PR Powerhouse Shares 20 Years of Wins

August 4, 2025 0:19:55

Shauna MacDonald is a PR powerhouse. When she announced she was opening her own firm, the consistent response was “It’s about time!” Known for her unique approach and breadth of experience, Shauna provides strategic public relations expertise to companies of all sizes throughout North America.

Prior to starting Brookline, Shauna was Vice President and Managing Director of Western Canada for an international public relations firm, as well as the Marketing Communications Practice Leader for its Canadian operations. Shauna has been at Brookline’s helm for 20 years and has cultivated long-standing client relationships and developed game-changing campaigns across all major business sectors.

Shauna’s dedication to exceptional public relations is evident in every successful campaign. Her strategic vision transforms ordinary communication efforts into truly extraordinary, memorable achievements. This level of professional commitment ensures that clients receive not just standard service, but comprehensive, industry-leading guidance designed for maximum impact and enduring success. The firm specializes in crafting narratives that resonate deeply with target audiences, bridging the gap between a company’s core values and public perception.

Brookline’s two decades of leadership under Shauna have cemented its reputation as a trusted partner in high-stakes communication. The team excels at navigating complex media landscapes, employing sophisticated techniques in crisis management, digital engagement, and traditional media outreach. They understand that modern public relations demands a multi-faceted strategy, blending data-driven insights with creative storytelling.

The foundation of Brookline’s success lies in its proactive, forward-thinking methodology. They anticipate market shifts and cultural trends, positioning clients to lead conversations rather than merely follow them. This proactive stance is critical for companies seeking to establish or maintain a dominant presence in their respective fields. Furthermore, the development of long-standing client relationships speaks volumes about the firm’s integrity, consistency, and ability to deliver tangible, measurable results year after year. Clients trust Brookline implicitly with their most sensitive and critical communications needs, a testament to the firm’s ethical practice and unparalleled reliability.

The game-changing campaigns developed at Brookline span a vast array of major business sectors, including technology, energy, real estate, finance, consumer goods, and non-profit organizations. In the technology sector, the firm has successfully launched disruptive products and repositioned established brands for growth. Within energy, they have navigated complex regulatory environments and fostered community trust. For real estate clients, they have generated significant buzz for landmark developments. The firm’s expertise in financial communications provides a crucial advantage during mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs, ensuring clear, compliant, and positive stakeholder communication. In the highly competitive consumer goods market, Brookline excels at creating viral campaigns that drive both brand awareness and direct sales. Their work with non-profits highlights a commitment to social responsibility, amplifying vital messages and securing essential funding and public support.

Shauna’s leadership style is characterized by mentorship and a relentless pursuit of excellence. She has cultivated a team of seasoned PR professionals who share her passion for strategic communication and client advocacy. This collective expertise allows Brookline to offer bespoke solutions that are highly tailored to each client’s unique challenges and objectives.

The commitment to innovation means constantly evaluating new platforms and communication tools, ensuring clients remain at the forefront of public discourse. The firm’s impact extends throughout North America, demonstrating an ability to scale strategic public relations expertise across diverse geographic and cultural markets. The consistent praise and accolades received by the firm are a direct reflection of Shauna’s vision, proving that effective, ethical, and strategic public relations is indispensable for corporate success in the 21st century.

Her firm is more than just a public relations company; it is a strategic asset for growth, reputation protection, and market leadership. The depth of experience across two decades has forged an organization capable of tackling any communication challenge, big or small, with unparalleled professionalism and strategic acumen. The firm continues to grow, adapting its proven approach to the ever-evolving media landscape, guaranteeing that every client engagement is met with the highest standards of strategic public relations execution, ensuring sustained visibility and influence for years to come across all major North American economic sectors.

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Building a hospitality empire

July 31, 2025 0:19:39

Sky McLean is a Canadian entrepreneur building a hospitality empire with her company Basecamp Resorts, the fastest growing hospitality brand in Western Canada. Born and raised in Ontario, she earned an MBA in real estate at the Schulich School of Business at York University. Her appreciation of the outdoors and winter sports led her to Calgary after graduation, where she worked for a local real estate developer. At age 29, Sky bought her first property, a condominium in Canmore, and rented it out on AirBnB. She instantly fell in love with the business model, and since then has successfully owned and operated 8 modern boutique hotels in mountain towns across Alberta and British Columbia under the Basecamp Resorts brand. An outdoor enthusiast, Sky is an avid downhill skier, Nordic skier, snowmobiler and mountain biker. She lives in Canmore, AB with her husband and two children.

Basecamp Resorts, under the strategic and innovative leadership of Sky McLean, functions dually as By Basecamp, a prominent real estate development and investment group. This multifaceted group brings substantial, collective experience, utilizing over two decades of expertise in the acquisition, meticulous development, and professional operation of various high-value hotel and commercial assets throughout the entirety of Western Canada. The core team is fundamentally composed of highly experienced real estate professionals and dedicated adventure enthusiasts who share an unwavering, unified passion for significant mountain real estate development and the distinctive, vibrant mountain lifestyle.

The foundational mission of Basecamp extends far beyond the basic goal of generating profits; it is specifically to profoundly and substantially enhance the travel experience for every single guest and investor. This constant enhancement is systematically achieved through the consistent and meticulous development of sustainable, truly unique, and highly functional accommodations that are expressly designed to cater to the diverse and continually evolving needs of their expansive clientele. Basecamp’s fundamental commitment is to reliably create a truly memorable and effortlessly managed experience, thereby successfully providing a comfortable and inviting home away from home amidst the spectacular natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies region.

The long-term and highly ambitious vision for the entire Basecamp enterprise is to strategically grow the brand into an innovative, widely recognized, and deeply trusted hospitality power throughout all of North America. This considerable growth is meticulously guided by strong core operational values that are strategically centered on three powerful, interrelated pillars. These pillars are: first, providing financially viable projects that consistently offer strong, attractive returns to their valuable investors; second, promoting highly sustainable communities through responsible development practices that deliberately minimize environmental impact; and third, consistently delivering superior quality guest experiences that unfailingly exceed customer expectations in every single aspect of their stay.

Basecamp’s impressive and rapidly expanding portfolio now includes a significant number of successful operational properties situated in highly sought-after Canadian mountain towns such as Canmore, Banff, Revelstoke, Fernie, and Golden. Since the company’s efficient founding in 2017, the organization has achieved truly remarkable and rapid expansion, now proudly boasting 13 successful operational hotels and 6 substantial new hotel projects currently actively under construction. The future development pipeline remains exceptionally robust, with 5 future land holdings already secured for upcoming and exciting ventures, ensuring continued strategic market expansion for the organization.

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Embracing an adaptive leadership style

July 29, 2025 0:22:42

Julie Lemieux brings 25 years of strategic business experience to Triple Point, where she is building a high-performing team and positioning the Fischells Salt Dome as central to Newfoundland’s Clean Energy Hub. She has led organizations through financial restructuring, public market transitions and complex stakeholder environments, with deep expertise in governance, investment and regulation for small-cap companies.

Triple Point Resources Ltd. (TPR) is focused on large-scale clean energy underground storage to advance the development of renewable energy solutions and accelerate the transition to net zero, along with the exploration and development of its mineral assets, including the Fischells Salt Dome. At the forefront of this revolution, Triple Point’s groundbreaking development of the Fischells Salt Dome is set to become the largest clean energy storage facility on North America’s East Coast.

The Company is proceeding with initial environmental and exploration permits, engineering studies, market feasibility, and discussions with potential partners. Triple Point is charting an innovative path in the energy sector with its plans to develop salt caverns for dual purposes: supporting the local grid through a compressed air energy storage (CAES) project and providing hydrogen storage for increased export capacity. By developing its first cavern specifically for CAES, Triple Point is contributing to a more resilient and flexible energy infrastructure.

This technology is critical for managing energy supply and demand, providing a buffer against grid irregularities and fluctuations in production and distribution. This initiative will utilise the natural geological salt caverns to store compressed air, which can be released to generate electricity. The ability to store and release energy on demand enhances grid stability and reliability, making renewable energy sources more viable and attractive.

The Fischells Salt Dome is described as the largest proven salt dome on the east coast of North America. It is projected as 5.2 kilometres in length and 4.5 kilometres in width, with a depth from 1.8 to two kilometres. The massive Gulf Coast Style salt dome, different from common bedded salt formations, offers potential to store more than 35 million cubic meters, or the equivalent of 180,000 tonnes of hydrogen. This makes the Fischell asset much larger than expected and capable of storing all the energy from projects currently proposed by Newfoundland and Labrador’s wind energy industry. The company believes this project is Canada’s answer to the question of how renewable resources can be turned into secure bankable energy for decades to come.

The significant storage capabilities of Fischells not only enhance supply reliability but also contribute to stabilising prices and reducing risks associated with market fluctuations. This reliability is essential for the financial viability of transitioning to a hydrogen-based economy, as it provides a more predictable environment for off-takers to commit to long-term contracts and investments. The Fischells Salt Dome allows for the reduction of the environmental footprint for hydrogen storage.

Salt caverns are sustainable, efficient, and safe, having been used around the world for more than 60 years. Conscious of local concerns, the company plans to work with local communities to develop them over time. The confirmation of Fischell’s impressive potential storage capacity is a game changer for wind project viability and sets a new standard for energy storage in the region. This milestone further solidifies Triple Point’s position as a leader in advancing clean-energy solutions in Newfoundland and Labrador. The company is committed to establishing long-term relationships and sustainable economic development. TPR is well positioned to make a significant impact on the Western Newfoundland future clean energy hub. The company is committed to working closely with local and Indigenous communities as well as provincial stakeholders to maximize economic opportunities and minimize potential environmental effects associated with the dome’s development.

Our primary objective is to establish robust and safe infrastructure for green hydrogen, while prioritizing the environment and sustainability. Triple Point is leveraging the Fischells Salt Dome, a rare geological asset on the East Coast of North America, to provide a reliable, long-duration energy storage system that stabilizes the grid, supports renewable energy integration, and attracts new industries. The project is not just a technical achievement but also a critical enabler for the transition to a greener, more sustainable energy future. The hydrogen economy will happen with the economy of scale.

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Why Empathy Is the Future of Security

July 24, 2025 0:25:35

Chris Kerr is the President and Founder of XA Security, Western Canada’s leader in proactive risk reduction and people-first security solutions. Driven by strong ethics and a commitment to community, Chris believes every security concern is, at its core, a human one. He and his diverse team treat every person as a valued guest, handling every situation with curiosity, empathy, and strategy. The company’s success is uniquely measured by the number of incidents de-escalated rather than the number of ejections.

In addition to leading XA Security, Chris serves as a special projects Production Manager for Grammy-winning artist Zedd and produces numerous outdoor music festivals across Western Canada. He also volunteers on several nonprofit boards, including serving as Vice Chair of the Event Safety Alliance Canada (ESAC), where he advocates for advancing global event and crowd safety standards. He is Treasurer of the Global Crowd Management Alliance (GCMA), Learning Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Calgary Chapter (EO), a Board Member of Kidzinc School Age Care Society of Alberta, and an active member of the Canadian Ski Patrol.

In 2024, Chris was named one of Calgary’s Top Business Leaders by Business in Calgary magazine, in recognition of XA Security’s 20-year milestone and his leadership in elevating standards across the security industry.

This is a complete, holistic commitment to proactive risk reduction across all operational facets, setting industry standards. It is truly the gold standard for people-first security solutions, emphasizing a critical human-centric approach. The very foundation of the organization is built on strong ethics and an absolute, unwavering commitment to community welfare and safety. All security concerns are viewed as fundamentally a human one, requiring sensitivity, understanding, and strategic care.

His diverse team expertly treats every person encountered as a respected, valued guest. Their refined methodology focuses on using curiosity, empathy, and strategy to handle all situations effectively and professionally, minimizing escalation. Success is uniquely measured by the number of incidents de-escalated successfully and safely. This is a significantly better and more meaningful metric than the raw number of ejections reported annually.

