Western NS Rising: the Western REN Podcast

Innovators part 3: Spark & the LP Comfort Seat

Western Regional Enterprise Network — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0300

Innovation really is alive and well in Western Nova Scotia. This is the last of three episodes featuring innovative startups from our region and their experience with Spark, the annual startup competition and training program for early-stage innovators. Spark focuses only on rural areas, dividing the province into three regions, Southwest, North and Cape Breton.

Erinn Smith of the Nova Scotia Association of CBDCs, which administers Spark, shares what has surprised her about the ideas that come through the competition, especially the ones that approach a pain point in a completely new way.

Placing second in 2026 was LP Comfort Seat, a device that improves positioning and comfort for infants undergoing lumbar puncture procedures. It was developed by Yarmouth paediatrician Dr. Joel Cox, who was dealing with the need for a more repeatable approach to infant lumbar puncture positioning. Host Wade Cleveland talks with Dr. Cox about the idea and where it goes next.

Follow LP Comfort Seat:
Webpage: https://www.lpcomfortseat.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lp-comfort-seat/posts/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lpcomfort/reels/

Follow Western REN:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WesternREN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/western_ren/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westernren/
Connect with host Wade Cleveland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-cleveland-02812176/

Innovators part 2: Spark & Rink Fries

Western Regional Enterprise Network — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0300

This is the second of three episodes about Spark, the annual startup competition and training program for early-stage innovators from rural Nova Scotia.

Erinn Smith of the Nova Scotia Association of CBDCs, which administers Spark, talks about the pitch itself.

Rink Fries is a mobile food-ordering platform made for hockey arenas, food trucks and other venues, designed to help you skip long lines. Based in Yarmouth, the team placed second at Spark and earned $40,000 toward getting the app and the company off the ground. Host Wade Cleveland talks with founders Allen Whittaker, Kristen LeBlanc and Al Burr about where the idea came from and where it's going from here.

Follow Rink Fries:
Webpage: https://rinkfries.app/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579460236317
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinkfries.app/

Innovators part 1: Spark & Nutrilolli

Western Regional Enterprise Network — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0300

Innovation is alive and well in Western Nova Scotia. In the first of three episodes featuring innovators from our region, host Wade Cleveland explores the Spark Competition, a regional startup competition and training program for early-stage innovators from rural Nova Scotia. Winners can receive up to $50,000 worth of funding to help kick-start their business.

Erinn Smith of the Nova Scotia Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs), which administers Spark, explains how the regions are divided and who sits on the judging panel. Western REN CEO Angélique Doucet has been one of those judges over the last couple of years.

First place in the Southwest Region in 2026 went to Nutrilolli Inc., based in St. Alphonse in Clare. Founded by Alex Dulay, Caroline Boudreau and Erich Daquioag, the company is building a lollipop that helps kids get the nutrients they need and can also tell you if they are running low on iron. No needles. Just a lollipop. Wade talks with Alex Dulay about the company and the idea behind it.

Follow Nutrilolli:
Webpage: https://www.nutrilolli.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutri.lolli/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nutrilolli/posts/

What's Keeping You Up At Night? How CI Helped 2 Businesses Sleep Easier

Western Regional Enterprise Network — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0300

What does Continuous Improvement actually look like inside a real business? On this episode, Western REN CEO Angelique Doucet joins host Wade Cleveland to break down what Lean thinking means in practice. It comes down to one idea: do more of what the customer values and cut out everything that wastes time or money. And two very different businesses, a shipyard founded in 1938 and a print shop bought in 2022, share how it changed the way they work.
Learn more about Continuous Improvement and BusinessNow: https://westernren.ca/
Follow Western REN on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WesternREN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/western_ren/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/westernren/
Connect with host Wade Cleveland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-cleveland-02812176/

So What Is the Western REN Anyway?

Western Regional Enterprise Network — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0300

Wade Cleveland has a conversation with Western REN CEO Angélique LeBlanc about who we are, what we do, and how our work supports businesses, communities, and economic development across the region.

Get Side-Tracked: Brenda LaGrandeur on Building the Dark Sky T’Railway

Western Regional Enterprise Network — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0300

What does it take to transform 200+ km of trail into a true destination? Wade Cleveland sits down with Brenda LaGrandeur to find out what it takes to transform 200+ km of trail into a true destination. Brenda shares the story behind the Dark Sky T'Railway and Get Side-Tracked, a placemaking project weaving together business, infrastructure and art, impacting Western Nova Scotia.

Western NS Rising: Coming June 23rd

Western Regional Enterprise Network — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:47:36 -0300

Western NS Rising: The Western REN Podcast is a lively, conversational show hosted by Wade Cleveland that celebrates the people, businesses, and ideas helping Western Nova Scotia thrive. Through inspiring conversations with entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders, each episode explores the stories behind local success and the opportunities shaping our region's future. Along the way, you'll learn how Western REN programs support business growth, entrepreneurship, and stronger communities. New episodes release monthly beginning June 23.