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Canadian Government and Province of Nova Scotia Applaud RIM's Expansion to Halifax |
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Written by Wire Services
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Friday, 25 November 2005 |
Nova Scotia's Information Technology industry is welcoming Research In Motion (RIM), as the company has chosen Halifax as a location of growth with a new 1200-person technical support operations centre.
RIM is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. BlackBerry is the world leading wireless enterprise solution developed by RIM that keeps mobile professionals connected to people and information.
The company's expansion was announced Friday by the Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Regional; the Honourable Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works and Government Services; Nova Scotia's Economic Development Minister Ernest Fage; Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO of Research In Motion Ltd., and Stephen Lund, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI).
The Province of Nova Scotia is supporting the company by investing a maximum $14-million performance-based payroll rebate and a $5-million financial package including recruitment and training incentives.
Since launching BlackBerry in 1999, RIM's customer base has grown to over 4 million BlackBerry subscribers and is supported on carrier networks around the world.
"Halifax is an excellent fit for RIM and we look forward to recruiting the local team as soon as possible," said Mr. Balsillie. "RIM believes Nova Scotia's strong post-secondary research environment and talented IT labour pool will be instrumental in fueling our progress."
RIM's Halifax operations will begin in 2006 with RIM hiring up to 1200 full-time IT positions over a five-year period. These IT professionals will enjoy RIM's competitive salary and benefits package while being part of a dynamic company that has created one of the world's most compelling and rapidly adopted technologies.
The location for the new company has not yet been revealed but the Halifax Chronicle-Herald reported that the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission had earlier issued a news release suggesting the imminent arrival of a "major technology company".
Typically RIM employees are paid well and usually begin at an annual salary of approximately $50,000. |
