Top 10 Richest People in Nova Scotia (2026)

Nova Scotia, with its strategic Atlantic location and historical significance, has birthed wealth through shipping, fishing, energy, education, and tech innovation. The province’s wealthiest individuals are not only economic leaders but also philanthropists and cultural patrons shaping its future.

Nova Scotia is a province in the Maritimes region of Canada, located on the nation’s east coast. With an estimated population of over 1 million as of 2025, Nova Scotia is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. Nova Scotia is also the second-most densely populated province in Canada, and the second-smallest province by area. The province comprises the Nova Scotia peninsula and Cape Breton Island, as well as 3,800 other coastal islands. The province is connected to the rest of Canada by the Isthmus of Chignecto, on which the province’s sole land border, with New Brunswick, is located.

Nova Scotia’s capital and largest city is Halifax, which is home to over 45% of the province’s population as of the 2021 census. Halifax is the twelfth-largest census metropolitan area in Canada, the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada, and Canada’s second-largest coastal municipality after Vancouver.

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The land that makes up what is now Nova Scotia was inhabited by the Mi’kmaq people at the time of European colonization. In 1605, Acadia—France’s first New France colony—was founded with the creation of Acadia’s capital, Port Royal. The Scots, English, then British, fought France for the territory on numerous occasions for over a century afterwards, having gained it from them in the 1713 Peace of Utrecht, which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. Port Royal was renamed Annapolis Royal and the settlement served as the capital of Nova Scotia until the founding of Halifax in 1749.

Nova Scotia’s per capita GDP in 2016 was CA$44,924, significantly lower than the national average per capita GDP of CA$57,574. GDP growth has lagged behind the rest of the country for at least the past decade. In 2017, the median family income in Nova Scotia was $85,970, below the national average of $92,990; in Halifax the figure rises to $98,870.

The province is the world’s largest exporter of Christmas trees, lobster, gypsum, and wild berries.^[57] Its export value of fish exceeds $1 billion, and fish products are received by 90 countries around the world. Nevertheless, the province’s imports far exceed its exports. While these numbers were roughly equal from 1992 until 2004, since that time the trade deficit has ballooned. In 2012, exports from Nova Scotia were 12.1% of provincial GDP, while imports were 22.6%.

Nova Scotia’s traditionally resource-based economy has diversified in recent decades. The rise of Nova Scotia as a viable jurisdiction in North America, historically, was driven by the ready availability of natural resources, especially the fish stocks off the Scotian Shelf. The fishery was a pillar of the economy since its development as part of New France in the 17th century; however, the fishery suffered a sharp decline due to overfishing in the late 20th century. The collapse of the cod stocks and the closure of this sector resulted in a loss of approximately 20,000 jobs in 1992.

Other sectors in the province were also hit hard, particularly during the last two decades: coal mining in Cape Breton and northern mainland Nova Scotia has virtually ceased, and Sydney Steel Corporation, a large steel mill in Sydney, closed during the 1990s. More recently, the high value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar has hurt the forestry industry, leading to the shutdown of a long-running pulp and paper mill near Liverpool. Mining, especially of gypsum and salt and to a lesser extent silica, peat and barite, is also a significant sector. Since 1991, offshore oil and gas has become an important part of the economy, although production and revenue are nowdeclining. Agriculture remains an important sector in the province, particularly in the Annapolis Valley.

Here are the Top 10 Richest People in Nova Scotia in 2025, based on public records, business disclosures, and provincial wealth rankings.

1. John Risley – $1.5 Billion

Source of Wealth: Seafood (Clearwater Seafoods), Investments
Residence: Chester, NS

Co-founder of Clearwater Seafoods, Risley built one of North America’s largest shellfish exporters. He has since diversified into ocean tech, telecom (Columbus Communications), and real estate. Risley is Nova Scotia’s wealthiest resident and an influential global business figure.

2. Ken Rowe – $950 Million

Source of Wealth: Aerospace & Shipping (IMP Group International)
Residence: Halifax, NS

Founder of IMP Group, Rowe built a diversified conglomerate involved in aerospace, marine, and health technologies. He’s also a major donor to Dalhousie University and medical research in the province.

3. Scott McCain – $890 Million

Source of Wealth: Agribusiness (Maple Leaf Foods, McCain Group)
Residence: Halifax, NS

Part of the McCain family dynasty, Scott has managed portions of Maple Leaf Foods and spearheaded investments in frozen foods, beverages, and agricultural enterprises. He’s a prominent business figure in both Ontario and Nova Scotia.

4. Rob Steele – $720 Million

Source of Wealth: Auto Dealerships, Media (NewCap Radio)
Residence: Halifax, NS

Owner of Steele Auto Group, one of Canada’s largest vehicle dealership networks, Steele also ran NewCap Radio before its acquisition. His fortune spans transport, media, and property management.

5. Danny Chedrawe – $650 Million

Source of Wealth: Real Estate Development (Westwood Group)
Residence: Halifax, NS

Through Westwood Developments, Chedrawe helped transform downtown Halifax, owning key commercial buildings and residential complexes across Atlantic Canada. His impact on urban design is unmatched.

6. Heather Reisman (Partial Nova Scotia ties) – $610 Million

Source of Wealth: Retail (Indigo Books), Investments
Family Origin: Nova Scotia

Although based in Toronto, Reisman has strong family roots in Halifax and remains active in educational philanthropy in the province. She’s the founder of Indigo Books & Music and has invested in literacy and child health programs.

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7. John Bragg – $590 Million

Source of Wealth: Telecommunications, Agriculture (Oxford Frozen Foods, Bragg Communications)
Residence: Oxford, NS

Bragg owns Oxford Frozen Foods, a global wild blueberry exporter, and Eastlink, one of Canada’s largest regional telecom providers. He’s a key player in both rural internet access and agri-export markets.

8. Fred George – $540 Million

Source of Wealth: Oil, Mining, Energy Ventures
Residence: Halifax, NS

George built his fortune through energy investments in the Middle East and North America. He remains a prominent investor in gold, gas, and Nova Scotia’s clean energy initiatives.

9. Colin MacDonald – $460 Million

Source of Wealth: Seafood Exports (Clearwater Seafoods)
Residence: Bedford, NS

As co-founder of Clearwater Seafoods with John Risley, MacDonald played a key role in modernizing Nova Scotia’s seafood industry. He now focuses on property, innovation, and philanthropy.

10. Gerry Pond – $400 Million

Source of Wealth: Telecom, Tech Startups (NB Tel, East Valley Ventures)
Residence: Halifax / Saint John (dual presence)

Though originally from New Brunswick, Pond has helped shape Nova Scotia’s startup ecosystem, investing in Atlantic Canadian tech companies and mentoring new founders through Volta and Propel ICT.

Summary Table

Final Thoughts

Nova Scotia’s richest individuals are shaping the region through innovation, infrastructure, and global trade. From wild blueberries to high-speed internet, their ventures reflect the province’s deep-rooted entrepreneurial resilience and coastal opportunity.