Innovation Events

Innovation 101, 2007: Appreciative Inquiry
Seventy-five participants gathered for this two day workshop.

Watch a short video about the event.

The Workshop…
Inspired by the success of the first Innovation 101 in 2006, the Kings Innovation Council continues the journey to increase innovation in Kings County .
Appreciative Inquiry focuses on providing tools and teaching participants to increase creativity and innovation in themselves, their workplace and the community using Appreciative Inquiry (AI). This technique focuses on what’s working well (appreciative) and engages people (inquiry) and utilizes positives to heighten energy, sharpen vision, and inspire action through exploring the 5 Ds model: Define; Discover; Dream; Design; Destiny!

The Facilitator…
Dr. Jeanie Cockell, Jeanie Cockell Consulting Inc. is a dynamic facilitator who is known for her creativity, sense of humour, sensitivity, and ability to get diverse groups to work collaboratively together. She is a leader in Appreciative Inquiry as an organizational and community development process, a research methodology and foundation for fostering collaboration in groups. Jeanie specializes in working with groups and brings to that work a wealth of experience and research. She uses “making magic” as the metaphor for the facilitating she does with groups that results in improved communication where appreciation is combined with critical reflection to enhance goal achievement and working relationships. “Magic” is this transformation. The transformation ripples out from the individual and group levels to the whole organization/community. The outcome is more appreciative living, leading and working together.

Luncheon Speaker…
Kimberly John Smith achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in performance from York University in 1981. He has worked extensively in theatre, film and television since that time. His professional experience ranges from being an actor to a set technician, artistic director, writer, musician and video maker. He began teaching movie making in 1994. This lead to the invention of "Movie Games" in 1998.  This powerful recreational approach to video literacy combines the essential principles of film language with group improvisational games and inexpensive consumer video technology.

Book Club Panel…
Lisa Hammett Vaughan has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, and a Bachelor of Education, from Acadia University. She lives in Wolfville and since 1996 has worked for Flowercart. As coordinator of Flowercart's Community Employment Services, Lisa oversees a team that helps adults considered to have an intellectual disability get jobs and training. Having also raised two boys and with a long history of serving on grassroots community committees, Lisa has had many opportunities to learn about and to practice innovation and improvisation.

Jim Noonan was born and raised in Kentville and is a graduate of Acadia University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. His investment experience spans over 10 years, following a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry with Johnson and Johnson. As an investment advisor with BMO Nesbitt Burns, he has earned his Wealth Advisor and Certified Senior Advisor designations. Jim specializes in helping individuals, business owners and their families create sound wealth strategies that provide clarity to their financial, retirement, and succession goals. As a result, his clients feel assured knowing that their family and future life style are protected. He is very involved in the community as a regular contributor to various fundraising events and is also actively involved with the Valley Hospice Foundation. In the past, he has coached youth soccer in the valley area for many years. Jim still remains active in the local sports community by attending the basketball and soccer games of his terrific teenaged daughter. Jim finds time to golf, run, take yoga and weight train.

Ray Savage holds the position of Business Manager with Transcontinental Media for its Nova Scotia Weekly newspaper division in Nova Scotia. Ray has a successful background in real estate sales, housing construction and financial services. For seven years, he operated a professional business coaching practice in Western Nova Scotia. He has worked with an array of businesses in a number of industries, helping them resolve, create and/or improve their business so as to benefit those wanting to be more successful. Ray is active in the community as a member of the New Minas Sunrise Rotary Club, a member and director of the Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival, a past member of the Kentville & District Kinsman Club, and also sat as a member of the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal. He lives in Cambridge N.S. with his wife Catherine and their Springer Spaniel, Bixby. His hobbies include the great outdoors, motor sports, cooking and travel.

