Cape Breton Island, NS – Today, the Cape Breton Partnership launches the Welcome to Cape Breton Podcast, an evocative podcast of change, arrival, and discovery. It examines the timeless notion – what is home? And how do we define the sense of belonging known as home?

With each episode focused on telling the stories of those who have been welcomed to Cape Breton – Unama’ki, along with the efforts of the people across the Island dedicated to welcoming them to their new home, this is a podcast for anyone curious about the evolving community landscape of the Island.

“Storytelling is a core trait of all cultures found on the Island, from those who have newly arrived to those who have been here since time immemorial,” says Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “As Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s private sector-led economic development organization, the Cape Breton Partnership resolutely believes in working with all partners across the Island to encourage welcoming, inclusive, and prosperous communities. We are excited for this Podcast to share these welcoming stories of both newly arrived and longstanding residents.”

Host Norma Jean MacPhee Zinck is the narrator and guide for the Welcome to Cape Breton Podcast. With 20 years as a journalist, her passion for Cape Breton – Unama’ki fuels each episode. Listeners will meet people who have landed here for a variety of reasons – to study, for a new career, for an escape from the hustle of big city life, and those who heard Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s story, and knew they wanted to be part of it.

“Storytelling in Cape Breton – Unama’ki is as much a part of the Island as the first people living here,” says MacPhee Zinck. “If you visit any home on any street in any community on the Island – you’re going to hear a story. I’m absolutely delighted that so many people have generously shared their stories of arrival and discovery with me. We are lucky to live on such a vibrant, evolving Island.”

In each episode of the Welcome to Cape Breton Podcast you’ll hear from people all across Cape Breton – Unama’ki looking to enrich the new communities they’re now calling home. The Podcast is available on Spotify and other popular podcast streaming platforms and is also available for anyone to tune in and listen on the Welcome to Cape Breton website at https://welcometocapebreton.ca/choose/podcast/.

Media Contact:

Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
902-562-0122
Jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com

Above: Promo-video for the Welcome to Cape Breton Podcast

In this first episode of the Welcome to Cape Breton podcast – we’ll meet Ankit Wadhwa and join in the celebrations that he and his friends organized for the annual Hindu festival called Navratri. We are all treaty people and many of us – indeed most of us – are settlers to Cape Breton. Graham Marshall joins the conversation with the perspective of those who have been welcoming people to these shores for centuries.

Welcome to Cape Breton is an evocative podcast of change, arrival, discovery and home. It examines the timeless notion – what is home? How do we define the oftentimes moving target known as home?

Your host Norma Jean MacPhee Zinck guides you on these adventures and discoveries. With 20 years as a journalist, her passion for Cape Breton – Unama’ki fuels this captivating podcast series.

Listen & Subscribe Today:

The Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, delivered the 2023 State of the Province Address on January 27, 2023, at the Port of Sydney in Sydney, Nova Scotia. This luncheon event was co-hosted by the Cape Breton Partnership, Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Strait Area Chamber of Commerce, and Cape Breton University.

Video courtesy of NovaStream.

Cape Breton Island, NS – The Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, will deliver the 2023 State of the Province Address on January 27, 2023, at the Port of Sydney in Sydney, Nova Scotia. This luncheon event is co-hosted by the Cape Breton Partnership, Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Strait Area Chamber of Commerce, and Cape Breton University.

“Our members are excited to have the opportunity to hear directly from the Premier, for the first time in their own back yard, and we’re happy to be working with great local partners to make that happen,” says Jenna Lahey, CEO of the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“We are proud to be working with our partners from across the Island to welcome Premier Houston to our region,” says Misty MacDonald, Executive Director of the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce. “There are many issues important to our members that will be discussed and we look forward to hearing from the Premier on what the Province has planned to further support our community.”

This will be Premier Houston’s first opportunity to present directly to Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s business community, touching on the Province of Nova Scotia’s priorities for the business community, and how the government is addressing the Province’s most pressing issues.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Premier Houston and his team to Cape Breton Island and hearing his government’s priorities for addressing the most imperative issues in our business community,” says CBU President and Vice-Chancellor David Dingwall.

Following Premier Houston’s address, he will be joined on stage by Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership, for a Question & Answer session.

“We are excited to be working with our friends and partners with both Chambers of Commerce and Cape Breton University to host Premier Houston for a great discussion on topics important to Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s residents and businesses,” says Tyler Mattheis.

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Media Contact:

Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
902-562-0122
Jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com

Cape Breton Island, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership, Sydney Credit Union, and Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce are proud to announce that the latest round of the Micro-Loan Program is now accepting applications from Female Entrepreneurs in Unama’ki – Cape Breton. With a focus on supporting the development and expansion of emerging businesses, as well as driving new employment opportunities, the program aims to empower local female entrepreneurs and remove barriers known to deter new businesses from getting started.

As in past rounds of the program, applications will be accepted from any eligible entrepreneurs that identify as female based in Cape Breton – Unama’ki. All financial aspects of the loan will be managed by Sydney Credit Union and each application will be evaluated and considered on a case-by-case basis, following Sydney Credit Union’s adjudication and due diligence process in making decisions to grant loans.

“We are pleased to enter into our third year working with the team at the Cape Breton Partnership for the Micro-Loan Program for Female Entrepreneurs,” said Carol Ripley, CEO of Sydney Credit Union. “Our commercial lending team is enthusiastic about welcoming new applicants from Cape Breton – Unama’ki into the program and providing them with financial assistance and advice.”  

In addition to coordinating the program and acting as first point of contact for interested entrepreneurs, the Partnership will also be providing applicants with access to mentors, programming, and additional resources to encourage the growth and success of new businesses started through the program. Some available services will include business planning, support for export, immigration, economic research, introductions to external subject-matter experts, and more. A combined 15 entrepreneurs successfully accessed micro-loan financing and the available entrepreneurial supports through the first two rounds of the program in 2021 and 2022.

“Having seen the enthusiasm of many past participants in the Micro-Loan Program, we are very excited to be partnering with the Sydney Credit Union again to help offer this significant opportunity for Cape Breton – Unama’ki local female entrepreneurs,” said Lan Zheng, CBRM Economic Development Officer employed by the Cape Breton Partnership. “We recognize that access to financing has traditionally been a barrier keeping many capable female entrepreneurs from pursuing their business plans, and this program is a great step in reducing that issue.”

Under the Micro-Loan Program, female entrepreneurs from across Cape Breton – Unama’ki will be eligible to apply for a loan of up to $10,000, offered at a low interest rate, with zero percent interest for the first six months. Participants in the program will also receive a one-year membership with the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

” The Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce is very excited to partner on this important initiative. Helping to remove barriers that women face when starting a business is key to ensuring we see more small businesses open across Cape Breton-Unama’ki,” said Jenna Lahey, Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We are looking forward to helping the recipients of these loans, with the Cape Breton Partnership, to access the supports they need in the business world in addition to the financial aspects.”

The program will initially be available for three months, tentatively available until March 31, 2023, and will be considered for extension based on interest received from applicants. For more information about the program, including how to apply, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com/initiatives/micro-lending-program/.

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Media contacts:

Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
902-631-5442
jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com

Pam Ellsworth, Community Relations & Marketing Manager
Sydney Credit Union
902-322-0030
pellsworth@sydneycreditunion.com