The Canadian government has announced measures to provide a lifeline to Canadian businesses and their workers to help manage the economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pace of information being released, and sometimes lack of details, it’s easy to lose track of how you’ll be able to use both the new or existing programs. Join members of the Grant Thornton team, JP Furey and Keith MacIntyre, to gain an understanding of the programs so you can make an informed decision on which will best benefit you and your employees.  This is the first session in the series: Session one – A comprehensive review of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy with examples and Q&A Session two – An overview of popular programs including Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Temporary Wage Subsidy, HST Tax and other deferrals, Canada Emergency Response Benefit, Supplemental Unemployment Benefit and Work sharing program. Bios JP Furey, Principal, Assurance Services As a principal for the Grant Thornton Audit and Assurance practice in Halifax, JP is responsible for providing guidance and advice to help clients overcome their business challenges, seize new opportunities and elevate their overall businesses. Specific services include accounting, assurance, tax and business advisory. With a breadth of […]

Regardless of the size and scope of your business, these are challenging times for Canadian companies. In response, the Government of Canada has established the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) to help Canadian businesses obtain financing during the current period of significant uncertainty. The BCAP is being administered through Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), who are working closely with private sector lenders to improve access to financing for Canadian businesses in all sectors and regions. A panel of experts from EDC and BDC will provide guidelines on how you can access the financial relief and safeguards available during a special webinar, COVID‑19: Get financing and support for your business (presented in English only). Registrants will learn about: •   The assistance programs and resources available to your company through your financial institution and the federal government •   How to determine what assistance you qualify for, how to apply, and the timing you can expect •   Where to get information and who to contact Date: April 16, 2020 Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (ET) Cost: Free If you cannot attend the live session, register anyways to receive an email notification and link to view the webinar recording when it becomes available. Stay informed and learn how to mitigate the impacts of COVID‑19. Register now. Subscribe to receive […]

Description The Port of Halifax is a regional economic engine, generating 15,000 jobs and contributing over $1.97 billion in economic impact. While data and collaboration are required for everything from day-to-day operations and long-term planning, data within industry partners has remained siloed and lacking in globally adopted standards, hurting productivity and stunting innovation. That said, the shipping world is going through a period of digital transformation. Join us to hear from Andrew Black, Director Strategic Technology at the Port of Halifax. Andrew will speak to port’s commitment to data transparency through the Port Operations Centre. He will also speak to the digital transformation of the port community, the challenges of working with a wide range of partners, and how the port prepared for a world where blockchain, IoT and AI are increasingly common. *DeepSense Discovery Sessions provide students from any academic institution with an interest in data science and the ocean sector to learn more about the ocean economy, ocean data, participate in challenges presented by ocean-related companies, and explore the potential of a career in ocean data. Students (and non-students) are welcome to attend any and all DeepSense sessions. DeepSense Discovery Sessions are held Mondays at 2pm AST. Register

Details SAVE THE DATE! We’re hosting our first Virtual Halifax ReactJS Meetup on April 21, 2020. If you’re passionate about ReactJS, use it in your everyday work, or want to learn more about it then these events are for you. More details to follow but be sure to mark your calendars. If you’re interested in presenting, send us a message! We're looking forward to connecting with you all! Register

It's 2020 and everyone is telling you that you need to be on social media. But sometimes it can be overwhelming to even open the platform(s). Does that sound familiar? Social media is the new way of networking, building relationships and promoting your brand. Yet many small business owners and entrepreneurs are too scared to join the conversation – and are really missing out! This fast-paced online world can be daunting, but with the right tools and tips, anyone can become a social media pro! In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to find the right people to follow and how to have conversations with them without feeling like you're being creepy. About the presenter: Kerra AuCoin Mansfield is the brains and the face behind KA Social Media Consulting and the blog Eat, Drink & Be You. Social media comes naturally to Kerra; with a background in marketing and human resources management, she understands how authentic digital engagement benefits both customers and companies alike. Social media might come naturally to some, but it doesn’t come easily to everyone. It takes work. This is where Kerra comes in to connect small business owners and entrepreneurs with their ideal clients in real life, […]

