors to the province’s economy. The Canadian Association of Family Enterprise recently awarded its 2010 Nova Scotia Family Enterprise of the Year Award to the Zutphen Group of Companies based in Southwest Mabou.

John and Ted van Zutphen arrived from Holland with their families in 1951. They settled in Ontario and later moved to Cape Breton Island, where they began farming. In 1964, the brothers took over the family farm from their father, founded Zutphen Group, purchased a bulldozer and so began their construction company that would grow to employ more than 100 workers. Their clients include federal and provincial governments as well as private industry.

Source: cafecanada.ca (PDF)
Read more: capebretonpost.com

CB Company Helps Health Boards Save

New Waterford, NS-based Health Outcomes Worldwide (HOW), announced recently that they are working with health boards in several Canadian provinces to measure health outcomes using software it developed to use an extensive database of heath care and cost data. The company’s product how2trak® tracks, monitors, measures and provides best evidence-informed recommendations to care providers.

“We are always striving to maintain the balance between delivering quality care and controlling costs to meet our budgets,” says Chris Biggs, Client Services Manager with the St. Clair Community Care Access Centre in Erie, Ontario. “We are now saving $80,000 per month [approximately about $1 million per year], which translates into us being able to make significantly more home visits. Health Outcomes Worldwide and the how2trak® system were key to achieving those savings, and a big improvement from a deficit of last year.”

The how2trak® system was developed based on extensive research on wound management conducted at Cape Breton University, where Corrine McIsaac, founder of Health Outcomes Worldwide, is a tenured faculty member. The testing phase for how2trak® has now been completed and, with very positive results, is now moving towards full commercialization.

Learn more about Health Outcomes Worldwide online.

Regional Communities Working with Newcomers

Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency’s (SRHDA) Newcomer Settlement Project hosted its latest information session, “The Road To Employment Success for Newcomers” earlier this month, attracting almost 30 newcomers and stakeholders from the Port Hawkesbury, Antigonish, Inverness and Richmond counties region. Through this project, SRHDA, the Antigonish Regional Development Authority, and the Guysborough County Regional Development Authority continue to consider the retention and successful settlement of newcomers in the region a priority.

Kim Lewis, the Newcomer Navigator with the Project, hosted the event and introduced the project’s latest endeavour - the “Newcomer Friendly” brand.

“The Newcomer Friendly brand is focused on creating a more inclusive community, grounded in respect and appreciation for individual differences,” says Kim. “We are excited by the opportunity to use the brand to recognize the existing contributions that institutions make in helping newcomers settle successfully in the region.”.

Use of the logo indicates that participating businesses and community organizations offer a welcoming environment and that they have the resources to refer newcomers to the Newcomer Settlement Project.

Learn more about SRHDA’s Newcomer Settlement/Navigation Services, visit strait-highlands.ns.ca

NS-South Korea Sign Licence Agreement

South Koreans who move to Nova Scotia to work or study will now be able to get a valid driver's licence without taking a written or road test.

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister John MacDonell and Ambassador Chong Hoon Kim, consul general of the Republic of Korea signed a reciprocity agreement on March 10 that will allow South Koreans to exchange their valid driver's licence for a Nova Scotia licence.

"We are delighted to offer this arrangement to South Koreans who come to Nova Scotia. We hope this makes it easier for them to live, work or study here," said Mr. MacDonell.

Nova Scotians who live, work or study in South Korea will have the same privileges.

Read more at gov.ns.ca

Golf in Nova Scotia

With spring in the air across the province, golfers are dusting off their clubs and beginning to hit the local links. There are more than 60 courses throughout Nova Scotia ranging in size and difficulty to appeal to all caliber of local golfer and those in the province for travel or business.

Visit NovaScotia.com, the Nova Scotia Golf Association or golfingnovascotia.com for course information, vacation packages, rates and accommodations.

GHP SmartCity, Episode 5

The Greater Halifax Partnership's (GHP) latest episode of its SmartCity web-series drops by Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Peter Kelly’s welcome to international MBA students to learn about the Connector Program. Host Craig Layton talks to Dick Miller, vice-president of Development and Housing, The Shaw Group, and program participants and local university students Fady Nashat and Prasad Ranay.

Watch SmartCity.