01 Sep Rose Paul – Bayside Development Corporation

From an early age, Rose Paul’s grandparents instilled within her a lifelong commitment to help her Mi’kmaw community grow and prosper. That has been her promise. She is a fl uent Mi’kmaw Speaker, a mother of 8 children & 15 grandchildren and counting, who have been her strongest motivators.

As CEO of Bayside Development Corporation, the business arm of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, that commitment has fueled a vision to maximize future employment and business creation for Paqtnkek community members and beyond. She revived a 1962 agreement with the provincial government, leading to the landmark tripartite agreement with Provincial & Federal authorities. This accord awarded the community a multi-million dollar highway interchange at Exit 38B, reconnecting them with lands separated since 1960. With Phase One culminating in the Bayside Travel Centre, her sights are now set on the subsequent phase: a new business center aimed at fl ourishing business growth, empowerment, and combating colonial impacts.

Strategic partnerships underpin Rose’s community economic vision. Collaborations with industry giants like Everwind Fuels in the Green Hydrogen & Ammonia sector exemplify this, pushing Paqtnkek towards ‘energy sovereignty’ and a net-zero contribution to combating global warming. Moreover, Rose’s partnerships extend to ventures such as Rocket Development with Maritime Launch Services and mining with Signal Gold. She also collaborates closely with Clearwater, being pivotal in these billion-dollar industries.

Within northeastern Nova Scotia, she has established positive relationships with local municipalities on economic growth and green technology initiatives, and she became the first Mi’kmaq to join the board of the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce. Generous with her time, Paul has been a speaker at national events all over Canada and is a volunteer for roundtables that explore the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Senator PJ Prosper quotes, “Rose is fearless leader when it comes to business & our community, working on a sovereign Nation approach through the fi scal management act and developing of laws, land code, taxation, and national partnerships. She’s the trailblazer for our community.“ Passionate about cultural initiatives, Paul is often involved in leading events like the annual Paqtnkek Mawiomi (Powwow) or fi nding funding to support the event.

Respected as a dynamic business force, Rose’s leadership at Bayside Development Corporation is characterized by collaboration with a stellar team of experts.