Okimaw Community & HR Solutions works with First Nations leaders to implement effective human resources
First Nations’ band managers typically play dual roles, serving as both finance and human-resources manager, but finances are often their primary focus, says Miranda Kennedy, the Vice President of Human Resources at Okimaw Community & HR Solutions, a company that works with First Nations and related organizations. “Rarely is anyone in the band office equipped to manage employee grievances, workplace safety or updating policies and procedures,” Kennedy told Prof.
Bombardier’s business is flourishing within narrower niche of business jets
A series of missteps led Bombardier to the brink of bankruptcy in 2015. The Government of Quebec bailed out the Montreal-based manufacturer, but its stock cratered as it restructured its business. Fast-forward to 2023, and the aerospace company is once again on the rise. The company foresees increased revenues due to robust demand for business jets and its stock price is up 50 per cent from a year ago. “Ten years ago, Bombardier was Canada’s biggest and most global company,” said Prof.
Airlines struggling with multitude of factors, including a tight labour market that increases competition for workers
Old software, bad weather, and high passenger volumes contributed to Southwest Airlines’ meltdown over the 2022 holiday season, which caused the cancellation of thousands of flights in just a few days. But there are other factors that have impacted airline performance too--during the pandemic, air traffic slowed down significantly, and airlines laid off part of their workforce, said Prof.
Underutilized Maritime airport seeks to grow industrial and cargo operations
When it comes to passenger volume, the Saint John Airport doesn't crack the top 20 airports in Canada. And though Saint John is New Brunswick’s largest city, it has seen some of its flights migrate to Moncton, which is more convenient for many Maritime travelers. But the Saint John Airport wants to grow in a different direction: it is seeking partners for a logistics park, and hopes to attract industrial operations like air cargo, ground transportation, and aircraft maintenance.
To overcome labour and skill shortages, airlines need to partner
High costs for labour and a shortage of key skills have contributed to serious challenges for airlines. And there is still turbulence ahead for the industry, says Ed Sims, the former CEO of WestJet. To make this situation even more challenging, shareholders are growing impatient after several years of losses, Sims told Prof.
Cheekbone Beauty founder Jenn Harper incorporates Indigenous teachings into company culture
Many companies have missions and visions, and ours is helping every Indigenous person see and feel their value in the world, said Jenn Harper in an interview with Professor Karl Moore for The Globe and Mail. Harper’s company is called Cheekbone Beauty, and it seeks to make sustainable cosmetics that won’t end up in a landfill.
National Indigenous Economic Strategy is a road map for building Indigenous economies
There are more than 50,000 Indigenous businesses in Canada. They operate in every sector of the economy, and contribute $32 billion to the country’s GDP. And Indigenous businesses are poised to grow further, said Dr. Marie Delorme in an interview with Prof. Karl Moore for The Globe and Mail. Economic prosperity is critical to achieving reconciliation, says Delorme, who is CEO and founder of the Imagination Group of Companies.
Employee scheduling system contributed to major Southwest Airlines service disruptions, but company is likely to survive
When things went downhill for Southwest Airlines, they went downhill fast. During the 2022 winter holiday travel period, the Dallas-headquartered airline cancelled 6,500 flights in just three days. Winter weather played a role, but the low-cost carrier was disrupted far more than other airlines. Reports from within Southwest suggest that an outdated employee scheduling system contributed, says Prof. Karl Moore.
Both music and business demand improvisational skills and collective action
Even if executives solicit employee feedback, they don’t necessarily have the skills to enter into a dialogue about it. Being able to think on your feet is an important skill in a leader, and Prof. Saku Mantere says that music is one way to develop it. “Jazz teaches us communication in the moment,” says Mantere, who recently released his debut album, called Upon First Impression.
Air Canada cuts Calgary-Saskatchewan service in profit-motivated move
Air Canada is discontinuing direct flights between Calgary, and Saskatchewan’s two largest cities. The move will leave travellers from Regina and Saskatoon with fewer options, but is a savvy business move, according to Prof. Karl Moore. It is part of the air carrier’s effort to focus on its major hubs in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Eco-fashion brand Ecova tells the stories behind its green initiatives
Positive storytelling can encourage consumers to make better, more eco-conscious choices. That’s the vision the Stephanie Beaulieu (MBA’22) shared with Karl Moore in an article for Forbes.com. Beaulieu founded the eco-fashion company Ecova to make change in the fashion industry.
Green energy not yet mature enough to solve Europe’s energy crisis
Europe’s energy crisis has highlighted the gap between the green energy production that we want, and the fossil fuel energy infrastructure that we actually have. When Russia cuts off the flow of natural gas to Europe, there simply is not enough green energy to compensate, said Eric Reguly of The Globe and Mail in an interview with Prof. Karl Moore for Les Affaires.
Air Canada is again named best North American airline, but competition is limited
U.S.-based magazine Global Traveler has named Air Canada the best airline in North America for the fourth year in a row, but this honour is a relative one, according to Prof. Karl Moore. According to Moore, it shows just how bad some of the other airlines in North America are.
Onex CEO Gerry Schwartz brought New York City thinking to Bay Street Â
Gerry Schwartz founded Onex Corporation in 1984, and after nearly four decades at the helm, he grew the company in to one of Canada’s largest private equity and venture capital firms. Now, Schwartz is stepping down as Onex’s CEO.
Understaffed airlines are less able to recover from delays
The return of mass air travel has encountered some turbulence, to say the least. Lengthy delays and lost luggage are ubiquitous, even as air travellers often pay a premium for flights. At least 240 WestJet flights were recently cancelled as a result of a system outage caused by a computer problem at a data centre, and when delays like this occur, airlines are less able to cope with them than they were in pre-COVID times. They are understaffed, and overwhelmed.
