Every month we’ll post our four finalists (and the subsequent winner) right here. Keep an eye out!
IDEAS MARKET FINALISTS
The following ideas will be participating in our Awesome Ideas Market on June 12th! Want to support them? Get registered!
#1: Nova Water – Submitted by Andrew Rowlands
Nova Water would work to transform the bottled water market through a non-profit company that reinvests 100% of its profits back into the local communities where the water comes from, while also taking an innovative approach to how the water is bottled.
#2: Fruition – Submitted by Jessie Doyle & Seth Graham
Fruition produces and sells prepared snacks and meals created from high-quality ingredients, using local and organic foods whenever possible. The company provides customers with nutritious alternatives to mainstream foods without sacrificing taste. All products are free of gluten, dairy, refined sugar, soy, eggs, and meat.
#3: The Dudes and Ladies Art Society – Submitted by Jess Lincoln
The Dudes and Ladies Arts Society is a not-for-profit artistic collective with the aim of providing a mutually supportive space for members to produce and show artworks collaboratively. The organization’s focus is on art in public spaces, open and accessible to a wide audience. The Duds and Ladies Society aims to create unexpected, humorous deviations from the everyday.
#4: Music for Everyone – Submitted by Faye Bontjie
Faye Bontje is the executive director of the new Halifax Music Co-op (formerly the King’s College Orchestra). Her team is committed to giving every person in the HRM the chance to experience ensemble music, regardless of their age, skill level, or financial situation.
#5: Custom Jewelry and Costumes – Submitted by Aaron Stevens
Aaron Stevens is a sixteen-year-old jewelry and costume maker who owns X.A.C. Productions. His primary skill is working with chainmaille (creation using rings) and he has started to make costume pieces, including a medieval styled chainmaille shirt and lightsabers to add to his portfolio.
#6: Spryfield, The Musical – Submitted by Ann Denny
A group of youth in Spryfield has started to write a hip-hop musical that they want to film. A local hip-hop artist Hickey G has agreed to take on development of the script for free. In addition, the group wants to record some of the tracks and shoot some initial footage to create a trailer.
#7: Outdoor/Indoor Art Exhibits – Submitted by Derrick Johnson
Derrick Johnson is a visual artist interested in promoting artists and the arts in Nova Scotia. His idea is modeled on the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit, Toronto Indoor Art Exhibit and the Montreal Outdoor Art Exhibit. For Halifax he envisions two exhibits, each being held during a weekend (3 day period) in Halifax twice a year. The shows would focus on traditional artists (painters and sculptors).
#8: Camp Empathy – Submitted by Stephanie Shute
The mission of the Empathy Factory is to instill a sense of empathy and a philanthropic spirit in Nova Scotia’s youth. In 2011, they group created Camp: Empathy, a series of week-long day camps designed to encourage empathy in children through project-based learning and volunteerism. Using the same formula, The Empathy Factory is working to bring Camp back for the summer of 2013.
#9: Red Spruce Goes to India – Submitted by Michael Christie
Red Spruce is a Dartmouth based company that makes authentic andhooked rugs and carpets right here in Nova Scotia. The company is represented in New York City, San Francisco, and Miami and has been featured in COVER Magazine, Interior Design, and Canadian House and Home. But the rugs are expensive, so the company is looking to produce a more affordable line in India (using ethical means, of course).
#10: The Record Shop Resto-Coffee Bar – Submitted by Kathy Jollimore
Located in the North End, The Record Shop will offer locally sourced, made-to-order breakfast, lunch and dessert alongside some exceptional coffee and espresso. All paired with options for all diets and a laid back atmosphere with vinyl spinning in the background.
#11: Chain Link Fence Be Gone – Submitted by Lisa Forsey
Lisa Forsey is working to develop a decorative PVC fence panel secured that will be secured by industrial strength magnetic stripping recessed in the PVC panel. The PVC panel will secure directly to the existing steel chain link fence (posts). Much more esthetically pleasing, the solution provides a softer landscape, and cost effective alternative.
#12: Empowering Nova Scotian Elders Through Arts – Submitted by Jesse Robson
Over the course of the past year, 19 young adults from across HRM have come together to create and perpetuate free arts programming for elderly adults experiencing physical, cognitive and financial limitations. The goal is to create and propagate programming for older adults that is accessible for participants of all backgrounds, support levels and health statuses; physically, cognitively and socially beneficial for participants of all ages; and, super fun.
