BusinessNow
What Western Nova Scotia Business Owners Can Do Now to Build Resiliency
This is the fourth and final article in a series on the Western Region Business Resiliency Index. The Index uses a survey of 63 businesses across Western Nova Scotia. This article turns the findings into practical steps. New to the series? Read Article 1 here, Article 2 here and Article 3 here. From findings to…
The Resiliency Index: Where Western Nova Scotia Businesses Are Already Strong
This is the third in a four-part series on the Western Region Business Resiliency Index, built from a survey of 63 businesses across Western Nova Scotia. New to the series? Catch up on Article 1 here, and Article 2 here. A different side of the results Our first article shared the big picture for our…
Business Resiliency in Western Nova Scotia: Where Businesses Are Most Exposed
This is the second in a four-part series on the Western Region Business Resiliency Index. Article 1 shared the big picture from the Western REN Business Resiliency Survey. Western Nova Scotia businesses scored 1.65 out of 3.00 on the overall Index. This score placed the region in the moderate range. What happens when one person…
What Is BRE and Why Is It So Important to Local Business
By Wade Cleveland When people think about economic development, they often picture attracting new businesses to a region, and that’s certainly important. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that can have even greater impact: supporting the businesses already here. That’s where Business Retention and Expansion, or BRE, comes in. At its core, BRE is…
Western NS Rising Podcast Launches June 23
We’re excited to announce the launch of Western Nova Scotia Rising: The Western REN Podcast, hosted by Wade Cleveland. This new series shines a light on the people, businesses, and ideas helping shape the future of Western Nova Scotia. We’ll explore the stories behind the region’s growth, innovation, and success. We’ll talk to local leaders,…
Business Resilience in Western Nova Scotia
From Uncertainty to Action If you run a business in Western Nova Scotia, you don’t need another abstract lecture on resiliency. You’ve been living it. From rising costs and labour shortages to export uncertainty and climate events, volatility is no longer the exception. It is the operating environment. Across fishing and seafood, tourism, agriculture, and…
What’s 2026 Going to Look Like for You and Your Business?
By Wade Cleveland Welcome to the early days of 2026. It’s a great time for businesses to take a moment to reflect on where they’ve been, and to think seriously about where they’re going. In Western Nova Scotia, that question feels especially important right now. The past few years have brought constant change: shifting markets,…
The Power of Networking: How Connections Spark Opportunity
If there’s one thing rural Nova Scotia does exceptionally well, it’s connection. The real kind of connection. The kind built over coffees at the wharf, surprise chats at the grocery store, and those unexpected meetups where someone says, “Hey, you should talk to so-and-so.” Here in Western Nova Scotia, our business ecosystem thrives because people…