The 2025 Investor Summit, presented by Nova Scotia Power, was an inspiring day filled with collaboration, innovation, and local pride. More than 230 business leaders came together to share ideas, make connections, and celebrate the people shaping the future of Unama’ki – Cape Breton. Thank you to the Inverary Resort on Baddeck Bay in Victoria County for hosting our event!

Our team was grateful to have our team’s own Tyler Cole, Economic Development Officer for CBRM, serve as the day’s Emcee. Thank you again to Nova Scotia Power for presenting the 2025 Investor Summit.
We began the morning with a warm welcome from Molly and Mailey Pierro and the Indian Bay Singers of Wagmatcook First Nation. Their prayer, smudging ceremony, and drumming reminded everyone of the strength of community, tradition, and respect.
Next, we kicked off the day’s agenda with our Morning Energizer, sponsored by the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors, featuring Ocean Le, Healthcare Navigator for the Municipality of the County of Inverness. His talk was heartfelt, funny, and full of local spirit. Ocean’s message about welcoming newcomers and building community struck a chord with everyone—especially when he tied it to a familiar local phrase, “Who’s your father?” Tyler Mattheis, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership, next provided our team’s annual update, giving insights on the year behind us and a peek at the months ahead.
Our first panel, People-Powered Growth, brought together Jillian Jenega-Connell (Anchored Recruiting), Amanda Mombourquette (NSCC), and Robyn Lee Seale (Build Nova Scotia). Together, they explored how people, skills, and place come together to shape workforce development. Thanks to MacLeod Lorway for sponsoring this panel, and to our team’s own Kelly MacKinnon, Labour Market & Immigration Advisor, for moderating.
Following our Lunch, sponsored by TD Canada, best-selling author and speaker Michelle Cederberg took the stage with her high-energy, humour-filled keynote. She had the room laughing, thinking, and reflecting on how to find balance and motivation in work and life. Her talk left everyone feeling inspired and recharged.
Then came The Disruptors panel, an exciting conversation with trailblazers who are challenging the status quo and reimagining what’s possible in Unama’ki – Cape Breton. Panellists Shawn Greene (VMP Group, Green Robot Studios), Jeff Noye (Marble Mountain Estates), André Bourgeois (LaPointe, Le Cap Resort, Table Doucet), and Alain “Beaudie” Beaudin (Bretoba) shared bold ideas and stories about building new ventures and taking risks that drive Cape Breton forward. Thanks to BDC for sponsoring this panel, and to our team’s own Lynne MacLennan, Economic Development Officer for Inverness County, for moderating.
Throughout the day, we also debuted the Reel Impact video series, highlighting hidden-gem businesses across the Island. A big thank-you to Art East Quilting, Theatre Baddeck, Membertou Development Corporation, and Lakeshore Living for being part of these stories.
The 2025 Investor Summit continued into the evening with the Gala Dinner, sponsored by Sydney Credit Union, and evening keynote featuring Harman Singh, CEO of Breton Ability, who delivered an inspiring talk about the power of inclusion and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy. Thank you to Invest Nova Scotia for supporting this insightful and important message.
We were then proud to present and celebrate the 2025 Economic Impact Award recipients: Paul Harrington – presented by Victoria Co-operative Fisheries; Membertou Development Corporation – presented by Nova Scotia Power; Celtic Colours International Festival – presented by Sydney Credit Union; Cape Breton Food Hub – presented by Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation; and McCurdy Sydney Airport – presented by Destination Cape Smokey.

The Cape Breton Partnership’s annual Investor Summit is a day built on connection, and we are proud to offer over 6 hours of engaging networking opportunities throughout the event, featuring more than 230 leaders from across Unama’ki – Cape Breton and the wider region. The Investor Summit’s Nutrition Breaks (sponsored by the Construction Association of Nova Scotia, the Municipality of the County of Richmond, Anchored Group, and Nova Copper) and our evening’s Networking Receptions (sponsored by Lindsay Construction, METI, Futurpreneur, EverWind fuels, Nova Scotia Spirits Co., and Big Spruce Brewing) are just some of the excellent opportunities to engage with our event’s attendees, and based on the loud hum of chatter throughout our audience, our team is confident that the day’s conversations were both engaging and productive!