#13: Ethical Barcode – Submitted by David Hamp-Gonsalves
David Hamp-Gonsalves wants to give customers the ability to really use their buying power. His ideas is to build an mobile application that lets users scan the barcodes of products to reveal the pertinent information about their areas of concern (i.e has it been tested on animals, is it local, will it have a negative impact). The application would provide on-the-spot information about the impact a purchase will make.
#14: Healthy Coffee – Submitted by Krista Cook
Having found the remarkable health benefits of Organo Gold beverages (the coffee contains ganoderma, known as the King of herbs in Chinese medicine), Krista Cook’s project would be to open a tiny space in order to serve customers and provide drive through service. Think Steve-O-Renos on Robie Street.
#15: urbanOrchard – Submitted by Schuyler Smith
The urbanOrchard project is an opportunity for persons with disabilities, volunteers, and community members to learn self-worth, and self-confidence by participating in an urban harvesting program. The project will take participants around HRM to harvest from fruit and nut trees on private and public land. Any homeowner can register their fruit or nut trees with urbanOrchard and a group of participants and volunteers will be mobilized to pick the bounty. The fruits of their labour will be shared amongst the owners, volunteers and Feed Nova Scotia, ensuring fresh fruit is not wasted.
#16: East Coast Momma Collection – Submitted by Sarah Dhooge
The East Coast Momma Collective exists to encourage and empower local mompreneurs, and help support them with marketing and educational events. East Coast Mommas are invested in their businesses, as their products and services are field-tested where it matters most: in their own homes and communities. The Collective organizes seasonal “Fairs” (markets) where mompreneurs can showcase their “Mom-Powered Pursuits”.
#17: Mint Shop – Submitted by Josh Poulain
Josh Poulain’s idea is to develop a web and mobile application that allows users to purchase items from their local grocery store and receive them at home within one to four hours. An ideal solution for, busy families, the application would allow people to buy their groceries from any computer, mobile phone or tablet, thereby encouraging healthier choices.
#18: Free For All Fitness – Submitted by Maritime Heart Centre
Exercise is the best and most efficient way to keep your body fit and your heart healthy. But gym memberships and fitness programs are expensive. The Maritime Heart Center, a charity that supports activities for heart wellness, is responding by running HRM’s first-ever professionally designed, trainer-led no-charge fitness classes.
#19: Expression for Depression – Submitted by Brandon MacDougall
Expression for Depression is an anti-bullying event that will consist of forms of expression based on the theme of anti-bullying and depression. The emphasis will be on performances using spoken word, including professional artists of spoken word and rap that would give their own performances in between youth performances.
#20: Fierce Ink Press – Submitted by Kimberly Walsh
Fierce Ink Press is creating a new model for the publishing industry: part author collective, part co-operative. While they’ll focus primarily on print-on-demand and ebooks, they’ll also be following the music industry’s lead. Where they have produced limited edition vinyl, Fierce Ink also be producing limited edition hardcover books (available only at brick and mortar stores). The bonus to readers is not only the exclusive collector’s edition but they’ll receive a signed bookplate from the author and free ebook version.
MAY 2012 FINALISTS
Permanent Ping Pong – Submitted by Veronica Simmonds
When Veronica Simmonds travelled to Berlin, Germany, she fell in love with the city’s playfulness. But what she loved most were the permanent public ping-pong tables that line the city’s canal. People of all ages gather at all times of the day to play, laugh and pong. Veronica wants to bring this phenomenon to Halifax. Her project would see a permanent, concrete ping-pong table established on the north common. Talk about a boon to community health and wellness and an undeniable fun maker!
Tulipmania – Submitted by Sam Austin *Winner*
Tulipmania is about beauty and community, two things that are both pretty awesome! Sam lives on Tulip Street in Downtown Dartmouth and wants to plant tulips all along the street, on an unloved, scrubby strip of land between the sidewalk and the road. Sam has already consulted neighbours and the idea is well-loved. That’s why if Sam gets the funds to buy bulbs, the whole neighbourhood will come together in October to plant them. Then, in the spring, Phase 2 of Tulipmania begins when the flowers bloom for all to enjoy.
