VOL 24 IUE 4
SADDLE UP Your Wild Side, East Coast Style
LI LE GU BISTRO A UNIQUE, CASUAL AND INVITING DINING EXPERINCE
CHI Y MSE ULTIMATE SUER CRAFT CLER WHAT WE HAD ON ICE THIS SUMMER
MYSA NORDIC SPA & RESORT HEAL, REJUVENATE & REFRESH
An Aidaca media Publication
IN THE SPOTLIGHT NATASHA BLAINE SEATTLE SONG BIRD MAKING HER WAY IN MUSIC CITY
Summer’s coming to an end, the kids are back in school, the leaves are starting to change farmers are busy with their harvest. Heading into Fall, we reflect on the memories we’ve made over the past few months, and what we had on ice in our Chilly Moose Ultimate Summer Craft Cooler. Most entrepreneurs are back in full business mode and are getting laser-focused on finishing the year off strong while setting themselves up for success in 2025 and beyond. When Central Nova Scotia Sports and Entertainment recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, it was their time to reflect on the past, the present, and the future. After dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic, they were determined to remodel and regroup, so they could come back “with a greater impact than ever before.” And that’s just what they’ve done. We sat down with CNSS&E’s CEO Matt Moore, to learn more about the company’s evolution and their new flagship event, the Nova Scotia Stampede, and what that means to the not-for-profit both more importantly what it means for the local businesses and economy as the CNSS&E continue to grow and attract new events to the hub of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia might be getting a lot of attention because of the upcoming stampede, but it’s always been known for its Maritime hospitality, beautiful coastline, majestic highlands, magnificent beaches, and world-famous seafood. We sit down with Willow Harrison and Tom Emmott, owners of Little Gull Bistro, which has been soaring the Maritime culinary experience to new heights since its opening in Pictou County to understand what has foodies from all over flocking to New Glasgow to try their uniquely casual and elevated culinary experience. As we get ready to head back to Prince Edward Island for the Sommo Festival we had the opportunity to chat with Isaac Murphy, a Prince Edward Island native and the owner and operator of the Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort about this entrepreneurial journey in the hospitality industry that began in 1980 when his parents started a family business. After seven years managing builds in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for Murphy Hospitality Group, he returned to PEI with a unique idea for the island that readers need to know about. Emerging from the Nashville music scene, and the focus of this month’s “In the Spotlight,” is singer-songwriter Natasha Blaine. Originally from a suburb of Seattle, WA, she became mesmerized with singing at a very young age, especially drawn to jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald. She started singing at every opportunity she could, beginning to accompany herself on guitar before age ten. This obsession with music blossomed into a passion that eventually landed Natasha and her music, in Nashville at the age of twenty to make it a career. As always, my team and I want to thank everyone who made this issue possible, and we look forward to sharing more stories about growing industries, successful businesses, and brands, and the entrepreneurs making it all happen. EDITOR’S SPOTLIGHT
MANAGING DIRECTOR Rod Gregg EDITOR Lee Ann Atwater ACCOUNTS & ADMIN Calli Gregg COMMUNICATION, RESEARCH & ADMIN Tristyn Gaudette EDITORIAL & PROJECT MANAGER Karlee Atwater Ashley Davis Kate Lindsay CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cody Ciona Shannon Ferguson Will Gibson Deborah Jaremko Kris McCarthy Ryan Myson Teresa Siqueira WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT Joe Uttaro GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM Brooke Henderson Elizabeth Spencer Amanda Stellisano
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Brittany Pickrem SOCIAL MEDIA Troy Gregg PUBLISHER AIDACA Media
Lee Ann Atwater Editor
P.O. Box 35007, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3M 0G3 E: info@spotlightbizmag.com spotlightonbusinessmagazine.com
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Spotlight What’s in the ON THE COVER CHILLY MOOSE ULTIMATE SUMMER CRAFT COOLER
03 EDITOR’S SPOTLIGHT 04 WHAT’S IN THE SPOTLIGHT 08 HEADLINES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ON ICE THIS SUMMER
NOVA SCOTIA STAMPEDE SADDLE UP & UNLEASH YOUR WILD SIDE, EAST COAST STYLE
LITTLE GULL BISTRO A UNIQUE CASUAL & INVITING DINING EXPERIENCE
32
10 UPCOMINGEVENTS 26 CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE
88
New Carbon Capture Projects to proceed in Al- berta as investment In emissions eduction grows
50 GREAT CANADIAN BEER FESTIVAL
74
30 Years of Celebrating Canadian Craft Beers
Honestly, this is one of the most challenging lists we had to put together because the Ultimate Summer Craft Cooler project forces us to think back on all the festivals, events, and places we’ve been to this summer, including the event pop-ups and taprooms we visited, plus the random cans open opened with colleagues, friends, and family all summer for this year’s Chilly Moose Ultimate Summer Craft Cooler list.
58 DESTINATION PEI Road Trip to Sommo 96 MAKING A CONNECTION How to Properly End Relationships 102 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AI-driven data centre energy boom ‘open for business’ in Alberta 106 DEAR BIG KIDS We Miss You 108 ENTREPRENEURIAL LIFESTYLE Work-Life Balance 122 DRINKING BEER Foams with Benefits 126 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS A Friendly Seasonal PSA
Central Nova Scotia Sports and Entertainment recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. After dealing with the repercussions of the pandemic, they were determined to remodel and regroup so that they could come back “with a greater impact than ever before.” And that’s just what they’ve done. We sat down with CEO Matt Moore, to learn more about the company’s evolution and their new flagship event, the Nova Scotia Stampede.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
MYSA NORDIC SPA & RESORT HEAL, REJUVENATE & REFRESH
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NATASHA BLAINE
Emerging from the Nashville music scene, singer-songwriter Natasha Blaine’s groovy sound fuses elements of neo-soul, pop, and R&B. Originally from a suburb of Seattle, WA, she became mesmerized with singing at a very young age, especially drawn to jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald. She started singing and was accompany herself on guitar before age ten. Natasha shares her artistic journey and how her obsession with music blossomed into a passion that eventually landed Natasha in Music City at the age of twenty to pursue her dream of making a career for herself in the music industry. SEATTLE SONGBIRD SOARING IN MUSIC CITY
Isaac Murphy, the owner and operator of the Mysa Nordic Spa & Resort, has spent his whole life in the hospitality industry. A Prince Edward Island native, his industry experience began in 1980 when his parents started a family business, which ultimately grew into the Murphy Hospitality Group. Isaac started as a dishwasher, working his way up throughout the years to service manager, operations, and ultimately project manager. After seven years managing builds in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, he returned to PEI with a unique idea of his own for the island, and shares the Mysa experience with us.
In a region of Nova Scotia known for its beautiful coast, magnificent sandy beaches, warm waters, and world-famous brown sauce pizza. Little Gull Bistro has been soaring the culinary experience to new heights since its opening in Pictou County. We sit down with Willow Harrison and Tom Emmott, owners of Little Gull Bistro, to understand what has foodies from all over flocking to New Glasgow to try their uniquely casual and elevated culinary experience.
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Visit us online www.spotlightonbusinessmagazine.com
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HEADLINES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
FRIDAY IS THE BEST DAY TO SCORE A DISCOUNT FOR ONLINE SHOPPERS Coupons have come a long way from Sunday circulars. And for consumers stretching to make ends meet, they are as indispensable as ever. Now, with online codes, browser extensions, and mon- ey-saving apps, there are more ways to find significant discounts at any time — but how good the deals are still depends on the day. Overall, Friday is the best day for consumers to save mon- ey while shopping online, according to a recent study by SimplyCodes. The site assessed coupon release pat- terns in marketing emails from 30,000 merchants be - tween March and July. As payday approaches, there is a notable uptick in cou- pon activity, especially for women’s clothing, skin care, and alcohol, SimplyCodes found. Roughly 52% of coupon codes are released between Wednesday and Friday, before the weekend lull, when fewer new coupons are sent out. On Friday alone, the number of coupons released jumps 19%.
AUTOMAKERS ARE GETTING BACK INTO SHARING THE SCREEN WITH THE NFL Automakers are rushing back into advertising during the National Football League season after a slowdown in re- cent years. Toyota Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company and the Detroit automakers are among those expected to capitalize on the NFL and its games as main advertising platforms in the coming months. Toyota in particular is entering football season as the “Official Automotive Part - ner of the NFL,” a first for the world’s largest automaker. The automotive industry has significantly pulled back ad - vertising and marketing budgets in recent years because it does not have enough vehicles to sell. The Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain problems caused historical- ly low vehicle inventory levels. However, vehicle inven- tory levels have been growing amid high interest rates and economic fears, and automakers are turning to live sports, especially the NFL, to help promote new prod- ucts.
RED LOBSTER CLEARED TO EXIT BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION
NFL SEASON EXPECTED TO RECORD $35 BILLION IN WAGERS Football is back, and as the players hit the gridiron, it’s ex- pected to bring with it record-breaking betting. U.S. adults alone will wager $35 billion this NFL season, according to projections from the American Gaming As- sociation (ASA). That would mark more than 30% growth over the $26.7 billion Americans wagered over the course of last year’s season of the National Football League, according to the AGA, and would set a fresh record. Since last NFL season, Maine, North Carolina, and Ver- mont have allowed sports betting operators to launch in their states. And court decisions have permitted Hard Rock International to relaunch sports betting in Florida. Today, sports betting is live and legal in 38 states and Washington, D.C. as licensed sportsbooks like Draft- Kings, FanDuel and ESPN Bet are working to claim a big- ger share of the action.
