Brandon Bird, CEO of Bird Mechanical, joins us for the very first episode of Season 3! Brandon discusses his company's expansion to Nova Scotia, highlighting their $74 million project in Sydney. Brandon shares his challenges in establishing his company in Nova Scotia, including the non-resident deed transfer tax he faced. He emphasizes the beauty and business potential of Nova Scotia, expressing his desire to move there full-time.

Brandon is the Chief Executive Officer of Bird Mechanical. He is the third generation to enter into the family business. Following in the previous generations’ footsteps, Brandon started his apprenticeship with the company and completed his Red Seal Plumbing Licence. As the pillar of the company, Brandon is responsible for the business's strategic direction and creative vision. He leads and motivates his team, or “The Flock” as he calls it, working closely with the Executive Team.

Alec and James Collins kick off this season with a goodbye to Reddit RoundUp and they introduce a new segment!

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Connect with Brandon Bird on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-bird-a9243646/

Your hosts James Collins and Alec Cranston are back with Season 3 of Matter of Fax!

Lots of more fun guests, lots of more fun segments, and lots of more good times.

Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality. Former MP. Chair of FCM Big City Mayors Caucus, Mike Savage, joins James and Alec on this episode of Matter of Fax to share his experiences and opinions on various aspects of Halifax, including food scams, transit issues, and municipal government. The three discuss the qualities of good leadership and the energy and passion required. They also share their thoughts on the city's prioritization of pedestrians, bicycles, and cars.

Mike Savage was elected Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality for a third term on October 17, 2020. As Mayor he has followed a mandate to grow the economy, foster greater social and economic inclusion for all, and promote a healthy, sustainable environment.

Prior to his election as Mayor, Mike Savage served three terms as Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, during which time he played a national role as Official Opposition Critic for Human Resources, Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities and chaired the Liberal Party Post-Secondary and Research Caucus.

Prior to entering politics, Savage was a business leader in Halifax and was involved in numerous community organizations focused on health, the arts, education and humanitarian work.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/s/btAf0ArhMh

Connect with Mike Savage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-savage-b79971288/

It is tourist season in Halifax! During these warmer months, Halifax is bustling with lots to offer. Join Alec Cranston and James Collins for this episode of Matter of Fax, as they dive into a discussion with guests Dennis Campbell and Brian Cooper of Ambassador Tours, about Halifax tourism. The four have an in-depth discussion about the opportunities for improving the city's traffic challenges and transportation solutions to keep the city a desired destination. They also highlight Halifax's natural beauty and cultural heritage as the keys to boosting tourism, alongside Coop's inspiring community service efforts.

Dennis Campbell is the CEO and Founder of Ambassatours Gray Line the largest motorcoach, water and rail sightseeing tour and charter operator in Atlantic Canada with offices in Saint John NB, Charlottetown PEI, Sydney NS and head office in Halifax NS. Ambassatours has merged with Murphy's The Cable Wharf and is now growing that company in locations throughout the Maritime provinces.

Brian Cooper, aka Coop, is newly retired teacher and has dedicated post-retirement life to community service, picking up litter in downtown Halifax and earning a Nova Scotia Pineapple Award for his exceptional service to the community!

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Connect with Dennis Campbell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-campbell-0055b54/
Connect with Brian Cooper on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-cooper-47427421/

How do we make hockey culture more accessible to women and non-binary players? Amy Walsh and Cailin Ahloy join James and Alec on this episode of Matter Of 'Fax to talk about some of their inclusive work with Future of Hockey Lab. They share some of their 'aha' moments in recognizing the importance of male coach allyship, as well as their experience using Women's World Juniors to promote diversity and inclusion in hockey.

Amy Walsh is the CEO and co-founder of the Future of Hockey Lab (FHL), established in 2020 to innovate and transform hockey culture in partnership with leading organizations. Previously, as Executive Director of Hockey Nova Scotia, she led initiatives such as the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force and the Players Journey project, addressing barriers and promoting inclusivity in the sport. Amy has held leadership roles in various hockey committees, including the NHL & NHLPA Female Hockey Advisory Committee, and has a strong background in sport development and advocacy for social change through sports. She is also a former amateur multi-sport athlete and a dedicated mother and volunteer.

Cailin Ahloy began her career in the world of large-scale international multi-sport events focused on leaving a legacy of benefits for society. Driven by her desire to play a larger role in driving positive change she made her way to MaRS Discovery District working out of their Solutions Lab. Here she was a part of team leading systems change and delivering tangible solutions to some of Toronto's most challenging problems. A Project Manager by trade, she currently leads the Project Management Office for eCampusOntario, a not for profit tasked with the delivery of the Virtual Learning Strategy for the Province of Ontario.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/s/btAf0ArhMh

Connect with Amy Walsh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybellawalsh/
Connect with Cailin Ahloy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cailin-ahloy/

The James Mullinger joins Alec Cranston, and James Collins to discuss comedy, including the challenges of creating and performing stand-up, and the difficulties of live comedy performances. They share their experiences and perspectives on the art of comedy, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, body language, and attitude. The three highlight the lesser-known destinations and local talents in Atlantic Canada, emphasizing the need to promote and support local comedians and appreciate our region's value.

James Mullinger is an award-winning writer, comedian, filmmaker and highly acclaimed inspirational and motivational speaker. He was one of the UK’s top comedians as well as a journalist, TV presenter and author. He spent fifteen years as a senior editor at GQ magazine writing about politics, travel, celebrity interviews and health and fitness. He has also written for The Guardian, The Sunday Times newspapers and Glamour, Conde Nast Traveller and Men’s Health magazines.

Since his arrival in New Brunswick in 2014, Mullinger has been taking Canada by storm. He has been nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Live One-Person Show and a Just For Laughs Award for Best Comedy Show. James has headlined at numerous comedy festivals and clubs across Canada, has appeared on CBC many times, produced three seasons of his own television series which documents his comedy performances while travelling around Canada, has twice sold out the Imperial Theatre in Saint John and in 2016, he welcomed over 5000 people to Saint John’s Harbour Station for a standing ovation show (beating Jerry Seinfeld’s attendance record in the process). This process was documented for a CBC documentary, City on Fire, which aired across Canada in September 2016.

In 2015 a big budget British movie has been made about his life (starring actors from Twilight, Downton Abbey and Notting Hill and headline comedians such as Jimmy Carr, Gilbert Gottfried and Mike Ward) which James co-wrote and co-produced. Released in cinemas across the UK in October 2017, it has received rave reviews. James also works closely with many charities and in the past five years has raised over half a million dollars for children in need and women affected by violence.

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https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/s/btAf0ArhMh

Connect with James Mullinger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mullinger-28319471/

James and Alec are back this episode, recording live from the Atlantic Real Estate Forum 2024, at the Halifax Convention Centre! The two make an important announcement for Cushman and Wakefield Halifax, and sit down with a few exciting guests they caught at the conference; including Doug Doucet, Ben Young, and Heather Ferguson.

Doug Doucet, President and Founder at Doucet Developments chats about the expansion and development of Commercial Real estate in Halifax. He speaks to his experience of researching and building an Irish pub in Cape Breton, and talks about his love for retail and desire to create a unique, authentic space.

Ben Young President & CEO at Southwest Properties, brings his enthusiasm for Halifax as a city, and describes the changes he's seen over the years. Ben expresses his optimism for a more efficient city once development and government work in collaboration to strengthen Halifax as a city, for its growing population.

Heather Ferguson is the Executive Director at BOMA, NBPEI. Heather talks about the networking and support opportunities available with BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association), for building owners/managers seeking best practices around navigating a post pandemic industry. Heather expresses her appreciation for the many local developers in Atlantic Canada and is hopeful for the Building and Land Development industry.

James and Alec speak to a couple more conference attendees, including Kenzie McDonald of Colliers International, Cory Bell of Lindsay Construction and Jenna Miller of Cushman and Wakefield, who all deliver and build on the undeniable confidence and optimism of real estate professionals in Halifax and Atlantic Canada!

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https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/s/btAf0ArhMh

Connect with Doug Doucet on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-doucet-7663a78/
Connect with Ben Young on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-young-hfx/
Connect with Heather Ferguson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-ferguson-826729163/
Connect with Kenzie McDonald on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenzie-macdonald-b0a93a4/
Connect with Cory Bell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-bell-b95143b/
Connect with Jenna Miller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-miller-/

Did you know that Halifax is hosting this year's annual JUNO awards? What does this mean for Nova Scotia's Music Industry? This month on Matter of Fax, James and Alec are joined by the Executive Director, of Music Nova Scotia, Allegra Swanson. Allegra is a multi-talented arts professional, with a comprehensive knowledge of cultural media, and a passion for the music industry, with over a decade of experience in the non-profit space, and an extensive background in managing events.

Allegra discusses her role in organizing the JUNO Awards, and promoting Nova Scotia's music industry. As the Chair of the host committee for the Halifax 2024 JUNO Awards, coming up in March, Allegra dives into her experience with the process of bidding to be the hosts of the JUNO awards, and the importance of showcasing Canadian talent. Alec, James and Allegra have a culturally important discussion on the diversity of music in Nova Scotia, including traditional Celtic music and emerging genres like Hip Hop and Electronic Dance. Allegra also reminds us of the importance of supporting local talent, local music venues, and developing the next generation of artists in the region.

Alec and James discuss the potential for Nova Scotia artists to gain recognition at the JUNO Awards, and the impact it could have on the music industry in the province. Allegra highlights the potential for Halifax to become a Music City, with a focus on making it a livable and affordable city for artists.

Press play and dive into the conversation with Allegra, James, and Alec as they offer a perspective of the JUNOS which allows us to see it as not just for industry insiders, but for all Nova Scotian music fans!

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https://www.reddit.com/r/halifax/s/btAf0ArhMh

Connect with Allegra Swanson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayoungvoice/