A Mechanicsville-based traffic control firm is on the road to continued growth by way of an acquisition barrels and road signs throughout the city of Richmond and Henrico County was purchased by Nova Scotia-based Right Traffic Brooks went to market in search of a buyer last November Brooks President Frank Payne said the company is retaining all of its nearly 60 employees whose duties include helping with traffic control for Richmond parades and all Sports Backers’ events such as the annual Richmond marathon and Monument Avenue 10k The company also has VDOT-certified technicians and flaggers for traffic control and sells rents and repairs on-road equipment like message boards and crash cushions Payne said becoming part of a larger company like Right Traffic gives P.D Brooks the chance to grow its headcount to keep up with demand Brooks hopes to increase the number of its employees by at least 25% this year planning to increase both its management and traffic technician forces I turn away too much business because I don’t have the people to do it and now we hopefully have the resources to do this,” Payne said Brooks better manage the government regulation that comes with such growth Brooks will retain its four office locations under the new ownership there’s more government regulations you have to abide by,” he said we didn’t have a human resource department So having someone purchase us allows us to be more regulatory.”  Brooks will retain its name as part of the deal a point that was a top priority for the company because the name has been out there since 1962,” he said and was eventually passed down to former President Sarah Brooks who had been with the company since the 1980s took on the president role right around the time the acquisition closed which was formed in 2020 out of Canadian private investment firm Genix Holdings including equipment rentals and maintenance and traffic control services states and three Canadian provinces and has around 2,500 employees This is not Right Traffic’s first entrée into Virginia; the company has five Virginia offices outside of the recent acquisition Right Traffic acquired the East Fourth Street location following its acquisition of Pennsylvania-based W.D Brooks has four locations: its Mechanicsville headquarters Payne noted a trend of consolidation within the traffic control services sector over the past couple of years He added that there was a lot of interest when P.D “A lot of the ‘mom and pops’ are being acquired by major private equity firms That’s one of the reasons for (going to market); we wondered what the value was The numbers and multiples we were seeing were pretty big,” he said “I think that’s why so many people were interested in us.”  Local investment banking company Marriott & Co Brooks’ financial adviser in the transaction Jackie joined Richmond BizSense in January 2025. She covers startups, nonprofits, public companies, local government and more. Reach her at jackie@richmondbizsense.com or (703) 789-7628 Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" As kids we used to think PD (police dept) Brooks being an officer who was a very high up in the ranks to be over the traffic off Laburnum (old 3rd Precinct too) and have his name on all the barriers I hope they do keep the local name and expand it across the South and Mid-Atlantic © 2025 Richmond BizSense - All Rights Reserved Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now × More than 100 people searching for missing N.S Mother of missing Nova Scotia children pleads for safe return CTV News AppContact UsFAQNewslettersTeamTwitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome for two missing children please know that our first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation The siblings were reported missing on May 2 and a search is underway in Pictou County where they are believed to have wandered away from home.Nova Scotia RCMP/Supplied searchers combed the thick forest in rural Nova Scotia for two young children that police suspect wandered away from their home Lily Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were last seen at their home on Gairloch Road in Landsdowne Station, a remote wooded community in Pictou County, an hour and a half northeast of Halifax told The Globe and Mail that he and Malehya Brooks-Murray and the couple’s 16-month-old baby had been dozing in the bedroom on Friday morning as Lily came and went while Jack could be heard playing in the next room who works at a hardwood sawmill and has been helping raise the kids for the past three years “They must’ve got out through the back fence jumped in the car and began scouring nearby dirt roads he said he returned home and set out on foot He said police told him that the only signs of the children were boot prints three metres from the house The children were reported missing Friday at 10 a.m. Since then search-and-rescue teams have been scouring the dense woodland and steep terrain on foot and by air in helicopters with canine units and thermal drones which can detect body heat it tugs at the heart strings of everyone,” Pictou County RCMP Corporal Sally Rice said as well as thick brush and ticks hindered search efforts on Sunday though teams were expecting to continue searching overnight into Monday Brooks-Murray called on police to issue an Amber Alert a national public alert to help locate abducted children Search-and-rescue teams have been scouring the dense woodland and steep terrain on foot and by air in helicopters for the two children since Friday morning.Supplied My children are not shy to strangers and will go with anyone They don’t understand stranger danger!” she wrote Rice said Sunday that the missing children do not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert “We’re not ruling out anything – we’re continuing to investigate anything that comes in over the phone or otherwise “Until we have any information to change the direction of the search it’s currently a search and it will continue a search until something triggers something else or we have leads to lead us in a different direction.” She said police were following up on the boot prints near the children’s home arranging a thorough grid search near that area Police initially issued a vulnerable missing person’s alert for the county when the children were reported missing RCMP sent out an emergency alert to three local counties She did not respond to a question about why it took so long to issue that emergency alert On the weekend, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston attended the search-and-rescue headquarters to offer support to those assisting with the operation including members of the Nova Scotia Guard a volunteer emergency organization introduced last year in response to the deadly flash flood in the summer of 2023 prompting criticism about delays in sending out the emergency alert The missing children are the Nova Scotia Guard’s first assignment Volunteers spent the weekend working shifts to provide food parking assistance and directions to first responders “People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome for two missing children,” he said please know that our first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation.” The children belong to the Mi’kmaq First Nation community of Sipekne’katik Chief Michelle Glasgow said in a social-media post She also called for an Amber Alert in a separate social-media post Lily is described as having shoulder-length light brown hair with bangs Jack has short blondish hair and is wearing a pair of blue dinosaur boots Municipality of Pictou County Councillor Donald Parker said in an interview he’s doing everything he can to assist checking in with search-and-rescue headquarters “Everybody’s concerned and worried here in the community,” he said Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Lindsay Jones is The Globe and Mail’s Atlantic reporter based in Halifax she was a freelance journalist who contributed award-winning feature stories to a number of publications in Canada and the U.S Her 2017 investigation What Happened to Lionel Desmond? An Afghanistan veteran whose war wouldn't end led to the launch of a provincial public inquiry and was nominated for a Canadian Association of Journalists Award Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions I say this because of one simple fact: In the warm months ahead visitors are going to flock to Nova Scotia perhaps like never before The math is easy: The Trump effect means Canadians are cancelling trips to the United States as are Europeans uneasy about the political environment there stretch about 40 per cent further north of their border than at home Subscribe now to access this story and more: Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience I’m expecting to see lots of rental cars on the highway driven by the dry cleaner from Des Moines or the family living in the shadow of the textile mills of Saint-Quentin For those of you still making travel plans I thought I would send along a quick note because it is the kind of singular place where a short primer would help any visitor First some practical driving tips: Eternal vigilance is important because fog rain and even hail can descend at any moment with placenames that can be perplexingly similar I would also tell you to keep an eye peeled because history is everywhere in this old province in places where you would expect like the graveyards where the famous and infamous and the victims of great tragedies are buried but also where you might not — on the back of a beer can that explains what a boxing rock is You will discover that we are generally friendly people so we will be happy to tell you all about it in the summer of 2025 I would advise against any mention of us being the 51st state since we stopped finding this subject funny some time ago Since it is the columnist’s job to impose his view on others let me tell you about a few places that may or may not make the Doers and Dreamers guide put out by