Cape Breton experiencing a new spirit of entrepreneurship
‘It is now time to acknowledge the development of a bottom-up economy’
There’s a new spirit of entrepreneurship in Cape Breton, a gradual shift from dependency to self-reliance, from cynicism to hope.
I’ve written about the nature and results of the old economic order often, how and why the culture of dependency permeated the whole of our society. It is now time to acknowledge the development of a bottom-up economy, one chink at a time.
The remarkable New Dawn Enterprises Ltd., the oldest community economic development entity in Canada, set the tone early by creating a diversity of businesses. As well, with its investment fund, it supports new firms such as Sydney’s Advanced Glazings Ltd. and Protocase Inc.
New Dawn’s latest venture is the Centre for Social Innovation — at the former Holy Angels High School — described so well in this paper. In one year, the former Sydney high school has become a venue for the arts and other activities, and an incubator for small business owners looking to become self-reliant. Different groups have filled the building to a 90 per cent capacity.
Another example of the potential for transforming older buildings into new businesses is Sydney’s former St. Andrew’s United Church. Its new Highland Arts Theatre is a model of self-reliance. With its stable of theatre people, it enhances culture and creates an economy.
As well, there’s a new spirit of entrepreneurship at the Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay. It is now more than a rental facility. It sponsors and stages major productions, which have helped greatly to sustain the building and create spinoffs in our community. It’s proof that cultural facilities and their activities can produce a significant economy.
I could mention, too, the homegrown Celtic Colours International Festival, which draws half of its patrons from away and greatly supports tourism.
Since April 2013, the Cape Breton Small Business Development Centre, a branch of Business Cape Breton, has assisted potential entrepreneurs in com- pleting 120 business plans. From that group, there have been 39 startups and 17 expansions in progress or completed.
One such expansion has taken place in New Waterford. Tracy Wilson, owner of Simple Pleasures Cafe, Bakery and Catering, recently expanded the seating capacity of her successful eating establishment.
I had the good fortune, on Jan. 27, to hear a panel discussion on how people in this region could become more entrepreneurial and more self-reliant. It was moderated by CBC veteran Wendy Bergfeldt. Successful entrepreneurs Parker Rudderham, Glynn Williams, Jim Kehoe and Annette Verschuren were among the many business owners and innovators who took part. They pointed out that success in business depends on motivation and mentors, flexibility and fluidity, embracing technology, living with uncertainties, and being prepared to fail.
Kehoe said: “You have to get on the bike and ride even though you may fall off.”
They have vision. They surround themselves with good people, collaborate and build on strengths. We don’t celebrate these people nearly enough.
I was particularly struck by Verschuren’s comments. Verschuren is the former president of Home Depot Canada and Asia, and currently serves as the chancellor of Cape Breton University. For her contributions to our country, she was recently appointed an officer of the Order of Canada.
Always motivated and ever the realist, Verschuren said: “We need more productive people here. There must be a collective will.” She sees her beloved Cape Breton as a beautiful and culturally rich island with plenty of opportunities for residents and newcomers. She added: “We really need to attract new people to create jobs here.”
Verschuren would be pleased to know there are dozens of examples of selfreliant entrepreneurs in Cape Breton now. Since research shows that an economy can be built by small and medium-sized businesses, there is developing here a collective will to make a difference economically.