HALIFAX - Today he heads up a technology empire with about 1,500 employees. Two decades ago, an experience in north-end Halifax taught him a lesson he never forgot: never put machines before people.

Xwave chief operating officer Paul Kent was working for what was then called Social Services. The regional office had a computer problem that night, so he made an executive decision to fix it in the morning. Kent arrived early the following day with his team, ready to do the work.

Then he learned that an irate social-assistance recipient who had to wait until morning to get her welfare cheque had shown up at the office and run amok, requiring police to come in and settle things down...

See the full story at The Daily News