the Tourism Department not because it is the provincial government and business hub but because it has genuine fizz You will see what I mean if you go to Tarek’s Cafe where the chicken taco is a personal lunchtime favorite one of the city’s oldest live-music venues (in the spirit of full disclosure Travellers also need caffeine; I have just the place Espresso 46 is a coffee stall in a converted warehouse building in the city’s ascendant north end has been making espresso since he was just a bambino He moved here in 2017 to be closer to his wife’s family They opened the cafe — which offers Italian pastries and sandwiches along with coffee made from beans he roasts himself — six months later but also a lot of passion,” he told me this week you might find yourself sitting beside an elderly couple from the old country a world-famous children’s book illustrator one of the gaggle of arty photographers who sometimes gather there or a guy in overalls from the construction site down the street “We’re not trying to be a high-end place,” says Pasquinelli nobody comes to Nova Scotia to sit inside and drink coffee no matter how good it is The guidebooks will tell you to head for the Cabot Trail which more than lives up to USA Today’s declaration that it is the best scenic drive in Canada But I’m also partial to the dyke lands of the Annapolis Valley which you might recognize from some of the famed realist painter Alex Colville’s most well-known works it seems like you might hear the moans of the Acadians being herded to the waiting English ships as part of le grand derangement “Be spontaneous” is the best advice for any visitor to Nova Scotia go down the road that could lead who knows where never seen more than a few dozen cars in the parking lot at Cherry Hill Beach accessible only by an unpromising-looking laneway on the province’s South Shore the water is blue and the sand on the empty beach is white and warm I discovered my favourite beach by accident One day I wandered down to the bottom of the LaHave Bakery an intriguing spot that is the epicenter of the historic village it is named after with its rich literary history and deep respect for storytelling opened up through wooden doors to a long wharf that offered a view of the river down which Samuel de Champlain once sailed where the latest buzz-worthy Nova Scotia book and gently used Louise Penny can now be found it was a boatbuilding shop owned by Kevin Wamback — you will know this because the old sign bearing his name hangs over the piano there — who might have built the floor-to-ceiling windows and definitely fashioned the double doors emptying out onto the wharf so boats could be brought in for repairs “When people come in for the first time I can see them taking it all in,” said Andra White co-owner of the store with LaHave Bakery proprietor Gael Watson where the unexpected lurks in the best possible way Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page The British Virgin Islands is an explorer's dream with more than 60 isles and cays to discover Expert-backed tips and a step-by-step breakdown to ward off these pests We tried it: Filtrete Smart Tower and the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy CanadaSearch for two missing children in rural Nova Scotia continuesBy Natalie LombardUpdated: May 05 Two children missing in rural northeastern Nova Scotia have yet to be found Six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan were reported missing around 10 a.m They were last seen on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station The RCMP describes Lily as having shoulder-length light brown hair with bangs The force said she might be wearing a pink sweater Jack has short blondish hair and was wearing blue dinosaur boots Police have said no other clothing description is available Police say search efforts continued overnight Sunday in Pictou County ground search and rescue volunteers and officers have meticulously searched the kilometres in the area around Lansdowne Station where Lily and Jack were last seen,” says Public Information Officer Cpl Carlie McCann in an email to CTV Atlantic Monday afternoon “Searchers are diligently keeping track of which specific sections of the ground have been covered and are applying their specialized skills to allow the searchers on scene to stay safe.” RCMP says search crews focused their search on a 3.5-kilometre radius the force says the search zone has been expanded “It’s difficult for us to say exactly what our next steps will be but I can tell you that it will be ongoing best practices in terms of what is needed for tracking lost person behavior and tracking anything that might allow us to narrow the search or potentially broaden it if needed,” McCann says Police are asking the public avoid the search area to allow searchers to do their work about 120 people are helping with the search Pictou County Warden Robert Parker says he hasn’t seen anything impact the area as much as the Westray mine disaster in 1992 I’ve seen some of the most stoic people I know that usually show no emotion very upset about this issue But we’re all sitting and hoping and praying right now,” he told CTV News Sunday night Police sent out two vulnerable person alerts for the missing children; one on Friday for the immediate area Sally Rice said Saturday there is no information to suggest they were abducted and it appears they wandered away from a home “The whole community is concerned and worried and that’s all that’s on anyone’s mind Just hoping for the best,” said Municipality of Pictou Coun It’s not something that happens and you’re just hoping and praying they find them as soon as they can.” The children’s mother Malehya Brooks-Murray has pleaded for their safe return and I want them home,” she told CTV News Saturday “When they’re found it will be the biggest relief to hug them.” Multiple agencies are taking part in the search the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association the Department of Natural Resources Air Services -- including three helicopters -- and several RCMP units “These two young people mean a lot to this community All of our young people mean a lot to this community They say it takes a village to raise a child well all of Pictou County is a village right now and if more could be done I know it would be done and we’re just thankful there’s so many people out there looking,” says Parker Premier Tim Houston says the search marks the first time the Nova Scotia Guard was put into action The new volunteer corps was created this year which mobilizes during emergencies and natural disasters “People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome for two missing children please know that our first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation,” he said in a social media post Saturday Police are asking anyone with information on Lily or Jack’s whereabouts to call Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) CTV’s Stephanie Tsicos and CTV’s Hafsa Arif For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Atlantic WatchMother of missing Nova Scotia children pleads for safe returnMalehya Brooks-Murray, the mother of two missing children from Nova Scotia’s Pictou County, spoke with CTV News Saturday amid the search for Lily and Jack Sullivan. The company said late Thursday in an update posted to its website that they identified the theft as their investigation into the April 25 incident continued we are treating this situation very seriously The security of your information is our top priority,” the post said “We are working urgently to determine the full nature and scope of the data that may have been affected The company said that anyone whose data was compromised will be sent a notice with further details about the information along with details about resources and support The company said it encourages customers to remain “vigilant and cautious” about any unsolicited communications such as emails social posts or phone calls that appear to be from Nova Scotia Power asking for personal information and to avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments without confirming they are from a legitimate source Last Friday the utility discovered the hack and started its incident response plan shutting down internal servers and devices External experts were brought in to help and restore systems There has been no disruption to power generation and distribution facilities The company has established a dedicated phone line for customers with questions about the incident WatchSearch for two missing children in rural Nova ScotiaAuthorities are searching for two children who have been missing since Friday. are lost in woods of Nova Scotia after disappearing on Friday A frantic search for two children presumed lost in the unforgiving and thickly forested lands of Nova Scotia has entered its fourth day as police in Atlantic Canada expand their search Nearly 150 searchers have braved rain and fog to track down Lily Sullivan who were last seen on Friday around their home in Pictou county Their mother Malehya Brooks-Murray and stepfather have told local media they were sleeping with their 16-month-old baby on Friday morning as the older children played in the house The Royal Canadian Mounted Police believe the pair members of the Mi’kmaq First Nation community of Sipekne’katik wandered off from their home and probably entered a heavily forested area Among the resources devoted to the effort have been dog teams with the heavy urban search and rescue team from Halifax as well as thermal imaging cameras attached to drones Police say their work has been “strategic and thorough” as they weigh any clues that might suggest a likely whereabouts for the children The search is also the first major undertaking by the Nova Scotia Guard, a newly formed a volunteer emergency organization meant to address shortfalls in the province’s response to crisis. In 2023, a flash flood killed four people including three children – a tragedy that some residents believe could have been avoided by timely warnings sent by authorities Nova Scotia’s premier, Tim Houston has visited the search headquarters alongside other local officials to offer support for residents and searchers “People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome for two missing children,” he said in a statement more than a dozen search teams are in the field “Everybody in the community is concerned and worried but we’re all hoping for the best here,” said Donald Parker a municipal councillor with the municipality of Pictou county told CBC News “It’s hard on the whole community … It’s incredibly tough.” questioned the decision not to issue an Amber alert and said the disappearance underscored the need for a national alerting system “Please help bring Jack and Lily home,” she wrote Emera Inc. and Nova Scotia Power announced they have discovered and are actively responding to a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to parts of their Canadian network and servers supporting certain business applications the companies immediately activated their incident response and business continuity protocols They engaged top-tier third-party cybersecurity experts and took swift action to isolate the affected systems and prevent further unauthorized access.  