Invest in Cape Breton

For many Cape Bretoners, outmigration is a rite of passage. They leave for school, for work opportunities, or just for the adventure of it. We see this as a loss for the island, but what if our so-called "lost" Capers (aka our “diaspora”) are actually an incredible asset that can open doors to investment, mentorship, and new export markets? In this episode, Sean Meister of Global Bluenosers talks...

The seafood industry has a long and rich history in Unama'ki - Cape Breton. The island exports an estimated $342 million dollars worth of lobster, snow crab, and other species, much of it processed by the island's eleven active processing facilities. How are tariffs—both real and potential—affecting local seafood exports? How are processors navigating market uncertainty? What are the opportunities...

With half a million annual visitors contributing over $300 million to the regional GDP, Unama’ki - Cape Breton’s tourism sector is robust, but nowhere near saturated. In this episode, we highlight a tourism investment case study in Cheticamp, the rapid growth of marine tourism, and the emergence of Mi’kmaq tourism. The consensus is that there are lots of opportunities for investors, and that colla...

There is a myth in Unama’ki - Cape Breton that the island has a talent shortage. In this episode, we explore how IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) principles can help businesses overcome recruitment challenges by welcoming members of underrepresented communities. The conversation with Robyn Lee Seale from Build Nova Scotia and Nadine Bernard of Indigivisor covers the importanc...

Canada’s housing crisis is dominating the news, but we rarely hear about the work happening behind the scenes to fix it. There are housing advocates, developers, and politicians right here in Unama'ki - Cape Breton who are making tangible progress towards solutions.  In this episode, guests from the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors (NSAR), Doucet Developments, and By the Bay Properties off...

Unama’ki-Cape Breton has always been windy, but something has shifted in the last couple years. Now the same wind that blows our patio furniture away is being called ‘world class’ and ‘a nation-building opportunity’.  Government and corporate leaders are optimistic that the offshore wind and green energy projects already underway in the Strait of Canso are going to be transformative not just...

For many, Sydney Harbour is known for its hotels, cruise ships, and a giant fiddle. But that only blows over the surface of this waterbody that's 16-and-a-half metres deep. There are more cruise passengers, more commercial traffic, more ambitious plans, and more opportunities here than anyone would fathom. In this episode, three local leaders reveal what’s happening at the Port of Sydney today, wh...

There are over 50 tech companies on Unama’ki-Cape Breton, an island of just 140,000 people. Many are in the bustling urban area around Sydney, but a surprising number are in small, picturesque communities. Others live in the cloud, able to be located anywhere, but the founders are here. Three tech leaders explain why this innovation ecosystem is so productive, and so sticky. This episode is sponso...

Unama'ki-Cape Breton is on the cusp of an economic renaissance. Invest in Cape Breton is a podcast that will challenge your assumptions about the island’s economy through in-depth interviews with local changemakers. We go beyond the headlines to reveal the untapped potential for investors and entrepreneurs, and offer a preview of the island’s coming transformation. Right from the first episode, we...