Nestled in the heart of the Annapolis Valley, Grand Pré Wines is a family-owned business steeped in tradition yet committed to innovation. With the help of our programs, Grand Pré has found new ways to grow sustainably by reinvesting energy savings back into their operations and their community.

Kyla Dunn, operations manager at Grand Pré, takes in the sweeping views of the valley as she drives down Avonport Mountain every morning and is reminded of the privilege of working in such a special place. “What speaks to the heart of this area is everyone's appreciation of what we have,” says Kyla, who has been with the winery for 17 years. “It's a beautiful place. We have amazing food and wine, we have amazing communities and people really come together to support each other.”

In Nova Scotia, business is about partnerships and friendships, and Kyla Dunn relies on that sort of support from our team. We’re always just a phone call away, offering expert advice based on trust and a shared commitment to making every project a success.

Running a small winery comes with its challenges, and the team at Grand Pré wears many hats – from running the day-to-day operations to planning facility upgrades. That’s where we come in. When the winery needs energy efficient upgrades, Kyla’s first call is to Kraig Porter, our Lead Energy Manger for Agriculture, who helps navigate programs and provides tailored solutions that ease the process. The Agriculture Energy Manager Role is a collaborative initiative between Efficiency Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, made possible through funding from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Thanks to this initiative, Nova Scotian farms and Agri-Businesses, like Grand Pré can focus on what they do best – producing high-quality local products.

“We don’t have departments dedicated to finding funding programs or researching options. Having someone like Kraig to point us in the right direction has been the biggest thing for us,” says Kyla.

Our team played a pivotal role when Grand Pré’s walk-in fridge – a critical component for their operations – broke down. “I just emailed Kraig,” says Kyla. “He helped find support quickly and even identified an extra rebate we could apply for. Replacing a fridge is a huge expense, and his guidance made it much more manageable.”

Working together to complete energy efficiency upgrades over the years has had a significant impact. Since 2018, Grand Pré has achieved annual energy savings of about 26,000 kilowatt-hours, translating to approximately $3,200 in cost reductions. For a small family business, these savings really help. “Our goal is to make energy efficiency upgrades straightforward for businesses like Grand Pré,” says Kraig. “With our diverse programs, we’ve been able to support their winery, restaurant and inn. These upgrades allow Grand Pré to reinvest savings into their operations, helping both the environment and their bottom line.”

The partnership continues to grow and we’re always here to help with new projects. The team is now exploring upgrades to the heating and cooling system in their retail space, aiming for even greater energy efficiency. “Every little bit of support truly makes a difference,” Kyla says. “It keeps this place running strong and keeps it beautiful.”

For Kyla, the partnership shows what can be achieved through trust and understanding. “I’ve been with Grand Pré for a while and it’s given me a chance to grow,” says Kyla. “Living and working in Nova Scotia, it's really the relationships that we develop that help make us strong as a community and as a province.”