OV Boss Babes

The Ottawa Valley is full of East Coasterswho have dropped their anchors here and Laurie Collins wanted to share a taste of her homeland's flavours, fresh lobster, live music, a silent auction and art installations through a festival weekend, with two back to back events: an Anchored Kitchen Party in Pembroke and a Tapas & Trails culinary adventure in Laurentian Valley! We've been seeing it advert...

Chéla Breckon, a woman many have heard of, worked with, or seen in action, is a business leadership expert who works with organizations across Renfrew County and beyond, specializing in team-based strategy development, creating welcoming communities, change management, leadership training and more. A fierceless leader who is in full command of her voice, Chéla shares her thinking, ideas and creati...

OVBB Podcast is excited about our latest partnership with Startup Ottawa Valley, which supports rural members through various biz resources, networking events, workshops, and highlights diverse and innovated businesses and entrepreneurs in our community. Startup Ottawa Valley is a network through the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce, whose mission is to connect with the entrepreneurship com...

Locals love flocking to Good Food Company in Carleton Place, whether it be for their delicious deli snack box, a fresh grab-and-go salad, or their homemade banana walnut scones. The owner, Petra Graber, originally worked as a pastry chef, starting a catering business with a friend, setting up booths at the Carleton Place Farmer's Market before taking the biggest risk any entrepreneur could do: ope...

Sharon, Lois and Bram is a nostalgic and legendary Canadian children's group that rose to fame in 1978 and has been listened to by millions of families and passed on through generations. These three performers quickly discovered that they shared a common philosophy about creating quality music for people of all ages and their hit music can still be streamed on platforms like Spotify, along with th...

At the young age of 3, April Resmer was first introduced to the piano and was the youngest person to compete in the Kiwanis Music Festival. For as long as April could remember, she has loved music and enjoyed learning and playing the piano, wanting to share her passion with others. Although April has taught students of all ages, she has a way with school-aged children and has similar traits of an...

Laura Hanek is an artist turned illustrator and graphic recorder based out of Petawawa that creates detailed illustrations for organizations and businesses that want to take their meetings to the next level, providing some visual content instead of the general meeting minutes that we're accustomed to. Laura shares how she discovered graphic recording and was absolutely captivated, and left her car...

Jason Blaine is a Canadian and small town county boy from the Ottawa Valley was born to sing, write and entertain, and his love for country music has taken him to the forefront of the Canadian music scene where he has remained for over a decade. He burst onto the scene with his first #1 hit single “Rock In My Boot," has received multiple CCMA nominations, released hit after hit country songs, incl...

When you think of rounding up your girlfriends for a trip to a local winery, heading to the Pontiac isn't always at the top of the list - but it should be! Little Red Wagon Winery is a hidden gem situated in Shawville, QC featuring a beautiful vineyard, an on-site restaurant, seasonal fresh-cut flowers and artistic pieces for sale. This venue also features local musicians, with live events on week...

River Town Saints has been making waves in Canadian country music, lighting it up like a bonfire with their upbeat country sound since 2014. They have millions of YouTube views and Spotify streams, CMA nominations, and Canadian Radio Music Awards. They've toured with Tim Hicks, Kip Moore, among other country musicians, just released two new singles, including Maybe a Little and Name Drop, and rece...

Matel just introduced its latest Barbie with hearing aids! So what better way to celebrate this inclusive new doll collection than by shining a light on a hearing aid clinic, owned and operated by a woman. Sherri Wesley helps to educate people on hearing loss and find the solutions and technology for those struggling with hearing impairment. Remember when our parents would tell us to turn the musi...

Narcity Ottawa has called this schoolhouse cafe "the most charming coffee shop in the middle of nowhere that you will ever see" and I'm talking about Neat, the live music venue that brings you fresh coffee, delicious wood fired pizza, and legendary Canadian musicians, along with a stunning view of the Madawaska River, and serene, countryside surroundings. Owner and massive lover of music Mark Enri...

Tricia Booker was a stay at home mom and foster parent who, like many entrepreneurs, had little business background but knew her calling was to open a spiritual healing store after when the universe was subtly giving her signs and everything was aligning in place. Amethyst offers an assortment of crystals, healing jewelry, salt lamps, books, candles, incense, mediumship, tarot readings and spiritu...

