Lise Buote, owner of Blue Heron Enterprises and co-owner of Blue Heron Construction, won 2013 Business Woman of the Year Award during the recent 2013 Entrepreneurs’ Gala in Summerside. In her absence, her son Chris Buote, in the middle, accepted her award from Paul Gillespie, left, loan officer with award sponsor CBDC Central P.E.I., and Martin Marcoux, representing the Acadian Chamber. Submitted photo
SUMMERSIDE — Rustico’s Lise Buote, owner of Blue Heron Enterprises (North Rustico Home Hardware) and co-owner of Blue Heron Construction, has earned the 2013 Business Woman of the Year award from the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of P.E.I..
Buote received her award during the recent 2013 Entrepreneurs’ Gala. The award, sponsored by CBDC Central P.E.I., seeks to recognize the efforts of a business woman or a female entrepreneur who has at least five years of experience and who is recognized for her exemplary accomplishments and her strong business sense, especially over the past year.
In 1972, the winner and her husband, Wayne Buote of Rustico, began a business that rented 22 cottages to tourists during the summer season. They operated it for 18 years.
In 1980, they established Blue Heron Enterprises to provide a plumbing service and to operate a plumbing supplies store. In 1990, Blue Heron bought out Callbeck’s Home Hardware in North Rustico, a well-established hardware and building supplies provider. About 10 employees worked at the shop at that time.
In 2010, after Wayne Buote died, Blue Heron was subdivided into two distinct companies. The first is Blue Heron Construction Inc., which now employs 32 people. Buote and one of her employees, Allan Tierney, became co-owners. This business specializes in residential and commercial construction. One of its greatest accomplishments is the Gables of P.E.I. project, which is building 18 quadruplexes. A similar project is also in construction in Murray River.
The second company is Blue Heron Enterprises Inc., owner of North Rustico Home Hardware, a large store that sells both hardware and building supplies. This business employs 20 people and Lise is its sole owner.
The store is the main provider of building supplies for Blue Heron Construction. Both businesses are often approached by sports teams, school groups and community causes and Buote contributes as much as possible back to the community.
On a personal level, Buote has been a member of various community organizations, including the Rustico Lions Club and the local Home and School Association.
The other finalists for the 2013 Business Woman of the Year Award were Réjeanne Arsenault, owner of the Bottle Houses in Cape Egmont; Béatrice Caillié, executive director of the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside; and Norma Gallant, owner of the Fancy Cut hair salon in Wellington. Lise Buote was also a finalist in the 2013 Distinguished Entrepreneur category.
