Small Business
Selling Our Region: Why Western Nova Scotia Needs a Value Proposition
By Wade Cleveland Picture an investor searching for a new location to open or expand a business. They have a shortlist of regions in front of them, and they are trying to decide where to land. Somewhere on that list sits Western Nova Scotia. Where the Bay of Fundy pulls the tide in and out…
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…
From a Conversation to a Career: How One Person Found His Spark at Ryan’s Electrical
Some career paths start with a guidance counsellor. Jaimus LeBlanc-Joyce’s started with a family friend, a coffee shop, and a program he’d never heard of. By Wade Cleveland, Western REN A One-Guy Truck That Grew Ryan’s Electrical didn’t start big. Back in 2000, it was Mike Ryan and a truck, taking on whatever electrical work…
How Sissiboo Coffee Roasters Found Their Perfect Match Through the Western REN Connector Program
Good coffee brings people together. And sometimes, the right program connects exactly the right people at exactly the right moment. By Wade Cleveland, Western REN Sixteen Years, One Tiny Hallway, and a Dream Worth Funding If you’ve ever sipped a cup of coffee in a café, hotel, art gallery, or farmers’ market stall across Nova…
The Hidden Job Market: Why Who You Know Still Matters in Western Nova Scotia
By Shelley Bellefontaine, Connector Program Manager You’ve polished your résumé. You applied to every job posting you can find. You’ve refreshed your inbox more times than you’d like to admit. And yet, nothing! If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Across Western Nova Scotia, talented people such as recent graduates, newcomers, and career changers, are…
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 Nova Scotia Labour Market Survey
By: Shelley Bellefontaine, Western Regional Enterprise Network What does the labour market really look like in Western Nova Scotia? We asked the people who know best, the region’s employers. In March 2026, the Western Regional Enterprise Network (Western REN) launched the Western Nova Scotia Labour Market Survey, reaching out to businesses across our region, from…
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,…