Growing Pictou County, one story at a time.

In this episode of Growing Pictou County, One Story at a Time, we’re joined by Melanie Dash, Recreation and Active Living Coordinator for the Town of Westville. Originally from the South Shore of the province, Melanie shares how her own experience as a newcomer within the province inspires her work today.

She’s leading the upcoming Welcome to Westville event—an exciting opportunity for newcomers to meet neighbours, get involved, and discover what makes Westville a great place to live. Tune in for local insights, tips for newcomers, and a heartfelt invitation to this community celebration!

Visit pictoucountypartnership.com to learn more about how we’re supporting newcomers in Pictou County.

In this episode of "Growing Pictou County, One Story at a Time", Cathy Munro of Bramble Hill Farm shares exciting news - the fresh microgreens part of her business is now owned by Tracy and David Hutchings, owners of Go West Homestead in Merigomish.

Originally from Ontario, they now call Pictou County homeand are carrying forward a mission of food security and community resilience in Pictou County through year-round greenhouse farming.

Rooted in agriculture, this episode highlights howsuccession planning can drive growth, spark innovation, and create opportunity—at any stage of a business. If you're passionate about local food systems, rural entrepreneurship, or the impact of mentorship, this conversation is for you.

Episodes originally air on 98.9XFM on Thursdays.

Reunion Alert!

This week on “Growing Pictou County, One Story at a Time”, Wade Tibbo of the Pictou County Partnership and Ann MacGregor from Nova Scotia Works Career Connections welcome a familiar voice — Gene Mills, Ann’s former morning show co-host.

Gene shares how he turned his love for trivia, music, andmaking memories from a side hustle into Foxy Entertainment –a full-time business.

From tech-powered trivia nights to his custom-built “magic mirror” photo booth, Gene is all about innovation with a local twist.

🎧 From DJing weddings to New to the Crew trivia events with Healthy Pictou County, Gene’s keeping Pictou Countyentertained — one event at a time.

Listen now for a fun and inspiring conversation!

Episodes originally air on 98.9 XFM on Thursdays.

In this episode of “Growing Pictou County, One Story at a Time”, we're joined by Allesondra Roddick and Matthew Webb of My Grandfather’s Farm who are continuing a family tradition as the take the farm into its next generation of operation.

They share how they blend tradition with innovation—combining time-tested practices like crop rotation with modern methods such as environmentally friendly fertilizer sprays.

They share details of their plans for the upcoming season, and how the Pictou County Partnership's ELEVATE Program is helping them grow their business with purpose.

Listen now to learn more!

Episodes originally air on 98.9 XFM on Thursdays.

In this episode, we’re joined by Aaron Fanning, MentorAbility Facilitator with Nova Scotia Works Career Connections, to explore how mentorship can unlock new opportunities for people experiencing disabilities.

Aaron shares the impact of the MentorAbility program acrossPictou, Antigonish, and Guysborough counties—connecting job seekers with disabilities to inclusive, short-term mentorship experiences that build networks, confidence, and pathways to employment. Aaron shares why inclusivehiring matters and how businesses of all sizes can get involved.

Listen now to learn more!

On this episode of the Pictou County Partnership's "Growing Pictou County, one story at a time", we are joined by Wes Surrett, Chief Operations Officer at IGNITE Atlantic. Wes shares how his experience in hospitality and love for rural Nova Scotia led to a vibrant career supporting startups and innovation in Pictou County.

From his work championing entrepreneurs at IGNITE to co-founding Discover the Strait, which offers authentic lobster boat tours with local captains, Wes discusses the power of rural innovation, the untapped potential of tourism along the Northumberland Strait, and the importance of community collaboration. Learn how spaces like IGNITE are helping entrepreneurs dream big—right here in Pictou County.

In this episode of Growing Pictou County, we sit down with Amanda Simmons, the creative force behind Asimmetrical.

Amanda shares how her love for crafting evolved into a business featuring hand-painted jewelry and art. She talks about about the inspiration behind her subtle pride designs, the challenges of running a business, and the importance of staying true to her artistic vision. Tune in to hear Amanda’s story!

To learn more about the Pictou County Partnership’s 2SLGBTQI+ Business Support, visit https://pictoucountypartnership.com/do-business-2/2slgbtqi-business-support/

🌍❤️ From South Africa 🇿🇦 to Pictou County 🇨🇦! This week on Growing Pictou County, One Story at a Time, we sit down with Stacey and Buhle Dlamini, a couple whose love story crossed the Atlantic and flourished in our community. Now, they are raising their family while making a difference through their work with The Salvation Army - Pictou County.

Tune in to hear their journey, their passion for community support, and the impact they’re making!

📲 Follow The Salvation Army - Pictou County on social media to see how they help our community thrive.

To learn more about Pictou County Partnership and how you can support newcomers, visit pictoucountypartnership.com or follow them on social media.

🎧 Listen now and stay tuned for next week’s episode of Growing Pictou County, One Story at a Time!

In this episode of “Growing Pictou County, One Story at a Time”, Sarah Santos and Colleen Proudfoot from the Pictou County Partnership chat with Anushka Sirinivas, who moved from Sri Lanka to Pictou County.

Anushka shares how his childhood dream of moving to Canada guided him through challenges and triumphs—from working in the hospitality industry around the world to building his own businesses in Pictou County.

Learn how he founded Green Escape Properties, offering lawn care and property maintenance, and how his passion for food led to his exciting new venture, Green Escape Catering, which brings international flavors to local ingredients.

Anushka’s vision for his businesses and his deep love for Pictou County shine through as he talks about the opportunities he sees for growth in our area. Tune in to hear about his journey, his dreams for the future, and why he feels like he’s living his dream every day in Pictou County.

Listen now and get inspired by Anushka’s story!

In this episode of "Growing Pictou County, One Story at aTime", we welcome Carissa Ainslie, founder of The Meadows Retreat and Creative Space in rural Pictou County. Discover how Carissa transformed a rural property into a hub for artists, fostering community and creativity along the way.

As the first Rainbow Registered business in Pictou County,The Meadows is committed to inclusivity and amplifying diverse voices in the arts. Carissa shares her journey from city life to rural entrepreneurship and her plans for the future of this inspiring creative space.

She also highlights the valuable support and resourcesavailable to entrepreneurs in Pictou County, which have played a key role in her success.

Tune in for an inspiring story of creativity, community, andentrepreneurial growth!