March is National Social Work Month and this year, the theme that is being recognized is “The Time is Right for Social Work. We are taking the time to learn more about the positive contributions of this profession, the endless areas of services they provide and celebrating social workers in our communities.

Paige Schaefer is a counseller at Forging Forward Counselling Services and works to support her clients by helping them develop the skills needed to encourage mental wellness. With former experience as a fitness manager to further her knowledge around holistic work with trauma clients, Paige works hands on with her clients encouraging them to move to help release former trauma on the body and the mind.

Paige is also facilitating a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills Training Group for teens at starting in April and shares with our listeners all about it!

This episode has been sponsored by 104.9 myFM. Nominations are now open for 104.9 myFM’s 2022 Spirit Awards - vote for your favourite businesses in 50 categories! https://www.pembroketoday.ca/spirit-awards-3/

After working for another cafe for 18 years, Janna Churchill-Fortin decided to take a leap of faith and go out on her own when a property became available and Janna’s Gallery Cafe was born. Four years later, another opportunity popped up and she decided decided to jump in with both feet to open Kerry’s Place with her former spouse Kerry.

After six years of running Janna’s Galley Cafe two years at Kerry’s, they merged the businesses together and opened Janna & Kerry’s, Over Easy Bar and Grill.

Janna is a pivotal member of the downtown community, serving as a longtime Board member, and business owner. Janna talks about how the restaurant has changed throughout the years, especially with the effects of the pandemic, a partnership change, and how her Pembroke, along with others downtown Pembroke, has grown and evolved since opening her first business.

This week's episode has been sponsored by:

The City of Pembroke is pleased to offer lots of family fun activities during March Break! Check out their website for the full event calendar: https://www.pembroke.ca/special-events/

Simplify your job search with the Labour Market Group's local Job Tools Hub, your one-stop job search site to launch your career! https://jobs.labourmarketgroup.ca/?fbclid=IwAR3TFCcMXOXFFpiKHjmg_rGqUt3y_YFPocr0v_P-EdBCBqh2t3k7TZnZDCo

Join the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association’s #tourismfamily today by becoming an OVTA member. It’s completely free! http://www.ottawavalley.travel/About_the_OVTA/Become_an_OVTA_Member.html

Century 21 Aspire Realty is the gold standard in Canadian real estate. Search current listings, get insight into a particular neighbourhood, find out how much your home is worth and more! Visit https://aspirerealty.c21.ca to speak to one of their knowledgeable real estate agents today.

March is national social worker month and this year, the theme that is being recognized is “The Time is Right for Social Work.” So we at OV Boss Babes are taking the time to learn more about the positive contributions of this profession, the endless areas of services they provide and celebrating social workers in our communities.

Haley Bowe’s passion is for supporting people in their journey toward becoming the best version of themselves. She specializes in working with individuals on trauma healing and creating and maintaining healthy boundaries and has experience counselling a variety of challenges including sexual trauma, anxiety, depression, divorce, addictions, and grief.

Haley specifically focused on her specialization in trauma healing and the stages of grief, with both women sharing a similar and common trauma they both experienced and have healed from.

This week’s episode has been sponsored by the Town of Perth. Check out Perth’s Community Profile for a picture of life in Perth and the following resources to help you make the move: https://www.perth.ca/en/do-business/community-profile.aspx

Happy International Women's Day 2022!

And thank you for tuning into the second annual Ottawa Valley Women's Collective, in partnership with Local Immigration Partnership of Renfrew-Lanark.

Last year for International Women's Day, OVBB host Holly Molenaar met with several women across the Ottawa Valley for a panel discussion around how they were #ChoosingtoChallenge. This year, we are #BreakingtheBias on gender equality. Our moderator, Jodi Bucholtz from Local Immigration Ppartnership Group moderated a conversation with five diverse women from across the Ottawa Valley who offered their personal stories and commentary on how we can positively move forward towards gender equality at home, in the workplace and in our communities. 

We talk periods. We talk about different cultures and upbringings. We talk race and discrimination. We talk pay equality. We talk about how women are not taken seriously. And so much more.

This is a conversation where you’re going to be able to relate to at least one experience on a personal level. Or nodding your head in agreement. Or coming up with your own ideas on how you want to advocate for gender equality. So let me ask you this: How Are You #BreakingtheBias?

Erica Marchand is a witty, creative, innovative, not to mention downright hilarious and pushes the boundaries of what a small business can all achieve.

Her not-so-small business, Bear and Fox Apparel, is an outdoor lifestyle brand that is wildly local and small town proud.

For two years running, Erica has been featured as a finalist for outstanding new business in 2020 and 2021 in Oxford County, is a HUGE small business supporter for local and Canadian companies, and wanted to celebrate the achievements of businesses throughout her community through her podcast that she cohosts with another business owner, Kintore Coffee, through their podcast “Drinks With.”

There is no doubt that Bear + Fox Apparel will soon become a Canadian household name as Erica is fiercely taking her apparel line by storm (and across Canada!) and is making a comeback after her Instagram got hacked, and is sharing with other small business owners how to protect their social media accounts and how the small biz community has rallied, supported and championed her.

Megan Evans always knew she wanted to have a career in radio & broadcasting, and after starting her career volunteering at Cogeco (now known as YourTV), from interning at Discovery’s Daily Planet and then landing what she thought was her dream job at Star 96.7 fm (now known as Pure County 96.7). Until she and a colleague were blindsided, as many radio personalities are in that industry, and were let go suddenly due to cutbacks.

Megan divulges what really happened behind the scenes, the toll it took on her mental health and how she landed

A permanent career at Algonquin College. And of course, creating video content and photography, which led her to finding her passion and creating her own business, Megan Evans Digital Media.

This episode has been sponsored by:

Are you an operating business located in Laurentian Valley! Register your business today at https://directory.lvtownship.ca/?_mid_=9349

Ever After Bridal Boutique features a wide selection of beautiful and current wedding, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, flower girl, and prom dresses. Shop their inventory of new and consigned dresses at https://www.ever-after-bridal.ca

Bombshells Tattoo Studio. Book your next tattoo or piercing appointment with the Bombshell girls by contacting your preferred artist directly! https://m.facebook.com/Bombshells-Tattoo-Studio-1467205063543234/

Nominations are now open for 104.9 myFM’s 2022 Spirit Awards - vote for your favourite businesses in 50 categories! https://www.pembroketoday.ca/spirit-awards-3/

The Fulton family has been making mouth-watering, certified organic maple syrup at their 400 acre sugar bush for more than five generations. For years, guests have enjoyed walking the trails, horse drawn sleigh rides, learning all about the sap to syrup method, and of course, sampling all things maple! And up until last year, many enjoyed dining in their old fashioned, family-friendly pancake house.

It’s one of the hidden treasures here in the Valley and with the eagerly anticipated sweet syrup season upon us, Shirley Fulton-Deugo and her family invite you to spend the winter season at Fulton’s Sugar Bush & Maple Shop!

This episode has been sponsored by Lanark County Tourism. Learn more about Fulton’s Sugar Bush, and many other maple businesses throughout Lanark County here: https://lanarkcountytourism.com/my-tours/#v=l&c=Things%20to%20Do%20-%3E%20Experiences%20-%3E%3E%20Everything%20Maple

After Alison Gray Tubby and her family moved to Barry’s Bay, she embarked on quite the adventure. She completed two very different college programs, Equestrian Studies and Hairstyling, married her high school sweetheart at 20 years old, after moving around and finally settling back to Madawaska Valley 8 years ago, she decided to open her own business.

When the formerly known gift store, The Vintage Shop, became available, Alison jumped at the opportunity to put her own spin on an already established business and thus, Gift it Gray was born.

Alison shares how she’s learned so much in the retail & gift shop world, why outsourcing your social media and website development is the best route for small business owners, and what she enjoys most about living in the Madawaska Valley (since she just couldn’t stay away!)

This week’s podcast episode has been sponsored by:

Bundle of Joy Pregnancy Box: Get 10% off your first Bundle of Joy pregnancy subscription box + receive a free Baby box at the end of your subscripton using code OVBB at checkout: https://bundleofjoybox.ca

The Township of Madawaska Valley is proud to support and promote their local businesses. Shop small and local businesses in Madawaska Valley and help support your local community: https://www.madawaskavalley.ca

Book your skydiving experiencing with Parachute Ottawa! Opening for the 2022 season in May 2022: https://www.parachuteottawa.ca

After periods of stress, we become disconnected from our core. Pregnancy,

menopause or COVID can all lead to disconnect. If you're wanting to feel grounded and confident in your body book a discovery call to see how Unstuck Physio can help at 613.897.6616

If you are fond of Canadian and French cousines, great service and countless positive 5 star Google reviews, then you need to take a trip to Carleton Place and see why the locals are a huge fan of Black Tartan Kitchen. You’ll be greeted by warm and friendly staff, an intimate and cozy atmosphere, and a unique dining experience.

The owner and head chef, Ian Carswell, has competed at Ottawa’s 2019 "Canada's Great Kitchen Party", represented Ottawa in the 2020 Canadian Culinary Championships, and is the 2022 Ottawa Faces winner of the Best Restaurant for Dinner award. Black Tartan Kitchen also recently created their Souper Bogo initiative, raising $1900 for the Lanark County Food Bank, a fundraiser that his wife Tessa came up with!

This week’s episode has been sponsored by Valley Heartland. Valley Heartland supports businesses within Lanark County + North Leeds by providing entrepreneurs with access to funding, training and mentorship. Learn more at https://www.valleycfdc.com

Trust us, this is not that typical boring financial conversation with a financial advisor or repetitive money conversation you had with your parents growing up. And every small business owners needs to tune in.

Tara Tennant is a financial empowerment coach and impact amplifier who started consulting because she wanted to share her experiences and lessons learned with other entrepreneurs to empower them to take control of their businesses and their lives.

In her words, “come for the sage advice for entrepreneurial money management, stay for some entertaining stories of failure and reinvention, and enter a safe space where conversations around money are realistic and relatable.”