Presented by Nova Scotia Power, the 2024 Investor Summit was a day of forward-thinking, fresh ideas, and inspiring insights!

We were thrilled to welcome over 230 business leaders for a day focused on collaboration and connection. The event began with a humbling prayer, smudging, and drumming led by Molly and Mailey Pierro and the Indian Bay Singers of Wagmatcook First Nation. 

Marking the Cape Breton Partnership’s 20th anniversary, we took time to reflect on our past while looking toward a successful future. Current and former leaders Tyler Mattheis, Carla Arsenault, and Keith MacDonald shared insights on the organization’s evolution and its enduring impact. 

Building on the momentum, the Small Business, Big Impact panel explored how local entrepreneurs are shaping Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s economic landscape. Wesley Colford (Highland Arts Theatre), Jeremy Carroll (BRELA Homes), Danielle Johnston and Danielle Patterson (Anchored Group), and Jeremy White (Big Spruce Brewing) brought energy and inspiration to the conversation.

A highlight of the afternoon was the fireside chat with the authentic and engaging Arlene Dickinson, moderated by Board Member Kelsea MacNeil. Arlene’s relatable advice and inspiring journey resonated with everyone in the room.

We’re grateful to Jeff Ward of Wagmatcook First Nation for presenting Arlene with a thoughtful gift.

The Big Things, Small Places panel continued the momentum with excellent insights from Joseph Balaz (Cape Smokey), Shannon Lynch Colbourne (Cape Breton Beverages, Trans-Atlantic Preforms), Kendall Clancy (Cabot Cape Breton), and Geoff Clarke (Port Hawkesbury Paper).

Throughout the day, we showcased the All In on Solutions video series, highlighting Unama’ki – Cape Breton leaders and organizations breaking down barriers and driving economic growth. Stay tuned for the online release next week!

The evening wrapped up with the Gala Dinner, featuring a powerful and heartfelt keynote from Chief Terry Paul of Membertou, followed by the Networking Reception, and the 2024 Economic Impact Awards.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

A heartfelt thank you to our moderators, sponsors, attendees, and speakers for making the day unforgettable. We can’t wait to see you at the 2025 Investor Summit!

Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP), administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, was thrilled to launch and present the first Welcoming Spirit Awards at the annual CBLIP Partner Update Event: New Beginnings – Shared Futures on Friday, November 8, 2024 at the Sarah Denny Cultural Centre in Eskasoni.

This is the inaugural year for the Welcoming Spirit Awards, a new recognition focused on honouring individuals and organizations across Unama’ki – Cape Breton who have made a significant contribution in fostering welcoming and inclusive communities for newcomers to Canada.

“This year’s recipients of the Welcoming Spirit Awards have shown, time and time again, their unwavering commitment to helping newcomers to Canada feel at home in Unama’ki – Cape Breton,” said Kailea Pedley, CBLIP Program Manager. “We are celebrating their dedication, thoughtfulness, and passion for hospitality. We all have a part to play in making our communities more inclusive and welcoming, and these recipients truly uphold these values every day.”

L-to R: Ocean Le (Cape Breton Connector Program Coordinator and Co-Chair of the CBLIP Community Belonging Working Group), Kimani Mwangi (Nominator), Jonathan MacEachern and Hyunjoo Kim (L’Arche Cape Breton), and Tara Paon (CBLIP Program Coordinator).

The recipients of the 2024 Welcoming Spirit Awards are:

“I am so honoured to be recognized and receive one of the first Welcoming Spirit Awards,” said Rickey Lanting of YREACH. “Working in immigration can be very challenging, but this recognition pushes me to work even harder and be an inspiration to newcomers. I made it here, and others can too, especially with the help of a supportive inclusive community and access to resources.”

L-to R: Ocean Le (Cape Breton Connector Program Coordinator and Co-Chair of the CBLIP Community Belonging Working Group), Tara Paon (CBLIP Program Coordinator), Rickey Lanting (YREACH, Award Recipient), Rosamae Wareham (Nominator), and Trina Hall (YREACH).

Planning has already begun for the 2025 Welcoming Spirit Awards, and those born outside of Canada and now call Unama’ki – Cape Breton home are invited to consider nominating an individual or organization who help newcomers feel welcome for a Welcoming Spirit Award in Summer 2025 when nominations open.

