Lesley Cabott of Lesley Cabott Consulting

With Friend Friday, we highlight some of the wonderful entrepreneurs and small business owners who do their thing at The Network Hub. This week, we take a look at Lesley Cabott of Lesley Cabott Consulting.

Please tell us who you are and what you do.

My name is Lesley Cabott and I am a Community Planner. I started my own consulting business, Lesley Cabott Consulting in January of 2010 after working for communities and governments for over 25 years. My work is focussed on working with northern communities to plan for and create a sustainable future. My work right now includes doing research for the Northern Research Institute on climate change adaptation, working with the Yukon Energy Corporation to develop new clean and renewable energy resources and helping the City of Whitehorse plan and develop a new sustainable neighbourhood which will accommodate the City’s growth over the next twenty years.

Tell us something unique about your company.

Some may think the company is unique in that we do all our consulting work with clients which are located above the 60th parallel and yet we have our office here in Vancouver at The Network Hub. The reason, it never gets to minus 40 degrees Celsius in Vancouver.

What inspired you to get into this line of work?

Canada’s north is one of the most affected regions in the world in respect to climate change impacts. Northern communities are reliant on fossil fuels for much of their energy needs. The housing is poor and the infrastructure was built to southern standards and is in need of repair and replacement with northern designed and developed solutions. I want our northern communities to be sustainable and they need help.

What do you enjoy the most about what you do?

The north is beautiful and the people are great. It is challenging and exciting to work with communities and help them define a vision for their community and then help them to get there. It is rewarding when you can help communities bring life to their ideas through projects and new development in their community. People are passionate about where they live and the north is a special and fragile place to live; I am lucky to work there.

Where do you see your industry going in the next 2 years?

I hope that planning for climate change adaptation and sustainability becomes the norm for all of Canada’s northern communities.

What made you decide to work at The Network Hub?

I was looking for good, well maintained, interesting, self contained office space in downtown Vancouver that I could just move into and get started. At the Network Hub I have a reception, a boardroom, a kitchen area, great office mates and a funky office with a great window.

How has the experience been for you?

I have been here for over a year and I love it. It is perfect for me. I travel to the north regularly and I know when I come back my office has been taken care of; I have no worries. The others who share space at the Network Hub are young, great, smart and helpful. It is a great place to start a business and stay.

You can find out more about Lesley at Cabottconsulting.com