Kingston’s Charlie Bishop has packed a lot of living into one lifetime.

An accountant at what was once one of the Nova Scotia's largest independent retail building supply stores, he was part of an employee buy-out of the firm in the late 1960s that ultimately saved 120 jobs in rural Nova Scotia. Later, he moved to Frobisher Bay (now Iqaluit) to serve as area manager of the Arctic Co-op. Then, 30 years ago, he returned to his roots in the Annapolis Valley, where he launched a successful accounting practice, which he now runs with the youngest of his four children, Michael.

“I guess I know a thing or two about business,” says Bishop.

In fact, Bishop's in-depth experience in evaluating and mitigating business risk has served him well in his role as chairman of CBDC Hants Kings. Bishop describes community business development corporations (CBDCs) as an essential support to Nova Scotia's small businesses.

“From my work, I've seen first-hand how hard it is for small business to access the financing they need,” he says. “The CBDCs fill the gap that the banks leave.”

While Bishop is known for his ability to scrutinize business plans and find the holes that need to be filled, he says his role on the volunteer CBDC board has taught him a lot, too.

“You're always learning new things from the clients - the things that make businesses succeed and the things that give them problems. It's fascinating.”

In addition to his volunteer work with the CBDC, Bishop has also served his community through his involvement with the local Lions Club.

In honour of National Volunteer Week, April 15 to 21, the Nova Scotia Association of Community Business Development Corporations would like to thank volunteers with CBDC Hants Kings for their hard work and dedication.

The CBDCs are not-for-profit organizations with a mandate to foster community-based economic development through business support and loans to medium and small business enterprises in 41 regions throughout Atlantic Canada. To find out more, call 1-888-303-2232 (CBDC).