Wish You Well – Submitted by Renee Gruszecki
Wish You Well is inspired by the Canadian penny, which will be removed from circulation in September 2012. When it’s gone, Canadians will no longer be able to make wishes in fountains with pennies. Renee Gruszecki feels this is very sad! So she’s proposing that folks come by the Public Gardens fountain and make a wish to say a final good bye to the penny. She’d also like to enter Halifax in the Guinness Book of World Records for having made the most amount of wishes in a fountain in one day. The goal is to have more than 10,000 people make a wish in the fountain! All of the pennies from the wishes would then be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada located in Dartmouth. Talk about stretching your pennies!
Digital Scavenger Hunt – Submitted by Regina Fox
Janet, Katie and Regina are three sisters that have been hosting scavenger hunt parties since they were old enough to draw the list of items on a piece of construction paper with a broken crayon. Needless to say, they’re big fans of the age-old game. The Awesome Halifax Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt is their idea to create a city-wide scavenger hunt where all items are collected with the click of a digital camera. Teams would have three hours to race around the city capturing a list of potential photo subjects. The team with the most points would walk away with an awesome $400 grand prize.
APRIL 2012 FINALISTS
Switch Halifax: Open Street Sundays – Submitted by Ross Soward
Inspired by cities around the world that have created open street events, Switch is an event that closes streets to motor vehicle traffic and opens it to cyclists, walkers and families and demonstrates how Halifax’s streets could be used to support a more active, sustainable city.
The goal for Switch Halifax is to launch and pilot test to see just how well this idea could work right here in Nova Scotia. It would all happen on a Sunday in July from 8 am to 2 pm. The 5 km route, beginning at the Hydrostone and end at Point Pleasant Park, follows the Halifax Cycling Coalition’s proposed Crosstown Connector Route and would be the course designated for the test drive (pun fully intended!).
Giant Connect Four on the Commons – Submitted by Dan Corbett
It’s a game that can be played by four-year-olds or ninety-four-year-olds. Connect Four is easy and fun, making it way cooler than rounding up a bunch of horses and yelling “king me!”
So picture a giant, 12 ft. version of this game being built on the Halifax Commons. Add to that several other regular-sized boards and you have yourself a mean afternoon tournament on a summer’s day. It’s an easy way to bring a whole lot of delight to Halifax.
Welcome Home – Submitted by Margaret Angus
The folks who work in communications at Capital Health have chosen Metro Turning Point, an emergency shelter for men experiencing homelessness, as the charity they support. Over the past year, the group has contributed in many ways, including conducting a sock drive, collecting more than 700 pairs of socks.
This spring, Metro Turning Point will be opening an apartment building. Nineteen of the men who are living at Metro Turning Point will move into their own place. For some, it will be their first time having their own apartment. For others, it will be the first time in three years they’ve been able to leave the shelter. The team from Capital Health would like to use the Awesome grant to prepare welcome baskets for these men to provide them with a few necessities of home: towels, kitchen items and dish soap, for instance. The hope is that this gift will not only be a practical offering, but a reminder that someone cares.
Parking Ticket Paid! – Submitted by Amber Phillips *WINNER*
Two years ago on April 6, Amber Phillips’ family experienced an unimaginable tragedy. Her mother had to be airlifted from Charlottetown to the QEII in Halifax after a tragic accident. The amazing doctors at the QEII saved her life and the family spent six weeks at the hospital before being transferred back to PEI.
While Amber’s family’s experience was an incredible one, one of the biggest things that stood out for her was the price of parking at the hospital. At a time when people are their most vunerable, paying for parking is the last thing they should be concerned with. Amber wants to take one small worry off their mind with a random act of kindness. Her plan: she’ll travel to Halifax at her own expense, stand next to the parking pay machine in the lobby of the QEII on Robie Street and pay for everyone single person’s parking until her $1000 is gone!
MARCH 2012 FINALISTS
Outdoor Festival and Dance Party at Bloomfield Park – Submitted by Greg Woolner
Dancing, food and a great Halifax location are at the heart of this idea. Centered around the Michael Jackson Experience dance game, the Bloomfield Park Outdoor Festival and Dance Party would bring Haligonians together to play the interactive video game. The game, which enables players to step into the shoes of the King of Pop and re-live his most iconic movements, would be projected onto the west-facing wall of the Bloomfield Centre. Two people at a time would dance their hearts out in a round robin-style dance-off.
And to ensure a party atmosphere, hot cocoa, hot local apple cider, soups, stews and a BBQ would not only keep party-goers warm and happily well-fed, it would ensure that nobody would “beat it” away from this party.
