The Ability Collective

05/26/2026

Join us tomorrow at The Ability Collective for a special book signing with local author and mental health advocate Mary P. MacDonald. Stop in, meet Mary, hear her story, and pick up a signed copy of her inspiring book Let It Be. 💙📚

Come speak to Mary P. MacDonald about her book Let It Be. Copies will be available for purchase.
Mary P. MacDonald is an author and mental health advocate who has lived with mental illness for forty-eight years. In her own words, she has seen it all and experienced everything there is to experience, both good and bad. Drawing on these experiences, Mary has written a book about her own life and nuggets of wisdom gained along the way. Her poetry is interspersed throughout the book, adding personal insight and reflections. Although progress has been made in recent years, the stigma of mental illness lives on, and that stigma often arises out of a lack of understanding. Mary hopes her book can be used as an educational tool, to increase awareness and acceptance and to emphasize that you need to be your own advocate when you have a mental illness.
Mary will be at the Ability Collective on Wednesday, May 27, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

05/26/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl-jiFGU730

Our Resident, Janice was presented as a nominee for the Rose Schwartz Female Business Person of the Year Award by the Cape Breton Chamber of Commerce for the...

05/26/2026

Out of respect for our dear friend Janice Addicott, The Ability Collective will be closing early today at 3:00 PM so staff can attend her Celebration of Life at Sydney Memorial Chapel.

Thank you for your understanding as we come together to honour and remember Janice. 💜

05/25/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we share the sudden passing of our very own Janice Addicott. Janice was a resident of Breton Ability and the heart behind Janice’s Boutique, which proudly carries her name.

Janice was someone you noticed right away. From her pink hair and love of rap karaoke to her purse always by her side and her signature bangles and rings, Janice showed up as herself every single day. She brought smiles, laughter, and energy to those around her.

Janice took great pride in her role as Manager of Janice’s Boutique and loved being part of something meaningful. One of her proudest moments was being nominated for the Rose Schwartz Female Business of the Year Award during the 2021 Excellence in Business Awards, a moment we were all proud to celebrate with her.

Janice will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by everyone at The Ability Collective. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who loved her.

05/25/2026

🍁 Sweetness straight from the hills of Cape Breton! 🍁

The Ability Collective’s Best of Cape Breton Gift Shop is proud to carry a variety of maple syrup from Highland Gold Maple. A family maple operation near Boisdale, Cape Breton.

For 25 years, they’ve been producing delicious local maple syrup, tapping nearly 8,000 trees each year! From pancakes to baking (or just a spoonful straight from the bottle 👀), there’s nothing quite like authentic Cape Breton maple syrup.

Stop by the shop and bring home a taste of Cape Breton! 🍁

05/20/2026

Now that we’re all fired up for the ECMA’s, swing by AbiliTea’s Café and treat yourself to our signature ECMA Sundae! 🎶🍨

This East Coast-inspired specialty sundae features:
✨ Two scoops of ice cream
✨ Chocolate sauce
✨ Brownie pieces
✨ Whipped cream
✨ Sprinkles
✨ Cherries
✨ A chocolate fiddle on top!

Even sweeter? $2 from every ECMA Sundae sold goes directly to the Adopt-A-Teen Program ❤️

Support local, celebrate the ECMA’s, and enjoy a delicious treat while you’re at it!

05/20/2026

🎶✨ A little piece of Cape Breton heading home with the East Coast Music Awards! ✨🎶

We’re excited to share another incredible local item featured in this year’s EMCA awards packages. These beautiful wooden Cape Breton ornaments created by our talented friends Blue Crab Creative Design ❤️

It’s always special to see local artists and makers come together to showcase the creativity and pride of our island during such an amazing celebration of East Coast music. 🎶

Big shoutout to Blue Crab Creative Design for helping make this year’s awards packages extra memorable for artists and guests visiting our beautiful island. 🙌

05/19/2026

🎶🔥 Who’s ALL FIRED UP for the East Coast Music Awards!? 🔥🎶

Sydney is turning up the volume as it hosts this year’s East Coast Music Awards and we’re proud to be part of the celebration of East Coast music, culture, and creativity! 🌊🎻🎸

We partnered with our friends Salty Shores Candle Co. to create the exclusive “All Fired Up” candle. Inspired by the warmth, energy, and soul of the East Coast music scene. 🕯️✨ These candles are featured in the official EMCA awards packages alongside custom coasters, buttons, and magnets created by our sister social enterprise, The Print Shop at ThriveAbility. 🙌

From candle pours to print production, it’s amazing seeing local collaboration come together for such a huge East Coast event. ❤️

A limited number of the candles and merch items are also available for purchase at The Ability Collective, but stock is limited, so grab yours before they’re gone faster than the encore at a Cape Breton kitchen party. 🎻🍻

Here’s to celebrating local music, local makers, and East Coast pride. 🎶

05/17/2026

05/15/2026

It’s Friday… time to bring home a little piece of Cape Breton 🦞🫎🐧🦫

Our plushie bin is packed full of East Coast favourites, Lobsters, Moose, Puffins, and Beavers ready for cuddles, road trips, and souvenirs that scream Cape Breton charm.

Honestly, it doesn’t get much more Cape Breton than this. Stop by The Ability Collective’s Best of Cape Breton Gift Shop and meet your new fuzzy friend before they’re gone!