To learn more about the Welcoming Spirit Awards, please visit: https://capebretonpartnership.com/welcoming-spirit-awards/.

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Media Contact:
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
902-562-0122
Jeremy@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, 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. For more information, visit https://capebretonpartnership.com.

About the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership:
Administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP) is a collaborative initiative designed to foster welcoming communities that support the full participation of newcomers in the social, economic, political and cultural life of Cape Breton-Unama’ki. For more information, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com/CBLIP.

Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership celebrated the incredible contributions of businesses, community organizations, and business leaders across Unama’ki – Cape Breton on October 24 during the annual Economic Impact Awards presentation at the 2024 Investor Summit, held at the Inverary Resort on Baddeck Bay and presented by Nova Scotia Power. 

The 2024 Economic Impact Awards were presented with support from Nova Scotia Power, the Atlantic Economic Council, and Greenfoot Energy Solutions. The Awards annually recognize individuals and organizations from multiple industries for their outstanding contributions to the economy. Award recipients are chosen based on their significant contribution to the Unama’ki – Cape Breton economy through innovation, entrepreneurship, and new investments.

“It was an incredible day marking our 20th anniversary, followed by an incredible evening celebrating businesses, institutions, and leaders in our communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton at the 2024 Economic Impact Awards presentation,” said Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “It’s leaders and organizations such as this year’s recipients that are bringing innovation to the forefront, and working to grow our Island, our workforce, and our economy.”

The recipients of the 2024 Economic Impact Awards include Ben Cowan-Dewar of Cabot Cape Breton; The Verschuren Centre; Kiknu Long Term Care; Celtic Air Services; and Chief Terry Paul of Membertou.

“Membertou is a proud legacy investor in the Cape Breton Partnership, and through the years the reach and impact they’ve had on our island’s businesses and economic position is significant,” said Chief Terry Paul of Membertou.  “I am honoured to accept an Impact Award at the 20th anniversary of the Cape Breton Partnership’s Investor Summit.”

A sixth award was also presented in 2024 to Colleen Wheeliker, Strategic Relations Advisor of the Cape Breton Partnership, in recognition of her 20 years of service to the Cape Breton Partnership and the Island’s economy as one of the organization’s original staff.

The recipients of the 2024 Economic Impact Awards are all individuals and organizations from various industries and communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton. To be nominated, an organization or individual must have demonstrated a notable economic impact on Unama’ki – Cape Breton through new investment, innovation, and/ or workforce development in the last year. 

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Media Contact:  
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership 
(902)-562-0122
Jeremy@capebretonpartnership.com  

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 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.


(L-to-R) Kendall Clancy of Cabot Cape Breton accepts an Economic Impact Award on behalf of Ben Cowan-Dewar from Dave Pickles of Nova Scotia Power.

(L-to-R) Megan Hiscock of the Verschuren Centre accepts an Economic Impact Award from Peter MacIntosh of the Atlantic Economic Council.

(L-to-R) Steve Parsons and Alyssia Jeddore of Eskasoni Corporate and Kiknu Long Term Care accept an Economic Impact Award from Hayley MacDonald of Greenfoot Energy Solutions.

Mandy Boudreau and Jason Aucoin of Celtic Air Services accept an Economic Impact Award from Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton of the Town of Port Hawkesbury.

(L-to-R) Chief Terry Paul accepts an Economic Impact Award from Tracey Boutilier of Vibe Creative group and the Cape Breton Partnership Board of Directors.

(L-to-R) Colleen Wheeliker of the Cape Breton Partnership accepts an Economic Impact Award from President & CEO Tyler Mattheis in recognition of her 20 years of service to the Cape Breton Partnership.

With half a million annual visitors contributing over $300 million to the regional GDP, Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s tourism sector is robust, but nowhere near saturated. In this episode, we highlight a tourism investment case study in Cheticamp, the rapid growth of marine tourism, and the emergence of Mi’kmaq tourism. The consensus is that there are lots of opportunities for investors, and that collaborating is the way to go.

Listen now, or read on for a few highlights.

