Going through boxes of files the other day, I found some old photographs that described the arc of the history of this company. The memories came flooding back. There was an outdoor summer party at Joyce Nifort’s place; an indoor shindig at the office on Portland Street (something about a certain cheese); a Christmas party with families at Hatfield Farm; the whole crew on the rocks at White Point Beach Resort. Some of these people are still with the company; many are not.

The photographs took me back to that cool fall day in 1993 when Neville Gilfoy showed up at my house for lunch. I was the contract editor of Commercial News, once owned by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Neville had acquired it with the intention of one day launching a business magazine for Atlantic Canada. As we ate, Neville explained that he was ready to launch the new magazine. He wanted to use it as a vehicle to promote entrepreneurship and the creation of wealth in Atlantic Canada. “Would you like to be the editor?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “I sure would.”

Man, what a ride it’s been.

At first, there was a small core staff: Neville the publisher; Max Brennan, sales; Karen Kavanaugh, art direction; and Joyce Nifort, production. Max came up with the name Atlantic Progress. We ground it out in the trenches, creating the identity of the magazine issue by issue. We were fuelled by that startup energy, a combination of excitement and fear.

Time passed. The company is now called Progress Corp. It has penthouse offices in Halifax. The core product is called Progress magazine. The company publishes a slew of intelligent publications in both official languages and runs a successful annual conference called Face to Face. The target audience now includes the business decision makers of northern New England as well as Atlantic Canada, as the company embraces the concept of Atlantica.

Rewind 10 years: Neville said he wanted me to meet a woman he had wanted to hire since he first met her at a magazine-publishing workshop in Banff, where he was an instructor, so we had lunch. The woman was Pamela Scott-Crace. We hit it off pretty fast, sitting opposite each other at the Argyle Bar & Grill, talking about magazines and literary stuff and making those lame jokes that are an integral part of Progress corporate culture. Pam was hired as circulation manger, took over the editorship of the contract publication Nova Scotia Open to the World, and went on to become the associate publisher for content.

Over the past year, Neville and I had an occasional exchange about me moving on and creating a more independent career, yet staying connected to Progress somehow. How this would work slowly became clear. It was a mature conversation about succession—at least as mature as Neville and I could make it. An important question was: Who would be the next editor of Progress? So a while back, Neville took Pam to lunch and asked her if she was interested. After some lively discussion, she said she was. (This is hearsay; I wasn’t there.)

So here we are in our 12th year of publishing Progress. This is my last issue. Pam is taking over as editor. She’ll put her stamp on it, making it stylish, entertaining, and clever—as she is. I’m no longer an employee of Progress Corp., but I’ll continue on in a reduced role under contract. I will edit Progress Halifax, the new city magazine; will keep a column in Progress; and will write and consult for the company.

Otherwise, I’ll be on my own, advising on strategy and communications under the rubric Context Consulting. Also, there are books to write and other projects of a creative and entrepreneurial nature.

Atlantic Canada has changed a lot over the 12 years that Progress has been on the scene—reporting, advocating, advising, cajoling, and entertaining. Today the economy is far less dependent on government spending and more diversified and entrepreneurial. The big long-term issues are becoming clearer: countering the aging and out-migrating population; improving education; promoting innovation and commercialization; attracting capital; and improving transportation and other infrastructure needed for trade.

At the same time, our corner of the world seems to be catching the eyes of intelligent people from elsewhere—especially Americans and Europeans who see it as a civilized place that has not lost touch with nature. They are staying for extended visits or moving here outright to raise a family, build a career, or retire, and their brains and resources are adding to our society.

Larger centres are growing, while many smaller ones are shrinking. Waverley, N.S., where I live, is a small bedroom community that is just far enough outside of town that I can relate to both urban and rural perspectives. In good weather, I tend to work outside on the deck, for Progress or other clients. Like the economy at large, I have diversified and am doing my bit to create value.
Thanks for the memories, all you folks who, one way or another, have been part of the Progress scene over the years. Keep enjoying the ride—and call me for lunch.