Nova Scotia Going on the Offensive to Win Back Expats
Nova Scotia is stepping up its fight to bring its talented and skilled workers back home.
The Nova Scotia "Come to life" initiative kicked off a marketing campaign on Dec. 19 that targets expatriot Nova Scotians now living and working in Calgary.
"Nova Scotia is prospering and we want all Nova Scotians to be a part of that prosperity," said Premier Rodney MacDonald. "Companies around the globe are beginning to realize Nova Scotia offers a balance that is unbeatable. You won't find a better place to work, learn and play."
Many Nova Scotians left their home for high paying jobs in Alberta, but they've also been faced with the high cost of living there. The "Come to life" initiative is going to serve up a reality check for expats. Newspaper ads and billboards will be popping up in Calgary with the slogans: Buy a home or two; Get ahead, come back; and Calgary is a nice place to visit.
The slogans reinforce the fact that Nova Scotia is a more affordable place to live. The Canadian Real Estate Association says the average cost of a home in Nova Scotia in November 2006 was $162,500 while the average cost of a home in Calgary is $360,622. Statistics Canada's latest consumer index report -- a study of the costs of shelter, water and electricity -- indicates that Nova Scotia's cost of living is more economical than Alberta's.
The goal of the campaign is to get expats to start looking at Nova Scotia again.
"Nova Scotia now offers the opportunities that our friends and relatives may have sought elsewhere," said Premier MacDonald. "Take the information technology industry, for example. RIM, maker of the Blackberry, is setting up shop here, creating about one high-paying job a day for the next five years."
The province has announced several major job opportunities in the last few months. Butterfield, Citco, and Olympia Capital are just a few companies that have decided to call Nova Scotia home, creating about 1,000 new jobs. And those jobs are paying good money -- an industry average of about $65,000.
The "Come to life" initiative also launched a campaign in Boston this week. The goal of that campaign is to continue growth in Nova Scotia, by attracting new business, with a focus on the life sciences sector. The message is Nova Scotia is the next hot spot for life sciences with 50 core life-sciences companies, and more than 2,300 researchers advancing the areas of neuroscience, brain repair and cardiovascular health.
"As we get ready to ring in a new year, we should all be very proud to call Nova Scotia home, and be excited about our province's future," said Premier MacDonald.
For more information on the Nova Scotia "Come to life" initiative, and for a look at the Calgary and Boston ads, visit novascotialife.com .