Antigonish Regional Development Authority, where ideas take root

Dream Catching and Breaking down Barriers

Roseanne MacEachern believes the key to her business’s success are the people – the employees, the customers, and their personalities. “Of course excellent service, products, and location don’t hurt either,” she laughs.

Roseanne is the owner of Dream Catcher’s Deli and Treats at the Antigonish Mall. She has always looked for certain qualifications when hiring staff; honesty, integrity, and dedication.

Since she opened her business three years ago, hiring and retaining staff has always been a challenge. So she recently decided to be more open minded and look at new avenues for hiring staff. Roseanne employees four staff; one of which is a recent immigrant.

“I met her and found out she had just immigrated but hadn’t started the citizenship process yet. So I sponsored her. I guaranteed that she would have work for two years and it has worked out great.”

She has also been working with students from a special needs class at Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School.

“Each semester, a new student is placed at the restaurant,” says Roseanne. “My last student was excellent. He worked every Wednesday and it was working out so well that I hired him for Christmas and the summer.”

The Antigonish Regional Development Authority (ARDA) conducted a business visit to Dream Catcher’s in the early fall. ARDA’s Business Retention and Expansion Program focuses on visiting businesses and identifying any opportunities or issues that may be present.

“We immediately thought Dream Catcher’s was doing an amazing job of thinking outside the box when it comes to hiring staff,” says development officer Shannon MacIntyre. “Over and over again, we hear of businesses who are having trouble finding the right employees, and here is someone who has come up with her own unique solution to the problem.”

“Everyday I get up to come to work and do what I love doing,” says Roseanne. “Of course there are bad days, but I have to remember that I get to do what I love! Be positive. It’s mind over matter.”

Dream Catcher’s has just expanded to include a New Glasgow location.

“The opportunity was there. I have always set a goal to expand into other communities. Entrepreneurs have to take more chances, become gamblers, and take calculated risks.”
Roseanne never takes things for granted; especially people. “Everybody has worth,” she says. “But it takes the patience of someone else to show that worth.”