To our sponsors, speakers, moderators, vendors, suppliers, Board, staff, and everyone who attended—thank you for making this event such a success! The ideas shared, connections made, and energy in the room showed the power of working together and the strength of our Island!

We can’t wait to see you again at the 2026 Investor Summit!

The Cape Breton Partnership Team, attending the 2025 Investor Summit.

Interested in participating in our 2026 Investor Summit? Contact Michaela Epifano, Investor Relations and Communications Specialist, at michaela@capebretonpartnership.com today to explore how you can be a part of this important annual event!

The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to share biweekly interviews with our team and programs this summer and fall, thanks to our valued Partner and Investor, The Coast Radio 89.7!

These interviews share a glimpse into our services and the team members bringing them to communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton, hosted by The Coast Morning Show’s Bill Bradley.

The final interview in this series features President & CEO Tyler Mattheis, speaking about the work of the Cape Breton Partnership!

These interviews took place between the fall of 2024 and early 2025.

(Sydney, NS)Cape Breton University, in collaboration with the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Breton Partnership, will host a special luncheon event titled Perseverance and Prosperity: Imagining a Vibrant Future for Our Island. This gathering will bring together members of the business community for an important update on CBU’s current position, the lessons learned along its journey and its vision for the future.

President and Vice-Chancellor, David C. Dingwall, will deliver the keynote address, with additional remarks from the Chamber and the Partnership.

“Cape Breton University stands as a resilient and visionary force within this very special community, committed to overcoming challenges and embracing a bold, ambitious future with unity and confidence,” says President Dingwall. “Cape Breton is at a pivotal crossroads, and we must remind ourselves of the past in order to leverage substantial growth for a vibrant future and let our lessons learned carry us forward. We know the best is yet to come, if work together.”

Since its founding in 1974, CBU has served not only as an educational institution but as a cornerstone of community development, emphasizing shared responsibility and collective progress. In the face of adversity, the university has responded with bold, innovative solutions, demonstrating its capacity to lead and adapt.

“Cape Breton University has always shown a strong sense of community-centered leadership,” says Megan Penney, Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We at the Chamber are proud partners of CBU and we believe that when we come together with shared purpose and bold vision, we create opportunities that uplift our entire region.”

The luncheon will take place on Wednesday, October 29, at 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Sydney – Waterfront. Tickets are on sale now through CBU’s ticketing system.

“Cape Breton University continues to lead by example when it comes to building strong, community-driven partnerships,” says Tyler Mattheis, President and CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, growth, and creating meaningful impact for the people and businesses of our region.”

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About Cape Breton University

Cape Breton University is an Atlantic Canadian post-secondary leader, with a growing national and international reputation. CBU’s vision of post-secondary education allows students to pursue dynamic fields of study that are ideally suited for success in liberal arts, business, health, education, science and technology. Students from more than 70 countries study at CBU and benefit from the university’s unique commitment to community, economic development, Indigenous learning, and research into many aspects of environment and culture.

Media Contact:
Lenore Parsley
Director, Strategic Communications
902-574-1299
lenore_parsley@cbu.ca

The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to share biweekly interviews with our team and programs this summer and fall, thanks to our valued Partner and Investor, The Coast Radio 89.7!

These interviews share a glimpse into our services and the team members bringing them to communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton, hosted by The Coast Morning Show’s Bill Bradley.

This week’s interview features Danielle Cassagrande and the Cape Breton Welcome Network!

*Though Danielle is currently on a leave, the Welcome Network is currently led by Sumayya Mullassery.

These interviews took place between the fall of 2024 and early 2025.

The Cape Breton Partnership is proud to share biweekly interviews with our team and programs this summer and fall, thanks to our valued Partner and Investor, The Coast Radio 89.7!

These interviews share a glimpse into our services and the team members bringing them to communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton, hosted by The Coast Morning Show’s Bill Bradley.

This week’s interview features Unama’ki – Cape Breton Creates and the Futures in Film Program with Bill Culp, Creative Economy Development Officer for the Cape Breton Partnership.

These interviews took place between the fall of 2024 and early 2025.