Third Thursday
Third Thursdays are conversations that spark ideas and create community at Algonquin 
College. We brought in local experts and innovators to share stories that inspired and empowered listeners. We transformed spaces around campus into places where students, employees, alumni, and community partners could forge meaningful connections while learning from each other.
Scroll down to check out past #ACThirdThursday talks!
Past Third Thursday Talks
March 2023 • The Future is Femtech with Julia Slanina
Have you ever heard of Femtech? What is it and what innovations exist in Canada that are creating an impact on women’s health?
As part of International Women’s Day, this Third Thursday focused on celebrating women leaders and groundbreakers. On March 16, Julia Slanina, CEO of Treehouse and Advisory Board member of Femtech Canada, discussed entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and everything in between in the world of Femtech.
About Julia Slanina: Julia Slanina is an entrepreneur, community builder, digital health innovator, and Treehouse’s founder and CEO. A medical student turned tech entrepreneur with a passion for improving community healthcare for aspiring, expectant, and new families across Canada. She has dedicated her time to developing a business management and community platform to simplify the connection between allied healthcare providers and families. Julia sits on numerous boards and advisory councils and has been featured in Forbes and The Logic. Julia lives in Ottawa, Canada, and loves spending time with her family and enjoying the outdoors.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
February 2023 • Investing in Yourself and Your Community with Davene Sterling-Wisdom
For February’s Third Thursday, we were joined by Davene Sterling-Wisdom!
Davene Sterling-Wisdom is a dedicated and detail-oriented accounting and tax specialist with over 10 years of experience! She currently owns and operates SWF Solutions Inc., an accounting and taxation firm, where she not only prepares taxes but educates business owners and individuals, helping them find financial solutions.
Outside of her professional career, Davene loves helping and serving others. She volunteers for several charities and sits on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for the local non-profit organization, Black Ottawa Connect. Through a collaborated program with Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Quebec, she also helps modest income individuals file their income tax for free.
During this Third Thursday, Davene talks about her forging her unique path in finance and accounting, including establishing her own firm. She also touches on her involvement with local charities and the importance of giving back.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
January 2023 • Exploring Art, Science, and the Brain with Steven West
Discover the beauty and importance of combining art and science during our first Third Thursday of 2023 with special guest Steven West!
Steven West is a photographic artist with a background in Health Sciences. He creates metacognitive imagery using classic photographic processing techniques that are enhanced by the digital programming of data from medical imaging modalities.
The resulting images show the physical dimensionality of the brain and mind with the emotive portrayal of the neural connectome. His work aims to explore the relationships between mental health and our mindful awareness and experiences. To learn more about Steven West and his work, please click here.
During this Third Thursday, Steven talks about the story behind his book Beautiful Minds, the value of brain imaging research, The Royal’s Institute of Mental Health Research, and our new community-centric research strategy. Steven also touches on the stigma surrounding mental health, the importance of clients and families in research, and how he came to be involved in mental health research.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
November 2022 • How To Protect Your Well-Being And Build Your Confidence as Ambitious Students with Komal Minhas
Watch this Third Thursday to dive into resiliency and well-being research with Komal Minhas. Komal is a columnist for Fortune Magazine, a resilience educator, and has interviewed high-impact individuals such as Michelle Obama. Watch to learn what you need to live the impactful life you dream of.
About Komal Minhas:
Komal is the founder of Karseva, a company focused on building individual and societal resilience through training programs, media production, and investing. She curates powerful experiences and conversations as an interviewer, business strategist, educator, investor, and champion for women globally, and for this work, was named to Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100list.
Komal is the host of the talk show, Lessons Learned, where she leverages her varied life and business experiences and background as a journalist to deeply connect with her guests and global audience on topics of resilience.
As a business strategist and resilience educator, Komal supports the leaders behind the brands, companies, and organizations you love to scale their revenue, impact, and protect their well-being as they work to transform the systems we live in.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
October 2022 • Regulating Emotions & Navigating Stress with Nora Elmi
Experiencing stress or stressful situations is normal, but at times it can feel overwhelming and isolating. Challenges such as exams, papers, projects, financial constraints, and work/school life balance can increase our feelings of stress.