OVBB Podcast is excited to announce our newest partnership with Startup Ottawa Valley, which supports rural members through networking events, workshops, and highlights diverse and innovated businesses and entrepreneurs in our community. Startup Ottawa Valley is a network through the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce whose mission is to connect with the entrepreneurship community across the...

At only 23 years old, Candace Tierney transformed her love of ice cream, commitment to sustainability and belief in giving back to the community into a successful, growing and award winning business. Candace wanted to create a luscious and creamy vegan and dairy free ice cream on the market, creating with one basic ingredient: 100% Canadian organic oatmeal. She didn’t let her young age stop her, b...

After watching the recent Netflix Abercrombie & Fitch documentary, I was horrified. I lived through this fashion era in the 2000's and I was one of those people who had more A&F and Hollister clothes than any other brand. I will admit, I was obsessed. But I also know that I was not alone. And this documentary resurfaced many of the things that my naive young self didn't notice at the time. 👉🏼The...

Fatima Adams-Zahn opened Eve’s Escape Spa in Barry’s Bay after she and her husband decided to return to her hometown to let their kids enjoy the freedom of rural life. Her passion for aesthetics coupled with her post-secondary business skills were put to work as Fatima seeks to create the best wellness experience for everyone who enters the spa. Holly asks Fatima questions about personal self care...

When you first step into West on Main in Pembroke, you're greeted by an incredible and knowledgeable team of boss babes. But aside from the owner, Callee Kuiack, you might also recognize a familiar face who actually worked with Callee back in her Bootlegger days at the Pembroke Mall - and that's Anamizzi Hampel. Anamizzi and Holly first connect reminiscing about a mutual friend, Brad Schimmens, wh...

Meredith Salvian and her husband Mark are cheese lovers just like the rest of us, but it was more than just the cheese for them. They enjoyed the full experience of meats, mustards, nuts, breads, crackers and more from around the world. All along with a wine that pairs well with the perfectly curated charcuterie board. And so together, they opened The Perth Cheese Shop, which offers local and worl...

We've got another set of besties who have been long time friends with some serious fashion trends. Candace Middlestead-Manning and Alicia Hilts started their Curvy Fashion Fits Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok fashion account by wanting to inspire other mama's to feel and live their best lives while looking good in comfortable and affordable clothes. Candice & Alicia are breaking the myths that yo...

Kendra Johnsen is a boss babe, biz owner, fitness coach and soon-to-be mama helps busy mom's and other babes reach their fitness goals, get in the best shape of their life and achieve sustainable fat loss through mindset, macros, movement and metabolism. She not only showcases endless amounts of client success stories, but her fitness and chairing programs ACTUALLY work and her social media conten...

The pandemic brought on a lot of changes and trends, bringing back tracksuits, and loungewear having us living in our comfies since there was no point in dressing up if we had bono wear to go. But with life going back to normal, returning to the office and dressing up for events again, it's time to revamp our closets and tuck away those oversized sweaters and joggers and let's get you into somethi...

Back in 1855, Pembroke and Petawawa residents would look forward to receiving their daily copy of the Pembroke Daily Observer...until it was announced that the publication would be discontinued in 2018. However, the Daily Observer became the Pembroke Observer, dropping down to a weekly paper, and like all journalists and reporters in print media, they saw how things shifted and the sharing of news...

Serial entrepreneur Lindsay Hamilton is a serious boss babe who oversees, co owns and manages 3 successful businesses, while also managing a household with two young kids, is an avid gardener enjoys getting deep and dirty into the soil, and can teach you a thing or two about greenhouses. Lindsay and her brother own and manage Mountainview Turf, one of the largest private workforces in the Pontiac....

Like many entrepreneurs, Kelly Broocks started Pretty by Her as a side hustle while working full time in the mental health field. As time progressed, her creative drive allowed her to keep pushing boundaries, expanding and evolving until she was able to leave her career and invest her time completely in her brand. Kelly has built a million dollar business on Instagram, with products found througho...