Law enforcement agencies have been notified about the cybersecurity incident It added that “Our IT team is working diligently with cyber security experts to bring the affected portions of our IT system back online.” Nova Scotia Power customers can find the latest updates online Emera is scheduled to publish its first quarter financial statements and management disclosure and analysis on May 8 the incident is not expected to have a material impact on the financial performance of the business Emera is an energy company with operations in Canada It invests in regulated electric and natural gas utilities Emera serves approximately 2.6 million customers and employs around 7,600 people Its common and preferred shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange Nova Scotia Power is the primary electricity provider in Nova Scotia serving approximately 550,000 customers across the province The company is regulated by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board and is responsible for the generation It employs over 2,300 people and operates throughout the province to maintain and manage the electrical grid wrote in an emailed statement that “The reported cyber incident affecting Nova Scotia Power once again brings the security of critical infrastructure into sharp focus Cyberattacks against power companies don’t just stay behind closed doors — they ripple outward and leading to millions in potential losses.” He added that a breach at a power organization can trigger serious downstream impacts these risks aren’t theoretical — they represent very real consequences if attackers gain deep access this could have escalated quickly into a safety issue — risking life and limb — rather than remaining a contained cybersecurity incident.” Highlighting that utilities and energy providers must harden their identity and access control systems ensuring that only verified and authorized personnel can reach critical environments we’re seeing an alarming trend in 2025: cybercriminals are increasingly targeting the energy sector It’s a sobering reminder that cybersecurity for utilities is now a front-line defense for public safety not just an IT concern tucked away in the background.” Earlier this month, Resecurity published threat intelligence research highlighting threat actors targeting energy installations in North America including nuclear facilities and related research entities Energy firms are facing escalating cyber threats from hacktivists often driven by geopolitical tensions and ideological motivations have primarily focused on cyber-espionage rather than physical disruption All rights reserved | Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy Share(Adobe Stock) May 5 one of which is tied to a $40 billion global company have been compromised in a supply chain intrusion involving 21 Magento extensions injected with a backdoor that was only activated last month after six years of dormancy CyberScoop reports that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would have its almost $3 billion spending reduced by $491 million under the Trump administration's fiscal 2026 budget proposal Ransomware attacks against the food and agriculture sector have totaled 84 during the first three months of 2025 which is over two times higher than the number of intrusions during the same period last year By clicking the Subscribe button below, you agree to SC Media Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of CyberRisk Alliance Privacy Policy and Terms of Use were reported missing from their home on the Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station at 10 a.m “It’s believed they wandered away from a home on the Gairloch Road There continues to be no evidence to suggest that the children were abducted,” read a statement from the RCMP on Saturday here is some information on the various alerts that can be sent to help find missing people a vulnerable missing persons alert was issued in Pictou County a broadcast intrusive alert was issued Saturday at 5:27 p.m asked for an Amber Alert in a social media post I want my babies home,” said Brooks-Murray in the post they said there wasn’t an Amber Alert because they believe the children wandered off and weren’t abducted A vulnerable person often relies on others for care This dependence can stem from various factors A broadcast intrusive (BI) alert system is a component of Canada’s emergency communication infrastructure designed to reach the public instantly and indiscriminately in times of crisis BI alert systems leverage several communication channels: The Amber Alert system provides the public with immediate and up-to-date information about a child abduction via widespread broadcasts on television and solicits the public’s assistance with the safe and swift return of an abducted child only law enforcement can issue an Amber Alert They are sent out through the Alert Ready emergency alert system reaching Canadians through several mediums (cellphone Public participation is critical to the location of missing children Sign up for MissingKidsALERT to ensure you stay connected and informed You will be notified when a child is missing in your area and you’ll have accurate and current information about the situation Over 100 searchers combed the surrounding forest Saturday and Sunday with helicopters and drones working in the air The RCMP has requested that people stay away from the area to avoid interfering with search crews Ground search and rescue teams and air services from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association and the Department of Natural Resources are contributing assets You should contact Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333 call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) submit a secure tip at crimestoppers.ns.ca or use the P3 Tips app or if you have an account please login © 2025, Lyonsdown Limited. teiss® is a registered trademark of Lyonsdown Ltd. VAT registration number: 830519543 23 hours agoDuration 3:37Stepfather of missing Nova Scotia children calls on public's help23 hours agoNewsDuration 3:37The stepfather of two children, Lily Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, missing in a rural area of Pictou County, N.S., said Sunday he wants authorities to monitor the New Brunswick border and nearby airports in case the children were abducted. Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem The RCMP logo is seen on the background for a news conference LANSDOWNE STATION - Ground search teams and an RCMP aerial drone joined the search Friday for two young children who are believed to have wandered from a home in rural northeastern Nova Scotia earlier in the day The Mounties say six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan were last seen around 10 a.m Lily Sullivan is described as having shoulder-length blond hair and is wearing blue dinosaur boots A vulnerable missing persons alert was transmitted across Pictou County after police were alerted to their disappearance Carlie McCann says residents are being asked to use social media to raise awareness about the search But the police force issued a statement later in the day saying members of the public should avoid the Gairloch Road area to allow trained searchers to do their work "There is a multi-agency response currently on the ground in Pictou County," the Mounties said in the statement "Other resources and teams include the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) Department of Natural Resources Air Services and RCMP police dogs." They said the children's family has been kept updated on the search efforts This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she would hold a referendum on provincial sepa… British Columbia MLA Mable Elmore gave a speech in the legislature on her first da… The Canadian Press is a member of the International Fact-Checking Network Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Free NewsletterUK Join the newsletter that everyone in finance secretly reads Scotiabank anticipates a significant rise in Canada's job market with an expected addition of 25,000 jobs in April Canada is set for a temporary employment surge mainly due to the hiring associated with forthcoming parliamentary elections Around 250,000 temporary positions are driving this job growth despite the unemployment rate holding steady at 6.7% This spike occurs while sectors like retail are facing challenges such as tax issues Future reports may highlight further issues including potential job losses at a significant department store with fewer job postings reported by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business Scotiabank likens this to past trade tensions acknowledging the resilience in job