A Plan to Build a Cottage Snowballs into a Major Tourism Project

The episode begins with a case study in Cheticamp. Andre Bourgeois, a community leader in Cheticamp, met Kirk Hopner, the CEO of Ontario-based Nautical Lands Group, when Kirk bought a culturally and historically significant piece of land in the community. Kirk had planned to simply build a cottage for himself, but Andre’s insights about the community’s heritage and busy tourism industry inspired Kirk to take advantage of the untapped potential. As Andre put it, “They’re already coming, so it’s not ‘build it and they will come’. Build it because they’re coming.”As of today Kirk has multiple projects on multiple properties in development, including a  museum, gastropub, high-end hotel, and housing projects. 

Andre says these projects are sure to create a positive feedback loop that draws more visitors. He also says the community is a prime location for mid-range hotels.

Superyachts Are Already Coming, and Could Be Spending More

Adam Langley, President and CEO of Superyacht East Coast, has been leading a movement to develop Cape Breton as a marine tourism destination. He says superyachts and smaller boats are already coming, and there are big opportunities for businesses and communities to do more to service these floating debit cards. One boat that visited the Bras d’Or Lakes last summer spent $50,000.

For businesses, there’s demand for almost every kind of product and service, from dog grooming to onshore excursions and to ship maintenance to HVAC repair. However, superyacht passengers and crew have high standards, so tapping into this market might require a more elevated touch than usual.

For communities, Adam says if you develop your waterfront and adjacent mainstreets for locals first then the marine tourists will follow. But the most effective step is to collaborate with other communities because boaters are attracted to regions where there are lots of places to dock and visit. For Unama’ki – Cape Breton, having ocean coasts AND an inland sea is a huge advantage. 

For Indigenous Tourism, Authenticity in Experiences and Partnerships is Key

Robert Bernard, the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network (NSITEN), has been working on developing Mi’kmaq tourism businesses and experiences since 2017. Throughout that time, authenticity and cultural preservation have been at the forefront and are key parts of every offering that’s coming to the market, like the Eskasoni Cultural Journey, Membertou Heritage Park, and the Sky River Trail in We’koqma’q, all of which provide visitors with immersive experiences in Mi’kmaq history and culture. NSITEN is also working on initiatives such as the Mi’kmaq Music Association and a culinary project with Nova Scotia Community College to further promote and sustain Indigenous culture and tourism.

For investors interested in working with Indigenous communities, Robert calls for them to build genuine relationships with Indigenous communities, understanding their history and needs before initiating projects.

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New episodes of Invest in Cape Breton are coming. Subscribe or follow now on your favourite podcast platform to be notified when they drop. If you’re enjoying the series, consider leaving us a rating or review.

Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership, administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, is announcing the launch of the 2024 Welcoming Spirit Awards, a new recognition focused on honouring individuals and organizations in Unama’ki – Cape Breton that have made significant contributions to fostering welcoming and inclusive communities for newcomers.

The Welcoming Spirit Awards are designed to celebrate those who demonstrate genuine respect and openness towards newcomers to our communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton, as well as those who contribute to intercultural understanding and hospitality.

“Recognizing and celebrating the efforts of those who make our communities more welcoming reminds us of the everyday actions we can all take to help newcomers feel at home,” says Kailea Pedley, Program Manager of the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership. “We are excited to shine a light on the individuals and organizations that truly make a difference in the lives of newcomers and welcome the world to Unama’ki – Cape Breton.”

If you were born outside of Canada and now call Unama’ki – Cape Breton home, you are invited to submit a nomination for individuals and organizations who helped to make you feel welcomed or helped you in integrating into your community. Nominees will be evaluated based on their involvement in activities that support and integrate newcomers, such as providing guidance through cultural differences, engaging them in community events, and connecting them to local networks and resources.

Nominations must be received by 4:00 p.m. on October 1, 2024.

To make a nomination, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com/2024-welcoming-spirit-awards/ or call (902) 258-7331.

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Media Contact:
Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications
Cape Breton Partnership
902-562-0122
Jeremy@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, 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. For more information, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com/.

About the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership:
Administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP) is a collaborative initiative designed to foster welcoming communities that support the full participation of newcomers in the social, economic, political and cultural life of Cape Breton-Unama’ki. For more information, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com/CBLIP.