The Just Good Business Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Justin Cantafio, Executive Director of Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia, discusses the importance of local food systems and farmers markets as economic and community hubs!

In this conversation with your hosts, Matt and Anuj, Justin highlights the cooperative's 20-year history, supporting over 40 markets and 1,500 owner-operated businesses. Justin emphasizes the need for equitable funding models and the economic impact of local food systems, noting that 85% of Nova Scotia's food is imported. He also discusses the Nova Scotia Loyal program, which incentivizes local food consumption, and the Taking Root program, which supports newcomers in starting businesses at farmers' markets. Justin's passion for using food systems to solve post-modern systemic inadequacies bleeds throughout the conversation.

To learn more about Farmers Markets Nova Scotia: https://farmersmarketsnovascotia.ca/

To get in contact with Louisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-cantafio-4a397627/

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Your hosts Matt and Anuj sit down with guest Louisa Horne to chat about a sustainable way to assist and facilitate end-of-life care!

The three discuss the importance of addressing end-of-life transitions with empathy and expertise, emphasizing the need for a safe space to talk about death and the end of life. They highlighted the significance of Epilog's work in addressing the emotional and practical aspects of end-of-life transitions and discussed the potential for disruption in the funeral industry through a focus on environmental sustainability. Louisa also emphasized the importance of planning for end-of-life care and funeral arrangements in an environmentally friendly manner and discussed evolving funeral traditions and practices.

Louisa is the founder of Epilog and describes herself as a Natural Burial enthusiast and Senior Transition Specialist, privileged to support families with a variety of transitions.

To learn more about Epilog, https://epilog.ca/about-us

To get in contact with Louisa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-horne-icd-d/

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Placemaking 4G (or P4G) was founded with the goal of transform workplaces by helping employers build stronger and more inclusive teams through socially-conscious recruiting, and innovative approaches to human dynamics and equity, diversity and inclusion practices. P4G works with organizations that have big ambitions; those who want to ensure their teams are cultivated based on what's possible and not what’s familiar.

As a recruitment agency, P4G stands out from its competitors due to it's focus on human-centred approaches to finding top talent. P4G also works with clients, helping to foster workplace policies and embody diversity, equity and inclusion strategies to enhance psychological safety, communication and intercultural awareness at all levels of your organization.

To learn more about Placemaking 4G, visit https://p4g.ca/

With a deeply rooted history in Nova Scotia, Bradley was born and raised in Halifax and is a community leader, coach and member of the African Nova Scotian community. As the Grandson of Delmore Buddy Daye, Bradley is intrinsically grounded in community development led with empathy. Despite a successful career in professional sports – having played and coached football at both the university and professional level – Bradley found his purpose as an architect for value-aligned recruiting.

By serving on the Board of Directors for United Way Halifax, and supporting youth football in Halifax’s North End, Bradley is always contributing locally to the spaces where everything started for him. With 12 years of combined professional coaching and business management experience, Bradley’s work is multi-dimensional and woven with the values that course through his bloodstream: Reciprocity, Community and Love.

To connect with Bradley, reach out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-daye-069148134/

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Blk Women in Excellence (BWIE) is a non-profit organization that was put in place to educate, inspire and encourage Black women to become self employed and sustainable businesses owners. The idea for the organization came when founder and local business leader Tia Upshaw was attending the annual Takin' BLK Gottingen community market.

Upshaw found herself literally surrounded by other Black women who were creating their own wealth through small businesses, but were lacking the support to take these businesses to the next level. BWIE has built a comprehensive ecosystem of resources, mentorship, and community engagement to bridge gaps, drive positive change, and construct a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape.

To learn more about Blk Women in Excellence, visit https://www.bwiecanada.com/

Tia Upshaw embodies the qualities of a dedicated mother, accomplished author, and serial entrepreneur. With a deep passion for empowering women and fostering business excellence, Tia has made a significant impact in her community and is deeply invested in the success of each woman she mentors. Tia's start in the world of entrepreneurship emerged from a need to support her young daughter, which she did by opening a cleaning business. 

Much of what Tia has learned over her career has come from direct experience - experiences she drew upon when building the foundation of BWIE. Today, Tia is a prominent leader in the local business community, owns multiple thriving businesses, and has reinvested her life's work into supporting other women looking to become gainfully self employed. 

To connect with Tia, reach out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiaupshaw/

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The Medway Community Forest Co-op (MCFC) is located in Annapolis County near the communities of Annapolis Royal, Bear River, South Milford, Springfield, New Germany, and Caledonia. The 15,000 ha area was determined through careful analysis of the landscape. The resulting area is the best possible fit of considerations such as roads and access, forest type and volume, watersheds, current parcel boundaries, conservation and biodiversity values, recreation potential, and archaeological knowledge.

The community forest land lies entirely within the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, and is also directly adjacent to Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site, the Tobeatic Wilderness Area, the recently established Medway Lakes Wilderness Area, and multiple Nature Reserves. The land also encloses a system of lakes and rivers that provide significant recreation values. The area also represented a core cluster of high conservation values (HCVs) that were identified in the former Bowater Mersey management plan.

To learn more about MCFC, visit https://www.medwaycommunityforest.com/

Mary Jane has worked with the MCFC since 2015, minus a small term with the federal government in 2022-2023. She is happy to be back at the MCFC and managing several innovative projects to steward and restore Wabanaki forests on both Crown and private lands.  Mary Jane has been involved with many facets of Nova Scotia’s shift to ecological forestry, playing an influential role the Lahey Forest Practices Review and serving on the Department of Natural Resources initial Minister’s Advisory Committee.

To connect with MJ, reach out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-jane-rodger-521801a2/?originalSubdomain=ca

Mhari learned to love the outdoors young, camping and exploring Nova Scotia. In 2016, she completed her Master’s in Resource and Environmental Management at Dalhousie University and proceeded to dive into agricultural biodiversity conservation work. She is a farmer and woodlot owner herself, growing vegetables and flowers on a small holding on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

To connect with Mhari, reach out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhari-lamarque-18a350274/

For more information:
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FarmWorks Investment Co-operative Limited was incorporated as a for-profit Co-operative on May 18, 2011, by community leaders concerned about social, economic and cultural needs. FarmWorks lends Shareholder funds to qualifying food-related businesses across Nova Scotia.  FarmWorks investors are making a significant difference in the year-round availability of food from field to fork for Nova Scotians. 

As of October 31, 2022 FarmWorks has loaned the cumulative amount of $8,146,541 in subordinated debt financing to 148 Nova Scotian businesses to assist them to grow, process, deliver and serve healthy local foods and beverages. FarmWorks clients contribute significantly to the life and economy of Nova Scotia.

To learn more about FarmWorks, visit https://www.farmworks.ca/

Growing up in Somerset in the Annapolis Valley, Linda Best was one of five children who grew up on a mixed farm — dairy, apples, and field crops — learning early on the importance of fresh local food. Upon graduating from Acadia University, Linda began her career as a medical microbiologist at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, then as a gastroenterology researcher, peer-reviewed author, speaker, supervisor, and consultant.

During her 40-year career at the QEII, Linda never forgot her upbringing on the farm and came to understand that one of the most effective ways to prevent illness is to ensure that nutritious food is available to everyone. Aware of the decreasing production of food in Nova Scotia, she helped to found Friends of Agriculture in Nova Scotia and organized the 2009 Nova Scotia Food Summit, attended by over 200 delegates. This summit planted the seeds for FarmWorks.

As a founding director, Linda continues to volunteer her time to support the vision of healthy farms, healthy food.

To get in contact with Linda, find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-best-ons-286a52239/?originalSubdomain=ca

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Davis Pier and Pier Labs work with the public, social, and not-for-profit sectors to address complex issues that improve society. Existing at the intersection of policy and people, the team at Davis Pier specialize in engaging community to maximize the efficacy of program delivery and implementation.

Recently, Davis Pier has undergone the process of becoming B Corp certified. This procedure brought to light areas of improvement for the company, and was an internal reckoning for President and CEO Mike Davis. But, with the path forward now made clear, the team at Davis Pier is recommitting themselves to practicing internally the values they espouse outwardly: inclusion, equity, and responsibility to their community.

To learn more about Davis Pier and Pier Labs, visit https://www.davispier.ca/

Mike Davis is a thought leader in government transformation and innovation, with over 20-years of experience in consulting across Canada and in countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia.  He is well-regarded not only for his ability to design and architect strategies and solutions to complex public sector issues for clients, but also for overseeing their implementation.

