How to survive and thrive in today’s restaurant industry

Ryan Blackwell is a Calgary chef and restaurateur known for concept-driven menus and polished, approachable cooking. Raised in Cochrane and trained at SAIT, Blackwell sharpened his craft in Vancouver’s restaurant scene, including a turn as chef de cuisine at the acclaimed Bin 941, before returning home to open Elbow Room in Britannia in 2017 with partner Josh Brennand. The restaurant earned quick acclaim, landing in Avenue’s “Calgary’s 25 Best Restaurants” and on OpenTable’s national “100 Best Restaurants for a Big Night Out.”

Since then, Blackwell has helped shape several Beltline concepts, founding Sensei Bar in 2021 and later leading the culinary program at Olea, an all-day café and bar inspired by Mediterranean coastal cooking. His current remit spans culinary director and partner roles across Olea and sister venues, where menus lean into handmade pastas, local market produce, and shareable plates that balance comfort and flair. His kitchens favour seasonality, clear flavours, and hospitable service, reflecting a belief that memorable dining should feel both special and easy to love.

He emphasizes sourcing fresh, local ingredients whenever possible, supporting Alberta farmers and artisanal producers, and integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of kitchen operations. Blackwell’s menus frequently showcase creativity paired with culinary precision, offering a combination of contemporary plating, thoughtful ingredient pairings, and approachable flavor profiles that appeal to a wide audience while remaining rooted in sophistication.

His leadership style encourages collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth among his culinary teams, cultivating environments where innovation thrives alongside consistency and high-quality execution. Beyond the kitchen, Blackwell has become a recognized figure in Calgary’s vibrant food scene, participating in community events, culinary festivals, and media engagements that highlight his expertise, vision, and commitment to advancing the city’s gastronomic reputation. His work reflects an ongoing dedication to pushing culinary boundaries, experimenting with techniques, and exploring diverse global flavors, all while maintaining the integrity and warmth of approachable, high-quality dining experiences. Through a combination of thoughtful restaurant design, carefully curated beverage programs, and meticulously crafted dishes, he has consistently delivered experiences that leave a lasting impression on both local patrons and visiting guests. His philosophy centers on making food that resonates emotionally, creating memorable moments that engage all the senses, and fostering a sense of connection through shared meals, hospitality, and a commitment to excellence in every facet of restaurant operations.

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A Hug in a Bowl personified

September 23, 2025 0:29:12

Sharon Hapton, a successful Calgary-based businesswoman and mother of two, is the founder and CEO of Soup Sisters and Hug in a Bowl Enterprises.

In 2008-2009, leading up to her 50th birthday, Sharon channeled her belief in the healing power of homemade soup into founding Soup Sisters, a grassroots organization. Recognized nationally and regionally for her work, Sharon has led the movement that has delivered over 4 million ‘Hugs in a Bowl’ to families and individuals in crisis. She has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Chatelaine’s and CityTV’s Women of the Year and receiving the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada in 2016.

“I am a soup maker. I have cared for family and friends with soup for most of my adult life. If someone was down or needed some extra care, I would show up at their door, most often unannounced and with soup. I knew that this simple gesture had the power to change their day, and in the process of making it, I was letting them know how much I cared.

The whole exchange – the soup-making, the visit, the comfort it provided and the appreciation it returned – created a fulfilling cycle of giving. Here is the recipe for Soup Sisters. “All it took was for me to realize that I didn’t need to look beyond my truest self and that what I was looking for had always been inside me, just waiting to be recognized. After all, I am, and always have been, a soup maker.”

The Soup Sisters and Hug in a Bowl Enterprises operate with a profound, clear dedication to nourishing communities through the provision of universal comfort food. This grassroots organization, born from the simple, yet powerful, gesture of bringing homemade soup to a friend in need, has scaled its impact dramatically to address a major affordability crisis plaguing Canada. Today, with 8.7 million people facing food insecurity, the mission of providing warmth and sustenance is more vital than ever. The organization utilizes an efficient and transparent “MISO model of giving,” which stands for Money In Soup Out, ensuring donations are swiftly translated into tangible nourishment. This approach allows them to support social service organizations, offer Souper Kids Hot Lunch Soup Days in schools where students often go hungry, and provide ready-to-eat comfort to frontline agencies struggling with rising food costs and stretched budgets.

The commercial arm of the movement, Hug in a Bowl Enterprises, further solidifies this vital cycle of giving. It creates delicious, high-quality, and nutritious soups specifically designed for food service, featuring premium ingredients and chef-crafted flavors. Crucially, every case of these food service-ready soups sold directly helps to fund Soup Sisters’ food security programs, making commercial purchases a direct pipeline for community support and fulfilling the organization’s charitable mission. This commitment to local food security, alongside their admirable practice of producing commercially with zero food waste, exemplifies a comprehensive and sustainable business model rooted deeply in empathy. The immense scale of this collective effort is demonstrated by the delivery of over 4.5 million ‘Hugs in a Bowl’, the monthly provision of over 10,000 complete meals, and the inspiring engagement of more than 100,000 dedicated soup-making volunteers across the country. The simple act of providing a meal becomes a meaningful, tangible expression of solidarity and hope across the nation.

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Turning a passion into a viable and very satisfying career

September 19, 2025 0:29:12

Calgary artist Paul Van Ginkel has been a full-time painter for 42 years. With over 2200 paintings created so far in his career, his work can be found in private and corporate collections around the world. After recently turning 65 he has no plans to retire and strongly feels his best work is ahead of him. While being pleased with his artistic abilities, he’s most proud of the fact that he’s able to turn his passion into a viable and very satisfying career. This has been achieved by his focus on the business side of his profession.

Paul Van Ginkel’s remarkable longevity and success stem from his comprehensive approach to artistic development, which he meticulously cultivated from his formative years. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1960, he later moved to Calgary, Alberta, where his artistic journey truly began. He initially honed his skills at the prestigious Alberta College of Art, demonstrating early commitment to his craft. Driven by a desire for advanced and disciplined training, he pursued and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University in New York. This formal education, particularly his focus on Visual Communications, provided him with a strong foundation in design, composition, and diverse mediums, which he views as essential for any successful fine art painter. Following his graduation, he spent six years navigating the commercial art world, working as an editorial illustrator for the Calgary Herald newspaper and engaging in freelance illustration projects. This period instilled crucial business acumen and the discipline of working under deadlines, knowledge he would later integrate into his full-time painting career, ensuring he could thrive in the often-challenging professional art landscape.

Since dedicating himself entirely to fine art painting in 1990, Van Ginkel has become widely recognized as a premier Canadian representational painter. While his body of work encompasses an eclectic range of subjects, he holds a deep specialization and passion for Western themes, especially those centered around equine subjects. He is intensely drawn to the inherent beauty, formidable power, and rich history of the horse, and he is able to execute a diverse variety of moods and compositions, ranging from small, quiet depictions of a single foal to massive canvases portraying over a hundred stampeding horses, often blending a masterful realism with dynamic, impressionistic elements. This expressive and evolving style, which also features dramatic portraits, captures the raw energy and emotion of Western life, including scenes of cowboys, rodeo events, and the compelling history of Canada’s First Nations.

The Calgary Stampede has been instrumental in shaping his career, serving as a signature annual event where he regularly sells a significant portion of his yearly output. His deep ties to the event were solidified when he became the first “fine artist” selected to paint the annual Calgary Stampede poster in 2006, an achievement considered a significant pinnacle in Western art. More recently, in 2023, he was commissioned to create the monumental painting “History in the Dust,” which was transformed into a large 16-by-28-foot mural celebrating a century of chuckwagon racing at the Stampede.

Beyond the iconic Western subjects, his continuous pursuit of artistic stimulation involves extensive global travel, which expands his artistic horizons and photographic reference archive. These research trips have taken him to major art centers and culturally rich locations such as Italy, Australia, Mexico, New York, Santa Fe, Venice, and Andalusia in Spain. A notable example includes his journey to Seville and Madrid to research the intricate Flamenco culture, which directly inspired an ongoing series of dynamic dance and figurative paintings. This commitment to experiencing and documenting diverse cultures aligns with his core belief that an artist records their life experiences through their chosen medium. Van Ginkel’s philosophy remains centered on mastery and expression; he aims for his art to do more than simply decorate a space, but rather to engage, engulf, and stimulate thought and conversation, allowing the subject’s voice to dictate its visual language. His many accolades include being selected as one of the top Western artists working today by Fresco Fine Art Publishers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He maintains an unwavering commitment to his art, fully embracing the creative expression and the long journey each signed painting takes into an unknown future, ensuring his legacy as a professional artist continues until his last breath.

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Helping create businesses that are not only profitable but truly impactful

September 16, 2025 0:16:16

Shawn Freeman is the founder of Impactful MSP, a coaching business dedicated to helping Managed Service Providers scale, lead, and grow beyond seven figures. After building and successfully exiting his own MSP and then partnering to build a second one, Shawn now coaches other MSP owners to create businesses that are not only profitable but also truly impactful. He believes an exceptional MSP business empowers its owner, uplifts its team, delivers real value to clients, and strengthens the community it serves. With deep experience in technology, leadership, mentorship and entrepreneurship, Shawn provides the strategic insight MSPs need to shift from overwhelmed operator to confident, visionary leader.

Shawn Freeman helps owners build a scalable MSP with proven systems and coaching. He shows you how to run an impactful MSP without stress or second-guessing, offering clear guidance and steady growth. This provides a path to becoming a better leader, achieving steady growth, and leading your business confidently. If your days are filled with client issues, staffing problems, and nonstop firefighting, you’re not running a sustainable business.

You may be running yourself into the ground, a common problem where effort is not lacking but the model doesn’t give you room to lead. Staying in that unsustainable loop isn’t just exhausting; it is also tremendously expensive. It costs valuable time, energy, and momentum that could be used for scaling. Your competitors are refining their systems, winning better clients, and scaling teams that operate successfully without constant intervention. They are moving forward while many owners find themselves standing still, and the longer this continues, the wider the competitive gap becomes. The Impactful MSP Coaching Program is built for owners who are done spinning their wheels on low-value activities. Participants receive a clear, proven framework to regain control of their time and install the necessary systems that truly scale. This approach allows them to create a thriving business that doesn’t rely entirely on the owner to function.

Success translates directly to more freedom, better-fit clients who appreciate value, and higher margins for the MSP. It cultivates the confidence to lead with purpose instead of managing crises under pressure. You are capable of so much more, and you can build the MSP you deserve through strategic action. Scaling your Managed Service Provider doesn’t have to mean more chaos and longer hours of work. With the right plan and expert coaching, you can streamline operations and accelerate forward like never before seen. What is holding you back is often getting caught in the weeds, managing day-to-day tasks instead of driving strategic vision.

Many realize they are not growing or simply don’t have a clear vision for the business that excites them. Here is the truth: you need to learn new skills to get to the next level of profitability and leadership. Until you acquire those essential skills, you will be spinning your wheels, which costs more than just revenue; it costs time, energy, and confidence. The Impactful MSP Coaching Program offers a smarter way to scale your MSP, focusing on building a business that empowers your team. It gives you the freedom to focus solely on what matters most for long-term strategic success. We help you grow your leadership skills through the implementation of proven systems.

This focus includes market differentiation, delivering stand-out results your clients will notice and truly love. It ensures simplified growth using proven tactics that help you scale your entire team without significant burnout. The program includes the freedom to lead, implementing methods that work without micromanagement, a key component to achieving your goals.

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Shifting organizational culture through human-centred design

September 10, 2025 0:19:39

Jocelyne Holland brings nearly two decades of experience to her role as Partner at Holland Licensed Interior Design. With a wealth of knowledge and experience across a range of industries, including wellness, hospitality, medical, residential, and corporate interiors, she is a highly sought-after resource within the industry for her diverse expertise and focus on human-centred design. Jocelyne’s impressive portfolio speaks volumes, showcasing an extensive list of loyal, repeat clients who have entrusted their projects to her unparalleled skills. A native of Alberta, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from Mount Royal University.

