HANTSPORT — Glooscap First Nation in Nova Scotia is launching a seafood market with local products caught and processed by its members, as a way to keep profits in the community and help pay for services.
Michael Peters, CEO of Glooscap Ventures, said the new market is a natural way to integrate the First Nation's businesses into a new project while making local food more accessible. Along with local seafood, the market will also sell fresh produce from neighbouring Annapolis Valley farms.
"We think it's going to be a great opportunity for the Valley to have a really good seafood market in an area that's mostly known for its produce. I think we'll stand out a bit," he said in an interview Thursday.
The CEO said the new market near Glooscap First Nation, about 65 kilometres northwest of Halifax, will focus on selling lobster, shellfish, scallops, halibut and other fish from Glooscap Seafood — the fish harvesting and processing business run by the First Nation.
"It's going to be focused on seafood, but of course, here in the Annapolis Valley, we're known for agriculture. So we're going to be having a lot of local seasonal produce, apples, corn … as well as some baked goods," Peters said.
"This is going to give people much-needed access to local, fresh and affordable food," he added.
The two-storey, 4,000-square-foot market will be built by a partnership between the First Nation and local firm Lindsay Construction, Peters said, and it is expected to create 10 full-time jobs and 20 part-time positions when it opens later this year.
The market will be a barn-like structure located at Glooscap Landing, a business centre in Hantsport, N.S., that's owned and operated by the First Nation. Peters said the building will be south-facing and will include solar panels on the roof and batteries that can store the power.
"The hope is that it would be able to operate during power outages, so people can still come get their groceries and fresh food during times of power outages, hurricanes and things like that we keep seeing here in Nova Scotia," he said.
Peters said the project is part of Glooscap First Nation's economic plan to keep profits from its businesses in the community.
"It's going to generate revenue which helps pay for services in our community that are typically underfunded. Things like housing, education, recreation, infrastructure and so on," he said.
Glooscap Chief Sidney Peters said in a statement the new market shows how serious the First Nation is about building a strong future for its community.
"This is how we look after each other. This is how we build a future our grandchildren can be proud of," the chief said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 31, 2025.
Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press
