Oxford, Nova Scotia—population 1,190—doesn’t spring to mind as a place to start or grow a business with a global reach. But don’t tell that to John Bragg. From humble beginnings, this deeply committed Maritimer has grown Oxford Frozen Foods into the world leader in harvesting, processing, and marketing wild blueberries. He’s done the same with Eastlink Communications, which he launched as a modest cable television operation in a small Nova Scotia town; through acquisitions it has become the largest private cable company in Canada. Bragg has all the instincts of an astute entrepreneur, and he brings these talents to all things, including his deep understanding of the challenges confronting rural Canada, where he is a true champion of rural development.

Donald Savoie is a self-effacing professor of public administration at Université de Moncton, where he holds the Clément-Cormier Chair in Economic Development. His recent books include Governing from the Centre (1999) and Breaking the Bargain (2003). When he is not writing scholarly works, he is advising provincial, territorial, and federal governments here in Canada, the United States, the OECD, and the World Bank. He golfs with premiers, prime ministers, and presidents of multinational corporations. He was born and raised in the Acadian village of Bouctouche, in rural New Brunswick.

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