Whether it’s a kayaking trip or the chance to be a soldier for a day, employee incentive programs are growing in popularity in a competitive marketplace

I recently met up with an employee of an advertising firm for lunch. She was distracted, all a-flutter about a workplace competition. Staff were embroiled in an intense Wii Fit sports challenge, with various awards up for grabs. The top prize? A day off. She was desperate to win it, having already used up her vacation for the year and craving a break.

It got me thinking, extra vacation time is a pretty good motivator. That might get me to push harder through the work day. It would certainly work for the employee above. Others may be drawn by other benefits, such as a trip, concert tickets, or a gift certificate for a nice restaurant. This is the world of employee incentives (an industry in itself) and it makes sense that these programs would be absolutely key to keeping staff productive, happy (and in their jobs) in a competitive and mobile marketplace.

The Stats

Mercer, a consulting firm specializing in human resources, recently completed a survey on workplace policies and practices in Canada. The 2010 data shows 37 per cent of respondent companies reported holding sales contests, up to four a year. The most popular prizes? Trips and paid vacations. Gift cards, merchandise, plaques and trophies were also high on the list. Trophies?

“It’s true, I’d rather a trip than have my name on a plaque,” laughs Marie-Christine Piron, a principal from the company’s Montreal office. “But those internal rewards and recognition programs do help motivate employees.” Piron says almost every company she’s dealt with across the country has been talking about “increasing non-cash rewards to increase employee retention and engagement.

Piron says today’s creative incentive plans focus on anything from the ever-popular flex time to hiring a housekeeper for a day. The real challenge, she says, is developing a program that’s going to meet the needs of all employees.

The Rewards

Most of the major arenas and stadiums in Atlantic Canada have corporate boxes; tickets are often awarded to employees. Golf packages and fishing getaways are always popular high-end rewards. A hotel in Nova Scotia awards employees points for certain achievements (e.g. a positive comment, increasing business) and those points can be redeemed for product or lifestyle awards.

Travel companies like Vision The Atlantic Co., based in Pasadena, NL, offer expert help in planning travel incentive packages on the east coast, whether their clients are looking for adventure or luxury. Destination Halifax offers to “motivate, energize and inspire” with valley wine tours, sea-kayaking adventures, or the chance to be a chef or soldier (seriously, you’d get to wear a kilt and fall into drill a la 1870).

Angela Collins of Harbour Grace, NL, sells Arbonne, a Swedish-made line of nutrition and beauty products. She’s increased her sales to the point where she was awarded a Mercedes-Benz for her efforts. She’s also got a complimentary cruise coming up this fall with her husband, and has already been on an all-expenses paid trip to Arizona this year. “For sure!” she answers when asked if the material incentives are motivation. “If you don’t have a goal, you don’t have a plan … they’re great to keep you pushing yourself a little bit harder.”

Her thoughts on running an effective incentive program are two-fold: first, you have to find something your people want (in her case, Tiffany jewellery and luxe trips fit the bill); and the goals required to receive those rewards have to be challenging – but attainable.

Joel Ives of PEI’s Century 21 Colonial Realty says training and personal development opportunities are huge motivators. There is also a focus on hosting charitable events, which “gives agents a sense of pride in what they are doing and makes them feel good about being part of the business.”

That’s important but let’s be honest, it’s not going to be enough for everyone. “Sales is sales,” a local rep for a national pharmaceutical company tells me (he can’t divulge specific benefits thanks to a confidentiality agreement, though he admits the incentives are “substantial”). “What motivates people or sales people? All I can say is, money.”

Does your company or business have a creative incentive program? Let me know at stephaniejporter@gmail.com

Though it is still often defined by the traditional (romanticised) cultural mosaic of the rural fishing village, Newfoundland and Labrador is an increasingly urban and urbane society. As the rural population dwindles, the province’s major municipalities are, generally, the beneficiaries of the change, posting healthy retail sales and expanding business communities. In this feature report, Atlantic Business Magazine takes a closer look at the province’s five most-heavily populated municipalities, a handful of cities and towns who together account for over half of the province’s GDP.

