Unama’ki – Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership, in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, is pleased to announce the Supporting Newcomers, Employers & Community Information Sessions, taking place from September 19 to September 27, 2024, across Unama’ki – Cape Breton.
This series of informative sessions aims to foster a welcoming environment for attendees and provide valuable insights into community, employment, and immigration supports across Unama’ki – Cape Breton. Whether you are an employer, involved with newcomer services, or simply interested in the topic, you are encouraged to attend to learn more about the local supports and resources available. Each session will also include an opportunity for attendees to share insights into what supports their communities have and how communities can be better supported to attract and retain newcomers
Sessions will take place in Chéticamp (September 19, 10 a.m.), Port Hood (September 19, 2 p.m.), Glace Bay (September 20, 10 a.m.), Cleveland (September 26, 9 a.m.), and Ingonish (September 27, 11 a.m.).
“The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to host this series of sessions that will bring together our communities and newcomers in meaningful ways,” says Kelly MacKinnon, Labour Market & Immigration Advisor with the Cape Breton Partnership. “We sincerely appreciate the partnership of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration and their commitment to make this initiative possible, and we look forward to the valuable connections that will emerge from these events.”
These sessions will feature representation from the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, the Cape Breton Connector Program, the Cape Breton Welcome Network, the Cape Breton Job Board, the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership, and the Cape Breton Partnership’s Immigration Services and offer the opportunity to connect with all representatives. All sessions will provide valuable general information and are not intended as in-depth discussions on immigration programs.
For further information, or to register to attend a session, visit www.capebretonpartnership.com/supporting-newcomers-employers-community.
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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/.
There is a myth in Unama’ki – Cape Breton that the island has a talent shortage.
In the fifth episode of Invest in Cape Breton, we explore how IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) principles can help businesses overcome recruitment challenges by welcoming members of underrepresented communities. The conversation with Robyn Lee Seale from Build Nova Scotia and Nadine Bernard of Indigivisor covers the importance of building relationships, common mistakes, and the vital role of psychological safety.
Listen now, or read on for a few highlights.
The IDEA Approach and Why to Embrace It
IDEA stands for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility. An IDEA approach has always been important because workers are people who deserve a good experience in the workplace. But Robyn Lee says it’s a particularly interesting time to be doing diversity and inclusion work because now there’s a workforce gap—it’s in everyone’s best interest to do what it takes to welcome more people into our workplaces, and make it an environment where they want to stay.
Nadine adds that IDEA is an alignment of corporate community values with the actual communities the corporations are in. Unama’ki – Cape Breton is the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq so including and meaningfully engaging Indigenous people is one way to honour that.
Indigenous Employee Recruitment
Unama’ki’s Indigenous communities are full of talented and skilled people, but accessing them may take more than posting a job ad. That’s because many of these communities have projects of their own that need a lot of workers, and because working off-reserve means their income will be taxed.
Some employers have adapted by leasing space on First Nation land, which Nadine says has been a successful approach. Others, like Everwind Fuels are going even further and working with Indigenous communities as equity partners.
“Culture can change”
Implementing IDEA principles represents a major culture change. Robyn Lee Seale points to a precedent: the successful shift in work culture around safety since the 1992 Westray mine disaster. The local construction industry has been enthusiastic about this extension of the definition of safety to include psychological safety.
To ease the transition, Build Nova Scotia has been working on helpful support materials like an Inclusive Language Site Manual and the forthcoming Respectful Site Champion Program.
Support for Employers
If you’re an employer that needs help navigating an IDEA shift, or looking for connections into equity-deserving communities, the following people and organizations can help:
- Robyn Lee Seale is the Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Build Nova Scotia: RobynLee.Seale@novascotia.ca
- Nadine Bernard, Founder and CEO of Indigevisor
- The Band Offices of Eskasoni, Membertou, Potlotek, Wagmatcook, or We’koqma’q.
- Mi’kmaw Economic Benefits Office (MEBO)
- Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn (KMK)
- Veronica Merryfield at the Cape Breton Transgender Network
Subscribe to the Invest in Cape Breton podcast
In Episode 6 we’re talking about the incredible investment opportunities in this Island’s tourism sector. Subscribe or follow now on your favourite podcast platform to be notified when it drops. If you’re enjoying the series, consider leaving us a rating or review.
When the Cape Breton Partnership first opened its doors in 2004, it had an ambitious goal of attracting 100 private sector-led Investors in its first year. Since then, the organization has evolved as a crucial component of the economic development landscape of Unama’ki – Cape Breton. Now celebrating its 20th year, the Cape Breton Partnership is taking a look back at the last two decades and sharing how it all began, and what have been the milestones along the way.
The beginnings of the Cape Breton Partnership can be traced back to the overarching goal of improving the economic outlook for the Island, bridging gaps in economic development, and uniting the business community through private sector involvement.
Keith MacDonald, who was one of the first three employees of the organization, and who was first hired as General Manager before becoming President & CEO of the organization from 2007 to 2018, shares how the Partnership was formed, and how it has grown to the economic development catalyst its known as today.
“At that time, there was a great deal of conversation about the private sector taking more of a leadership role in economic development. At the time, there were quite a few provincial and federal economic development groups, but all had limited to no private sector involvement,” explains MacDonald, who now serves as CAO of the Municipality of the County of Inverness. “Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) was looking at some models, and the Halifax Partnership model was something that rose to the top being a private sector-led organization, and really moving things forward in the Halifax region at the time.”