Halifax Waterfront Virtual Aquarium – Submitted by Dave Chandler
What city doesn’t need a great aquarium? But that costs millions. This project helps to solve that. Using blank walls at the Maritime Museum or the Tugboat wharf, a window (approximately 2M x 3M) would be placed. A rear projection screen would be adhered to the glass and a multi-play DVD player and projector would be set up. Together, the technology would allow for undersea videos to be projected onto the building. The aquarium videos would run continuously to the delight of young and old with virtually no maintenance required and would make Halifax’s already awesome waterfront even more so.
No Charge Fitness – Submitted by Maritime Heart Center
Working out? Awesome. Keeping your heart healthy? Awesome. Dying from heart disease, enduring open heart surgery, getting diabetes? Not so awesome. Nova Scotia leading the way for heart disease in the country? Depressingly un-awesome.
Exercise is the best and most efficient way to keep your body fit and your heart healthy. But gym memberships and fitness programs are expensive. The Maritime Heart Center, a charity that supports activities for heart wellness, has a plan. This group wants to use the Awesome grant to run HRM’s first-ever professionally designed, trainer-led no-charge fitness classes. As they say: “Structured workouts. Expert trainers. Great equipment. Free for everyone. Awesome.”
Re-Plant Halifax – Submitted by Hannah Stuart *WINNER*
Hannah Stuart grew up outside of Avonport, NS on a hobby farm where her father grows trees in his arbourarium that’s made up of hundreds of species and thousands of trees. Each year Hannah’s dad has given away his trees to make towns in the Annapolis Valley greener. This year, the father/daughter duo would like to bring their beautiful trees all the way to Halifax and host an Awesome Halifax Replant.
To accomplish the feat, they would recruit planters through social media and personal contacts. The trees would be delivered one day in May to pre-determined public spaces where supplies and instruction would be provided. Tree adopters would get to take their Valley-grown trees home and enjoy the benefits for years to come!
FEBRUARY 2012 FINALISTS
Operation Oobleck – Submitted by The Dudes and Ladies Arts Society
Oobleck, a word borrowed from Dr. Seuss (the original source of all things awesome), is a slimy concoction made by combining one part water with one and a half parts cornstarch. The mixture contains properties of a liquid and of a solid. Gently touch it and it will act as a liquid; apply pressure, and it solidifies. And walking across it creates the illusion of walking on water.
Awesome funding would be used to build a watertight container: 10ft long, 3ft wide, 2.5ft deep that would be filled with Oobleck and placed on the Commons. Then, the fun-loving folks of Halifax would be invited to run across it and play. It’s an opportunity to bring people together to experience the magic of a simple science experiment on a large scale.
Lego and Have Some Fun – Submitted by Sam Evans
Sam Evans is a nine-year-old boy who loves Lego for its fun and creativity and wants to share it with lots of other kids. His project is to buy $1,000 worth of Lego and host a big Lego party at the skateboard park in Halifax for all the kids who want to come out and be creative and see what can be made.
Once the event is over Sam intends to donate all the Lego equally to Halifax Public Libraries, Boys & Girls Club of Halifax/Dartmouth, YMCA kids program, and the Discovery Centre.
Space Bagpipers – Submitted by The Dudes and Ladies Arts Society *WINNER*
Space Bagpipers is a public event/ intervention that would unfold like this: It is a weekend afternoon. Inexplicably, about 20 bagpipers, dressed in fabulous silver spacesuits, appear in downtown Halifax. They walk down Barrington Street, one stopping on each corner, until they are distributed throughout the downtown core. Then they play their bagpipes, and glorious, droning, Highland cacophony fills the city for 15 to 20 minutes. When finished, they leave, reuniting with each other as they walk back from whence they came and forming a climactic, raucous, Space Bagpiper parade, never to be seen again.
Girls Gone Gazelle – Submitted by Stacey Juckett
The goal of Girls Gone Gazelle will be to help young girls become active before junior high. By incorporating regular cardiovascular activity between the ages of 8 and twelve, the group hopes to increase the probability of them staying active through their teen years, thereby reducing the chance of weight-related issues during puberty.
The first chapter of Girls Gone Gazelle starts in March in Dartmouth, NS and will train for the Benny Bulldog 5K. The next chapter will be in Eastern Passage starting in June and will train for the Coastal 5K. Awesome funding would be used to buy running shoes and other attire to ensure all girls have access to this incredible program.