Helping PEI grow inspires active mom and entrepreneur

Like many Islanders, Summerside business person Cora Lee Dunbar spends a lot of time at the rink. Whether she’s cheering on her son or her daughter or playing hockey herself, the single mother says keeping active is part of their family routine.

Cora Lee is a committee member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, a member of the Summerside Chamber of Commerce, PEI Business Women's Association, 100 Women Who Care and the Rotary Club of Summerside as well as treasurer of St. John's Anglican Church. She's also a certified diver.

This past March, she was appointed to the board of directors of Finance PEI. When asked why she got involved with Finance PEI, Cora Lee remarked that Finance PEI is where it all comes together.

“I like that I am able to apply my financial background," said Cora Lee. "but what I like best is that it’s all about economic development in PEI. Finance PEI involves all sectors and the work we do through the board is helping PEI to grow.”

As an entrepreneur herself, Cora Lee, along with her team, built ABI Business Services Inc. from the ground up. At the same time, she was raising two small children and building a home. Just last year, she merged her six staff and more than 1,000 clients with MRSB Group. Now, as a principle with MRSB, she has the flexibility of working from home a couple of days a week, which suits her lifestyle.

Cora Lee grew up in Montrose PEI and has fond memories of working on her family farm and campground. At heart, she’s still a farm girl.

“You can take the girl from the farm, but you can’t take the farm from the girl,” she said.

With four brothers, she learned to love adventure. In fact, this summer she jumped off bridges with her kids and even tested her balance with paddle boarding and kayaking.

When she’s not at the rink or at work, Cora Lee can be found participating in a board meeting or dressing up as Anne of Green Gables (the Dunbar household boasts three redheads and they have fun with it). As for down time, she stays fit by jogging on the Summerside waterfront boardwalk with her dog Lilly or biking the trails with her kids.

Cora Lee says that Finance PEI appeals to her sense of community service. She is one of the six Islanders representing the PEI business community on the Finance PEI Board of Directors.