kirstie McLellan Day kirstie McLellan Day - The MOMpreneur

M kirstie McLellan Day 

kirstie McLellan Day 

The Movie Show, Inside hollywood, 

hollywood’s 10 Best… 

Patents, Trademarks, Licensing 

Legal Issues & Solutions 

Increase your Productivity 

Take This 21-Day challenge 

Smart cookies! 

Business Savvy Girl Guides 

THE 

INTERNATIONAL 

BUSINESS 

ISSUE! 

$5.95 July/aug 2010 

6 

StrategieS for 

the Single Parent 

Business Beyond Borders 

Mompreneurs Share Their Tips 

› MIO WaTcheS 

› BarefOOT BOOkS 

› SWeeT Leaf BaTh cO. 

› DISney

Please apply before July 31, 2010! 

Top Mompreneurs 2010 

It’s time to celebrate the best Mompreneurs in Canada! Be you the 

inventor or sales agent or CEO or ???, MOMpreneur ® and other 

Mompreneurs want to honour you! 

In which of these five categories do you excel? 

1 Green Products or Services 

2 Home-Based Business 

3 Health Products or Services 

4 Revenue 

5 Community Service 

Please visit our website (www.themompreneur.com) and either 

enter your own application or let someone nominate you. 

Submissions will be accepted until the end of July and then 

reviewed by a panel of judges. At least ten Top Mompreneurs in 

each category will be featured in the Nov/Dec ‘10 MOMpreneur ® 

magazine and splashed all over our website! 

Share your accomplishments with us so you can inspire others! 

We ♥ Mompreneurs! 

– produced by Jennifer Stack

“ 

I fELT AN MBA dEgREE would give me more opportunities and perhaps an easier re-entry into the 

workforce. The Haskayne evening MBA program is definitely a lot of work, but knowing that I can 

create a schedule that works for my family has helped.” 

– Cathy Russell, MBA student and stay-at-home mom 

Invest in 

you. 

THERE ARE 45 PER CENT WOMEN enrolled in our 

latest cohort. A Haskayne MBA opens new opportunities, 

which is why our graduates earned 44 per cent more after 

graduation. * 

THE HASKAYNE MBA . . . 

THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU’LL EVER MAKE—IN YOU. 

APPLY NOW. Limited spaces available. 

HASKAYNEMBA.CA 

*Class of 2009 

www.theMOMpreneur.com 3

12 18 

FAVOURITES 

6 READER FEEDBACK 

9 ACHIEVEMENTS 

Celebrating Our Successes! 

Mompreneurs from Victoria 

and Calgary – plus a call for 

nominations 

10 LEADERSHIP 

From Entrepreneur to Mompreneur 

Our Leadership Columnist uses 

her S.E.T. support strategy to 

make one of the most important 

transitions of her life 

Teresia LaRocque 

12 BUSINESS OF CHARITY 

Girl Guides of Canada 

Building the entrepreneurial spirit 

in girls, one cookie at a time 

CONTEN 

4 MOMpreneur ® � July/August 2010 

14 YOUR BUSINESS QUESTIONS 

Are there different kinds 

of income tax? 

Kris Matthews 

16 SALES & MARKETING 

How to Handle Angry Customers 

Carolyn Guichon 

28 

45 PARENTING 

Public School or Private School… 

What’s Best for Your Children? 

Cindy Stephen 

16 20 

48 PARENTING 

Strategies for the Single Parent 

Julie Freedman Smith & Gail Bell 

50 HEALTH 

5 Tips for Natural Cleaning 

Dianna Gallant 

60 THE MARKETPLACE 

MOMPRENEUR ® 

7 MOMpreneur ® ’s Message 

37 MY IDEAS 

International Business and Legal Issues 

Collect your thoughts on these 

topics for your own business 

40 CASE STUDY 

What Works for Disney Can Work for You 

A look at Disney’s business 

strategies and principles you 

can apply to your business 

Kathryn Bechthold 

42 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 

21 Day Challenge: 

From Procrastination to Productivity 

Tanya Freedman 

52 SELF IMPROVEMENT 

Learn to Live SMART 

Regain focus on your priorities 

Carolyn Gough 

54 TECHNOLOGY 

Your New Business Partner: 

Your Cell Phone 

Dan Burrus 

56 THE BOOKSHELF 

59 MOMpreneur ® ’s MARKET 

66 MOMpreneur ® Smiles

22 

INTERNATIONAL 

BUSINESS 

18 Getting to the Heart 

of International Sales 

Tips from the inventor of the 

MIO Heart Rate Watch, the 

world's first watch ECG monitor 

Q&A with Liz Dickinson, CEO and 

Founder, Physi-Cal Enterprises Inc. 

20 A Pioneer in Children’s Publishing 

Going beyond borders to cultivate 

global awareness 

Q&A with Nancy Traversy, 

Co-Founder of Barefoot Books 

22 A Fresh Perspective on 

International Business 

Summer Fresh Salads delivers 

gourmet goods to grocery store 

deli cases across North America… 

Q&A with Susan Niczowski, 

President, Summer Fresh Salads Inc. 

TS 50 

www.theMOMpreneur.com 5 

25 A Bath Line Infused with 

Global Consciousness 

Q&A with Stacey Guymer and Rose 

Creamer, the mother-daughter team 

behind Sweet Leaf Bath Co. 

32 45 

44 

COVER STORY 

28 Kirstie McLellan Day: Mother of Five, 

Celebrities & Financial Success 

Rubbing shoulders with the likes 

of Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep and 

Mel Gibson is all in a day’s work 

for Kirstie McLellan Day. A writer 

at heart, she also recently penned 

Theoren Fleury’s biography – and 

Ron MacLean’s is on the horizon. 

The glamorous yet down-to-earth 

mother of five tells us about her 

journey along the red carpet, her 

desire to “try everything” and a 

family that keeps her grounded. 

Karin Klassen 

LEGAL 

48 

32 Business Abounds in Untying the Knot 

Q&A with Darcie Shelly, Co-Owner 

of Untie The Knot Divorce Service 

34 Looking at Legalities 

Licenses, patents, trademarks… 

and other common legal issues 

entrepreneurs face 

Cindy Stephen 

38 Passing Your Business to the 

Next Generation 

5 factors to consider and help you 

through this process 

Lynne Butler 

44 GO ONLINE 

Legal Resources 

Web resources to help make 

sense of common small business 

legal issues 

Photo by Janet Pliszka at visualhues.com

eader feedback 

Letters 

I recently purchased the magazine at a 

Chapters Indigo in Toronto. Read the 

entire issue from cover to cover. This 

was my first time reading an issue of 

MOMpreneur ® - what an experience! 

So many ideas, tips and encouragement 

- WOW! Keep it coming... 

Donna-Marie M. 

Toronto, ON 

I just discovered your magazine two 

weeks ago and love it! I was really 

feeling low because my business is 

struggling. Now I feel more confident 

because I know there is a resource 

and a group to help me. Thank you 

very much! 

Siri G. 

Toronto, ON 

I’m new to MOMpreneur®. I loved 

Carolyn Guichon’s article! Surprisingly 

funny but very helpful! What does she 

suggest regarding suppliers who don’t 

live up to their samples? Thanks. 

Jill P. 

Calgary, AB 

Please don’t lose your focus on small 

or new Mompreneurs. I don’t want to 

grow my business into a big business. 

I just want to make a little extra money 

and do something interesting outside 

the home. 

QAlice Z. 

Orangeville, ON 

One of the best things about your 

magazine is the range of businesses that 

you include. I’m still a small business 

(annual revenue less than $50,000) but 

I’m very optimistic about my future and 

really appreciated your information 

about enterprise courses. I’m now 

going to take one of the online courses. 

Thanks for your encouragement. 

Becca R. 

Saanichton, BC 

While I enjoy your stories, I hope you 

will include some about artists because 

we are Mompreneurs, too. 

Olympia D. 

Winnipeg, MB 

I loved the Arlene Dickinson story - 

she’s the best! Why not ask her to be 

a columnist? I just subscribed online 

so I no longer have to cruise Indigo 

to get my magazine. The information 

you provide is just what I need to grow 

my business even bigger - and I want 

to be big! 

Cinda J. 

Scarborough, ON 

Do you have a question or comment? We’d love to hear from 

you! Email your feedback – beefs or bouquets – 

editorial@themompreneur.com. 

M 

C E O / P U B L I S H E R 

Frances Wright 

ceo@themompreneur.com 

E D I T O R 

Jennifer Stack 

editorial@themompreneur.com 

N AT I O N A L S A L E S M A N A G E R 

Alison Matthews 

a.matthews@themompreneur.com 

A C C O U N T M A N A G E R S 

Elise Heaton, Kris LaCourse, Tamika Auwai 

A R T D I R E C T O R 

Jimi Scherer 

graphics@themompreneur.com 

F O U N D E R 


O N T H E C O V E R 

Kirstie McLellan Day 

with her two grandchildren 

Family photo by Kristin Maguire 

C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S 


Gail Bell 

Dan Burrus 

Lynne Butler 

Tanya Freedman 

Julie Freedman Smith 

Dianna Gallant 

Carolyn Gough 

Carolyn Guichon 

Karin Klassen 

Teresia LaRocque 

Jennifer Stack 

Cindy Stephen 

©2010 

The MOMpreneur® Networking Group Inc. 

assumes all articles published here are original 

and are the property of the submitting firms. 

MOMpreneur® is produced and printed 

six times per year in Canada by 

The MOMpreneur® Networking Group Inc. 

#216, 2137 - 33rd Avenue S.W. 

Calgary, AB, Canada T2T 1Z7 

www.theMOMpreneur.com 

A R T I C L E C O N T R I B U T I O N S 

A R E E N C O U R A G E D . 

Please refer to the Writer’s Guidelines on our 

website for submission details and required 

format. Submissions can be emailed to 


Opinions expressed in the articles of 

MOMpreneur® are those of the author(s) and 

do not necessarily reflect the views of the 

MOMpreneur® Networking Group Inc. 

Y E A R LY S U B S C R I P T I O N S $ 2 5 . 0 0 

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #41513528 

6 MOMpreneur ® � July/August 2010

Editorial Schedule 

ISSUE THEME 

Sept/Oct Green Businesses & Technology 

Nov/Dec Top Mompreneurs 

& Tradeshows/Conventions 

Jan/Feb Family Businesses & Insurance 

March/April Children's Products & Franchising 

May/June Food & Direct Sales 

July/August Health & Beauty 

Hello 

Mompreneurs! 

Hope you are enjoying your summer! When will you be taking a holiday? 

You work very hard, very intently so now it’s time to do something different 

and allow your mind and body to relax and re-create your strategies, 

your dreams. 

Some of us at MOMpreneur ® have already had a holiday but others are 

going away over the next two months and will be visiting different parts 

of Canada. We go on holidays with a happy heart because of the news of 

your achievements and the encouragement we have received from many 

of you. Thanks, too, for the superb entries which have arrived for the Top 

Mompreneur program to date. If you haven’t already done so (and most of 

you haven’t!) submit an application before the end of July. Our Kidpreneur 

contest runs until the end of August and we have received some wonderful 

applications but would love to see more of those, too! 

Building an international company is something at which Canadians and 

Mompreneurs excel. More Mompreneurs than ever before are identifying 

“the world” as their target market. Bravo! We hope in reading about 

the remarkable Kirstie McLellan Day, Nancy Traversy, Liz Dickinson, 

Darcie Shelly and the mother-daughter team of Rose Creamer and Stacey 

Guymer, you will learn from their challenges and benefit from their 

expertise and courage. These women epitomize the many skills and phases 

of a Mompreneur’s life… discover more information and inspiration in this 

issue and on our new website, too. 

Happy Canada Day! Happy summer holidays, Mompreneurs! Have fun 

with your re-creation! 

Jimi 


MOMpreneur ® ’s Message

At your service, our new website! 

Information, connections, 

celebrations & inspiration! 

www.themompreneur.com 

Please come for a visit! 

Stay a while….. We’re here for you! 

We ♥ Mompreneurs! 


Photo courtesy of Brandy Anderson 

Celebrating Our Successes 

Photographer Brings Home 

International Award 

Brandy Anderson, principal photographer for Fresh Sugar 

Photography in Calgary, Alberta won first place in the 2010 

Fresh Faces portrait contest presented by Wedding and 

Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), Adobe and 

Canson Infinity. The award was announced in April at the 

WPPI’s annual convention in Las Vegas. 

Brandy’s image entitled “First Day” came out on top among 

1,000 original entries from 10 countries. Brandy also 

received an Accolade in the children's category for “Who's 

Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf”. 

See page 66 for another Brandy Anderson image. Brandy has generously 

provided this issue’s MOMpreneur ® Smiles image – submit your caption to 

go with her photo by July 31! 

Brandy Anderson and her award-winning portrait 

Thanks COSTCO ! 

Tiffany Lemay sits among the fantasy items she sells on eBay. 

A recent survey found that 14 percent of Canadian mothers have 

started their own business or considered self-employment as a 

way to spend more time with their family. 

Victoria Mom Inducted to eBay 

Hall of Fame 

Tiffany Lemay, a stay-at-home mom from Victoria, B.C., 

was recently inducted into eBay Canada’s Hall of Fame in 

the Mom Entrepreneur category for developing her online 

eBay-based business selling unique and whimsical fairy 

memorabilia. 

Lemay, a collector of fairy and fantasy items since her teens, 

sourced reputable suppliers and today sells more than 5,000 

pieces every year. What started out as a part-time business is 

now her primary source of income. 

In COSTCO ’s latest magazine, the phenomenon of Mompreneurs was featured because 

COSTCO believes Mompreneurs are changing the world! Thanks, COSTCO for mentioning 

MOMpreneur as a valued resource! 

Call for Nominations – 2010 Top Mompreneurs 

We’re looking for Canada’s Top Mompreneurs! 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be honoured for your business accomplishments…and to inspire others. 

• Nomination deadline July 31 

• Five award categories: 

Green Products or Services • Home-Based Business • Health Products or Services • Revenue • Community Service 

• Visit www.themompreneur.com for more information and to enter! 

Tell us about your successes! If you or a Mompreneur you know has been honoured for an achievement, 

let us know so we can share the good news! Email editorial@themompreneur.com. 

- Produced by Jennifer Stack 


Photo courtesy of Tiffany Lemay 

achieveMents

leadership 

From Entrepreneur to Mompreneur... 

Whatever stage of life you're in, S.E.T. yourself up with some solid support 

By Teresia LaRocque, MCC 

Mompreneurs are a unique breed of woman and they have 

long held a special place in my heart. I have so much respect 

for a woman who commits herself fully to living “the dream”: 

a successful and fulfilling career, a vibrant family life and a 

rich, balanced personal life. This represents ultimate success 

in my mind – perhaps because I know it doesn’t come easily. 

As a coach of entrepreneurial women trying to “do it all”, 

I’ve had a front-row seat to the circus life can become when 

you’re juggling the demands of career, family and self care. 

Is that why I’m mildly terrified to be a business owner who’s 

pregnant with her first child? 

Mompreneurs are a 

unique breed of woman … 

I am 43 years old and have been an entrepreneur for 14 years. 

I intentionally created a career that is fully aligned with my 

values, a vehicle for many dreams and one that has allowed 

me to be a catalyst for others to live their dreams. 

At one point I realized I had a deeper dream: to be a 

Mompreneur. It didn’t come as easily as I expected. After five 

years of uncertainty and difficult fertility treatments, I am 

delighted to report that our baby is due to arrive mid-July. 

For years I’ve told women just like myself – ambitious, 

established and full of vision – that they can have it all and 

keep a firm grip on their sanity too. Every fiber of my being 

believed it and every day I helped women to achieve it. 

And yet today, as my belly swells bigger with every passing 

moment, I must confess: making the move from entrepreneur 

to Mompreneur looks like a tremendously daunting step! 

Can I really do it all? Will I always be exhausted? Will the 

stress of being a new mom with a thriving business destroy 

my zest for life? Will I lose my passion for the work I do? 

How will I balance the demands of my business “baby” 

and my real-life, crying-in-the-next-room, needs-a-diaperchange-NOW 

baby? 

To tell the truth, I should have no reason to fear. As my 

friends will tell you, I am a planner; a super-planner in fact. 

I designed my nanny plan and postpartum workout plan over 

a year ago. (I know our plans do not always get followed 

when we become moms but it’s a good place to start!) So it 

may come as no surprise that I’ve been working on strategies 

to help me move from entrepreneur to Mompreneur. 


Support makes all the difference 

Am I excited? Yes! 

Am I grateful? Yes! 

Do I have fears? YES! 

Women often find it hard to ask for and accept help, which is 

unfortunate because to truly do it all, we need an abundance 

of support – and I am not talking about a bra although I sure 

could use a good one right now! 

I used the S.E.T. model to help me build my business but 

in truth it applies to all areas of life, even my maiden voyage 

into the wild seas of Mompreneurship. Whether you’re 

pregnant or not, do yourself a favour and S.E.T. yourself up 

with these three critical kinds of support. 

S: Strategic Support helps us shorten the learning curve, 

find resources and create faster, better results. It could 

come from a colleague, someone with more or different 

experience, a mentor, coach, mastermind group or someone 

you hire such as a webmaster or ghostwriter. Collaboration 

lets you do a lot more with less time and that’s what every 

Mompreneur can use, right? 

E: Emotional Support is something that every single person 

on this planet needs and, for a woman with a lot on her plate, 

emotional support is even more important. If you’re an 

entrepreneurial woman with high standards and ambitions, 

emotional support is like oxygen! Make it a priority to build 

and lean on your emotional support team – a soul community 

of intimate, like-minded women who give you permission 

and encouragement to be all that you want to be. We owe it 

to ourselves to establish relationships at that level. 

T: Task Support comes from those who can help us get 

things done – an assistant, housekeeper, babysitter, even the 

helping hands of those we love. This kind of support gives 

us more time and energy for the things that matter most. 

The average woman in a family of four devotes 20-25 hours 

a week to running her household – that’s a lot of time! Is this 

the best use of your time? Work on your delegation skills 

as well as systematization and automation. Get creative and 

dare to do things differently. 

Business Coach Teresia LaRocque, 

a seasoned entrepreneur and regular 

contributor to MOMpreneur ® , is 

expecting her first baby in mid-July and 

has her support strategies in place… 

With all that said, the fact remains: Mompreneurs live on the 

fast track and I know it’s going to take some time to adjust 

to a new pace. Making the transition from entrepreneur to 

Mompreneur could be my biggest challenge yet…but I’m 

ready for it. 

Just the other night, our birthing teacher said, “Transition 

is the toughest part but if you know ahead of time that it’s 

going to be intense and you rely on good support people, 

you’ll come through it just fine.” 

