ARICHAT - The Strait of Canso's business community is thriving and poised to make a major impact in the 2020s and beyond, according to the outgoing executive director of the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce. 

One month before wrapping up her seven-year tenure as the chamber's most visible face and key public spokesperson, Amanda Mombourquette praised her staff and the small business community in general during a sit-down interview with TELILE 24/7 host/producer Adam Cooke.

Mombourquette suggested that the chamber's busy line-up is indicative of the activity occurring among businesses of all size in the Strait Area. She pointed to the recent FemPower conference, a celebration of women in business that took place in Baddeck early in February and will have spin-off events throughout the year.

As well, Mombourquette is planning to host her final State of the Strait Area conference, a yearly update that usually takes place in early March. Asked for her take on the actual condition of the local economy, Mombourquette, a native of L'Ardoise, spoke in glowing terms of those who have taken on substantial risk to make their businesses successful in this region.

"We're seeing some really bright spots," Mombourquette enthused, pointing to a string of recent business expansions in the villages of St. Peter's and Inverness as examples. 

"It's just been phenomenal. I've been up there (to these communities) with the 'Grand Openng' scissors on a number of occasions."

Mombourquette will leave her position with the chamber at the end of March to take on a new executive role with the two Cape Breton campuses of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC).