History

Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Affirmative Industries is the brainchild of psychologist Dr. Norman Greenberg. His work with mental health patients at the Nova Scotia Hospital during the 1980’s sparked an idea and drive to help patients develop the personal and professional skills they needed to live successfully outside the hospital. 

Based on the philosophy that everyone can contribute if provided the right opportunity and supports, Dr. Greenberg began to think about ways to blend business with patient recovery, helping them to achieve greater independence.

After reading the book Affirmative Industry by Lance DuRand and hearing the Minnesota author speak in Nova Scotia, Dr. Greenberg launched the first of several employment training businesses in 1988, a craft oriented social enterprise producing clay heritage model houses.

Seeing success, subsequent employment training opportunities were created including packaging gravel  for a local company and building cat furniture, which was sold in the US. This last enterprise led to packaging pet supplies which grew into “Pet Stuff On the Go”, a successful pet supply business currently located in Dartmouth. 

In 1992, The Affirmative Industry Association of Nova Scotia was incorporated and recruited a board of directors from the Nova Scotia Hospital. In 1998, the vision of the organization was broadened to help individuals with disabilities enhance their economic independence. The mission became “facilitating economic independence of persons with disabilities through getting a job, starting a business or owning their own home.”

As part of that mission, the board recruited diverse members from the community, including four individuals with disabilities. At the same time, Affirmative Industries helped form and became a leading partner in the Teamwork Cooperative. This new organization opened the door for all agencies working with people with disabilities to create innovative employment solutions and break down barriers between people and agencies. In 2002, Affirmative Industries took ownership of the Neighbourhood Dollar Store on Novalea Drive in Halifax.

In 2004, the Andrew Peacock Fund was set up through the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council (NSCC) to provide business loans and equity to individuals with disabilities starting their own business. After three years of working with these entrepreneurs, it was learned that they required more support in starting and operating their businesses than was feasible under the existing model. As a result, Affirmative Industries and the NSCC decided to create a new model. Together with the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network (EDN), the three organizations have partnered to provide an "incubator model" where selected entrepreneurs and/or social enterprises will be supported to start their business. It is anticipated that the Incubator may be operating at the end of 2010 or at the beginning of 2011.

The organization also began developing “Building for Independence” in 2004, an affordable housing and equity savings model for mental health consumers.  Opened in September 2007, Affirmative House is home to 10 tenants who are recovering from mental illness. This housing project also incorporates an innovative Tenant Savings Plan supported by the tenants and Affirmative Industries in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services.