Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 9

UpFRONT

The contributions have streamed in from all over the world. They began the day of Friday, Sept. 14,

2001, with the passengers and crew of Delta Flight 15 making the first pledges as their aircraft completed a transatlantic journey from Frankfurt to Atlanta interrupted three days earlier. Since then, the offerings kept coming, from a two dollar gift by a struggling student in Columbus, Ohio, to a $15,000 corporate donation.

The Delta Flight 15 scholarship fund was created to thank the residents of Lewisporte, N.L., who provided shelter and warmth to diverted passengers forced to land far away from home on 9/11.

Today, Raie Lene Kirby is a fourth-year medical student at Memorial University in St. John’s. She is focusing on family medicine. Ten years ago, she was a 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Lewisporte Collegiate enlisted to help out with the inf lux of hundreds of so-called “plane people” on their doorsteps.

“Everything stopped, and all the attention was on making these people feel comfortable, making sure that they had everything they needed,” she recalls. Kirby mainly helped care for the children of passengers when they needed a break. It was an “amazing thing,” she says, to see how people came together.

A year later, Kirby was among the first recipients of a scholarship from the Delta Flight 15 fund. To date, 134 scholarships have been presented to local students, helping them pursue fields from medicine to engineering to business to the ministry to teaching to nursing to geophysics. The fund is now closing in on $1.5 million in total value.

“To me personally, 9/11 events in Lewisporte have provided innumerable opportunities to reaffirm the genuine goodness of a people who honestly care for their fellow human beings, who are not afraid to be different, and who have accepted me as if I were one of their own,” says Shirley Brooks-Jones, a passenger on Delta Flight 15. “This, to me, is perhaps the greatest gift — to be a part of a place and a people who are simply extraordinary.”

Brooks-Jones is a retired Ohio State University administrator who has tirelessly promoted the fund. Her visit to Lewisporte this month will be her 20th since that first unscheduled stop on 9/11. In recognition of her efforts, the provincial government awarded her honourary membership in the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007.

The story of Delta Flight 15 is just one of many positive tales to come from that most terrible of days. According to figures compiled by NAV Canada, more than 130 aircraft were diverted to locations in Atlantic Canada on 9/11. Thirty-eight went to Gander, one to Deer Lake, 21 to St. John’s, eight to Stephenville, seven to Goose Bay, 47 to Halifax, and 10 to Moncton. Gander — a town of about 10,000 — received 6,600 diverted passengers alone.

A number of events are planned to commemorate the tenth anniversary. Kirby has been invited to a dinner at the Canadian consulate in Atlanta — the home of Delta’s headquarters — this month. “In the end, it’s always important to remember what happened that day, and that the world came together to try to make a difference,” Kirby says.

‘ The greatest gift’Ten years after 9/11, the legacy of the special bond between stranded passengers and their local hosts remains strong

Story and photos by Rob Antle

Raie Lene Kirby was a Grade 12 student in Lewisporte, N.L., when the town took in stranded passengers on Sept. 11, 2001. Kirby was among the first recipients of the Delta Flight 15 schol-arship fund, created as a thank you by those diverted to central Newfound-land that day. Below, the new World Trade Centre is under construction in the left of this August 2011 image of the Lower Manhattan skyline. The origi-nal Twin Towers were destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

10 | Atlantic Business Magazine | September/October 2011

Irving Shipbuilding hopes the contents of 16 bankers boxes delivered to Ottawa in

July will transform into billions of dollars in federal contracts spread over the coming years.

The boxes contained plans, diagrams, and detailed documentation related to the Halifax yard’s bid for one of two lucrative federal shipbuilding contracts.

“We are very confident in our bids, our facilities, our partnerships and, most impor-tantly, our workforce and their ability to build the best ships to meet the needs of the fed-eral government well into the future,” said Jim Irving, CEO of Irving Shipbuilding, in a statement formally confirming delivery of the bids.

Up for grabs are two contracts in the Na-tional Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. One shipyard will be selected to build combat vessels, a contract worth roughly $25 billion. The second piece of work will see construc-tion of non-combat vessels, mostly for the coast guard, with a price tag of about $8 bil-lion.

The feds have taken great pains to stress

that politics will be left out of the process, and the two shipyards selected will be those that represent “best value” to Canada. But that hasn’t stopped feverish provincial lobby-ing efforts.

Three bidders have qualified for the work. Irving is one. Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. is the second. The wild card is a last-minute entry that replaced individual bids by yards in Ontario and Quebec. The assets of financially-troubled Davie Yards of Lévis, Que., were sold to a consortium that included Ontario’s Upper Lakes Group, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. and South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. The feds had agreed to extend the final deadline for bids two weeks, allowing time for the Hail Mary Davie acqui-sition.

Meanwhile, back on the East Coast, Ir-ving’s bid has the support of not just Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, but also his counterparts in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. (The Kiewit Offshore Servic-es shipyard in Newfoundland withdrew from contention just months before the deadline to file bids.)

