Will there be a “Jobless Recovery” after COVID-19 in Canada? An examination of regional and demographic vulnerabilities (Webinar)

Original live webinar for The Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network, July 28, 2020.

Dr. Ather Akbari of the Sobey School of Business is joined by moderator, Dr. Mohammad Rahaman to discuss the possibility of a “Jobless Recovery” in Canada after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

More than 8.5 million Canadians are now on Federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), more than 40% of our total workforce. As the economy starts to reopen, it is not clear how long the recovery will last and whether post-pandemic recovery will be accompanied by equivalent recovery in the employment level. Prior “jobless recovery” literature suggests that employment is slow to respond to economic recovery. Recently released employment data from Statistics Canada show some revival of employment. The question remains on how fast employment will grow with GDP in the post-COVID-19 period and whether recovery will vary by regions and demographic groups? In particular, are maritime provinces well positioned to tap into the recovery phase to propel employment level to the pre-pandemic level? This webinar will attempt to dissect these questions utilizing state-of-the-art economic models and techniques.

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Integrating Consumer Behavior into Your Marketing Strategy During the Pandemic - Dr. Ethan Pancer (Webinar)

Join Dr. Ethan Pancer of the Sobey School of Business as he discusses how organizations can integrate consumer behaviour into their marketing strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Pancer is joined by moderator John Sime BComm'08.

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Stayers and leavers: new SMU research looks closely at immigration in Nova Scotia

Who immigrates to Nova Scotia, who stays, leaves, and why is the focus of a recently released report from Dr. Ather Akbari, a professor with Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business.

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Nowadays, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are dealing with big data using their limited resources. This webinar discusses the challenges and available IT solutions of big data for SME. It also presents guidelines for strategic use of data and technologies in SME.

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Executive-In-Residence

Ian Smith headshot.jpg

Ian D. Smith | Chief Executive Officer

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership

Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods.  Mr. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry.  Prior to joining Clearwater, Mr. Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China.  Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Mr. Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.

Mr. Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy including; The Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation.  He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Alumni-In-Residence

Wendy Luther | President and Chief Executive Officer

Halifax Partnership

Wendy Luther Proud Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. EMBA’08

Wendy Luther is a leader in economic and export development, with vast experience promoting Nova Scotia and its assets globally. Halifax Partnership is Halifax’s public-private economic development

organization. Wendy joined as President & CEO in 2019. In 2023, Halifax

Partnership was honoured with four Excellence in Economic Development

Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

including Gold for Economic Development Organization of the Year. Prior to joining Halifax Partnership, Wendy was President & CEO of EduNova, a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally. Under her leadership, EduNova was honoured with the prestigious international PIEoneer Association of the Year Award in 2017. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked in export development with the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) where she led trade missions to over twenty countries and has mentored and advised hundreds of Nova Scotian exporters on how to be competitive in international markets. At NSBI, through her role as Nova Scotia’s first Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO), she was appointed by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to connect entrepreneurs and institutions to opportunities funded by International Financial Institutions. Wendy has served on and led numerous boards and committees including advisory boards for two private sector companies (Canada and U.S. based). Currently, Wendy serves on the Board of Directors and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Canadian-owned LED Roadway Lighting; the Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee of Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing Canada’s innovation competitiveness; and is Membership Chair on the Executive Committee of the International Women's Forum (IWF) Atlantic Chapter. Born in Vancouver, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds a Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP) and is an alumna of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue and Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. In November 2023, she attained her ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program and is really geeking out on governance! In March 2023 Wendy was honoured with Atlantic Canada's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business award.