I smiled, looking back at my love, and with a wink I told him, 

“That’s what I’m counting on.” 

Master Certified Coach Teresia LaRocque is 

a professional speaker and pioneer in the 

profession of personal and business coaching. 

Teresia is committed to helping self employed 

professional women build successful business 

and live a life they love. Visit www.teresia.com and 

www.triplemmastermind.com for more information. 


usiness Of charity 

Girl Guides of Canada 

Building entrepreneurial spirit in girls for 100 years! 

Three words epitomize one of the best 

entrepreneurial training programs in 

Canada: Girl Guide Cookies! 

The cookie campaign began in 1927 in Regina when one 

Girl Guide leader decided to bake cookies for her group as a 

way to raise funds for uniforms and camping equipment. It 

has grown to be one of the organization’s most well-known 

and lucrative traditions. What a fabulous Mompreneur she 

was! 

Canadians love Girl Guide cookies but even more 

importantly, the sellers of these treats are learning business 

basics. The Brownies, aged 7-8, understand their product 

having sampled a few cookies – the really dedicated ones 

may even sample a whole box! They check both the cookies 

and the boxes for quality control and then they devise their 

marketing strategies. Often this involves recruiting an even 

younger spokesperson to appeal to older clientele. Many 

times these very young salespeople are part of the entry 

program for Girl Guides known as Sparks, for 5-6 year olds. 

This is an apt name as they do indeed “spark” many sales! 

While selling, the Sparks, Brownies and Guides (9-11 years 

old) gain an understanding of the commercial transaction. 

As well, they are trained to provide superb customer service. 

Some even oversee the completion of the sales reports which 

require identifying both the inventory and the funds received. 

The selling of Girl Guides cookies happens every spring 

giving the girls an opportunity to master their techniques. 

Girls at the Guide level also participate in a Moneywise 

course which encourages them to learn about banks, credit 

unions and trust companies. They discuss savings accounts 

and chequing accounts. They prepare a budget and many 

serve as treasurer of their 

unit. They also have 

opportunities to produce a 

product or organize a bake 

sale or bazaar - they learn 

to manufacture a product, 

identify input costs, track 

sales, determine profit and 

also arrange for donations 

to be made to a charitable 

organization. 


Courtesy of Girl Guides of Canada 

Courtesy of Girl Guides of Canada

Pathfinders, girls aged 12-14, study various careers to 

determine what the salaries are and the corresponding taxes 

which need to be paid. The Rangers, aged 15-17, perfect 

their leadership, teamwork and planning skills. Throughout 

these programs, the girls meet remarkable community 

and business achievers. As well, their leaders are great role 

models trained to facilitate the development of the girls so 

they become confident, resourceful and courageous – and 

make a difference in our world. Guides are also eligible to 

attend international conventions and stay at Guide Houses 

around the world. 

The Girl Guides organization is celebrating its 100th 

birthday this year with well over 100,000 members coast to 

coast. We commend them on their superb leadership training 

and for the entrepreneurial opportunities which they provide 

our girls. Bravo, Girl Guides of Canada! 

For further information, to join or to volunteer to be a leader, 

please visit www.girlguides.ca. 

Ps. Our thanks to Rosalyn Schmidt and Pat Istead… 

Guide Promise: 

I promise to do my best, 

To be true to myself, my beliefs and Canada. 

I will take action for a better world and respect the Guiding Law. 

The Guiding Law challenges me to: 

• Be honest and trustworthy 

• Use my resources wisely 

• Respect myself and others 

• Recognize and use my talents and abilities 

• Protect our common environment 

• Live with courage and strength 

• Live in the sisterhood of giving. 

Famous women who were 

Girl Guides include Canada's 

first female astronaut, 

Roberta Bondar and actress 

Andrea Martin … 

- The MOMpreneur ® 


yOur business questiOns 

Your Business Questions, 

Our Answers 

Income Tax and You – A Start 

By Kris Matthews 

Q: I’ve been told there are 

different kinds of income tax. 

Is this true? 

Can you tell me more? 

- Deanna P., Winnipeg 

The Federal Income Tax Act (ITA) is an interesting piece of 

work if you have the muscles to hold it, the eyesight to manage 

the fine print, and the genius intelligence to interpret it. It’s 

hefty and hardly recognizable as being in either of Canada’s 

two official languages. 

The ITA started out as the Income Tax War Measures Act 

(I think that was back in 1917). We had a copy – a skinny 

waif that hid among the paperbacks on a shelf. Thick paper 

and large print made it easy to read. Now it’s an overweight 

periodical – thick, with tiny print on thin paper. 

The idea is simple: earn income and then pay taxes. The 

execution is complex. The ITA has cousins, the Provincial 

Income Tax Acts, which are different enough to complicate 

life. In some provinces such as Alberta some persons are 

required to file two tax returns. In other provinces, they 

file one. 

Three types of ‘person’ to tax 

Did you notice the term ‘persons’ above? To me a person 

has a head, a body and the ability to think and speak. To 

the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) there are three types of 

person: there’s the ‘you or me’ (an individual); the limited 

company; and finally there’s the estate or trust. Each has its 

own specific rules. 

You’ll note that a partnership and proprietorship are not 

persons – they are extensions of us as individuals. We have 

to report partnership or proprietorship income personally. 

The next part is easy: what do they tax? Income – it is 

an Income Tax Act. However, it gets harder when we try 

to define what income is. (We’ll deal with that in 

another article.) 

Let’s talk a bit more about these ‘persons’. A person can be 

a resident or a non-resident of Canada. Residency is a pretty 

common sense idea – someone or something who/which 

ordinarily lives in Canada. 

How residency factors in 

Residency is a question of fact which simply means that every 

case is theoretically judged on its own circumstances. Usually 

it’s obvious and the rules are well set for most cases. Only on 

an odd occasion does residency become an issue. 

Residents of Canada – all three types of person – are taxed 

on their world income. All very logical: if we ordinarily live 

in Canada, we pay taxes on any income we earn anywhere. 

The rules are more complicated for companies and trusts. 

They may have a presence in several countries but the same 

ideas prevail. 

Non-residents are taxed only on income earned in Canada. 

If we do not live here, then we pay taxes only on income we 

earn here. That again seems very logical. 

The U.S. has a different logic. It taxes residents and it taxes 

U.S. citizens on their world income. A Canadian resident 

in the U.S. pays taxes in the U.S. on world income and 

pays Canadian taxes only on income earned in Canada. 

An American resident in Canada pays taxes here on world 

income but is also subject to tax in the U.S. on all income. 

The U.S.-Canada Tax Treaty tries to minimize double taxes 

but it’s not always successful because there are fundamental 

differences in how the two Tax Acts work. 

Residency is important to the CRA as many of the tax dodges 

you’ve read about exploit this difference – they move income 

to offshore trusts or foreign companies to be taxed where 

taxes are nil or lower. It’s an ongoing battle. It’s not clear how 

many billions of dollars Canadians have stashed overseas to 

avoid paying taxes in Canada but the figure is huge for most 

major countries. More and more these countries co-operate 

to force financial institutions in tax havens to reveal account 

holders. 


Reporting assets outside Canada 

Expect this pressure to continue. You see it in small ways 

such as that question on your personal tax return asking you 

about assets you own abroad. When it first appeared, many 

people just ignored it but as time goes on the CRA gets more 

punitive about failing to report accurately – not a thing to 

ignore any longer. It’s all part of the battle to get all Canadian 

residents paying taxes on all of their income. 

Non-residents do get taxed on income earned in Canada. 

Most of these taxes are withholding taxes putting the 

obligation on the payer to collect taxes on things such as 

interest, rents, royalties and dividends paid to non-residents. 

Non-residents also have to pay normal income taxes on 

capital gains earned in Canada. 

We get many questions on residency and taxes. For example: 

What happens if we buy a home in the U.S.? What happens 

if I spend my winters in Florida? Do I pay taxes in the U.S.? 

Most of the answers are simple and we’ll discuss them 

another time. 

In future articles, we’ll continue to clarify income and 

what you can deduct. We’ll talk about the tax advantages of 

corporations and the differences between taxes for individuals, 

corporations and estates or trusts. So, if you have questions 

please send them in and we’ll try to deal with issues affecting 

a number of you – email k.matthews@themompreneur.com. 

Thank you to those who have sent us business related 

questions. In our upcoming issues we, will have 

“Mompreneur” experts answer in their fields of expertise. 

Kris Matthews CMA, FCMA is the founding partner of the Matthews Group LLP, a professional 

accounting and consulting firm that specializes in looking after midsize entrepreneurial companies. 

Additionally she sits on the boards of both private and public companies as well as a Crown 

Corporation. Her community service includes past chair of the Society of Management Accountants 

of Alberta, Past Treasurer and Chair of the Famous 5 Foundation and teaching Dale Carnegie courses. 

Ms. Matthews was the inaugural recipient of The Business and Professional Women’s Club of Calgary 

Woman of the Year award. k.matthews@themompreneur.com 


sales & Marketing 

How to Handle the ANGRY Customer 

…and turn their problem into a business opportunity 

By Carolyn Guichon 

If you are in business, you have almost certainly dealt 

with ‘the angry customer’. You know the one I mean – 

frothing at the mouth, screaming and hurling invectives 

at you while making a scene in public because something 

has gone wrong with your product or service. Often 

the first point at which you know you have a problem 

is when that crazed customer crosses your threshold or 

gets you on the phone. So how do you handle this to 

construct a win-win for both of you? 

How the anger builds 

First, recognize that their conversation with you started, 

oddly enough, without you present. Strange as it seems, 

the angry customer was arguing and upset with you long 

before they even met you. The angry customer has played 

both your role and theirs for hours in their head. Imagine 

the conversation: “I am going to ask for my money back and 

they will say no; then I will tell them how bad their product 

is and they will tell me I am wrong – how dare they say I am 

wrong! Who are they to speak to me that way! Why you 

%&*^&*$##! How dare you treat me like this…” and on it 

goes until the customer has worked themselves into a state of 

rage. While this heated conversation has been going on you 

have been blissfully unaware that you are engaged in a battle. 

But that won’t last long. 

Eventually the angry customer shows up and stands way too 

close or phones and blasts you in a way that can raise your 

blood pressure through the roof and have you grinding your 

teeth in no time. None of this is good for your health (or 

indeed for the health of the angry customer). So to bring 

the situation under control you must stop the conversation 

in their head and have a real conversation that states your 

case the way you want it presented. But first you need to stop 

the screaming. 

Validating their concern 

There are many phrases you can apply to produce an 

immediate, positive effect: 

• “Thank you for telling me this. I am here to help you.” 

• “I can see you’re upset and I am going to take care of this.” 

• “I am so sorry that this has happened. Let me see what I 

can do to make it right for you.” 

Speak slowly and softly and be patient. Often it takes some 

time for your statement to actually register with the angry 

customer; you can tell when this happens because they will 

suddenly stop mid-sentence and then really pay attention to 

you for the first time. 

Once you have their attention, use the problem as an 

opportunity to make a customer for life. Chances are there 

is an easy solution that will solve the problem – prepared 

business people always have options to offer. There is an old 

adage that says, “if you like a product, you might tell one other 

person but if you dislike a product, you will tell ten people”. 

Those are terrible odds to be up against as a business trying 

to market your products or services. Interestingly, when you 

start with someone who dislikes you or your product and you 

turn them around, they still tell ten people but you get the 

People are always impressed when they hear stories 

about how a company worked to make it right. 

benefit of a better outcome because you solved the problem. 

People are always impressed when they hear stories about 

how a company worked to make it right. The angry customer 

feels validated and so is eager to tell others. 


Sympathize with 

the customer... 

Knowing how far to bend 

The customer, however, is not always right. It is critical not 

to admit liability when the customer is just plain wrong or 

has abused the product or if there is personal injury involved. 

Saying that you are sorry that they are having a problem is 

not the same as admitting liability and your answer should be 

crafted to reflect that difference. Do not let your discomfort 

with the situation or earnest desire to solve the problem 

rattle your composure and lead you to making statements 

that might undermine your business. 

Depending on the kind of product or service you sell, 

you might want to consult your lawyer before you offer a 

remedy. This is not hard to factor into the conversation with 

statements like “I promise I will get back to you within 48 

hours and here is my card” or “Wow, this is a doozy of a 

problem; I am going to need help myself” which tells the 

angry customer that you are working on their problem yet 

still gives you time to seek advice from others. 

When to draw the line 

In the meantime, you might also consider if a particular 

angry customer is worth the hassle. There are people who 

lie and cheat and have no compunction about asking for 

their money back when they have no right to it. Generally, 

the crooks are not in the same state of rage that the honest 

person is because they have not been having the conversation 

in their head. The crooks see it as a game and know that if 

they complain long enough, you might give in just to make 

them go away. Fraudsters tend to be manipulative and not 

passionate. 

If the complaint is unjustified, you need to be careful about 

how far you will allow the angry customer to push you. 

Business is based on honest transactions and when one party 

is not honest, the transaction and the relationship should be 

terminated. You won’t win with every customer which is not 

to say that you shouldn’t try but be prepared to have someone 

out there unhappy with you – and don’t take it personally. 

Carolyn Guichon is a former Instructor of Marketing at the University of 

Calgary, a former owner of a retail company and a current mother of three 

who still engages in the business world by consulting in retail and tourism 

marketing, corporate training and economic development work. She can 

be contacted at carolynworks@shaw.ca. 


internatiOnal business 

Getting to the Heart of International Sales 

Q&A with Liz Dickinson, inventor of the MIO Heart Rate Watch 

Liz Dickinson is the CEO and Founder of Physi-Cal 

Enterprises Inc. and also the inventor of the world’s 

first watch to offer an ECG accurate heart rate without 

a chest strap. The MIO Heart Rate Watch has received 

rave reviews from the likes of Dr. Phil, Deepak Chopra 

and the women of The View. Here she shares her story 

and provides tips to build a successful international 

customer base. 

Q: What inspired you to invent 

the MIO Heart Rate Watch? 

With each of my children I gained quite a lot of weight. After 

the first two, I didn’t really have a problem losing the weight 

but after my third, who was born in 1996, the weight just 

kept hanging around. I was travelling internationally at the 

time and was constantly jet lagged. I kept turning to food 

for energy and didn’t make the time for work outs. When 

I peaked at over 200 lbs. I realized I was in serious trouble. 

After doing extensive research, I found what seemingly was 

the best method for losing weight: exercising daily until I 

burned 500 calories and restricting my caloric intake to 

1,500 calories per day. It was like a magic formula and the 

weight started to come off. The problem was, at that time, 

there were not too many exercise machines that gave you 

an accurate calorie burn and certainly nothing that you 

could use during outdoor exercise was in existence and 

MIO’s Motiva Petite Pink Watch and Step 1 Pink Pedometer 

affordable. In terms of calorie intake, I was using a journal 

to record my calories but soon found that inconvenient. 

One day, an idea just struck me. If I could have something 

that I could wear around all day; something that would allow 

me to record my calorie intake as well as give me my calorie 

burn; something simple and convenient – what a difference 

that would make to my ability to keep to my program. 

I thought a watch would be a good form factor – you wear 

one every day anyway. I looked everywhere for such a thing 

and couldn’t find it anywhere. That’s when I decided to 

invent one. 

Q: When did you start your business? 

I first came up with the idea in 1997. I started to raise 

investment capital in 1999 and formed the company in June 

of 1999. 

Q: When did you make your first 

sale internationally? 

I have sold to the U.S. since day one. Right away when my 

business started, I was also selling to distributors in Australia 

and Holland. Today, our products are sold also in China, 

Singapore, France, Spain, Italy, UK and Mexico as well as in 

Canada. About 10% of our sales are Canadian; the rest are 

international sales. 

Q: Did the Export Development Corporation 

help you? 

In the beginning, the EDC helped me by factoring my 

receivables so that I could get cash into the business 

more quickly. 

Q: What has been your toughest challenge? 

Finding distributors who are as passionate about the product 

and its potential as you are is difficult. Many distributors are 

excited about the idea of adding a cool new product to their 


Quick Company Facts 

Company start date: 1999 

Number of staff: 20 

Annual sales: US$7 million 

Head office: Vancouver, B.C. 

Website: www.miowatch.com 

roster but, when the product just doesn’t sell itself, they are 

reluctant to spend the funds required to properly promote 

the item. 

Q: Did you ever consider quitting? 

There certainly were times when I wondered if I would 

make it but I never wanted to quit. I guess I have what Ayn 

Rand identifies as essential to the entrepreneur: “unflagging 

optimism and belief in oneself”. 

Q: What is your biggest international 

achievement to date? 

Our biggest international achievement is our broad retail 

distribution in the U.S. We have become a serious player in 

their health and fitness market. We have successfully created 

a brand that is respected and we get invitations to meetings 

and orders from some of the largest U.S.-based retailers 

like Costco. 

Q: What advice would you give to Mompreneurs 

who are interested in expanding their business 

internationally? 

Research, research, research. Which retailers will you target? 

Are you set up to be able to handle a market like the U.S. 

that is ten times larger than Canada? Is your supply chain 

efficient? How much inventory will you require? Have you 

thought through cash flow requirements? Are you able to 

extend terms? If yes, are your receivables insured so that you 

don’t get burned by companies going under or not paying. 

How will you sell? How will you promote? You need to 

have the answers to these questions if you plan to tackle the 

market yourself. The other option is to find a distributor and 

hope they will build your international market effectively. 

Q: What are your goals over the next five years? 

I would like to have a significant presence in multiple verticals 

– pharmacy, sporting goods, electronics. Additionally, I 

would like to have a very developed corporate wellness 

practice and be the dominant player in the market for the 

supply of internet connected portable electronic tools for 

health and wellness. In terms of revenue, I would like the 

business to reach US$100 million. 

Liz Dickinson promoting MIO during the Winter Olympics women’s 

snowboarding finals in Vancouver, February 2010 

Q: How do you balance business and family? 

Although my family claims that I am addicted to my iPhone, 

the best thing is that I have been able to spend a lot of time 

working from home. This means I have been able to make 

the kids’ lunches and see them off to school and then be 

home when they arrive back. I set up my office really close to 

my house so that I could always make it to school plays and 

class field trips. I feel I got to spend a lot of time with my 

children while they were growing up. 

Q: Is there anything else which you would like 

Mompreneurs to know? 

Sometimes I feel like one of those “whack-a-moles” that 

keeps popping up from different holes and you bop them over 

the head to push them back down. But they keep popping up 

again. I think this must be very common for entrepreneurs. 

You have to have resilience and the ability to bounce back 

from every set back. If you keep an unshakable faith in 

yourself and your creativity and your ability to find solutions, 

you will find solutions. Don’t run away, wring your hands in 

despair and cry. Meet the challenges head on, analyze them, 

understand them, solve them and learn from them. 