Irving proponents say the Halifax ship-yard’s bid is the option “that will drive superi-or benefits to all parts of Canada.” And with-in the province, the combat contract could create and sustain up to 11,500 jobs at peak employment periods across Nova Scotia.

For now, it’s wait and see — and hope. Ottawa’s decision on the contract winners is expected this fall.

SUSpeNSe BUIlDINGHalifax shipyard awaits federal contract decision

A welder at Irving Shipbuilding works on the first of nine mid-shore patrol vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard in this March photo. The Halifax yard is in the running for billions in upcoming federal shipbuilding work. Photo courtesy Shipsstarthere.ca

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For years, lack of access to Realtor.ca (formerly MLS) hindered the success of

private real estate sales. Simply put, sales is a numbers game: the more people who see your property, the more likely you are to sell it. People who tried to avoid paying Realtor fees by selling their own home or property were at an inherent disadvantage compared to those who registered with a licensed broker. Brokers can list with the national real estate listings on Realtor.ca; private sales cannot. Rather, they could not – until now.

New Brunswick’s ‘for sale by owner’ realty pioneers, Propertyguys.com, have joined forces with maverick real estate broker Lawrence Dale, president and CEO of Realtysellers. Dale, a licensed broker in Toronto who is well known for challenging his industry’s norms, purchased shares of PropertyGuys.com and now lists PropertyGuys.com properties on the national real estate listings website, under his license.

Founded in 1998, PropertyGuys.com provides a sliding scale of services at set fees, all of which can help a property owner sell his or her own real estate. As a result, consumers

can now list their properties on the national service for a set fee rather than a commission based on a percentage of the final sale.

What’s the difference? Five per cent commission on the sale of a $300,000 home is $15,000. PropertyGuys.com advertises a basic self-service sales package for $399; it’ll cost another $299 to get listed on realtor.ca – which means a home could be sold for less than $700, regardless of its price tag.

Though the deal could mean huge changes for the traditional real estate industry, a representative of the Canadian Real Estate Association is circumspect in his assessment. “Stories about new entrants or business models are common,” noted Pierre Leduc of CREA media relations. “CREA and its members believe in offering a range of services. Each consumer is unique and has unique needs, but whatever those needs may be, there is a Realtor who can offer an appropriate level of service.”

PropertyGuys.com CEO Ken LeBlanc believes the deal is a harbinger of significant change in the real estate industry. “Most people still use traditional agents to sell

their properties. But as more people get used to transacting online, especially younger people, they’re having a hard time swallowing the thousands of dollars in commission fees. I think, over the next four to five years, we’ll see a shift in how people buy and sell real estate, with half opting to do it themselves.”

UpFRONT

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ThROUGh The BACK DOORPartnership gets private sale listings included on broker site

(L-R) Ken LeBlanc, CEO of Moncton-based PropertyGuys.com has partnered with Lawrence Dale of RealtySellers to of-fer fee-based access to national real estate listings. “This is the type of deal that consumers want and traditional agents fear,” says Dale.

12 | Atlantic Business Magazine | September/October 2011

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BONO AT THE G-MEX help WANTeDN.S.-based Empathy Factoryinvests in child labour

Blair Ryan and Stephanie Shute believe in putting kids to work. They want to see

children grooming dogs, cleaning city parks and organizing social programs. And they don’t want to pay for it either; they think it should be a labour of love.

Such is the philosophy behind The Empathy Factory, a school-based program and summer camp founded by Ryan. It’s designed to teach kids, ages eight to 13, to be better citizens.

How realistic is it to think that the same child who refuses to make her bed or put his clothes away will voluntarily work to improve the community? The answer, according to Empathy Factory volunteer Scott Blunden, would shock you. “The enthusiasm on the kids’ faces speaks for itself. They love the empowerment and watching their ideas become reality.”

Here’s how it works: first, children take part in an introductory workshop that describes what the organization is and does. Then, they submit ideas for community projects, outlining – in their own words – what the benefits would be and what they need to accomplish their goal. A panel selects a project(s) from the submitted proposals, and the kids, with the help and support of the Empathy Factory, take on that project(s). They fundraise for their initiatives, with 100 per cent of funds raised going towards the project(s).

Blunden says response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive since it was launched last October, and that there are already six schools signed up to participate in the coming year. He says Ryan dreams of having it become part of the school curriculum, and having Empathy Factory outlets across the country.

The organization also hopes to get the business community on board as sponsors. “Fundamentally, this gets to the heart of corporate social responsibility,” Blunden says. “It’s about stepping up to do what we can to encourage future leaders.”

The Empathy Factory’s Blair Ryan (CEO) and Stephanie Shute (president) are on a mission to put kids to work.

Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 13

UpFRONT

pOll pOSITIONX to mark the spot in N.L., P.E.I.

