Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

After spending several years working as a marine ecologist, Meaghan McDonald, founder and CEO of Salt Legacy, experienced first hand the devastating effects of waste and microplastics on local marine ecosystems. She always knew her path would lead to ocean conservation but hadn't quite determined how. The original idea for the bags came while Meaghan was hiking in Nova Scotia and the strap of her backpack gave out on the top of the mountain. After some frustration, she had a lightbulb moment. Living on a sailboat at the time, and trying to find a way to dispose of the old sails without sending them to the landfill, the idea of Salt Legacy was born. With each unique Salt Legacy adventure bag you not only get a beautiful, custom, durable piece, you also get the history of where the sail has journeyed and you get to join a community of adventurers writing its future. Salt Legacy is a company that brings all Meaghan's passions together: Ocean conservation, sailing and her love for nature.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

Our brand is our community. They are the storytellers, the connection seekers and inspirational leaders working towards a more sustainable future for our planet. We also work with many other local businesses that demonstrate similar values and participate in initiatives that include but are not limited to ocean cleanups, volunteering at events that drive environmental stewardship and give environmental awareness talks.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

Salt Legacy is building a powerful community that will have a big impact on the marine sector locally, nationally and internationally. We incorporate multiple elements such as education, storytelling and research into both our products and initiatives. We want to work with local companies, first nations and governing bodies to put in place sustainable practices and break the stigma around upcycing We are growing at an exponential rate and only plan on growing faster.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

If you love the outdoors you are part of the Salt Legacy family. We are creating a community of nature enthusiasts, visionaries, leaders, and artists. - When a sail gets donated we sit down with the owner and get their story. These stories are then incorporated into the 'Collections'. Each Collection is named after the vessel it originated from. This way we are building that strong connection piece between the sails history, its past owner and its future owners. - Flexible hours for our team. As long as the work that is agreed upon is getting done they are welcome to use the equipment and space to work on other pursuits they are passionate about. - Strong female team with diverse backgrounds from across the globe. - Our patterns are designed and perfected by our team and feedback from our customers. We love doing votes on social media that help determine the direction of our product lines. - Various team adventures including hiking, sailing and paddle boarding - We are implementing an amazing Eco Champions program where we encourage brand ambassadors to go out and share their adventures with our community - We also have the speaker series where individuals share their experiences with nature and the environment through video, voice (podcast) and blog style interviews. - We work with partners and vendors that have similar values and sustainability measures in place. This includes everything from upcyled hardware, educational resources to community give aways. - We are working closely with local yacht clubs to incentivize their members to dispose their sails responsibly and give educational talks on marine conservation.

Why do you think you should win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award?

Salt Legacy aims to act as a platform for building strong connections. Our brand is our community. They are the storytellers, the connection seekers and inspirational leaders working towards a more sustainable future for our planet. When buying a Salt Legacy piece you not only get a beautiful, durable unique bag made from upcycled sails, you also get its history and a chance to become its legacy. Salt Legacy promotes three pillars that form the foundation of its brand: The products, the Speakers Series, and the Eco Champion Initiative. We actively invite individuals to join our community through joining the production team, sharing outdoor adventure stories, becoming a brand ambassador and/or by collaborating ideas. Help us carry on the legacy :)