When Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside reads dismissive comments about Atlantic Canadians made by Canadians elsewhere, he feels the usual irritation.

Case in point: Woodside recently read a commentator in an Ontario newspaper question why a group of Ontarians would visit Fredericton when “the city contains nothing but snow.”

“They think we’re so backward,” Woodside said.

“They don’t think we have the intellect or passion to do what they do. But that makes our victories sweeter. Coming from smaller communities, we have to fight that much harder.”

A gifted orator who has won 35 awards for his public speaking, Woodside is well placed to change attitudes, something he does in his role as president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

He is able to tell doubters that Fredericton has achieved many victories. The city is doing a great deal to foster entrepreneurship, environmentalism and innovation, and has the awards to prove it.

Fredericton has birthed companies that garnered some of the nation’s biggest tech deals, including Q1 Labs and Radian6, both of which sold for eye-watering sums.

With its Vision 2020 Economic Development Strategy, launched two years ago after consultations with more than 250 stakeholders, the city proclaimed its ambition to become the startup capital of Atlantic Canada.

But its mayor believes it could become the startup capital of the country.

“We’re focused on how to make the Q1 Labs of tomorrow, on how to get them from the idea stage to invoicing as quickly as possible.”

The ambition may not be as grandiose as it sounds.

According to Woodside, who is the city’s longest-serving mayor, having been elected for a record eight terms, Fredericton got a head start in promoting innovation.

That’s because the city began diversifying its economy in 1992, after realizing government jobs were not as numerous or reliable as they had been.

The city began to focus on improving infrastructure. The costs of high-speed Internet plummeted when, in 2000, Fredericton created its own telecom group, the non-profit e-Novations.

In 2013, e-Novations announced that it would offer business rates 75 per cent lower than those offered by competitors. Startups would get their Internet free.

At the time, Woodside said, Fredericton’s Internet rates were 400 per cent higher than Toronto’s.

In recent years, the city’s progress has been recognized with awards for its environmentalism and use of digital technologies.

It has twice been named one of the world’s top intelligent communities, the mayor said.

Intelligent communities are chosen by the Intelligent Community Forum think-tank and provide role models for best practices in creating competitive local economies and vibrant societies.

Mentoring of young entrepreneurs by more experienced businesspeople has been part of Fredericton’s success, the mayor said.

Immigrants are assisted by the Business Immigrant Mentorship Program, operated by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

Another opportunity, the Hive, has recently opened in Fredericton, after being piloted in Moncton.

Participants of the Hive will get membership to Planet Hatch, which provides training, mentoring and networking opportunities in the city.

Planet Hatch and the ACceler8 commercialization centre are based in Fredericton’s Knowledge Park, an area housing over 30 companies that generate more than $100 million in gross domestic product.

Hive participants will also access the services of Ignite Fredericton, an economic development agency offering counselling and tools for entrepreneurs.

Woodside said the city’s progress is being built on everyone working together on one long-term vision.

“It’s important for municipalities to come to terms with who they are, what they want and where they’re going. In Fredericton, we’re all on the same page, following the path we set in 1992.

“I’m the cheerleader. We don’t have an NFL football team, but then neither does Toronto.”

Disclaimer: Entrevestor receives financial support from government agencies that support startup companies in Atlantic Canada. The sponsoring agencies play no role in determining which companies and individuals are featured in this column, nor do they review columns before they are published.