Neighbour Studio

The power of giving back starts with community. In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, host Myles Doak sits down with Deb Clark to talk about the importance of community support and her promotion of the Giving Shop at Oak Ridges Fashion Known for her passion for helping women feel confident through fashion, Deb also recognizes the value of coming together to support meaningful causes. T...

What does it take to turn a childhood passion into a thriving community? In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, host Myles Doak sits down with Chantal Almeida, owner of CDA Dance Inc., to discuss her journey from teaching dance in her parents’ basement to building an award-winning dance studio serving the Newmarket and Aurora communities. With more than 20 years of experience, Chantal h...

In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, host Myles Doak sits down with Milton Hart, a candidate for Aurora’s Ward 5 Council seat in the 2026 municipal election. With experience spanning education, military leadership, athletics, and community service, Milton brings a diverse background to his campaign. In this conversation, we get to know more about his journey, what inspired him to run...

In this episode of Why We Recommend Them, Christopher Svab sits down with Joe Derochie, owner of Orangetheory Fitness Newmarket, to talk about fitness, community, and what it takes to create an environment that motivates people to become the best version of themselves. Joe shares his journey in the fitness industry, his approach to building a strong community, and why creating a welcoming and supp...

What does it take to bring positivity and great customer service into everything you do? In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, host Myles Doak sits down with Jamie Boyle, Chief Positivity Officer, public sector customer service training specialist and facilitator, and Supervisor of Customer Service with the Town of Newmarket. Jamie shares her passion for creating positive experiences,...

What does it mean to carry a story forward? In this episode of Ancestral Voices: We Belong, Kim Wheatley sits down with Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin, an award-winning Cree filmmaker, writer, scholar, and educator from Attawapiskat First Nation in the MoshKeKoWok Territory of Northern Ontario. Jules explores the power of Indigenous storytelling and the responsibility that comes with sharing stories r...

🕊️ What if there were a different way to approach funeral services? In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, Christopher Svab sits down with Alicia Vogan of Peaceful Transition Inc. to talk about a non-traditional approach to end-of-life services. Peaceful Transition Inc. helps families navigate the practical needs following the loss of a loved one, from transportation and documentation t...

In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, host Tricia Hulshof sits down with the team behind A Million Mouthfuls Catering as they prepare to launch their latest venture: The Chickadee Café! Located right in the heart of Newmarket, Ontario’s beautiful Mulock Park, The Chickadee Café is set to become a vibrant new community hub. Tricia and her guests chat about the inspiration behind opening...

What makes a dealership more than just a place to buy a car? In this episode of Why We Recommend Them , Christopher Svab sits down with Ruby Lui-Lina from Newmarket Toyota to talk about customer service, relationships, and what it takes to create a great experience for the people who walk through the doors. Ruby shares her perspective on the automotive industry, the importance of building trust wi...

In this episode of Ancestral Voices: We Belong , host Kim Wheatley sits down with Joseph Pitawanakwat , an educator and knowledge keeper dedicated to learning, restoring, and sharing Anishinaabe knowledge. Joseph speaks about the importance of reconnecting with the natural world and understanding the teachings that have guided Anishinaabe people throughout the Great Lakes region. Through education...

In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours , host Myles Doak sits down with Sue LaRosa , a dedicated community leader and board member of Rose of Sharon . Sue brings decades of experience in education and leadership, having served in a number of roles with the York Catholic District School Board, including teacher, principal, superintendent, and Director of Education. Throughout her career,...

In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, host Christopher Svab sits down with Maria and Andrei, the creators behind House of Love, a project built around a simple but powerful idea: spreading kindness and connection wherever you go. Their journey took them across Canada in a car covered in handwritten love notes, turning an ordinary road trip into a moving celebration of positivity, commu...

How do we use emerging technology to tell ancient stories and build meaningful bridges? In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Taback, Co-CEO of Design de Plume, an Indigenous and women-owned creative agency founded in 2009. A member of Shawanaga First Nation, Jennifer sees her role as a visual translator. As a strategist, advisor, and listener, she guides complex projects across healthcare, e...

