Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Untapped Labour Market

Hosted By


The Halifax Chamber of Commerce is hosting a panel of experts to speak on the hiring opportunities in the untapped labour market. The untapped labour market includes people from the Black, African-Nova Scotian, Indigenous, immigrant, and persons with disabilities communities.  

The Accessing a Skilled Workforce Task Force has been focusing on labour market shortages, the skilled workforce and retention of our students, and thus would like to give our business community the opportunity to learn how to access underrepresented groups in their employee search, the skills, and talents they bring and why ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion matters in all workplaces. 

Moderated by NSCC President, Don, Bureaux, this group of experts will each speak to their perspective regarding the underutilization of those in the untapped labour market. 

Panel Moderator 

Panelists

Tracy Menge
Benefits Officer Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office
 
Tracy has over 20 years’ experience in Indigenous Community Economic Development, Indigenous Tourism and Mikmaq Employment and Training.

Tracy is the Benefits Officer for Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office (KMKNO).  Tracy supports the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs and KMKNO in the development and implementation of Benefits Agreements with proponents working in Nova Scotia.

Tracy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from CBU and in pursuing her Masters in Community Aboriginal Economic Development.  



Bradley Daye 
Co-Founder CEO Placemaking 4G

Bradley Daye was born and raised in Halifax NS, he is a community leader, coach and member of the African Nova Scotian community with a deeply rooted history in NS. Those roots are what keep him grounded and provide the motivation behind the work he does now. 
 
As the Grandson of Delmore Buddy Daye, community development is always top of mind.  He is an empathetic leader with a proven track record of taking an idea from incubation to success.  Bradley Daye is a Co-Founder and Co-CEO of both Placemaking 4G, Cluster Employment and a founding member of ACCE non-profit. ACCE is a self-funded social enterprise based in Halifax with a mission to take back ownership of African Nova Scotian Arts Culture Community and Economics.  P4G is the new generation of recruitment based in Atlantic Canada, and Cluster Employment is the new generation of employment.
 
Knocking down silos and connecting communities through building trust is his purpose in life, which closely aligns with the businesses he manages.  Through his community and business involvement, he has established a strong network of community members and leaders, he has the knowledge and experience to evaluate and address community needs. Which is highlighted in his recent appointment as the newest member of the board of directors for the United Way Halifax. Bradley has also been involved in an effort to close the gap of unemployment for African Nova Scotian Youth. 
 

Tova Sherman 
CEO reachAbility 

Tova Sherman is a thought leader, with over 25 years of expertise in the diversity & inclusion field. As CEO of reachAbility, she has been a trailblazer in inclusion and accessibility. 

Tova saw a gap in the arts community and co-founded the Bluenose Ability Arts and Film Festival (BAAFF) in 2015. BAAFF, a festival dedicated to providing the disability arts community a clear voice. While the festival continues as an annual event celebrating and embracing the talent within the disability arts community, BAAFF has grown to be much more.
 
From her TED Talk to her TV Show, Tova is most recognized for her unique style, great sense of humour and deeply passionate commitment to the inclusion of all our citizens. Her understanding of business, the law and the challenges of inclusion make her a perfect resource in today’s swiftly changing employment landscape. 
 
The youngest of five children, Tova has been around disability her entire life. Her own challenges, living on the ADHD Spectrum, inform her empathy and commitment to equalizing the playing field. In addition to her inclusion efforts Tova most enjoys spending time with her daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandsons.

Nicole Johnson Morrison 
EduNova President & Chief Executive Officer

Nicole Johnson-Morrison is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EduNova cooperative Ltd. Award winning EduNova is a co-operative association of all public and private-sector education providers in Nova Scotia, committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally, with a focus on attracting and retaining international students.

Nicole is a passionate advocate for International education, immigration and diversity and inclusion. At the helm of EduNova Nicole actively leads the organization toward achieving provincial international student recruitment and retention goals in efforts to support immigration, diversification and economic priorities set out in the OneNS Report.
 
Nicole has extensive experience in public-private sector leadership nationally and internationally. As a former Senior Trade Commissioner with Global Affairs Canada, Nicole made sterling contributions to Canada’s trade policy and international trade efforts within Latin America and the Caribbean. She was recognized by Global Affairs Canada with the Transformation Champion Award and won the United Nations Women in Business Award in 2012.
 
Nicole serves as a Board member with multiple organizations including the Black Business Initiative (BBI) where she is the chair of BBI’s Diversity Employment Network (DEN) and United Way. Nicole is also a member of the Women’s Business Forum as well as a member of the National Congress of Black Canadians. Nicole is passionate about Nova Scotia and is actively engaged in growing and build deep, collaborative relationships for Nova Scotia within the global international education sector. 

Susan Googoo 
Director of Employment & Training 
Waycobah First Nation

Susan Googoo is a lifelong resident of We’koqma’q First Nation. The main priority in We’koqma’q is to improve the overall quality of Life for community members and Susan helps people believe in their dreams and achieve their goals.

She worked for NSCC Strait Campus in the Faculty of Human Services. In 2012, she worked for 3 years at the We’koqma’q Band as an Employment Training Officer and was appointed a Director Role in 2015. She was also the lead on Tourism Projects in the community for about 8 years. 

She is mother of four children and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at St. FX University.

She serves on several Boards and Committees including the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Advisory Committee, the Mikmaq Economics Benefits office training Committee and the Destination Cape Breton Association.