A bankruptcy court approved Red Lobster’s plan to exit Chapter 11, putting the seafood chain one step closer to exiting bankruptcy. The company, known for its seafood offerings and ched- dar biscuits, filed for bankruptcy protection in May. Red Lobster had struggled with increased competition, ex- pensive leases, last year’s disastrous shrimp promotion and a broader pullback in consumer spending. As part of the restructuring plan, a group of investors un- der the name RL Investor Holdings will acquire Red Lob- ster by the end of the month. Once the acquisition closes, former P.F. Chang’s CEO Damola Adamolekun will step in to lead Red Lobster. Current CEO Jonathan Tibus, who led the company through bankruptcy, will leave Red Lob- ster. RL Investor Holdings includes TCW Private Credit, Blue Torch and funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Invest - ment Group. Red Lobster will operate as an independent company. After slimming down its restaurant portfolio, the chain currently operates 544 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
ANNUAL FORUM ON HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE, EASTERN CANADA 2024 NOVEMBER 6TH & 7TH, 2024 HART HOUSE, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO | TORONTO, ON CANADA Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastruc- ture, Eastern Canada is a platform to con- nect with industry leaders, government decision-makers, and innovative thinkers, who will help your team achieve efficien - cies from construction through to clinical care, design for wellbeing, and prepare for the future of healthcare. Hospitals, long-term care, and commu- nity care facilities are under immense pressure to adapt to evolving infrastruc- ture standards and patient expectations. To address this, investments are being made across the region in new, large- scale facilities, redevelopment projects, and retrofits that incorporate lessons learned from the tumultuous pandemic period while preparing for future needs. These projects have to navigate an in- creasingly complex planning and design process that considers everything from environmental sustainability measures and digital infrastructure integration to best infection control practices. The 9th Annual Forum on Healthcare Infrastructure, Eastern Canada is spe- cifically designed to help project teams develop the tools and techniques to accelerate the delivery of future-ready healthcare facilities and successfully navigate unpredictable market condi- tions characterized by supply chain dis- ruptions and escalating material costs. For more information on this event go to https://www.canadianinstitute.com/ canadian-healthcare-infrastructure/
ANNUAL FORUM ON HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE, EASTERN CANADA 2024 NOVEMBER 6TH & 7TH, 2024 HART HOUSE, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO | TORONTO, ON CANADA The Partnership of Agri-Trade began in 1984 and has continued to this day, and is a joint venture of the Red Deer and Dis- trict Chamber of Commerce and Western- er Park. Agri-Trade is considered to be one of the best Farm Equipment Shows to do business in North America. It is one of the shows in Canada that is support- ed by the major equipment retailers as a “National Stand”. Agri-Trade Equipment Expo attracts an- nually over 30,000 qualified Agriculture Buyers and over 550 equipment man - ufacturers and Agricultural Services to Red Deer. Agri-Trade is considered one of the Best Agricultural Equipment shows in Canada generating an estimat- ed $300,000,000.00 annually in equip - ment sales and tourism spending. Because of Agri-Trade’s unique tim- ing, we are the first show after har - vest as well as the first show that kicks off a new planning season for produc- ers. That is the secret to the success of the Show; farmers know what they have to spend. Agri-Trade happens over three days each November and is host to exhibi- tors representing the very best in agri- culture equipment, technology, service, and products.
NATIONAL REAL ESTATE INVESTING SUMMIT 2024 OCTOBER 31ST TO NOVEMBER 3RD, 2024 GREAT WOLF LODGE | MASON, OH USA The OREIA National Real Estate Invest- ing Summit has been the go-to event for real estate entrepreneurs around the U.S. since 1986. It’s the annual event for investors, by investors that fo- cuses on the best strategies NOW, in our ever-changing economic and real estate climate. But It’s Not JUST That. It’s the place where you learn and get inspired by the up-to-the-minute strategies of top real estate investors in the country. It’s where you build relationships with fu- ture financial friends, mentors, lenders, borrowers, service providers, and allies from all over the nation. It’s where you get introduced to new technologies, disruptive strategies, and ways to build your real estate business that leave your competitors in the dust. We hear it over and over: the most stunning thing about the National Real Estate Summit is the community built here over decades. You’ll meet the most helpful, support- ive, got-your-back group of colleagues and allies you’ve ever encountered, and leave not JUST educated, but with a whole new support system of fellow investors who want YOU to succeed, too. For more information on this event go to https://oreiaconvention.com/
DEFSEC ATLANTIC 2024 OCTOBER 1ST TO 3RD, 2024 HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE | HALIFAX, NS CANADA
CANADIAN GREENHOUSE CONFERENCE 2024 OCTOBER 9TH & 10TH, 2024 NIAGARA FALLS CONVENTION CENTRE | NIAGARA FALLS, ON CANADA As Canada’s foremost event for com- mercial greenhouse flower, vegetable, cannabis, berry and nursery growers, the Canadian Greenhouse Conference is the ultimate connection point for growers, suppliers, and research part- ners. The Canadian Greenhouse Conference is a not-for-profit corporation and Can - ada’s foremost event and connection point for commercial growers of crops produced in a controlled environment. The conference attracts growers from across North America, gathers experts from around the world, and showcases innovative production techniques, re- search, products, and technology. For more information on this event go to https://www.canadiangreenhousec- onference.com/ WANT TO HAVE YOUR EVENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT? Send an email 4 weeks in advance to production@spotlightbizmag.com with all the details of your event.