Included under each municipality is a list of the major public and private capital projects and spending programs for each region, as published in the provincial government’s document, The Economy 2010, released with the annual budget. While the combined capital projects of the five municipalities total just under than $2-billion, less than 10 per cent of the $21-billion planned or underway in the province, it must be noted that the provincial total includes many provincial programs, as well as such big-ticket items as the $7-to-$11-billion Hebron development and the $3-billion Vale Inco nickel processing plant at Long Harbour. For more information: economics.gov.nl.ca/MP-about.asp (Note: population figures are from the 2006 census.)

City of St. John’s (pop. 100,645)

Embracing urbanization

As Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital city, it’s not surprising that St. John’s has the largest economic footprint of any municipality in the province. “St. John’s is unique in this province and it’s iconic,” says Derek Sullivan, chair of the St. John’s Board of Trade, referencing the city’s striking geography and landmarks. “St. John’s has a lot of prominence, as a centre of artistic excellence and … as a driver and centre of business and prosperity.”

In fact, the St. John’s Census Metropolitan Area (which includes neighbours Mount Pearl and Conception Bay South, also on this list) actually accounts for 50 per cent of the total provincial GDP and 37 per cent of the province’s population. It is the province’s indisputable post-secondary, retail, arts and cultural centre as well as home to the largest airport, university, hospitals and government offices. Indeed, one in five businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador are located in St. John’s, Sullivan points out, noting that many of the companies working in the province’s oil and gas industry have corporate offices in the city.

It’s a fact worth noting: St. John’s (and the province overall) weathered the recent recession handily, largely thanks to the continued interest in oil exploration and production. “We’ve had 15 years of growth in the offshore energy sector,” Sullivan says, calling it an “absolute” transformation in the city. “Just look at the number of restaurants, at the kind of restaurants that are here … and we’ve got another strong 10 years for sure.”

While some may bemoan the global trend of populations moving out of rural areas and towards urban centres (St. John’s has increased in population every year since 2000), Sullivan prefers to look at the positives. Innovation, research and development need a critical mass to thrive, he points out, and St. John’s is building an international reputation as a centre of ocean excellence for this reason.

“Urbanization presents opportunities to the province,” he says. “You can try to fight urbanization, or you try to embrace the opportunities and prosper by it.”

Major Capital Projects 2010: $1,200.3-million

All figures in millions

Property developments and subdivisions: $428
Health care facilities: $365.4
University buildings, projects and residences: $100.8
Multi-purpose facility (Pleasantville): $101
Commercial buildings: $56.5
RNC Headquarters redevelopment: $50
Metrobus terminal: $34.2
Condo, apartment, residential developments: $24
YMCA: $15
Sheraton Hotel renovations: $10
Vera Perlin Society renovations: $4
Colonial Building restoration: $2.5
Indoor soccer facility: $7.2
Industrial land: $1.7

City of Corner Brook (pop. 26,625)

The ‘mini-capital’

Don’t let anyone – or population statistics – tell you differently: “We’re still the Second City,” says Mel Woodman, president of the Corner Brook Board of Trade. “We’re still the centre hub and the only city on the west coast of the island.” R.J. Locke of Corner Brook’s Business Resource Centre prefers the term “mini-capital” for describing the city’s importance to western Newfoundland.

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Attention Mr. Boss Man and Ms. Management Queen: step away from the grill. You may want to show your staff and colleagues how you’ve conquered coals and mastered meat, but current advice says you might be better off delegating this particular task to the pros.

“Companies used to have the managers cook for the big summer function,” says Bruce MacPherson, owner of Sizzler BBQ catering (which has catered events in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI). “But these days we find the managers are saying, you know, ‘we’re not cooks,’ and they’re calling in others to help out.”

Food safety and allergy concerns are one good reason. For another, Atlantic Canadians’ tastes have evolved, thanks to food shows, magazines, global travel and the region’s growing creative food scene. Even as some businesses pare back entertainment budgets, the desire to make an impression has only increased. As MacPherson says, “people are looking for something to make the crowd go wild.”

