Atlantic Business Magazine – March-April 2026

Summary

Atlantic Canada's business magazine delivers its March/April 2026 issue at a pivotal moment: the 25 Most Powerful Women in Business are profiled in the 6th annual special section, while the energy crisis — "Lights On, Nerves Frayed" — dominates the feature well. Editor Dawn Chafe opens with a chilling fact: a province of 550,000 people exports enough electricity to heat 4.5 million homes, yet was one cold snap away from rolling blackouts.

The cover package runs from P22 to P52: "Life in the Fast Lane" covers the opening of the last two-lane bottleneck between Atlantic Canada and the rest of the country after 20-plus years of construction (P22). "Empowering P.E.I." examines why solar and wind can't meet peak demand (P28). "MOU in Doubt" reports on the 2024 Churchill Falls MOU whose political tides have shifted (P34). "State of Fission" covers Nova Scotia's small modular nuclear reactor MOU with Ontario (P46). NB Power CEO Lori Clark is the subject of "Power and Politics" (P52). Regular columns include John Risley's Devil's Advocate on wind power and Nadine Bernard on Indigenous partnerships.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Energy Crisis

P22 · Life in the Fast Lane
After 20-plus years of construction, the last two-lane bottleneck connecting Atlantic Canada to the rest of the country is about to open. Logistics managers who move freight through the region should calculate the time savings against their current routing.

P28 · Empowering P.E.I.
Solar and wind are big parts of Island energy generation but can't meet peak demand. The piece explains how the province is solving shortfalls without building large-scale fossil-fuel plants.

P34 · MOU in Doubt
The 2024 Churchill Falls MOU was supposed to be a historic hydro partnership. Changed political tides now leave the deal uncertain. Energy buyers in the northeastern US should monitor the outcome as it affects their own supply projections.

P46 · State of Fission
Nova Scotia signed a small modular nuclear reactor MOU with Ontario in October 2025 — but that does not mean going nuclear anytime soon. The regulatory and cost hurdles documented here apply to any Canadian province considering SMRs.

P52 · Power and Politics
How NB Power CEO Lori Clark navigates urgent capacity shortfalls, public opposition, rising rates and heavy debt. The pull quote captures the approach: "Carefully. Very, very carefully."

▸ Special Section

P58 · 25 Most Powerful Women in Business 2026
The 6th annual section profiles women like Cheryl Copage-Gehue, director of Indigenous relations at Clearwater Seafoods. The profiles include career arcs, board seats and measurable community impact.

▸ Columns / Departments

P06 · Between the Lines
Editor Dawn Chafe on the Saturday, January 24 cold snap that forced NL Hydro to ask residents to conserve energy. Bay d'Espoir hydro plant — normally 604 MW — shut down for the first time since 1967 due to slushy underwater ice.

P08 · In the Arena
Jim Templeton: business can be like a swamp — don't be distracted by alligators.

P10 · Economic Reconciliation
Nadine Bernard on why Indigenous partnerships are smart business, not charity.

P12 · Let's Do Launch
NutraForge, a Paradise, N.L.-based startup using AI to simplify nutrition and wellness tracking.

P14 · Small Business Spotlight
Running the Goat — how a St. John's micropress became a nationally recognised independent bookstore.

P78 · Where Are They Now?
Greg Hemmings, 2022 Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame inductee, on rebuilding his Saint John-based production company after nearly losing it.

P80 · Devil's Advocate
John Risley on whether wind power can actually drive the Atlantic economy.

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Editor's Take

This is the most physically substantial issue of Atlantic Business in recent memory, and the energy focus is timely — the Bay d'Espoir shutdown story is the kind of boots-on-the-ground reporting that regional business magazines do better than nationals. The 25 Most Powerful Women section is valuable as a networking directory, though the profiles are too short to offer real depth. The columns are consistently strong, especially John Risley's Devil's Advocate. Weakest element is the Let's Do Launch piece, which reads as a press release for the featured startup. Best for Atlantic Canadian business owners, energy-sector professionals and anyone tracking the region's infrastructure challenges.

Strengths
• Bay d'Espoir shutdown story with specific data (604 MW, first time since 1967)
• Energy-focused feature package coheres around a single theme
• 25 Most Powerful Women section is a useful regional directory

Weaknesses
• Let's Do Launch reads as an unpaid press release
• Profile depth varies in the women-in-business section

Verdict: Recommended — Buy for the energy coverage and the CEO interview.