Canada’s Entrepreneur

As the Founder of b, halfmoon —— Andrea McKay’s mission is simple: to inspire and support people everywhere in living their truths and supporting their wellness journeys.

Andrea’s passion for yoga began in Sydney, Australia, while she was completing a Master's Degree in International Business. She knew she would someday make yoga her career, but she wasn’t sure what that would look like. Fast-forward 13 years and Morris found herself employed at The Stewart Group, her family’s fifth-generation manufacturing and technology company. She was working with an innovative type of rubber and quickly realized that the material’s distinctive qualities—durability, sustainability, and a grippy surface— could make the perfect yoga mat.

After endlessly prototyping and fine-tuning The B MAT, B Yoga was born in 2014. Sparked by The B MAT’s success, B Yoga continued to grow beyond just mats, creating elevated, performance-driven essentials for all kinds of movement and meditation.

In spring 2018, Andrea and B Yoga acquired Halfmoon Yoga Products, another female-founded, Canadian yoga and meditation brand. Where B Yoga speaks to the contemporary wellness enthusiast, Halfmoon is rooted in tradition, making each brand a perfect complement to the other.

In fall of 2023, B Yoga and Halfmoon came together as one, under the refreshed b, halfmoon brand. This beautiful union marks a new chapter in the brand and company’s story, which she is thrilled to share with their global community.

Andrea currently resides in her hometown of Toronto, ON, with her husband, Fraser, and two daughters, Madison and Everly. As she helps B Yoga and Halfmoon grow internationally, she knows she’s fulfilling her vision of inspiring all people to live their truth.

"I live my yoga in moments with movement, nature, loved ones, and creative ideation and expression. These moments come and go—they’re rarely scheduled, but always fulfilling." —Andrea Morris, Founder & CEO of Mindful Collective Co.

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Filomena May, a native Calgarian, Senior Wealth Advisor and Chartered Investment Manager, international speaker, entrepreneur, mother and founder of Filo Financial Solutions of Raymond James Ltd. Filomena operates across Canada, helping clients turn investments into successful portfolios. Her secret? Filomena is not only passionate about building wealth, but also educates on how to strategically protect it. Using a customized approach with attention to detail, she creates a unique financial roadmap for her clients based on their values and goals, while providing ease of mind and balance along the way.

Filomena began her career in 2002 at age 24 and beat the odds in an industry where only 5% of women were advisors at the time. Filomena is a trailblazer and sought out financial professional in her industry. She’s a contributing author of two amazon best sellers, podcast speaker, has appeared on BNN, CTV and "The Wealthy Life" show, and is in The KNOW Calgary volume three and Best of The KNOW Global. She is also President of her Italian Cultural Society "Calgary Calabrese Cultural Society" and enjoys the community work that she does in the city.

Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Denise Bebenek is the Founder, President and driving force behind Meagan Bebenek Foundation: Creating a Circle of Hope.

A Toronto resident and graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Honours in Psychology and the University of Toronto Faculty of Education, Denise, a former schoolteacher, is a tireless advocate for families who are touched by brain tumours, and for the empowerment of all children to help one another. Meagan Bebenek Foundation promotes ground-breaking research, providing much-needed funds to Toronto’s Brain Tumour Research Centre (BTRC), fostering a culture of discovery and care that is improving the care, quality of life, and survival rates for young brain tumour patients.

The spirit of Meagan Bebenek Foundation is a combination of Denise’s personal experiences and mission, as well as her professional background.

In late 2000, Denise’s youngest child, Meagan, was diagnosed with an inoperable and malignant brain tumour. She died six months later, in June 2001, two weeks past her fifth birthday. As Denise left the hospital, she envisioned a hug encompassing the building, which inspired her to organize a five-kilometre walk and "hug" event.

Asking friends and family to help, Denise started planning for the first Meagan’s Walk event which took place on Mother’s Day 2002. The annual event, now known as Meagan’s HUG, culminates with participants joining hands and forming a human hug, a "circle of hope" around the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, sending a clear and simple message to all within – you are not alone.

Denise turned the tragic loss of her youngest daughter into a journey of hope and inspiration. With a deep-rooted belief that when we come together as a community we can make a collective difference, Denise has successfully harnessed that power for over two decades with a team of over 60 volunteers who work year-round to further the organization’s mission.

Today, Meagan Bebenek Foundation has grown into a thriving organization with multiple events, corporate sponsors, a robust school program, ‘Kids Helping Kids’ and an annual Crane Ceremony in which students present hand-made origami cranes to MBF Heroes. The foundation has raised more than $6 million dollars in support of paediatric brain tumour research, which includes funding for seed grants, purchasing cutting-edge equipment, funding for the Toronto Brain Tumour Network tissue bank and a Neuro-oncology fellowship program. This Fellowship is available to eligible candidates around the world and offers them the opportunity to further their clinical and research training in sub-specialties of paediatric oncology.

Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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In this video interview, well-known Canadian entrepreneur Vince Guzzo, who is also a dragon on the popular CBC television show Dragons’ Den, discusses the challenges of being an entrepreneur today and what it takes to survive.

Guzzo talks about the Canada Emergency Business Account loan repayment deadline, some of the other challenges entrepreneurs are facing today, the importance of passion in being an entrepreneur.

Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list

About Us

Canada’s Podcast is the number one podcast in Canada for entrepreneurs and business owners. Established in 2016, the podcast network has interviewed over 600 Canadian entrepreneurs from coast-to-coast.

With hosts in each province, entrepreneurs have a local and national format to tell their stories, talk about their journey and provide inspiration for anyone starting their entrepreneurial journey and well- established founders.

The commitment to a grass roots approach has built a loyal audience on all our social channels and YouTube – 500,000+ lifetime YouTube views, 200,000 + audio downloads, 35,000 + average monthly social impressions, 10,000 + engaged social followers and 35,000 newsletter subscribers. Canada’s Podcast is proud to provide a local, national and international presence for Canadian entrepreneurs to build their brand and tell their story.

In this video interview, Emily Gardner,  Vice President, Consumer Products, Spring Financial, discusses the trend in 'loud budgeting."

Less than half of Canadians currently keep up a budget, but TikTok’s latest personal finance trend, “loud budgeting,” could change that. The trend is reshaping the narrative around money conversations by encouraging people to be more vocal about their finances and prioritize smart financial decision-making.

Gardner believes the “loud budgeting” trend is a step in the right direction for social media finance tips.

According to RBC data, 40% of Canadian Gen Z report learning about money tips from at least one social media platform. As a result, viral trends can have a huge impact on young people's finances. 

#business #money #finances #budgeting #smallbusiness #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship 

Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list

Alex Wylie has a proven track record of building high-growth businesses and is now President and CEO of Volt Lithium Corp. Alex is leading a game-changing technological shift in the oil and gas industry aiming to be North America’s first commercial producer of lithium from oilfield brine.

The vision is to secure a supply of lithium for Canada and other markets including the USA and global destinations currently involved in oil and gas extraction. Leveraging existing infrastructure, building a permanent testing facility, and collaborative partners in R&D and implementation Volt Lithium is undertaking what others thought was impossible.

On today’s podcast we’ll hear about:

• How to find solutions ‘right under your nose’ that might not yet seem obvious

Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Canada’s economy. To support Canada’s businesses, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter

In this interview, Mark von Schellwitz, VP Western, Restaurants Canada, discusses how many restaurants in Canada are on the brink of closing because they can’t meet the repayment deadline of January 18 for the Canada Emergency Bank Account loan.

PRESS RELEASE

With just days remaining until the Federal Government enforces the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loan repayment, Restaurants Canada is urgently calling for a last-minute extension to prevent the devastating consequences facing the food service industry.

Despite the best efforts made by Restaurants Canada, the Federal Government has declined to extend the CEBA loan repayment deadline of January 18th, 2024. This decision leaves our members, representing thousands of restaurants across the country, with limited options to avoid bankruptcy and recover from the ongoing financial challenges that arose during the pandemic.

A startling survey of the industry reveals that 1 in 5 restaurants with a CEBA loan are now on the brink of closing one or more of their locations.

The food service sector has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic lockdowns, enduring the longest lockdown period in North America, which has led to a significant accumulation of debt. Additionally, the foodservice industry operates on traditionally low profit margins, rendering it further vulnerable to external pressures.

Recovery in the food service industry has been painfully slow because of several factors beyond the control of restauranteurs, including record-high inflation, the rising cost of food, and labour shortages. We are not asking for a hand-out; we are asking for more time.

Currently, a staggering 53% of restaurants are operating at a loss or barely breaking even compared to 10% pre-pandemic, underscoring the obvious connection to this unique and devastating period in our industry and the urgent need for further support and assistance.

Kelly Higginson, President, and CEO of Restaurants Canada stated, “People understand that restaurants are part of our social fabric, they are gathering spots to celebrate life’s milestones and achievements and the place where friends come to reconnect.” Higginson continued, “Your favourite mom and pop restaurant and local gathering place is at risk. If what the industry is telling us comes to fruition, Canadian communities will lose something very special, simply because of an arbitrary deadline.”

Restaurants Canada strongly urges the Federal Government to reconsider their decision and provide an extension to the CEBA loan repayment deadline. Immediate action is essential to prevent further closures and ensure the long-term survival of this critical sector, which contributes significantly to the nation’s economy.

