Western REN Releases the Business Resiliency Index 2026

Western Nova Scotia, August 27, 2026

The Western Regional Enterprise Network (Western REN) has released the Business Resiliency Index 2026, a regional snapshot showing how prepared businesses across Western Nova Scotia are to withstand and recover from disruption. Based on responses from 63 businesses, the region’s overall Index score is 1.65 out of 3, placing it in the moderate range on a scale where 1 represents low resiliency and 3 represents high resiliency.

What Was Measured

The survey measured six pillars of readiness: financial, operational, workforce, market, digital, and infrastructure and community resiliency. Market resiliency scored highest at 1.9, reflecting a business community that has shown real willingness to adapt, diversify and try new approaches when conditions shift. Workforce resiliency scored lowest at 1.4, with infrastructure and community resiliency close behind at 1.5.

What the Results Tell Us

The findings point to a region with meaningful strengths to build on. More than half of respondents, 58.18 per cent, reported at least 60 days of cash or liquid reserves, and 65.45 per cent said they have access to a line of credit or emergency funding. A similar share, 58.18 per cent, said they do not rely on a single customer or market for more than 70 per cent of revenue, and nearly two-thirds made at least one change to their products, services or markets over the past year.

At the same time, the survey surfaces where that resilience is more fragile. Nearly 44 per cent of respondents said their operations would largely stop if the owner were unavailable for three months, and just under a third described recruiting as difficult or very difficult. On the infrastructure side, 40 per cent said they are not aware of emergency resources available to them, and roughly a third reported that unreliable cell service affects their business often.

Cost pressure is also widespread. Nearly 84 per cent of respondents reported at least some impact from rising costs over the past year, including 16.36 per cent who said the impact was significant enough to force cutbacks or operational changes, a pressure that is compounding at a time when tariffs and shifting Canada-U.S. trade relations are adding further uncertainty. Two-thirds of respondents, 67.27 per cent, said they have already felt some negative effect from tariffs, regulations or changes in global demand.

What This Means For Businesses

Western REN CEO Angelique Doucet commented, “This survey confirms what we hear from businesses across the region. There is real strength here. Owners know their markets, are willing to change course when they need to, and many have at least some flexibility to weather a rough stretch. What the Index also shows is where the gaps lie. Our job now is to help business owners close those gaps.”

The report sets out six practical priorities for business owners, including building depth on critical roles, documenting the processes that currently live with only one person, and preparing for gaps in internet, cell, power and road access. It also lays the groundwork for a four-part article series beginning September 8 that will explore the findings in more depth, followed later this fall by a Resiliency Toolkit with checklists, continuity templates and an emergency resource directory.

The full Business Resiliency Index 2026 report is available now at: https://bit.ly/western-ren-report