Business Stories

Having grown up on a farm in Brooklyn, just outside Montague, Nancy has lived most of her life on P.E.I. Before opening Belle’s Boutique in March of 2008, Nancy worked at various jobs from a tobacco farm, restaurants, a bank and a funeral home.  When coming up with a name for her new retail shop,…

Mike bought his first leopard gecko in 2010. He quickly became intrigued and fascinated by the creature, and purchased a few more within the next year. About three years later, after countless hours of research and talking to breeders around the world, he decided to start breeding geckos himself.     He successfully hatched several…

  Distinct Magic Decor bridges the diversity of West Africa, France, and the Maritimes, presenting the cultural spirit of each region distinctly and uniquely. They focus on event decor, specialized gift boxes and promoting local artisans. Solange loves to tell her story through her work. Her ethnic origins are varied as she was born in…

  Originally from Brazil, Natal and Magali Freiberger own and operate Upcycle Green Technology in Summerside. Natal is a Mechanical Engineer with over 30 years of experience and Magali was an entrepreneur in Brazil for 25 years before moving to Prince Edward Island. Together they opened Upcycle Green Technology in September 2020. They chose to…

Mitchell Jollimore, owner of Basin View Seafoods  Mitch is a 4th generation fisherman and a 4th generation entrepreneur who lives in Springbrook with his wife, Katie, and their three children – Jack, Charlie, and Lucy. Entrepreneurship runs in his family; his grandparents and parents were both small business owners. Having grown up in the industry,…

Mark is a 3rd generation business owner of Illsley’s Feed & Farm Supply, a family-run agriculture business located in Summerside. Named after their family, Illsley’s Feed & Farm Supply opened in 1979, after Mark’s grandparents and parents moved from Truro, Nova Scotia to Summerside when a Ralston Purina Dealership opportunity arose. After graduating from Holland…

Wayne and Edward are a “couple of entrepreneurs from wayyy up west,” as they like to say; they are from Nailpond and Waterford communities outside Tignish. After graduating high school in 1991, Wayne and Edward started working at the Co-op in Tignish, then in the hardware and building supply industry. During this time, they learned…

This fall, Kimberly Davey from At Your Service Creations and Shana Thornhill from Fat Cat Bakery joined forces to open a new retail location in Charlottetown,  At Your Service Creations and Fat Cat Bakery. They specialize in cookies that not only look amazing but taste great too and quality homestyle baking. For Kimberly and Shana,…

Close friends Stephanie Dawson and Katie Murray own and operate Beyond the Bridge Therapy Centre. Stephanie provides individual therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapies, solution-focused therapy, and dialectical behaviour therapy. Katie is an art therapist who conducts both one-on-one and group art therapy. Stephanie provides individual therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapies, solution-focused therapy, and dialectical behaviour…

Craig Wood Products is a family business with a rich history in Tyne Valley. Owned by three brothers, Bruce, Venom, and William, Craig Wood Products has operated for over 30 years. They offer materials and products for people like cabinet makers, contractors, homeowners, handypersons using 100% Island lumber kiln dried on-site. Craig Wood Products is…