numbers while noting unique challenges exacerbated by April's weak seasonal factors For markets: Jobs gain amidst retail clouds The job market's growth, primarily fueled by election hiring, veils deeper issues within Canada's retail and small business sectors. As the market faces slowdowns and potential retail job cuts, investors and stakeholders should brace for possible impacts on consumer spending and economic sentiment in the coming months The bigger picture: Elections influence labor dynamics Election hiring serves as a temporary buffer for Canada's labor market demonstrating the political cycle's impact on economic metrics While this boost might alleviate some immediate hurdles long-term stability relies on solving underlying sectoral challenges and adapting to global trade tensions which could reshape labor flexibility and employment trends It’s hard to pick the right individual stocks It’s even harder to pick the right work shirt when the subway is sweltering hot So consider your wardrobe a fund and Luca Faloni the active manager the menswear company knows its way around luxurious fabrics fine Italian craftsmanship and making investment-worthy staples So here are the finest shirts Luca Faloni recommends for your style portfolio: Diversify your wardrobe: take your pick (if you can bear to choose between them) here. Stéphane Renevier, CFA Markets Could Pick A Direction This Week – Here's WhyTheodora Lee Joseph, CFA The Great Wealth Transfer Is Coming – Here’s How To Profit From ItJonathan Hobbs, CFA Why GameStop Might Actually Be Worth A Look Right NowTheodora Lee Joseph, CFA Political Risk Is Part Of A Stock’s Value Now – And, No, You Can’t Afford To Tune It OutStéphane Renevier, CFA The US Added More Jobs Than Expected, Sending American Stocks UpREAD NEXTNews Skechers Goes Private In $9.4 Billion Deal With 3G CapitalFinimize Newsroom Edgewell Braces For 2025 Challenges As Tariffs BiteFinimize Newsroom One Common Hedge-Fund Trade Could Bring Down Financial Systems – And It Nearly Backfired This WeekRussell Burns A Defensive Portfolio Prepared For The Wealth Effect’s ReversalStéphane Renevier, CFA Tariffs Are Spooking Investors Into Panic-Selling – Here’s What to Do InsteadReda Farran, CFA Coinbase’s Steep Drop Might Make It Interesting, But It Hasn’t Made It CheapRussell Burns Threats Are Rising. So Here’s How To Invest In Cybersecurity.Theodora Lee Joseph, CFA Apple And Amazon’s Results Were Sturdy, But Their Future Looks A Little Less SoTheodora Lee Joseph, CFA This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Share the leading electric utility in the Canadian province has disclosed the compromise of personal information belonging to some of its customers following a cyberattack late last month on Monday reported unauthorized access to parts of Emera’s Canadian network and servers supporting some of its business applications A joint press release said the incident has not impacted Nova Scotia Power’s physical operations and Emera’s utilities in the United States and the Caribbean Nova Scotia Power said on social media the cyber breach has impacted some of its phone lines and its online portal for customer account access there will be an impact on wait times for calls to our customer care center” “Immediately following detection of the external threat the companies activated their incident response and business continuity protocols engaged leading third-party cybersecurity experts, and took actions to contain and isolate the affected servers and prevent further intrusion” “Law enforcement officials have been notified “There remains no disruption to any of our Canadian physical operations including at Nova Scotia Power’s generation the Maritime Link or the Brunswick Pipeline and the incident has not impacted the utility’s ability to safely and reliably serve customers in Nova Scotia There has been no impact to Emera’s U.S commercial and industrial customers in the southeastern province on Canada’s Atlantic coast It accounts for 95 percent of Nova Scotia’s generation according to information on Emera’s website Halifax-based Emera counts a total of around 2.5 million utility customers It owns 6 electric and natural gas utilities The joint statement said the cyber incident will not derail the scheduled release of Emera’s first quarter 2025 results on May 8 the incident is not expected to have a material impact on the financial performance of the business” Nova Scotia Power says on its website an internal probe has been launched “We will provide updates as new information becomes available” Three days before the cyber incident was made public it acknowledged on social media it was experiencing “a technical issue” with its phone line and its MyAccount webpage Nova ScotiaNewsNew solar gardens set to be built across Nova ScotiaBy Melanie PricePublished: May 05, 2025 at 11:36AM EDT Nova Scotia’s cultural landscape is as diverse as its coastline French Acadian and African Nova Scotian communities set along wave-worn cliffs and in tranquil invite travellers to uncover the rich heritage that runs deep along the province's shores UNESCO-listed Lunenburg remains one of the best-preserved colonial settlements in North America with around 70% of its original architecture still standing.Photograph by Nova Scotia TourismBySacha ScogingApril 9 2025This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).At dawn mist seeps across the wave-carved headland of Peggy’s Cove softening the edges of the shoreline and cloaking the whitewashed lighthouse in an ethereal veil the Atlantic pounds against the granite rocks wooden cottages huddle against the elements their shingle roofs worn silver by years of sea-lashed winters lie in wait for another day’s labour beneath the waves It’s a scene echoed across Nova Scotia’s many seaworn towns where the pulse of the ocean has long dictated life on land tall ships still glide past a brightly painted waterfront nodding to the town’s centuries-old shipbuilding legacy once the first port of call for Scottish immigrants continues to carry its maritime spirit through landmarks like the Hector Heritage Quay where the ship that brought Scottish settlers to Canada is commemorated These coastal enclaves — once quiet fishing outposts — are now lively hubs where visitors can step back in time and uncover the stories of sailors traders and dreamers who’ve all helped craft the province’s multifaceted identity Here are five of the best places to visit for a taste of coastal Nova Scotia Halifax is where Nova Scotia’s story begins — a port city forged in the heat of battle born from the fierce rivalry between the French and British for control of the Atlantic Yet long before its official founding in 1749 the First Nations Mi'kmaq peoples lived and thrived along its shores their deep knowledge of the land and sea shaping the region cosmopolitan Halifax is far more than Nova Scotia’s largest city and primary port of entry — it’s the gateway to the province’s colourful past charting Mi’kmaq traditions through to the 1917 Halifax Explosion and the city’s fateful connection to the search and recovery of the victims of the Titanic disaster Further along, Pier 21 houses the Canadian Museum of Immigration where interactive exhibits — including recorded memories handwritten letters and family photos — highlight the hopes and hardships of more than a million settlers who arrived in Canada between 1928 and 1971 The exhibition concludes with a giant world map inviting visitors to pin their own journeys while a poignant film portrays the profound contributions immigrants have made to shaping Canada’s identity Beyond the boardwalk, tree-lined streets packed with colonial sandstone townhouses and grand neoclassical buildings climb towards the Citadel National Historic Site star-shaped sentinel built to defend British Halifax from French forces it’s now both a living history museum and a powerful reminder of the battles that shaped the region Book a guided tour to hear the tug-of-war tales of rivalry and resilience punctuated by the crack of musket fire and the thunderous boom of the noon cannon Where to stay: The Muir, Halifax’s only five-star hotel, situated in the city's new upscale Queen’s Marque neighbourhood a spa complete with a vitality pool and halotherapy salt room plus exclusive access to a yacht for harbour excursions Perched like a saltshaker on a table of rocks Peggy's Point is one of Nova Scotia’s most visited and iconic lighthouses gazing out over the wrinkled cloth of blue sea beyond.Photograph by Nova Scotia Tourism2 LunenburgBest for: hearing salty tales of British seafaring and rum-running UNESCO-listed Lunenburg is Nova Scotia’s most determined time capsule cobalt and ochre tumbling down a hillside towards a bustling harbour weathered wooden piers jut out into the water and streetlights are adorned with metalwork swordfish Known to the First Nations Mi’kmaq as ‘Āseedĭk’ building their fortunes on salt-cured cod and lobster The town soon became one of Canada’s busiest and wealthiest ports relying on its fishing grounds which stretched from Lunenburg to Labrador it remains one of the best-preserved colonial settlements in North America with around 70% of its original 18th- and 19th-century architecture still standing where the iconic red-and-white Peggy’s Point Lighthouse stands tall against a rugged granite backdrop For a quieter yet equally photogenic excursion venture to the nearby fishing village of Blue Rocks where colourful dories drift on glassy waters creating a scene favoured by both photographers and kayakers complete with a rustic fire pit and cedar sauna Book a visit to the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown where powerful exhibits and poignant storytelling honour the journey of those who sought freedom and forged the largest free Black settlement in 18th-century North America.Photograph by Nova Scotia Tourism3 ShelburneBest for: uncovering the story of the Black Loyalists It’s easy to drive straight past the sweet unassuming town of