Hog wild? In a word, yes.

The southern barbecue is on most 2010 restaurant trend lists, and it’s taking hold on the east coast. In Halifax, at least two new barbecue restaurants have opened since January, offering saucy ribs, pulled pork, brisket and sides like sweet potato fries, corn on the cob and baked beans.

It’s no accident one of those new endeavours, Q, is owned by RCR Hospitality, a leading (and generally high-end) Nova Scotia catering and restaurant group. Q serves up a carnivore’s smorgasbord at its downtown digs – but will also bring the BBQ to you and your group, whether you want ribs, smoked turkeys, half a goat or lamb or a whole roast suckling pig. The latter options, the high drama of bulk pig or lamb, have been catching on.

Just outside of St. John’s, Bruce Day’s Downhome Catering gets daily inquiries for pig or lamb roasts, though Day is more about the whole hog than the small suckling pig. He regularly makes a five-hour drive to Point Leamington to pick up fresh pigs for his chill room – usually eight to 12 at a time, weighing 50 to 300 pounds. (A 300-pound pig takes 28 hours to cook and will feed about 325.)

“People genuinely have fun with it,” says Day, prepping a 50-pounder for a City of St. John’s-sponsored dinner the next day. The pig roast used to be the domain of stag parties and birthday bashes, he says, but it’s now booked for employee appreciation events, retirement parties, dinners, even as the ultimate icebreaker for visiting colleagues or conference delegates. If it’s an afternoon affair, the clientele can watch the roasting happen on Day’s mobile spit-trailer.

MacPherson’s Sizzler BBQ also has mobile rotisseries, which can do several 100-pound pigs at once. “I always tell people it’s as much a show as it is a meal,” he says.

And it is. The sight of the whole animal(s) turning, dripping, crisping up, slowly cooking over hot coals… while it takes a few people aback, the novelty – and the outrageous aroma – tends to turn otherwise reserved professionals into droolers. And the final product? “Nothing better,” says Day.

Eating aware: In spite of all the attention just slathered on the finger-licking delights of a pig roast or southern-style BBQ pit, today’s function also frequently offers more health and/or eco-conscious options. MacPherson says many clients choose lighter chicken and pork fare over the hamburgers, hot dogs and heavy steaks of the past. Susan McDonell of Halifax’s Catering Unlimited buys local whenever she can, not only for the best flavours, but also because it’s important to her and her clients.

Refined taste: McDonell (who does a mean suckling pig roast, by the way) says tastes have evolved hugely over her 18 years in business. “People are definitely becoming more adventurous,” she says. “Instead of, say, breaded chicken, they’ll want chicken stuffed with hot pepper cheese or served with balsamic cranberry sauce.”

Location, location: Business event planners are spicing up summer summits by “getting away from the traditional large conference rooms and choosing a more interesting venue,” says MacDonell. “Dining al fresco, eating outdoors, is so popular. We’ve been out on a fishing wharf, in a field, on a lawn. Rooftop dining is a new favourite.”

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In honour of fly fishing season, I thought I’d dig around in hopes of discovering the place for an exclusive executive fishing getaway. There is luxury to be found in the remote woods, and there is great fly fishing in every province in Atlantic Canada. Some of it is only accessible by float plane or helicopter – and to those with the means to get there.

Looking through various fishing resort websites, I saw a lot of photos of fellas being manly men. Up to their thighs in water, faces shaded with devil-may-care stubble, looking rugged, satisfied, triumphant. And always, always, holding a really big fish.

Which is why I was so glad to speak to Marsha Pond.

Pond’s husband runs Pond’s Resort, a long-time fly-fishing haven/lodge on the banks of New Brunswick’s Miramichi River. Pond’s Resort offers “retreat meetings,” which have proven a popular way for businesses and staff to combine work and an afternoon’s fishing.

Marsha Pond is an avid angler and the head instructor at the “Broads with Rods” fishing school. “The kind of women who come here are not offended by that,” says Pond of the title. “They absolutely get it and they get the sense of humour.”

