Intrigued with visual rehabilitation and vision therapy ever since her second year of optometry school, Dr. Kristel Jefferies fell head over heels for the fascinating world of how we see. Since starting her career in 2013, Dr. Jefferies zeroed in on helping people with binocular vision disorders and behavioral vision issues—especially those recovering from concussions, like she once did herself. Whether it’s guiding athletes to sharpen their game with sports vision training or helping kids with learning challenges like dyslexia or autism see the world a little clearer, Dr. Jefferies has dedicated her career to helping patients thrive.

She’s proud to have helped hundreds of people improve not just their vision, but their overall quality of life—and she’s proud to have two Ottawa Valley, in Pembroke and Petawawa, as she is on a mission to make the world a clearer, brighter place—one set of eyes at a time!

Zoe Dolan had always dreamed of starting an eco-friendly business. Inspired by her mother’s simple, sustainable living practices and motivated by her own family’s journey, especially after discovering her son’s intolerance to conventional laundry detergent, she embraced practical, eco-conscious choices that eventually led her to launch Green Lemon Home in downtown Almonte.

From thoughtfully curated home essentials that are gentle on both people and the planet to all-natural products made with safe, sustainable ingredients, every item Zoe carries is carefully chosen to reduce harmful impacts on health, wellness, and the environment - all the while supporting Canadian makers.

Whether you’re just beginning your low-waste journey or already deeply committed to conscious living, Zoe is here to inspire, inform, and support your path toward a greener home and a cleaner world.

This historic home turned into a luxury accommodation getaway was a simple dream for @katefolk, after stepping foot into 205 Mill Street, seeing an opportunity to transform this home and put discovermerrickville on the map.

Now General Manager of this beautifully restored 180-year-old gem, Kate has helped transform the historic Queen Anne-style home into a luxurious whole-home rental that blends old-world charm with modern design. 🌸🏡

Just steps from the Rideau River, @mapleandrose.merrickville is more than just a place to stay—it’s an experience. With room for 16 guests, every detail has been carefully curated: think luxury linens, local arrival gifts, a stocked coffee bar, fresh flowers in every room, and a sense of magic you can’t quite put your finger on.

What began as a heartfelt restoration project in memory of Kate’s late stepfather turned into a love letter to the community—and to the past. And the result? A one-of-a-kind retreat that feels like home, only better.

OVBB sits down with Kate exclusively to watch on our YouTube and Spotify video special in July 2025, as we learn about what it takes to breathe new life into this well-loved 3,585-sq foot landmark, how Kate creates a luxury accommodation experience for guests, along with learning about her attention to detail in restoration and renovation - all the while wearing the cutest floral dresses!

🤍💕 Thank You to our Episode Sponsors:

🫶🏼 Valley Hair Artistry

🫶🏼 Chateau Mille Fleurs

🫶🏼 Hexagon Restaurant Deep River

🎥 Produced by: Moments in Glow

Born and raised in Portugal, Luiana Mendes quickly recognized the significance of hard work, dedication, and commitment after her parents immigrated to Canada and found success in their careers. Inspired by their drive and passion, Luiana began networking and building relationships in the culinary world, embracing the "fake it till you make it" mentality. This perseverance led her to pursue her dreams at the International Culinary Centre in New York, a renowned culinary school.

After a brief return to Portugal for her grandfather's funeral, the tragedy of 9/11 struck, preventing her from returning to New York as planned. Instead, she moved back to Canada, settling in Killaloe. There, she reconnected with Sigrid Geddes of Sigrid Naturals, who took her under her wing and introduced her to the world of entrepreneurship. Luiana quickly integrated into the local business community, securing a position as the Mess Manager at Garrison Petawawa's Mess Hall.

Now, she is thrilled to announce the opening of her new restaurant, SOPA, which will feature a diverse menu of Portuguese and Angolan cuisine, along with catering services in downtown Pembroke. Luiana is excited to become an active member of the Pembroke business community!

Lindsey McGarry started her career as a domestic violence counselor, but after hitting her stress capacity and experiencing career burnout, she found herself at a crossroads. Just as she began to reconsider her path, a serious car accident left Lindsey bedridden. This life-altering event sparked her determination to dive into research in the construction and landscaping industry, ultimately motivating her to launch ALM Construction and Landscaping, a bhsiness built on integrity and quality.

Lindsey is a visionary entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in construction and landscaping. Her keen eye for detail and unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction have established her as a trusted professional in the industry.

In this episode....

👷🏼‍♀️We discover how this former domestic violence worker went from working in social services to managing a construction and landscaping biz

🦺 Lindsey explains how she educated herself and fully immersed in this field, despite having no prior background in business or construction management – and dominated it!

👏🏼 Lindsey shares what has been like leading a male-dominated team, while also enticing more women to consider a career in construction and landscaping

💸 Lindsey divulges when she started generating enough revenue to finally start receiving a paycheck herself - and why it was worth the wait

Meet Ashley Kay – the visionary behind The Champagne Collective and your go-to systems and processes guru, with her women led team famously known as “The Girls Who Get Shit Done.” With a background in corporate leadership, a Bachelor of Business, and over a decade of experience working in demanding, high-pressure, and time-sensitive corporate roles, Ashley is all about turning chaos into clarity.