CANADA WOMEN’S EXPO 2024 OCTOBER 4TH TO 6TH, 2024 BMO CENTRE | CALGARY, AB CANADA
DEFSEC Atlantic presented by the At- lantic Canada Aerospace & Defence Association is a major networking op- portunity for the Aerospace, Defence, and Security industries – the second largest of its kind in Canada. Focused on showcasing Atlantic Canadian op- portunities, the show’s worldwide reach creates partnership potential for all at- tendees. Incorporating elements of both a trade show and a defence procurement con- ference, the event provides access to “the right people” in an engaging and professional setting. All attendees have ample opportunity, through meetings, B2B programs, social events, expert panel discussions, and presentations, to interact with all levels of defence, in- dustry, and government participants. For more information on this event go to https://tempsite.defsecatlantic.ca/
The Canada Women’s Expo, formerly known as the West Coast Women’s Show, is entering its 25th year with a proud his - tory of connecting thousands of business- es with tens of thousands of show visitors. The Canada Women’s Expo is taking place at the BMO Centre in Calgary on Octo- ber 4th through 6th; at TRADEX in Abbots - ford on October 18th through 20th; and at the Edmonton EXPO Centre in Edmonton on March 15th & 16th, 2025. Building on the remarkable success of the 2023 West Coast Women’s Show at TRA - DEX, which saw 45-minute line-ups on all three days of the show and many exhibi- tors selling out entirely, they are thrilled to carry this momentum forward to Calgary. Joining the Canada Women’s Expo means aligning your brand with a cel- ebrated event that champions women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment. Our expos are not just events; they are platforms for growth, innovation, and community building. As this event cel- ebrates this milestone year and em- barks on its Calgary expansion, they in- vite exhibitors to take advantage of this unparalleled opportunity to position themselves at the forefront of the wom- en’s market in Western Canada. For more information on this event go to https://canadawomenexpo.com/
Right Show Right Time Right Location
For more information on this event go to https://www.agri-trade.com/
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NATASHA BLAINE by Amanda Stellisano Emerging from the Nashville music scene, singer-songwriter Natasha Blaine’s groovy sound fuses elements of neo-soul, pop, and R&B. Originally from a suburb of Seattle, WA, she became mesmerized with singing at a very young age, especially drawn to jazz singers like Ella Fitzgerald. She started singing at every opportunity she could, beginning to accompany herself on guitar before age ten. Seattle Songbird Soaring in Music City This obsession with music blossomed into a passion that eventually landed her in Music City at the age of 20.
With little songwriting experi- ence when she arrived in Nash- ville, Natasha quickly fell in love with the craft, heavily involving herself in the writers’ round cir- cuit, writing songs between col- lege classes, and playing shows with her band at night. Deciding to make her pas- sion for music a professional ca- reer in the music business Blaine and her band’s signature sound draws inspiration from their jazz backgrounds as well as artists like D’Angelo, Amy Winehouse, and Jill Scott on tour nationally in ad- dition to playing all over Nash- ville. We sat down with Natasha, while she was enjoying a little downtime to talk about her journey as she and the band get ready to get back on the road for more tour dates and to release lots of new music.
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Spotlight on Business: Tell us a little about yourself. What do you like to do when you are not performing or writing songs? Natasha Blaine: I love being active. I love weightlifting and being outside, besides that, spending time with my dog, Luther, and hanging out with my boyfriend, Karl, who also plays drums in my band. Spotlight on Business: We understand that from a young age, you started singing. What made you want to sing at such a young age?
a kid, and singing was the only thing that made my shyness go away. When I was singing, it felt like I could finally breathe. So, when I was really young I would sing constantly. I even remember my kindergarten teacher telling me that I was humming too much in school while we were in class. Spotlight on Business: What or who inspired your passion for music? What draws you to the jazz, soul, and R&B genres? Natasha Blaine: I loved singing with my grandmother. She’s a really big jazz fan and always had Ella Fitzgerald and
Natasha Blaine: I was painfully shy as
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“I was painfully shy as a kid, and singing was the only thing that made my shyness go away.”
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Natasha Blaine: That was right around the same time as I started writing music. I was living in Seattle at the time, and attending college. I just felt this pull to try and be an artist, because if I didn’t try, I would always wonder what would have happened if I did. There’s nothing else I’ve ever wanted to do. Spotlight on Business: What made you decide to leave Seattle for Nashville to focus on pursuing your music career? Natasha Blaine: I was studying English, in Seattle and had no idea what I wanted to do if it wasn’t music, so I decided to apply to transfer to a school in Nashville as an excuse to move here. I got in, and I was surprised. I mean, it was a hard school to get into, and when I moved here [Nashville], I knew nothing about pursuing a music career, I knew nothing about writing songs, getting and playing shows, or anything, but I was eager to learn. I had just turned 20. Spotlight on Business: Can you tell us about your journey, how did you know it was the time to make the jump and what was it like? Natasha Blaine: I felt like there was nothing I loved as much as music. I was involved in music a little bit in Seattle, but I felt like I needed to get out of my hometown and make a serious jump into music in Nashville. But mostly it was just the thought of it’s really now or never. If I hadn’t, and I ignored my desire to pursue music, I could have had a happy life, but I would have always wondered what would have happened if I had given it a shot. Spotlight on Business: What is the biggest lesson you have learned along the way in your professional journey so far? What is the biggest challenge you
“My music is a huge part of me, and the Internet can be a cruel place, but I know that inaction and not putting music out due to insecurity is the biggest way to predict failure. I just have to do it.”
Sarah Vaughan playing in the kitchen when I was at her house. So, I grew up listening to a lot of jazz with her. She definitely was the person who kind of instigated my singing career. She came to my mom when I was around six and told her to get me enrolled in some voice lessons to learn a bit more about singing, and she did. And I never looked back. Spotlight on Business: What draws you to the jazz, soul, and R&B genres? Natasha Blaine: I’ve always been drawn to the timelessness of jazz, but it was not until college that I started listening to R&B and neo-soul heavily. I remember discovering Erykah Badu’s
album Baduizm in college and I was listening to it on repeat. I was like, “Where has this been all my life?” That album truly inspired me to get into my own artistry. Spotlight on Business: Listening to your music, it comes from a place of someone who has been through some stuff, and you are so young. When did you start writing your own songs and where does the inspiration for your songs come from? Natasha Blaine: I didn’t start writing music seriously until I was 19. I dabbled in it a little bit when I was younger, but I didn’t truly start trying to become
a songwriter until I was 19. I believe my most authentic songs come from somewhere deep inside of me. And the process of getting the words, and kind of packaging them neatly into a specific song helps me process a lot of ups and downs in my life. So, it does really come from life experiences and emotions, and sometimes it feels like my songs kind of write themselves. It’s like the song already exists, but I’m just putting the pieces together and assembling it. Spotlight on Business: When did you discover that you might want to make a career out of music?
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“it’s really now or never.”
have faced along the way in your music career?
Natasha Blaine: I feel like the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that the only way to ensure failure is to not try. And I know that kind of ties back to what I was saying before, but it’s really true with music, because putting music out there is very scary. I’m not going to lie about that. My music is a huge part of me, and the Internet can be a cruel place, but I know that inaction and not putting music out due to insecurity is the biggest way to predict failure. I just have to do it. Spotlight on Business: What has been your biggest surprise in your professional journey so far? Natasha Blaine: This might sound obvious, but my biggest surprise is that a music career is really hard to sustain. Everybody told me that when I started, but sometimes you kind of have to go through it yourself just to see how hard it is. Because it doesn’t really matter how good you are at guitar, it doesn’t matter how great of a writer you are, or how talented a singer you are, there are so many uncontrollable factors.
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Spotlight on Business: What advice do you have for young females going into the music and entertainment industry? Natasha Blaine: My biggest piece of advice would be to get out there and meet other artists starting out in the industry. This is a big who-you-know business, so you need to put yourself out there, go to events, like songwriter rounds, and find people who inspire you. Because those are the people that you’re going to grow alongside, that you are going to learn from and cheer on when they succeed. And they will cheer you on when you succeed. I’m really lucky that I’ve found that. That would definitely be my biggest piece of advice.
Spotlight on Business: What has been your favourite part of being a singer- songwriter? Natasha Blaine: Performing is hands- down my favourite part of the job. My music, live with my band, is like tapping into this unfathomable power that’s just so much greater than myself. And I love that feeling, that palpable energy in a room when live music is really moving the people, it gives me the chills. There’s just nothing like that feeling. Spotlight on Business: What genres of music do you like? What artists do you listen to?
different types of music. Like, it goes all across the board. But I’ll tell you what I’m really into right now: I’m really into indie rock. I’ve been listening to this group Wet Leg a lot recently. And I also love Raye, who is an R&B artist. I’m obsessed with Charlie XCX’s recent album too. Spotlight on Business: If you had the chance to do a duet with another artist, who would it be and why? Natasha Blaine: This is such a tough question because there are so many that come to mind. But I’d probably choose Tom Misch. He’s a British soul artist, and he’s also an amazing guitarist. He’s incredible. I think his music is very interesting. His
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Natasha Blaine: I listen to so many
Spotlight on Business: What has been your biggest challenge in your professional journey so far? Natasha Blaine: I think the sustainability thing is a big part of it, but I think my biggest challenge is probably all the rejection you have to face in this industry. I mean, it’s an industry of rejection. You get rejected from playlists, from shows, from venues. It’s just part of the game. And it can be disheartening sometimes. But I have learned to move on from it and embrace the next opportunity. Spotlight on Business: Was there ever a moment you contemplated throwing
in the towel? If so, what made you want to keep moving forward?
Natasha Blaine: Oh yes, I’ve had so many quarter-life crisis days. “I think one of the really difficult parts of the industry right now is just how easy it is to compare yourself to other artists because of social media.” Like, if I look at another artist who has more Instagram followers than me and had a video go viral or something like that, it’s really easy to compare myself to that. And when I’m having a hard day, that can be something that makes me want to go on LinkedIn and find a 9 to 5 job for sure.
“I think one of the really difficult parts of the industry right now is just how easy it is to compare yourself to other artists because of social media. ”
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“I love that feeling, that palpable energy moving the people, it gives me the chills.
in a room when live music is really There’s just nothing like that feeling.”
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production is always creative, and I’m really into the melodies he comes up with. Like, I aspire to be able to play music and create music like he does. Spotlight on Business: Where can music fans find more about you and your music and upcoming shows? Natasha Blaine: You can follow me on Instagram, [at]NatashaBlaine or TikTok at Natasha Blaine. You can also find me on Facebook, YouTube, as well as anywhere you stream music, just at Natasha Blaine. Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Amazon Music, and any of the
big streaming services.
Spotlight on Business: As we finish up, is there anything that you would like to tell our readers or to say to your fans? Natasha Blaine: I’ve got some new music coming out this year, which I’m really, really excited about. This stuff is very authentic to me, and I’m excited to release it. There are also more tour dates that I haven’t announced yet, but if you follow me on my socials or check out my website, natashablaine.com you will find more information there.