Liz’s tips for selling internationally 

• Create a corporate presence that looks and feels as 

though you are actually in that country. 

• Your web presence should be localized. 

• Maintain inventory within that country. 

• Translate your packaging in the language of the 

country. 

• Use distributors and/or sales people who understand 

the local market. 

• Provide customer service within that country. Returns 

and repairs should also be handled there. 


photo courtesy of Physi-Cal Enterprises


A Pioneer in Children’s Publishing 

Co-Founder Nancy Traversy tells us how Barefoot Books is breaking through 

a traditional industry to cultivate global awareness in children 

Despite trudging down a career path initially as a 

number-cruncher with Price Waterhouse in Toronto and 

then London, England, Nancy Traversy never shook her 

passion for colour and design or her desire to flex her artistic 

and creative muscle. So when she was presented with the 

opportunity to help develop a new line of children’s books 

that focused on introducing children to new cultures and 

countries through global adventures, she knew she had been 

given a gift and the chance do something special. To date, 

Barefoot Books has published more than 400 books and is 

continuing to gain recognition…and sales! Annual sales 

are just under $10 million with about a third of their global 

revenue coming from online sales. 

Q: When did you start Barefoot Books? 

I was approached in 1992 by Tessa Strickland, Barefoot 

Books’ co-founder. My eldest daughter was three weeks old 

and I had just started my own management consulting firm 

advising small creative start-ups. Tessa’s background was in 

adult publishing with large publishing houses – Penguin 

and Random House – and her editorial interests focused 

on eastern religion and spirituality. As a mother of three 

young children, she wanted to start a children’s company 

publishing stories from many different cultures that “opened 

the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life, 

inspiring them to read deeper, search further and explore 

their own creative gifts.” 

As a new mom and avid explorer of world cultures, I was 

immediately captivated by the idea of creating books for 

children that celebrated diversity and imagination. I didn’t 

know much about the publishing industry back then and, in 

hindsight, that was probably lucky as Barefoot has always 

strived to be more of a pioneer than a follower. 

Q: How did you get the company going? 

We started in England as a home-based business with the 

help of an initiative called The Business Expansion Scheme 

which UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher implemented 

to promote investment in small businesses. 

Q: What has been your toughest challenge to date? 

The biggest challenge is knowing our target audience is out 

there but finding it hard to reach them through conventional 

distribution channels. Publishing is a very traditional 

industry and a difficult one; children’s publishing is even 

more challenging. To keep going, we have needed a lot of 

perseverance and a fundamental belief in what we’re trying 

to achieve. 

Q: What are your goals for your company? 

Someone recently said that Barefoot was the world’s bestkept 

secret. My goal now is to make sure that it isn’t! We 

are working on that goal in a myriad of ways including 

tapping into the power of social media and creating free 

digital content such as the Barefoot Books Podcast and 

some digital videos to help people understand and engage 

with our brand. We are working hard to connect with as 

many people as possible by nurturing our relationships with 

our key partners and through our grassroots community of 

dedicated Ambassadors, retailers and other distributors. 

Q: Why did you decide to transfer your business to 

the United States and not Canada? 

When we first decided to launch Barefoot Books in North 

America back in 1997, our plan was to establish a presence in 

both Canada and the U.S. Having been successful at selling 

licenses to our books in the U.S. for the previous four to 

five years, we knew there was huge potential for Barefoot 

Books in this market; it made sense to set up our first North 

American office on the east coast in New York City where 

many major children’s publishers are located. The U.S. 

market is also much larger than the Canadian one and, with 

the economics of picture book publishing, we needed the 

U.S. print quantity to get a book off the ground. 

We simultaneously established a distribution relationship in 

Canada. As a Canadian businesswoman and a mother of four 

Canadian children, this is very important to me. However, 

we have not had as much opportunity as I would have liked 

to really focus on growing our Canadian presence and I want 

to make this a priority over the next couple of years. 


Q: Are your books sold in bookstores? 

Of course! About four years ago, we made the strategic 

decision to move our focus away from the national chain 

bookstores and to concentrate instead on nurturing our 

partnerships with smaller retailers and other customers 

who understand and appreciate what Barefoot Books offers. 

We also wanted to avoid the wasteful (and stressful!) 

practices associated with mass market distribution in a 

returnable industry. 

Q: Why do you have ‘Ambassadors’? 

Why this structure? 

We adopted a more grassroots approach to marketing and 

selling Barefoot and developed our Ambassador Program, a 

network of individuals and re-sellers including bookstores, 

gift and toy stores, museums, art galleries, educational 

customers, librarians, parents and others. We now have 

more than 4,000 Ambassadors in North America and Europe 

(including 40 in Canada) with about 300 more coming on 

board each month. 

We always believed we were more than just a publisher 

making and selling books, trying to find the ‘million copy 

bestsellers’ that define our success and identity in the 

market. We wanted to be a community of people who care 

about how our next generation of children is raised. We 

wanted to connect as closely as possible with the parents and 

educators who supported us. Building a global community 

of Ambassadors is one of the most rewarding aspects for me 

about running Barefoot! 

Q: What do you wish you had known about doing 

business internationally that you didn’t know? 

We knew that there was enormous potential in the U.S. but I 

underestimated how difficult it would be to manage an office 

in New York while living in the UK, especially with such a 

young family (four children under the age of five)! I also was 

unprepared for the cultural differences between the UK and 

the U.S. and the way business was conducted. 

photos courtesy of Barefoot Books 

Barefoot Books’ Co-Founders Nancy Traversy and Tessa Strickland bring global messages to children through books with rich, cultural 

stories and art. Above far right, Nancy was on hand for the opening of F.A.O. Barefoot Books, their in-house bookstore in New York City’s 

famous F.A.O. Schwarz toy store - “a very exciting time!” 

Q: What advice would you give to 

Mompreneurs who are interested 

in starting an international business? 

I grew up in Canada and lived across the country and then 

moved to the UK in my early 20’s. I have always loved 

traveling and have been fortunate to have visited many 

countries around the globe which has certainly influenced 

my perspective on the type of books that we publish… 

I look at life and business through a global lens. And with 

communication and technology advancing by the minute, it 

is now easier than ever to operate a business internationally 

no matter how small you are. Just make sure you know what 

you want to get out of your business before you start it…and 

you need to really love what you’re doing and believe in your 

product and your vision. 

"My vision for Barefoot Books is to create beautiful, magical and 

authentic stories and art and bring them to a grassroots, global 

community of people who care about how our next generation 

of children is raised." - Nancy Traversy, Co-Founder, Barefoot Books 


courtesy of Barefoot Books


A Fresh Perspective 

on International Business 

Q&A with Susan Niczowski, President, Summer Fresh Salads Inc. 

Cilantro Tabouli Salad…Sweet Potato Hummus… 

Grilled Peach Bruschetta…is your mouth watering yet? 

Susan Niczowski knows a thing or two about how to 

make your taste buds tingle. She also knows more than 

a thing or two about growing a thriving international 

business in today’s competitive food industry. 

For nearly 20 years, Summer Fresh Salads Inc. has been 

providing consumers with a sophisticated selection of 

salads, dips and soups, all conveniently available at local 

grocery stores. Susan and her mother first launched Summer 

Fresh Salads in a 3,000 square foot facility; today, their 

products are made in a 63,000 square foot facility and are 

distributed throughout North America. The company 

has been recognized with a number of prestigious awards 

from the food industry and business community – in 2007, 

Summer Fresh was named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed 

Companies. Susan herself continues to place high on the 

Canadian Business magazine’s “Profit W 100” list. 

Susan recently took time out of her busy schedule to answer 

a few questions for us about Summer Fresh and how she built 

her international business… 

Q: Why did you and your mother start Summer 

Fresh Salads? 

My mother, my sister Mary and I all felt that there was a need 

in the market for fresh, all natural, ready-prepared salads and 

dips with no additives and no preservatives. Back in 1991, 

products such as those in the Summer Fresh line were only 

available at white tablecloth restaurants. We wanted to see 

them in the specialty and grocery stores and we believed that 

Summer Fresh could fill that need. 

To secure funding for our first plant, I took out a loan from 

RBC. Production started within a few weeks of possession. 

Q: What are the benefits of building a business with 

a family member? 

Having trust and similar work ethics are two advantages to 

working with family. 

Q: Were you confident that people would buy your 

products over those from a well-known brand? 

We really believed in what we were manufacturing. Our 

products were great tasting, fabulous looking and people 

could not believe you could buy them in the refrigerated deli 

section in stores. People told us that they tasted better than 

homemade too – and there was no fuss or muss. 

On the grocery/specialty store side of things, we make it 

possible to set up a fresh deli counter in less than 20 minutes 

with an array of more than 20 items including a large 

assortment of prepared salads – how else could you do that? 


photos provided by Summer Fresh Salads Inc. 

Q: Is there special knowledge you need 

to operate internationally? 

In our industry, it’s especially important to understand 

labeling regulations and FDA requirements for food exports. 

Q: Are there differences between selling your 

products in Canada and elsewhere? 

We sell all across North America; there are not too many 

differences in selling in one place or the other. The main 

thing is to understand your clients’ needs and their markets 

and make sure that you comply with them. 

Q: Do you use your website for your 

international sales? 

No, we do not sell through the web. 

Q: What should a Mompreneur know when 

considering exporting her product and services? 

It’s important to understand your true costs for exporting – 

the cost to manufacture and to ship (taking into account how 

you will ship); are there tariffs and if so what are they; what 

is the currency exchange; what is the cost of insurance; what 

is the cost of your sales team, etc. You also need to consider 

your competition in that marketplace. 

Q: What is the best thing about being an exporter? 

The opportunity to grow the business is one of the most 

attractive things about exporting. 

Q: How do you balance business and home? 

It’s a challenge! I need to stay very organized. I have a great 

support team and am not afraid to ask for help when I need 

it…a happy mom has a happy family, and a happy business 

leader has a happy organization! 

Q: Are your children involved in your business? 

No, my daughter is only six years old. 

Q: Will your daughter inherit your business? 

Good question! I would love for her and my nieces to inherit 

the business if they will enjoy it as much as I do and be as 

dedicated as I am. 

Q: What else would you like Mompreneurs to know 

about developing an international business? 

It’s not easy – to enjoy your international business, you really 

need to understand your clients’ needs, your new markets 

and the hidden costs. 

Summer Fresh Facts & Figures 

• Family run operation founded in 1991 

• Head office in Vaughn, Ontario 

• 280 full time employees 

• Kosher and organically certified operations 

• Annual revenue: more than $11 million 

• International clients account for just under 

20% of sales 

• Website: summerfresh.com 

Susan Niczowski, President, 

Summer Fresh Salads Inc. 


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Mother-Daughter Team’s Bath Line 

Infused with Global Consciousness 

Q&A with Rose Creamer and Stacey Guymer, Co-Founders of Sweet Leaf Bath Co. 

When MOMpreneur® learned about the dynamic 

mother-daughter team behind Sweet Leaf Bath Co. in 

St. Marys, Ont., their commitment to develop products 

with internationally sourced, wholesome ingredients 

caught our attention. When we learned they are only 

one of eight body care companies in Canada licensed by 

TransFair Canada to sell “fair trade certified” products, 

we knew we had to find out more… 

Rose Creamer and her daughter, Stacey Guymer launched 

their company in 2007 when the two realized a common 

desire to develop products that would somehow have a 

global benefit. Rose was recently retired and Stacey, at home 

with her two young sons, was ready to pursue something 

new. They had spent years in Rose’s kitchen experimenting 

making soaps and lotions. With Stacey’s background in 

aromatherapy, reflexology and herbology and Rose’s keen 

business sense honed through a 32-year career as a business 

manager, they created their line of globally conscious bath 

and beauty products. 

“We handcraft our entire line sourcing out fair trade raw 

ingredients to ensure that a fair price is paid to the producers 

in developing countries,” explains Stacey. “We have really 

tried to create a line that is ‘good for the world, good for 

your skin’ which isn’t just a tag line to us. We’re creating 

something that ultimately has lessened our carbon footprint, 

helped someone in another continent and smelled great 

to boot!” 

Sweet Leaf bar soaps, body scrubs, lip balms, body butters 

and Dead Sea bath soaks are all made without the use of 

synthetic ingredients. Pure essential oils scent their line 

and locally grown herbs add colour and texture. Here’s 

more of what they shared with us about their business, their 

relationship, and working as a fair trade licensee… 

Q: When you work are you still “mother and 

daughter”? 

Yes, that’s who we are and you can’t just check it at the door 

but we did need to find a balance. We realized early on that 

we both had our own strengths and weaknesses and once 

that was established we took on our own leadership roles 

within the company. We’re lucky because we have a fantastic 

relationship so this has worked for us. That’s not to say that 

we’re perfect; we are family after all and there have been 

“moments”. It’s how we deal with those moments that has 

made us and Sweet Leaf that much stronger. 

Q: How are decisions made? 

An unwritten rule for us is that if we don’t both agree then 

we don’t move forward with an idea. If I bring something to 

the table that my mom doesn’t like, it’s not dead in the water; 

I just have to find the right argument to convince her and 

vice versa. Somehow we always end up on the same page in 

the end though anyway. When you’re mother and daughter 

but also partners , it’s important that you both feel like you 

have equal amounts of respect, otherwise it won’t work. 

Q: Why did you decide to source your ingredients 

outside of Canada? 

When we made the decision to create a line that was fair 

trade, it meant we would need to source out ingredients 

from outside of Canada. Being a TransFair licensee we 

are required to purchase our raw ingredients from either a 

licensed producer or from a fellow licensee who has imported 

directly from the producer. We don’t purchase enough to 

import directly so we purchase from licensed companies here 

in Canada. 


internatiOnal business

Our TransFair licensed suppliers buy our shea and cocoa 

butters, cocoa powder, sugar and coffee fairly from Africa, 

Paraguay and the Dominican Republic. This allows the 

producers and their families to raise themselves out of 

poverty and live a sustainable life. 

We do also believe in supporting local farmers and businesses 

and we purchase all of our non fair trade ingredients as close 

to home as we can find them. 

Q: How did you find your fair trade suppliers? 

TransFair Canada runs a pretty tight ship and they update 

their list of licensees very frequently. They are a great source 

of information and have put us into contact with our current 

supplier. A real sense of security comes from knowing that 

our suppliers and producers are also following the strict 

guidelines set out by TransFair. We know that they have been 

produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. 

We have the peace of mind knowing that we are all working 

towards the same goal. 

Q: Have you visited the factories where the 

ingredients are produced? 

Sadly not yet but we plan to. In the meantime we have 

pictures and stories about the co-ops and the amazing women 

and men who work in them. 

Q: What type of international agreements 

are required? 

Because we aren’t purchasing directly from the producer, we 

ourselves don’t require any sort of international agreement. 

Q: What is your annual revenue? 

In 2009 our sales were under $100,000. Our sales in the first 

quarter of 2010 are triple what they were last year. By 2011, 

our goal is to reach sales that are significantly higher than 

$100,000. 

Q: What advice would you give a Mompreneur 

who is thinking about developing a business 

that requires international ingredients or 

components? 

• Take the time to research the entire supply chain. 

• Always request samples especially if you will be purchasing 

in large quantities. 

• Ask for documentation whether it be organic certification, 

certificate of compliance or any other type of certification 

that the supplier is claiming. 

• Know your lead times for production and shipping. 

Stacey Guymer, left, and her mother, Rose Creamer knew from the start they wanted 

to develop products that would also offer a global benefit. 


Photo courtesy of Sweet Leaf Bath Co.

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subscribe today! 



cOver stOry 

Kirstie McLellan Day: 

Inside Hollywood, Hollywood's 10 Best, The Role That Changed My Life, 

Whatever Happened To?, The Movie Show… 

By Karin Klassen 

If you’ve never heard of Kirstie McLellan Day cavorting 

in the world of Hollywood’s mega-stars, it may be 

because this powerhouse of the entertainment world 

is about as down to earth and humble as one can get. 

Yet along with husband and business partner Larry Day, 

this TV titan runs one of the largest, most successful and 

certainly most prolific independent production companies in 

the country, indeed, in the world, with annual revenues in the 

$10-$20 million range. Delivering more than 400 programs 

last year alone, Pyramid Productions Inc. includes in its 

portfolio such series as “Inside Hollywood”, “Hollywood’s 10 

Best”, “Filmography”, “The Role That Changed My Life”, 

“Whatever Happened To?” and “The Movie Show”, which 

was broadcast for 17 years across 70 countries – all programs 

that depend on access to the who’s who of the entertainment 

world centred in Los Angeles, California. 

Pyramid’s clients include most of the local and national 

networks but they’ve also produced programming for 

international clients such as PBS, Bravo, ABC Australia, 

ZDF, History Channel UK, Animal Planet and, of course, 

the Movie Network and A&E. They’ve won bling at 

documentary and film festivals worldwide including 

Kirstie McLellan Day with Theoren Fleury at a book signing event last fall in Calgary for 

Theo's biography Playing with Fire, which they co-authored. 

the prestigious New York Festivals International TV 

Broadcasting Awards. They’re certainly creatively talented 

but they’ve also earned accolades for their business acumen. 

Along with her husband, McLellan Day has received the 

Alberta Business Award of Distinction from the Chamber of 

Commerce and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 

Award. And all this from Pyramid’s base in Calgary, Alberta. 

Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, 

Will Smith and… 

“I think it’s really important to make programming that 

people will watch,” laughs McLellan Day when asked about 

the glitzy subject matter of most of Pyramid’s body of work. 

“I was always intrigued by movies and movie stars so it was a 

natural fit for me. But it’s not just about what I’m interested 

in. The broadcasters are the experts; they’ll tell you what their 

audiences want to watch. You just have to listen carefully.” 

Listen and watch they did: interviewing Tom Cruise when 

he was still wet behind the ears in Top Gun; Julia Roberts 

in times of Mystic Pizza teenage angst; the still boyish Ben 

Affleck and Matt Damon duo; a mischevious Will Smith; an 


apparently ‘medicated’ Robert Downey Jr.; Mel Gibson, who 

kissed McLellan Day upon request; and Russell Crowe, say 

no more. 

“For me, working in this industry is truly a labour of love 

but it’s also what I know. I worked in movies doing hair and 

make-up (she is an accredited hair-dresser). I was the world’s 

worst actress (she studied acting at the University of Regina). 

I did radio; I was a medical reporter (she studied journalism 

at Mount Royal College). I’ve done some modelling – I was 

the ‘Furniture World Girl’. But I really wanted to be Nancy 

Drew and I was even a private detective for a while. I just 

wanted to try everything.” 

Bringing family into the fold 

“Everything” included five kids. McLellan Day and husband 

Larry are the extremely proud parents of Buddy (32), Charlie 

(24), Lundy (23) and twins Geordie and Paul (19) – all of 

whom have worked at some time or another in “the biz”. 