Mike leads Davis Pier’s social innovation efforts focused on helping government by using behavioural science, service design and evidence-based policy approaches to improving policy-making and program design. Mike is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Kids Help Phone and on the Board of Directors for Tribe Network. Mike has also been named one of Atlantic Business Magazines Top 50 CEOs

To get in contact with Mike, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davispiermikedavis/

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Made With Local made it's debut on a small farmer's market table in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2012. Their mission was simple and to the point: provide tasty, nourishing snacks using ethically sourced ingredients from local producers. Now sold in major Canadian grocery stores, Made With Local has managed to scale into a national brand, all while keeping their foundational values close to heart.

Throughout their growth, Made With Local has remained dedicated to using ethically, transparently sourced ingredients, strengthening their local community, and prioritizing real, nourishing foods. As a B-Corp certified company, they are laser-focused on creating a positive impact on their community and the planet.

To learn more about Made With Local, visit https://www.madewithlocal.com/

Sheena Russell, a Nova Scotian entrepreneur driven by her passion for creating a more equitable world, is the trailblazing founder behind Made with Local. Inspired by her roots as a farm kid in Prince Edward Island, Sheena's unwavering commitment to sustainability and justice has shaped both her studies and life's work.

Under Sheena's guidance, the company has experienced rapid growth, expanding its presence to encompass over 3000 retailers across Canada. With determination, Sheena aspires for Made with Local to ascend as one of the world's most sustainable food companies, blazing a trail for others to follow.

To get in contact with Sheena, find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheena-russell-mwl/

For more information:
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Just Us! has been a worker co-op since its founding in 1995. From baristas and roasters to managers and administrators, everyone who works at Just Us! can be member-owners. This is inspired by the small producer farm co-ops that Just Us! partners with in the Global South.

More than two decades later, Just Us! continues to thrive as a wholly Canadian-owned worker co-operative, still committed to their founding mission. Just Us! proved the spirit and model of an alternative approach to business, while becoming a key rural employer in Nova Scotia.
 
Informing each decision the co-op makes is the belief that, in business, people and planet should come first — and their success is proof that it can. As the business grows, a portion of the profits are redistributed to non-member workers, worker-members, and producer-partners.

To learn more about Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-Op, visit https://justuscoffee.com/

Joey Pittoello joined Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-operative as a chocolatier to support his organic farming habit in 2010. He is a worker-member and currently is responsible for producer relationships and management at Just Us!.

Although farming has become more of a “hobby” over the years, Joey continues to live the organic farming dream through the small-scale coffee growers from whom Just Us! buys their coffee.

Joey, his partner, and their two children live near Wolfville, Nova Scotia on their small organic farm.

To get in contact with Joey, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joey-pittoello-82925080/

For more information:
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New Dawn is a non-profit, private, volunteer-directed social enterprise dedicated to community building. It seeks to identify community needs and to establish and operate ventures that speak to those needs.

Some of the services provided by New Dawn generate revenues, and these revenues are reinvested in New Dawn. These revenues allow New Dawn to develop new projects and take on new community issues in pursuit of a more vibrant and self-reliant Cape Breton Island.

New Dawn employs over 175 people from the Cape Breton community, and serves 600 Cape Bretoners each day through our companies and projects.

New Dawn Enterprises' mission — to engage the community to create a culture of self-reliance — is as relevant today as it was when the organization was founded back in 1976.

For more information on New Dawn Enterprises, visit https://newdawn.ca/

Erika Shea is the President and CEO of New Dawn Enterprises and has been working in community development for over fifteen years.

After completing degrees at Carleton University and Saint Mary's University and working across Canada, she moved to Cape Breton and started with New Dawn in 2012.

Over the past decade, Erika has had her hands in countless initiatives and projects targeting a range of social problems, from housing and immigration, to climate change and education.

The guiding ethos of Erika’s daily work is the building of communities that centre the dignity, worth, and well-being of all people.

In addition to her work with New Dawn, she has served on the boards of the Social Enterprise Network of Nova Scotia, ACAP Cape Breton, and is presently a director with the Highland Arts Theatre and Community Foundation of Nova Scotia.

To get in contact with Erika Shea, find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-shea-09324a139/

For more information:
https://www.justgoodbusiness.ca/

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