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CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE (CCS) NEW CARBON CAPTURE PROJECTS TO PROCEED IN ALBERTA AS INVESTMENT IN EMISSIONS REDUCTION GROWS by Deborah Jaremko & Cody Ciona
T he recent announcements that two new carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Alberta will proceed sends the signal that the province is a prime location for investment in emis- sions reduction, says an industry ex- pert. Shell and partner ATCO EnPower will proceed with a new CCS project at the Scotford refinery and chemicals com - plex near Edmonton, while on a small- er scale Entropy Inc. will add a second phase of CCS at its Glacier gas plant near Grande Prairie. Combined, the projects are expect- ed to capture and store about 810,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking nearly 200,000 cars off the
“It’s all great news and hopefully more are to come,”
emissions in their countries based on the lessons learned here.” More CCS needed CCS projects around the world to- day have the capacity to store about 50 million tonnes of CO2 per year. To meet climate targets, that needs to grow significantly. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Inter- national Energy Agency and others, by 2030 the world needs CCS to store one gigatonne of CO2 per year, rising to 10 gigatonnes by 2050. Valiaho says Alberta is drawing new CCS interest thanks to a mixture of fa-
vorable geology, close proximity of a variety of emitting industries, and a “hospitable” investment climate. “Western Canada has almost 400 bil - lion tons of sequestration potential. And when you look at where the emis- sions are, most of the emissions in Canada, the larger sources, are cen- tered over those storage opportuni-
road annually. Entropy’s project is to start in 2026 and Shell/ATCO’s in 2028. “It’s all great news and hopefully more are to come,” says Beth (Har- dy) Valiaho, vice-president of public af- fairs and international engagement for the International CCS Knowledge Cen- tre. “Not only is Alberta open for business to do these projects, but we’ve got a lot to share to help others reduce
ties,” she says. CCS in Alberta
including oil and gas production, refin - ing, petrochemicals, cement and fertil- izer. “CCS is a solution across industries. That’s why you see CCS popping up in Alberta, because of its diversified
emission profile.”
Alberta alone has more CO2 storage capacity than Norway, Korea, India, and double the entire Middle East, ac- cording to the Global CCS Institute.
Since 2015, CCS operations in Alberta have safely stored roughly 13.5 million tonnes of CO2, or the equivalent emis - sions of more than three million cars. And now more CCS is on the way.
It also has a broad industrial presence
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New projects to proceed At the end of June, Shell announced it will proceed with the Polaris carbon capture project at its Scotford refinery and chemicals complex near Edmon- ton, and the nearby Atlas storage hub in partnership with ATCO EnPower. Both developments build on Shell’s experience at the Quest CCS project, also located at the Scotford complex, Shell Canada country chair Susannah Pierce told a press conference in July. Since 2015, Quest has stored about one million tonnes of CO2 per year, or a total of about 7.7 million tonnes. Starting near the end of 2028, Polaris is expected to capture up to 650,000 tonnes of C02 per year, transported to the Atlas storage hub by a 22-kilome - ter pipeline. Future phases at Atlas are expected to add capture operations at additional industrial facilities, helping build out Alberta’s strategy to develop multiple CCS hubs in the province.
“We can be one of the first movers to attract those other emitters to be part of our agreement to sequester their emissions,” Pierce said. “For us, we see it as a competitive ad- vantage.” Entropy Inc., a subsidiary of Advan- tage Energy, announced at the begin- ning of July it will proceed with its Gla- cier Phase 2 project, which is expected onstream in mid-2026 and will capture 160,000 tonnes of emissions per year from the Glacier gas plant near Grande Prairie. This builds on the company’s expe- rience with the first phase of CCS at Glacier (47,000 tonnes per year), which achieved “first carbon” injected deep underground in August 2022. “This reduces the CO2 that would oth - erwise flow into the natural gas pipeline distribution system thereby reducing ulti- mate emissions at the burner tip,” Entro- py vice-president of policy and carbon markets told CEC.
“This reduces the CO2 that would otherwise flow into the natural gas pipeline distribution system thereby reducing ultimate emissions at the burner tip,”
“We can be one of the first movers to attract those other emitters to be part of our agreement to sequester their emissions,”
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The benefits of government support Valiaho says the new major project an- nouncements show that government support can help drive new develop- ment. Alberta is finalizing its carbon cap - ture incentive program, which cov- ers up to 12 percent of eligible capi - tal costs, while the federal government has implemented its CCS investment tax credit, which covers up to 60 per - cent of capture costs and 37.5 percent of the cost for transportation, storage or usage equipment. Both governments have supported CCS projects in the past: Shell’s $1.3 billion Quest project received $745 million from the Alberta government and $120 million from Ottawa, while the $1.2 billion Alberta Carbon Trunk Line received $495 million from Alber - ta and $63.2 million from the federal government. Government support continues to be important for what Valiaho calls “the
next wave” of CCS development.
“This isn’t a technology you buy off a shelf and over time the costs reduce themselves. This is something that has to have iterative applications, and it’s always integrated into your unique cir- cumstance,” she says. “The great thing about CCS is it en- ables industry to continue while reduc- ing its emissions. And what ends up happening is you are against emissions as opposed to against any one indus- try, and that’s really good for jobs and sustaining the economy.”
“The projects are still quite expensive, and it’s not just the capital costs, but it’s also the operating costs,” she says. It can also be daunting for companies to proceed with a large investment in CCS because capturing and storing CO2 is an entirely different operation than their core business of, say, pro- cessing oil or producing cement, Val- iaho says.
“The great thing about CCS is it enables industry to continue while reducing its emissions.”
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TRADITIONAL CRAFT BEEERS Traditional Craft Beers are easygoing, super-drinkable beers. These are well-balanced with low-to-medium alcohol by volume (ABV) but tons of flavor and refreshing and have you going back to the cooler for more.
Coldstream Clear Distillery| Stewiacke, NS Canada Nova Scotia Lager | Lager | 5.0% alc/vol
Coldstream Nova Sco- tia Lager is crisp, smooth, brilliantly clear, and ul- tra-refreshing especially when pulled from an icy cooler. It is brewed for a clean and light taste, then precisely filtered for a truly exceptional quality tradi- tional lager that all beer
CHILLY MOOSE ULTIMATE SUMMER CRAFT COOLER WHAT WE HAD ON ICE THIS SUMMER! H onestly, this is one of the most challenging lists we had to put them fondly because they were al- ways on ice everywhere we went this summer. mer Craft Cooler this summer, how- ever we recommend that you have these on ice all year long. By Ryan Myson
drinkers can enjoy. This easy-drinking beer is one you might just make your new go-to and it was always in our Chilly Moose Cooler this summer!
together because the Ultimate Sum- mer Craft Cooler project forces us to think back on all the festivals, events, and places we’ve been to this sum- mer, including the event pop-ups and taprooms we visited, plus the random cans open opened with col- leagues, friends, and family all sum- mer for this year’s Chilly Moose Ulti- mate Summer Craft Cooler list. Luckily, we keep good notes through- out the summer, because of expense accounts, or this would have been a mental exercise of potentially un- wieldy proportions. And yet, we find the craft traditional beers, radlers, sours, ready-to-drinks, and ciders that make this list are often the ones we don’t need to remember, or rath- er, we never forget—we remember
As a reader, you know that we have featured many craft breweries and distilleries over the years. So, with the help of recommendations and suggestions of those following Chilly this summer along with some in-per- son research by our summer team at craft breweries and distillers on both sides of the border throughout the summer. We have selected twenty-four must- have Craft Beers, Radlers, Sours, Ci- ders and Ready-to-Drink canned cocktails from this past summer rep- resenting brands from Hawaii to Nova Scotia that all have one thing in common, they made their way on ice our 2024 Chilly Moose Ultimate Sum -
Now we wanted to make sure that it was stated that no one on our sum- mer crew or editorial staff is a Cice- rone and these are just our summer crew’s personal preferences. Over 120 different brands and 500 differ - ent styles and types of beverages were sampled, I know tough job eh, for this project, and since we believe in full disclosure, no company has paid for placement in this project. So, let’s reach into the ice of our Chilly Moose Cooler and see what we pull out!
Cerveza | Mexican-style Lager | 4.25% alc/vol Hawk Tail Brewery | Rimbey, AB, Canada
Hawk Tail Brewery’s Cer- veza Craft Beer is a Mex- ican-style lager that's incredibly light and re- freshingly simple. Brewed with flaked corn and bar - ley, it boasts a clean, crisp taste with hints of toasted marshmallow and citrus, reminiscent of grapefruit.
Our team enjoyed it with a wedge of lime jammed in the can, but equally as good straight up, and no wonder it's one of their best sellers because we were going deep in the cooler every time for one of these!
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Bikini Blonde | Lager | 4.80% alc/vol Maui Brewing | Kihei, Maui, HI, USA
Maui Brewing Company out of Hihie, Maui, Hawaii, was founded in 2005 and is Ha - waii’s largest craft brewery, operating 100% in Hawaii. For Maui Brewing Company, success means having confidence in their unique cit - rus, mango, pineapple, and coconut beers, and other ready-to-drink canned cocktails, sharing a true taste of the islands. Maui Brewing’s Bikini Blonde lager offers drinkers a clean, crisp, and refreshing lager with low bitterness and a car- amel malt sweetness making it perfect for any occasion and in our Ultimate Craft Cooler every time.
Off Grid (OG) Ales| Magaguadavic, NB, Canada Campfire REd | REd Ale| 5.50% alc/vol
OG Ales’s Campfire Red Ale offers a refresh- ing beer, perfect for any event or meal. OG Ales used specialty roasted malts to create a uniquely complex beer with beau- tiful caramel flavors and aromas. This beer is like having a summer camp- fire in a can. That’s why it is on ice in our Ultimate Summer Craft Cooler to enjoy this summer and beyond.
TRailway Brewing Company | Fredericton,NB, Canada Hu jon hops light|american ipa |4.0% alc/vol
Beach Chair lager | Lager | 4.25% alc/vol PEI BREWING COMpany |Charlottetown, PE, Canada
PEI Brewing Company’s Beach Chair Lager is an ode to malt, and hops inspired by Island shores and sunny skies. This ap- proachable craft lager is light and refreshing with subtle yet complex malt flavour, mild bit - terness, frothy head, and long dry finish. This easy-to-drink la - ger has a pale golden colour and is the perfect choice for enjoying friends. So, grab one out of the cooler, grab a chair, and relax – no matter where you are, you’re on Island time now.
This is Trailway Brewing’s flagship beer brand in a lighter style. Hu Jon Hops Light is tropical and fruity with juicy citrusy hop notes with some pear and apricot notes that are also noticeable. With some floral undertones and residual sugar notes with almost no bitterness. The body of this beer is full, with good carbonation. So, everything you love about Hu Jon Hops in a lower alcohol version making it one that we always looked for in the Chilly Moose cooler this summer and will continue to look for in the fall.
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CRAFT RADLERS AND SOUR BEERS
Sunblink |Berry Sour | 5.00% alc/vol Cannery Brewing | Pentiction, Bc, Canada
Craft Radlers and Sour beers are also very drinkable light summer beers. A traditional Radler combines equal parts light-colored, hoppy beer and citrus flavours (grapefruit, lemon, lime etc), but nowadays you can add just about anything. However, in saying that, the flavour should still be a crisp combination of sweet and tart, with a touch of bitterness for balance. Sour beer on the other hand has an intentionally acidic, tart, or sour taste. Radler is the Bavarian dialect word for Radfahrer, meaning cyclist. But it is also a German term for a mixture of beer and fruit, fruit soda, or lemonade. We are not sure what the association is and honestly, we do not care. One thing we do know is, that these should be in your cooler, because they were in ours all summer long.
Sunblink Berry Sour from Cannery Brewing is a uniquely refreshing beer. This light sour beer is brewed with a blend of raspberries, blackberries, and currants. It has a tart yet sweet fruit flavor that is balanced perfectly by a light malty backbone. The beer has an attractive pink color that pairs well with its lightly tart, berry flavor. It has a medium- bodied mouthfeel making it great for sipping on a hot summer day. The Sunblink Berry Sour is light and crisp and perfect for session drinking. It has just enough flavor to make it enjoyable but not overbearing. Cannery Brewing has hit the mark with this beer. So, whether you’re at the beach or by the fire you’ll find this beer on ice in the Ultimate Craft Cooler.
Gahan brewing | Charlottetown, PE, Canada Jam Packed| Raspberry sour| 5.00% alc/vol
Gahan Brewing (PEI Brewing Co Brand) Jam Packed is a kettle-soured wheat beer inspired by some of their favourite West and East coast sour beers. Conditioned and finished with real raspberries that give it the fantastic nose, taste, and colour. The best way to describe it is, if jam on biscuits were a beer and we are very excited to have in the cooler this summer. We feel in love with this beer at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival and hope to load up the Chilly Moose cooler again when we head over in September for the Sommo Festival.
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Pump house Brewing| Moncton, NB, Canada Crafty radler | tart cherry & blueberry|4.70% alc/vol
Crafty Radler Tart Cherry & Blueberry includes a mix of house-made tart cherry and blueberry craft soda. It exhibits a natural cloudy ruby-red hue and is as appealing to the taste buds as it is to the nose. This mixture gives off a refreshing smell of freshly picked tart cherries with sweet notes of wild blueberries and a slight lingering aroma of Willamette hops that create the base of this delicious blend. The tart cherry flavour dances with the sweetness of fresh blueberries, while the malt and hops give a balanced foundation, which is why was our favourite Radler of the summer, dethroned last year’s favourite, and the OG of the Radlers Pump House Brewery’s Grapefruit & Tangerine Crafty Radler.
Mango dragonfruit sour|sour pilsner| 5.00% alc/vol Garrison brewing |Halifax, ns, canada
Jitney| DRy hopped sour| 4.50% alc/vol Tatamagouche brewing company | Tatamagouche, NS, Canada
Since opening their doors at Garrison Brewing back in 1997 they have strived to create exceptional craft beer that represented Bluenosers and their East Coast pride. Garrison Brewing offers distinctive beers that are crafted at the historic and vibrant Halifax Seaport in Nova Scotia. All beers are full of flavour and the product line has an exceptional range offering something for everyone to enjoy at the cottage or poolside. Garrison Brewing’s Mango Dragonfruit Sour is a refreshingly sweet and mildly sour ale that is blended with an infusion of Mango, Dragon Fruit and Hibiscus making for a ravishing flavour and magnificent colour.! The nose is full of fruit, and what can we say about the taste! We were surprised, as was one of our favourites for the summer! The sour side is almost erased by the taste of mango and red fruits, it’s super refreshing. Just a really good sour that tastes like summer in a can and is a must-have in your cooler whether in the backyard with friends or at the cottage.
The Jitney was a self-propelled train, that made a lot of smoke, noise, and steam, travelling the short line between Oxford and Stellarton, passing through Tatamagouche. Just a hint of Tart, and juicy, Jitney is dry hopped with El Dorado adding tropical fruit flavours including pineapple and mango, and then fermented with Foggy London Yeast that is typically used in New England-style IPAs. This beer is going to make a lot of noise and that includes the summer team fighting over the last one in the cooler. Don’t worry guys we can get more!
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