Held on April 14, 2022, this is the third session of the Ocean Farming Series held by the Cape Breton Partnership and Nova Scotia Community College: Ocean Farming – Pathways to Entry and Regulations.
The session featured panel presentations and discussions with Tom Smith, Executive Director with Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, Michael Moore, Manager with Louisbourg Seafoods – Cape Breton Bivalve, and Melissa Rommens, Vice President with Sustain Aqua. The session was moderated by Nathaniel Feindel, Manager of Aquaculture Development and Marine Plants Harvesting for the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
This event is part of the Cape Breton Partnership’s and Nova Scotia Community College’s Ocean Farming Series, bringing our local Unama’ki – Cape Breton business community together to hear from industry experts on a range of topics important to the success and growth of the ocean farming sector on Cape Breton Island.
Future topics include: Innovation & Readiness and Quality & Capacity.
For more information:
Carly Appleton
Cape Breton Partnership
902.562.0122
carly@capebretonpartnership.com
Amanda Mombourquette
Nova Scotia Community College
902.227.7836
Amanda.Mombourquette@nscc.ca
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.
About Nova Scotia Community College
NSCC is committed to building Nova Scotia’s economy and quality of life through education and innovation, transforming Nova Scotia one learner at a time. NSCC offers more than 130 career-oriented programs throughout the province at our 14 campuses, including our online eCampus. Learn more at https://www.nscc.ca/.
Cape Breton Island, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership is pleased to announce, together with our partners at the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration (LSI) and Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, that the 2022 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium will be held in person on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Membertou Trade & Convention Centre.
In addition to discussions on the 2022 Symposium theme of destigmatizing mental health, participants will also have the opportunity to participate and engage in a number of breakout sessions, which will cover a variety of topics, including: self-care and living healthy, how managers can support a worker in crisis, ergonomics, business continuity in a pandemic, and much more.
“We are excited that we are able to co-host this important Island-wide event, after two years of not being able to hold the symposium in person,” said Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “Safety and mental wellness is extremely important in the workplace, especially given what organizations and individuals have experienced as a result of the pandemic over the course of the last two years.”
This year’s agenda will be both insightful and impactful, and will serve as a great learning opportunity for attendees to network and discuss how the pandemic has changed safety in our workplaces and in our everyday lives.
“The Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium is an important event for the entire Island, because it shines a light on relevant health and safety issues, while bringing employers and employees together to learn about, and discuss health and safety issues that are important to them,” says Blaise MacNeil, Safety Advisor with the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “Attending the symposium is a great way to find out what is going on in the world of health and safety, collaborate with one another, and share your experiences about health and safety in your workplace.”
To learn more about the Safety First in Cape Breton Network, register for the 2022 symposium, or participate as a sponsor for this year’s event, please visit http://www.safetyfirstcapebreton.com/safetyfirstsymposium. Registration closes Monday, April 25, 2022.
To nominate an individual or organization for a Safety First in Cape Breton Award, please fill out a nomination form by visiting http://www.safetyfirstcapebreton.com/about-safetyfirstawards and submit by April 18, 2022.
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Media Contact
Carly Appleton
Cape Breton Partnership
info@capebretonpartnership.com
(902) 562-0122
About the Cape Breton Partnership
The Cape Breton Partnership is Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live, work, and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. Learn more at https://capebretonpartnership.com/.
(Cape Breton Island, NS) – Nominations are now open for the 2022 Safety First in Cape Breton Awards, honouring individuals and businesses who are committed to the advancement of workplace health and safety in Cape Breton – Unama’ki.
The awards are coordinated by the Safety First in Cape Breton Network, an initiative of the Cape Breton Partnership, in collaboration with WCB Nova Scotia and the Department of Labour, Skills & Immigration (LSI), and generously sponsored by Protocase. The award categories include recognitions for Young Advocate, Engagement Ally, Outstanding Health & Safety Committee, Small Business Trailblazer, Safety Culture Champion, and Innovation Expert.
The awards will be presented on May 4, 2022 at Membertou Trade & Conference Centre as part of the 2022 Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium. The symposium will feature keynote addresses, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and an industry trade show. Details regarding registration and speakers will be shared in the weeks to come.
“The Cape Breton Partnership is honoured to continue working with our partners at WCB Nova Scotia and the Department of Labour, Skills & Immigration, as well as our valued sponsors of the Safety First in Cape Breton Symposium to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to embed a strong safety culture in the work they do and across their organizations and businesses,” said Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “As the Island’s private sector-led economic development organization, we understand that health and safety is critically important to economic sustainability, and we sincerely value the dedication of those who are nominated for the Safety First in Cape Breton Awards.”
Past Safety First in Cape Breton Awards recipients include the NSCC Strait Area Campus, Seaside Wireless Communications, Strait Area Safety Services, Victoria Fisheries Co-op, Lynk Electric, Copol International, Landry Brothers Ltd., and other dedicated businesses and individuals working hard to make Cape Breton – Unama’ki the safest place to do business.
To nominate an individual or organization, please visit http://www.safetyfirstcapebreton.com/about-safetyfirstawards
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Media Contact:
Carly Appleton
Cape Breton Partnership
902-227-7976
Carly@capebretonpartnership.com
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.
If you have been to the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market in downtown Sydney in the last few months, you may have noticed an exciting new addition to the market: the Pop-up Bistro.
Introduced in 2021, the Pop-up Bistro is a collaboration between the Cape Breton Partnership and the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market. The initiative gives local food and beverage businesses the opportunity to try their hand at being a vendor at the market.
Since launching, the Pop-up Bistro has become much more to the local business community, helping local entrepreneurs grow their businesses and delighting customers with new local products.