Tell me how you made the shift from working in project management for 7 years to becoming a visionary entrepreneur? How did you see your business model of offering virtual services look different from others and why was this something you wanted to take on?

After years of thriving on the corporate world, this boss babe traded the 9-5 grind working in project management for entrepreneurial freedom as a virtual assistant – and she never looked back. Now, with a powerhouse team of 14 Virtual Assistants, she helps entrepreneurs around the world streamline, scale, and succeed.

When she’s not optimizing businesses, Ashley’s embracing life in beautiful British Columbia – running trails, sipping wine, cuddling her dogs and embracing motherhood with her sweet baby girl, and is living the dream.

Alyssa and Spencer Pearce are a veteran-owned coffee loving couple that embarked on their coffee roasting journey six years ago. They dedicated themselves to learning the art of crafting exceptional and fresh coffee, quickly recognizing the impact of their newfound passion. As their skills developed, they began sharing their hobby with friends and family, igniting a spark of enthusiasm around them.

In 2020, when they both found themselves off work, they decided to transform their hobby into a business. Little did they know that this decision would lead to the creation of Barron Canyon Coffee & Tea Co., a brand that would grow rapidly and gain recognition within the community.

Throughout their entrepreneurial journey, they encountered numerous challenges and made plenty of mistakes, a journey that many entrepreneurs can relate to. However, these experiences ultimately strengthened their resilience and shaped them into the business owners they are today - and Alyssa is here to talk about how their vision for the perfect cup of coffee came to be, and a community that endlessly supports them.

Erin Curtis is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Child and Youth Care program with over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals through ABA. After moving to the Ottawa Valley in 2018, she founded Dragonfly Family and Learning Services to meet the growing need for inclusive, family-focused support. As a Certified ABA Parent Trainer, Erin is passionate about empowering caregivers through collaborative, person-centered plans that honor each family’s unique journey.

In this episode, you're going to learn about neurodiversity, learn about different diagnosis, and therapy, wait lists and more. Erjn and her team understand the unique needs of neurodivergent brains, providing you with the understanding and reassurance that they will succeed.

In this episode....

🧩 Erin shares what it means to be neurodivergent, how to explain neurodiversity to both adults and to children and her motivation to provide Home-based Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy to families in Renfrew County

🤯 We dive into lengthy government waitlists, limited funding options, the desperate need for respite, high therapy costs, and the increasing demand for support for children with autism and ADHD

🧩 Erin shares her perspective around the education system and its improvements towards accommodating supports, such as additional EA's, sensory breaks, skilled inclusionary, and education to educators around supporting students with exceptional needs

🌈 Erin shares how she is creating an inclusive collective space for other mom’s and parents of neurodivergent children, to share common struggles, gain effective strategies in supporting their child, and receive positive, professional support

Erin Curtis is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Child and Youth Care program with over a decade of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals through ABA. After moving to the Ottawa Valley in 2018, she founded Dragonfly Family and Learning Services to meet the growing need for inclusive, family-focused support. As a Certified ABA Parent Trainer, Erin is passionate about empowering caregivers through collaborative, person-centered plans that honor each family’s unique journey.

In this episode, you're going to learn about neurodiversity, learn about different diagnosis, and therapy, wait lists and more. Erjn and her team understand the unique needs of neurodivergent brains, providing you with the understanding and reassurance that they will succeed.

In this episode....

🧩 Erin shares what it means to be neurodivergent, how to explain neurodiversity to both adults and to children and her motivation to provide Home-based Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy to families in Renfrew County

🤯 We dive into lengthy government waitlists, limited funding options, the desperate need for respite, high therapy costs, and the increasing demand for support for children with autism and ADHD

🧩 Erin shares her perspective around the education system and its improvements towards accommodating supports, such as additional EA's, sensory breaks, skilled inclusionary, and education to educators around supporting students with exceptional needs

🌈 Erin shares how she is creating an inclusive collective space for other mom’s and parents of neurodivergent children, to share common struggles, gain effective strategies in supporting their child, and receive positive, professional support

Calling all sweet tooth enthusiasts! If you're located in or around the Town of Smiths Falls, there is a boss babe whose delicious handmade fudge, saltwater taffy, and maple hard candies will have your tastebuds exploding!

Gillian Manton's homemade fudge and candy business is quickly becoming a local favourite and is gaining momentum, as she has mastered the art of creating mouthwatering products that has customers coming back for more. This babe is unstoppable, as she has already launched Moose Munchies Candy Co. in Sobey's and Foodland across Ontario!

In this episode....

🍫 Gillian shares how she first took a stab at making homemade fudgeand why this kitchen experimentinitially went wrong

🍫 Gillian tells listeners the secret tomaking her fudge unmeltable - and why her customers keep coming back for more!

🍫 We chat vendor markets and what it takes to feel comfortable and confident behind your booth to stand out and sell ANY product to customers

🍫 We learn more about the Small Business Centre’s Starter Company Plus Program and how this program helped Gillian level up in business