Women entrepreneurs leading way in Cape Breton, says new columnist.
United by their commitment to creating more opportunities for young people
Cape Breton has a long history of entrepreneurial men and women. Women entrepreneurs and change-makers, however, are playing an increasing leadership role in Cape Breton’s economy as well as its cultural and community life.
One of the island’s business role models, Annette Verschuren has brought together a group of 14 women leaders, united by their commitment to creating more opportunities for young people to stay, work and live in a vibrant, prosperous, diverse, inclusive island community.
The group includes Nadine Bernard, Kendra Coombes, Chloe Donatelli, Meaghan Keating, Nicole LaFosse, Kelsea MacNeil, Beth Mason, Amanda McDougall, Jill McPherson, Sarah Pyke, Ardelle Reynolds, Erika Shea, Dorothy Tennant and Elva Zhou.
With her understanding of the broad sweep of history, Annette notes that: “From the Mi’kmaq to the waves of immigrants who followed — our hunters, fishers, crafters, cooks, hosts and innovators have long looked around for ways to improve their new homeland — to solve problems through business and provide the goods and services communities need to thrive.”
The group of women leaders Annette has convened has identified four areas where they would like to provide strategic support: women in governance and politics; entrepreneurship; immigration; and the revitalization of downtown Sydney.
In all of their focus areas, the aim is not to duplicate existing efforts, but rather identify existing activities and discern where there may be gaps that they could strategically offer in ideas and practical support. Projects and issues taken up will be intentionally bite-sized efforts that can leverage existing work and build momentum toward their long-term vision for the island.
For example, the group is currently working on a series of video interviews of women entrepreneurs from different sectors around the island, including Jay Rawding of Highland Bow and Arrow, Alison Uhma of AU Illustrations and Design and Mi’kmaq entrepreneurs Bernard and Gem Johnson.
McPherson, one of the group members who conducted many of the interviews notes: “What stood out from the interviews was how women are transforming the entrepreneurial landscape.
Their approach tends to be very collaborative, where they work with a range of partners toward creating a better future for everyone.”
Being values-driven and wanting to run their businesses and social enterprises with a commitment to providing jobs and contributing to environmental sustainability emerged as another theme from the entrepreneurs interviewed.
When asked about the best part of being an entrepreneur in Cape Breton, Jourdan MacNeil, of Margaret Jourdan Studios and videographer for the series, noted that interviewees cited the high level of community support that they have received.
“Fellow Cape Bretoners really want businesses to succeed here,” she said.
The piece of advice that the women entrepreneurs most often gave to others was to have confidence in yourself and your abilities and to also reach out to others for help.
Productive businesses — whether they are owned by women or men, whether they are small, new, traditional or less traditional —have never been more important to the island than they are today. The next generation of women entrepreneurs in Cape Breton are leading and growing some of the most innovative and interesting businesses. Supported by a group of the island’s passionate thought leaders and change makers, these strategic efforts will contribute to making all of us more prosperous, stronger, and ready for the world of today and tomorrow.
For more information about the activities of the group, contact Jill McPherson mcpherson. jill@gmail.com or Sarah Pyke sarahjpyke@gmail.com.
Disclosure: Annette Verschuren is our chancellor at Cape Breton University, Jill McPherson is a business partner (where Nicole LaFosse is our lawyer) as well as employed by me as a research project manager at CBU, Chloe Donatelli was one of my MBA in community economic development students and Erika Shea is a fellow board member of the Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia.