OV Boss Babes

In December 2021, a former Peterborough resident, Liz Woosey purchased the historic Balmoral Hotel from the previous owners who were retiring. She had stumbled across an ad that the building was for sale in the local newspaper and decided to take a drive out to Barry's Bay to take a look and knew this was the next chapter in her life.

Liz used to run Sexapalooza, an adult tradeshow, dedicated to entertaining and educating its visitors on sex and sexuality and also was the editor of a magazine. So how did this former adult fun consumer show host and magazine editor come to becoming an entrepreneur and business owner of this locao Madawaska Valley establishment?!

In this episode....

👻 Liz shares the history behind this century old building, if she thinks the Balmoral is haunted and her previous encounter with a ghost

💃 We talk about Barry’s Bay’s first drag show held at the Balmoral Hotel, the mixed response and why Liz would absolutely do it again

⚒️ We discuss the changes Liz has made since becoming the owner and lengthly renovation process

👉🏼 Liz tells us what her biggest challenge has been since keeping a legendary establishment a part of community history while also keeping up with the times

And so much more!

Empowering Women, Exploring the Extraordinary ✨

This week, I sat down with Megan Ryder-Burbidge and Linsey Sherman-Zekulin, the babes behind Sororal Travel, female-led guided trips that allows for authentic connections, safe adventures, and supporting women-led

businesses and nonprofits along the way!

Embark on a transformative journey with Sororal's women-led guided trips, where you can forge genuine connections with like-minded travelers. Explore breathtaking destinations with the assurance of safety, as their experienced guides lead the way. By choosing a Sororal trip, you travel as a catalyst for change - actively contributing to the growth of women-led businesses and nonprofits at each destination, fostering empowerment and sustainable development.

For two years, owner and founder Brett Brûlé had a vision to start a lakeside glamping business with geodesic domes that offered a perfect blend of luxury and tranquility, launching Natural Resting Point in late 2021 in the beautiful Pontiac, QC.

Brett wanted her guests to escape to the picturesque landscapes of the Pontiac and indulge in a unique glamping experience like no other, immersing themselves into a world where comfort meets adventure, disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, to create memories that will last a lifetime.

In this episode...

🏕️ Brett shares how her dream to open her luxury lakeside glamping experience came to fruition - and why she launched Natural Resting Point in Quebec

🚣🏼‍♀️ Brett shares some must-see activities and wondrous places to explore in the Pontiac during the fall season, including Aventure Hélianthe!

📸 Brett shares what her experience has been like working with travel influencers and content creators - and if these collabs are effective and successful

🩷 Join us on a journey of intimate revelations as Brett talks about becoming a foster mother, and her family’s transformation that accompanied this journey

Kathryn Stuart was on the hunt for hypallergic sheep when she came across an Icelandic sheep breeder in Peterborough, the worlds oldest and purest breeds of sheep that are best known for their fibre, milk and meat.

At Northern Viking Farm, which is currently the only Icelandic breeder in the Ottawa Valley, they not only specialize in purebred registered Icelandic sheep, but also Icelandic chickens, offering grassfed Icelandic lamb and sausage, wool products, forged utensils, wood bowls and leatherwear.

In this episode, we chat about:

🐑 Why Kathryn wanted to bring the Icelandic sheep breed to the Ottawa Valley, along with their unique characteristics

🤚🏼 How Kathryn incporstes her 3 children into helping out with the farm, balancing a business, and home schooling

💡 How Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation and Enterprise Renfrew County were instrumental in the growth of Northern Viking Farm

Chrystal Toop is a community educator, counsellor, a storytelling public speaker, Indigenous life spectrum doula, and entrepreneur of Blackbird Medicines, a community healing justice practice honoring lived experiences, harm reduction practices and trauma-informed care, restoring teachings of strength and love to caregivers of all nations through public speaking, written works and community-based workshops.

Raised in challenging family circumstances, Chrystal’s shares her journey becoming a single mother and battling financial obstacles, her diagnosis of complex PTSD, and falling into a dark state of depression, and the generational trauma and domestic violence. Despite her hardships and struggles, Chrystal re-connected to her culture, focused on her wellbeing and healing, and is dedicated to providing other Indigenous community members with resources and services that advances healing justice through her work as an Indigenous counselor, spiritual caregiver, and matriarch.

Crystal Martin pursued the Social Worker program at Algonquin College, but this wasn't always the career path that she initially dreamed she would pursue.

Born and raised in Sanirajak in Nunavut, Crystal spent her teenage years between the North and the Ottawa Valley. While she was visiting her community, she became aware of the hardships faced by Inuit communities. From low income families, homes that were falling apart, poverty, and most tragically, suicide.

Crystal began her quest and after graduating from Algonquin College's Social Service program in 2013, she began her mission advocating for Indigenous youth, bringing her social service background to talk about the importance of Inuit youth to reconnect with their culture, traditions, and language, develop and implement Inuit-specific programs and services, and identify issues and implement strategies to meet local needs.

In addition to her consulting business, Okpik Consulting, Crystal is also the CAO and co-founder Indigenous Geographic, a newly established (100% Indigenous-owned) film and production company that amplifies Indigenous voices and shares Indigenous stories from across Canada and around the globe.

Candace Fleming is the award winning bridal stylist and makeup artist of Portrait Salon and founder of BUSH Beard, a beard oil for men that offers shine and softness with a long shelf life.

Candace shares her transition to becoming a home based hair stylist, shifting the former stereotype of what a home hair salon looked like to a beautiful studio space. We also get into her cheeky beard brand, and what being a female business owner of a male based product looks like and how it's totally bad ass!

This isn't your typical hairstylist podcast episode, as we...

💇🏼‍♀️ Talk about what goes on BEHIND THE CHAIR with hairstylists - from setting boundaries, “cheating” clients, having an in-home studio vs. a visible space in a downtown core, and SO MUCH MORE!

🧔🏽‍♂️Dive into how Candace markets her natural ingredient male-based beard care product line to female consumers on the socials INSTEAD of targeting men

💆🏼‍♀️ Discuss the importance of building a trusting community by being yourself and how people appreciate authenticity and REALNESS

👊🏻 Give Candace the floor to get REAL AND RAW as she opens up about her mental wellness journey, her various diagnoses and her road to confidence and self love

Owner, operator, tattoo artist and all around warrior woman, Adrienne Brown has enjoyed drawing ever since she was young, going to college for graphic design and illustration, and has taken her passion to a new level with tattooing, opening @moth.and.moon.tattoo in @laurentianhills this past May!

In this episode, Adrienne shares:

🦋 How did she made the shift from paper and digital artwork to inking people, first practicing on grapefruit and then on her sister

🌙 How she also became an illustrator for children's books and recognize how illustrators are the key players in children's books - because without them, there wouldn't be pictures

🦋 How female boss babe tattoo artists are taking over the tattoo world and how bad ass women like @notoriousliztattoos / @notoriousliz666 paved the way for her own revolution launching @bombshellstattoostudio

🌙 How Adrienne has created an inclusive, safe and welcoming space for clients to feel themselves, for the upmost client care and comfort.

Adrienne also acknowledged @eternatattoostudio - and she is now splitting her time working there!

Ann Shea was a former a Chemical Engineer working in the process automation industry when it was during the pandemic that she felt a shift in her career and saw that Mill Street Books in Almonte was for sale - and so she jumped on the opportunity, with ownership being transferred to her in just a matter of days.

Ann had no regrets taking this leap, even with no business background or working in a bookstore or library setting - but she did have some great mentors in her life, being the former bookstore owners, Terry and Mary, as well as her cousin, Sylvie Neville (the babe behind Pick it Fence Renfrew!) who helped guide her along the way.

In this episode, Ann and I chat all about:

📚 Why owning a bookstore is so much more than staying up-to-date on the latest releases, showcasing best sellers, and chatting favourite reads with customers (although that does come with the territory) 😉

📚Digital libraries with books at our fingertips - and if we think that books will eventually be replaced by digital technology

📚 How to shift your mindset to make the time for leisure reading

📚The TikTok #BookTok trend where old classic books are resurfacing and gaining popularity with the younger generation

Perth is a beautiful area and there are so many different venue options to choose from. On over 100 acres of farmland, you will find Ecotay, a 19th century homestead that's one of Lanark County's most saught-after wedding destinations, go-to spot for homemade wood fired pizzas, and a space that hosts regular Sunday markets for vendors with live music, a bar, and is a regular meeting spot for friends and family to gather, while supporting local!

Co-owners, Natasha Lackey and Sarah Noonman (cousins) sat down with me to not only share how they took over this business (along with Natasha's husband), but also...

✨ Working with family members as equal partners in an event business without stepping on each other's toes + staying in your own lanes

✨What it's been like (so far) being a wedding venue that comes with it's unforeseen challenges, such as rainy weather, wandering guests, and drunken wedding drama

✨ How the babes from Aruma Therapy passed along their knowledge and love for hosting markets to Natasha and Sarah + the importance of knowledge sharing in business

✨ How the Small Business Advisory Centre has been instrumental in their business development through various workshops and resources Natalie had accessed - and all the upcoming Ai workshops that are taking place this fall!