The core philosophy guiding Jocelyne Holland and her specialized team is fundamentally rooted in the profound understanding that built environments possess the capacity to radically transform industries. Her commitment goes far beyond mere function and aesthetics; she targets the critical intersection of design and human connection. This award-winning approach promotes well-being, participation, and a crucial sense of belonging within every crafted space.

The firm’s methodology is culture-led, carefully directed toward shaping and evolving an organization’s internal atmosphere in alignment with their values and overarching goals. By putting people first, Holland Licensed Interior Design ensures their services genuinely benefit people and enhance their overall quality of life. The design process is deliberately centered on the individual, considering the wide spectrum of the human experience. This comprehensive consideration includes critical elements like accessibility, diversity, and the unique culture of the organization, ensuring that all individuals feel seen, valued, and empowered within their daily environment.

A truly successful project, in the view of Jocelyne’s firm, is one that places empathy and equity at the forefront of every creative decision. The team aspires to champion talent, eliminate structural barriers, and foster inclusive and profoundly compassionate environments that truly enrich the lives of individuals and the wider communities they serve. Solutions emerge when the team applies empathetic research, active listening, and a deep understanding of human behavior to the unique needs, perspectives, and experiences of the end-users.

This human-centered process ensures that the workplace design solutions empower individuals to make meaningful choices, contributing to a positive change in their professional lives. The firm’s commitment to ongoing education and exploration means they remain at the absolute forefront of industry trends, continually honing their refined craft. Precision, meticulous attention to detail, and a relentless quest for exceptionally higher standards are absolutely integral to Holland Licensed Interior Design’s comprehensive process. They expertly aim to strike a delicate balance between ambitious imagination and practical feasibility, resulting in a stunning final design that is perfectly tailored to an organization’s specific, unique needs. Jocelyne’s leadership, often described as possessing emotional and sensory intelligence, guides the team in their mission to bridge evidence-based design thinking with tangible real-world outcomes.

The firm holds itself fully accountable to their esteemed clients, cherished colleagues, and the greater community, approaching every project and person with unwavering honesty and integrity. This accountability manifests through transparent communication, proactive, clear guidance, and exceptionally efficient project management expertise used to expertly handle complex timelines, navigate strict budgets, and consistently exceed all stated expectations. They are fundamentally committed to always doing what is right, even when the path is challenging.

Designing for people, with people, is the firm’s foundational mantra. From the very initial engagement to the complete final execution, the team prioritizes continuous, open communication and a deep, nuanced understanding of the organization’s requirements. Clients are assured they will feel completely seen, comprehensively heard, and fully represented throughout the entire design journey. The specialized expertise includes targeted Workplace Mapping to maximize office space utilization while strategically aligning the design with the organization’s unique DNA, ultimately creating a dynamic environment that dramatically strengthens the company culture, significantly boosts productivity, and actively sparks vital innovation. Jocelyne’s passion lies in creating comprehensive, whole-life design environments that support well-being, spark authentic connection, and perfectly reflect the core values of the people within them, often incorporating sustainable built environments and neurodiverse-friendly design practices.

The careful selection of eco-conscious interiors is an example of the firm’s dedication to design that is good for both the team and the entire planet.

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Creating unique but not too unique beverages

September 2, 2025 0:18:11

John Eresman is a Co-Founder and Director of Brand at Gradient Beverages, a Calgary-based beverage company pioneering bartender-grade drinks and innovative beverages, including their award-winning Inversion Nitro Cocktail range. Prior to founding Gradient, John worked in advertising and marketing for more than a decade. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Calgary.

Made with barrel-aged whisky, lemon juice, simple syrup, angostura bitters and infused with nitrogen for the body and foam of a proper shaken cocktail in seconds. Enjoy a proper whisky sour – without the effort, equipment or egg whites. VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE. Nitrogen infusion allows inversion to deliver the body and foam of a proper shaken cocktail without egg whites. CHILL COLD (OR POUR OVER ICE) – SHAKE VERY HARD (UP & DOWN) UNTIL LIQUID NO LONGER SPLASHES IN CAN. – OPEN CAN GENTLY (CRACK SLIGHTLY TO RELEASE PRESSURE, THEN OPEN FULLY) – POUR STRAIGHT DOWN INTO A NICE COCKTAIL GLASS – OR SIP STRAIGHT FROM THE CAN.

The range includes the Spiced Whisky Sour, made with barrel-aged whisky, lemon and orange juice, warming bitters of nutmeg, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla and infused with nitrogen for the body and foam of a proper shaken cocktail. Enjoy a luxurious Elderflower Gin Sour – in seconds. This Gin Sour is made with 2 oz of gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and nitrogen for the smooth body and foam of a proper, bartender made shaken cockail. Additionally, enjoy an exceptionally smooth, perfectly balanced margarita – without a trip to Mexico.

The Classic Margarita is made with 2 oz of agave spirit, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup, sea salt and nitrogen gas for the smooth texture and foam of a shaken cocktail. This exceptionally smooth offering features complex notes of agave balanced with tart lime juice, triple sec, salt and infused with nitrogen for the body and foam of a proper shaken margarita. Inversion Nitro Passion Fruit Mai Tai is also available. Enjoy a proper passion fruit mai tai – without a trip to Hawaii. The Mai Tai is made with dark and light rum, passion fruit and lime juice, simple syrup, natural flavours of orgeat and nitrogen for the body and foam of a proper shaken cocktail, in seconds.

These nitro infused cocktails typically come in four 250 mL cans at 10.8% alc./vol. Gradient also offers SOUTHERN STATE WHISKY COCKTAILS and SUNDAY SESSION GOLF COCKTAILS. Other offerings include the Gradient Zero Sugar. The product line also features Vacation Vibes – Non Alc. Furthermore, we offer low MOQ beverage co-packing for startups and established brands looking to launch new drinks, or improve their current offering. Gradient is actively working to expand inversion nitro cocktails into new markets. If you want to bring inversion into your store or venue outside of Alberta and BC, send us a message expressing interest – and we will use that information to help us expand!

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Brewing up some entrepreneurial success

August 29, 2025 0:21:27

Andrew Bullied is the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Annex Ale & Soda Mfg. in Calgary, Alberta. Andrew has been brewing since 2008, when he was making wine as a means to save money on drinking during university. In 2010, Andrew attended Niagara College’s brewing program in its inaugural year – and was proudly the first drop-out, leaving to start work in Calgary’s budding craft beer industry. Andrew would go on to spend 5 years brewing in Calgary before opening Annex with co-founder, Erica O’Gorman, in 2016.

Over the years, Andrew has been resolute in his approach to brewing. Viewing nothing as sacred and everything as a candidate for improvement, his unwavering pursuit of quality and constant refinement have earned Annex Beers and Sodas critical acclaim and a cult-like following. His approach has also shaped brewing culture in Calgary; not just through innovation, but through intentional collaboration. Today, Annex is recognized for its role in elevating craft culture and building community through partner brews and non-profit advocacy. Through his work, Andrew has positioned Annex as a standard-bearer for quality and innovation in Calgary’s craft beverage scene, while his dedication to community continues to elevate the experience for everyone who walks through Annex’s doors.

Annex Ale & Soda Mfg. embraces a philosophy of “No Gods No Masters,” championing the spirit of brewing beyond boundaries both real and imagined. Their extensive and varied catalogue ranges from complex to crushable, offering something delightful for every palate seeking adventure. The entire operation is characterized by a genuinely curious, wonderfully unconventional, and always experimental mindset, deeply driven by the relentless pursuit of possibility in flavor combinations.

The company, established in 2015, was profoundly inspired by the dynamic energy and remarkable creativity burgeoning within North America’s rapidly growing craft beer scene. With this inspiration firmly rooted, the team set out purposefully to explore new and intriguing ways of brewing, meticulously crafting distinct and memorable beverages. This exploration manifests today in a comprehensive mix of expertly fashioned core beers, carefully curated rotating seasonals, exciting small-batch releases, and exceptionally refreshing craft sodas, ensuring a continuously evolving and fascinating drinking experience for dedicated patrons.

The central location of the Annex taproom serves as a vital community hub, a welcoming space where people can truly come together. This vibrant locale is consistently pouring a diverse selection of signature beer, flavorful craft soda, and those perpetually rotating small-batch features, keeping the offerings perpetually fresh and enticing. Adding to the overall convivial atmosphere is Lil’ Empire Burger, an esteemed partner serving up delicious smash burgers, creative sandwiches, and perfectly crisp fries, creating an ideal pairing for the brewery’s exceptional beverages. The entire taproom environment is designed for enjoyment and relaxation, featuring a spacious beer garden that is a particular favorite when the sun is out, a glorious retreat that is always proudly dog friendly, welcoming furry companions alongside their owners. The commitment to providing both superb quality beverages and a superior communal experience shines through in every detail, from the selection of ingredients to the layout of the space.

Andrew Bullied’s initial journey, which began quite humbly with the objective of making wine as a frugal means to save money on drinking during the necessary rigors of university life, has blossomed into the stewardship of an entire institution. This institution is now synonymous with principled excellence and thoughtful community building within the vibrant Calgary craft beverage landscape. The initial 2008 brewing efforts have led to a flourishing enterprise deeply committed to the principles of quality, originality, and consistent engagement with its supportive following. This dedicated team constantly pushes the envelope, believing that constant refinement and viewing nothing as sacred are essential ingredients for sustained success and true innovation in the competitive industry.

The resulting beers and sodas have thus achieved not only substantial critical acclaim but also the much-coveted, devoted, cult-like following that Annex proudly enjoys. Every single aspect of the Annex brand, from the meticulously brewed liquids to the inviting taproom atmosphere and the intentional collaboration projects, reinforces its distinguished position as a true standard-bearer for both quality and revolutionary innovation in the Calgary market. The dedicated team strives to never miss a drop of potential, constantly signing up new enthusiasts to receive news and updates about their newest, most exciting creations.

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Juggling careers in automotive and fashion

August 13, 2025 0:17:33

Malika Rajani is Founder and Creative Director of Malika Rajani, a Leather and Outerwear store primarily online with pop-up locations. She is also the General Manager of High River Toyota, a family-operated business. She is an emerging womenswear fashion designer based out of the Calgary area. Her namesake clothing line MALIKA creates clothing for conscious, modern women. The label has gained popularity for its Soft, luxurious lambskin leather Jackets, Dresses and Pants. The label’s philosophy lies in the appreciation of high style, quality of finish, and luxury of fabric.

The brand embodies modern refinement, offering luxury defined through thoughtful craftsmanship. Every piece is styled with intention, showcasing expressive silhouettes paired with a bold identity. The designs are unmistakably bold, meticulously designed for a distinctive presence in any setting. The collection is curated for everyday life, delivering effortless luxury perfect for real moments and genuine experiences. The philosophy is designed for now, where a modern vision seamlessly meets timeless detail. The aesthetic is truly bold, profoundly refined, and unapologetically you.

The clothing line encourages the wearer to step into the season with unwavering confidence, embracing an elegant, bold, and meticulously refined style. Each creation is thoughtfully crafted for the woman who confidently owns her unique story and narrative. The brand’s essence is where luxury meets comfort in a harmonious balance. The collection ranges from perfectly tailored jackets to exceptionally soft knits, all purposefully made for effortless layering, ensuring versatility and ease of wear.

Every single design redefines everyday sophistication with a contemporary edge. This is truly the season of expression, an opportunity to celebrate individuality in its purest form. Every piece is expertly crafted to ensure that the wearer’s personality shines through a lens of timeless minimalism and subtle grace. The style is bold by nature, yet remarkably refined by design, a commitment to superior quality. The woman wearing these pieces is invited to step into every moment with poise, showcasing a compelling fusion of inherent strength and sophisticated elegance. The entire line is made for the woman who deliberately writes her own powerful chapter in life’s unfolding story. The clothing offers a style that speaks volumes before you even do, a powerful non-verbal communication. The designs command the season with their inherent style, featuring bold, clean lines and exquisitely refined detail. This fashion is created for the strong woman who confidently owns her life journey and its trajectory. These are clothes made to stand out and capture attention.

The pieces allow the wearer to own the season with genuine confidence, embodying a perfect convergence where bold elegance encounters refined allure. Each item is thoughtfully designed for the woman who decisively defines her own compelling story and destiny. There is power in every single detail, a testament to quality and meticulous execution. The clothing is bold, inherently timeless, and effortlessly refined, specifically created for the woman who consistently leads her life with grace and undeniable confidence and inner strength. This is where authentic confidence finally meets superior craftsmanship, a partnership resulting in lasting style. The clothes offer refined beauty and a truly bold spirit, fashioned for the woman who lives her story completely unapologetically and authentically every single day. The seasonal offerings often include exceptional discounts, such as 25% off on the very latest collection of fresh arrivals, providing access to luxury.

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How 2% Realty Disrupted Canada’s Market

August 11, 2025 0:23:50

Roy Almog is a Calgary‑based entrepreneur, real estate broker, and innovator. He launched his career in the telecom industry while investing in residential properties, purchasing, renovating, and renting in the Edmonton area. Frustrated by conventional real estate commissions, Roy founded 2% Realty in May 2007, offering full-service representation with a low‑flat 2 % commission. Under his leadership, the brand rapidly expanded across Canada helping other agents adopt his low‑cost, tech‑savvy, full‑service approach.

Roy is known for his hands‑on style, answering his office phones personally and staying deeply involved in day‑to‑day client needs. He actively monitors the real estate markets and leads his team in delivering high‑touch service at competitive rates.

The revolutionary concept of low-cost, high-value real estate representation is truly Forward-thinking Real Estate Since 2007! This distinctive approach fundamentally shifts the value proposition for homeowners across the nation, allowing them to Save Your Money without compromising on the essential aspects of a successful property transaction. The core principle is that Saving Made Simple! should be an accessible reality, not a complex or degraded service experience. Roy Almog’s vision established 2% Realty as a robust, 100% Canadian Owned and Operated entity, deeply committed to leveraging local market knowledge while simultaneously developing a powerful national network of dedicated real estate professionals. This remarkable framework provides home sellers with exceptional financial advantages, definitively proving that full-service representation does not have to equate to the burden of exorbitant traditional commission fees.

The proprietary model strongly emphasizes full-service representation coupled with a transformative, industry-leading flat 2% commission structure, which presents a significant and welcomed contrast to the traditional, higher rates typically prevalent across the entire real estate industry. Clients instantly recognize the substantial financial difference this innovative structure contributes to their net proceeds upon the closing of their sale. By championing this client-centric system, 2% Realty has securely positioned itself as the most innovative Realty Network in Canada, successfully attracting and retaining highly skilled agents who are equally committed to delivering measurable, tangible value to every person they represent. The comprehensive full-service package provided includes everything sellers rightfully expect from a top-tier, professional brokerage: expert professional photography, thorough and detailed comparative market analyses, sophisticated strategic pricing recommendations, skillful negotiation tactics, and consistent, clear communication throughout the duration of the entire selling process.

A crucial and non-negotiable component of the brand’s commitment to its sellers is guaranteeing unparalleled market visibility and reach. Every property listed with the brokerage automatically receives Maximum Exposure On REALTOR.CA and Across Social Media Channels, thereby ensuring that the largest number of potential buyers, whether they are local, national, or international, are fully aware of the listing and its attractive features. This strategic, tech-savvy exposure is absolutely vital for successfully driving significant buyer interest and, ultimately, securing the best possible sales price in the most efficient timeframe. The integration of advanced, cutting-edge technology allows the entire operating network to function with unparalleled efficiency and transparency, directly reinforcing the sustainable low-cost business structure while always maintaining a superior, high-touch level of full-service delivery for all clients. This unwavering dedication to maximizing exposure is an integral part of the service commitment to every client who entrusts their highly valuable property sale to the 2% Realty brokerage.

Furthermore, the dedicated emphasis on providing genuine, deep expertise is always paramount to the company’s mission. Clients benefit immensely from the assurance that they will consistently Get Expert Advice From Real People, experienced REALTORS® who are thoroughly versed in complex local and national market dynamics. These dedicated professionals uphold the strict full-service mandate in every interaction, providing personalized, expert support from the initial consultation all the way through to the successful final closing procedures.

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An entrepreneur juggling two different businesses

August 8, 2025 0:21:54

Cynthia Navarrete is the founder of Jacarandaeco, a slow fashion brand rooted in sustainability, ethical production, and comfort — built entirely without paid ads. With a background in environmental engineering from the University of Calgary, she transitioned into entrepreneurship to build a life that aligned with her values, especially after becoming a mother.

Alongside Jacaranda, Cynthia runs a digital marketing practice that helps Canadian businesses grow through SEO, AI integration, and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). She specializes in helping founders, consultants, and teams increase their discoverability across search engines and AI platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity — without burning out, relying on constant posting, or paying for ads.

She recently launched her new course, The Visibility System: SEO + AI + GEO, a practical framework for growth-minded professionals who want to scale their online presence in the AI era. It’s available now at a special launch price for Canada Month.

Jacarandá offers women’s organic cotton leggings, emphasizing comfort and quality. The detailed clothing categories include all items, tops, and bottoms, ensuring a comprehensive selection for the discerning customer. Their commitment extends to activewear, covering activewear tops and activewear bottoms, designed for movement and sustainability. A selection of loungewear, including loungewear tops and loungewear bottoms, is available for ultimate relaxation. The full range of tops encompasses all bras, tank tops, and sweatshirts and longsleeves, providing options for various occasions and temperatures. The bottoms collection is extensive, featuring shorts, leggings, pants and joggers, all adhering to the brand’s ethical standards.

Customers can also take advantage of the bundle and save options, making sustainable fashion more accessible. Beyond clothing, the brand offers various accessories and maintains a journal for insightful content. For customer convenience, Jacarandá provides free shipping on orders over $110CAN in Canada and USA, coupled with hassle-free returns. New additions frequently arrive, such as the New! Bestsellers section and the Black Organic Cotton Collection, sometimes featuring only 5% spandex for flexible wear. Recent product launches also include the New Pima Cotton Luxe Knit Collection, offering superior softness and durability. The company structure is supported by essential business information, including a size guide, detailed shipping policies, an About Us section, and Contact Us information for any queries.

A comprehensive FAQ addresses common questions, while detailed Returns & Exchanges, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Use ensure transparency. The brand also focuses on partnerships, offering an opportunity to Become a Retailer. Savings opportunities are frequent, such as the Holiday / Cyber Week savings, providing customers with a chance to ENJOY 50% OFF. The brand encourages continued engagement through a subscription to get special offers, free giveaways, and once-in-a-lifetime deals. Jacarandá is a proud provider of women’s organic cotton leggings, alongside other new, bestsellers, and clothing items. They feature all clothing, all tops, all bottoms, all activewear, activewear tops, activewear bottoms, all loungewear, loungewear tops, and loungewear bottoms. The complete selection includes all tops, all bras, tank tops, sweatshirts and longsleeves, all bottoms, shorts, leggings, pants and joggers. This sustainable clothing selection also provides bundle and save opportunities and accessories for a complete lifestyle. The brand promotes free shipping on orders over $110CAN in Canada and USA. They also offer hassle-free returns. Customers can check the size guide, shipping details, about us page, contact us section, faq, returns and exchanges, privacy policy, and terms of use for detailed information. The black organic cotton collection is a highlight, often featured with holiday cyber week savings. The new pima cotton luxe knit collection is an excellent option for comfortable and luxurious wear. The focus remains on sustainable, ethical, and comfortable clothing options for all women, prioritizing the founder’s environmental values and commitment to slow fashion principles.

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