EO Atlantic

08/26/2026

From a first-year university business plan to seven years in business.

At 19, Accelerator Member Jaime Landry decided to turn a class assignment into something much bigger.

That idea became Black Harbour Distillers, a inspired by Atlantic Canadian culture, family history, and a desire to create products and experiences people could be proud to share.

Today, Black Harbour is more than spirits. It's a gathering place for live music, events, cocktails, and community.

Seven years of building a business means plenty of challenges, plenty of learning, and plenty of reasons to celebrate.

And that's exactly what Jaime is doing this weekend.

Join Black Harbour Distillers on Saturday, August 29, from 12 PM to 8 PM for their 7-year celebration in Hubbards.

Help us celebrate Jaime and the team behind this incredible milestone!

Congratulations, Jaime. We can't wait to see what's next.

08/24/2026

The retreat within the retreat.

The retreat had keynotes.
Awards.
Dinners.
Activities.
Plenty of moments worth remembering.

But some of the most meaningful conversations happened in smaller rooms.

Forum is where EO members get the space to step away from the noise and have honest conversations with fellow entrepreneurs who understand the reality of building a business.

No stage.
No audience.
No need to have all the answers.

Just a group of founders sharing experiences, perspectives, challenges, and lessons with people in their corner.

We may not be able to share what happens inside those conversations, but we can share what they create: trust, connection, and a community that shows up for each other.

Because sometimes, the most important part of a retreat isn't what happens on the main stage.

It's who you sit down with when the room gets smaller.

08/22/2026

Founders can ask for advice, but they still carry the final decision.

What helps most before a difficult call: candid questions, lived experience, confidentiality, or simply space to think?

08/21/2026

What turns a room full of entrepreneurs into a real community?

For us, it starts with trust, candour, and conversations that clarify the next decision.

What makes a founder room worth showing up for?

08/17/2026

You can build a business on your own.

But building it alongside people who understand the journey can change everything.

At our Chapter Retreat, Forum Meetings give members dedicated time to step away from the day-to-day and have the conversations that don't always happen between meetings.

Wins. Challenges. Decisions. Setbacks. Big questions.

No two founders have the same answers, but there is something powerful about being in a room with people willing to share what they've learned.

The retreat isn't only about what you learn.

It's about who you learn from, and the relationships you build along the way.

That's what makes this community special. 💙

What's one thing you've learned from another entrepreneur that you still carry with you today?

08/13/2026

Nine years of Donna Alteen in EO Atlantic Canada. 🎉

Today, we’re celebrating 9 years of having Donna as part of our community and the perspective, experience, and generosity she continues to bring to the founders around her.

From building Time & Space Media into one of Canada’s leading independent media agencies to navigating a carefully planned transition, Donna has built a career around long-term thinking, continuous learning, and giving back.

But her impact goes beyond what she has built.

She continues to mentor entrepreneurs, support future leaders, and share the lessons she has learned along the way. Her belief that leadership is about creating opportunities for others is something our community gets to experience firsthand.

Donna, thank you for 9 years of being part of EO Atlantic Canada, for sharing your wisdom, and for continuing to make our community stronger.

Here’s to everything you’ve built, everything you continue to contribute, and the next chapter ahead. 🥂

08/12/2026

5 years as an EO member. A decade of growing with the community. ❤️

Today, we're celebrating Connie McInnes, founder and CEO of R Studios, as she reaches five years as an EO member.

But Connie's EO journey actually started back in 2016, when she joined EO Accelerator.

Since then, we've watched her business grow, evolve, and expand, but we've also seen Connie bring that same commitment to growth into our community.

From serving on the EO Atlantic Canada Board to creating opportunities for members to connect, learn, and build deeper relationships, Connie continues to show up for the people around her.

And perhaps the best way to describe what EO means to her comes from Connie herself:

"EO makes me feel like I have teammates who are rooting for me, and that's huge."

We're proud to have Connie as part of our community and grateful for everything she brings to it.

Congratulations on five years, Connie. Here's to everything you've built, everything you've learned, and everything still ahead.

08/11/2026

A strong entrepreneurial region needs more than ambitious founders. It needs relationships that help people make better decisions, find support and keep building through uncertainty.

That is one reason peer communities matter.

Who gave you perspective, confidence or a timely introduction when your business needed it?

08/07/2026

Great communities aren't built only through meetings.

They're built through experiences.

Our MyEO members recently took on a shark-diving adventure together, creating memories, sharing plenty of laughs, and strengthening the friendships that make entrepreneurship a little less lonely.

The challenge wasn't just getting into the water.

It was saying yes to something new alongside people who understand the entrepreneurial journey.

Those shared moments often become the stories that bring a community even closer.

If you could plan one adventure to bring founders together, what would it be?

07/28/2026

Proud to be featured in the summer issue of Business Voice alongside so many leaders and organisations shaping Atlantic Canada’s business community.

At EO Atlantic Canada, we believe founders grow stronger when they have access to trusted peers, honest conversations, and shared experiences.

Thank you to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce for highlighting the power of community and the role connection plays in helping entrepreneurs build stronger businesses.

Check out the full issue for more stories from across our region.

The summer issue of Business Voice is live!

Inside this issue: our cover story with Don Bureaux, who stepped into the role of President and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce in March. Sara Ericsson also profiles the Q***r Atlantic Business Hub, the first Atlantic-wide community built by and for 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, alongside the Canadian Q***r Chamber of Commerce and Sea Change CoLab Consulting.

Plus:
📦 Maritime Paper Products Limited Partnership marks 95 years as the only company in Nova Scotia still manufacturing corrugated packaging.
💼 Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan on how retirement benefits help employers compete for talent.
🤝 EO Atlantic on the network helping business owners build community.

Read the full issue at:
https://halifaxchamber.com/business-voice-online/digital-issues/