Tired of endless scrolling, fake online reviews, and guessing who to trust in your own community? Welcome to Why We Recommend Them, the show where we filter out the noise and shine a spotlight on the local businesses actually doing it right. In this episode, host Christopher Svab sits down with Myles Doak, entrepreneur and founder of Good Neighbours, to break down a brand-new platform that is comp...

In this special series of Conversations with Neighbours, hosts Myles Doak and Tricia Hulshof sit down with the inspiring recipients of the Neighbour Media Scholarship Award: Abel Alvarez and Samreen Khurram from Sacred Heart Catholic High School, Ryan Wang and Cary Li from Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School, and Rachel Choi from Cardinal Carter Catholic High School. Throughout these conversations,...

In this episode of Ancestral Voices: We Belong, host Kim Wheatley sits down with media creator, filmmaker, writer, and poet Rebeka Tabobondung, founder and Editor-in-Chief of MUSKRAT Magazine. As one of Canada's leading Indigenous storytellers and cultural voices, Rebeka has dedicated her career to amplifying Indigenous perspectives through journalism, film, poetry, and research. She shares h...

In this episode of Why We Recommend Them, Myles Doak sits down with Juliane Goyette, Financial Advisor with Riverwalk Wealth to discuss the importance of financial planning, building trust with clients, and helping people make informed decisions about their future. Juliane shares her approach to working with individuals and families, the value of personalized financial guidance, and why strong rel...

In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours , host Myles Doak sits down with Marie , founder and owner of Kookla Soap Co. , a small business based in Newmarket dedicated to creating handcrafted artisan soaps and body care products. Marie shares the story behind Kookla Soap Co., her passion for natural skincare, and the craftsmanship that goes into every product. Using the traditional cold pro...

In this episode of Why We Recommend Them, Myles Doak sits down with Ariana Laxdal, owner and manager of The George, to talk about hospitality, leadership, and what it means to build a business that becomes a community favourite. Ariana shares her journey in the restaurant industry, the values that guide her approach to customer service, and the importance of creating memorable experiences for ever...

In this powerful episode of Ancestral Voices: We Belong, host Kim Wheatley sits down with Waneek Horn-Miller, a Mohawk woman from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Olympian, advocate, and one of Canada's most influential Indigenous voices. Waneek reflects on her remarkable journey from surviving a near-fatal injury during the Oka Crisis to becoming a member and former co-captain of Canada's Ol...

What does it take to build a business that's rooted in trust, relationships, and a genuine commitment to helping people? In this episode of Why We Recommend Them, we sit down with Brian Lavoie to discuss his journey, the experiences that shaped his approach to business, and the values that continue to guide him today. We talk about the importance of building lasting relationships, earning tru...

What does it take to build a real estate brokerage that agents genuinely want to be part of? In this episode of Why We Recommend Them , we sit down with Mike Cartwright, founder of Main Street Realty, to talk about building a community-focused brokerage and creating an environment where agents can grow successful businesses while staying true to their values. We discuss Mike's journey, what m...

In this episode of Conversations with Neighbours, host Myles Doak sits down with Jacob from York Pride to discuss the organization's mission of fostering inclusion, belonging, and celebration across York Region. As Ontario's fifth-largest Pride festival, York Pride serves a diverse region of more than 1.2 million residents across nine municipalities. The organization works year-round to...

In this episode of Ancestral Voices: We Belong, host Kim Wheatley sits down with acclaimed Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee. Known for blending powerful storytelling with atmospheric folk and indie sounds, Aysanabee reflects on his musical journey and the release of his debut album, Watin, which introduced audiences across Canada to his deeply personal songwriting and distinctive voice. The co...

In this episode of Ancestral Voices: We Belong, host Kim Wheatley sits down with James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, international speaker, digital creator, and author of The Seven Generations and the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Drawing from decades of work with elders and language keepers across North America through the Ojibwe Language Dictionary Project,...