““The fun part is growing, growing sales, growing your brand. But you have to have the structure first, or you are building on sand.””
At an evening event on Thursday, March 22, Michael Medline, President & CEO, Sobeys Inc., engaged a sold-out crowd about changing customer trends, evolution in e-commerce, and solutions for the future.
Review the event play-by-play on Twitter: #MedlineSMU
Maplewave, a past recipient of a Nova Scotia Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards hosted at Saint Mary’s University, has received international recognition. Maplewave was one of four North American employers honoured at the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2018 Psychologically Health Workplace Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C.”
Congratulations to @MaplewaveHQ for their #phwa2018 in the category of small for-profit https://t.co/WnNBtoSaa6 pic.twitter.com/w1OPhkDbn8
— Healthy Workplace (@APA_excellence) March 22, 2018
A provider of software and retail optimization services for the telecommunications industry, Maplewave is known for its outstanding commitment to fostering a healthy, high-performing work environment. It received Nova Scotia’s Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2017 and was nominated by the Nova Scotia committee for APA’s 2018 Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in the small business (for-profit) category.
Nova Scotia’s Healthy Workplace Awards and Conference is an initiative of the American Psychological Association and is supported by the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia, the CN Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, and Saint Mary’s University.
“We have a saying here that nothing is more sacred than doing the right thing,” says Adam Baggs, Maplewave Chief Executive Officer. “It’s the yardstick that we measure all of our decisions against. So, when it comes to the health and wellness of our employees, we strive to do everything we can because it is the right thing to do.”
Congratulations to @MaplewaveHQ as recipient of the small for-profit category of the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards in Washington. DC. Great job!! #phwa2018 pic.twitter.com/do0q9eapT4
— Arla Day (@Arla_Day) March 22, 2018
“Their focus on doing the right thing aligns with their strong culture of respect, which fosters engaged workers and a successful business,” says Dr. Arla Day, Director of the CN Centre for Occupational Health & Safety at Saint Mary’s University, and Chair of the NS Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards Program.
Day notes that developing healthy workplaces is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense.
Maplewave’s psychologically healthy workplace practices have reaped rewards for both the organization and its employees. In the past two years, their employees have shown increased engagement, higher levels of initiative, and higher job satisfaction.
“Maplewave’s outcomes are consistent with our research findings, which show that healthy organizations tend to report better employee engagement, better financial outcomes, and less employee stress. Developing psychologically healthy workplaces is a great recruiting tool because people truly want to work at these types of organizations.”
Leigh Anne Dingwall, Maplewave’s Vice-President of Human Resources, says that they are excited to be recognized. They are proud of the work they have done and look forward to continuing to develop a strong and healthy workplace.
“Our site reviewers raved about Maplewave’s policies and programs that reflect a strong commitment to the health and wellbeing of all workers,” said Dr. Day. “We are thrilled to be able to support outstanding Nova Scotia organizations like Maplewave and help other organizations develop their own healthy workplaces.”
Entrepreneurship, discovery and innovation are being recognized at Saint Mary’s University with a significant investment from the Province of Nova Scotia.
On Thursday, March 15, the Province of Nova Scotia announced an investment of approximately $11 million for a new facility dedicated to growing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nova Scotia.
“Since I became President, we’ve made entrepreneurship a strategic direction for the university and we’ve been working and investing in this field,” said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “We are incredibly pleased and honoured by this significant investment in the future of Saint Mary’s and Nova Scotia.”
The new Entrepreneurship, Discovery and Innovation (EDI) Hub will be a catalyst for knowledge creation, innovation and commercialization. Located on the Saint Mary’s University campus, this facility will be an on-campus innovation superhighway. It will bring together students and professors from all of the university’s faculties and connect them with entrepreneurs, businesses and the external community to drive an innovation agenda.
This project aligns with Saint Mary’s overall capital and campus master plans. It also advances the ‘Discovery and Innovation’ and ‘Intercultural Learning’ components of the Saint Mary’s University 2017-2022 Strategic Plan.
For more information about entrepreneurship at Saint Mary’s visit our Entrepreneurship activity page.
