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Christine Buhr headshot
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The entrepreneurial spirit is in her blood

July 10, 2025 Business, Fitness, Health and Wellness, Investment 0:19:40

Christine Buhr is a Calgary-based entrepreneur and community builder dedicated to creating innovative wellness and entertainment experiences. As the Calgary franchisee for FS8, a next-generation fitness concept, Christine is focused on expanding its unique blend of movement, mindfulness, and community across the city. She’s also preparing to bring Vaura Pilates to market in the future.

]With over 15 years in the family entertainment and retail industries, including operating Shakers Family Fun Centre and working with brands like The Body Shop, Christine has launched and scaled multiple ventures. She previously hosted The 3rd Degree Podcast and The Weekly LBX Show, spotlighting trends and leaders in the experience economy. Her work has been featured in Maclean’s, The Calgary Herald, Business in Calgary, and Fun World. Christine earned her Entrepreneurial Masters Certificate at MIT’s Endicott House and believes that experiences, whether in wellness, business, or community are the true currency of the future.

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Rana Vig headshot
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From Unlikely to Unstoppable: Rana Vig on Playing the Long Game, Building Smart, & Investing in Canada’s Mining Future

July 8, 2025 Business, Metals and Mining 0:21:49

What does it take to build a company that beats the odds — and wins the permit that only 1 in 9 has done this decade?

🎙 Episode Overview:

In this powerful episode of Canada’s Entrepreneur, Angela Faye sits down with Rana Vig, President & CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources, to unpack one of the most underrated yet urgent entrepreneurial stories in Canada right now.

With the Dome Mountain Gold Project set to enter production in summer 2025, Blue Lagoon is making a rare leap — from exploration to gold producer — in a capital-intensive, highly regulated, and notoriously slow-moving industry.

Yet this episode isn’t just about mining.

It’s about how bold vision, disciplined execution, and public-private navigation can turn a long shot into a moonshot — and what every Canadian entrepreneur can learn from Rana’s playbook.

🔍 What You’ll Hear:

  • How Blue Lagoon became 1 of only 9 companies in a decade to receive a BC mining permit
  • What business owners can learn about timing, strategy, and raising capital in complex sectors
  • The future of Canadian-built companies that create real, rooted value in people and place
  • How mining might just be Canada’s most surprising startup space
  • A special invitation for entrepreneurs looking to partner, invest, or contribute to Canada’s future

💎 BONUS:

8-9 JULY DESTINATION TOUR: DOME GOLD MINE & SMITHERS BC

Canada’s Entrepreneur & Blue Lagoon Resources invites you to be celebrate the opening of the Dome Gold Mine, and explore what destination Smithers, BC offers. Make your way to Smithers BC, 8-9 July 2025, and here are some highlights we’ve put together for you:

  • Dome Gold Mine – Underground mine tour on 8th July
  • Dome Ribbon – Ribbon cutting ceremony with local celebrities, politicians, First Nations, industry, and community supporters, 9th July
  • Meetup in person with Rana Vig, CEO
  • Join a tour of commercial/industrial properties for sale
  • Find out more about visiting Smithers BC – https://tourismsmithers.com/

🎧 Register Interest to unlock destination and event tour details. More details coming soon.

💎 BONUS: Members Hub

Launching later this year is our Members Only Content. For the second half of the conversation, exclusively for Canada’s Entrepreneur members — where we break down:

  • Blue Lagoon’s capital strategy & business model
  • Opportunities for collaboration and investment
  • What it will take to accelerate Canada’s 4 Moonshots through partnerships like this

🎧 Become a member to unlock full access.

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David Leinster headshot
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Calgary is having a cultural renaissance

June 23, 2025 Art & Culture, Business 0:18:22

David Leinster leads Contemporary Calgary with a strong vision, a creative mindset, and a focus on community, collaboration, and partnership. Since joining the organisation in 2018, David has been dedicated to advancing the gallery’s mission of making modern and contemporary art accessible to all while fostering a vibrant cultural hub in Calgary.

David’s connection to Contemporary Calgary runs deep. As a key leader in the city’s Expression of Interest process for the Centennial Planetarium, he collaborated with arts community leaders to secure the Planetarium’s future as a home for contemporary art. His dedication to this process cemented his reputation as a creative and strategic thinker, advocating for modern and contemporary art in Calgary. This work followed his involvement with the Institute for Modern and Contemporary Art (IMCA), which later merged with other arts organisations to form Contemporary Calgary in 2014.

Under David’s leadership, Contemporary Calgary has achieved transformative milestones. He secured a 35-year lease of the historic Centennial Planetarium, guaranteeing the gallery’s future in one of Calgary’s most iconic buildings. Additionally, he led efforts to secure a $30 million federal government commitment for future renovations and expansions and has helped raise millions of dollars in private philanthropy, significantly elevating the gallery’s profile locally, nationally, and internationally. In 2024, David’s advocacy was instrumental in achieving Civic Partner status for Contemporary Calgary, aligning it with the City’s major cultural and tourism attractions and ensuring its financial stability.

Before joining Contemporary Calgary, David built a diverse professional background that uniquely prepared him to meet the challenges the gallery faced. At Enbridge, the largest energy transportation company in the world, he oversaw the strategic development and execution of the company’s long-term brand vision. He also led high-profile corporate and nonprofit accounts at Karo Group, a leading Western Canadian branding agency. These roles gave him a deep understanding of the many facets of business, equipping him with the diverse skills needed to lead a complex cultural organization at a pivotal moment.

David’s passion for art stems from his grandmother, an artist who inspired his lifelong appreciation for art, culture and creativity. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from St. Francis Xavier University, where his education also included studies in drawing and painting. This unique combination of artistic insight and business expertise shapes his leadership style and continues to guide his vision for Contemporary Calgary.

Committed to accessibility, collaboration, and innovation, David leads a team of passionate employees who are driving change in Calgary’s arts community and beyond. His work has earned recognition, including being named one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2022..

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Reducing the amount of money spent on services

June 12, 2025 Business, Economics, Finance, Investment, Marketing & Advertising, Media 0:27:09

Now with Schooley Mitchell I’m helping entrepreneurs save money, which means effectively make money by reducing the amount of money they spend on services.

Stan has over twenty five years experience in management and business consulting. He currently helps business clients of all sizes realize greater profitability and improved cashflow by optimizing their expenses in a range of basic business services such as telecommunications, electronic payments, software licenses, small package shipping, waste management, uniforms and facility supplies. He latest venture being a Strategic Partner of Schooley Mitchell, North America’s largest independent cost reduction consulting organization. For many years Stan’s been a global business unit leader, advanced technology marketer and an innovation advisor to startups, SMEs and innovative entrepreneurs. He’s also an active investor, avid reader and public policy wonk.

#expenseoptimization #costreductionanalysis #expensemanagement #expensereduction #businessconsulting

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Helcim – most loved payment company

June 2, 2025 Business, Finance, General 0:26:44

At the very core of who we Helcim is, is the mission to be the world’s most loved payments company. We are relentless in our pursuit to provide a radically transparent and honest payments solution that flat out saves business owners money, all while treating them like human beings.

Nicolas Beique is the founder and chief executive officer at Helcim. His goal is to deliver a better payment, experience and better tools to merchants who just want to run their business. Today Helcim serves thousands of merchants in Canada and the United States, and has been has built a reputation for being a friendly and transparent payment processor. At the very core of who we are is our mission to be the world’s most loved payments company. It’s like a necessary kind of evil that you have to have but and we really try to. You know, flip that on its head and be like, what if?

Nicolas has been recognized for his contributions to the payment industry and technology as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Prairies technology overall category winner in 2018, and is a member of the Avenue Calgary top 40, under 40 class of 2019.

#payments #accounting #entrepreneur #entrepreneurinsights

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Helping transform the workplace

May 27, 2025 Business, Coaching & Consulting, Education, General 0:19:52

Sam Jenkins is the managing partner of Punchcard Systems, a digital transformation studio focused on transforming people, workplaces, and communities through technology. He has always believed that enriching people’s whole selves serves as a cornerstone to creating a better community. That’s why his entrepreneurial journey started as Co-Founder and CEO of Wellnext, a software startup focused on building technology for workplace wellness, and later as one of the founding team members of Startup Edmonton.

He has provided leadership and expertise to several organizations, including the boards of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards Foundation, as well as held governance roles with the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.

Sam’s commitment to his community led him to being named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine (2012), and in 2013 the University of Alberta recognized him with the Horizon Award as an outstanding young alumnus. Currently, Sam serves as Vice Chair of the Winspear Centre for Music, and is leading the facility’s 40,000 square foot expansion, including new performance venues, classrooms, and creative spaces.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samjenkins/
https://www.instagram.com/samjenkins/

#TechForGood #DigitalLeadership #StartupCommunity #YEGBusiness #SocialImpact

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What makes a good leader

May 22, 2025 Business, Coaching & Consulting, Education, General 0:24:11

Andrew Brooks, CPA, ICD.D, BBA
Executive Leader | Fractional CEO | Board Director | Strategic Advisor |Speaker

Andrew Brooks is a respected executive and strategic advisor with extensive experience leading organizations through transformation, growth, and transition. As the founder of Had To Holdings Ltd., he provides fractional CEO and executive advisory services to companies across Canada and internationally.

He began his relationship with Waiward as a fractional CEO before becoming its President and CEO, and has held similar leadership roles with the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association and Flint Transfield Services.

Andrew’s early international experience in Nigeria helped shape his global perspective and culturally informed leadership style.

Today, he serves as Vice Chair of the Calgary Drug Treatment Court, a board member of The Future of Energy Global Summit and a director of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, where he supports corporate and economic development with cross-cultural collaboration.

As a public speaker, Andrew regularly shares insights on energy, leadership, organizational alignment, and navigating change. Whether on stage, on a panel or in the boardroom, he’s known for his solid integrity, loyalty, steady presence, and his belief that “everyone has a story.”

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-brooks-leadership/
https://hadtoholdings.com/

#LeadershipMatters #FractionalCEO #BusinessTransformation #GlobalLeadership #EntrepreneurInsights

 

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Value Community, Connection and Genuine Relationships

May 20, 2025 Business, Education, General 0:47:09

Hailing from small-town Newfoundland, Joanne Bath values community, connection, and genuine relationships—principles that have been the cornerstone of her rewarding career. Joanne is an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader who has dedicated much of her career to supporting life-changing health research and care in the Maritimes, across Canada, and beyond. Her extensive experience includes leading transformative campaigns for major organizations like the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation and the IWK Foundation. She has built and led high-performing teams, raising over $90 million through entrepreneurial thinking, meticulous vision, and thoughtful leadership. Joanne’s leadership style is people-first, fostering trust, empowering ownership, and promoting entrepreneurial thinking. She excels at building high-performing teams and facilitating strategic partnerships by deeply understanding stakeholder needs. Her approach has consistently resulted in measurable success, from creating comprehensive campaign strategies to nurturing relationships with key donors and volunteers.

Joanne’s company, Kittiwake, is a philanthropic consulting firm where we believe that adaptability, connection, and resilience are at the heart of every successful fundraising strategy. Inspired by the Atlantic’s ever-changing tides and the Kittiwake bird’s ability to navigate them, we help organizations rise to new challenges, embrace growth, and build the kind of donor relationships that sustain impact for years to come.

Our work is deeply rooted in the belief that sustainable fundraising is built on strong relationships, strategic vision, and the ability to evolve. Kittiwake brings the expertise, strategic insight, and hands-on guidance needed to make ambitious goals a reality.

Kittiwake offers services in 4 main categories: Revenue Growth, Organizational Strategy, Talent Development & Donor Communications

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Everyone Loves Math (or can learn to love it)

May 14, 2025 Business, Education, General 0:30:53

Dr. John Mighton is an award-winning mathematician, playwright, and best-selling author internationally recognized for his ground-breaking work building children’s confidence, skills, and success in math.

He founded the Canadian charity JUMP Math (Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies) in 2002 with an equity-driven mission to empower every child to achieve their potential through accessible math education. JUMP Math’s K-8 resources currently support thousands of educators and students in North America and other countries to teach, learn, and love math.

Dr. Mighton holds a master’s degree in philosophy from McMaster University and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Toronto, where he frequently teaches at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. A recipient of the Order of Canada, Dr. Mighton has published three books on math education, given hundreds of talks on the subject, including a TEDx Talk and keynote at the Aspen Brain Forum, and has received many awards and honorary doctorates in recognition of his work. His latest book, All Things Being Equal: Why Math is the Key to a Better World, offers a compelling argument for why accessible math education can and must be available to everyone. In a twist of fate in his early career, Dr. Mighton played Matt Damon’s math tutor in the 1997 movie, Good Will Hunting
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A mission of helping women solopreneurs

May 2, 2025 Business, Coaching & Consulting, Communications, Tech 0:19:32

The combination of getting fired shortly after a failed marriage made Vera Ilnyckyj feel like a complete failure, purposeless, disconnected and stuck.

She’s grateful for this challenging time because it was the start of discovering her purpose – helping other women get back on track after a major life change.

Ultimately, it led Vera to leave her corporate job and step into her business full time. While she had no training on how to run a business and no formal plan, what she did have was a deep desire to help and inspire others, create belonging, and empower people to take action towards their goals.

A major learning that Vera has had as an entrepreneur is the realization that intense inner work is required to step into a new version of yourself. As a result, she’s developed tools, resources and practices that support self-trust, confidence, resilience, mindset and intuition, along with strategies to support discipline, consistency, goal-setting, marketing, sales and business growth.

Today, Vera’s approach combines the spiritual and the material in order to create impact and income. Her mission is to help women solopreneurs live a genuine, fulfilled and positive life through their business. Vera believes we’re not meant to be on this journey alone which is why she’s committed to uplifting others in community – through her mastermind success collective, in-person and online workshops, retreats, speaking, her podcast, blogs, videos or social channels.

Learn more about Vera and her work: www.createyourbestchapter.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createyourbestchapter/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verailnyckyj/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@createyourbestchapter
Website: https://www.createyourbestchapter.com/

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