Media Release

For Immediate Release

November 10, 2008

Saint Mary’s Business Development Centre launches book to reach entrepreneurs

At Saint Mary’s University, the Business Development Centre is continuing to find ways to support the province’s entrepreneurs, this time with the publication of a timely, research-based book that will profile strategies for advancing business growth in Nova Scotia.

The book launch for How to Grow a Business:  Lessons from Leading Entrepreneurs will take place on Friday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. at the Sobey Conference Theatre in the Sobey Building at Saint Mary’s University.

A number of entrepreneurs featured in the book including Colin MacDonald from Clearwater Seafoods, Michael Duck from AC Dispensing, will be part of a panel discussion during the launch event.

The panel will be followed by networking and book signing. The books will be distributed through the Community Business Development Centres and RDAs; copies are also available for sale to the general public.

Thanks to an investment of $90,000 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), business owners will benefit from the experiences of leading entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia.

“ACOA is pleased to invest in entrepreneurship and business skills development,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of ACOA. “Canada’s government, through ACOA, is working with its partners to ensure that more Atlantic Canadians have access to tools that help build the motivation and skills required to successfully start, sustain, and grow a business.”

Eric Crowell, director of the Saint Mary's University Business Development Centre; Kevin Kelloway, management professor with the Sobey School of Business; and communications consultant Martha Wilson are collaborating on this initiative, which examines key factors to being a successful entrepreneur in Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia-based business leaders who are profiled in the book have responded with enthusiasm to the project, giving their time and sharing their insights to help their fellow business owners.  All have overcome major hurdles and found ways to thrive—many of them internationally.

“These dynamic businesses offer illuminating examples of what can be done,” says Eric Crowell. “All of them have been enormously successful. They have used a number of different strategies as they’ve grown. And all of them demonstrate the kind of success that can also be replicated by other smart, savvy entrepreneurs. Fortunately, Nova Scotia has many of those.”

How to Grow a Business:  Lessons from Leading Entrepreneurs ( ISBN: 978-0-9736502-3-5, Published by Saint Mary’s University, Price: $18.95) For more information, please contact April MacLeod at 902-449-2799 or by e-mail at macleod.april@gmail.com.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca