Lori Kennedy

Cape Breton University is delighted to honour and recognize a woman who is one of Atlantic Canada’s greatest business leaders and whose philanthropy and community pride make a difference to the countless organizations she is connected to, Ms. Lori Kennedy.

Lori is the co-owner of Louisbourg Seafoods and has led this major seafood business since the company’s inception in 1984. Her work with community, industry, tourism, academia, and government has helped shape innovative corporate policies and procedures that govern how Louisbourg Seafoods operates within Atlantic Canada.

In addition to her exceptional capabilities as a leader in our community, she also participates in countless international trade missions and speaking engagements to promote the understanding of the east coast fishery of Atlantic Canada and to secure long-term working relationships both at home and internationally.

A graduate of Cape Breton University, Lori recently completed the Leading Business and Personal Transitions Program at Harvard Business School.

Lori’s success in operating Louisbourg Seafoods has not gone unnoticed. She has been named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEO’s four years running by Atlantic Business Magazine. And while this is a tremendous accolade that she is humbled to receive, it is her passion to inspire other women leaders that is just as rewarding. She is a member of the Women’s Presidents Organization Atlantic Chapter, a non-profit 501 (c) (6) organization formed to improve business conditions for women entrepreneurs and to promote the acceptance and advancement of women in all industry.

Giving back to her community and her field is important to Lori. She currently sits on the board of directors of the World Ocean Council, which provides responsible companies from the ocean business community the ability to collectively address cross-cutting ocean sustainable development challenges and shape the future of the ocean by engaging and working with other ocean stakeholders. She is also Chair of the United Way Cape Breton End Child Poverty initiative, which supports those in her community who have less. Lori is also one of Cape Breton’s greatest philanthropists helping countless of organizations with her generosity, and she is a true friend and supporter of Cape Breton University.

Cape Breton University confers the degree Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on a woman who is an inspiration for woman in business and a true community leader, Ms. Lori Kennedy.