Voters in two Atlantic provinces go to the polls in October to elect new

governments, with both incumbents boasting big leads and big majorities heading into the campaigns.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Progressive Conservatives are seeking a third term. But this time they will be led by Kathy Dunderdale, not the wildly-popular Danny Williams. Under Williams, the Tories garnered 70 per cent of the popular vote in the last election and 44 of the legislature’s 48 seats. That level of support has dropped under Dunderdale, according to recent public-opinion polling by Halifax-based Corporate Research Associates, to a still-healthy 57 per cent of decided voters as of June.

The race took a twist in August when Liberal Leader Yvonne Jones announced her resignation from the party’s top job. Jones — who publicly fought breast cancer for the previous year — stepped down on the advice of doctors, just two months before election day. Her departure led to a mad, five-day scramble that saw the party executive select veteran former cabinet minister Kevin Aylward from a field of seven hopefuls.

Meanwhile, the provincial NDP hopes to make gains from their traditional one-seat stronghold in downtown St. John’s. This spring’s Orange Wave saw the party sweep both federal seats in the capital city. Provincially, the NDP has a slate of strong local candidates in place, and recent polling put them neck and neck with the Liberals for second place.

Meanwhile, on Prince Edward Island, it’s the Robert Ghiz-led Liberals with a commanding majority (24 seats to two for the PCs, with one vacancy). According to CRA, the Grits had a 16-point edge in decided voters’ support over the Olive Crane-led PCs this June, down from a 37-point advantage in the previous polling period. The number of undecided voters remained high, however, at 40 per cent.

Polling day in P.E.I. is Oct. 3. Voters in Newfoundland and Labrador mark their X on Oct. 11.

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14 | Atlantic Business Magazine | September/October 2011

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Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc. has announced a $2.8-million investment in

its research and development (R&D) facilities in Victoria on Prince Edward Island.

“Innovation and long-term sustainable growth are shared priorities for Novartis and the government of Prince Edward Island,” Dr. Riad Sherif B., president of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., said in a press release. “(This) announcement was made possible by the government’s commitment to leading and advancing its life sciences industry now and into the future. We look forward to continuing to grow our Novartis presence on the Island.”

The expansion of the Novartis facility in Victoria will take place in two phases over the coming months and into 2012. The first phase will provide new state-of-the-art laboratory space; the second, increased office and meeting space. Fourteen new employees have already been hired to support bolstered R&D activity. The investment will aid Novartis’ capabilities in vaccine and novel pharmaceutical drug development focused on the aquaculture industry.

“We are proud to be working with Novartis as it continues to invest in and expand its Island operations, and employ more than 95 individuals,” P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz noted. “The addition of new laboratories and office space in Victoria means more jobs, a stronger economy and significant research contributions for the sustainability of our fisheries.”

In addition to the research and development plant located in Victoria, Novartis has three locations in the Charlottetown area, two for product development and one housing vaccine production. Novartis recently completed the second phase of expansion at its Charlottetown facilities.

Bioscience is one of four sectors targeted for investment and development in the Prince Edward Island government’s Island Prosperity Strategy. Since 2009, the government says, the bioscience sector has increased revenues to $78 million and added 200 full-time positions.

ISlAND INVeSTMeNTP.E.I. bioscience clustergetting a $2.8-M boost

Premier Robert Ghiz (second left) is joined by Novartis officials and staff from the Victoria research facility, along with the local MLA. Photo by Brian Simpson, Government of P.E.I.

Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 15

UpFRONT

Ottawa will provide $51.4 million to aid the construction of a new convention centre in

Halifax, pushing the long-awaited project closer to reality.

“Our government is proud to invest in infrastructure priorities that enable communities to continue to grow and prosper,” Defence Minister Peter MacKay said last month in confirming the federal investment.

MacKay said the new multi-level, 306,500 square foot convention centre “allows for important opportunities for economic growth” that will benefit all of Nova Scotia.

The federal contribution is higher than the original $47 million requested by the provincial government. MacKay told reporters in Halifax that increasing cost estimates led the province to up the amount sought from the feds.

“This is great news for the people of Nova Scotia,” Premier Darrell Dexter said. “This convention centre will mean new jobs during construction and operation, and it will put this province on the map as a premiere destination for conventions and other tourism activities.”

The convention centre component is part of a half-billion-dollar project by developer Rank Inc. that includes a financial centre, hotel complex, retail and public space.

The province has committed $56 million toward the convention centre portion of the project. The Halifax Regional Municipality matched that amount with its own $56-million commitment.

According to the Nova Scotia government, the convention centre is expected to create more than 12,000 person years of employment and $40 million in provincial tax revenue during the first 10 years of operation alone.

But the project is not without critics. Kevin Lacey, Atlantic director with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said “taxpayers will be on the hook for a heavy initial outlay as well as millions more in future operating losses.”

CeNTRe OF ATTeNTIONFederal contribution moves convention facility closer to reality

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