$11 million will create the @smuhalifax Entrepreneurship, Discovery and Innovation (EDI) Hub - a physical location that will advance creativity, innovation and commercialization and connect students and faculty with entrepreneurs, businesses and the external community. https://t.co/NUe0H2ADin
— Stephen McNeil (@StephenMcNeil) March 15, 2018
Great news! @nsgov just announced $11 million for an Entrepreneurship, Discovery & Innovation Hub @smuhalifax to create a location that will advance creativity & innovation and connect students with entrepreneurs, businesses and the external community! #DoWhatYouDo #nspoli https://t.co/c6sgatVrCo
— SMUSA (@SMUSAhfx) March 15, 2018
What a huge success for our campus @smuhalifax and the Halifax business community. As a SMU Board Governor and SMUSA Director I‘ve seen the incredible plans for this project, and I am so excited and grateful for what the @nsgov has contributed. #SMUStrong https://t.co/nHhLyIPXAx
— Mitch (@archibald_mitch) March 15, 2018
Province Invests to Grow the Economyhttps://t.co/9O3JIQuS4L
— Nova Scotia Gov. (@nsgov) March 15, 2018
Investissements pour la croissance de l'économie, l'amélioration des
soutiens communautaires https://t.co/2JKEM41Jxe pic.twitter.com/pMUsmJV7cM
“Nova Scotia’s post-secondary institutions are great drivers and hubs for research and innovation. Today’s investments recognize the world-class talent of our people.” -Professor Dianne Taylor-Gearing, Chair of CONSUP
— Labour & Advanced Ed (@NSLAE) March 15, 2018
See the original story at http://www.smu.ca/academics/sobey/sanderson-appointed-to-lead-centre.html
Saint Mary’s University is pleased to announce two appointments to the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors.
Jane Roy, FCPA, FCA (BComm’84) has been appointed as a member of the Board of Governors for a term of office of three years commencing March 6, 2018.
Ms. Roy is the Founder and Chair of Catapult Leadership Society. She has held several senior financial positions with public and private corporations in the Halifax Regional Municipality and was President of Financial Executives International (Atlantic Chapter). She was Founding Chair of Autism Nova Scotia, Founding Vice-Chair of the Autism Golf Ball and Founding Chair of the Medavie War Canoe Challenge. She was named Nova Scotia’s CA of the Year for 2009.
In 2013, Saint Mary’s presented her with a 'Distinguished Alumni Award’ (for community service), and in 2015 she was named a Woman of Excellence (for Innovation). She currently also serves as a Director of the Nova Scotia Regional Tennis Development Centre.
Jamie MacNeil (BComm’00) has been reappointed as a member of the Board of Governors for a term of office of three years commencing March 6, 2018.
Mr. MacNeil is the Country Manager with Big Moon Power. He began his career in the Premier’s Office in the Province of Nova Scotia and has worked on Parliament Hill with the Canadian Senate. After a return to the Premier’s Office, Mr. MacNeil, worked as a Senior Government Relations Advisor for Nova Scotia Power, before running his own management consulting firm.
A former m5 Public Affairs Vice President, Mr. MacNeil has a wealth of experience in public affairs, government and management consulting, working with clients from a wide variety of sectors across Canada and the world.
Saint Mary's "Bridge to NS" top prize winning team with Internal Services Minister Patricia Arab.
For the second year in a row, a group of Saint Mary’s University students have won the top prize at Nova Scotia’s Provincial Open Data Challenge.
Congratulations to MSc in Computing & Data Analytics (MScCDA) students Daniel Arantes, Rodolfo Garcia, Mohannad Hameed, Jennifer LaPlante and Duane Malone. The team’s winning innovation was using the available immigration and population data to build an app helping immigrants to Nova Scotia find communities and networks based on their interests.
Seventeen teams spent the weekend building apps, models and other innovations as part of the province's second annual open data contest at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Internal Services Minister Patricia Arab congratulated the teams for using data from Nova Scotia's open data portal to create opportunities or tackle problems in new and interesting ways.
"Data in the hands of curious and creative people spurs innovation - and that benefits everyone," said Ms. Arab. "The teams went above and beyond when we asked them to show us what was possible. I am impressed by the products and solutions created using open data."
