Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Honoree
2018
CEO & Co-Founder
Cabot Links
In 2004, Ben Cowan-Dewar set out to turn a former mining site on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia into a golf resort. Along with business partner Mike Keiser, Ben developed Cabot Links, Canada’s first links course. Cabot Links’ success spurred the development of a second course, the Coore-Crenshaw designed Cabot Cliffs. Both courses are included amongst the world’s Top 100, Cliffs ranked 9th and Links 43rd. Ben’s smart and environmentally sustainable approach to development has been recognized around the world. In 2014, Cowan-Dewar was appointed Chair of the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency, where he led the transformation to a Crown Corporation in 2015. Under Cowan-Dewar’s leadership, Tourism Nova Scotia adopted a new strategy resulting in the industry achieving among the top results in Canada. In February 2017, Cowan- Dewar was appointed as the Chair of the Federal Crown Corporation Destination Canada. Destination Canada markets Canada internationally, aiming to grow Canada’s tourism export revenues. Cowan-Dewar, M.S.M. is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and has served on the Boards of the Golf Canada Foundation and Cape Breton University. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Governor General David Johnston in June, 2017 for his vision in building Cabot and the contributions he and Cabot have made to the Inverness community and economy.
Please note: Company names and biographical information here may reflect the role and activity held at the time of receiving the award.