Broads with Rods is a weekend of expert instruction and time with the fish – as well as wine and cheese, fine cuisine and, of course, a few extras. (“Look, just because a woman has a rod in her hand doesn’t mean she doesn’t want a manicure,” says Pond. Manis and pedis happen in the evenings.)

This year, Pond is offering two sessions, one in June and one in August. It’s open to all women with an itch to fish, but the opportunity does attract a certain type. “This is the kind of woman who wants to try something different. Our average age is 38 to 45. These are women who… enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the peace, but also enjoy the challenge – and bragging rights.”

Not surprisingly, a high proportion of Broads with Rods are busy professionals. Some want to learn so they can fish with spouses or colleagues; some do it purely for themselves. Some return, year after year, for the good time.

Valerie Folk, a real estate broker and regional manager with Royal LePage in Halifax, signed up for Broads with Rods with members of her investment group. “It’s a great stress reliever and good fun,” she says of fly fishing. And while the accommodations are “definitely not roughing it,” the excursions are not for the faint of heart either. “There’s nothing sissy about it,” she says. “You’re up early, rain or shine, and in the water. You’re dealing with rapids, water and exercise all day.” Folk now has all her own gear and is looking to practice fly fishing near home in anticipation of her annual trip to the Miramichi.

Pond maintains that “the fastest growing group in the fly fishing business in North America is women.”

Maybe. Not far away, Country Haven Lodge in Grand Rapids, New Brunswick, is devoting the first two weeks of September to “Lady Anglers” interested in fly fishing wild Atlantic salmon. The sumptuous Miramichi Inn offers clinics specifically for women by a certified fly casting instructor.

With great fly fishing in every Atlantic province, there are many places to go for a flick. According to André Godin, who has been running the Miramichi Inn for 30 years, the future of this prestige sport is bright. “I never thought that we would encounter (salmon) returns again like we saw in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” Godin says. “Well, for the last three or four years they’ve been getting better each year, in size and quantities. I really thought that the species would decline to a point where the angling for salmon would not be there for the next generation. Fortunately, there is hope now. It might be too early to rejoice, but it sure feels good to see.”

Hear that, ladies? Time to get ready to land the big one.

I wouldn’t dare ask the location of your favourite fishing hole, but if you’ve a great idea for an executive getaway, please drop me a quick note. Stephanie Porter (stephaniejporter@gmail.com)

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Karl Kenny is known for his straight-talking approach to business and strategy. Yet the CEO of Marport Deep Sea Technologies can get surprising philosophical when speaking about the mysteries of his “marketplace”: the ocean.

“Whatever religion you are, you’re taught to look to the sky, at the heavens,” he says. “But we know so little about the place we live on. I ask you, what do we really know about the sea? Every day I’m reading about new discoveries and new species and really cool new stuff that comes from the bottom of our sea.”

Kenny firmly believes the company he helms will play a valuable role in seeing and understanding what’s down there. The unexplored waters that cover vast portions of our planet hold far more than biological intrigue. While Kenny is fascinated by the promise of scientific discoveries yet to be made, he’s also well aware of the growing importance of the food within the sea and the fuel that lies beneath it. Plus, as a former naval officer as well as a politically tuned-in modern citizen, he appreciates the defensive significance of ocean territory. It is in the applications of military intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that Marport stands to make its most profitable strides. For this year, at least.

Based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Marport is a leader in undersea sensing, communication and visualization technology and products. From its pioneering software-defined sonar to the development of its first unmanned, untethered underwater vehicle, Marport is expanding the clarity, ease and flexibility of communication between those on the surface and machines far below.

What started as a company focused on meeting the needs of Iceland’s high-end deep-sea fishing industry has evolved into an exciting force in the broader commercial fisheries, oil and gas, ocean sciences and defence sectors.

Where Marport and Kenny have truly excelled, however, is in developing cutting-edge technology, creating useful products out of it and, most importantly, shoehorning them into a marketplace that’s willing to pay for them – just as they predicted.