On this edition of Third Thursday, Mental Health Therapist and Algonquin College alumna Nora Elmi discusses emotion-focused coping strategies to help you better regulate your emotions and manage that stress.
About Nora Elmi: Nora Elmi is an Algonquin College alumna, registered social worker, and licensed therapist in Ontario. She has over a decade of experience working for numerous non-profit community organizations. Nora utilizes her education, as well as her professional and personal experiences, to empower and educate individuals. Through her private practice, Elmi Counselling and Wellness Services, she provides individual therapy to support clients with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, life transitions, relational conflicts, and other concerns. More than a therapist, she is an accomplished public speaker, workshop facilitator, and wellness curator. Nora is passionate about serving the BIPOC community and empowering women to live a life rooted in wellness.
Visit Nora’s website and Instagram!
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
September 2022 • Building a Brand and Creating Community with Sarah Jenkins
We kicked off the fifth Season of the Third Thursday series with Sarah Jenkins, Sports Producer and Social Media Creator.
About Sarah Jenkins: Sarah Jenkins is a Sports Producer and Social Media Content Creator (TikTok @sarahjenkinsxo). She has experience producing television for some of the world’s largest sporting events, sharing her life behind the scenes in daily vlogs, and building a community across Canada and around the globe.
During this Third Thursday, Sarah shared helpful information about creating your own brand on social media, how to handle a layoff/big career change, and producing content for different audiences (TV/Digital).
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
March 2022 • Career Building – Where do I Start? with Kathryn Tremblay
Are you curious about entering the workforce upon graduation? What to expect, how to start, and how to grow a successful career? Or maybe you’re wondering about starting your own business? This Third Thursday is for you!
Watch to hear from special guest Kathryn Tremblay, the dynamic co-founder and CEO of Altis Recruitment, one of Canada’s largest privately held staffing firms. Recently named CEO of the Year by Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade, Kathryn is an entrepreneur and business leader who tenaciously built her organization from the ground up over the past 33 years, gathering many insights, skills and stories along the way, along with a keen awareness of Canada’s ever-changing labour market.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
February 2022 • Inclusion Infusions Edition with Eternity Martis
Watch Third Thursday: Inclusion Infusions Edition to hear a riveting keynote by Eternity Martis, Toronto-based journalist and award-winning author of “They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life and Growing Up.”
Drawing on her best-selling memoir, Martis will discuss how campus culture and institutional responses have proven harmful for students who experience systemic marginalization; and propose strategies for building a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss and establish strategies to support the holistic wellbeing and sense of belonging of all students and employees.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub and Inclusion Infusions team.
November 2021 • First Thursday Edition with Architect Ryan Gorrie
For our November Third Thursday speaker series, we’re talking with acclaimed national architect and architect of Algonquin College’s Ishkodewan, Ryan Gorrie.
Algonquin College’s Ishkodewan in the courtyard is truly impressive and we have Ryan Gorrie to thank for bringing his design to our campus. Ryan has been collaborating with Brook McIlroy since 2009, when he was retained as a key member of the design team for the award-winning Spirit Garden in Thunder Bay and formally joined the firm in 2016 to lead the Winnipeg office and the Indigenous Design Studio. A First Nation member of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, Ryan strives to ensure the perpetuation of Indigenous culture through creative opportunities ranging from the crafting of traditional items for ceremonial use to large-scale landmark architecture. He is a licensed architect in Manitoba and Principal of the firm. In 2018, Ryan’s work was showcased in UNCEDED: Voices of the Land at the Venice Biennale along with the work of 17 other Indigenous architects and designers across Turtle Island.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
October 2021 • Humour in the Workplace with Ali Hassan and Janelle Niles
It’s the first Third Thursday of the semester and we are going big! Big laughs that is.
The first Third Thursday of the 2021 Fall semester is all about getting some professional (and funny) insight on finding humour in the workplace with Ali Hassan and Janelle Niles.
