Every year, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce puts the spotlight on local business leaders and changemakers in our Agents of Change story. Agents of Change are typically connected by a theme that emerged over the year, and without a doubt, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—in the workplace and beyond—dominated headlines and water cooler conversations this year.
Jennifer LaPlante is Chief Growth and Investment Officer for Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. At the Halifax Chamber’s annual Spring Dinner earlier this year, Laplante referenced a popular social media post about AI (see right). “I do a lot of different talks on AI, especially with women in tech, and this post is one of the most popular slides that people talk about,” said LaPlante. “It is a reminder that AI isn’t going to replace your job. A radiologist has 17 tasks, and one of those tasks can be replaced with Artificial Intelligence.”
Like LaPlante suggests, discussions around AI this year typically explored the ethical use of AI and the effects of AI on a people-driven workforce. So, our Agents of Change this year both highlight the positive power of AI as well as the importance of maintaining the human element in business and technology.
AI in the workplace
Robert Newcombe is the owner of AI-First Consulting Inc., which first opened in 2023. Newcombe recognized a gap in the market and began offering services to train businesses on how to use AI effectively in the workplace. “I believe AI can make people more productive, creative, and less overwhelmed,” says Newcombe. “Many of the people I work with are on the brink of burnout, but with the right mindset, systems, and tools, AI can help alleviate that.”
Newcombe explains that the real joy of working in AI is seeing the impact it has on real people. “One of my most rewarding experiences was demonstrating ChatGPT to 150 women at the Women’s Institute National Conference in Truro,” he says. “They learned practical ways to save time, like writing emails, using voice commands, and creating images in seconds. Seeing their excitement as they realized how AI could simplify their daily tasks was incredibly rewarding.”
Aaron Short shares a similar motivation in his work with AI. Short is Co-Founder of b-line, which is headquartered in Halifax and leverages AI to make “smart” buildings. “We see AI as the key to unlocking efficiency, reducing operational burdens, and providing real-time insights that humans alone could never achieve,” says Short. “For example, our AI-driven HVAC systems can analyze environmental data, predict occupancy trends, and adjust building conditions to save energy without sacrificing comfort.”
Like Newcombe, Short is driven by seeing the impact AI can have in the real world. “Buildings have always been static entities, but now, they’re becoming dynamic environments that respond to the needs of the people inside them,” says Short. “We had one client tell us that our AI saved them hours of manual work each day while making their guests feel more welcome and cared for. That’s the kind of impact that keeps me motivated—it’s the intersection of efficiency and empathy that excites me.”
The limitations of AI
Websavers is a webhosting company based in Halifax that first opened in 2004. Jordan Schelew (Founder and President) and Allen Pooley (Owner and COO) emphasize that while advancements in AI have made aspects of business more efficient, there’s still a long way to go. “When it comes to professional services, AI solutions frequently make mistakes at a rate higher than human error and are harder to spot and fix because it wasn’t humans that created them,” say Schelew and Pooley. “The human element is still very much needed either entirely from the beginning or, at the bare minimum, in the end of the process to verify AI results.”
Although Newcombe recognizes the powerful potential of AI, he agrees that the human element is still essential. “AI should augment human work, not replace it,” he explains. “It can handle repetitive and tedious tasks, freeing up time for people to focus on what they love and do best. AI can’t replicate empathy, intuition, or human connection—qualities that are vital in business.”
Short echoes Newcombe. “The human element will always be essential,” he says. “AI can handle the numbers, the data, the processes—but people bring the creativity, empathy, and understanding that technology simply can’t replicate. AI allows us to automate the mundane and data-intensive tasks, freeing up human beings to focus on innovation, strategy, and the emotional intelligence required to build meaningful relationships with customers and teams.”
Michael Hebert is CEO of Turtle Island Technology Solutions, a new Indigenous-owned startup that provides IT, professional, and consulting services located in Millbrook.
Turtle Island Technology Solutions just opened a year ago, but Hebert has been in the industry for many years and knows what a gamechanger AI has been. “I started utilizing technology over 40 years ago, writing some simple programs by the time I was nine-years-old,” says Hebert. “In 40 years, I’ve never seen more change in our industry than I have in the last year. AI has found its way into every pillar of our business and is the topic of almost every conversation.”
Hebert maintains a balanced view of AI in business, recognizing its potential while highlighting its gaps and blind spots. “I see AI as a helpful navigator to business,” he says. “AI has the power to map together thousands of ideas and find patterns and recognition in seconds. It should transform many areas of business and allow us to work faster, smarter, safer, and more efficiently. But AI is only as good as the data we provide it, and, much like humans, it has inherent bias. We still need to provide a human touch to the information we provide AI, but we must also work to ensure that information is as free of bias as possible.”
LaPlante echoes Hebert’s assertion. “Generative AI is an incredible tool, and we’re at the point where it can help us do so many things, but we have to stop and think about what the world is when we use AI,” says LaPlante. “We need to think about how we’re using AI and how we’re educating people about how AI works. We need to think critically, and we need to teach people to question what data was used to train these systems and whether someone can be marginalized with these systems.”
Matt Spurway is the Executive Director of GEO Nova Scotia, a non-profit organization founded in 2022 to coordinate a network of partners that work together to ensure people across the province have what they need to access the internet.
Spurway agrees that AI works best when people are at the heart of the process. “Finding the right balance of technology and humanity is important,” he says. “At GEO Nova Scotia, we use a lot of technology and automation to securely and efficiently process thousands of requests, but we always maintain that personal contact is critical to good service. AI is an emerging opportunity to improve productivity and service, and it can be harnessed successfully as long as we keep the experience of our partners and program participants central in our thoughts.”
