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!
