Nova Scotia is brimming with creative entrepreneurs eager to showcase the province’s natural beauty, rich culture, and unique experiences. The Rural Nova Scotia Tourism Innovation Challenge provided an exciting platform for visionaries across the region to present their fresh tourism ideas and compete for funding and mentorship opportunities.
With three regional pitch competitions held in Digby, New Glasgow, and Bridgewater, participants competed for a $1,000 cash prize and valuable non-cash support, including a one-year residency at IGNITE Atlantic and expert coaching from Tourism Nova Scotia advisors.
The winners of these competitions are not only bringing innovative tourism offerings to their regions but also contributing to the growth and sustainability of Nova Scotia’s rural economy. Let’s meet them!
🏆 The Winners
🌿 Sustainable Hill Wellness Resort – Digby Winner
Founder: Jessica Hill
Website: sustainablehill.ca
Located in Scotch Village, Nova Scotia, Sustainable Hill Wellness Resort is on a mission to revive the community’s cherished gathering spot along the Herbert River. In the 1970s and ’80s, this area was a beloved campground, and Jessica Hill is bringing it back to life with a late-summer music festival.
The festival will feature local musicians, food trucks, and a dedicated yoga and wellness zone along the riverbank. This initiative aims to reconnect the community, attract visitors to the West Hants Region, and establish Sustainable Hill as a vibrant cultural hub.
🔥 FireLoch – New Glasgow Winner
Founder: Jennifer DeCoste
Website: fireloch.com
Located in North Lochaber, Nova Scotia, FireLoch Gathering Place and Retreat has been offering one-day retreats and events for the past 2.5 years. However, limited local accommodations have made it difficult to host multi-day retreats and immersive experiences.
To address this challenge, Jennifer DeCoste is planning the construction of a new lodge, allowing FireLoch to expand its offerings. This lodge will provide much-needed overnight accommodations for retreat participants and event organizers, making FireLoch more accessible to those seeking rejuvenation, especially for caregivers and individuals experiencing burnout.
With a strong business plan backed by Innoweave and CBDC, Jennifer’s vision will boost local employment, increase tourism, and enhance FireLoch’s impact on well-being-focused tourism in the region.
🍏 Exotic Fruit Nursery – Bridgewater Winner
Founder: Annette Clarke
Website: exoticfruitnursery.weebly.com
In Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Exotic Fruit Nursery is known for its unique selection of rare fruit trees—including figs, persimmons, jujubes, and even bananas!
Now, owner Annette Clarke is launching an interactive Sensory Hands-On Educational Program to inspire visitors to reconnect with nature and healthy food. This program, developed in partnership with her son’s Bed & Breakfast, will include:
- Botanical tours and fruit tastings
- Workshops on sustainability, off-grid living, and forest ecology
- Evening illuminated walks through the greenhouse and ponds
By promoting eco-tourism and sustainability, this initiative will enhance the local food movement, reduce carbon footprints, and offer visitors a truly unique agricultural tourism experience.
Looking Ahead
The Rural Nova Scotia Tourism Innovation Challenge has already uncovered some of the most exciting new tourism ventures in the province. But there’s one more event still to come—the Cape Breton competition!
📢 Stay tuned for the official date announcement! If you’re an entrepreneur with a fresh tourism idea for Cape Breton, this is your chance to pitch your vision, win funding, and make a lasting impact on Nova Scotia’s tourism industry.
For more updates on the competition and upcoming events, be sure to follow our partners:
✨ TIANS, Tourism Nova Scotia, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores, Coastal Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia South Shore Tourism Co-op, The Valley Regional Enterprise Network, and Cape Breton Island.
🚀 Congratulations again to all our winners—your innovative ideas are helping shape the future of tourism in rural Nova Scotia!