wbexpat

Hi everybody

I have my first recce trip coming up (Nova Scotia).
Halifax, Hants, Kings, Colchester, Cumberland, maybe Pictou.
I will be renting a motor from the airport so I will be able to pick and choose.

I have a few meetings lined up but still loads of time for other bits and bobs.
I would appreciate it if any NS-dwellers could advise me of places to go, things to do - or places and things to avoid.

The aim is to develop a bit of a network of folks in the biotech/technology/IT world with a view to future job hunting. So anyone in these areas or in these sectors with hints, tip (vacancies?!) please leave a message. Anyone know any decent technology parks or hotspots? Hopefully I can meet a few people and develop more contacts from the UK so next time I visit things will be a bit further along.

I have done my own research into these things but Im having to go by a lot of "marketing" on the websites and some first-hand insider knowledge would be really useful. I only have a week so cant really afford to bugger about.

In return I will post what I find out.

Many thanks in advance, folks.

wcx

hfxns

I guess a lot will depend on your expertise and the skillsets you can bring to the table. As I understand, Halifax IT companies have more of development/support/research work being carried out, however you will find some opportunities in management too. Here is a list of companies (the names I know of here).

Consultancy/project mgmt/dev/business analysis: Aliant, xwave
Consultancy/dev: CGI, Keane
Software dev/support/QA: Quest Software
Mgmt/SA/wireless tech support: Research in Motion (RIM)
Research/VoIP: AOL (http://www.infointeractive.com/)
Biometrics software dev: Diaphonics (http://www.diaphonics.com/)
Dev/Biometrics/SA: Unisys
Telecom/NOC: Eastlink

There is PwC as well for consultancy stuff. There is a good gaming dev company in Lunenburg - HB Studios Multimedia (http://www.hb-studios.com).

You may find this Nova Scotia BUsiness Review and Forecast (Technology) report published in The Chronicle Herald, earlier this year, useful: http://thechronicleherald.ca/pdfs/Bu...w_Jan23-07.pdf

Reports on other sectors too:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business

And, yeah, this one too, for a broad overview
http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/en...echnology.aspx

For searching jobs in Maritimes, make sure to check this site:
http://www.careerbeacon.com/

Hope this helps. Good luck in your search for a job here!

wbexpat

Many thanks for that.
The biometrics company in particular was unexpected and potentially useful! I wrote a patent in that area!

A few of these are familiar from my own research - its sort of validating to see the same resources popping up from someone who's actually already on the spot.

Nobody yet has warned me about no-go areas or rip-off companies (except the usual horror stories about realtors - thats another story) so I am hopeful this trip will be fruitful.

Later

Paul Wildy

To be honest you probably wont find much outside of Halifax if you are in the biotech/technology sector. As lovely as the other places are you mention its a much more low-tech rural way of life in these areas.

For networking your best bet would be to try and attend a couple of networking events in Halifax during your trip. As it happens there looks to be something on during that week - "BioPort" an event for people in life sciences industry, 26th September. Its organised by BioNova which looks to be an industry association for Nova Scotia Bio sciences. See http://bionova.ns.ca/index.cfm?fusea...str_cmpID=7347. I would say may of your potential future employers would be there so it would be a great place to meet people.

wbexpat

Yep thats a good tip ns.
I saw bioport.
The $575 entrance fee is kinda making me think twice for a 1-day event so i might have to get creative.
thanks.

Paul Wildy

Wow, I didn't realise there was a fee. Maybe contact BioNova and tell them you would be visiting in a personal capacity as you are in the area that week (really the fee is aimed at corporate attendees who arent paying out of their own wallets) - I'll bet you any money they would send you a complementary ticket if you explained. Failing that, one of the partners (like Greater Halifax Partnership) might sub you a ticket as they are really keen to promote immigration. Serriously - give it a try.