Atlantic NewsMakers

Perks on Halifax waterfront still closed: As of yesterday, The Chronicle Herald reported that an alleged rent-related dispute between the owner of Perks Coffee Ltd. and its Halifax waterfront landlord has yet to be resolved. For more information, read the story at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1150035.html

Department of Natural Resources receives prestigious award: Today, ESRI Canada presented an Award of Excellence to the Mineral Resources Branch of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources for leveraging geographic information system (GIS) technology to develop and provide public access to a broad array of GIS resources to promote efficient use of mineral and natural resource data. The award was presented at the 2009 ESRI Regional User Conference in Halifax. “The Mineral Resources Branch is a model of success,” said James Wickson, vice- president of sales and professional services, ESRI Canada. “It has developed numerous groundbreaking GIS applications, data and policies, which serve as leading examples for other organizations.”

Proposed development raising concerns: The Chronicle Herald is reporting that the height of a proposed 11-storey, mixed-use commercial and residential building for north-end Halifax has people worried about the effects it may have on the neighbourhood. For more information, read the story at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1150101.html

enRoute recognizes PEI restaurant: Darnley’s Ship to Shore Restaurant and Lounge in P.E.I. has been named one of the top 10 new restaurants in Canada by enRoute magazine. Ranked seventh on the list, the restaurant was the only destination in Atlantic Canada to make the list.

Woman-owned business receives designation: Corona College in Grand Falls-Windsor is the first business in Newfoundland and Labrador to be certified as woman-owned by a new non-profit organization. WEConnect Canada certifies firms that are at least 51 per cent owned, managed and controlled by women. Bernice Walker, CEO of Corona College, recently received the designation on behalf of her business at a WEConnect conference in Toronto called Opening Doors for Women Business Owners. Certified businesses are included in a database that corporations can use if they’re looking to diversify who they do business with. WEConnect worked with the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE) on the certification process. — By The Telegram

Oil industry should be safer: CBC News is reporting that a representative of offshore oil workers at the helicopter safety inquiry in Newfoundland says there must be more emphasis on safety measures in the industry. For more information, read the story at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/10/28/nl-earle-inquiry-2810.html#at