Ali Hassan is a Stand-up Comic and Actor who has performed for audiences across Canada and internationally. Ali is the host of CBC’s hit stand-up comedy show Laugh Out Loud and a frequent guest-host of CBC Radio’s national flagship arts and culture show “q”. For the past four consecutive years, Ali has also hosted Canada Reads – the annual battle of the books celebrating the best of Canadian literature.
Janelle Niles launched her comedy career in January 2019 and started producing soon after. Exploding in the Ottawa comedy scene with her show(s) Comedy at Eddy’s and GOT LAND? Indigenous comedy show, Janelle aims to communicate cultural concerns in the Indigenous community through laughter. Janelle incorporates all genres of comedy into Got Land? to improve the growth of Indigenous entertainment in comedy.
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Brought to you by the AC Hub.
March 2021 • Explore Kanata: Jojo CoCo Chocolate, Party Mart, and the Unrefined Olive
This month, we are exploring Kanata Central! This talk will highlight three businesswomen and their local shops: Jojo CoCo Chocolate, Party Mart, and The Unrefined Olive.
If you’re wondering how to fit a few moments of calm into your day, fear not. Come along with us on a Third Thursday journey. Ottawa’s Urban Botanist is going to take us on a spirit-calming, soul-soothing houseplant experience. The beautiful and meditative houseplant tour will be paired with electro beats that are meant to bring you the inner strength that will get you through the afternoon.
About Each Featured Business
Jojo CoCo Chocolate
Joanne and her husband Jay opened Jojo CoCo Chocolate together in March 2012. They decided to open in Kanata because they live here and love the area. They chose chocolate because, well, it’s chocolate! In opening a chocolate store, Joanne was able to combine years of retail experience with a passion for chocolate.
Jojo CoCo’s shelves are filled with a curated assortment of award-winning, artisan, fine flavour bean to bar chocolate and when you visit the store, they will happily tell you all about it. Behind every one of these bars is a story worth sharing. Joann and Jay are excited to tell you about the chocolate maker, the origin of the beans and why that makes a difference, and what makes these bars so incredible. Along with chocolate bars, they also carry beautiful truffles, drinking chocolate and many chocolate-covered treats from within Canada and around the world.
Party Mart
Locally owned and family-operated since 1979, Party Mart‘s knowledge and expertise offers you the key to a successful party! If we don’t have it, you don’t need it!
Party Mart is”everything party”, offering you disposables and rentals, one-stop wedding or baby shop, personalized lawn signs and balloons, custom balloon arrangements, balloon delivery service, and year-round Halloween items for school plays or themed events! Party Mart values their customers and loves sharing in their plans.
Party Mart proudly supports Make-A-Wish of Eastern Ontario, many local schools in our communities, great sports teams and other small businesses.
Follow Party Mart of Facebook!
The Unrefined Olive
Elizabeth was a Marine Biologist who is now an Oleologist, think a sommelier for olive oil! Her background is in International Development Studies, Marine Biology, Citizen Science, Natural History Museums, Organic Agriculture, Sustainable Fisheries, and so much more.
The culmination of her passion for the environment, food, and travel; has directed her education, life experience, and work history. Her core values of sustainability and her work ethic have resulted in her leaving her pension and dental plan to set up a business and immerse herself in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and local specialty food products.
Elizabeth launched her business The Unrefined Olive in Ottawa in 2012. It has since grown into two storefront locations in The Glebe and Kanata as well as an active online store. She has created a wonderful clientele of home cooks, chefs, and people who love to eat. She is also engaged with her local community and an active participant with many organizations.
The Unrefined Olive has over 60 olive oils and balsamic vinegars. With personalized service and recommendations; there are so many possibilities to make your soups, salads, bread, desserts, and cocktails even more delicious and nutritious!
Follow the Unrefined Olive on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!
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February 2021 • Explore Hintonburg: Les Moulins La Fayette Hintonburg, Maker House Co., and The Third
This month, we are exploring the west-end neighbourhood, Hintonburg! This talk will highlight three unique businesses located in this neighbourhood, Les Moulins La Fayette Hintonburg, Maker House Co., and The Third.
