“I don't consider myself a risk taker and it’s hard to bring a new product to market without taking risks. I’ve learned that it’s okay to venture outside your comfort zone. It might even be healthy. “
All in Community
The Peace Room - Chelsea, Catherine & Jean-Luc
“ Focus on your breath. Your thoughts will start to wander but that's normal. Just bring it back to your breath and eventually it will become easier. “
Mayor of Ottawa - Jim Watson
“Ottawa has become a much more metropolitan city with a vibrant restaurant scene, hundreds of festivals and a growing business community. “
LIVE! on Elgin - Jon & Lawrence
“We have a great deal of respect for each other and what we bring to the table. We have our areas of expertise and are careful not to cross the lines into each other's territory. I learned early on to leave everything pertaining to music to Jon. He knows the biz, he knows the people. That's the line in the sand. There is not real final say. We discuss, weigh pros and cons, and compromise based on what's best for the venue. We are 50/50 partners in every way. Granted, we don't have much social time together! One of us is always here.”
Ottawa Tool Library - Bettina
“We set out to build a library for people to come, meet, get advice, and borrow tools. Often, those with the knowledge have built themselves a full workshop. We want to appeal to a broader demographic, especially those without the money and space for a massive collection of tools. And not just tools, but also the necessary ideas and expertise to use them safely. We wanted to make a community hub that empowered people, promoted sustainability, and collaborates with other community groups in the city. “
World-Changing Kids - Lindsey
“I just wanted to be a part of everything good – so joining an organization that was already in existence felt too narrow. I wanted to work with our elders, the Food Banks, the Humane Society, refugees, the homeless, the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, peace activists, environmental activists, feminists, educational disruptors, musicians, artists …”
Orchard View Wedding & Event Centre - Adam & Julia
“We've had a lot of laughs here, and we could probably write a book with all of the funny moments. My all-time favourite is when a bride dropped her phone in the lake. Customer service is our number one priority so Adam jumped in the lake to save the phone! The bride was thrilled, my only regret is that nobody managed to get it on camera!”
Club Piscine Ottawa - Tania & Gina
“Club Piscine has a partnership with CHEO where we donate money for every swimming pool sold. We also had a CHEO day at our Ottawa locations last summer which was sooo much fun. Our parents taught us how important it is to give back. It's essential for us to be an active corporate citizen in the community. “
App8 - Hani & Elias
“The moment came from a personal experience that most people can relate to. Elias was at a restaurant with a group of people, they finished their meal and had to head out for an event. It was a busy night and the waiter was doing their best yet the bill hadn't yet arrived. At the same time a long lineup was at the door waiting for the table to be released. It was a the frustrating thought of "the experience was amazing up until this point; why can't I just pay and leave". That was the moment.”
Hybrid Pharm - Dr. Rahim Dhalla
“Dispensaries typically dispense cannabis only. This is where we differ. We are a pharmacy. We know medicine. All medicine. We know drug interactions, dosing and safety. At Hybrid Pharm, there is professional medical oversight. Cannabis is a medication and should be treated as such. Dispensaries offer cannabis and cannabis related products. Hybrid Pharm offers a 360 degree approach to a healthier lifestyle. Our cannabis certified healthcare team is always available to help patients from strain selection to dosing to route of administration.”
Figaro Coffee House - Chuck
“I love all things coffee, wine, sweets, and new experiences! I’m a huge family guy, and my father-in-law introduced me to artisan roasting which elevated that interest in coffee even more. I fell in love with the art and the business of coffee. “
Sir John A Pub - Peter & Bob Abraham
“We were inspired at an early age by our father who was also in the restaurant industry. He owned and ran one of Ottawa’s earliest restaurants - The Gondola. ”
The Leading Note - Gary & Tina
“The foundation of the creation of The Leading Note and OrKidstra actually began when we bought and renovated our first – and only – home. We did everything together – completely gutted it down to the studs, re-wired, re-plumbed, built an extension +++ We did 95% of the work ourselves and realized we worked well together!”
The Ministry of Coffee - Alex & Fadi
“Our favorite part of this industry and Elgin st is the fun and unique people we meet, who come in every day and make us smile, and become part of our family. “
Feline Café - Josée
“It continues to astound me to see so many amazing people come together and business relationships develop since before we've opened. We've received donations from local partners who have helped our café come to life, such as the hand-crafted cat tree, furnishings and other supplies. We source our menu items locally as much as possible, from the coffee roasters to the baked goods. “
The Village Quire
“Cheerful is my natural state - it just makes sense that my little store is the same! ”
Xactly Design & Advertising - Denis
“My dad is an entrepreneur. My grandfathers where entrepreneurs. I always thought I would be an artist like my mom, but in University I started to realize that I had the entrepreneurs blood running through me. Lucky for me, I ended up being an entrepreneur in the creative world. So the way I see it, I got best of both worlds!”
Spark Lifecare - Bradley
“We don’t really believe in traditional mission statements, etc. Our mantra is: Believe in a different story. For our caregivers, clients, friends and family we want people to challenge the status quo. To not let our diagnoses, social or economic status or any mental/physical barriers get in the way of us realizing our dreams and believing that we have so much to offer the world.”
Ottawa Free Tours - André LaFlamme
“Ottawa has a surprisingly seedy and colourful history. Many people look at it today as a clean, safe city to raise a family, but back in the day Ottawa (or Bytown as it was known) was considered one of the more drunken, violent and seedy cities in North America. It was mostly settled by hard-nosed lumberjacks and heavy drinking canal workers, none of whom ever really got along.“
PushPULL Dance Inc. - Titania & Natalie
“ PushPULL welcomes adult dancers of any age, gender, culture or body type. Through the diversity of our members, we are able to create shows that embody a variety of dance styles.”