Yes, We Are Open! 🍁

In the season 9 finale of ‘Yes, We Are Open’ Al visits Bilqees Grant, Co-Founder and CEO of Helius Originals. She tells her story of starting her unique business, which specializes in sustainable smoke barware, including equipment to smoke food and drinks using wood sourced from Ontario.

Bilqees shares the challenges of manufacturing, marketing, and scaling her business amidst the pandemic and trade tariffs and her plans to launch a new automated smoker.  

This is her inspiring story.

You can learn more about Helius Originals at HeliusOriginals.com.

Credits:

• Amy Blundell - Leadership
• Darren Leroux - Leadership
• Caleigh Ellis – Graphic Artist
• Niyati Budhiraja – Webmaster
• Cheyenne Jenkins - Social Media
• The rest of the Moneris for their support!

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If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This week, Al is in Oakville, Ontario visiting Erin Nocent, owner of The Sweetest Thing bakery. Erin transitioned from baking cakes and cupcakes from home in 2009 to opening her own brick and mortar business in 2018.

She talks about overcoming her struggles with work-life balance and rising ingredient prices on her way to building a family legacy with her bakery. How did she do it? Listen now, to find out.

You can learn more about The Sweetest Thing at TheSweetestThing.com.

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If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This week, Al is back in Toronto visiting Ryan Altschuler, co-owner of Lynx Music. Ryan shares his story of building and running an innovative music and recording studio in Toronto and the significant challenges he faced.

How did Ryan do it? Listen now to find out.

You can learn more about Lynx Music at LynxMusic.ca.

Subscribe now!

If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

In this episode, Al goes deep underground to visit the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum. He speaks with Monique Goffinet, Executive Director, and Jordan Vetter, Marketing and Communications Manager about the history of the bunker, its role during the Cold War, and its transition from a military site to a museum.

Listen to this historic and fascinating story!

You can learn more about Diefenbunker at Diefenbunker.ca.

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If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

This week, Al visits  John Thompson, owner of The Record Centre in Ottawa, Ontario. John traded the grueling heat of a paper mill for the warm crackle of vinyl.

In 2011, John bought The Record Centre from a friend—starting with just six bins of records in the back of a video store. He has turned it into a thriving destination that's part record store, part vintage audio showroom, part concert venue, and part record label.  

This is John’s story.

You can learn more about The Record Centre at TheRecordCentre.com.

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If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Al visits Adam Tomczyk, Co-Founder and CEO of Mad Radish to talk about the origins and growth of the company since its inception in 2017.  

Adam shares his personal journey of relocating from New York to Ottawa and reflects on the challenges and triumphs along the way, overcoming obstacles such as inflation and supply chain issues. Mad Radish remains committed to providing healthy, flavorful, and affordable food. This is their story.

You can learn more about Mad Radish at MadRadish.com.

Subscribe now!

If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

In this episode, Al visits Chika Oguh, founder of My Afromania Inc., a fashion business in Ottawa that brings the vibrancy of African prints to Western styles.

Chika  recounts how her love for fashion inspired her to create a marketplace supporting artisans from both Africa and Canada. She candidly discusses the financial and emotional challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of community, and the role her family’s entrepreneurial spirit played in her journey.

Listen now to learn how Chika overcame setbacks, and built a thriving business from scratch.

You can learn more about My Afromania Inc. at MyAfromania.com.

Subscribe now!

If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

In the season 9 premiere of Yes, We Are Open, Al visits Paulo Chira, Owner of Champlain Table Tennis Club in Ottawa, Ontario. Originally founded in 1989, the club developed numerous national and international players but closed in 2015 due to a lack of support.  

Paulo, who started playing table tennis at six in Peru and moved to Canada for better training opportunities, decided to revive the club in 2023. This is his story.  

You can learn more about Champlain Table Tennis Club at ChamplainTTC.ca. 

Subscribe now!

If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

Season 9 of the award-winning 'Yes, We Are Open' podcast starts October 6th, 2025!

In this season, Al visits Ottawa, Ontario. Here is a little teaser for the upcoming season.

Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts or visit YesWeAreOpenPodcast.com!

Subscribe now!

If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.

In the season 8 finale of ‘Yes, We Are Open’, Al is back in Ontario, visiting Brenda and Rick Coletta, owners of The Fry’s The Limit and The Parlour.

After retiring from her corporate career, Brenda gave entrepreneurship a try. She bought a food truck, called it The Fry’s The Limit, and sold poutine. Then Rick joined her and they bought a second truck.

After a few years of toiling on the festival circuit, the couple decided to settle in Thornton, Ontario and add ice cream to their empire. They opened The Parlour amid some stiff competition in the small town. Eight years later, they’re not only still standing, they’re thriving, even after a pandemic and high inflation. How did they do it? Listen to find out.

You can learn more about The Parlour & The Fry’s The Limit at thefrysthelimit.com.

Credits:

• Amy Blundell - Leadership
• Darren Leroux - Leadership
• Caleigh Ellis – Graphic Artist
• Niyati Budhiraja – Webmaster
• Chetan Dhananjaya – Webmaster
• Loki Nichlani – Webmaster
• Cheyenne Jenkins - Social Media
• Patricia Crowe – PM
• Jessica Lepage  – Translation
• Gladys Bagang – Logistics & Admin
• The rest of the Moneris for their support!

Subscribe now!

If you're the owner of a small business in Canada and you'd like us to help tell your story, email us at [email protected].

Yes, We Are Open is a Moneris podcast production hosted by Al Grego.