A Great Learning Experience
For Paula Fortune, the Pop-up Bistro was the perfect opportunity to create something unique in her rural home of Belle Côte. Fortune and her husband Eric Rochefort are both trained chefs who have lived and worked in British Columbia and Alberta. Together, they created Salt Spray Farm.
“We are a family-owned and operated business,” says Fortune. “We use all fresh ingredients and create delicious salad dressings that we are proud to share with all Cape Bretoners and visitors to the Island.”
Fortune says that the Pop-up Bistro was just what she and her husband needed to introduce their products to the community.
“The Pop-up Bistro is a great initiative,” she says. “It’s a small time commitment, and it gives businesses like ours the chance to try out our dream and watch it become a reality.”
Since Salt Spray Farm had their day at the market, they have seen a clear increase in social media traffic and interest around the Island. The bistro also gave Fortune and Rochefort the opportunity to introduce their products to other local businesses. Salt Spray Farms now offers its products at stores around Cape Breton, including Port City Grocery in Sydney, Marguerite Boutique Et Provisions in Chéticamp, Brook Village Grocery in Brook Village, and the General Store at the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market.
“We’ve learned a lot about the process of food safety and nutritional testing, and now we’re beginning to market and distribute our dressings,” Fortune says. “It’s been a great learning experience.”
An Exciting Opportunity
For Trevor MacLean of One Bent Kitchen, the Pop-up Bistro was an opportunity to turn his love of candy into a viable business.
“One Bent Kitchen began as a hobby for me,” says MacLean, who was a vendor at the Pop-up Bistro at the end of October 2021. “I am a candy lover at heart and wanted to share that with other people.”
Famous for his Lemon Loaf, MacLean says that the Pop-up Bistro gave his passion project the boost it needed to start looking toward the future. Now he is gearing up for the cruise ship season and is excited for the chance to delight tourists and visitors with his yummy creations.
“This opportunity really allowed me to grow my hobby into a business and share my creations with the community,” says MacLean. “Initiatives like the Pop-up Bistro are important for economic growth on the Island.”
When asked what advice he would offer other hobbyist-turned-business-owners, he says, “I think it’s important that if you have an idea or creation that you want to try out, go for it, even though it may seem scary at first. The reward is worth the effort.”
New Growth in the Community
The bistro has brought a buzz of positivity to the farmers’ market, with one business even signing on to become a weekly vendor.
“This experience has been very positive and beneficial for the market. It was a pleasure working with the Cape Breton Partnership and we appreciate their dedication and hard work in making this a big success,” says Brenda Donahue, Chair of the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market.
In its first six months, the Pop-Up Bistro was able to welcome 18 locally owned and operated small businesses into the market and give them an opportunity to showcase their products to market-goers.
“It was a win-win for both the market and the vendors who participated,” says Donahue. “The fact that a number of vendors have asked to come back was a good indication they found it worthwhile. The feedback we received from both the vendors and the community has been outstanding.”
Due to the success, the Market has decided to continue the Pop-up Bistro, allowing more local startups and small businesses to reach new customers and grow.
“This initiative helped us recognize that there is a need to provide space for startups as well as established small businesses who have been struggling during the pandemic. By continuing with the bistro, we will provide new and existing small businesses with access to new customers and the ability to test new products,” Donahue says.
Another advantage to participating in the Pop-up Bistro is the networking component. New and existing small businesses can network with other entrepreneurs at the market and share ideas and knowledge.
“Running a small business is not for the faint of heart,” adds Donahue. “We want to do whatever we can to help. Whether it’s by sharing knowledge or providing advice, we must all work together to support our local economy and small business community.”
To learn more about the Pop-up Bistro or if you are a startup or existing food and beverage small business interested in taking part, please contact the Cape Breton Farmers’ Market at: cbfarmersmarket@bellaliant.com.
Elevate is Cape Breton – Unama’ki’s business-focused publication brought to you by the Cape Breton Partnership. To evolve with our business audience, the publication has now moved from a print publication to fully online. Starting in 2022, our readers can expect to see Elevate articles appearing on both our website and on Saltwire.com.
Held on March 10, 2022, this is the second session of the Ocean Farming Series held by the Cape Breton Partnership and Nova Scotia Community College: Ocean Farming – Food Security & Environmental Sustainability.
The session featured panel presentations and discussions with Stacey McCarthy, Marketing & Communications Manager, Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia, Alicia Lake, Executive Director, Cape Breton Food Hub, and Allison McIsaac, Biologist, Eskasoni Fish & Wildlife Commission. The session was moderated by Amanda Mombourquette, Community Innovation Lead at Nova Scotia Community College.
This event is part of the Cape Breton Partnership’s and Nova Scotia Community College’s Ocean Farming Series, bringing our local Unama’ki – Cape Breton business community together to hear from industry experts on a range of topics important to the success and growth of the ocean farming sector on Cape Breton Island.
Future topics include: Pathways to Entry & Regulations, Innovation & Readiness, and Quality & Capacity.
For more information:
Carly Appleton
Cape Breton Partnership
902.562.0122
carly@capebretonpartnership.com
Amanda Mombourquette
Nova Scotia Community College
902.227.7836
Amanda.Mombourquette@nscc.ca
About the Cape Breton Partnership:
The Cape Breton Partnership is Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s private sector-led economic development organization that supports companies and entrepreneurs by promoting our island as a great place to live and invest; growing a culture that values and celebrates creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and connecting entrepreneurs and companies to the resources they need to succeed. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.
About Nova Scotia Community College
NSCC is committed to building Nova Scotia’s economy and quality of life through education and innovation, transforming Nova Scotia one learner at a time. NSCC offers more than 130 career-oriented programs throughout the province at our 14 campuses, including our online eCampus. Learn more at https://www.nscc.ca/.