Nancy Tregunno is the New Product Development Manager at Nova Agri Inc. She attended Acadia University where she received a Bachelor in Food Science, and went on to do a Masters in Food Science at University of Guelph. Nancy has been with Nova Agri since 2000.  Prior to that she was in the Applied Research group at Guelph Food Technology Centre. 

The Human Resources Panel…
Moderator: Barb Buchanan has been the manager of the federally funded Career Resource Centre in Kentville for the past four years. She is the Valley representative for the Nova Scotia Career Development Association board and a past committee member of the National Integrated Delivery Strategy for Canada’s Sector Councils.  Her previous experience includes career counselor/consultant with St. Mary’s University and the University of New Brunswick, educator, business associate, wife and mother!

Allie Craswell was born, raised, and educated on Prince Edward Island. He has been an Annapolis Valley resident for 22 years. He has 39 years of experience in the food processing industry. Allie was Manager of Avon Foods Inc. in Berwick for 20 years until its closure and is currently the Director of Supply Chain at Nova Agri. Allie formerly served as Director of the Flower Cart, former member of advisory committee to N.S. Department of Education for Workplace Education, and Clean Water Nova Scotia.  He currently holds directorships with Hants-Kings Business Development Centre, Agri-Futures Nova Scotia and is a member of the steering committee for Annapolis Valley Employer of Choice. In 1999 he received an honorary Diploma from Nova Scotia Community College.

Vicki Elliott-Lopez was born in Calgary, Alberta, and grew up in Windsor, Nova Scotia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree as well as a Master of Arts Degree with a major in the Social Sciences from Acadia University. She worked in the area of Volunteer and Seniors’ Services for the Victorian Order of Nurses, and coordinated health and wellness and fundraising programs for the Canadian Cancer Society. Her position with Service Canada as a Programs Officer introduced her to labour market and employment issues, and in 2002, Vicki returned to the non-profit sector when she accepted the position of Programs Manager with PeopleWorx. In her role as Programs Manager, Vicki develops and oversees employment services and labour market research programs in Hants, Kings, and Annapolis Counties. She continues to pursue learning and development in the areas of labour market issues and leadership, and volunteers her time on various boards and committees. Vicki currently resides in Port Williams with her husband Myrone and two children, Alyssa and Anna.

Roger Tatlock has been the Executive Director of The Flower Cart since 1992. The Flower Cart is a vocational service provider for adults considered intellectually disabled and is located in New Minas. Roger is a graduate of Acadia University with a Bachelor of Science degree with a Specialization in Mental Retardation, as it was called then. He has worked in the field of services to people with an intellectual disability for almost 30 years; including vocational and residential services and as an instructor in a community college program that prepares people to work in human services. Originally from Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Roger lives in Wolfville. In his spare time he enjoys kayaking, weight lifting and refereeing basketball. Married for over 20 years, Roger has two children, a 19 year old son and a 21 year old daughter.

William (Bill) H. Travis, OMM, CD, was born in Halifax where he completed his primary and secondary schooling. He attended Royal Roads Military College in Victoria, BC, and graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Math and Physics from Dalhousie University. He served in various ATC capacities in Lahr, Germany, Goose Bay, Labrador, Cold Lake, Alberta and New Brunswick. He was Chief Instructor and Staff Officer at ATC School in Cornwall, Ontario and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1990. Bill served in North Bay as the Base Administration Officer and then as Base/Wing Administration Officer in Greenwood. Bill received the Order of Military Merit and was presented with the medal by the Governor General in May 2000. Bill retired from the military after more than 30 years of service in June of 2001 to take the position of Executive Director of PeopleWorx (formerly the Annapolis Valley Work Activity Society). The society serves people in Annapolis, Kings and Hants counties to help them overcome employment obstacles. Community minded throughout his career, Bill has served on town councils, coached baseball & hockey, been a beaver and cub leader and served on several boards of community organizations. Bill and his wife and best friend Annette have been blessed with three sons, Bill, Eric and Daniel and one, soon to be two, grandchildren.

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