Atlantic Business Magazine – July-August 2026

Summary

Sascha Boulet-Devost, New Brunswick's "accidental entrepreneur" who trained as a physiotherapist and now runs a healthcare company, is named Atlantic Canada's CEO of the Year in the July/August 2026 issue of Atlantic Business Magazine. The cover story anchors a 72-page issue that also investigates PEI's unreliable ferry link, the cruise industry's overstated economic impact, and the region's newcomer-retention crisis.

Boulet-Devost's CEO of the Year profile at P62 traces her journey from physiotherapy to transforming healthcare delivery across the Atlantic region. The feature "Island Link" (P40) reports that PEI's ferry service has been plagued by unreliability, but summer 2026 could be the turning point — though bridge maintenance adds a 30-to-60-minute delay to the usual 3.5-to-4-hour drive from Nova Scotia. "Immigration Paradox" (P54) warns that unless employers fix newcomer woes, the region will squander a once-in-a-generation growth opportunity. "Cruise News" (P34) questions whether the industry is overstating its economic impact, noting many cruise visitors don't spend much in port because meals are free onboard. "Tightly Knit" (P46) profiles NONIA, founded as a healthcare fundraiser over 100 years ago, now a beloved NL enterprise.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Features

P62 · CEO of the Year: Sascha Boulet-Devost
Trained as a physiotherapist, Boulet-Devost became an entrepreneur by accident and now runs a healthcare company that earned the highest CEO score in Atlantic Canada. The profile covers her unconventional path, management philosophy and the specific metrics that earned her the top ranking. Any founder who entered business sideways should read how she built a board and a management team without a traditional MBA network.

P40 · Island Link
PEI's ferry link has been unreliable for years, but summer 2026 could be the turning point. The piece examines the operational failures, the political finger-pointing and what "Feds recommend to PEI ferries" actually means for island residents and businesses.

P34 · Cruise News
A critical look at the economic-impact numbers the cruise industry uses to justify port subsidies. The finding that many passengers spend little ashore because meals are included onboard undermines the standard industry multiplier. Port authorities should audit their own assumptions against this analysis.

P46 · Tightly Knit
NONIA started as a healthcare fundraiser over 100 years ago and has grown into a beloved Newfoundland and Labrador knitwear enterprise. The brand story offers lessons in cultural authenticity for any heritage-based business.

P54 · Immigration Paradox
Unless employers and policymakers fix the retention problem for newcomers, Atlantic Canada will waste its demographic opportunity. The article includes specific policy recommendations from business leaders who have seen skilled immigrants leave within two years of arrival.

▸ Columns / Departments

P04 · Between the Lines
Dawn Chafe on why tourism is both culture and business, and why the ferry and airlift problems are structural, not seasonal. She notes that return flights to Newfoundland in high season can easily top USD 600 per person.

P06 · In the Arena
Jim Templeton on adapting to permanent uncertainty — the defining challenge for Atlantic Canadian businesses that are owner-operated with lean leadership teams and little corporate buffer.

P08 · Embracing Our Advantage
Daniel Ohaegbu argues that the lack of immigrant entrepreneur pathways is driving away graduates who could build local businesses.

P10 · Let's Do Launch
Dr. Abdullah Kirumira and Glyn Davies on the science and commercialisation challenges of their Nova Scotia-based nutraceutical startup.

P12 · Small Business Spotlight
Marcia Poirier, a New Brunswick-based Acadian artist who has found commercial success as a shell carver.

P70 · Where Are They Now?
Rob Steele, CEO of Steele Auto Group and Top 50 CEO Hall of Famer, on being inspired by Evel Knievel.

P72 · Devil's Advocate
John Risley warns Canada may miss its economic and resource potential without bold, urgent action.

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Editor's Take

The Boulet-Devost CEO of the Year profile is the strongest editorial piece in this issue — she has an unconventional story and the magazine tells it without forcing a rags-to-riches template. The Cruise News article is the most useful: it questions an industry sacred cow with actual spending data. The Immigration Paradox piece is well-intentioned but recycles familiar complaints without offering new solutions. The meetings and conventions planners' guide that opens the issue (P18-P28) is effectively 11 pages of advertorial content that dilutes the editorial product. Best for Atlantic Canadian business owners, tourism-industry analysts and anyone tracking regional immigration policy.

Strengths
• Boulet-Devost CEO profile is specific and well-reported
• Cruise News data undermines industry economic-impact claims
• NONIA heritage story is a genuine cultural-business case study

Weaknesses
• Meetings guide consumes 11 pages of advertorial content
• Immigration Paradox article lacks fresh policy solutions

Verdict: Recommended — Buy for the CEO profile and cruise-industry investigation.