There is also the pitter-patter of two grand-kids. Having a 

large family was always a part of the original strategy but 

wreaked no small amount of havoc on the grand plans. 

Photos courtesy of Kirstie McLellan Day 

Kirstie has led an all-star career (clockwise from top left): Kirstie with Jeff 

Bridges; chatting with Whoopi Goldberg; connecting with celebrities during 

interviews; Theo Fleury's biography Playing with Fire was released last fall 

and stayed on Canada's Bestseller list for more than seven months (work on 

sportscaster Ron MacLean's biography has just started!); 20 years ago 

on the set of The Movie Show with husband and co-host Larry Day. 

“I remember getting the call,” says McLellan Day’s sister, 

best friend and right-hand, Julie Sinclair, General Manager 

of Pyramid Productions for the last 12 years. “Kirstie phoned 

me in Vancouver and said ‘I need your help.’ So I sat down 

with my husband and said: I know we live in the city we love, 

in the house we love and you have a job you love but can we 

please move to Calgary?” The family of four packed their 

things and within weeks Julie was not only at her sister’s side 

but hosting a show herself. “Kirstie and I always said we 

were going to run a business anyway,” says the ebullient and 

poised Julie. “At one point we wanted to start a shop selling 

used wedding dresses.” 

“We should still do that!” Kirstie jumps into the conversation 

enthusiastically over lunch prepared by the chef their 

families have shared for a decade and for which McLellan 

Day is unapologetic. “Look, I can spend my days cleaning 

and cooking or I can spend them doing fun family things; 

part of being successful means organizing my day in a 

way that makes the most out of our time together.” That 

includes multi-tasking, such as getting exercise out of 

the way by taking meetings while pumping away on her 

ancient recumbent bike in her otherwise modern, warm and 

efficient home office; she’s even had a desk set up to the right 

height so she can work on her computer while pedalling off 

the pounds. 


Entrepreneurial roots 

McLellan Day and her sister are both quick to credit the 

ambience of an entrepreneurial household growing up, one 

that included the whole fam-damily. “Dad (Bud McLellan) 

had his own electrical contracting business and he was 

always inventing things to solve a problem,” says McLellan 

Day. “The door didn’t shut properly – he made something 

to fix it. Something was always being created.” In addition, 

their Mom (Joan McLellan) took care of the home but was 

also fully her husband’s partner in strategy and support. At 

dinner, the kids would sit captivated by talk of employees, 

debt, payroll; it was a tutorial for business. 

But if taking the business to heart is the key to success, 

McLellan Day says she knows where to draw the line. “We 

worked like crazy. I joke that we didn’t want to work 9-5, so 

now we’re working 7-3...AM. I had kidney cancer in 1992 

and after that I really had to re-evaluate. My priority always 

was my kids and family. Once I had my health back I realized 

– there’s just no point in worrying about work.” 

“Besides,” adds Julie, “that’s what she has me for.” They 

both laugh. 

A dynamic marriage…and thriving 

partnership with Larry Day 

The primary partnership, however, that is integral to 

McLellan Day and for which she credits her success and 

her happiness, is her personal and professional relationship 

with husband Larry. Right from the start they realized they 

had chemistry and synergy – instincts they followed to a “T” 

and which have directly contributed to the company’s 

bottom line. 

“Larry was and is a pack-rat who comes from a long line of 

hoarders. In fact, when his grandfather died, there was so 

much stuff in his house, they found three baby-grand pianos 

they didn’t even know he had. Larry has a bit of that gene so 

when he was doing interviews he kept all the tape that other 

people would throw away. He collected it from everywhere. 

On the other hand, I’m an organizer, so I said: let’s put this 

together in a way that makes sense. We realized we had this 

entertainment footage that was an asset no one was valuing 

and we started cataloguing it in a way that would make it 

available some day for clients to use as archives.” 

Eventually they started actively seeking out footage that was 

left on cutting room floors. “I knew of one entertainment 

reporter who lost her job and she was throwing away years of 

tape. I said to her, why don’t you take that with you or give it 

to the broadcaster? But no, she didn’t want it. So I said – Can 

I have it? I couldn’t believe it. 

“We saved everything. 

We have Larry interviewing Arnold 

Schwarzenegger and Kristy McNichol 

and Tatum O’Neal from Little Darlings. 

We have Farah and Ryan from when they 

came to town to promote Willie DeWitt 

as a boxer – we’ve got a lot of tape.” 

And then there was her long-time love of writing – something 

she now had abundant opportunity to pursue. “I would say 

I’ve touched pretty much every script that’s come out of 

Pyramid,” McLellan Day says proudly. 

Whatever their work dynamic brings to the relationship, 

however, the shop-talk all stops at the bedroom door. 

Computers are allowed in – for reading only. No work 

emails, no writing. “We are partners on absolutely every 

aspect of the company but you can’t do that 24/7. Personal 

time is personal time,” she warns. 

Big projects need big space: 

Developing Pyramid’s HQ 

A large part of Pyramid’s success is a result of foreseeing the 

value of real estate. At a time when most of the industry was 

freelance, the McLellan Day team wanted infrastructure. 

They invested in a 36,000 square foot production facility in 

southeast Calgary that is the envy of producers worldwide. 

This building houses state-of-the-art production suites, 

sound stages, sets, graphics and computer animation and 

post-production sound facilities – all with expert in-house 


creative and technical staff to work their magic. Virtually 

nothing is outsourced. Work can be done immediately, 

making their projects gleaming and efficient. There are 

currently 80 of the country’s top and up-coming industry 

staff working diligently at Pyramid, some of whom have 

had a relationship with the company for years. “We really 

believe in helping to develop the TV and film industry in our 

community,” says McLellan Day. “It benefits everyone. Even 

after someone leaves to go onto other things, we never like 

to close doors.” 

Another aspect to staying on top of their game in a constantly 

evolving industry is keeping up with new technology. There’s 

no point having thousands of hours of the most sought after 

footage if it can’t be easily accessed and at Pyramid it can – 

from archive to HD in seconds avoiding the cumbersome 

rendering time of traditional facilities. “If you have to use 

clunky gear, it drags everyone down,” says McLellan Day. 

It’s a risk in a world ruled by technology-of-the-month but 

Pyramid’s next step? Shooting and cutting in 3D. “When you 

give your staff the latest toys, they’re excited about playing 

and that’s half the battle.” With the company at the top of its 

game and in good hands, McLellan Day can return to that 

long ago dream of immersing herself in intriguing stories, 

well-developed characters and thickened plots. 

Theoren Fleury’s biographer… 

Most days now find McLellan Day working almost 

exclusively from home, currently researching her new book. 

Her latest tour de force is still making waves. The groundbreaking 

best-seller Playing With Fire, written about the life 

Family photo by Heather Lyle 

(l-r) Kirstie and husband Larry at grad dinner with twin sons Geordie and Paul and their dates; taking a break in her home office; with 

granddaughter Téa; at the 2010 Olympics Women’s Hockey Gold Medal game; Kirstie with sisters Jan and Julie during a trip to Paris 

earlier this year; Kirstie and Larry with their five children, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. 

of Theoren Fleury, has shaken the hockey world and the two 

are currently working on a screenplay. McLellan Day has 

other credits. She headed a team that wrote cable magnate 

J.-R. Shaw’s biography Above and Beyond; she authored 

Under the Mat: The Diana Hart Story as well as No Remorse: 

A Father’s Murderous Rage, which is used as a text book in 

Mount Royal University’s Criminology program. To top 

that off, she has written five screenplays and still contributes 

weekly movie columns to the Calgary Herald. Still to come? 

Hmmmm. She says she’d love to write a Kiefer Sutherland 

biography and is working on a detective novel that her 

publisher thinks is promising. 

Advice for Mompreneurs 

McLellan Day is full of advice for Mompreneurs. “I am a big 

believer in taking responsibility. I was always encouraged to 

step up. If you mess up, own it – don’t point fingers. That 

way, you won’t make the same mistake again. And stick 

with something you know and love.” (McLellan Day says 

storytelling is in her genes; her great-grandmother once 

brought Victor Hugo home for dinner). She encourages 

including your kids in your job – Meryl Streep has seen 

McLellan Day’s kids on set so often, her opening line is 

“What are your kids doing these days?”. And above all, if 

your employer can’t take into account that you have a family 

– find somewhere else to work! And like Kirstie, start your 

own business! 

And that, as they say in the biz, is a wrap. 

Karin Klassen owns Skippingstone Productions and has written and produced TV shows for CBC HGTV and FOOD TV. Karin also 

writes a regular column for the Calgary Herald and has a book coming out in June, 2010, “The Practical TV Producers Guide”. 

She is the proud mom of two teenage boys. skippingstone@shaw.ca 


legal issues 

Business Abounds 

in Untying the Knot 

Q&A with Darcie Shelly, Co-Owner of Untie The Knot Divorce Service 

Delivering a strong online presence and 

top-notch customer service are among 

the factors Darcie credits for her 

company’s success in helping couples 

make it through uncontested divorce 

quickly and efficiently… 

Q: What gave you the confidence 

to establish your business? 

I worked as a court filing agent in the Supreme Court of 

B.C. in Vancouver and worked as a legal assistant for many 

years. Over time, friends going through separation and 

divorce asked for my help with the preparation and filing of 

their documents. In 2001 I was faced with the task of doing 

my own divorce. As I was preparing my own documents, it 

occurred to me that even with the knowledge and skills I 

possessed from my own experience, the process was difficult 

and time consuming. 

A few other things I learned early on – and I mean no 

disrespect to the legal profession – is that many lawyers do 

not have the time to deal with simple, uncontested divorces 

where the couple has already sorted out the outstanding 

issues. Further, I realized that separation and divorce are 

financially traumatic on the majority of couples. One 

financial entity divides into two causing hardship to both 

parts of the “new family”. Legal fees on top of that can prove 

crippling, particularly in today’s economy. 

When my divorce was processed successfully, my new 

partner and I decided it was necessary to offer a service to 

help couples type and file their uncontested and joint divorce 

applications in B.C. and thus, Untie The Knot was born 

in July 2002. We began with a local presence only serving 

customers in the Lower Mainland, eventually branching out 

to the rest of B.C. with a strong online presence. Slowly we 

have expanded our service from West to East. 

Q: What are the goals for your company 

for the next five years? 

Five years from now, I see Untie The Knot fully expanded 

across Canada and pushing into the United States. 

Separation and divorce aren’t easy experiences for couples. 

There are so many services couples require as they enter 

into the process of divorce. We are looking at forming 

partnerships with other professionals; accountants, financial 

planners and yes, even lawyers, to assist our clients with 

every difficult step along the way. 

Q: What advice can you give to a Mompreneur who 

is thinking about starting an online business? 

I cannot overstate how important a strong online presence 

is. I have seen the businesses of so many incredibly 

talented women and men fail because of an insufficient 

online presence. 

A well-designed website which compliments your type of 

business is essential. A website should be easy to navigate 


without a lot of unnecessary and potentially confusing 

content. It creates a first impression. Make sure it accurately 

reflects who you are and what your company represents. 

A well-established and thought out online advertising and 

marketing campaign is equally important. Most potential 

customers today don’t use the Yellow Pages anymore to find 

a product or service. He or she will sit down at the computer, 

open a search engine and key in the search terms. A few payper-click 

ads that catch their eye will be opened in a new 

tab or window and a choice will be made. Very few potential 

customers will search beyond the first page of search results 

so a strong presence in both the sponsored ads as well as the 

organic listings is important. 

No matter how big our 

company becomes in the online 

world, it is our goal to never 

lose that personal touch. 

Q: Is it difficult solving problems when you don’t 

meet your customers? 

Not at all. Many online companies don’t make themselves 

available for personal client contact and that can be frustrating 

for a customer, particularly for those experiencing a highly 

personal process such as separation and divorce. Our clients 

know from the very beginning of the process that we will be 

available to them by phone, email or fax. We have an amazing 

team of individuals in our office who offer top service to our 

customers and potential customers. In fact, many people who 

call our office are amazed and encouraged that a real person 

has answered their call! 

Mompreneur Darcie Shelly and her family moved from busy 

Vancouver to the mountain town of Nelson, B.C. She developed 

her business making sure it would give her the freedom to live 

where she wants. 

Q: What is your annual revenue? 

In 2009, our gross sales were just over $1.3 million. 

Q: How did you decide what to charge 

for your services? 

Our fees greatly depend on the service chosen by the client 

as well as the province in which they are filing their divorce. 

Our fees range from $149 to $349 plus tax. 

Q: What do you like best about being 

a Mompreneur? 

Everything! But most of all, mobility and flexibility. My 

husband and I love to travel; it has been our goal from the 

day we first dreamed up our company to have a business that 

provides us with mobility. We wanted the freedom to travel 

while running the business as well as to be able to live where 

we wanted to. The first evidence of this was when we were 

able to move our home and business from busy Vancouver to 

the beautiful and vibrant mountain town we now call home. 

My time is flexible now and I love the ability to work from 

my home office and be available to my kids in a way that I 

wasn’t when I was working full-time. 

The company’s success has also afforded me a few extra hours 

in each day to pursue my passion for writing. I’m currently 

working on my first novel, a young adult fiction. 

That being said, care does need to be taken so that friends 

and family don’t see me as always being available! People still 

need to understand that I have a job to do. 


Photo courtesy of Darcie Shelly

legal issues 

Looking at Legalities 

Licenses, patents, trademarks… 

and other legal issues entrepreneurs face 

By Cindy Stephen 

You’ve got a great product and a fantastic new idea. 

However, there’s a lot of red tape to unravel while 

rolling out your new business. You may even feel so 

strangled by complicated paperwork or confusing 

rules that you can’t move forward. If you anticipate 

the formalities and educate yourself in advance of the 

inevitable legal matters, the red tape won’t seem so 

sticky. 

There are three basic elements when it comes to the legalities 

of either launching a new business or jumping to the 

next level. We’ve checked with experts across the country 

to give you the heads up; however, it’s always wise to seek 

counsel yourself. 

Licenses: open for business 

Most businesses need a license to operate legally within the 

local municipality. Some businesses, such as pharmaceutical 

companies or broadcast outlets, need a federal permit as 

well. Be prepared to do some research to determine what, 

precisely, is required. 

Industry Canada has developed an online tool, available in 

most provinces and territories in the country, to help small 

business owners find the appropriate requirements for each 

level of government in their area. 

BizPal generates a personalized list of the documents you 

need to complete. A question and answer “wizard” will walk 

you through the steps, saving you invaluable time on research 

and navigation through the dizzying levels of government. 

The City of Hamilton, Ont. implemented BizPal in 2009 to 

improve service for small business entrepreneurs. 

“It’s quite user friendly. It takes about 15 minutes to answer 

the questions and then it will spit out what types of permits 

you might need based on your answers,” says City of 

Hamilton Communications Officer Debbie Spence. She says 

BizPal will help business owners with other permits issues 

such as zoning verification, fire and public health permits 

and home-occupied business requirements. 

Most municipalities have websites with information on how 

to obtain business licenses. Otherwise, information can be 

found in the blue pages of your local phone directory. 

Protect and preserve 

If you have invented a never-before seen product or formula, 

you might already be in line at the patent office. 

“A patent is a time limited, monopoly right,” says intellectual 

property lawyer Jennifer Marles of Vancouver. “You get an 

exclusive right to make and sell your invention for 20 years 

from the date you file your application. At the end of that time 

period, the public is free to make and use your invention.” 

If you’re still thinking about whether to go down that 

road, it is imperative that you don’t show your fabulous 

new invention to the world. A patent is granted for a new, 

never-before-seen product that is also useful and inventive. 

However, once offered for sale or disclosed publicly, it is no 

longer considered to be new. 

The benefit of taking out a patent is that others can’t steal 

your idea or copy your invention – at least, not easily. The 

drawback is that preparing and filing a patent application 

with the Canadian federal government, with professional 

assistance, costs at least $10,000 to $15,000 and success is 

not guaranteed. If the government has some objections to 

your application, you may incur more costs. Marles says new 

entrepreneurs should be very confident that their product is 

new, inventive and useful – not just an obvious modification 

of something already on the market – and that it will sell like 

hotcakes. 

“You’ve got a very large upfront investment that you may not 

recoup,” she advises. “Weigh your options, but do it before 

public disclosure.” 

An alternative to a patent 

may be an industrial design 

registration. This would 

protect the visual features 

of a product such as the 

shape of a flower vase or the 

treads of a tire. Registering 

an original design protects 

the visual features but not 

the mechanism or the way it 

Jennifer Marles, intellectual 

property lawyer and trademark 

and patent agent 


photo courtesy of Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP

Mel Risdon-Betcher and daughter Bailie – 

demonstrating Head Snugglers 

Head Snugglers: Patent Pending 

Melanie Risdon-Betcher, above, first made her own Head 

Snuggler in an attempt to keep her toddler’s head from 

falling forward as she slept in her car seat. Resembling a 

giant toque, the Head Snuggler fits over the back of the 

car seat and over the child’s forehead, keeping the head 

upright and the airway open. With her pediatrician’s stamp 

of approval on her simple but intelligent product, Risdon- 

Betcher set off to mass produce her Head Snuggler and 

take out a patent. 

Until she found out it would cost 

$20,000. So, she compromised. 

works; however, it is less expensive than registering a patent. 

In Canada, a straightforward industrial design registration, 

with the help of a lawyer or agent, can cost $2,000 to $3,000 

– more if there are objections to the application. 

Registering a trademark, which is a distinctive name, sign, 

logo or symbol unique to a product or your business, puts 

your product in a nationwide database. When others do a 

search, they will encounter your trademark and will be 

more likely to choose another name or logo that does not 

conflict with the name you have chosen. Trademarks can be 

registered for just under $3,000. 

Getting professional help at the outset can prevent trouble 

down the road. Marles, who is also a registered patent 

and trademark agent, says she charges $75 for an initial 

consultation to discuss ways to possibly protect your IP 

(intellectual property). 

The proverbial dotted line 

After months of searching, you’ve found a super storefront 

or the ideal warehouse. But with pen poised in mid-air over 

your five-year lease agreement, are you ready for this kind 

of commitment? 

“I did what’s called a provisional patent, which means it’s 

patent-pending,” says the young mother of two who is 

now marketing her product in 57 countries. 

Risdon-Betcher doesn’t know if she’ll take out an official 

patent once her one-year provisional patent expires. 

“One benefit of having a patent, though, is that it adds 

value to the product from an investor’s point of view,” she 

notes. She has registered Head Snugglers as a trademark 

and is thinking that may be as far as she goes. 

“I’m first to market with this name. If someone came up 

with a new product and called it Head Snugglers, I’d easily 

have a case,” she says. 

