From electric fishing boats to styrofoam substitutes, innovation ignited in rural Nova Scotia
A serial entrepreneur with a background in pro sports and a commitment to community development, Doug Jones had a career-changing opportunity while he was living in Yarmouth about seven years ago.
“Everything I had done to that point was through a lens of innovation,” says Jones, founder and CEO of IGNITE Atlantic, a hub devoted to driving innovation in rural communities. “It wasn’t hard to decide when representatives from the federal and provincial governments offered me funding to create a startup that would support young people, communities, startups and industry.”
Making the most of key assets
Most Canadian innovation hubs are in large cities, so launching IGNITE in Yarmouth was a test case. Early successes resulted in a request to expand into New Glasgow and plans are now underway for a third location. “I have always believed in the untapped potential of rural Nova Scotia, and in the innovative thinking behind heritage industries, such as seafood, forestry and agriculture,” says Jones. “Every area in the province has unique superpowers — whether (it’s) fishing, fabrication or tourism — and IGNITE strengthens communities by helping them make the most of their key assets.”
Innovation in action
Industry problems are at the centre of many IGNITE initiatives. In one instance, IGNITE is presently concluding a marine electrification project in Digby and Sheet Harbour. The goal is to analyze the power grid infrastructure needed to run fishing boats on electricity, thereby enhancing the sustainability and resilience of fishing communities.
“Decarbonizing vessels is an important part of a zero-emissions future,” says Terry Thibodeau, renewable energy coordinator with the Municipality of Digby. “Supporting the Marine Electrification Grid Study is important to all of the stakeholders in our municipality. Not only will it help to accelerate the adoption of electric vessels, but it will also improve financial outcomes for our coastal communities and the local electricity grid.”
Another innovative project addresses the reduction of herring and mackerel quotas — two of the major lobster baits. For this initiative, IGNITE has assembled a consortium to look into shelf-stable, non-fish-based bait products, including one based on soldier fly larvae. Sound, pheromones and invasive species are other possible substitutions in addressing the overfishing of certain fish species. “Bait is a major pain point in the lobster fishery,” says Jones. “We have brought in ideas from around the province.”
Whatever the project, Jones’ interest lies in innovation that sup- ports the planet’s health. Other recent efforts include catalyzing collaborations to better understand port and harbour environments, supporting youth through STEM-based camps, and partnering with more than 80 organizations, ranging from local nonprofits and educational institutions to industry leaders and global companies.
Making connections
Projects evolve in many ways. About three years ago, Jones sat down for coffee with the vice-president of Sobeys and heard about the grocery giant’s commitment to eliminating the styrofoam trays used for meat and seafood packaging. The result of that informal meeting was the Sobeys’ Plastic Waste Challenge, a corporate plastics reduction program that elicited ideas from stores across the country and led to the development of a 100 per cent compostable, plant-based tray with all the advantages of its petroleum-based predecessor.
Jones is enthusiastic about these next-generation trays. “It’s a good starting point, but we need other solutions,” he says. “Eventually, we hope to move to a product created from wood fibre or other bio-resources — something we have in abundance in Nova Scotia. Long-term, I think it’s a viable solution, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”
Accolades for driving positive change
IGNITE’s record of driving positive change and Jones’ personal commitment to advancing rural communities received early recognition with a Volta Ecosystem Catalyst Award in 2019. The following year, and only a few days after opening the New Glasgow hub, IGNITE received a national CANIE Award in recognition of its contribution to the innovation economy. More recently, IGNITE was the recipient of Digital Nova Scotia’s 2024 Provincial Spotlight Award and Jones took the Discovery Centre’s 2024 Science Champion Award — a further personal honour after being named in both 2023 and 2024 to the list of Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada.
No place for an innovation hub? No problem!
IGNITE will soon have a presence throughout the province. Jones says that critical mass is required in order for a community to benefit from a hub, but he is a firm believer that living in a rural community doesn’t have to be limiting. “Many areas have assets that are being underutilized and there are ways that IGNITE can support them without having a dedicated incubation space,” he says.
“If a company needs funding for growth, we can connect them with an organization that will help. When industry has a problem, we can bring in the expertise they need.”
He says the best advice for communities is to forge relationships that provide access to a broad range of supports. “It’s all about creating opportunities without investing a lot of money,” says Jones. “Before I retire, my goal is to get this model out to communities all over the province so they can create their own opportunities. With a couple of well-connected community champions, there’s no limit to what they can do — and with good internet, they can do it anywhere in the world.”
To learn more about the province’s rural innovation hub, check out IGNITE Atlantic at http://igniteatlantic.com