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Marport had a banner year in 2009, acquiring one major company and signing a multi-year research and development deal with another. Within those 12 months, Marport doubled its sales numbers and workforce. It’s projecting that sale figures will double again in 2010.

“We’re pretty close to where we want to be,” Kenny says. “We have some really great talent, they’ve worked really hard and as a team (we have operations in Iceland, France, Spain, Ontario, Seattle) we all work well together. We’re able now to get to the point where we’re being taken as being very credible.”

Marport’s origins can be traced back to 1996 in Iceland; Kenny says he and a team of investors “Canadianized” the company in 2003. Marport’s original sonar technology caught Kenny’s attention, but it was a vision for its broad applications that galvanized his passion and commitment. “We understood the implications of the technology,” he says. “The Icelandic guys were doing some interesting stuff in underwater sensing and underwater communication, working at great depths.… You say, fine, that’s really interesting technology. Then you come back to your bubble and say, OK, what can we do in the marketplace?”

“You have to think really hard about how the world is going to change in the next 18-24 months. And make sure you’re positioned to meet that change and not develop for what you see today. And that’s really tough to pull off.”

From 2003 to 2006, Marport’s engineers and designers slowly built on the company’s product offerings to the commercial fisheries market, where it remains successful. Important partnerships with Memorial University, the Marine Institute and more were formed and continue to this day.

The biggest challenge at all stops, says Kenny, was “feeding the beast.” Competition among new and small technology firms for investment dollars is notoriously fierce. Marport enticed financial interest from the private sector, as well as the federal government’s Atlantic Innovation Fund and National Research Council. Overall, millions were invested in developing Marport’s flagship technology: software defined sonar.

Sonar uses sound waves to create digital images; it is key to “seeing” underwater. Marport’s software defined sonar products break new ground by being adaptive. This means older sensors can be reprogrammed with new software to meet evolving needs without a major investment in hardware. As well, underwater sensors can be updated on the fly by uploading new information wirelessly from land or a surface vessel. This offers time- and money-saving flexibility in a wide range of applications.

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“There’s no real yuppie scene here.” So I’m told by a contact in Halifax as we chat about various venue options for a reasonably professional after-work drink. He might be right. While there are any number of higher-end restaurants that might be geared towards those in business attire, the “business bar” is not a niche that’s spoken about in Atlantic Canada.

 That said, no one wants to take a visiting colleague to a dingy watering hole – not even if it’s the place you’ve been frequenting since you were a teen (certainly not on a first meeting). But for those in search of slightly more relaxed conversation with co-workers, over a cocktail or nice glass of wine, the East Coast options are endless and ever-changing.

 A time for Scotch

In the mucky month of March, nothing thaws the gullet like a wee dram. How about this description of the 42^nd St. Lounge (125 Sydney St.) in Charlottetown, PEI: “It offers comfy couches and wide chairs in a really cozy atmosphere. And a great drink list and an extensive Scotch list. It’s a great place for after work or to bring a date.” I can add that the exposed brick walls and well worn wooden floor are the perfect antidote to a day under fluorescent lights. The venue has recently added The Loft, a new private dining room. There are also Scotch tastings and wine & food pairing classes at times, if you’d like to learn while you schmooze.

 Eco-aware

While doing your part for the earth may not be at the front of your mind when you set out for a cinq-a-sept, Halifax’s Wooden Monkey (1707 Grafton St.) is a perfect choice should you be entertaining anyone with a green streak. Three kinds of organic tequila, local beer from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and “what may be Halifax’s only MSG-free Caesar” are all on the drink menu – as are all the more pedestrian favourites.  “The Wooden Monkey’s a great place for out-of-towners with an eco-consciousness,” says one Halifax resident who does his fair share of entertaining colleagues from away. “And the Rolling Stones love it.”

Some (local) cheese with your wine?

Here’s a way to sample some East-Coast fare that does not come from the sea. Happinez Wine Bar (42 Princess St.) in Saint John, NB, has recently built on its considerable charms (stone walls, a gorgeous wine cellar) by offering artisan cheese from Fond des Bois and meats from la Ferme du Diamant, both New Brunswick operations. They’re also excellent party planners, and their small space works for relatively small gatherings or wine-tasting events.  

