CURRENT ISSUE VOLUME 19 NO. 4 JULY/AUGUST 2008

Atlantic Links excerpts, Volume 18, No. 3

Boss out the door as firm restructures

CGI boss Alaisdar Graham was laid off in early March. The vice-president of the Halifax-based Atlantic Global Delivery Centre, Graham was one of 10 people cut as the firm realigns business at the delivery centre. According to Allnovascotia.com, the firm also cut two admin staff and seven developers.

Marine Atlantic Follow-up

Two months after Transport Canada announced it would hike rates and introduce a new fuel surcharge on Marine Atlantic's Port Aux Basques-North Sydney ferry service, a consortium of regional transport interests is lobbying the federal government to change its mind. In late February, the Marine Atlantic Users Group launched an online petition to protest the rising costs of service. At press time, the petition had close to 1,000 signatures. Slated to cover Marine Atlantic's rising fuel and pension costs, the rate hike was the bad news portion of Transport Canada's five-year, $270 million investment in Marine Atlantic, announced last February.

Dartmouth gets first cut at Nova Scotia's medical device industry

A Halifax entrepreneur may soon redefine cutting edge medical technology. Paul Westhaver, president of Dartmouth-based Cambridge Medical Engineering Ltd. recently acquired the patents and IP rights associated with a bloodless surgical knife from a U.S. firm. The ingenious invention uses high-density sound to slice through flesh, simultaneously sealing off blood vessels.

Lowes and the Giant Pumpkin

A recent deal between Windsor, NS farmer Howard Dill and U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's, will see Dill's award-winning giant pumpkin seeds in backyard gardens throughout North America. After a year of negotiations, Howard Dill and his son, Danny, entered into a deal for an undisclosed amount that will see Lowe's distribute Dill's world famous Atlantic Giant seeds in Canada and the United States. Dill's seeds have sprouted pumpkins of epic proportions—breaking the 1,500 pound marker last year.

Cooking up gold

A team of student chefs from Holland College's Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown, PEI recently accomplished something never before done by Canadians. Culinary Youth Team Canada was named World Champions at the 2007 KNORR World Junior Grand Prix held in Scotland.

Strong Sales for PEI Energy Bonds

Investment in PEI Energy Savings Bonds is nearing the $5 million mark, with Islanders having invested $4.6 million in the bonds in less than three months. The bond program was created to give islanders an opportunity to invest in the Eastern Kings Wind Farm; PEI generates 12.5 per cent of its total electricity needs from wind energy.

Get the full story with a free one-year subscription to Atlantic Business Magazine.
Click HERE to Subscribe.

Top of Page