Cape Breton Island, NS – Leaders in the Occupational Health & Safety industry were recognized today at the 10th annual Safety First in Cape Breton Awards, held at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre as part of the 2023 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium.
The awards recognize individuals, businesses, and committees who support building a strong culture of occupational health and safety in workplaces across Unama’ki – Cape Breton, and who make a difference in enhancing safety in their workplaces each and every day.
On behalf of the Cape Breton Partnership and event partners at the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, WCB Nova Scotia, EverWind Fuels, and award sponsor Protocase, the following safety award recipients were honoured and recognized for the following awards:
- Engagement Ally Award: Keith Armsworthy, CBRM Healthcare Redevelopment Health and Safety Coordinator, Build Nova Scotia
- Young Advocate Award: Amy Czuczman, Chemical and Environmental Supervisor, Nova Scotia Power
- Outstanding Health & Safety Committee Award: Marine Atlantic – North Sydney Terminal OH&S Committee
This year’s symposium welcomed more than 220 delegates to Membertou Trade & Convention Centre for the 10th annual Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium on May 24, 2023. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from industry leaders, visit a trade show, participate in interactive breakout sessions, and enjoyed an engaging panel discussion highlighting women in the trades.
The Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium is the only event of its kind in Unama’ki – Cape Breton and is committed to making the Island the safest place to work and do business by prioritizing physical, psychosocial, and mental health of the workforce in our region. For more information on the Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium and Awards, please visit www.safetyfirstcapebreton.com.
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Media Contact:
Carly Appleton
Cape Breton Partnership
902-227-7976
carly@capebretonpartnership.com
About the Cape Breton Partnership
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live, work, and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. Learn more at https://capebretonpartnership.com/.
About the Safety First Cape Breton Network
The Safety First Network demonstrates Leadership by providing safe work environments for employees, distributing online newsletters to share with industry about safety related topics, highlight the work of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, and WCB Nova Scotia, while showcasing the safety champions in the Unama’ki – Cape Breton region.
Cape Breton Island, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership and Municipality of the County of Richmond will be hosting the 2023 Unama’ki – Cape Breton Business Dinner, presented by Bear Head Energy, on June 22, 2023, at La Picasse Cultural Centre in Petit-De-Grat, Richmond County. The Business Dinner will be headlined with a keynote speech from Doug Griffiths, nationally renowned community strategist and author of 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.
Along with the Keynote Speech from Griffiths, the Unama’ki – Cape Breton Business Dinner will also include a networking reception presented by Rodney Thibeau of 3C Wealth Partners, full dinner, and an update from the Cape Breton Partnership. The update will feature an introduction to Martin Thomsen, the Economic Development and Innovation Officer for Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury who took on the position in early 2023 with the Partnership’s Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network.
“We are proud to be working with Richmond County and Bear Head Energy to bring this opportunity to network, learn, and share a meal to Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s business community,” says Cape Breton Partnership President & CEO Tyler Mattheis. “Doug Griffiths’ message is one that helps us all take a look at the building blocks that make or break a community; ideas to build on and pitfalls to avoid. Whether you’re a local business owner, community leader, dedicated volunteer, or are just passionate about your community, this is the perfect event for you.”
Having served the Province of Alberta as an MLA for four consecutive terms from 2002-2015, holding past portfolios as Minister for the Department of Municipal Affairs and for Service Alberta, Doug Griffiths authored the best-selling 13 Ways to Kill Your Community in 2010 as a witty, fun, and informative practical approach to community building. Griffiths went on to found 13 Ways Inc. which facilitates success in building communities people want to live in and can prosper within.
Warden Amanda Mombourquette noted about Mr. Griffiths, “I’ve been working in the field of economic development for over 20 years, and have been fortunate to hear many inspirational speakers along the way. In my experience, Doug Griffiths delivers one of the most compelling and clear messages that I have heard yet – one that we can all relate to, and one that compels us to take action. If you have an interest in the long-term prosperity of our communities, this is an event you will not want to miss!”
Tickets for the Unama’ki – Cape Breton Business Dinner are now available for $35 + HST and can be purchased at: https://cb-business-dinner-june2023.eventbrite.ca. Tickets are limited to spacing, and early registration is recommended.
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Media Contact:
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
Jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com
(902) 631-5442
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live, work, and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.
Editor’s Note: The English copy will follow below. La copie anglaise suivra ci-dessous.
(Publié à l’origine dans Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse le 21 avril 2023)
Imaginez-vous… Nous sommes à la mi-avril et Apollo 13 est lancé dans le but du retour sur la lune. La mission n’est pas une réussite et les astronautes doivent revenir sur Terre. Personne ne célèbre cette mission ratée, mais 5 jours plus tard, 20 millions de personnes se réunissent autour de la Terre pour célébrer la Terre !
En effet, le 22 avril 1970 a été la première fois que la Journée de la Terre a été célébrée. Selon le National Geographic (2022), c’est un diplômé de l’Université Harvard, Denis Hayes et le Sénateur du Wisconsin, Sénateur Gaylord Nelson, qui ont organisé la première Journée de la Terre.
Pourquoi la date du 22 avril ? Effectivement, il s’agissait d’une date après l’année universitaire (après les examens), mais avant des fêtes majeures comme le congé de printemps aux États-Unis (Spring Break) et Pâques, par exemple. De plus, il s’agit d’une date au printemps qui faisait en sorte que la météo serait fort probablement idéale pour des activités en plein air. Depuis ce temps, près de 190 pays appuient et célèbrent la Journée de la Terre toutes les années.
Lors de la première édition de la Journée de la Terre aux États-Unis, il y a eu 20 millions de participants, en grande partie des étudiants universitaires. 20 ans plus tard, les célébrations de la Journée de la Terre organisées par Hayes ont réuni plus de 200 millions de participants à travers plus de 140 pays – toute une célébration !
Aujourd’hui, plusieurs organismes participent aux célébrations de la Journée de la Terre. Il y a un organisme international, EARTHDAY.ORG, qui en est un exemple. Cet organisme regroupe plus de 190 pays participants. Au niveau national, il existe aussi l’organisme Earth Day Canada, ou Jour de la Terre Canada. Ainsi, pour ces organismes, les efforts et célébrations en lien avec la Journée de la Terre ont lieu le 22 avril annuellement, mais aussi à tous les jours de l’année.
Mais, pourquoi célébrer une Journée de la Terre ? À la base, l’objectif de cette journée était d’éduquer et sensibiliser les gens sur les enjeux et réalités qui touchent notre planète et la protection de l’environnement. Avec le temps, les thèmes de cette journée portent sur des sujets variés, mais tous reliés à la Terre. On aborde notamment les défis qui touchent notre environnement, le changement climatique et les énergies renouvelables.
Pour la plupart des organismes qui organisent des célébrations de la Journée de la Terre, un accent est mis sur l’éducation et un désir de mieux comprendre les défis qui existent en lien avec le changement climatique et l’environnement. Pour plusieurs organismes, peu importe qui nous sommes, tous les individus de la Terre ont droit à une planète plus juste, équitable et durable. Cela nous ramène à l’importance du développement durable.
En Nouvelle-Écosse, plusieurs entreprises choisissent d’utiliser cette Journée pour faire des gestes ou actions concrètes en faveur de l’environnement. Que ce soit faire une marche en plein air, ramasser des déchets sur nos plages ou dans nos rues, avoir des systèmes de tri (déchets vs recyclage) et plus encore. Pour une entreprise qui s’intéresse au développement durable et aux causes environnementales, c’est une excellente occasion de participer activement et sincèrement à l’un des piliers de base du développement durable : l’environnement. Encourager ses employés à participer à la Journée de la Terre est aussi une excellente façon de s’engager activement dans cette cause.
Le 22 avril arrive et se termine aussi rapidement, mais rappelons-nous que nous pouvons célébrer la Journée de la Terre le 22 avril et tous les jours de l’année également ! Si vous êtes un.e entrepreneur.e ou OBNL francophone ou acadien.ne de la Nouvelle-Écosse ou bien si vous êtes une entreprise (francophone ou pas) qui sert les communautés acadiennes/francophones et que vous êtes intéressé à avoir plus d’informations ou parler du développement durable pour votre organisation, n’hésitez pas à me rejoindre, conseillère en développement durable avec le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ), à rcooper@cdene.ns.ca ou au (902) 769-0960. Il nous fera plaisir de vous servir dans la langue officielle (Français ou Anglais) de votre choix.
Why celebrate Earth Day?
(Originally published in Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-Écosse on April 21st 2023)
Imagine this… It’s mid-April and Apollo 13 is being launched with the goal of returning to the Moon. The mission is unsuccessful and the astronauts must return to Earth. No one is celebrating this failed mission, but 5 days later, 20 million people around the world gather to celebrate Earth!
Indeed, on April 22nd, 1970 Earth Day was celebrated for the very first time. According to National Geographic (2022), Harvard University graduate Denis Hayes and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the first Earth Day.