Shelburne in the South Shore region but a visit reveals one of North America’s most overlooked chapters of history around 3,000 Black Loyalists sought refuge here during the American Revolution transforming it into one of the largest settlements in North America at the time relocating to neighbouring communities like Birchtown or even migrating to Sierra Leone and around 30 direct descendants still call the town home today What to see: History comes to life at the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown where immersive exhibits and artifacts beneath glass floors — such as tools personal belongings and letters — celebrate and preserve these early settlers’ stories step outside and follow the Black Loyalist Heritage Trail a mile-long path that passes key landmarks like St Paul’s Church a 19th-century wooden chapel built on the site of the original Black Loyalist meeting house a one-room schoolhouse where generations of children were taught Beyond the area’s poignant historical relevance Shelburne has also become a favourite among filmmakers Take some time to wander its perfectly preserved colonial streets and you might just spot a familiar scene from the big screen Standouts include the CBC and BET-produced The Book of Negroes Stephen King’s chilling 2007 thriller The Mist and the 1995 Oscar-winning The Scarlet Letter luxurious oceanfront treehouses and even lakeside glomes All aboard for a night to remember — Tatamagouche’s Train Station Inn lets guests snooze in a lovingly restored railcar complete with antique decor and a charming onsite dining car.Photograph by Nova Scotia Tourism4 PictouBest for: discovering Canada's Scottish heritage It’s impossible to miss the Scottish spirit in pint-sized Pictou this historic harbour town on Nova Scotia’s Northumberland shore was home to the first permanent Scottish settlement in Canada — a legacy still evident in its tartan-clad shopfronts storied street names and lilting local accents to sample locally brewed beers and whiskies Travellers can wind their way through the hazy blue mountains and rolling vineyards of the Annapolis Valley hop-off Magic Winery Bus tour.Photograph by Nova Scotia Tourism5 WolfvilleBest for: immersing yourself in Acadian culture A small university town with a big personality Wolfville is one of Nova Scotia’s coolest and quirkiest corners Its main drag is refreshingly free of cookie-cutter chains — just hole-in-the-wall cafes It’s also just a short hop from the hazy blue mountains forested ridges and rolling vineyards of the Annapolis Valley with 11 wineries tucked within a 12-mile radius housed in a former apple storage unit near a former train route Walk the winding Harvest Moon Trail to reach the market Wolfville serves up more than just great flavours, however — it’s also one of the best places to dive into the province’s rich Acadian history. Visit the Grand-Pré National Historic Site to hear the poignant story of the 2,000-strong Acadian community that once thrived here before their forced expulsion in 1755 and to see how the relentless Bay of Fundy tides were tamed with an ingenious dyke system to carve out fertile farmlands The Nova Scotia government has updated its Provincial School Code of Conduct Policy “Nova Scotia schools must be places where students can focus on learning and staff can safely do their jobs,” Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Brendan Maguire told reporters “We now have a stronger school code of conduct that lays out expectations for everyone in our schools and helps ensure fair and firm consequences anytime learning is disrupted.” It has what the government says are stronger definitions of unacceptable behaviours new responsibilities for all members of the school community a requirement to support those affected or harmed and provisions for children in pre-Primary and students requiring intensive behavioural supports “In this update we have provided the clear consistent direction schools need,” Maguire said more than 6,000 members of school communities 800 school advisory council members and school principals “In the past we had a short policy that listed some thing that may happen in schools and some thing that they may want to do to respond,” he said “Quite honestly it wasn’t cutting it for the incredibly hardworking staff in our schools and it wasn’t working for students and their families.” The goal is more consistency as well as data collection The policy has expectations for the entire school community from department leadership to students and their families “It has direction to report and respond to every incident to review and act in response to trends and behavioural data,” Maguire said He said it will also give closure to school staff including what the response and consequences to an incident should be The reporting system will be more extensive so trends in incidents can be tracked by type and school No decision has been made yet on whether the data collected will be released publicly The code defines acceptable and unacceptable child and student behaviour and provides a flow chart to guide the response and consequences to the severity of an incident while considering the age and developmental stage of students and their intent Consequences can range from loss of privileges to long-term suspensions Training for school staff will start immediately and the policy will be in effect in September at the start of the next school year The new model drew on policies from Australia and New Zealand chair of the Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia said she thinks the new policy will make a difference She also likes that it allows some discretion for what actions can be taken “Our members are highly trained professionals they use professional judgment every single day to make sure schools get well and this is one piece of a very important puzzle.” the NDP’s education critic and former president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union said there was good news in the code being enacted “This is a necessary step to address the violence epidemic It’s a key piece of a much larger picture that needs to settle out to address school violence Racism was broken out as a distinct category “We heard the minister throughout the legislative session commit that the updated guidelines for trans and queer students would be folded in with the updated code of conduct and I guess one of the flags we have is that we don’t see any distinctive evidence that that has happened at a time when anti-trans and anti-queer hate is on the rise in Nova Scotia and Canada.” CEO Chris Gorman could receive up to $11.35 million if the bank outperforms targets for capital requirements Scotiabank also named two directors to the bank’s board KeyBank last week granted $16.7 million in performance-based equity awards to five of its top executives, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing KeyBank CEO Chris Gorman would receive $7.57 million if the bank were to reach certain regulatory capital requirements earnings-per-share goals and common equity tier 1 figures in 2025 and 2026 KeyBank CFO Clark Khayat would receive nearly $2.93 million in equity Payouts can vary up to 150% of the target value could receive up to $11.35 million under that logic The awards are set to vest in January 2027 Shares to be vested are subject to a one-year holding period The target amounts announced last week generally track with long-term incentives listed for each of the executives in last year’s proxy filing (Gorman received $7 million in long-term incentives in 2023 The newly announced awards are separate from the bank’s long-term incentive program, though, a KeyBank spokesperson told American Banker The awards are meant to “increase long-term Company stock ownership levels by the executives and retain the talent the Company needs to continue to generate and deliver long-term shareholder value” after the Scotiabank investment KeyBank’s board also expanded to 15 members last week as Scotia named two directors – Jacqui Allard and Somesh Khanna – to begin serving immediately Allard is head of Scotiabank’s wealth management division and an alum of Royal Bank of Canada and State Street Khanna is a 26-year veteran of McKinsey who co-led the consulting firm’s global banking and securities practice KeyBank is set to announce its fourth-quarter earnings Jan. 21 That should offer an update to the Cleveland lender’s financial picture Before Phase 2 of the Scotia investment closed KeyBank repositioned its available-for-sale investment securities portfolio by selling $3 billion in low-yielding investment securities and terminating roughly $3 billion in cash flow hedges The bank is expected to take an after-tax loss of about $700 million in the fourth quarter because of the move Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts the FDIC ordered the company to distribute $1.225 billion in restitution to customers overcharged between 2007 and 2023 A plane that crashed in a Minneapolis suburb Saturday was registered to Terry Dolan the lender’s chief administration officer CEO Andy Cecere confirmed in a Monday memo to employees that Dolan died in the crash Subscribe to the Banking Dive free daily newsletter The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Scotiabank has reiterated its "Sector Outperform" rating for Guardant Health (GH, Financial) signifying continued confidence in the company's market performance The reaffirmed rating aligns with previous assessments indicating a stable outlook from the financial institution In addition to maintaining its current rating, Scotiabank has adjusted the price target for Guardant Health (GH, Financial) from $52.00 to $57.00 USD This adjustment reflects a 9.62% increase from the prior price target highlighting optimistic expectations for Guardant Health's stock performance The updated price target by Scotiabank's analyst, Sung Ji Nam, was announced on May 5, 2025, further emphasizing the firm's positive outlook on Guardant Health (GH, Financial) Investors and stakeholders in the company may find this revised target as an encouraging indicator for the future potential of Guardant Health Based on the consensus recommendation from 26 brokerage firms, Guardant Health Inc's (GH, Financial) average brokerage recommendation is currently 1.8 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The earlier-than-expected green light will let the Canadian lender proceed to Phase 2 of its investment — a $2 billion infusion and the right to name two directors to the Cleveland bank’s board The Federal Reserve has approved Scotiabank’s application to acquire up to 14.99% of Cleveland-based KeyBank, the central bank announced Thursday The approval means the Canadian lender can proceed with the second phase of its $2.8 billion investment in KeyBank Phase 2 accounts for $2 billion of that money It will also allow Scotiabank to nominate two directors to KeyBank’s board The Fed’s green light comes earlier than expected Scotia and Key initially projected central bank approval in the first quarter of 2025 The deal cleared the regulatory hurdle just two days after KeyBank CEO Chris Gorman spoke at the annual Goldman Sachs financial services conference where he affirmed "the second piece of restructuring … will be contingent on getting [Fed] approval." Phase 2 will be "based on market conditions and what's out there and what there is to be done," Gorman said Tuesday "We're in a position where we can do none of it A KeyBank spokesperson declined to comment Thursday Scotiabank representatives did not immediately respond to inquiries In its order Thursday the Fed said the Justice Department found no significantly adverse effect on competition from the investment: Scotiabank does not control a U.S and the two banks do not compete directly in any retail market The Fed also said the appropriate banking agencies did not object to the investment when given a chance to comment the Fed said it “does not appear” the Canadian lender would control KeyCorp or the holding company’s banking arm Scotia, however, would become Key’s largest investor when it does complete Phase 2 of its investment. Scotiabank took an initial 4.9% stake in Key in August That initial investment enabled Key to offload some low-yielding bonds, which triggered a short-term loss, but KeyBank CFO Clark Khayat appeared upbeat on the Scotia combination’s possibilities while attending a Barclays conference in September “Are there certain products that we have that would suit their clients or products that they have that would suit our clients that we could basically white-label to each other?” Khayat posed it has opted instead to invest in Latin America where it has the largest foothold of any Canadian lender Scotiabank CEO Scott Thomson, however, has considered exiting some unprofitable markets in South America, and prioritized moving capital from developing markets to developed ones, according to Reuters The KeyBank investment represents “a low-risk low-cost optionality in North America” with strong returns That stands in great contrast to recent efforts by Scotia’s Canadian peers to expand in the U.S TD’s proposed $13.4 billion acquisition of Memphis, Tennessee-based First Horizon was derailed in 2023 when the banks terminated their agreement — presumably in connection with the revelation of anti-money laundering deficiencies at the Canadian lender The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, though, fined City National $65 million in January and mandated that the bank improve its strategic plan as well as its compliance risk management related to AML and fair lending investment management practices and deficiencies in reporting events that pose operational risks Fellow Canadian lender BMO in 2022 boosted its U.S. presence through a $16.3 billion acquisition of BNP Paribas’ former U.S may pave the way for Scotia to cement growth in the U.S without the retail footprint that has appeared to serve as a thorn in the side to its Canadian competitors bank said he sees President Donald Trump’s tariff policy as "one large additional straw on the camel’s back." The removal of Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka may put other regulators at risk Day 1 of free onsite parking at Nova Scotia’s health-care facilities was a win for many but in Halifax the daily struggle for hospital parking continued the Premier’s Office sent out a news release that detailed the elimination of fees for on-site parking  beginning Thursday “We committed to eliminating fees for everyone parking at a Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health facility and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Premier Tim Houston in the release “I know people have been eager to see this change Nova Scotians shouldn’t have to worry about parking fees when they’re sick and seeking health care or caring for our loved ones.” senior adviser of public affairs for Nova Scotia Health said the challenge of finding enough parking spots has always been an issue in Halifax particularly at the Victoria General and Halifax Infirmary sites Capacity at the Victoria General lot is 719 spaces but will be reduced by approximately 50 spots due to a capital repair project until Nov 1 while the Summer Street lot has 512 spaces “I would say that pulling back the lens and understanding the challenges we face volunteers and leadership who work in those facilities so you can understand if we have 12,000 people looking for parking and we also have to accommodate and need to accommodate patients and visitors it’s a supply and demand issue,” said Elliott “We are doing our best to think outside the box and come up with solutions “We have 97 parking lots across the province 39 of which were charging for parking (Wednesday) that aren’t’ charging today If you take a place like Yarmouth Regional or Cape Breton Regional all those had charged for parking for staff and patients the gates are up now and we are not hearing about any issues We’re not saying there aren’t any problems in Halifax Nova Scotia Health sent out an email to inform employees at the QEII that staff who park onsite in patient-designated areas during peak hours will be charged $6 per hour with no daily maximum Free parking for staff is available after 2:30 p.m Some staff members took to social media to voice complaints about the fee including one Victoria General worker who posted on Reddit to defend staff parking privileges “So grateful to the Conservative government who obviously respect the hard work health care workers do (obvious sarcasm),” wrote pinkprincess30 “If the government wanted to do something to help health-care workers they’d immediately offer a parking rebate to health-care workers at the VG/HI/Veterans/Rehab Most people I know are paying $150 a month for the privilege of parking nearby hospitals It’s absolutely insane how disrespectful this ‘free parking’ is to all of the people that need to park near the hospital five days a week Elliott said staff was aware these parking spaces were not available to them and that the rise in the hourly rate was to discourage people who park there but weren’t using the facility “These spaces weren’t available to (staff) last week,” said Elliott “This idea they suddenly have to pay more has been very well articulated and communicated to them that these spaces were not meant for them even before the free parking was removed We recognized the potential problem for people using these spaces that were not there for health care and we had to address it “We have doubled the hourly rate to discourage people who are not there for health-care reasons to say ‘This is not so you can come in if you live nearby or work nearby and have a free parking solution.’ This is the challenge we have of having a complex in a high-traffic We have enough of a challenge finding parking spaces for staff and patients; adding in a third layer of people that are going to use those spaces who are not there for health care would make this an even worse problem.” Elliott said there are other options for hospital staff in Halifax He said the Garrison Ground and College Street lots would be free for staff Monday through Friday with a free staff shuttle available from the Garrison Grounds lot “Where someone who worked for Nova Scotia Health could park three days ago hasn’t changed You can still park where you used to park and if that happens to be an off-site Nova Scotia Health parking lot then the good news is you don’t have to pay for that anymore “A few months ago we doubled the capacity for the Garrison lot recognizing the crunch that took place once we removed the Robie Street parkade in relation to the massive construction that’s underway to build the new hospital complex on the site.” A Halifax Transit Epass is also available at a discounted rate of $25 a month for Nova Scotia Health staff “It’s not a one-size-fits-all with the bus pass but it’s an example of how we are trying to think of ways to relieve the pressure,” said Elliott “We’re also really trying to listen to staff if they have solutions because they are the ones that are experiencing the problem “We understand this is frustrating for them and it was frustrating long before the free parking was initiated We’re trying to find a way to inconvenience everyone the least.” The government released the updated Provincial School Code of Conduct Policy today consistent direction will help ensure Nova Scotia schools are safe for students to learn and staff to safely do their jobs It includes stronger definitions of unacceptable behaviours a requirement to support those affected or harmed by unacceptable behaviours and provisions for children in pre-primary and students requiring intensive behavioural supports “This update to the code of conduct ensures all members of school communities – administrators families and students – understand expectations and know there are consequences for actions that disrupt learning,” said Brendan Maguire Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development “We consulted extensively with school staff and other experts to arrive at a tool that gives clear consistent direction and has the power to keep distractions and dangerous behaviours out of our schools.” The code of conduct will make schools safer by defining acceptable and unacceptable child and student behaviours The update also has a comprehensive guide that provides detailed direction for school administrators The guide includes a process for aligning responses and consequences to the severity of behaviours ensuring responses consider the age and developmental stage of students school staff will receive training on how to apply the updated code of conduct along with supporting reporting technology and processes School safety in Nova Scotia: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/school-safety Provincial School Code of Conduct Policy: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/docs/provincialschoolcodeofconduct.pdf Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) headquarters New York-based Eilers will join the bank on April 9 and report to Travis Machen, who took over as group head of Scotiabank’s capital-markets division last year. Machen announced the change Friday morning in a memo to staff, the contents of which were confirmed by a representative for the bank. for sentencingWinnipeg man pleaded guilty in Dartmouth provincial court in January to three counts of fraud over $5,000 from 2023 bail scam that targeted seniors A Winnipeg man who was supposed to be sentenced Friday for defrauding three Halifax-area seniors of almost $30,000 in a bail scam in 2023 instead asked that his matters be transferred to Newfoundland and Labrador pleaded guilty in Dartmouth provincial court in January to three counts of fraud over $5,000 defence lawyer Giancarla Francis told the court Gillen wanted his charges sent to Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court in St Francis said Gillen would like to be sentenced for all his offences at the same time She said she has sent Gillen’s lawyer in Newfoundland and Labrador a copy of a cultural assessment that was prepared on him after he entered the guilty pleas in Dartmouth Crown attorney Scott Morrison took no issue with the defence motion but requested that the case be docketed for Dartmouth later this month for an update on the situation Gillen was on the phone for Friday’s appearance and said he will also be appearing remotely in St Judge Michael Sherar granted the defence request and scheduled an update for May 23 Halifax Regional Police announced in November 2023 that Gillen had been charged with 13 offences in connection with five incidents that targeted seniors in the Halifax area in January and February of that year Gillen had later been arrested in Newfoundland and Labrador on similar allegations Morrison read agreed facts into the record in January to support the three guilty pleas when a 72-year-old man who lived on Crichton Avenue in Dartmouth received a phone call from someone claiming to be his son-in-law The caller said he had been in a car accident involving a pregnant woman had been charged with manslaughter and required money for bail A man pretending to be a lawyer then came on the line and said he would send a bail bondsman to the senior’s house to collect the money Gillen showed up at the house about an hour later and was given $9,250 a 75-year-old man who lived on Lockburn Lane in Dartmouth got a call from someone claiming to be his nephew and saying he had hit a pregnant lady with his car A man purporting to be a lawyer then told the senior his nephew needed $9,840 for bail Gillen went to the victim’s residence and picked up the money an 83-year-old woman who lived on Agricola Street in Halifax received a call from someone pretending to be a lawyer The caller said the woman’s son-in-law had been in a car accident Gillen showed up at the woman’s home pretending to be a bail bondsman and collected the money The rest of the charges against Gillen are expected to be dismissed after he is sentenced They include two more counts of fraud over $5,000 five counts of possession of more than $5,000 in property that was obtained by crime and single counts of using or possessing a stolen credit card participating in a criminal organization and conspiracy to commit fraud Gillen was granted bail on the Nova Scotia charges in February 2024 shortly after he secured his release in St Global Finance Magazine Global news and insight for corporate financial professionals Scotiabank has officially exited retail banking in Panama marking the latest move by a major international lender to scale back in the region which gives Scotiabank a 20% stake in Banco Davivienda in exchange for its retail operations highlights a broader trend as mounting compliance costs and shifting profit priorities drive global banks to rethink their presence in Latin America and the Caribbean Scotiabank’s exit also fulfills a promise CEO Scott Thomson made in 2023 to refocus on more profitable North American markets The decision marks the end of a more than decade-long expansion that initially defied the de-risking trend Scotiabank made a bold play for Colombia’s growing financial sector acquiring a majority stake in Banco Colpatria for $1 billion It continued its push into the region in 2016 purchasing Citibank’s retail operations in Costa Rica and Panama for $360 million many global banks were already reassessing their footprint in high-risk markets “As large international banks that provide payment services to the region face tougher compliance measures many have made a cost-benefit decision that the material compliance costs from doing business in the region far outweigh the benefits,” says Adrian Stokes it makes good business sense to stop offering correspondent banking services to regional banks.” The shift has accelerated in recent years as exiting banks cite a combination of rising compliance costs and concerns over anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations and the intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have deemed certain markets high risk introduced after the 2008 financial crisis to prevent taxpayer-funded bailouts have further contributed to the de-risking trend Latin America and the Caribbean have been hit hardest with the former losing an average of 30% of its correspondent banks according to a 2020 report by the Bank for International Settlements Vincent and the Grenadines all lost at least 40% of their correspondent banks between 2011 and 2020 with Trinidad and Tobago landing just below that threshold The banking pullback has limited access to international finance and credit in regions heavily reliant on remittances worth 20% to 27% of GDP in Central America which accounts for up to 90% of GDP in some Caribbean nations tourism provided 1.8 million direct jobs and generated an estimated $62 billion for the Caribbean: close to half of the $136 billion in GDP the International Monetary Fund estimates for the region for 2024 A dearth of correspondent banks reduces access to international finance and credit increases the transaction cost of cross-border payments the effects can range from reduced access to trade finance issues with clearing checks and foreign money transactions and heightened dollar supply concerns in some countries Over the decade since HSBC was fined $1.9 billion for laundering cartel money in Mexico which were fined a record $3 billion last October by the US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network “The same issues in Central and Latin American markets are magnified in the Caribbean,” says Christopher Mejia “Operating costs have to include natural disasters in a more difficult environment than in Central America Banks now take into account reputational risks from privacy laws and rules especially after the Panama Papers [scandal].” De-risking has also impacted money transfer organizations (MTOs) such as MoneyGram Many have made similar decisions to de-risk from the region While Scotiabank will retain its commercial banking operation in Colombia it serves primarily as a relationship management hub for large private companies looking for international banking advice “This is a meaningful shift in how we allocate capital,” Thomson told a media roundtable in December 2023 referring to Scotiabank’s plan to focus on more profitable North American markets “The return profile of the international bank has not been commensurate with the risk For customers in the Caribbean and Latin America the shift amounts to a localization or domestication as the international banks’ operations are picked up by local banks or by large conglomerates in the region which together own Banco de Bogotá and the BAC group in Central America were one and two in their local market until the Scotiabank and Banco Davivienda deal They have grown substantially in Central America having acquired Banco Reformador (Grupo Financiero Reformador) in Guatemala for $411 million in 2013 Bancolombia acquired 40% of Banco Agromercantil “Colombian banks know the operating environment in Central America really well,” says Mejia “Colombian clients do business in Central America so they really have economies of scale in these markets.” Scotiabank announced that in some of the Caribbean markets in which it remains active bank profitability in 2024 was the highest in a decade net income of $70 million was 46% higher year over year compared to 2023 And Scotia Group Jamaica reported pre-tax profits of $164 million last July what does the region need in the way of banks “Niche players that are willing to work with regulators,” suggests Mejia “The region needs disruptors that are willing to work within the regulatory frameworks there’s room for more niche players to emerge.” Solutions to de-risking that would keep global payers in the region are not obvious For global banks pinning their hopes on technology as the solution to operational cost and regulatory issues blockchain and