Hope Blooms’ Dream Becomes a Reality with Build Right Nova Scotia

HALIFAX, NS – February 13, 2014 – Build Right Nova Scotia, a newly formed partnership between unionized contractors and the building trades, is pleased to announce an exciting project with a special community partner. The group of unionized contractors and tradespeople will be constructing a top-of-the-line greenhouse for youth-run social enterprise Hope Blooms, of Dragons’ Den fame. Build Right Nova Scotia will contribute all of the supplies and labour for the
facility and have been working with the Hope Blooms team over the last number of months to incorporate their ideas into the project. Construction will begin sometime in the spring, after location and design details are finalized.

“It’s all about making their vision a reality,” says Jon Mullin, Vice President of Aecon Buildings Atlantic and Chairman of the Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association. He is also lead contractor on the project. “As soon as I heard the story of Hope Blooms, I knew this would be a great project for Build Right Nova Scotia. It is a way to invest in the community while encouraging our children to learn and grow. The youth of Hope Blooms are the future leaders of our province and it is important to us that they are involved with every step, from design concept to adding the final touches.”

Hope Blooms is a North End community garden and salad dressing business run by inner city youth with help from mentors. It began in 2008 as a garden project fewer than 12 children involved, and has grown exponentially. The program participants plant seeds, tend crops, and turn their produce into organic dressing which is sold locally. In 2013 they appeared on CBC’s Dragons’ Den asking for an investment to expand their business and walked away with $40,000 towards a new greenhouse. “Since we will be covering all costs of the greenhouse, it will allow for the Dragon’s money to be invested into other aspects of the program and the community,” adds Mr. Mullin.

“This will allow us to grow Hope Blooms and help our community more”, says Tiffany Calvin, 12-year-old PR spokesperson for Hope Blooms. “We can put money into our scholarship funds to get more education, a career and a better life. All of us are so excited and so thankful.”

“It will help grow our community and let us grow our herbs year round. I’ll get the chance to work side by side with experts in a career I would like to go into. It’s awesome. I have learned from gardening that we are better together,” says Kolade Boboye, 14-year-old greenhouse supervisor.

“To witness the sheer joy that our youth experienced in learning that experts in the construction trades wanted to build them a greenhouse; that people they had never met want to contribute to growing their social enterprise, brought me to tears,” adds Jessie Jollymore, founder of Hope Blooms. “The offer to have this project be a path of mentorship to our youth is providing inspiration to us all that it is possible to plant a seed and harvest a dream. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Build Right Nova Scotia is a recently launched partnership of unionized contractors and the building trades who have joined forces with the goal of promoting the benefits of union-built industrial, commercial, and institutional buildings in Nova Scotia. They want to promote the contributions that many of these highly trained workers and employers make to the community. The 350 employers and 11,000 unionized professional tradespeople in Nova Scotia, including 2,700 apprentices, will continue to join forces to improve the wellbeing of Nova Scotians.

For more information contact:

Trent Soholt, Executive Director
Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council
902-832-4761
email

Jessie Jollymore, Founder
Hope Blooms
902-225-9729
email

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