Chris also has extensive experience as a special projects Production Manager for large-scale, high-profile events, which provides invaluable operational logistics and crowd management knowledge globally. He tirelessly volunteers on several nonprofit boards, where he actively advocates for advancing global event and crowd safety standards and protocols, showcasing his dedication. He demonstrates powerful leadership through his various crucial board roles, including Vice Chair of the Event Safety Alliance Canada (ESAC) and Treasurer of the Global Crowd Management Alliance (GCMA). The prestigious recognition as one of Calgary’s Top Business Leaders by Business in Calgary magazine justly celebrates XA Security’s significant 20-year milestone and his enduring commitment to elevating standards across the security industry. His active membership in the Canadian Ski Patrol showcases his personal dedication to emergency preparedness and public safety across the region. This commitment to excellence ensures XA Security remains the premier choice for sophisticated, ethical, and effective risk management across Western Canada and beyond, offering unparalleled service.

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Local real estate expertise with a global reach

July 22, 2025 0:21:50

David Wallach began his career in Canadian commercial real estate. He was later invited to join a group of senior negotiators who bought Torode real estate brokerage in 2001.

In 2003, David assumed the leadership role of President, and in 2004, the brokerage was rebranded under the name Barclay Street Real Estate. He is also President and Founder of Triumph Real Estate Investment Fund.

In a few short years, David has made strides in growing Barclay Street locally and internationally. In 2007, David added Property Management to Barclay Street’s portfolio of services and the division has grown dramatically in the last few years with properties throughout Alberta, managing today about 5 million Sq. Ft. To expand Barclay Street’s national and global reach, David formed a partnership in 2011 with TCN Worldwide, a real estate services organisation that serves more than 200 markets globally.

As a member of TCN Worldwide, Barclay Street has the ability to service their customers on a local and international level through a network of over 1200 commercial real estate firms. Between 2012 and 2019, David served as a board member with TCN Worldwide, bringing his commercial real estate knowledge to the international stage. After a short break, he re-joined TCN Worldwide as a board member in September 2022.

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Making life easier for people with disabilities

July 18, 2025 0:20:52

Entrepreneur with Heart: Meet James Teague, Founder of the Canadian-owned and operated My Everything Store. At the heart of My Everything Store is James, a passionate entrepreneur driven by purpose. His motto is “Making life easier for people with disabilities.” With lived experience of disability, James founded the Calgary-based company to make a real difference in the lives of others. Through My Everything Store, he provides essential medical products to individuals with disabilities across Canada delivered direct to their door—helping them live with greater independence, dignity and comfort.

In October of 1991, James was in a motor vehicle accident that left him paralysed from the waist down. He embarked on a journey of healing and learning about the medical supplies that he would require for the rest of his life. He wanted to create an experience that is easy to use, promotes trust, is fast and efficient and that you can count on with something as important as your medical supplies.

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The entrepreneurial spirit is in her blood

July 10, 2025 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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Transforming Youth Mental Health Through Mentorship & Community

June 30, 2025 0:16:56

Jamie Conroy is the beating heart of Orenda, an Alberta-based non-profit organization that promotes the mental health and well-being of youth, families, and individuals through a range of mentorship programs, workshops, and retreats. With a Bachelor of Education and 12 years of experience, Jamie has worked with youth and communities across various projects — from the Inspired Youth School Project to the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary, as well as the NHPCA, the Chamber of Okotoks, CBE, and the Foothills School Division. She is also certified in yoga and life coaching, and brings both depth and versatility to guiding people and building systems that make a lasting, positive impact. Guided by the principle of challenging and loving simultaneously, Jamie develops family- and community-driven programs that prioritize trust, safety, and connection. Through Orenda, she is helping create a world where personal and collective transformation, youth and family development, and community-building thrive.

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Calgary is having a cultural renaissance

June 23, 2025 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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Helcim – most loved payment company

June 2, 2025 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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