“Once you sign, it’s binding,” says lawyer Steven Seiferling 

of Saskatoon, who urges anyone considering signing a lease 

or other legally binding agreement to consult with an expert. 

“A small start-up with no resources can show it to any family 

member or friend who is familiar with business. These people 

would have the experience to flag something that might need 

a lawyer’s attention,” he continues. 

A well drafted agreement should spell out the rights and 

obligations of each party. 

The contract should cover 

the specific products and 

services expected as well 

as the timing of delivery 

or possession. It should 

clearly state credit terms 

or when payment will be 

made and by what method 

with a provision for price 

adjustments in the event of 

damage or loss. If you have 

Saskatoon Lawyer 

Steven Seiferling 


Photo courtesy of Melrose Kids Inc. 

photo Stuart Kasdorf Photography (2010)

If you have an agreement with a 

manufacturer, you will probably want 

a confidentiality clause and some terms 

regarding ownership of the product. 

an agreement with a manufacturer, you will probably want a 

confidentiality clause and some terms regarding ownership 

of the product. 

When it comes to drawing up and negotiating a lease, 

Seiferling says every lease is different. A bit of groundwork 

before showing a new lease to a lawyer can save time 

and money. 

“Know the area you’re getting into. Go to businesses in the 

area and ask them what their lease terms are, if they’re able 

to disclose that. Who’s done the upkeep of the building? Talk 

to the previous tenant and find out why they left,” he says. 

Provisions can be made within the lease in the event that 

your business folds or you declare bankruptcy. Every aspect 

of the lease can be negotiated including the length of term 

and the price. 

The trouble with many agreements is that some transactions, 

apart from those that require legal documentation such as 

real estate purchases, are verbal. 

“A contract consists of an offer and someone to accept that 

offer in exchange for consideration. As soon as you have 

that acceptance, you have an agreement. Under Consumer 

Protection Laws, technically you don’t need an invoice 

or receipt. You can have an agreement to buy something 

without anything in writing.” 

Which is why Seiferling strongly suggests that to make any 

agreement enforceable, it must be drawn up, agreed upon 

and signed. “Do your research and talk to people before you 

sign any sort of contract,” he emphasizes. 

ResouRces 

sbinfocanada.about.com 

bizpal.ca 

cipo.ic.gc.ca 

There is a long list of contracts, permits, licenses and legal 

technicalities that every small business owner will run across. 

It’s the cost of doing business, however the time spent up 

front unraveling red tape will not only make you wiser, it will 

make you money down the road. 

What’s in a name? 

Many new mothers who value both breast feeding and 

modesty cover up with a blanket when nursing in public, 

but Nancy Armstrong of Regina wanted something more 

secure. Something that would also allow her baby to look 

up at her while nursing. In 2009 she cleverly designed a 

multi-purpose canopy that provided privacy for mom 

and protection for baby. A cover-up that looked stylish; 

something that didn’t scream “don’t look – I’m breast 

feeding!” 

She also gave it a clever name: The Booby Trapper, a very 

memorable name that generates a lot of smiles. However, 

the federal government failed to see the humour in the 

name of Armstrong’s invention and denied her trademark 

application stating that the name of her product was vulgar. 

“We have until October to appeal this decision,” says 

Armstrong. “At this point, we're not sure what to do. We 

might have to consider a name change or proceed without 

the trademark.” 

She filed her application for a Canadian patent in January 

2009 and says so far there haven’t been any roadblocks. 

www.boobytrapper.ca 

Cindy Stephen is a freelance writer and 

mother of six. She is a regular contributor 

to MOMpreneur ® . 


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legal issues 

Passing Your Business 

to the Next Generation 

The Top 5 Factors to Consider 

By Lynne Butler 

What does it take to transfer your business to your children? 

This is one of the most important business decisions you 

will ever make and it can be overwhelming. If you are like 

most business owners, you want the transition to be as 

smooth as possible. You want to know there are no legal or 

tax surprises lurking in your future. Most of all, you want to 

ensure that your child has the best possible chance of being 

successful in the business. The five factors discussed here will 

get you started. 

1 

1. Finding the right successor 

No doubt you’re as proud of your child’s “A” in math or her 

ability to hit a home run as any other parent. It’s perfectly 

natural to be biased in favour of your own children most of 

the time. But when it comes to deciding whether or not your 

child might be the right person to take over your business, 

you are going to have to stand back and assess your child 

objectively. Most parents don’t find this easy to do. It’s 

particularly tough when you have more than one child who 

might be interested in the business and you have to measure 

one against another. 

The key to choosing the right successor among your children 

is to avoid making any of these three common assumptions: 

• Your child wants to take over your business. Avoid the 

assumption that because one of your children works in 

the family business they want to run it after you retire or 

pass away. Talk openly with your child about your goals 

and wishes for the business. Ask your child to be equally 

frank about her goals. Don’t be afraid of getting a blunt 

answer; it’s essential to know where your child stands on 

this question. 

• Your child is capable of taking over your business. 

While it’s possible that your child is perfectly capable 

of running your business, it’s a mistake to assume this 

without any real grounds for being certain. If the candidate 

for the job were a stranger, you would look at her skills, 

experience, goals and attitude to figure out if she is capable 

of running your business. Try to be equally objective about 

your own child. 

• Your children will get along if they run the business 

together. If your children do not get along particularly 

well now, there is no reason to assume that things will 


improve once you are no longer around to mediate. In 

fact, it’s quite possible that any problems will get worse. 

If you’re thinking of passing down your business to more 

than one of your children, be absolutely sure that they can 

make decisions together, compromise when necessary and 

respect each other’s abilities and authority. 

2. Timeline 

3. Family dynamics 

3 

2 

Once you’ve settled on who is going to take over, you can start 

thinking about when this transaction will take place. Many 

business owners leave this much too late. Allow up to five 

years for the process of handing over your business. It could 

even be longer depending on: the nature and complexity of 

your business; the age, education and skill level of your child; 

and your urgency to pass on the business. Also consider a 

probationary period on the job for your child that must be 

completed successfully before the business is transferred 

completely to her. 

A large factor in setting a timeline is preparing and training 

your child to take over. Getting a child ready to run a business 

might take longer than you think. Set up a training plan 

with goals and deadlines by which the goals should be 

reached as well as a system for monitoring your child’s 

development progress. 

Even when you have chosen one clear successor and have 

transferred the business, you may find that family members 

interfere by giving advice and criticism in ways they never 

would if a stranger were running the business. In other 

situations, family members may treat your successor as if he 

or she isn’t “really” the boss and continue to look to you for 

leadership and decision-making. 

Minimize family turmoil by setting a definite timeline for 

the transfer of the business to your successor and letting 

everyone know what it is. Let your successor and other 

family members know well in advance what is expected of 

each of them once the transfer has taken place and agree with 

your child ahead of time as to what your involvement will be. 

4. Treating your other children fairly 

Even though it is not the law that we must treat our children 

equally upon our death, most parents believe that treating 

the children fairly means treating them equally. This can 

be a problem for business owners. If you want to give your 

business to only one of your children, you might find it hard 

to give a similar amount of money to your other children. 

Before looking for solutions to this issue, take some time to 

think about whether treating them equally really is the fair 

thing to do. If the child who will be receiving the business 

4 

has been working in the business for years, she has probably 

helped you increase its value whereas the other children have 

not. Maybe it’s fair that someone who contributed more 

deserves more. 

Also consider that when you pass on a business, what you’re 

really giving is not a freebie but an opportunity to earn 

money. Even if the business has a dollar value higher than the 

cash amount another child will receive, the child receiving 

cash need do nothing to get the value of their gift. 

If you do decide that all children must receive about the same 

dollar amount, there are ways to achieve this. Some ideas 

include: 

• Giving your other children non-voting shares of the 

company so that they can share in the profits without 

being able to control the direction of the company. 

• Taking out a mortgage on business property so that the 

child inheriting that property makes payments to the other 

children over time. 

• Using a life insurance policy to create new wealth. 

5 

5. Money 

Money is always a big deal in business succession planning. 

In family businesses, it’s rare that the transfer of the business 

from the old owner to the new one is a simple sale of 

corporate shares after which the old owner walks away, cash 

in hand. Usually in family situations, the outgoing owner is 

an integral part of the financing of the new owner. 

There are some tax breaks for business owners who are 

passing their businesses to the next generation such as farm 

rollovers and estate freezes. Though these transactions are 

simple in concept, they are complex in terms of money. Deals 

like these have to be structured properly so that the business 

can manage payments to you while providing a good living 

to your child and staying viable. If you are counting on 

payments from your business over time but the business goes 

under after you leave, you won’t receive the income you were 

expecting. You’ll need professional help to do this right. 

Taking the time you need to talk over these five elements 

with your lawyer or accountant will set you on the path to a 

successful business transfer to your son or daughter. 

Lynne Butler is a lawyer with Scotia Private 

Client Group who has extensive experience 

helping individuals and businesses plan for the 

future. She is the author of two books, namely 

“Protect Your Elderly Parents” and “Succession 

Planning Kit for Canadian Business”. Lynne is a 

frequent guest on TV and radio programs. 


case study 

The Magic of Disney 

An Excellent Case Study for Small Business 

By Kathryn Bechthold 


Photo courtesy Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, LLC 

Recently my family and I participated in a special trip 

sponsored by Disney and I couldn’t help but notice the 

perfection of the Disney business model. Disney has 

pioneered many different tools of success which could be 

helpful to growing our businesses, too. Here are a few that I 

thought you might like. 

Multiple Streams of Revenue: Disney’s streams of revenue 

focus on the park admission tickets, the accommodations, 

food and beverage services (including Mickey-shaped ice 

creams!) and souvenirs. However, if you look closely, there 

are many, many opportunities to engage you so that you stay 

longer at the park such as strollers, baby care centres that 

include beautiful nursing stations, and quiet areas to rest, 

relax and refresh before forging ahead on the next adventure. 

A girlfriend mentioned “I didn’t care if that stroller cost $100 

per day, I would have spent it to stay longer at the park!” 

(Actual cost is $15/day.) They sell raincoats, rain boots, socks, 

sweaters, coats – everything so that your magical moments 

are not disrupted by inclement weather. 

Customer Service: I don’t know of any other corporation 

that handles customer service better than Disney. From 

the moment you arrive on the grounds to the moment you 

leave, you and every member of your family are treated like 

royalty. You don’t realize how uncommon this is until you 

can experience the contrast. 

A stroller rental attendant told me that when she started, she 

was trained for about five minutes on the cash register and 

then from that moment on, her professional development 

has been focused on making every moment “magical” for 

every guest in the park whom she encountered. 

‘Disney moments’ were not created with large investments 

of time or money. It was the sticker addressing the girls as 

‘princess’ or the boys as ‘mouseketeer’ and the life-sized 

Tigger posing with a favourite bear rather than trying to hug 

a skittish child whose mother may have talked a little too 

much about “stranger danger”. 

Disney has become so good at delivering what their customers 

want that they are now offering the Disney Institute for 

corporations to learn about the Disney models of customer 

service. If you are interested in attending one in person or 

virtually, go to www.disneyinstitute.com (another interesting 

stream of revenue, delivered virtually and in person). 

Website Marketing: Next time you are thinking of planning 

a vacation or just hanging out with your kids on the computer, 

visit www.Disney.com (Disney.ca is where you should go for 

Canadian travel specials). Learn from the best and duplicate 

some of their ideas to keep people on your site longer. 

How interesting is your site? Does it encourage your clients 

to stick around and return on a daily basis? What could be 

added so that this will happen? Are you taking advantage of 

social media sites that are free of charge yet encourage topof-mind 

awareness? 

Media/Public Relations: Disney started in 1955, 55 years 

ago. This year Disney launched the “Give A Day, Get A 

Day” volunteerism campaign. The initiative gives one free 

Disney park pass in return for one day of volunteering at 

a registered charity. It encourages families to volunteer and 

give back to their communities together and it subsequently 

has increased visits to their parks – brilliant in terms of a 

campaign to drive traffic to the parks as well as garner media 

‘Disney moments’ were not created 

with large investments of time or money. 

attention. This is also something most businesses can do in 

their own special way. Find a charity in your area that relates 

to your target market and look for a way to partner with 

them so that you both benefit. 

The press event for this initiative was very interesting 

because Disney did something different. Ahead of all of the 

Canadian media was a much larger group of “Social Media 

Moms”. What I found fascinating was that these were not 

large business websites backed by big corporations; these 

were moms at home whose blogs have attracted a lot of 

attention and traffic. Disney knows their influence is integral 

to reaching their target market. How much time have you 

spent blogging and if your business is something in the 

juvenile/mom arena, have you addressed this component 

of “new” media? Take a look at yoyomama or the Mother 

of All Blogs or Literary Mama for some examples of great 

Canadian bloggers. 

Disney Secrets: I would encourage you to start looking at 

bigger players like Disney when modeling your marketing 

plans or even business plans. Not only was this a once in a 

lifetime family vacation that we will never forget but I came 

back re-invigorated and ready to be more creative with my 

business initiatives. Hope you will, too! 

By Kathryn Bechthold 


usiness ManageMent 

From Procrastination to Productivity 

Author Barbara Hemphill said “Clutter is postponed 

decisions.” Whether we are overwhelmed with the tasks 

ahead, fear failure or are unwittingly suffering burnout, we 

have to face our demons and change what’s not working. 

It takes 21 days to make or break a habit, good or bad. 

Indecision or procrastination is sometimes irresistible 

especially under the burden of growing responsibilities. 

Just as bad, oscillating between days of paralyzed inertia 

or prioritizing other “important” activities – and then 

overcompensating by trying to do too much to catch up – 

can lead to major problems if not dealt with promptly. 

If you commit 21 days – or even a week – of your hectic life 

you can transform procrastination into prolific productivity. 

Now where can you start and more importantly, how can you 

change habits you may have lived with for too long? 

Look at the big picture 

As a busy Mompreneur, let’s assess where and how can you 

find extra time in your week while juggling business, family 

and social life despite difficult distractions which abound. 

Examine how you work so you can better organize your 

business, yourself and your family. They are all interwoven, 

Change your habits in just 21 days 

dramatically influencing one another. Once you know what 

drives you, you can make informed decisions. Set your 

priorities with your true divine calling in mind. What was 

your first vision of your business? Did you start your new 

venture with great intentions but got bogged down with the 

daily nitty-gritty of running a business? This can sometimes 

make us forget what we loved about the original idea. 

Exercise: Revisit your business plan. Look at those parts that 

may once again reignite that first spark of passion. Highlight 

those that resonate and excite you. Look at these every day 

for 21 days. You’ll be amazed at how invigorated you’ll start 

to feel. 

Where does your time go? 

By Tanya Freedman 

Many people confuse “busy” with “productive”. Do you feel 

you are too busy to get organized? This is about more than 

time management. This is about learning how to recognize 

where your time is going, revealing sources of procrastination 

and taking steps to eradicate them. 

Exercise: Create a daily time log (see the example on my 

website, tanyafreedman.com). For the next three weeks 

write down all the tasks you perform. Note every activity. 

You’ll see surprising patterns and hidden pockets of lost 


Examine how you work 

so you can better organize your business, 

yourself and your family. 

time such as when you’ve accomplished important tasks but 

underestimated the time they took. Then: 

• Use your time log to pool your activities by highlighting 

similar tasks or errands. 

• Devote one day to a list of similar activities rather than 

working on them over two or three mornings. You’ll 

have everything in that task group completed and avoid 

wasting time stopping and starting those activities on 

different days. 

• You can also choose a certain time of day to handle other 

activities such as returning phone calls. Your daily habits 

will become smoother and your week will start to fall into 

a rhythmic pattern of purposeful accomplishment. 

• Invest time in creating a practical, weekly meal menu and 

at the same time, an extensive grocery shopping list – and 

stick to this plan. Throughout the three weeks, choose a 

day or time for your shopping and add it to your schedule. 

You’ll eliminate unnecessary excursions that waste energy 

and money. 

These exercises will help 

you to create routines and plan 

your future projects more 

efficiently and effectively. 

Recognizing procrastination 

Delaying what you know needs to be done represents more 

than a lack of time or being disorganized. If you’re constantly 

feeling stressed, chronically tired, distracted or forgetful, or 

if you’ve lost that spark, you may be suffering from burnout. 

You may view your schedule as “busy but realistic”, but if the 

quicksand of too much activity is dragging you down, you’re 

in danger. Becoming aware of this empowers you to change. 

Exercise: Look at yourself objectively. Ask a trusted loved 

one to help you list ten observations that are hindering your 

progress in business or at home. List actions you can take 

over the next three weeks to address these observations. 

Exercise: How do you want to spend your time? 

• List ten strengths and ten weaknesses - both at home and 

in business. 

• List ten of your skills. 

• List your favourite and your least favourite activities. 

Which ones do you spend most time on because you enjoy 

them? Which ones do you do because you’re the only one 

who can do them? Are there any tasks you can hire out, 

delegate or barter? This will give you more quality time 

to concentrate on doing the things you love – like growing 

your business and being true to your real vision. It will also 

generate more time to spend with your family, guilt and 

stress-free. 

Exercise: Create rewards and incentives. What special 

incentives can you use to reward your small and large 

successes along the way? List ten or more incentives or treats 

you can look forward to. You may be impassioned about 

making enough money to hire help for the home or your 

business - write it down. It will keep you inspired and you’ll 

make it happen. 

Stay goal-oriented 

Creating goals will keep you on the right track. Think of 

the results you desire, your ultimate goals and write them 

down. During this 21-day challenge, focus on those actions 

that link directly to those goals. 

Exercise: Keep a notebook by your bed and at your desk to 

record new ideas. This will keep your thoughts clear and you 

won’t worry about forgetting any great ideas. Review your 

master long-term goals list every day. This will help make 

them happen. 

Start doing the things that are important to you, your family 

and your business. Give these exercises 21 days and you 

will move away from procrastination and towards greater 

productivity – and your goals! 

Tanya Freedman is author of “Start and Run an Art Teaching Business”, a teacher and advocate of self-help and self-love. For the 

past decade she’s been a mentor and speaker, especially for the youth and Mompreneurs across North America, and created a lifechanging 

Time Log. Visit her website: www.tanyafreedman.com 


gO Online 

Web Resources 

to Help with Legal Issues 

Opening, operating and even exiting your business 

requires a myriad of legal paperwork and decisions no 

matter how big or small your enterprise. Add other 

dimensions like employees, importing and exporting, 

protecting your intellectual property and other aspects 

that may be part of your business plan…and suddenly 

you’ve got a lot of red tape to cut through to make it 

all happen. 

Here are a few websites* that will help you make sense of 

provincial and federal small business legal requirements and 

find the documentation you need. 

• BizPal.ca – An online service run by Industry Canada to 

streamline the process of obtaining business permits and 

licenses. Get a personalized list of the business documents 

you need for every level of government—local through 

federal – tailored to your location. A Q&A wizard walks 

you through the permit and license process. 

• Cipo.ic.gc.ca – Go right to the source for intellectual 

property forms and information. Applications for 

copyrights, industrial design registration, trademarks 

and patents are available as well as links to the Canadian 

databases for these registries so you can conduct a search 

directly. 

• Lawdepot.com – Do-it-yourself legal business documents 

and templates. The templates are easy to use and produce 

print-ready documents personalized with the business 

details you provide. A wide range of documents are 

available from confidentiality agreements and employee 

contracts (starting at $15) to full incorporation packages 

($99 plus provincial filing fee). 

• Megadox.com – An extensive list of legal forms and 

documents. Find what you need for your specific industry 

or line of business. Fees range from free to $25 and the 

documents are fully editable after you purchase and 

download them. 

• Canada.findlegalforms.com – Business documents and 

forms that you can purchase and download in an instant. 

The General Business Forms Combo ($45.95) contains 

six of the most commonly required forms for operating a 

Canadian business. 

• bdc-canada.com – Business Development Centre 

specializes provides business registration and incorporation 

services including NUANS® searches (to compare a 

proposed business or trademark name to those already in 

existence), GST number registration and import/export 

registration. 

• Canadabusiness.ca – The Government of Canada’s site 

specifically for entrepreneurs! Ideas and information 

on buying a business, choosing a business name and how 

to register it, taxes and GST, and regulations, licenses 

and permits. 

*The information provided on these websites is not intended as legal 

advice. If you are unsure about procedures or issues concerning a legal 

matter with your business, consult a lawyer. 

.................. 

Do you know about a great website or online resource? 

Tell us so we can share it with others! 

Email editorial@themompreneur.com. 


Public or Private… 

What’s Best for Your Children? 

By Cindy Stephen 

Choosing the right school for your child is like strolling 

down the breakfast cereal aisle at your local supermarket. 

Should you go fruity and fun, staid and substantial, processed 

or organic? Whatever you choose, it has to be something 

your child will thrive on with lots of nutrition and a whole 

lot of flavour. Is it the public school variety, where a sense 

of community, tolerance and the spirit of cooperation are 

created and nurtured along with the curriculum? Or the 

private school package which is rich with attention and outof-the 

box thinking to develop leadership and connections? 

Both offer food for thought. 

With his green wool vest, white shirt and plaid tie, Elijah 

Willmott heads off to kindergarten. The cheerful six- 

year-old is proud to wear a uniform and is surprisingly 

boastful about the 30 minutes of homework he is required 

to do every night. 

Surprisingly, Elijah goes to a public school – Le Roi Daniels 

Elementary School in Calgary, one of 13 Traditional Learning 

Centres (TLC) offered by the Calgary Board of Education. 

It is academically rigorous, structured and orderly with high 

expectations for the students, right from the beginning. 

“I think the teaching style isn’t as repetitive. They don’t go 

over and over the same information so that the slow learners 

can keep up,” says Chuck Willmott, who pulled his son out 

of a regular program kindergarten when he became bored 

and disruptive. “Elijah seems to pay attention and do better 

in this environment.” 

The traditional learning model is the 

foundation for almost every private 

school in Canada, yet the demand for 

programs such as TLC in the public 

system is growing. 

The popularity of teacher-directed style learning is further 

evident in the growth of the publicly funded Foundations 

for the Future Charter Academy in Calgary. FFCA began 15 

years ago as a single school in rented space. Students were 

issued uniforms and discipline was rigid. FFCA is now a 

The traditional learning model offered by Calgary's 

Foundations for the Future Charter Academy is in such 

demand by parents that there is a wait list. The school 

is so popular that students may wait three or four years 

before placement is offered. 

seven campus conglomerate from kindergarten to Grade 12 

with an ever increasing wait list. 

“People are seeking something that is grounded and has some 

sense of structure and discipline. We’re exposed to so much 

these days. People are looking for rules and accountability,” 

says Susan Hazel, executive director of advancement at 

Collingwood School in West Vancouver, B.C. 

Alternative programs within public school systems across 

the country are on the rise. Arts and performance programs, 

second language, science and technology programs and 

sports curriculums are now available in almost every major 

Canadian city. For the past 15 years, the National Sports 

Academy has operated an elite athlete program in conjunction 

with the Calgary Board of Education allowing flexible classes 

for academics and daily workouts on the student’s sport 

of choice. 

Alternative programs are offered at selected sites across 

the city and students are generally bussed in. Yet the 

neighbourhood public school, where students walk to 

and from school and even go home for lunch, is still alive 

and well. 

...continued 


Photo courtesy of Foundations 

for the Future Charter Academy 

parenting

... parents are sure to find the 

right educational recipe ... 

Martha Reeve of Toronto chose to live in a neighbourhood 

with public schools because she wanted her children, ages 

15, 13 and 11, to attend school with their friends from 

their street. 

“I didn’t want to parachute our kids out of the neighbourhood. 

I felt strongly that I wanted them to enjoy their neighbourhood 

friendships, walking to school and coming home for lunch. 

Those were things that I did and that’s really important to 

me,” says Reeve, a home-based art consultant. 

“We encourage our kids to make the 

most of life and not whine when they get 

a teacher they don’t like. They’re going 

to have bosses at future jobs that aren’t 

perfect and that’s just life.” 

The Reeve children are encouraged to make their own 

decisions such as what clubs to join and what sports to play. 

As a result, says their mother, they are self-motivated and 

have become great advocates for themselves. 

Strolling arm in arm with your best friend down the block to 

school may be ideal for some. However, new private schools 

are opening every year to accommodate students who have 

fallen through the cracks in the public system. Alex Hahn, 

candidly lamenting the fact that high tuition bills kept the 

family from traveling during spring break, wouldn’t choose 

anything else for her children, ages 14, 12 and 9 years. 

“My son was diagnosed and given every label in the book 

and I totally believed them,” says Hahn, who runs the Yonge 

Street piano shop her grandfather founded in 1913. After 

a month at private school, his teachers re-labeled him as a 

creative, ‘big idea’ man. 

“They love him. They raised the bar and made him 

accountable for his success,” Hahn says passionately, adding 

that her eldest son is now at Lakefield College School near 

Peterborough, Ontario. “I thought my daughter would 

be fine in public school but when they were going to start 

making accommodations for her, I said ‘I’m so out of here’.” 

Karen Levitt of Calgary chose a private school for her two 

boys, Grades 7 and 4, for cultural reasons as much as for 

educational purposes. Far from family in her native Montreal, 

Levitt wanted her boys to learn Hebrew and study Judaic 

culture in addition to being challenged in their studies. 

“It’s extra enrichment,” says Levitt. “We live in a more 

Christian-based society so school is a way for them to form a 

better cultural understanding.” 

Diane Swiatek founded one of Calgary’s first private schools, 

Banbury Crossroads Independent School because, as a 

teacher, she wanted to teach in a different way. 

“Parents want choice too, and quite often their children’s 

needs are not being met where ever they are,” says Swiatek. 

“They tell me that large classes don’t meet their kid’s needs 

or that they cause other problems like bullying. Shy children 

are prone to suffering because they won’t ask for help. When 

I was teaching in the public system, there were kids at the 

end of the year that I still hadn’t had a decent conversation 

with,” she says. 

Susan Hazel of Collingwood School says another advantage 

of private schools is that the institution should focus on the 

same values you have as a family. “You and the teacher are 

usually on the same page,” she says. 

Class sizes are generally smaller at a private school, 

frequently with two teachers to a classroom. “They look for 


photo provided by Collingwood School

Students at Collingwood School, a private school in West Vancouver, B.C. 

signs that there are challenges or that a child isn’t happy. It’s 

very difficult for a child to fall through the cracks at a school 

like ours,” she emphasizes. 

Swiatek agrees that parents make philosophical choices when 

it comes to choosing a school. “They want the same values in 

the classroom as they have at home,” she says. “The element 

of choice is very important. We choose our dentist and our 

doctors – we choose other services – it feels like we’re part 

of a democracy,” says Swiatek. “I think it’s healthy to have 

schools other than those provided to us by the government.” 

The family budget often dictates what type of school your 

children will attend but with access to scholarships and 

bursaries, more families are able to access private education. 

Accredited private schools, operated on a non-profit basis, 

have access to some government funding which in turn 

reduces tuition. In a precedent setting move, five private 

Calgary Christian schools recently joined the Palliser School 

Division, a public board based in Lethbridge. Palliser offers 

an alternative program stream which includes faith-based 

education. 

With public schools developing new educational flavours and 

private schools becoming more financially palatable, parents 

are sure to find the right educational recipe to meet the taste 

of every child. 

All three of Martha Reeve’s children attend their neighbourhood 

public school in Toronto 

Cindy Stephen is a freelance writer and mother of six, 

all being educated in the public school system. She is 

a regular contributor to MOMpreneur ® . 


photo provided by the Reeve family

parenting 

Strategies for the Single Parent 

By Julie Freedman Smith and Gail Bell 

We regularly hear from single parents about the daily 

challenges that arise from not having another body to share 

the parenting load. For some, the burden of making all the 

decisions can be overwhelming; for others it is needing to 

be in more than one place at a time or feeling unsure about 

discipline. Regardless of the circumstances which resulted in 

your single parent family, we hope that the following tips will 

begin to make a difference in supporting your challenges. 

1. Support your child’s emotions 

Whether you have always parented on your own, are 

separated/divorced or are dealing with the death of a partner, 

your kids will face many emotional hurdles in their lifetimes. 

As parents, we often want to minimize the bad feelings our 

kids encounter so we turn to the facts to wash away the hurt. 

“You’re okay!” or “We’ve got lots to be thankful for!” may be 

whispered into ears in an effort to distract our kids from the 

struggles they are facing. If our kids are 18 months or older, 

those words could easily lead to one of two situations: 

• Your child getting even more upset (tantrums, screaming, 

slamming of doors). 

• Your child learning that you don’t really want them to 

share their feelings with you. 

Instead of trying to push down emotions, show your support 

by staying quiet and allowing your child to voice their 

feelings. Naming the emotion and showing empathy is a 

great start to supporting your child. We can rarely fix what 

is wrong, but we can show that we are there with love and a 

hug to help them through the difficulty. 

2. Support yourself 

The airline recommendation to put on your own oxygen 

mask before those of your children is an incredibly relevant 

piece of parenting advice. No oxygen for mom means no 

mom! Single parent or not – we cannot care for someone else 

if we aren’t healthy enough to do it. Establishing a support 

team is invaluable and with more than one person on that 

team it can decrease your fear of abusing any single friend or 

family member. You will need: 

a) Someone to whom you can vent your day-to-day 

frustrations. 

b) Someone who can be there when you are stuck at work or 

too sick to get out of bed. 

c) Someone with similar values who can bounce parenting 

ideas around with you. 

d) Someone to be with your kids so that you can carve a 

little ‘me’ time. 

e) A couple of other “someones” for when the above people 

are busy with their own lives. 

3. Get rid of the guilt 

Photo by Janet Pliszka at visualhues.com 

When we feel guilty, our parenting suffers. We allow 

misbehaviour that we wouldn’t normally tolerate, we agree 

to things we normally wouldn’t and we then feel angry with 

ourselves and our kids as a result. What’s more, we usually 

feel guilty about our anger and the cycle continues. 



Sarah Lund Photography 

Guilt happens when our reality doesn’t meet our expectations. 

Whether it is about our parenting, our relationships, the size 

of our thighs or the nutrient value of the meal we prepared, 

when we learn to bring our expectations closer to the reality, 

we will decrease the guilt which will automatically help our 

parenting. 

4. Take time to grieve 

Letting go of the expectations we had can be very difficult. 

We were going to be the best parent ever. We were going 

to be successful at whatever we did. We were going to make 

healthy meals all the time. We were going to volunteer for 

every fieldtrip for each of our children… We need to let go 

of those dreams we once had and grieve the loss. This will 

create space and energy in our hearts and minds to align our 

expectations with our realities and will enable us to move 

forward one baby step at a time. 

5. Let your kids do more 

Single parent or not, we often do for our kids what they can 

do for themselves. Why do we do it? It is easier and faster and 

we feel purposeful in helping our kids. The crazy thing is, we 

aren’t really helping. When we over do for our kids we are 

being demeaning to them – we are literally removing their 

meaning or their sense of purpose. People gain a sense of self 

by trying things, succeeding or failing and then learning and 

trying again. If kids are not given the opportunity to try, they 

will not expand their sense of self. 

See your kids as they are right now and figure out what they 

can be doing for themselves. It will free up some of your time 

so you can work on what really needs to be done. 

6. Accept differences 

Whenever we are part of a duo, there will be differences of 

opinion. This happens to couples who are together, work 

partners and any other team. Whether you are sharing the 

parenting of your children with your ‘ex’ or your support 

team, there will always be differences. This is especially true 

when you and your child’s other parent are living in different 

homes. The only behaviour anyone can change is their 

own. Save the battles for the really important “values” stuff 

and let some of the smaller differences pass by. You don’t 

live together anymore so work together as best you can to 

support your kids even if you and your ex don’t agree on the 

way to do this or that. Refer to team member (a) from Tip #2 

when you need to get rid of some steam. 

Parenting is never easy. It is definitely worth it. So find a 

way to model assertiveness (asking for what you need in a 

respectful way) and show your kids that you respect yourself 

and support yourself which will teach them to do the same. 

Julie Freedman Smith and Gail Bell provide tools for real life parenting through their company, Parenting Power . 

Using over 40 years of combined experience, they work with parents across the country through telephone coaching 

and teleconferences to ease the stress and guilt of parents while providing practical solutions to everyday parenting 

challenges. Visit www.parentingpower.ca to ask your own parenting questions to be answered in future columns for the 

MOMpreneur ® Magazine. 


Photo by Janet Pliszka at visualhues.com

health 

Keep your Home and Office Clean…Naturally! 

5 easy tips to try 

By Dianna Gallant 

Natural cleaning may seem a little overwhelming as you 

prepare to take that first step away from conventional 

cleaning products in which a pungent synthetic fragrance 

automatically signals a sense of ‘clean’. However, as awareness 

grows about harmful chemicals and their negative effects to 

human health and the environment, we begin to question 

these potentially harmful cleaners and actively seek a natural 

solution. This change is one of the most important decisions 

you will make for the loved ones in your home and office. 

As a very busy woman, where should you begin? Here are 

five easy tips to make the transition to natural cleaning! 

Tip #1: Find a natural cleaner 

There is an abundant number of green cleaning products 

on the market. Ignore misleading propaganda and look 

at the ingredient list. If this list is missing or contains the 

all-encompassing word “fragrance”, which can refer to as 

many as 600 different chemicals in the formula (and 95% of 

chemicals used in fragrances are derived from petroleum), 

keep shopping. 

Products that disclose all ingredients and are plant-based, 

biodegradable, chlorine/ammonia/phosphate free with 

no synthetic dyes or fragrances are good choices. Another 

great alternative is to make your own cleaning products with 

natural ingredients you may already have in your home. 

Vinegar, baking soda, lemons, hydrogen peroxide and salt as 

well as essential oils can be used in a variety of combinations 

to clean up any mess. This is also a great opportunity to 

let children help out around the house without the fear of 

handling harmful chemicals. 

Tip #2: Don’t clean a lot, 

just clean often 

This is the ultimate secret to cleaning your home naturally! 

Instead of letting things pile up and wait until “cleaning day” 

keep on top of the daily mess. This proactive way of cleaning 

will not require harsh chemicals to combat stains, soap scum 

or tough dried on food. It will reduce the number of toxic 

chemicals in your home and make cleaning more enjoyable 

when there is less to clean at one time. 

Clearing clutter is also an important process that goes 

hand in hand with natural cleaning. Organizing is not only 

about having less to clean but is also about finding clarity 

in our physical surroundings and our minds. Similarly, 

natural cleaning is not only about cleaning but also about 

experiencing peace of mind by knowing our homes and 

offices are toxic-free. 

Tip #3: Take care of modern 

dust naturally 


Regular dusting is an important way to keep your home 

and office naturally clean. Forget using dusting polishes in 

aerosol cans. Instead, microfiber cloths make cleaning less 

toxic because they have the ability to clean, dust and polish 

without the use of any cleaning chemicals. Most of the dust 


Houseplants … can remove up to 

90% of indoor pollution within two days. 

in our homes should not be worrisome, however dust can 

give synthetic chemicals something to stick to and thereby 

becoming toxic. Studies have found that controlling dust 

and maintaining a somewhat dust-free home reduces our 

exposure to household toxins. 

Tip #4: Bring plants indoors 

The Environmental Protection Agency claims that indoor 

air is one of the top five environmental risks to human health. 

The levels of pollutants can be two to five times higher inside 

than out. Considering the average person spends 90% of 

their time indoors this is something that needs to be changed. 

A great way to freshen up the air inside your home or 

office is to place a plant in a room where you spend most 

of your time. Houseplants such as spider plants, peace lilies, 

or Boston ferns can remove up to 90% of indoor pollution 

within two days. Plants continuously take carbon dioxide 

and other toxins out of the air and replenish the room with 

oxygen…now that’s a breath of fresh air! 

Tip #5: Go easy on disinfectants and 

antibacterial cleaners 

Did you know that a product can only be labeled as an 

antibacterial or disinfectant after it is registered as a pesticide 

with the Environmental Protection Agency? Did you also 

know that some bacteria are naturally beneficial to our 

body’s ecosystem and killing them can damage your skin 

and immune system? If you use a proactive approach to 

cleaning, you can keep your home clean without using harsh 

disinfectants that will become less effective when they are 

really needed. 

With these five natural cleaning tips you can start your 

journey into natural cleaning with confidence. Let the 

benefits to your health, your family’s health and the positive 

impact on the environment motivate you! 

Dianna Gallant is currently a stay-at-home 

mom and founder of Modern Betty, an allnatural 

line of cleaning products. With a BA 

in English and pending Education degree, 

her passion is to spread awareness 

about keeping homes clean as well as 

safe and toxic-free through her website: 

www.mbnaturalcleaning.com. 



self iMprOveMent 

Are You Living S M A R T? 

By Carolyn Gough 


As a woman, mother, partner, friend, business owner and 

volunteer, are you currently living your life’s priorities? Or 

have you lost track of what is important to you and how to 

get there, in the busyness of everyday life? 

It is possible to prioritize and fulfill those priorities so that 

you can regain control of the direction of your life. 

The first place to start is to get real and get honest with 

yourself. Break through the constraints of self-imposed and 

societal expectations and decide what is important to you. 

Look at all areas of your life, including spiritual, family, 

financial, health and wellness and write down how you see 

the “big picture”. It’s important to be aware of the reasoning 

behind setting each goal – are you pursuing the right goal 

for the right reason? Start with generalities and then narrow 

down your intentions to specifics. For example, say you 

wish to have better health and wellness in your life. That 

is a very general statement so next you would write down 

that you need to get more active and eat more nutritious 

foods to become more healthy and to reduce your weight. 

The following step would be to decide how to become more 

active, what foods to incorporate into your meals and what is 

a healthy weight for you. You then would go further into the 

specifics and start living S M A R T. 

S M A R T is an acronym for a process of turning your 

priorities and intentions into concrete goal setting. After 

all, having intentions is wonderful but how are you going to 

accomplish them? Major goals are those “big picture” items 

that need to be supported by setting smaller objectives. 

S M A R T stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, 

Rewarding and Timely. 

• Specific objectives are detailed and by nature of the goal, 

may include several steps that need to written down. 

• Measurable means that the goal/objective can have 

its progress measured with specific criteria on when it 

is reached. 

• Your goals need to be attainable, realistic with reasonable 

odds that they can be completed with a degree of challenge. 

• Make the completion of your goals rewarding so that 

there are specific reasons for the completion and what the 

expected reward will be. 

• Finally, goal setting must be timely. The goal/objective 

needs to have a definite time limit so that you won’t 

procrastinate or spend too much time on it. 

Remember to have persistence in sticking to your major 

goals but have flexibility in achieving your objectives – don’t 

change the end, change the means if necessary. 

The second important part of setting your goals is to list 

possible obstacles or challenges and their possible solutions. 

This helps you to identify potential conflicts and allows you 

to be proactive when interferences arise. 

Here are some other tips when 

goal setting: 

• State your goals as positive statements. Statements 

beginning with “I will” or “I intend” powerfully influence 

your subconscious. Successful people clearly know what 

they want and think about how to get it while unsuccessful 

people tend to think and talk about what they don’t want 

with negative thoughts and who is to blame. 

• Set performance goals rather than outcome goals. 

• Have one simple and one difficult goal at any given time. 

• Have one short-term and one long-term goal at any given 

time. Spread out completion dates. 

• Strive for balance across all areas of your life. 

• Rather than asking “what is more important right now,” 

ask yourself “what am I going to focus on right now?” 

This goes back to your priorities and prioritizing what is 

important to you. 

As you begin to live your life according to fulfilling your 

goals, take time to review the outcomes. If you achieved 

a particular goal too easily, make the next one more 

challenging. Conversely, if a goal took too long to achieve 

(and you felt dispirited), make the next one a little easier. If 

you learned something that would lead you to change other 

goals/objectives, do so. If you need to improve on skills that 

enable you to achieve a goal more effectively or efficiently, 

do that as well. If a goal no longer holds attraction, let it 

go. Not reaching a goal is not failure as long as you learned 

lessons from it and can incorporate the lesson(s) into your 

next goal. 

By reaching objectives and continually working on goals, 

you will build self confidence and you will be on your way 

to living a conscious, S M A R T life. Think deeply, dream 

greatly and take action immediately! 

Carolyn Gough is a Professional Organizer and Priority Coach who has been “Enabling People to Envision and Achieve a Lifestyle 

of Order and Calm” since 2005. Carolyn understands the multiple demands on women and works with her clients to refocus 

on what is important to them and how to simplify, so that they are living their life’s true intentions. View her monthly videos at 

www.breathingspaceorganizing.ca. 


technOlOgy 

Your New Business Partner: 

Your Cell Phone 

Increase your business productivity today 

By Dan Burrus 

In the early days of cell phones, they were used merely 

for talking. Today cell phones have a myriad of other 

applications - daily organizer, music player, camera, GPS 

system, and news and weather device. But that's just the 

tip of the iceberg. In the very near future, cell phones will 

also be people's banks, credit card, keys, remote control and 

video conferencing platform, just to name a few. 

To stay competitive, businesses need to look beyond what the 

cell phone is today and anticipate where it will be tomorrow. 

You have to ask yourself, "How is the cell phone changing my 

customers?" "What new service could I deliver on a mobile 

platform?" Or, "How are these beyond-voice-capabilities 

changing my customers' customers?" 

The fact is that if you don't change with your customers, 

they won't be your customers for much longer because 

most customers are changing rapidly. Are you changing 

and learning as fast as your customers are? Because today's 

technology is rapidly evolving, you have to go beyond 

keeping up. Rather, you need to jump ahead based on what 

you know will happen. 

07734 

Driving technological change 

There are three driving forces creating exponential 

technological change: 

1. Processing power doubles every 18 months as it drops 

in price. 

2. Storage capacity doubles increasingly rapidly, too. 

3. Faster speeds and higher bandwidth are available and 

also increasing. 

With greater processing power, your cell phone can go 

online and perform searches faster. Phone companies are 

continually upgrading their network so the 3G network 

becomes the 4G network. In less than a year, processing 

power, storage capability and speed have all doubled and 

next year they will double again making the cell phone as 

powerful as your current desktop computer. 

Additionally, businesses need to look at other countries to 

see what they're doing. As North Americans, we tend to 

think we're the first with technology but that isn't always the 

case and it's definitely not the case with cell phones. Whereas 

we have multiple standards for cell phone technology, many 

other countries have one national standard so everyone's 

phone works the same enabling them to roll out new cell 

phone innovations much more quickly than we can. 

The bottom line is that smart businesses will start seeing 

the certainty of technological change of cell phones and 

will recognize the opportunities that lie within. Following 

are some current and coming cell phone uses to be aware of 

and using. 


Current uses 

Mobile travel: Currently some airports allow you to use 

your cell phone as your boarding pass. You simply download 

your boarding pass onto your phone. When you approach 

security, you pull up the barcode of your virtual boarding 

pass and swipe your cell phone under security's scanner. You 

can then go through security and board your plane without 

a paper ticket. 

Mobile media: You probably already have music on your cell 

phone and you may even have television programming. Now 

businesses can disperse training and education to employees 

as part of that mobile media. While an employee is waiting 

in an airport for a flight, she can download the latest training 

information right from her phone. 

Mobile management: Need to know where your salespeople 

or delivery drivers are at all times? We all have triangulation 

or GPS as part of our cell phones. Programs such as Looped 

for the iPhone allow you, with permission, to bring up a map 

and see where your employees are located right now. This 

program was developed for personal use so that friends and 

family could see where each other is but businesses can now 

use it to locate employees, drivers or anyone else who leaves 

the office for extended periods of time. 

Future uses 

The number of wireless subscribers in Canada reached 

20.3 million in 2007 compared to 13.3 million in 2003. 

Mobile finance: In the near future, you'll be able to do 

banking on your cell phone such as doing money transfers 

to other people because other countries are already doing 

it. For example, in Kenya, they have a mobile phone system 

where, if someone owes you money, they can use their cell 

phone to transfer money from their account to yours. 

Mobile commerce: There are places in the world where you 

can pay for your restaurant, auto service, groceries, parking 

Source: Industry Canada 

meters or any other item with your cell phone - without 

using a credit card. To prevent fraud, cell phones will have 

biometric ID capabilities that can detect everything from 

the user's fingerprint to voice pattern and facial recognition. 

Such measures are actually far more secure than using a 

credit card. 

Mobile customer service: As mega stores dominate the 

landscape, shoppers need more access to customer service 

personnel. Imagine a customer being in a huge warehouse 

type store and being able to use her cell phone to pull up 

a map of the store and locate the nearest customer service 

person. Or even better, imagine that customer being able to 

touch an icon on her cell phone screen which automatically 

lets the customer service rep know where she is and that she 

needs help. The technology to do this exists today; it's simply 

a matter of businesses applying it to this scenario. 

Opportunity is calling 

The possibilities for tomorrow's cell phones are limitless. 

Over the next few years, cell phone apps (applications) will 

grow exponentially. To stay ahead, your company needs to 

develop internal tools or apps for your employees that can 

give your organization competitive advantage. Developing 

an app is relatively inexpensive and can work on iPhones, 

BlackBerries and Smartphones. 

Ultimately, as we move into the future of cell phone 

technology, the goal is to get businesspeople to not just 

“crisis manage” in the present but to “opportunity manage” 

for the future. When you can start viewing your cell phone 

in that capacity, you'll be connected to a whole new world 

of business that can make a significant impact on your 

company's bottom line. 

Dan Burrus is considered one of the world’s leading technology forecasters and strategists and is the Founder and CEO of Burrus Research, a research 

and consulting firm that helps clients better understand how technological, social and business forces are creating enormous, untapped opportunities. 

Dan developed the first cell phone business application that allows the user to generate a business plan. www.burrus.com. 


OOkshelf 

The Bookshelf 

Business 

End Procrastination Now! by William Knaus 

For many of us, procrastination is a complex personal challenge that is much easier 

said than done to overcome. It’s one of those bad habits that most certainly results in 

undesirable consequences but the relief we get from postponing challenging work, 

difficult decisions or unpleasant tasks reinforces our decision to ‘do it later’. Take a 

closer look at the reasons for procrastination and then learn how to adopt a do-it-now 

approach and get things done. Clear, straightforward steps supported by practical tips 

and ideas will help you leave procrastination behind…sooner rather than later! 

Make Sure It’s Deductible: Little-Known Tax Tips 

for Your Canadian Small Business by Evelyn Jacks 

This practical, easy-to-read guide is brought to us by one of Canada’s leading tax 

advisors with a wealth of experience in helping entrepreneurs take control of the 

taxes they pay. Each chapter covers a number of key concepts illustrated by reallife 

case studies with problems familiar to Canadian small business owners. Even 

if you have been in business for a while, you may not be taking advantage of all 

your tax savings opportunities. Be sure you aren’t paying more tax than legally 

required – it makes ‘cents’! 

Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton by Rebecca Shambaugh 

Hillary Clinton is the very model of a successful leader. Respected the world over, this remarkable 

woman has used her resilience to survive and even thrive through personal and professional crises. 

Today she holds one of the most important political positions on the planet, U.S. Secretary of 

State. Whether you agree or disagree with her political stance, there is much to learn from her 

about inspirational, effective leadership. Tap into your own resilience so you can bounce back from 

challenges and adversity and learn how to create a “personal brand” that people want to get behind. 

What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell 

As a staff writer at The New Yorker, Gladwell (who grew up in rural Ontario) has 

written countless thought-provoking essays; this book is a compilation of his best. 

With a knack for uncovering and brilliantly relating the “interior life of other 

people’s day-to-day work”, he offers a glimpse into the minds of a startling array 

of fascinating characters by looking not just at what they do but what their thought 

processes are behind what they do. Meet Ron Popeil who sold the Chop-o-Matic, and 

infamous ‘dog whisperer’ Cesar Millan among others. He explores intelligence tests, 

homelessness and ethnic profiling and will make you curious about things you might 

not have thought about before – like why doesn’t ketchup come in a variety of flavours? 


Parenting 

The World Needs Your Kid: How to Raise Children 

Who Care and Contribute by Craig Kielburger, Marc Kielburger and Shelley Page 

Brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger, founders of the international charity Free The 

Children, learned through not-so-typical childhoods that they could make a difference to 

their community – that small actions do indeed make a difference to the lives of others. Their 

experiences around the world and with millions of youth have taught them that every child 

has something special to share and that the world needs their gift. Through this inspiring, 

colourful guide, the Kielburgers coach parents on nurturing responsible global citizenship and 

building the confidence your kids need to actively take part in the world and make it better. 

Kids 

You Make the Difference in Helping Your Child Learn 

by Ayala Manolson with Barbara Ward and Nancy Dodington 

How you connect with your pre-school aged children affects how they feel about themselves 

and how they learn. This engaging, illustrated guide teaches you how to be a “tuned-in parent” 

while still being able to accomplish all of the things you need to do through your day. With 

lots of simple yet strong examples and ideas for positive communication and interaction, the 

authors get to their key points quickly but with warmth and clarity. This book saves lives! 

It’s a gem! 

Let’s Fix Dinner by Todd Parr 

Award-winning author and illustrator Todd Parr uses his unmistakable style and wit to 

deliver a message to children about the importance of family mealtime. There’s no end 

to the good things that can happen when kids and parents fix dinner together… 

Beans! By Nicole Frank and Megan Stock 

You Are Sooooo Beautiful: 

Empowering Self-Esteem for 

ages 4 to 104! by Leanne Power 

Where does our self-esteem come from and how 

does it grow? How do we learn to see the beauty in 

our differences? Follow Marley Rae as she grows 

up and learns what true beauty is. Lessons from her 

loving Auntie and from the world around her help 

her to see that beauty lies in our uniqueness and it 

shines from the inside out. Sure to be a classic from 

this first-time author. 

This book is part of the Frankenstock Sound Booster Series developed by 

registered speech-language pathologists to provide kids with a colourful, 

durable book that stimulates sound awareness and speech skills. You’ll enjoy 

reading this book with your child and will benefit from the valuable speech and 

literacy information the authors have included for parents. Beans! focuses on 

the letter ‘b’ – look for the others in this series that cover first speech sounds. 



Subscribe to 

MOMpreneur ® today! 



Things we love! 

Put Your Mug on a Mug – Stainless steel travel mugs 

and aluminum water bottles personalized with names, fun 

sayings, colourful designs and caricatures - there will be no 

mistaking what belongs to who! Check out their Classic 

“Wow! It’s ME!” t-shirts too. Mugs $28, 500ml bottles $22. 

Kathyandkimoriginals.com 

Load Your Wall with Colour – Funky art to dress up the 

walls of a bedroom, playroom or anywhere else you need an 

injection of colour. This is real art – not computer generated 

- produced on paper or canvas. Go online to see how 

different prints look together and create your own unique 

gallery. From $21.47 for 9”x9” paper print to $179.67 for 

24”x24” gallery wrapped and signed canvas. Bobokai.com 

Not Your Average Blooms – Unique baby clothing flower 

arrangements you can order online and have delivered to a 

new mom or mom-to-be! Baby bouquets are a combination 

of baby garments - many made from organic cotton – rolled 

into ‘flowers’ and arranged amongst silk flowers. The 

bouquets bloom with onesies, sleepers, blankets, socks, hats, 

bibs and more. $29.99 and up. Babybouquetsandgifts.com 

Worlds of Wisdom – Not your ordinary journal! The 

colourful patchwork cover is made from recycled fabric 

and holds handmade jute paper inside for note taking and 

list making. A fair trade product 

made by artisans from Bangladesh. 

Available at Ten Thousand Villages. 

$24. tenthousandvillages.ca 

(Great) Instant Coffee – We love our coffee but like other 

Mompreneurs, there’s not always time to brew that fresh 

pot before you have to fly out the door…and who wants to 

put up with instant? Well, now we do! We gave VIA ® Ready 

Brew from Starbucks a try and it’s a strong competitor for 

the regular brewed version – great for when you’re in a hurry 

or just want one cup instead of a whole pot. 12-pack $11.95. 

Starbucks.ca 

Watch for this symbol – it identifies a Mompreneur product or business! 

Have you come across an item that you think is MOMpreneur® Market-worthy? Let us know! 

Send your suggestions to editorial@themompreneur.com along with any product information (website, images, etc.) 

you have. 



MOMpreneur ® ’s Market

the Marketplace 

Ecommerce 

2CreativeMonkeys 

Personalized, one of 

a kind, custom, photo 

birth announcements, 

invitations, holiday 

cards, photo gift 

tags and much more. Share your 

little ones with the world! Visit us at 

www.2creativemonkeys.com for a full 

range of products and designs. 

BabyGrins Online Baby 

& Toddler Store 

As a mom owned company we know that 

quality counts! When choosing products 

we look for Modern, Unique & Practical. 

Careful consideration has gone into each 

product to ensure they meet YOUR 

expectations! 

Email: manager@babygrins.ca 

Toll Free: 1-866-970-2229 

http://www.babygrins.ca/ 

Barley Sugar Creations 

Unique Gift Baskets for every occasion 

A local gift basket company that takes the 

guess work out of gifting – gift baskets are 

filled with fresh ideas and elegant touches 

that sends the exact message you want to 

the receiver 

www.barleysugarcreations.com 

Crock A Doodle 

Paint-it-yourself pottery 

Crock A Doodle brings people together to 

create, laugh and share at pottery-painting 

parties and events in the community. We 

come to your location and manage the 

event from start to brilliant finish. 

416-358-7374 

www.crockadoodle.com 

or milena@crockadoodle.com 

DaBaby Inc. 

100% Canadian born and raised. Our 

infant and toddler apparel is cute, funny 

and edgy. Designed by us, made for 

you. DaBaby is contemporary clothing, 

for your extraordinary baby. Wholesale 

inquiries welcome, we ship worldwide! 

Phone: 780.756.5688 

Toll free: 1.888.533.2583 

www.dababy.ca 

Dimples Baby Accessories: 

Dimples Baby is an Alberta based business 

offering upscale baby accessories made 

in Canada & USA. These accessories 

offer high quality without paying the 

huge markup prices at your traditional 

baby boutiques. Brands include 

SwaddleDesigns (USA); BabyLegs (USA), 

Bizoux Bizoux (Canada) & Pippalily 

(Canada). Dimples Baby also provides a 

Gift Registry service and customers can 

host an E-Party and earn FREE baby 

products. 

www.dimplesbaby.ca 

La Bebe Boutique 

A new baby boutique in the French 

Quarter of Edmonton. Come and 

experience our relaxed French Canadian 

shopping atmosphere. We feature unique 

Canadian clothing and accessories for 

ages newborn to six years. Mention you 

saw this ad in The MOMpreneur® and 

receive this fabulous offer!!! $10 off your 

$75 purchase or $5 off your $50 purchase 

(Valid from July 2010 to December 1, 

2010). La Bebe Boutique, 8627 - 91 

Street, Edmonton, Alberta. 

780-465-7150 

www.labebeboutique.ca 

Little Footprints 

Canada's on-line shop offering Planet 

Friendly Fun for Kids of All Ages. Our 

toys are made by companies that are 

environmentally sensitive and ethically 

responsible. Gift wrapping and free 

shipping offered. 

1(877)406-5858 

www.littlefootprintstoys.com 

Luvali Convertibles 

Our convertible bags change to 3+ looks! 

Change your bag to suit your wardrobe, 

style or mood. With our reversible kids' 

hats and reversible organic onesies - be a 

lion one moment, a monkey the next! 

(905)618-0424 

www.luvali.ca 

Money Smart Mom 

Money Smart Mom: Financially Fit 

Parenting is a guide for Canadian families 

in need of a little money smarts. With 

advice from a mom of three who has been 

there, done that financially, plus tips from 

dozens of other moms, Money Smart 

Mom will help your family get on the 

right track financially. 

sarah@moneysmartmom.ca 

www.moneysmartmom.ca 

MuralMom.Com 

Make your child's room your own 

masterpiece! 

(519)716-6240 

info@muralmom.com 

www.muralmom.com 


Noinkee’s Inc 

Funktional Fashion and Accessories for 

Women, Moms 2b, children and infants. 

Most items are organic, fair trade, earth 

friendly, or Made in Canada. Shop our 

on-line store at www.noinkees.com 

(519)855-4496 

PetitiePosh.Com 

Online baby store for unique gifts and 

stylish essentials. 

(416)575-1886 

www.petiteposh.com 

Pixie Dust Kids 

Personalized children's blankets and 

towels. 

Fun and Fashionable for your little ones. 

Play and Learn Toys: 

www,playandlearntoys.ca 

Made in Canada 

www.pixiedustkids.ca 

Play and Learn Toys offers High 

Quality Toys that promote Learning & 

Development and are safe to use by those 

we care about. We have unique German 

brands like Grimms & Heros that are 

not widely available across Canada and 

are proud to offer such a wide selection 

of their products which are made of 

very high quality and non toxic paints & 

materials. We carry a range of well-known 

brands of upscale toys without having to 

pay the huge markups as in traditional 

specialty stores. Play & Learn Toys 

also offers a Gift Registry service and 

customers can host an E-Party to earn 

FREE toys at our store. 

Tap Peques 

Online bookstore specialized in children’s 

books in Spanish and bilingual (English- 

Spanish/Spanish-English). Ages: 0-18 

years. We provide an opportunity for 

children to experience the enjoyment 

of reading, learning and practicing their 

skills in Spanish. 

(905)257-4532 

www.tappeques.com 

Wee Peeps Boutique 

Chic Baby Accessories 

(905)665-8483 

www.myweepeeps.com 

Wee Piggies and Paws 

Edmonton's first beautiful Life Casts of 

children's hands and feet that capture 

every adorable wrinkle. Check out our 

website for our Edmonton/Sherwood 

Park locations. 

“...because they grow up so fast!” 

www.weepiggies.com 

Ecologically Friendly 

Norwex Enviro Products – Tracey 

Carnell, Independent Consultant 

- Calgary 

Norwew offers an effective way of 

cleaning without chemicals. Kill 99.9% of 

bacteria by using our microfiber with just 

water alone. To find out more or to learn 

how get free products contact me today! 

(403)510-8470 

www.norwexmom.com 

Norwex Enviro Products – Calgary 

Silver, thread count, quality, enzymes. 

These are all things that make the Norwex 

products and microfiber “threads above 

the rest”. I am passionate in providing you 

with good service and amazing products. 

(780)461-6123 

THATNorwexgirl@shaw.ca 

Only Green - Edmonton 

What steps are you taking towards living 

a GREEN LIFESTYLE?? Every little 

step makes a difference!! I would love to 

help you make this transition as seamless 

as possible. I will do this by showing you 

a greener product alternative that are 

similar to the everyday items you need 

and love. Our products are cost effective 

and have been quality tested. There is 

finally an easier way to purchase you 

natural, healthy and/or ecologicallyfriendly 

products all at one place!! Contact 

Michelle and Kris Harvey 

(780)939-6459 

onlygreen@live.ca 

www.onlygreenproduct.com 

Health, Wellness 

and Beauty 

Arbonne International 

Pure, Safe & Beneficial products for the 

entire family! 

(780)817-5269 

www.andreacrago.myarbonne.ca 

or andrea.crago@gmail.com 

Fit Your STyle 

Embracing body, beauty, mind and spirit! 

(905)910-1267 

www.fityourstyle.com 

Isagenix 

World leader in Nutritional Cleansing 

(416)553-2387 

Isa.mom@live.com 

It Works 

Need to tighten 

and tone your 

skin? Reduces wrinkles? Fade stretch 

marks? Or shrinks spongy cellulite 

prone parts of your body? Give your 

curves more definition with the Ultimate 

Body Applicator & Defining Gel - The 

Slimming Wrap & Gel Team! The It 

Works opportunity and product line are 

cutting edge in dealing with everyday 

concerns including—money, appearance, 

stress, pain, health and weight loss. 

Become a LOYAL CUSTOMER and 

SAVE! Visit www.TrimInchesCanada.com 

403-285-7613 

britt@TrimInchesCanada.com 

Oxygen Mask 

Adjust your thoughts to adjust your 

waistline for good! Workbook and 

seminars. 

(403)680-7200 

ecastle@shaw.ca 

www.o2mask.com 

www.weightmanagementbook.com 

Add your company to our directory. 

Contact Alison Matthews at the MOMpreneur ® 

phone: 403-990-7710 or email: a.matthews@themompreneur.com 


Shades Brighter 

Cosmetic Teeth Whitening 

SimpLee Serene 

Wellness for your Home & Spirit 

(866) 661-5557 

Be inspired and empowered to transform 

your Home & Spirit through Solution 

Focused Life Coaching, Nikken 

Independent Consulting & Feng Shui. 

Your home can make you Healthier & 

Wealthier. 

(403)680-0520 

www.simpleeserene.com 

USANA Health Services 

Nutrition, the cornerstone of optimal 

health as a daily diet must provide the 

essential nutrients for proper cell function. 

USANA’s products ensure that you are 

following a truly successful nutrition and 

wellness program. Learn what USANA 

can do for your Health & Wealth today. 

www.unifyinghealth.usana.com 

Networking 

Entrepreneurial Moms is a growing 

family of local networking communities 

committed to fantastic moms who strive 

to have it all. Our Calgary chapter 

(EMC)meets monthly, and Edmonton, 

Saskatoon, and Toronto chapters open in 

2009. Please contact us if you’re interested 

in membership or chapter leadership 

in these communities. Together, we are 

greater than the sum of our parts! 

Entrepreneurial Moms 

Connecting Moms Who Dream Big 

http://www.entrepreneurialmoms.org 

christie@entrepreneurialmoms.ca 

momcafé 

momcafé is 

connecting and 

inspiring like-minded women through 

regular breakfast meetings, seminars 

and special events, and access to online 

resources. momcafé is designed to support 

the dialogue between educated, savvy 

women who are striving to balance 

their lives. 

Vancouver: 604-290-4236 

Calgary: 403-519-9783 

info@momcafe.net 

www.momcafe.net 

Personal and Business 

Services 

CALM Distribution 

A client-focused group dedicated to 

acquiring innovative, quality products for 

distribution throughout Canada and the 

world. 

(647)500-CALM (2256) 

www.calmdistribution.com 

Creative Memories 

Digital & traditional scrap booking 

products available or send photos, pick a 

theme and I will create a storybook for 

you. Don’t forget there is always a way to 

remember. 

403-850-9822 

www.mycmsite.com/crystalbeatty 

Fit for Business 

A Personal Trainer For All Aspects of 

Your Company – Business Consulting 

(647)287-0320 

www.fitforbusiness.ca 

The Ford 

Group 

Bookkeeping, taxation, small business 

consulting 

(289)464-1001 or 1 (877)49-QBPRO 

michael@thefordgroup.ca 

www.thefordgroup.ca 

Glow Marketing 

Specializing in marketing to Moms in 

a meaningful way. Tailored marketing 

solutions for online, retail and service 

based companies that want to attract 

Moms in Canada and the U.S. We also 

provide websites, logos, marketing 

coaching, project management and online 

marketing packages. 

403-618-7458 

sharole@glowmarketing.ca 

www.GlowMarketing.ca 

Lice Squad Canada 

Lice Squad Canada 

provides onsite head lice 

removal, identification 

and education services. 

Our pesticide free 

solution and expertise will have you 

and your family lice free faster and 

safer than conventional methods. We 

have franchises across Canada to serve you 

and opportunities to become a part of our 

team. Call our head lice help line now to 

see how we may be of assistance. 

888 Lice squad (542-3778) 

or visit www.licesquad.com 

Pack It Smart Ltd 

Moving?Dread the packing? How would 

you like to have everything you need to 

move delivered right to your door, and 

save time, money and the environment 

while you’re at it? You pack, move, unpack 

– you’re done! We pick up everything up 

including packing material and recycle 

what is not usable. 

(403)995-2869 

www.packitsmart.com 

Professional Web Studio 

Professional Web Studio is a Calgary 

based Website Design company that 

focuses on developing professionally 

designed yet affordable websites for start– 

up businesses, existing small businesses, 

and non–profit organizations located 

throughout North America. 

www.professionalwebstudio.com 

Phone: 1-877-523-0894 

Tickled Pink 

Appreciation Marketing 

Gratitude - Develop and nourish your 

contact base with personalized greeting 

cards. 

Andrea Roylance 

705 730 8851 

andrea@roylance.ca 


Woodcreek Business Solutions 

No need for a full time bookkeeper? We 

have your solution! We work with you to 

understand your business and accounting 

needs. We welcome all start up businesses 

or established businesses in Calgary 

and surrounding areas. Our clients are 

entrepreneurs and Mompreneurs from 

a variety of industries including retail, 

real estate investments and e-commerce. 

Say goodbye to costly accounting bills. 

Contact us for a free quote and learn how 

we can save you time and money. 

info@woodcreekbooks.ca 

www.woodcreekbooks.ca 

Your Fab VA-A Virtual Assistance 

Company 

“Expertise to HELP you manage your 

BUSINEES” 

(647)550-3843 

www.yourfabva.com 

Your Personal Entourage 

Personal and Business Concierge 

416-894-0728 

info@yourpersonalentourage.com 

Business Oppurtunties 

A Living Success: Opportunity For Moms 

Our business is all about Empowering You 

to Succeed.Talk to a real person: 

1-250-591-3676 

www.alivingsuccess.com 

Children’s Education 

Funds Inc. 

CEFI 

Now offers 

the greatest selection of RESP 

choices encompassing flexibility, 

safety, performance and all the 

various government grants. We are 

EDUCATING funding specialists! 

Choices encompassing flexibility, safety, 

performance 

www.cefi.ca 

or 1 (800) 246-1203 ) 

Contact Alison Matthews 

at the MOMpreneur ® 

phone: 403-990-7710 or email: 

a.matthews@themompreneur.com 

Lavish 

Lavish is Canada's newest and hottest 

fashion home party company. Gorgeous 

handbags, hot fashion belts, sparkly 

necklaces, bracelets, rings, sunglasses, 

watches and a variety of beautiful scarves 

and pashminas are the "must-have" 

products that Lavish offers. Learn more 

about our exciting business opportunity. 

Start your own Lavish business today for 

only$349!! Ask how you can earn back 

$175.00 of your Start-up costs in the first 

45 days!! Lavish is a Canadian owned and 

operated company. 

HOST A PARTY BUILD A BUSINESS 

www.lavishonline.com 

info@lavishonline.com 

1-888-882-2044 1-888-882-2044 

Metropolitan Aromatherapy Home 

Party Company 

Company with a Cause. Products with a 

Conscience. Growing Canadian company 

offering essential oil, 100% natural body 

products, and soya candles. Book a home 

party. Shop online. Join our growing 

team. 

(403)620-8624 

kaday@aromametropolitan.com 

Miglio Canada 

Miglio is a unique, high-end brand of 

designer costume jewellery. Each piece 

provides a versatility that allows you to 

create your own personal statement. 

See more, host a Miglio jewellery party 

and receive 10% back in free jewellery. 

Become a Miglio consultant and have fun 

whilst you earn. 

To become a Miglio Consultant call 

Lynnette Eisen +1 705 720 2811 

To host a Miglio Party email 

Gracemoores@live.ca; 

www.miglio.co.za 

Only Green 

Want a greener lifestyle? By becoming an 

Eco-Advisor you’re helping to promote 

healthier alternatives to benefit your 

customers and the environment. ZJust 

launched February 1st and looking for 

founders. 

(403)364-2922 

info@onlygreenbusiness.com 

www.OnlyGreenBusiness.com 

The Pampered Chef – Canada Ltd 

Direct Selling 

(905)475-7658 

www.pamperedchef.com 

Party Pets 

Home parties for the discerning 

pet owner. Bring the luxury of the 

boutique into the comfort of the home. 

Independent consultants wanted. Be a part 

of the only pet party business in Canada. 

www.partypets.ca 

or emma@partypets.ca 

Plan Ahead Events Franchise 

Plan Ahead Events is a home-based,fullservice 

event management company. 

We are one of the meeting and event 

industry's first franchise opportunities 

with easy start up and low cost. No 

experience is necessary as we offer a 

turnkey franchise complete with training. 

SHAKLEE 

DO WELL by 

DOING GOOD 

For franchise information 

call 1-866-933-6337 or go to 

www.planaheadevents.com. 

Not only will you learn about a 

revolutionary business opportunity 

you'll also have the chance to win $200.00 

worth of green products. 

www.landofand.com/selenalivingstone 

Steeped Tea Inc 

Steeped Tea Parties are a 

perfect way to introduce a 

variety of teas to close friends and family 

while enjoying an educational visit. It’s 

like having a tea house in your living 

room! If you are looking to start your 

dream business, then look no further 

because Steeped Tea is ready to make your 

dreams come true! 

(519)404-3570 

www.steepedtea.com 


Stella & Dot Jewels! 

Discover a ground floor opportunity 

at a company built to revolutionize 

entrepreneurial opportunities for 

women - where home parties are hip and stylish. We are a 

company inspired-by and created-for strong family focused 

women. You could be one of the ground floor stylists to first 

introduce Stella & Dot to your area. 

To learn more about stylist opportunities, hosting a 

boutique or purchasing jewels please email chantel@tyers.ca 

or Kim Sorchetti kimstelladot@cogeco.ca 

Untapped & Unlimited 

A lifestyle business empowering women to grow and create 

the life they want. Excellent compensation plan. Direct 

sales to consumer business. 

1-800-662-1961 x 5480 

www.untappedandunlimited.com 

Wellness Moms 

A simple business for busy moms that are eco-conscious. 

No selling and no risk. Our goal is helping you reach yours! 

www.WellnessMoms.com 

Youth Juice - Independent Business Owner 

Tired of just getting by? Earn up to thousands extra. 

For details call: 

(403)804-3421 or (403)615-1398 

mich.s@shaw.ca 

cssports@telus.net 

Subscribe to 

MOMpreneur ® now! 

............................................................... 

Grow your business by growing 

your knowledge and confidence. 

MOMpreneur® brings you the best role 

models and latest info! 

............................................................... 

Sign up online: 

www.themompreneur.com 

or send your cheque ($25) to: 

#216, 2137 – 33rd Avenue S.W., 

Calgary, AB T2T 1Z7 


Got Lice? 

Lice Squad needs 

to be in your head! 

• In-Home Head Lice Removal 

• Pesticide-Free Products 

• School Screenings 

• Same Day/Following Day Service 

• Franchises Available 

• Safe, Effective and Affordable 

www.licesquad.com 

888 LICE SQUAD 

(542-3778) 


Young Entrepreneurs 

with BIG Ideas! 

The founders of youngentrepreneur.com have a new 

resource just for kids who have an idea for a business but 

don’t know how to begin or need tips to make it better. Adam 

and Matthew Toren know that even children can learn about 

basic business principles and Kidpreneurs shows us in a fun, 

creative, age-appropriate way. “It’s never too early!” is 

the authors’ favourite saying – and we agree! Visit 

www.kidpreneurs.org for more information or to order 

a copy of the book. 

Kidpreneur 

Photo Contest 

Mompreneurs are excellent role 

models so we know there are budding 

entrepreneurs in your homes! 

Please send us a photo of your Kidpreneur and their business 

– be it babysitting pets or mowing the lawn or…! These 

entrepreneurs should be 12 years old or younger and the 

photo must be at least 300 dpi. Please include the name, age 

and a 50-word description of your Kidpreneur. 

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, August 31st. After 

a review by our esteemed panel of judges, we will select three 

winners who will each receive a package of ‘Kidpreneur’ 

materials…there may be some chocolate involved too! 

Post your submissions on the MOMpreneur ® website – 

www.themompreneur.com – and our three champions will 

be published in our Nov/Dec 2010 issue and on our website. 

So, Mom, please tell Canada about 

your remarkable Kidpreneur! 

DEADLINE: August 31, 2010 


MOMpreneur ® SMileS 

Photo by Brandy Anderson, Fresh Sugar Photography 

MOMpreneur ® Smiles 

Well done, Mompreneurs! Thanks for your entries. 

Here are our winners: 

Winner: 

“When all else fails, you'll still look 

fabulous in your Centennial Pearls!” 

Nadine Kim, Vaughn, ON 

Honourable Mentions 

“Okay, it’s true. I’m very happy that computers run the 

world! Long may PCs reign!” 

Bonnie Quan, Vancouver, B.C. 

“My mother’s right. It doesn’t matter what my hair looks 

like! If I use Natural products, my hair always shines!” 

Willa Par, Mississauga, ON 

“Why didn’t I listen to what I tell my kids? Don’t put your 

fingers in the sockets…” 

Jeanne Richard, Regina, SK 

Which of your 

best captions will 

make us laugh? 

This time to stimulate brainstorming and look at 

a situation differently, we bring you a photo by 

Brandy Anderson (see Celebrating Our Successes, 

page 8). What is the most outlandish caption for 

this photo you can think of? Where’s the humour 

in this photo? 

Please send us your responses by 9 pm 

MDT Sunday, July 25th by emailing us at 


Our winner will receive a book from the 

MOMpreneur ® Bookshelf! 

And we're still looking for cartoonists/illustrators/ 

photographers to contribute images… 


EDUCATION FUNDING SPECIALISTS 

We are an Education Funding 

Specialist organization and 

require the services of dedicated 

representatives to meet with 

interested parents in their 

community to discuss funding for 

college and university. 

Benefits: 

• Flexible hours 

• Professional training 

• Great product eligible to 

receive Government grants 

• Great remuneration 

& benefits 

To learn more about this unique 

opportunity please visit www.cefi.ca 

and click on careers section or 

email haid@cefi.ca or call: 

1 800 246-1203 

and ask for Al Haid, Founder 

ChildrEn’S EduCaTion FundS inC. 

A very different group of reSps

“ 

I fELT AN MBA dEgREE would give me more opportunities and perhaps an easier re-entry into the 

workforce. The Haskayne evening MBA program is definitely a lot of work, but knowing that I can 

create a schedule that works for my family has helped.” 

Invest 

in you. 

THERE ARE 45 PER CENT WOMEN enrolled in our latest cohort. A Haskayne MBA 

opens new opportunities, which is why our graduates earned 44 per cent more after graduation.* 

THE HASKAYNE MBA . . . 

THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU’LL EVER MAKE—IN YOU. 

APPLY NOW. Limited spaces available. 

HASKAYNEMBA.CA 

– Cathy Russell, MBA student and stay-at-home mom 

*Class of 2009

kirstie McLellan Day kirstie McLellan Day - The MOMpreneur

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