A5

Paul Chapman
For the Telegraph-Journal

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BATHURST - Local entrepreneurs say they're not surprised that Bathurst ranked first in New Brunswick and second in Atlantic Canada in a new national survey released by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

The survey, entitled Communities in Boom: Canada's Top Entrepreneurial Cities in 2009, ranked cities across Canada using statistics such as the number of business start-ups and the level of self-employment as well as "the actual perspectives of a community's business owners."

Based on that data, the federation drew conclusions about the effectiveness of local governance and public policy in supporting independent business.

"It doesn't surprise me," Dave Goyette, an owner of websolutions.ca, a web development business, said Monday.

"The one thing many of these smaller communities - like Bathurst, the Miramichi, the (Acadian) Peninsula - have is a strong sense of entrepreneurial spirit. Because we're not a completely serviced area, we brave it out, and we have to figure out how to do things that, if you were in a bigger centre, you would just hire someone to do."

The theory that smaller is a more positive environment for entrepreneurs is reflected in the report.

Saskatoon, Sask., ranked first in the survey. Bathurst placed 18th overall, but first in New Brunswick and one notch below Kentville, N.S., the No. 1 city in Atlantic Canada.

"Entrepreneurs are celebrated here, too," Goyette said.

"People are generally very encouraging when you tell them you own your own business and the business community is of a size people tend to help each other."

Danielle Gaudet, general manager of the Greater Bathurst Chamber of Commerce, was elated by the ranking.

" I have found that here (there) is so much vitality and goodwill in the business community "¦ it's a very positive work environment," she said.

"When I meet with people in the region, I am awed and amazed by their friendliness, work ethic, sense of charity and their passion for where they live and work."

Gaudet believes the business federation's ranking of Bathurst will motivate existing businesses and help foster more.

"This helps our educational and promotional efforts to make sure people know that the greater Bathurst region is business-friendly and that message comes from the entrepreneurs themselves through an independent survey."