About Each Featured Business
Les Moulins La Fayette
Les Moulins La Fayette Hintonburg was started in 2017 by three budding entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the Ottawa market. Ghummaz and Veda served in the Canadian Armed Forces for a combined 20 years and decided to team up with their friend Aditya to bring an authentic French bakery experience to Ottawa. The young trio has established a vital hub in Hintonburg for French patisseries, bread, gourmet sandwiches and excellent coffee. The community of Hintonburg has embraced this establishment for its authenticity and passion to make a difference in the community.
Maker House Co.
Founded in 2015, Maker House Co.’s mission is to bring the maker movement to main street retail. Our shop changes the way we engage with both the products we buy and the people who make them. As a social enterprise, the MakerHouse donates 2% of all sales to local community projects.
Maker House Co. is the brainchild of Gareth Davies, representing the convergence of his love for handmade furniture, authentic stories, and community growth.
The Third
The Third Place: The neutral public places where people can gather and interact. Unlike the first place (home) and the second place (work), the third-place allows people to put aside their concerns and simply enjoy the pleasure of good company.
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January 2021 • Explore Manotick: 692 Coffee and Bar, Lasting Impressions Gifts, and Rebel Petal Floral Design Studio
The Winter Semester is on the theme of “Explore.” Every month, we will feature a new neighbourhood in our city, so we can learn about our neighbours, build community, and support local businesses along the way. The featured shops, spas, boutiques, stores, restaurants, bars, will offer insight into their industry, speak to what makes them unique, and share their experiences as a small business owner. Every Third Thursday: Explore will include giveaways to the featured small businesses, so please register in advance and tune in live to be eligible.
This month, we have explored the rural Ottawa South neighbourhood, Manotick! This talk highlighted three unique businesses located in this quaint neighbourhood, 692 Coffee and Bar, Lasting Impressions Gifts, and Rebel Petal Floral Design Studio.
About the Speakers
Charlie Cullen | 692 Coffee and Bar
Charlie Cullen | 692 Coffee and Bar
692 Coffee and Bar co-owner Charlie Cullen grew up in the US, with equal stretches spent living in Ohio, Illinois, and Texas. Home-cooked meals introduced culinary traditions from all over the world, imprinting upon him a passion for that “amazing bite”.
A keen rock climber and marathon runner, carb intake has been gloriously limitless. Coupled with the necessary feeding of three voracious young boys, the need for fuel/bread organically led to his foray into experimentation with baking. He quickly started focusing on sourdough bread varieties and traditional biscotti – testing them out on family, friends and coworkers. Leaving his career in property management, he is thrilled to dive headfirst into the kitchen at 692!
About 692
692 Coffee and Bar was founded in 2018 by friends Laura Glasper, Danielle Porteous and Jessica and Charlie Cullen. When Jess and Charlie joined a local running club founded by Laura and Danielle, the long runs through Manotick quickly turned into a dialogue, where Laura’s dream of opening a coffee shop united with Charlie and Jess’ dream of starting a bakery.
Within just a few months, the team walked into the former site of a general store turned clothing boutique in a 100+-year-old building on Manotick Main Street. Falling fast for the old charm and amazing millwork, the team knew they’d landed on something special and poured their heart and soul into transforming the old building into what it is today.
Gina Petrocco | Lasting Impressions Gifts
In 2006, Gina purchased the picturesque shop that now houses Lasting Impressions Gifts. Lasting Impressions Gifts is a
family-run boutique found in the city of Ottawa’s historic Manotick Village. Gina has built a boutique that brings the community together. The combination of Gina and her team’s eye for design and her commitment to personal customer experiences drive Lasting Impressions Gifts.
About Lasting Impressions Gifts
Inspired by a commitment to quality local products, Lasting Impressions Gifts is a family-run boutique found in the city of Ottawa’s historic Manotick Village. When it’s time to buy a gift, you want a gift shop that gives you everything you need, all in one place, we have thousands of amazing products for many occasions and our selection changes frequently. Our product selection ranges from delicious gourmet foods, candles, baby, home accessories to jewelry.
