Halifax

“Using a vast cold-water resource right on our doorstep–Halifax Harbour – the system har- vests cold energy from seawater during winter months to chill an underground rock mass and then uses the stored thermal energy to meet air conditioning needs in warmer months by using 100 percent renewable energy.We’ve also looked at adding solar as a key component,” he adds. “Not just on municipal buildings, but we have a very successful program to help home- owners put solar on their homes.We’ve got 400 properties owners who have taken us up on that.” In addition, the city has made great strides in reducing its CO2 output by incorporating LEED standards into new buildings and converting some heating systems from oil to natural gas. It has made improvements to the Dartmouth Sportsplex, the Metro Transit Facility, the LEED Gold BMO Centre, the LEED-certified Gordon R. Snow Community Centre, Cole Harbour Place, and the Centennial Pool. It is also working toward replacing some of its city vehicles with electric vehicles or ones that will use compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel. The Halifax Green Network Plan is a compre- hensive ecosystem-based plan for the sustainable use and conservation of the region’s network of green spaces and natural assets.“Regional Council has made some pretty strong commitments to regional parks and that focus has continued,” says Bjerke.“And we’ve been doing a lot of planting. Halifax has a fantastic urban forest canopy and we’re committed to maintaining it into the future.” Finally, Bjerke reports that the city is, at last, planning to demolish the Cogswell Interchange, a multi-level highway interchange in downtown Halifax that was developed in the 1970s for a highway project that was never fully realized.The Interchange occupies a vast amount of prime PREFERRED VENDORS n Barrington Consulting Group www.barringtongrp.ca Headquartered in Nova Scotia, Canada, Barrington Consulting Group’s primary focus is working with public sector organizations to help strategize, plan, and implement change through its business and information technology consulting services. The company was created in January of 2004 and has grown to over 50 professional, full-time consultants delivering exceptional services to its regional and international clients. It has offices in New Bruns- wick, Canada, and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Through its partnerships with affiliated international firms and its collaborative approach to projects, it leverages knowledge of both the local and interna- tional environments to bring continuity, international best practices and enhanced value to its clients. n Bulletproof Solutions Inc. www.bulletproofsi.com Bulletproof is a premiere technology company founded in Atlantic Canada in 2000. The organization began as an IT company that worked initially with small to medium businesses with a focus on security and networking. Over the years, Bulletproof’s offer- ings have grown to include infrastructure consulting services, learning solutions, quality assurance, and professional services. n Nova Scotia Association of Realtors www.nsrealtors.ca The Nova Scotia Association of Realtors (NSAR) represents approximately 1,500 real estate brokers and salespeople across the province. The Associa- tion’s mission is to enhance realtors’ success by pro- viding services and representation to enable them to best serve the public in real estate transactions. NSAR also acts as the voice for real estate in Nova Scotia, and through an agreement with the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission, provides all real estate licensing courses in the province. HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA land, poses a barrier to pedestrian movement, is functionally obsolete, is increasingly expensive to maintain, and separates downtown from the city’s North End and the waterfront from the uphill areas. “We’re liberating this amazing piece of infrastruc- ture to make it part of the downtown,make it more walkable, and open up more prime development land to see the downtown connect more with the residential neighborhoods around it and, at the same time, get some more park space and better transit connections,”he states. As one of Halifax’major fans, Ron Hanlon has the last word: “Halifax is an exciting, interesting, vibrant place and we believe that we’re the best deal in Canada.We’ve got a great city.We’re a great tourist destination and we’re a great place to do business. Come have a look.”