Music men

For those looking for something different, try The Carleton (1685 Argyle St.) in Halifax, newly opened in 2009. A swank, yet accessible, spot for a beverage, dinner or late-night snack, this is more of a “listening room” than a club on music nights. The Carleton showcases new and established singers and songwriters on selected evenings in a place where you can actually hear the music while you dine or sip. Owned by music lovers Mike Campbell and Mike Rhodes (you might remember them as the hosts off Mike & Mike’s Excellent Cross Canada Adventures in the late ‘80s on MuchMusic), it’s not surprising that this is a quality music venue, and, as I keep hearing, a cool place to hang out.

Brew Pubs

If you fancy some local brew, the Big Tide Brewing Company (30 Princess Street) is brand new to Saint John and the four or five beers it brews on site have all been heartily reviewed by beer lovers (especially the stout). The YellowBelly Brewery (1 George St.) in St. John’s is also fairly new, set in a carefully restored historical stone building and boasting impressive beers of its own.

 Is your favourite spot for a happy-hour confab or a perfectly prepared night cap missing from this list? Let me know and I’ll be more than happy to pass along some of your suggestions in an upcoming issue. Until then, cheers all.

 Stephanie Porter (stephaniejporter@gmail.com) 

With a well-stocked bar, snacks on demand, housekeeping, security and built-in entertainment – not to mention a captive audience – the skybox seems the ultimate venue for mixing business and pleasure. Impress your clients, relax and unwind, chat and laugh… and sign on the dotted line?

Doing business at “The Game” may seem a little old school, and Atlantic Canada’s executive suites don’t quite have the cachet of high-end boxes overlooking the SuperBowl or even the losing Leafs, but our hockey teams, sporting events and concerts do draw a loyal crowd – including those wearing suits. Even in these trying economic times, with corporate entertainment budgets being rolled back across the board, it appears that the “corporate box” is still considered a worthy investment.

“There have been some adjustments to the way people are spending, but there is still a need to entertain clients; a booth at a game is still a pretty big deal,” says Geoff Hurst, manager of corporate services at the Halifax Metro Centre.

As the go-to guy for premium seating in Halifax Regional Municipality, Hurst has experienced his fair share of skyboxes and luxury suites during his business travels. He mentions one particularly luxurious offering in Dallas, complete with leopard-print couches and a range of refreshments to rival a cocktail lounge. “It was the kind of place one very wealthy person might own and use to entertain friends,” he says.

That doesn’t really happen in Halifax, he admits. While almost every skybox has been customized in some way, the personal touches arrive through art selection rather than flamboyant furniture. It’s corporate and fairly conservative – and that’s exactly what the suites are for. Although there will always be guests who show up purely for the “free” beer, those who lease these exclusive boxes have made a serious investment. Whatever’s happening on the floor below, be it the Halifax Mooseheads or Guns ‘n’ Roses, is not always the main attraction.

“The event is just the excuse. There could be a darts tournament going on… it’s just (an excuse) to get the client there to talk to them and show them a good time. There’s tons of business done in the boxes. Millions and millions of dollars in deals have been done here,” reports Hurst.

The Metro Centre is probably the top of the skybox crop in Atlantic Canada, with 49 executive suites, costing between $36,000 and $75,000 a year, depending on size. But it’s hardly alone: the Charlottetown Civic Centre added 10 luxury suites in 2003 (each costs about $12,500 per PEI Rocket hockey season) and the Saint John Harbour Station added 15 executive boxes (closer to $30,000 each) less than five years ago. Mile One Centre in St. John’s and the Moncton Coliseum also boast high-end corporate boxes. Every suite available has been leased, and in most cases, the facilities report a waiting list.

“It’s definitely a business tool,” says Stu Dunn, operations manager of the Charlottetown Civic Centre. “The owners are all fairly solid companies with big clients.”

“There’s a fair number of big clients who are entertained (in the boxes),” echoes Michael Caddell, general manager of the Harbour Station. “There’s a fair bit of socializing going on.”