Michelle VandenBosch | Rebel Petal Floral Design Studio
Rebel Petal Floral Design Studio is a family-run business with team members who have worked together for over 15 years. With Michelle and Gary leading a team of amazing, talented, passionate and creative florists, the team has a total of 90 years combined in the industry. Rebel Petal Floral Design Studio offers services for fresh flowers, fabulous fake flowers, home and event décor, unique plants, and cool giftware!
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December 2020 • Jimmy Baptiste, Mique Michelle, and Asma Inam
The December panel discussion, on the theme Art in the City, features three local artists: Jimmy Baptiste, Mique Michelle, and Asma Inam. The artists discussed how they have been able to use art as a form of expression, brightening up the city during challenging times.
Meet the Artists
Jimmy Baptiste
Jimmy Baptiste is a father, youth educator/facilitator, graphic artist, curator and muralist, raised in Montreal, Quebec. His work is inspired by the imaginative world of tattoos, graffiti and typography, manga culture and comic books. These elements have helped him create his unique aesthetic and high-quality illustrations. The objectives of his work are to create strong imagery and vibrant visual compositions. He promotes the use of murals and graffiti to engage people of all ages in positive skill-building experiences, while simultaneously supporting local arts and culture, enhancing the city’s or the cultural establishment’s beauty for residents and visitors. Jimmy’s Bank Street mural was recently featured in Ottawa Life Magazine
Mique Michelle 
A Franco-Ontarian from Field, Mique Michelle’s nomadic journeys allowed her to exercise her graffiti from northern Ontario to France. Through her travels and studies at the Ottawa School of Art, she has evolved as a mixed media artist and an active facilitator of the arts in Ottawa. Her work can be seen in galleries, public buildings and in outdoor venues. Mique remains a strong advocate for abolishing negative perceptions of graffiti.
Asma Inam
With over 9 years of experience in the design industry, Asma Inam brings her passion and drive for design and digital entertainment into each brand she works on. Over the years, she has contributed her knowledge and skillset to build digital experiences for brands such as Hasbro, McDonald’s, Geox, Justice, DreamWorks, Salesforce, Nickelodeon and many more.Her passion lies in typography, hand lettering, illustration, user interface, and motion. When she’s not busy designing, she’s dreaming about her two passions in life — donuts and pandas. Asma is always finding new ways to push herself creatively and challenge herself in areas that she has yet to explore and discover.
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November 2020 • Ro Nwosu, Real Perriard, Vicky Castledine and Mary Anne Ivison
The November event is brought to you by the AC Hub in partnership with The Ottawa Adventure Film Festival on the theme of the Great Outdoors. Four local outdoor enthusiasts – Ro Nwosu, Real Perriard, Vicky Castledine and Mary Anne Ivison, shared how you can incorporate nature into your everyday life, free resources and activities available to us, the best hikes in the city, and some of their favourite places to explore in our region.
Meet the Panelists
Ro Nwosu
Ro Nwosu brings together a unique combination of high-energy athleticism and focused mindfulness to offer a well-rounded, balanced and healthy lifestyle. Dynamic and experienced as a registered Yoga teacher, Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider, and fitness instructor, she is familiar with the challenges that come with injuries and is a firm believer, that even with limited mobility or experience, everyone can live actively. Ro will share her perspective as a yoga teacher, speaker, and Lululemon Ambassador.
Real Perriard
Real is an outdoor enthusiast, with a life full of running, backpacking, cycling, skiing, canoeing, and other outdoor activities. Real cycled throughout most Canadian provinces, New Zealand, eastern US, and from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Great Falls, Montana. Real then dabbled in rock climbing and mountaineering before settling into serious adventure racing. Adventure racing turned into ultrarunning, highlighted by a top 10 finish in a 7-day race in Chile’s Atacama Desert. Real has backpacked on many long outings in Ontario, the Canadian west, the Yukon, the Grand Canyon, the Grand Teton, Iceland and New Zealand; Greenland is next. Winter is all about cross-country skiing and the Canadian Ski Marathon (160Km). Real has a 30-year participation streak with 28 finishes, and 26 Golds. “Being out there, doing stuff…it’s living.”
The Hike Addicts
Meet HikeAddicts! Vicky and Mary Anne are 2 Ottawa-based friends who quickly bonded over a mutual love for hiking and the great outdoors. Back in 2016, while exploring their go-to spot in Gatineau Park, the idea for HikeAddicts was born. It would be a source for fellow outdoor enthusiasts to swap trail tips, gear recommendations, and hiking stories.
Since then, Vicky and Mary Anne have summited Mount Kilimanjaro together, hiked to Everest Base Camp, led countless groups on local hikes, and have become brand partners with Swedish outdoor and clothing company, Fjällräven. Follow along on their journey as they continue to explore what this beautiful planet has to offer.
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October 2020 • Austin Spademan, Allison Barnes, Jessie Schenk
What is micromobility? The site TechTarget describes it as “a category of light-weight transportation designed for individual use. Vendors in the micromobility market space tend to focus efforts on urban transportation.” Examples include electronic scooters, ebikes, Segways, electric skateboards, hoverboards, and so on.
Have you cruised the capital on an e-scooter? Or maybe you’ve seen the Thursty Pedaler (a 10-seater “human powered party bike”) roaming around the Glebe? Join us for this month’s Third Thursday event to learn all about these micromobility transportation businesses, located in Ottawa.
You’ll hear from Austin Spademan from Bird E-Scooters (Ottawa) and Allison Barnes and Jessie Schenk from the Thursty Pedaler. The panellists will speak about their business opportunities, their challenges, and how they navigate public spaces (particularly in the COVID-19 era).
About Bird E-Scooters (Ottawa)
Bird’s mission is to make cities more livable by reducing car usage, traffic, and carbon emissions. Bird E-Scooters (Ottawa) has seen more than 120K trips since they launched their pilot project this past July. Bird E-Scooters has also proven to be a proud supporter of Algonquin College graduates. Alumni across several AC programs have helped Austin Spademan and his team launch and maintain this Ottawa e-scooter pilot project.
About Thursty Pedaler
Thursty Pedaler is Ottawa’s one-of-a-kind, human-powered bike. Riders make their way to three distinct stops while taking in the vibrant Glebe neighbourhood. Whether you’re celebrating a Friday night, birthday, bachelor(ette), or a breakup, you and your bubble are bound for fun on a bike ride unlike any other. Not a night owl? Jump on this morning ride for a coffee crawl!
About Third Thursday
Third Thursdays are conversations that spark ideas and create community at Algonquin College. We encourage you to tune in on the third Thursday of every month so we can bring inspiring innovators from inspiring places to you – virtually.
The Third Thursday community is story-driven, curious, and collaborative. We’re not afraid of perspective shifts or pushing the envelope. We skip the small talk and dig deep into topics that matter. We’re here to fuel dreams through dialogue and turn passion into purpose. Come be part of the story.
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September 2020 • Sophie Beaudoin, Christopher Schlesak, Andrew Bassett
The September panel discussion, on the theme Placemaking, features three Ottawa entrepreneurs: Sophie Beaudoin from viens avec moi, Andrew Bassett from Little Victories Café, and Christopher Schlesak from North and Navy.
Each business transformed their store or restaurant into a destination: viens avec moi’s clothing, decor, and branding is inspired by the South of France; North and Navy restaurant transports their patrons to fine dining in Italy, with Bacaro Bar at the back of the restaurant; Little Victories Café transformed a space into a place by turning a shipping container in an alley to a beautiful café.
During the pandemic, each of these three businesses came together, utilized their network, and built partnerships to leverage their businesses.
About Sophie Beaudoin (viens avec moi)
Renée Morra and Sophie Beaudoin first opened viens avec moi’s doors in 2011 in a little house in trendy Wellington West. In 2019, Renée and Sophie decided to embark on a new journey, focusing on viens avec moi’s e-commerce business and relocating to the Glebe. The boutique stocks everything from business casual to night out, jeans to dresses, t-shirts to sweaters, bags to boots and shoes, skin care products, accessories and much more. They have their own line of clothing, and stock from local and world marque brands.
About Christopher Schlesak (North and Navy)
Adam Vettorel and Chris Schlesak opened North and Navy on February 18, 2015. The dishes served at North and Navy are inspired by northern Italy while using the best available Canadian and Italian products. NoNa prepares its own delicious fresh pasta every day and they also cure their own in-house salami. The fine-dining restaurant is located on Nepean Street in an old 1800’s Victorian home. The Chic décor makes it an ideal location for an evening out.
About Andrew Bassett (Little Victories Café)
Little Victories Coffee is a small, independent specialty coffee roaster based in Ottawa. The café is owned and operated by two coffee professionals – one roaster, Jeremie Thompson and one barista, Andrew Bassett. LVC is dedicated to elevating the coffee culture in Ottawa and contributing to the bustling Canadian coffee scene.
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February 2020 • Sophia Hunter
The February talk, on the theme Regeneration, discussed how Guayakí Yerba Mate aims to regenerate ecosystems and create vibrant communities by following Guayaki’s powerful Market Driven Regeneration™ business model.
About Sophia Hunter
Sophia Hunter took us back to the beginning when Co-Founders David Carr and Alex Pryor had the vision of growing fair-trade organic Yerba Mate to reforest the South Atlantic rainforest. Yerba Mate has evolved into one of the fastest-growing organic beverages in North America.
January 2020 • Arlene Anderson
The January talk, on the theme of Motivation, features President and co-owner of The Original Maple Bat Corporation Arlene Anderson.
About Arlene Anderson
Arlene Anderson is President and co-owner of The Original Maple Bat Corporation, makers of the record setting SAM BAT maple baseball bat. Arlene graduated from Carleton University with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree. After 5 years at KPMG she moved into Management at Canada Post Corporation (CPC). As the Finance Representative, she was the first woman at the CPC negotiating table with CUPW for two years of labour negotiations.
Arlene received the 2008 Distinguished Civic Award for Arts and Culture from the City of Ottawa as Treasurer of the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy (OYOA). She has served on the Board of the James Street Recovery Home and is on the Board of the Carleton Place Chamber of Commerce as well as several other not-for-profit organizations.
Watch Arlene’s talk:
November 2019 • Kellylee Evans
On the theme of Mental Health and Wellness, Juno award-winning singer and songwriter Kellylee Evans presented her talk, Built to Fly, about her journey to recovery, an inspiring message of self-care, and how you can find your own super-powers.
About Kellylee Evans
Kellylee is a Canadian jazz and soul vocalist, and 2011 Juno award winner. Kellylee Evans has performed all over the world, opening for such artists as Tony Bennett, George Benson, Chris Botti, John Legend, Dianne Reeves, Derek Trucks and Willie Nelson. Evans is also a gifted educator and enjoys working with up-and-coming young jazz artists.
September 2019 • Dr. Martin Lee
The September talk, on the theme Community Building, featured guest speaker Martin Lee, Biochemistry Professor of the Biotechnology Program, and the Program Coordinator of the Energy Management Graduate Certificate program at Algonquin College. Martin will be sharing his thoughts on community connectivity, speaking as a New Zealand immigrant to Canada.
About Martin Lee
Martin Lee, a self-identified science nerd and known as “The Bow Tie Guy.” 
Martin is a Biochemistry Professor of the Biotechnology program and the Program Coordinator of the Energy Management Graduate Certificate program.
Martin holds a doctorate degree in Physical Biochemistry. His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and he is considered an expert in one-carbon metabolism, reproduction, epigenetics, and more.
April 2019 • Dr. Chris Martin
The April talk, on the theme Celebration, featured Dr. Chris Martin, professor and sociologist, and author of The Social Semiotics of Tattoos: Skin and Self. Chris will discuss his research into the world of tattoos to help celebrate the culturally rich practice of body art and to provide clues as to why we tattoo our bodies and what it means.
About Dr. Chris Martin
Dr. Chris Martin is a widely published author, sociologist, college professor, musician, husband and father. He has been studying tattoo culture for nearly a decade and earlier this year he published his first book, The Social Semiotics of Tattoos: Skin and Self. This book provides readers with answers to questions like: Why do we tattoo our bodies? What do tattoos mean? and Why is body art such a deep form of personal and cultural expression in the modern world?
March 2019 • Sheena Brady, Ally Foster, Hari Gopalan
The March talk, on the theme Finding Your Way, featured a panel of Algonquin College alumni. Hear about their career paths and get inspired to unlock your potential and enjoy the journey!
About the Panelists
Sheena Brady (CEO, Tease Tea)
After graduating from Hospitality Management, paving a career for nearly 10 years in the industry, and becoming a certified Tea Sommelier, Sheena decided to combine passion and purpose through entrepreneurship. Tease Tea was created to help its community be self-empowered through their tea choices, while also empowering women around the world. A portion of proceeds from every order supports organizations dedicated to the empowerment of women through Tease Tea’s Charitea Program.
Ally Foster (Writer, McMillan)
Ally is a professional writer and communicator who loves listening to and telling stories — whether around a bonfire, in a scrum outside of Question Period or on the back of a bus in Guatemala (with a chicken on her lap). She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Carleton University and a post-grad degree in advertising and marketing communications management from Algonquin College. Ally is currently working as a writer for McMillan, a global creative agency that specializes in branding and go-to-market campaigns.
Hari Gopalan (Specialty Technologist, CHEO)
Hari is an alumnus of Algonquin College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Program. He arrived in Canada as an international student in 2017, and was recognized last year with Algonquin’s Class Representative Award. He now works as a Specialty Technologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern
February 2019 • Amelia Garvey
The February talk, on the theme Personal Branding, featured guests from Shopify: Amelia Garvey and AJ Thompson! Amelia and AJ will talk about how to build an employable personal brand to get the job you want.
January 2019 • Robert Smith
The January talk, on the theme Refresh, featured Robert Smith, founder and creative director of Greenmelon, an Ottawa-based branding agency, and author of The Frankenstein Condition. Robert discussed how to engage your creative mind and refresh your world this new year
November 2018 • Taryn Watts
On the theme of Balance, Taryn Watts, Life Coach, discussed how the unrealistic demands of today’s society can lead to burnout, and explore how you can find balance by answering two fundamental questions: Who are you, and what is your Purpose?
Taryn Watts is a Certified Professional Life Coach, inspiring women, men, and teens across the world to transform their lives and step inside their fullest potentials. She is the creator of the Mind Rebel Method, a revolutionary thought process giving people constructs and tools to become the Masters of their mind so that they are free to create the life they truly and deeply desire. Beyond her work, Taryn is an optimistic, creative, big thinker; an action-oriented personal development junky; and a lifelong learner, passionate about living life to its absolute fullest.
October 2018 • Alissa Campbell
On the theme of Growth, Alissa Campbell, Coordinator, Parkdale Food Centre. Alissa has been following her love for food from her days in the family vegetable garden as a child, all the way to the Parkdale Food Centre. Along the way, she has immersed herself in organic farming and spearheaded the growth of school gardens across the city. With a background in Environmental Studies and Food Policy, she is deeply committed to contributing to a stronger, healthier, more sustainable food system, and to bringing people together around the table. At the Parkdale Food Centre, she supports innovative community food security programming and helps to foster a more resilient generation by encouraging youth to become solutionaries.
September 2018 • Midia Shikh Hassan
The inaugural Third Thursday talk was based on the theme Inspire, featuring social entrepreneur Midia Shikh Hassan, co-founder and CEO of Dextra. Midia shared the stories that inspired her to create change in her community, and beyond. She spoke about how to build your legacy, be resilient in the face of failure, and make a lasting difference through small acts of kindness.