• How it Works

    The program works in the following manner.

    1. The Greater Bathurst Chamber of Commerce recruits mentors from its membership.

    2. Community partner organizations, such as the Multicultural Association of the Chaleur Region and CBDC Chaleur refer potential mentees to the Chamber of Commerce. This is in addition to other potential mentees who heard about the program through general advertising, media coverage and this website.

    3. The coordinator at the Chamber of Commerce asseses the suitability of the mentor/mentee applicants, filtering out those who do not fit the criteria for the program. Mentors should have at least 2 years experience establishing and running their own business. Mentees should be investors or entrepeneurs interested in beginning a business in the Greater Bathurst region. 

    4. The coordinator then formally matches mentor to suitable mentee. 

    5. Matched mentors and mentees attend an orientation meeting. This prepares them for their respective roles in the mentoring relationship. 

    6. After the orientation sessions, mentors and mentees meet in person alone for the first time to negotiate the objectives of the mentoring relationship. They will confirm objectives and goals for the 6 month relationship. The objectives may include some of the following:
     

    • Share cultural background and work history
    • Discuss potentially applicable investment opportunities
    • Share relevant industry information and knowledge
    • Discuss relevant publications/journals/business articles
    • Pick up on any Canadian/NB/Chaleur region news issues or articles that are of relevance to the business/profession/intention of mentee and discuss implications
    • Discuss industry or trade specific terminology
    • Discuss what is important to employers and the industry in general
    • Discuss what makes the Chaleur region unique
    • Discuss the importance of networking
    • Talk about key figures in the Greater Bathurst business community
    • Suggest useful upcoming events
    • Research the area of interest together: what are the growing businesses in the area? Is it a niche? If so, are there any related industries where the mentee’s skill set can be used in the meantime?
    • Discuss the benefits of professional membership and networking associations
    • Discuss cultural differences in the workplace
    • Share workplace expectations, unique Canadian practices, immigrant perception
    • Recommend resources on workplace practice
    • Discuss New Brunswick as a province and how its bilingualism/rural population/small population plays into doing business in the area: what are the challenges and opportunities associated with this?

    7. Mentors and mentees are expected to meet four hours a month for six months.

    8. At the conclusion of the relationship, both mentors and mentees provide evaluative feedback.