For more information on the competition and the Nova Scotia Government's Open Data Portal, click here.
Dr. Kevin Vessey
Dr. Kevin Vessey is among the latest appointments to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the nation’s focal point for discovery and innovation in natural sciences and engineering.
The appointment was announced recently by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.
Dr. Vessey joins 18 distinguished Canadian’s on NSERC’s governing council. NSERC is a federal research agency that plays an important role in Canada’s research and scientific landscape. It invests over $1.2 billion a year in natural sciences and engineering research in Canada
“It is an honour to have been appointed to NSERC,” said Dr. Vessey. “I look forward to working with President Mario Pinto and the other Council Members to help oversee the extremely important work of NSERC in its mandate to support research and innovation across Canada.”
While on Council, Dr. Vessey plans to stress the importance of supporting excellent research at universities of all sizes across Canada, and to promote their vital role in innovation and development in their communities.
Dr. Kevin Vessey has extensive experience effectively administering research activities. During his twelve-year tenure as Associate Vice President Research and Dean of Graduate Studies at Saint Mary’s University, externally sponsored research at the university doubled from approximately $4 million to $8 million annually.
“Dr. Vessey has established a strong national reputation as a leader in research and research administration,” said Dr. Malcolm Butler, Vice President, Academic and Research, at Saint Mary’s University. “His skills in this area will be a strong addition to the NSERC Council, and the Saint Mary’s community is very proud of him and this appointment.”
Dr. Vessey has served on boards, advisory committees, and grant selection committees for numerous national and international research organizations, including NSERC, the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, the Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust, the Offshore Energy Research Association, and TRIUMF.
An award-winning biologist, Dr. Vessey maintains an active research program in applied plant biology. He is a professor with the Department of Biology, in the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s University.
Pictured here are (l-r): event organizer Kaitlyn Touesnard; Dr. Patricia Bradshaw, Dean, Sobey School of Business; Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax; Michael Sanderson and Sarah Meany, both of the Sobey School Business Development Centre.
Andy Filllmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, helped welcome more than 180 budding business owners to the Starting Point Entrepreneurship Conference running at Saint Mary’s from Feb 20-22. Student entrepreneurs have come from across Canada to develop their business ideas, learn from experts and vie for business funding.
The conference brings student entrepreneurs from post-secondary institutions and high schools from across the country together to work with entrepreneurs, CEOs and start-up experts. The students have the chance to work directly with the entrepreneurs to help bring their business ideas to fruition or grow an existing business. At the end of the conference, students have a chance to win cash investments for their businesses.
“Young entrepreneurs play a crucial role in growing the Canadian economy and, as such, help ensure our country’s long-term prosperity,” said Andy Fillmore, MP for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “Giving this latest generation of innovators the tools they need to succeed is critical to building a strong and vibrant future for all Canadians. The Government of Canada remains committed to supporting business start-ups and creating jobs for the middle class and those looking to join it.”
This conference wouldn’t be possible without the support of the local business community, key partnerships and financial support. This includes an investment of more than $150,000 over two years from the Government of Canada through ACOA’s Business Development Program.
The conference is organized by the Saint Mary’s University Sobey School Business Development Centre (SSBDC). Over the past five years, SSBDC programs have provided opportunities to more than 4,500 students, allowing them to be engaged in curricular and extra-curricular activities.
To learn more about the Starting Point Conference visit www.startingpointconference.com.
Saint Mary's President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray (front-left), SMUSA President Ossama Nasrallah (second-centre),with the Saint Mary's University Conflict Resolution Society, and their Senior Program Coordinators
A record-setting team of 28 Saint Mary’s University students representing a cross-section of undergraduate and graduate students within the faculties of Arts, Science and Commerce are departing today for Northern Ireland to facilitate peace education workshops.
These students will begin working with elementary school children throughout Belfast, Northern Ireland, once they arrive.
This long-standing and unique experiential program is a remarkable collaborative effort, coordinated through Saint Mary’s University, Peaceful Schools International and the student-led Conflict Resolution Society.
Learn more about Saint Mary's role in conflict resolution in Northern Ireland: A conversation with Bridget Brownlow, President of Peaceful Schools International.