The human element
GEO Nova Scotia first began as a volunteer community project, distributing 50 refurbished computers to those in need and connecting 40 households to the internet. In 2024, they now have 15 staff members who have together distributed over 4,000 devices, supplied internet or mobile connectivity to over 2,500 households, and trained over 250 people to help others with digital skills.
Seeing individuals and communities connect is what drives Spurway in his work. “Huge motivation comes from hearing individual stories about the transformational impact digital inclusion has on people and families,” says Spurway. “Education, employment, housing, family reconnections, and life-saving calls for help were all made possible by our efforts in digital inclusion. I’m also inspired by the commitment of the government and the business sector to work closely with over 100 community partners to deliver digital inclusion support to those who need it most.”
At Websavers, Schelew and Pooley maintain the human element in their work by focusing on rapid customer service and empowering their clients. “From the outset our goal was, and remains, to provide do-it-yourself web services,” say Schelew and Pooley. “We believe it is our responsibility to ensure our clients have the access and knowledge to self-manage every service and all data they have with us.”
Schelew and Pooley also assist and educate web designers of all skill levels who want to work with WordPress and other open-source platforms. “We’re outspoken about the dangers of using locked-in platforms and website builders where you don’t own your website and can’t move anywhere else,” say Schelew and Pooley. “There’s no regulation that can unlock websites built with those platforms, and so our best tool is educating and encouraging people to consider using open platforms for their websites.”
Supporting the local community is also important to Schelew and Pooley. “We’ve always chosen to invest in local arts and community projects and would love to help any other local businesses achieve their goals online,” they say. “In a global marketplace, it’s all too easy to lose sight of the importance of the community focus.”
Community support is also at the heart of Hebert’s work at Turtle Island Technology Solutions. “I had the opportunity to use my business as a driver for a charity hockey game that raised over $50K for a sexual assault center,” says Hebert. “That will remain my most recent rewarding memory until we do it again next year.”
Hebert’s interest in supporting his community is rooted in his personal experience. “I started with nothing,” he says. “I didn’t come from a family with means, but my Dad always left the door open to help others. I’m genuinely motivated by the opportunity to use my success to drive change and inspire others.”
Driving change and making space for community growth means incorporating inclusion into his business practices. “Each area of our business embodies our dedication to diversity, inclusion, and unmatched quality in every endeavour,” says Hebert. “Our mission—and part of my DNA—is to ensure our success drives the success of Indigenous representation in technology.”
What’s needed for tech growth in Halifax
Our Agents of Change all have ideas for how Halifax can become recognized as a leader in technology and innovation.
Newcombe says that when it comes to AI, we need to adopt a greater sense of urgency. “Ten years ago, the Ivany Report sparked the OneNS initiative and a ‘now or never’ mindset,” he says. “I believe we need a similar approach for AI in both Halifax and the province.”
We also need more collaboration. “We need to connect AI talent with businesses,” says Newcombe. “I’ve met many bright students, new graduates, and professionals who understand AI technically but don’t fully grasp the challenges and opportunities businesses face. At the same time, many leaders—at all levels—don’t yet understand AI or aren’t making time to explore its potential and risks. Bridging this gap through workshops, mentorships, hackathons, or collaborative projects could be the key to unlocking Halifax’s AI potential.”
LaPlante has seen the benefits of such collaboration in her work. “There are different organizations here that have said ‘I want to do AI, but we don’t really know how,’” she says. “So, they partnered with an academic institution that has young talent that’s looking to try new things and learn and has new skills that an organization may not have.”
Given the level of investment and talent in the region, Schelew and Pooley believe that we need to focus on improving the business environment for entrepreneurs by reducing taxes. “When you’re starting small, you need the capability to live comfortably,” they say. “And yet, just when it starts to feel like you’re getting somewhere with your small business—even though you don’t even have a truly liveable income—you’re hit with taxes. Increasing the basic personal amount entrepreneurs can claim, especially if your business is your sole income, would help small businesses grow steadily and sustainably.”
Hebert agrees that improving the business conditions would go a long way to encourage innovation in the province. “Perhaps our most important priority should be around ensuring a healthy climate for innovators, which means attempting to baseline our incomes, taxes, and access to healthcare against other desired destinations,” he says.
Hebert also emphasizes the need to bolster our education and ocean technology sectors. LaPlante agrees. “Halifax is home to the largest concentration of ocean researchers,” says LaPlante. “Combined with Canada’s global leadership in AI, our city is uniquely positioned to lead the world in ocean AI.”
Short echoes Schelew, Pooley, and Hebert. “Halifax is brimming with potential. We have a growing tech community, world-class universities, and a deep talent pool,” says Short. “But for Halifax to truly be recognized as a leader in technology and innovation, we need to create an environment where entrepreneurship thrives. This means more investment in AI research, more incubators for tech startups, and stronger partnerships between academia, government, and the private sector.”
It’s also essential to promote the innovations and opportunities we already have in our tech sector. “We need to tell Halifax’s story better,” says Short. “We’re doing incredible things here, but we need to shine a brighter spotlight on our successes. Halifax has all the right ingredients—we just need to amplify the message and create more opportunities for collaboration.”
Spurway agrees that there is much to celebrate when it comes to tech in Halifax. “Halifax is already on track to be a leader in technology and innovation,” he says. “Our role at GEO Nova Scotia is to help make sure the benefits and opportunities of that technology are available to everyone. Technology empowers individuals, families, and communities, and it fuels both social and economic growth. I’m grateful to live in a province where we recognize that technology is a cornerstone of our future.”
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