It’s just ‘a beginning’
Organizers say Glace Bay Business Day attracts about 65 people
Billy He is attending school in Cape Breton but he is also interested in making the island his home.
“We see a lot of options here for business in Cape Breton,” he said. “My plan is to open a restaurant after I graduate. I want to do it in Cape Breton since I’ve been living here for four years. Maybe like a Chinese buffet because I don’t see a lot of buffet places around here.” The Cape Breton University business student and his girlfriend Jean Kong attended Local Wise, a Glace Bay Business Day at the Cape Breton Miners’ Museum on Tuesday.
The event was organized by bay it forward in partnership with Business Cape Breton, Innovacorp and the Cape Breton Partnership.
The session was open to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners or anyone with an interest in the business community. It was billed as an opportunity to network, share successes and challenges.
Mike Kelloway, president of bay it forward, said about 65 people attended from Sydney, Membertou and the Northside as well as Glace Bay.
“We are going to have workshops looking at key ideas and opportunities in terms of what we can be doing to maximize opportunities and reduce challenges,” he said.
Kelloway said the day wasn’t “an event” but rather “a beginning.”
“It’s got to grow into a movement, into an actual way of life in Glace Bay. There will be followup action. We need to sustain it, it’s got to continue, it’s got to grow, it’s got to be nurtured and we are committed to playing a role in that.”
Permjot Valia, entrepreneur-in-residence at Innovacorp, engaged with participants including Kelly Campbell, an employment support care worker with the Department of Community Services in Glace Bay.
Campbell said she works with their clients to help them find business opportunities and support services to help get them back to work or back to school.
“We are here to network, we’re interested in businesses in the area.”
Brian Morrison announced
he’s interested in starting a new business in Glace Bay, to applause from those in attendance.
Morrison said his dream was always to open a restaurant and he hopes to open a food truck this summer.
Valia asked what he needed to see this happen and Morrison answered, “funds and support” adding he was hoping to talk to Eileen Lannon-Oldford, CEO of Business Cape Breton, about the programs they offer.
The session also drew resources from the YMCA of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Workers Employment Services Centre in Glace Bay and organizations such as the Glace Bay Heritage Museum Society.
‘I came here today because I want all of Glace Bay to work together and for Glace Bay to prosper,” said Elke Ibrahim, museum society vice chair and museum curator.
“Glace Bay people have to support Glace Bay. You have to eat in our own restaurants, you have to buy our own stuff and if you can’t get it in Glace Bay, then go to Sydney.”
Keynote speaker Mary Pat Mombourquette, executive director of the Cape Breton Miners’ Museum, talked about the success of the museum, which drew 16,000 visitors last year.
“The success of the museum has been built on partnerships it has formed,” she said. “Now that we are a success we can be an asset, we can partner with the people and the organizations and successes to create something more for our community.”
Mombourquette said the bottom line is visitors come to the museum to learn about the coalmining culture.
“Surely a coal mine community can find ways to engage these visitors.”
The event included a panel discussion with businessmen Darren McFadgen, Gary Chant and Earl Morgan.