Description Ocean observation is important to understand how our oceans are changing and predicting how our coasts and fisheries are affected by those changes. Increasing the availability and sharing of ocean science and data ensures Canadians can safely navigate through our coastal waters, maintain our coastal economy, and build resilient coastal infrastructure. The The Government of Canada has invested in the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) to improve coordination and collaboration among the national and international ocean research community. CIOOS will promote the sharing of data and expertise to support a wide variety of research efforts to better understand, monitor and manage activities in Canada’s oceans. Join this webinar to learn about CIOOS and the Importance of Open Data, plus FAIR principles and the importance of data sharing CIOOS and its place into this open data landscape Why CIOOS was created and how it works (website tour) The future vision for data platforms and data repositories *DeepSense Discovery Sessions provide students from any academic institution with an interest in data science and the ocean sector to learn more about the ocean economy, ocean data, participate in challenges presented by ocean-related companies, and explore the potential of a career in […]

The three orders of government have moved quickly to develop programs to assist business through this public health crisis. This webinar is an opportunity for members of Nova Scotia’s Business Improvement Districts (NSBIDS) to hear directly from government officials and ask questions or share concerns regarding business programs and recovery plans. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, downtown and mainstreet businesses were the first and often the hardest hit. We have heard stories of despair and concern, but also of hope and innovation. In our collective efforts to continue to advocate on behalf of our business districts and work in partnership with our government, we hope you are able to join this webinar. Format: • Introduction by NSBIDS • Brief presentation on the programs that are available through their government by government representatives • Facilitated Q & A with businesses and government representatives via pre-submitted emailed questions and through a live moderated Zoom Q & A function Federal Participants: • Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants • Andy Fillmore, Federal Parliamentary Secretary of Infrastructure • Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth • Sean Fraser, Federal Parliamentary Secretary of Finance • Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville Provincial Participant: • […]

Don't miss our next (free!) webinar  APEC continues to monitor and analyze the economic impacts of COVID-19 on Atlantic Canada. In our upcoming webinar, APEC's President & CEO, David Chaundy, will share APEC's latest insights and assessment. This session will build upon our March 18 webinar on the potential economic impacts of COVID-19. Topics will include: Tracking new cases and the implications for the duration of The Great Shutdown Overall economic impacts Industry impacts Fiscal impacts Policy considerations We encourage you to share details of this webinar with your colleagues and broader network.  Given the widespread concern and interest in the economic effects of COVID-19, this webinar is being made available for free for APEC members and non-members. However, advance registration is required. Note - this session will include time for Q&A.  Register

Description Research has found that one of the main hindrances of effective AI deployment within the industry, is the inability to demonstrate clear, effective data-strategies with specific results in mind. This course will allow you the unique opportunity to apply effective design thinking methodologies to applied AI and machine learning across a range of industries, to affect positive change within your organization and re-think the way data is being used. Overview This highly interactive and hands-on workshop offers a deep dive into AI, machine learning, and other emerging technologies targeted at leaders responsible for creating disruptive new digital products & services. The program is intended for those with or without a strong background in machine learning, AI, and related technologies - no technical expertise is assumed. Participants can expect to walk away with a comprehensive understanding of how AI and machine learning work as core technologies and a wide range of applications, including; recommendation engines, personalization, predictive analytics, conversational/voice interfaces, and process automation. An overview of ethical or responsible AI frameworks will wrap up the day, to ensure that participants are equipped with the skills to think about how data bias, training scenarios, and other factors can impact outcomes. Beyond […]

Description There is a lot of buzz about big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI). Join us to learn about how DeepSense supports collaborative projects between businesses in the ocean economy and researchers to drive growth in the ocean supply chain through the exploration and use of AI, machine learning and data visualizations. Who should attend and why: - Companies: Find out how DeepSense can support your company to explore or refine AI and machine learning to improve operations or create a new product/service - Students: Learn about projects opportunities to help you grow your skills with data and explore a future in the ocean sector -Academics: Hear how DeepSense can support your projects or help support your industry projects *DeepSense Discovery Sessions provide students from any academic institution with an interest in data science and the ocean sector to learn more about the ocean economy, ocean data, participate in challenges presented by ocean-related companies, and explore the potential of a career in ocean data. Students (and non-students) are welcome to attend any and all DeepSense sessions. DeepSense Discovery Sessions are held Mondays at 2pm ADT. Register