In this episode of Shake Hands, Take Names, host AJ sits down with Lee Weir, a Red Seal trades professional, entrepreneur, and founder of Crossroads in Pugwash, Nova Scotia. Lee shares how a lifelong passion for motorcycles evolved into a multi-division business spanning power sports and manufactured housing, now employing around 92 people. He talks candidly about the realities of starting and scaling a trades-based business, the severe shortage of skilled workers, and why passion and willingness to learn matter more than formal credentials. Lee also explains his views on direct-entry trades vs. formal schooling, the red tape around Red Seal certification, and how mentorship, networking, and simple door-knocking still open real opportunities in rural Nova Scotia. Throughout the conversation, he returns to a core philosophy written on his shop wall: “No obstacles, only opportunities.”
What is Shake Hands Take Names?
Abhishek AJ Bhatt, the Regional Manager of the Northern Connector Program, invites you to tune in to Shake Hands Take Names!
In each episode, AJ will offer both his personal and guests' experiences of obtaining success by way of building a professional network.
You can expect guests from a variety of backgrounds, ages and industries, to highlight the consistent themes of discipline, and networking. AJ wants to help address the narrative that as Gen Z we lack the skills and commitment to thrive in corporate careers and settings. Instead, we need to be open to incorporating networking.