In the face of these challenges, Restaurants Canada stands firmly with our members and encourages them to visit our website at restaurantscanada.org for guidance on how to navigate this difficult period and learn about available resources.

Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list

About Us

Canada’s Podcast is the number one podcast in Canada for entrepreneurs and business owners. Established in 2016, the podcast network has interviewed over 600 Canadian entrepreneurs from coast-to-coast.

With hosts in each province, entrepreneurs have a local and national format to tell their stories, talk about their journey and provide inspiration for anyone starting their entrepreneurial journey and well- established founders.

The commitment to a grass roots approach has built a loyal audience on all our social channels and YouTube – 500,000+ lifetime YouTube views, 200,000 + audio downloads, 35,000 + average monthly social impressions, 10,000 + engaged social followers and 35,000 newsletter subscribers. Canada’s Podcast is proud to provide a local, national and international presence for Canadian entrepreneurs to build their brand and tell their story.

In this video interview, Phil Soper, President and CEO of Royal LePage, discusses the current housing market in Canada and what to expect in 2024.

#business #homes #housing #realestate #royallepage #MLS #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship 

Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list

Help support the channel by connecting with #canadaspodcast

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In this interview, Alicia Planincic, Economist & Manager of Policy, Business Council of Alberta, discusses a new report that shows the success of immigrants is vital to Canada's prosperity but their potential is too often unrealized due to common barriers.

New report shows the success of immigrants is vital to Canada’s prosperity, yet their potential is too often unrealized due to common barriers

The paper highlights two fundamental barriers to newcomers’ success:

    Official language proficiency—this is one of the biggest barriers for newcomers. Language learning services are not always accessible or able to keep up with growing demand.

And three that more specifically interfere with their success in the labour market:

    Access to a personal and professional support system—newcomers often have limited support systems in Canada, which makes navigating a new city and country such as finding a job, a place to live, or even a school for their children more difficult.

“Supporting newcomers learning an official language should be job number one—nothing supercharges social and economic integration like language skills, and conversely our research showed that a lack of those skills can often be the most significant roadblock to newcomer success,” says Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta. “Right now, we are not matching language training funding to the number of immigrants, and that is not optimal for the country or newcomers themselves.”

Preliminary policy considerations to address these barriers include:

    Adequately funding language training to the scale of newcomers: As Canada is set to welcome more newcomers than ever before over the next few years, the capacity of language programs will need to respond to this expected increase in demand.

This is the fifth paper in the Council’s series on Canadian immigration. The next paper, which explores the potential unintended consequences of rapid population growth, will be released later this month. The Council has also stuck an expert task force to develop actionable policy recommendations to address the opportunities and barriers identified throughout this work.

The full paper is attached to this release and can be found at BusinessCouncilAB.com.

About the Business Council of Alberta. The Business Council of Alberta is a non-partisan, for-purpose organization dedicated to building a better Alberta within a more dynamic Canada. Composed of the chief executives and leading entrepreneurs of the province’s largest enterprises, Council members are proud to represent the majority of Alberta’s private sector investment, job creation, exports, and research and development. The Council is committed to working with leaders and stakeholders across Alberta and Canada in proposing bold and innovative public policy solutions and initiatives that will make life better for Albertans.

Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list

About Us

Canada’s Podcast is the number one podcast in Canada for entrepreneurs and business owners. Established in 2016, the podcast network has interviewed over 600 Canadian entrepreneurs from coast-to-coast.

With hosts in each province, entrepreneurs have a local and national format to tell their stories, talk about their journey and provide inspiration for anyone starting their entrepreneurial journey and well- established founders.

The commitment to a grass roots approach has built a loyal audience on all our social channels and YouTube – 500,000+ lifetime YouTube views, 200,000 + audio downloads, 35,000 + average monthly social impressions, 10,000 + engaged social followers and 35,000 newsletter subscribers. Canada’s Podcast is proud to provide a local, national and international presence for Canadian entrepreneurs to build their brand and tell their story.

Help support the channel by connecting with #canadaspodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/canadaspodcast

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest #entrepreneur #podcast and news? Subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter at https://www.canadaspodcast.com/newsletter-signup

"Just listen to people, no matter what consider it, you may not actually apply it, but make sure you're actually listening."

Seif El-Sahly is a P. Eng., Director of Newfore Inc. but he is also a Dreamer, Renovator and Crushing Expectations! He turns drawings into reality with a dose of humour and a Top 40 Under 40 ranking. He is the force behind Tiny Homes - Garage Edition. A self-pronounced workaholic, when not at the office, he's on the hunt for abandoned real estate that can be turned into luxurious rentals in great neighbourhoods. https://www.instagram.com/newforeinc/

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