fintech still face the same issues as traditional banks Neobanks have made a strong push into Mexico as have non-traditional financial institutions like Argentina’s Mercado Libre and Ualá The latter are among roughly 50 firms awaiting verification by the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV); the process can take at least 12 months The Caribbean is finding its own potential solution in central-bank stable coins such as the Eastern Caribbean digital currency DCash But laws are still being put in place across the region’s assortment of jurisdictions and defensive countermeasures to cyberattacks are still insufficient Cyberattacks are still nascent in the region so users have not faced the volume that other parts of the world have A second concern is a brain drain from the region an International Information System Security Certification Consortium survey in 2021 suggested Latin America needed 530,000 more cybersecurity professionals “There is no silver bullet to the compliance challenges the region faces,” Stokes argues “The only sustainable way to solve this issue is for the region to work in unison to improve controls around AML/CFT issues.” Some governments in the region blame the de-risking trend on inconsistency and shifts in rulemaking by the US Treasury Added to these issues is the time lag between countries passing laws—that banks then comply with—and the delay in removal from watch lists for months afterward Some Latin American and Caribbean countries say this amounts to bullying by more developed countries President José Raúl Mulino of Panama and others warned that companies from countries that did not update their tax haven lists would not be considered for state contracts high-speed Panama-David railway project is up for bid The two banks are exploring potential partnership opportunities – and their geographic footprints might allow a jumping-off point KeyBank CFO Clark Khayat said last week at a conference Scotiabank’s 14.9% stake in KeyBank for $2.8 billion has been a “hugely rejuvenating” boost of confidence for the regional lender’s bankers “As much as you tell them to go play offense, this makes it a little bit easier, psychologically, I think,” Khayat told those attending a Barclays conference last week. The Canadian lender is purchasing about 163 million shares of KeyCorp’s common stock for $17.17 per share Scotia made an initial investment of $800 million, giving it 4.9% ownership of Key’s common stock, which was completed last month That’s to be followed by an additional investment of $2 billion after customary closing conditions and approval by the Federal Reserve at some point in the past year or so,” he said Such a deal didn’t seem to make sense for KeyBank But as Key CEO Chris Gorman and Scotia CEO Scott Thomson stayed in touch and the banks became familiar with each other Key executives saw strategic alignment with the Canadian bank The investment offers Scotia a U.S. footing, while Key sees the opportunity to return to peer-level earnings and returns sooner than later, and bolster its competitive position, Khayat said. Key will record a $700 million third-quarter loss on the sale of about $7 billion in low-yielding investment securities The two banks are in the early stages of exploring potential partnership opportunities but the different geographic markets they serve might offer a starting point Key’s U.S.-based clients who do business in Canada and Mexico are “struggling” to get appropriate banking support which makes for “potentially an easy hand-off” to a lender Key knows that can serve those clients while not presenting competition in the U.S. Scotia might have a large commercial real estate client in Canada who wants to start transacting in the U.S. “are there certain products that we have that would suit their clients that we could basically white-label to each other?” Khayat said Key has some sense of how to handle such scenarios through its work with fintechs which gives Scotia two seats on Key’s board of directors is a “threading of the needle,” from a regulatory standpoint but “seems like the right balance,” Khayat said since anything above 5% requires Fed approval Canadian lender TD’s scrapped acquisition of Memphis Tennessee-based First Horizon was “good grounds for us to at least test the theory that we needed to have more confidence before we went down this path,” Khayat said the bank wouldn’t have taken such steps unless executives felt “highly confident.” When Barclays analyst Jason Goldberg asked Khayat about concerns that Key may have “anchored” itself to Scotia and left other banks less likely to able to acquire Key Khayat said the lender is in a “clean spot,” as far as its ability to make the right decision for all Key shareholders and the right transaction were to come along for Key and make the decision that makes the most sense to all of our shareholders,” he said “That was a critically important point for us and I think the ultimate agreement reflects that.” Khayat said Key envisions being able to support clients as loan growth returns And the bank is more likely to consider tuck-in type deals maybe some wealth-related shops – places that focus on the fee income streams we care about,” over whole-bank acquisitions repositioning Key’s investment portfolio and catching up to peers when it comes to earnings will be plenty of work “If the right transaction were to present itself I think it’s our job to consider that,” Khayat said But Key’s hurdles are going to be “pretty high until we’re back into a place where we feel like we’ve fully done the self-help journey and we’re ready to integrate something else.” according to its annual filings from the past two years The longtime central bank governor often served as a vocal counterpoint during Michael Barr's tenure CanadaNewsSearch for two young children missing in rural Nova Scotia to resume SundayBy The Canadian PressPublished: May 03, 2025 at 7:07PM EDT Cape Breton University student Ishan Ahuja turned his passion for healthcare into action by volunteering with Nova Scotia Health Following Nova Scotia Health’s volunteer orientation process Ishan began working alongside healthcare professionals in the organization’s Eastern Zone His role focused on providing public education on the importance of hand hygiene “Volunteering at Nova Scotia Health gave me a sense of purpose; the lessons I learned about resilience teamwork and the importance of human connection - continue to guide me in my professional journey” says Ishan their families and the incredible staff who made Nova Scotia Health feel like a second home.” Debbie Davidson was a registered nurse with the Infection She reached out to volunteer services for help bringing awareness to the public about the importance of hand hygiene practices while visiting the site “All the usual IPAC measures were in place but we needed help with public education,” says Debbie “The hospital was located in a close-knit community and we needed to bring awareness to the importance of proper hand hygiene techniques when visiting more than one patient in a visit to the site Ishan’s role was an integral to public and visitor education.”  Ishan soon became a very familiar face at the hospital handed out information to visitors and offered to demonstrate proper hand hygiene techniques with alcohol-based hand rub always greeted people with a smile and his role had an impact on patient safety even though he had transportation challenges and was a full-time student he always made it to his shift,” says Debbie The public felt engaged and comforted knowing there was something they could do to help protect their loved ones while visiting the hospital Staff appreciated the assistance that Ishan provided.”   is the palliative care volunteer program lead with Nova Scotia Health who helped connect Debbie and Ishan She says volunteers can make a huge difference in the patient experience within healthcare “It’s all about making connections with people and providing the information/service that’s required,” Lisa says “A smile and a kind word can go a long way to ensure quality care for our patients  Ishan was a shining example of what it means to be a volunteer Volunteers do what they do not for the recognition but to try and make a positive difference for others.”   dedication and commitment have left a lasting impression on both Debbie and Lisa Ishan says his experience with Nova Scotia Health was a lesson in compassion and community “I didn’t have a car at the time; I’d have to wait for the bus and wondered if I’d make it on time but none of that mattered once I walked through the hospital doors,” he says their unwavering dedication and the sense of community within the organization made every long journey worth it Their generosity - that spirit of looking out for one another - left a lasting impression on me.” Ishan says he carries those lessons with him every day and hopes that sharing his story inspires others to step forward and to experience the incredible sense of fulfillment that volunteering brings “My time at Nova Scotia Health was more than a volunteer experience It showed me the power of small acts of kindness the impact of a supportive community and the immense privilege of being able to serve others.”   Ishan says his time at Nova Scotia Health reinforced his passion for healthcare and his volunteering played a role in his acceptance into the advanced standing Doctor of Dental Medicine program at Temple University Thank you to Ishan and all the other Nova Scotia Health volunteers who help deliver healthcare services to patients and families across our province with compassion and kindness all year long Photos of (L-R) (1) Ishan Ahuja demonstrated dedication and compassion during his time volunteering with Nova Scotia Health (2) Debbie Davidson is a RN working in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) with Lisa McNeil-Campbell palliative care volunteer program lead in Nova Scotia Health’s Eastern Zone                Share Your Feedback