In Business for Ourselves: Northern Entrepreneurs

Elizabeth Power is an accountant in Ajax, Ontario.

The 15 northern entrepreneurs studied in this book cover a broad range,
from a self-made man to a young university-educated couple, from an
Inuit businesswoman to a Scottish immigrant. The businesses are diverse
and include an art gallery, a translation service, a boat tour company,
as well as stores and fisheries.

The ingredients for success in any small business, whether in the North
or elsewhere, are discussed. The need for planning, the need to
recognize a niche in the marketplace, and the importance of good service
and quality are all well documented.

Problems more unique to the northern environment are also identified:
the short summer season for tourists; the small, widely scattered
markets; the shortage of well-trained staff, the dependence on
government as a major client.

The book provides a good feel for the problems and rewards of operating
a small business, and not only in the North; financial information is
limited, although appendixes outline the financial planning steps that
should be undertaken. At times the editing falls down and a lack of
continuity is noticeable.

The strong dedication many of these entrepreneurs have to their
communities and the leadership role they assume within them are striking
characteristics. The people we meet provide us not only with insight
into the factors that lead to a successful small-business operation but
also with a very intriguing look at northern life.