Articles By Dawn Chafe
Marketing, deductions & taxes – oh my!
Sorry for being such a delinquent blogger. Between Christmas, magazine deadlines, a house to look after and the not-insignificant fact that I’m now working the equivalent of two full-time jobs, I honestly haven’t had the time. To recap on my previous entry: my husband and I have taken on the challenge of starting up a home-based business that we’re operating …Continue Reading
Canada’s Irish tiger
Loyola Hearn talks hockey, direct flights and his plans for dealing with seal hunt protestors — assuming they ever show up It was a mildly disappointing day for Canada’s 28th Ambassador to Ireland. March 15 is known as “seal hunt protest day” throughout the European Union and Loyola Hearn’s staff had advised him it might be a good day to …Continue Reading
Moving up the food chain
Back in the day, a much younger version of me spent many a Saturday morning watching what was probably the best branded program in television history: Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Every week, I’d tag along with Marlin Perkins and first-name-only “Jim” as they encountered animals in their natural habitat. Come to think of it, Jim did most of the …Continue Reading
Headed for splitsville?
The de-amalgamation of Halifax Regional Municipality has been a recurring theme since the day of its reluctant formation in 1996. If certain prominent residents have their way, it’s going to be one of the central issues in next year’s municipal election. Logistically speaking, it’s hard to comprehend why the provincial government of the day forced HRM’s 5,850 square km. of …Continue Reading
Adventures in small business ownership
My husband and I are giving business ownership a try. No, we’re not giving up our day jobs — this initiative is “in addition to,” not “in place of.” And no, I’m not going to tell you what the business is or what we’ll be doing (other than to say it’s home-based and involves a partnership with a larger organization). …Continue Reading
What does government do for you?
I’m a former municipal councillor. My husband is one now. Predictably, the services provided by local government is a frequent topic of discussion with friends and neighbours (i.e. what am I getting for my $2,000/year in municipal taxes anyway? Town water/sewer? Garbage collection? Inadequate street repairs?). Speaking from experience, I know there’s a lot more to it than that. But how …Continue Reading
Off with their heads
July 25, 2011, was the worst kind of Monday for the people headed to work at 50 Innovation Drive in Bedford, Nova Scotia. One of them, tuning into CBC Radio as he always did, was stunned to hear that his employer, BlackBerry creator Research In Motion, was laying off 11 per cent of its global workforce. He continued along his …Continue Reading
Fighting to be retained
I’ve done a fair amount of reading around marketing issues and one of the most basic, common sense lessons is that it costs less to keep current customers than it does to recruit new customers. With potential new clients, you have to attract their attention, deliver your message and convince them to “move” (i.e. buy your product). Current clients, meanwhile, already …Continue Reading
Countdown to first gas
Deep Panuke closesin on production mode By the time this article is published, the Deep Panuke Production Field Centre should have completed its two-month transatlantic crossing from the Middle East and arrived at the Mulgrave Marine Terminal in the Strait of Canso. Which means the PFC could be in place — 250 kilometres southeast of Halifax — and producing first …Continue Reading
PORTability
Marine highways still most cost-effective The federal government’s 1995 National Marine Policy was intended to divest Transport Canada of responsibility for the nation’s ports. Why? So that ports throughout the country would be less dependent on taxpayers for revenue. Port users, not voters, were supposed to foot the bill. According to a December 2010 report by Gardner Pinfold titled Economic …Continue Reading