MacDonald explains that there was a strong consensus that this model could work here, so various private sector leaders were asked to participate to come together to form a board, which included a strong cross-section of businesses from communities across the Island.
Another important ingredient that makes up the historical mosaic of the organization is a piece of work that was instrumental in setting a collaborative plan to economic development: the Prosperity Framework. The framework served as a strategic roadmap designed to guide the region towards sustainable economic development and growth. The framework outlined key priorities and initiatives aimed at fostering economic development, enhancing quality of life, and building a resilient and prosperous future for Unama’ki – Cape Breton.
Fast forward to today, and the spiritual successor of this work can be found in Forward. Together. : Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s Economic Development & Population Growth Plan, wrapped up in October 2023 and being launched throughout 2024, available at www.CapeBretonPartnership.com/ForwardTogether.
“The pandemic really changed the business landscape, not just here in Unama’ki – Cape Breton, but for the whole world. Not only did we not close the doors to business support, we doubled down in our efforts to make sure that the business community had the resources they needed at their fingertips,” shares Jeremy Martell, Director of Communications at the Cape Breton Partnership. “For the first time in 50 years, we also saw our population increasing and we needed a plan to help us grow intentionally with the proper resources and supports in this new post-pandemic world, while also helping the Province to achieve its goal of doubling the population by 2060.”
Now in its 20th year, the Cape Breton Partnership’s team is supported by up to 30 staff based across the Island and is proud to collaborate with more than 150 Investors, whose investment supports the growth of our Island. The Cape Breton Partnership also operates two Regional Enterprise Networks – the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network (CB REN) and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Regional Enterprise Network (CBRM REN). The REN model is a collaborative and progressive approach to economic development across rural regions throughout the province, and was a pivotal moment for the Partnership with both RENs receiving support from the Provincial of Nova Scotia, First Nation communities, and all five municipalities.
“The creation of the RENs really helped the Partnership focus its attention Island-wide. While we were Island-wide before, and valued that approach, the RENS allowed us to grow our team and have staff living and working in communities across the Island,” said Blayr Billard, Chief Operating Officer of the Cape Breton Partnership who has been with the organization for 15 years through different roles. “At our core, that is our greatest strength for both our Island and our team. Unique individuals and communities working together to accomplish something bigger than any of us on our own. Collaboration and connection is the key.”
In addition to the REN model, the organization also facilitates a number of programs and initiatives that focus on nurturing welcoming communities and providing supports to newcomers and the business community, such as the Cape Breton Connector Program, the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership, and the Cape Breton Welcome Network, to name a few. Through these programs, initiatives, services, and more, the Cape Breton Partnership has supported the professional and employment development of hundreds of university and college student graduates over the last 20 years, helping to foster leadership and launch careers across the Island and region.
A full list of the Cape Breton Partnership’s current initiatives and services can be viewed at www.CapeBretonPartnership.com/initiatives-services/.
“The journey of the Cape Breton Partnership began with a vision to revitalize the local economy and create opportunities for growth. Through strategic initiatives and partnerships with First Nations communities, all levels of government, businesses, and community organizations, the Cape Breton Partnership has worked tirelessly to achieve its goals, while fostering collaboration, innovation, job creation, and economic diversification,” says Tyler Mattheis, current President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “As we welcome new and emerging industries and provide sector-specific support to those looking to grow or diversify their business, we are able to make use of the important groundwork our predecessors and colleagues put into place so that we can continue to build a thriving Unama’ki – Cape Breton for generations to come.”
The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to be Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s partner in economic development by providing the expertise, supports and resources the business community needs to succeed, while helping make the Island a great place to live, work, and invest.
This session was recorded on May 6, 2024, and explores the impact of transportation costs on goods and services; how diversifying our transportation systems can help lower these costs, benefitting both local and broader markets; and how better transportation can support manufacturing. By working together, these sectors can create more jobs and sustainable growth in our region.
The session included a Panel Discussion and a Town Hall Discussion. Panel Discussion: “Unama’ki – Cape Breton’s Transportation Systems” Town Hall Discussion: “How does the transportation system affect your business and community?”
The session was co-hosted by the Cape Breton Partnership, Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Scotia Rail Development Society, Cape Breton University, Port of Sydney, and JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport.
Thanks to Seaside Communications – @SeasideCommunications for arranging and making available this recording, originally airing on Seaside’s Community Channel.
*Disclaimer: This session occurred on May 6, 2024, and included information that was accurate as of the time of presentation. As circumstances and projects continue, there may be a variety of details and pieces of information that will deviate from the information in this recording.
The Cape Breton Partnership and Net Zero Atlantic co-hosted an Offshore Wind Information Session Series across Unama’ki – Cape Breton in late 2023 and early 2024. This recording is from the Sydney, NS, session held in March 2024.
Attendees heard about the basics of offshore wind energy as part of the Cape Breton Partnership’s Green Energy Engagement Program, and Net Zero Atlantic’s project Capacity Building for the Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Nova Scotia’s Offshore Wind Resources.
Each session included a short presentation and an open house format with a chance to speak with representatives from both the Cape Breton Partnership and Net Zero Atlantic.
Thanks to Seaside Communications – @SeasideCommunications for arranging and making available this recording, originally airing on Seaside’s Community Channel.
*Disclaimer: This session occurred on March 5, 2024, and included information that was accurate as of the time of presentation. As circumstances and projects continue, there may be a variety of details and pieces of information that will deviate from the information in this recording.