At the first edition of Earth Day in the United States, there were 20 million participants, mostly university students. 20 years later, Hayes’ Earth Day celebrations have brought together more than 200 million participants across more than 140 countries – that’s quite a celebration!
Today, several organizations worldwide are participating in Earth Day celebrations. There is an international body, EARTHDAY.ORG, which is an example of this. This organization brings together more than 190 participating countries. At the national level, there is also Earth Day Canada, or Jour de la Terre Canada. For these organizations, Earth Day efforts and celebrations take place on April 22 annually, but also every day of the year.
But why celebrate Earth Day? To put it simply, the objective of this day was to educate and raise awareness about the issues and realities affecting our planet and the protection of the environment. Over time, the themes of this day have covered various topics, but all are related to the Earth. These include challenges to our environment, climate change and renewable energy, to name a few.
For most organizations celebrating Earth Day, there is a focus on education and a desire to better understand the challenges that exist in relation to climate change and the environment. For others, no matter who we are, all people on Earth have the right to a more just, equitable and sustainable planet. This brings us back to the importance of sustainable development.
In Nova Scotia, many businesses choose to use this day to make concrete gestures or actions in favor of the environment. Whether it’s taking a walk outdoors, picking up garbage on our beaches or streets, having waste sorting systems and more. For a business interested in sustainable development and environmental causes, this is an excellent opportunity to actively and sincerely participate in at least one of the basic pillars of sustainable development: the environment. Encouraging employees to participate in Earth Day is also a great way to get actively involved in this cause.
April 22nd will come and go just as quickly, but let’s remember that we can celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd as well as every day of the year! If you are a Francophone or Acadian entrepreneur or non-profit in Nova Scotia or if you are a business operating and serving in a Francophone or Acadian community, and you are interested in knowing more or talking about sustainable development for your business or organization, do not hesitate to contact me, Réanne Cooper – Sustainable Development Advisor with the Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ), at rcooper@cdene.ns.ca or at (902)769-0960. We will be very happy to assist you in either official language (French or English) of your choice.
Elevate is Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s business-focused publication brought to you by the Cape Breton Partnership. To evolve with our business audience, the publication has now moved from a print publication to fully online. Starting in 2022, our readers can expect to see Elevate articles appearing on both our website and on Saltwire.com.
On April 18, 2023, representatives of the Cape Breton Partnership and Build Nova Scotia attended a Community Information Update event in Louisbourg to hear feedback and discussion on the latest updates on the Louisbourg Visitor Experience Enhancement Strategy. The below document was circulated as well to share updates on the project’s current status. Click either page below to download the full document.
For more information, contact Denis Thibeault, CBRM Economic Development Officer, at denis@capebretonpartnership.com, or visit buildns.ca/projects/louisbourg/ for more updates.
(Cape Breton Island, NS) – Nominations are now open for the 2023 Safety First in Cape Breton Awards, celebrating individuals and businesses who are committed to the advancement of workplace health and safety across Unama’ki – Cape Breton.
The awards are an initiative of the Safety First in Cape Breton Network, which is administered by the Cape Breton Partnership in collaboration with WCB Nova Scotia and the Department of Labour, Skills & Immigration (LSI) and generously manufactured and sponsored by Protocase. The award categories include recognitions for Young Advocate, Engagement Ally, Outstanding Health & Safety Committee, Small Business Trailblazer, Safety Culture Champion, and Innovation Expert.
The awards will be presented on May 24, 2023, at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre as part of the 2023 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium. The Symposium will feature keynote addresses, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and an industry trade show. Details regarding registration and speakers will be shared in the weeks to come.
“The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to continue working alongside our partners to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to build a strong safety culture in the work they do and across their organizations and businesses,” said Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “As the Island’s private sector-led economic development organization, we understand the critical importance of workplace health and safety, and commend Cape Breton-based businesses and individuals who make it their number one priority each and every day.”
Past Safety First in Cape Breton Awards recipients include Port Hawkesbury Paper LP, NSCC Strait Area Campus, Seaside Wireless Communications, Victoria Fisheries Co-op, Lynk Electric, Copol International, and many other dedicated businesses and individuals working hard to make Unama’ki – Cape Breton the safest place to do business.
To nominate an individual or organization, please visit http://www.safetyfirstcapebreton.com/about-safetyfirstawards.
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Media Contact
Carly Appleton,
Communications Coordinator
Cape Breton Partnership
carly@capebretonpartnership.com
(902) 562-0122
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki’ – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.