Hillcrest Volkswagen in Halifax has leased one of the largest executive suites in the Metro Centre for seven years. “It’s a way to reward staff members, for team-building, to entertain existing clients… and we do use the suite for charities, too,” says Hillcrest GM Mike Velemirovich. “And that’s partly altruism, but it’s also good for our image.”

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After Hours is a new department dedicated to executive leisure time. Stay tuned as I explore tips and trends that run the gamut from the best golf courses to the most boisterous Happy Hours. If you have suggestions for activities you’d like me to cover in future issues, send them to: stephporter@hotmail.com

One early hint to can pass along: if you’re looking for creative ways to amuse and impress your clients, don’t head to the Internet and search “executive entertainment.” Trust me – the word “corporate” will get you more appropriate, if tamer, results. S.P.

Those rumblings came to the surface again in February, when a pair of Russian bombers conducted a test flight near Canada’s Arctic airspace. Three months later, a Russian security report hinted at possible military conflicts over oil and gas in the next decade.

With incredible petroleum riches at stake (recent estimates indicate up to a third of the world’s undiscovered natural gas and 13 per cent of the world’s undiscovered oil may lie under the Arctic seabed) it’s no wonder that the vast and forbidding north is being eyed by the five countries bordering it. While no other country has made the bold moves Russia has, Canada, Denmark (which controls Greenland), Norway and the United States are all working to settle exactly how much of the Arctic’s riches should rightfully fall within their borders.

Though it may appear the Arctic is under siege, and while it’s very true everyone wants a piece of the petroleum prize, those involved in the process to solidify the marine borders would disagree. “It’s not a race, it’s not a conflict, it’s an orderly process,” says Jacob Verhoef, the federal geologist leading the mapping mission that will form the basis for Canada’s claim to millions of square kilometers of petroleum-rich Arctic seabed.XX It may also surprise outsiders that it’s a cooperative process, with significant collaboration and pooling of resources between scientists in particularly Canada, Denmark and the United States.

Verhoef’s groundbreaking mission (many subsea areas currently being studied have never been mapped before) has been ongoing since 2004. The field seasons are short and intense; the amount of data collected, immense. The potential ramifications are substantial.

Verhoef, who is based in Halifax, isn’t used to the attention this particular, and particularly massive, mission has brought. “It’s fascinating from a science point of view, but it’s also exciting because we don’t always see the implementation of our work; usually there is a scientific paper as a result,” he says. “But this may be defining theouter limits of our country.”

In Atlantic Canada, interest in the unfurling story of Arctic sovereignty is high. With the world running out of easily accessible petroleum products, the opening of Arctic waters and an expected increase in the price of oil, northern resources present major opportunities for businesses and institutions who have established themselves on the cutting edge of ocean engineering and working in harsh climates.

Another factor in successful development, of course, is political stability. Potential land disputes are definitely on the radar of politicians and industry alike.

“Generally, we always want to have certainty of the game going in,” says Mark MacLeod, Chevron Canada’s Atlantic Canada manager. In his previous position as managing director of Chevron Norway,MacLeod had to deal with boundary disputes, generally between Norway and Russia, regularly. “They are hard, hard issues to resolve,” he says. “(A dispute) does curtail activity.”

Dr. Verhoef describes the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Canada ratified in 2003, as “the constitution of the ocean.” His mapping work is directly related to Article 76 of that constitution, which outlines how a country may be granted subsea rights beyond the established 200 nautical miles. If Verhoef and his team can establish undersea geologic and geographic continuity – if they can demonstrate undersea rock formations are connected to Canada’s continental shelf – they can thus argue Canada’s territory should be extended.

Countries who signed the treaty have 10 years to submit data to the UN commission for altered offshore boundaries. Verhoef says Canada is, thus far, on track for meeting its target of 2013.

While Canada and other nations work to gather and analyze data in the harsh and little understood Arctic, there’s another potential seafloor dispute right in Atlantic Canada. In March, France made a submission to the United Nations to extend its rights on the continental shelf around the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.