Author Archives: Lou Doyon Freelance

Local Love Blog Series – Banff Graze Co.

Welcome back to the Local Love Blog Series! 

If you love delicious food, beautiful aesthetics, and amazing company then you’re in luck because that is just the beginning of what Salina from Banff Graze Co. is up to.

Whether you’re looking to add a little something to your date night with a charcuterie box, or need help planning a special event with a luxury picnic or grazing table, Sal has you covered.

For those seeking to make the most of every moment together, Banff Graze Co. is the perfect accompaniment. Through her creativity in food styling and event planning, Sal can inspire moments that are memorable for all the right reasons.

Focused on local sourcing, each box or grazing table is full of amazing delicacies.

All of the flowers in her grazes are entirely edible and homegrown, while other components are brought in from local food enthusiasts. To name a couple here, Sal loves to partner with Wildflour for amazingly fresh baguettes and Glowfood Creamery to add divine vegan cheeses in the vegan boxes.

Originally from Beaumaris, a small seaside town South-east of Melbourne, Sal has been making grazing tables for her parties and gatherings for years. Events and dining are more than just places to meet back home – it’s a way of life. There’s a culture of indulgence and connection in the way people would get together, always taking it to the next level making it an experiential and culinary adventure.

While having originally planned to launch her business a few months into her maternity leave, Sal ended up starting up early!

As she was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her sweet daughter, Kirra, Sal was slowly but surely business planning and prepping everything she would need to launch. This included putting together a few graze boxes for a product photoshoot, which she gifted to a friend afterwards. One Instagram post later and Sal was getting requests about how to order, so she ended up launching her business before even going on maternity leave!

Those she regularly partners with are: Wild Alpine Image Co. for all the beautiful photography on her website, Wildflour for those insanely fresh and delicious baguettes and buttery croissants for the brunch grazes, Banff Mountaintop Flowers who provide stunning arrangements for the grazing tablescapes and picnics, and Glowfood Creamery who supply the divine vegan cheeses as part of the vegan graze options.

A few more to mention are Tom Riley Art, who creates the live-edge hardwood and resin graze boards used at the luxury picnic events, Wong Buddies who keep Sal’s #1 business partner, Kirra, entertained with her Wong Buddy bunny, Remedy Skincare & Spa who provide Sal with the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate after a busy week of events and catering, and Good Earth Banff to keep this busy mom and business-owner going with an Oat Milk Float.

Most impressively, Sal is an active member of the community by serving on the board of the YWCA Banff.

Passionate about women’s and girls’ rights, Sal believes that a community is only as strong as its most vulnerable members. This is where organizations like YWCA Banff are needed most. The programs, services, and housing provided by the YWCA Banff are critical to the Bow Valley community.

She has had amazing support from her community and her husband to work towards this dream project. Sal is proud to be setting an example for Kirra that you can do anything you dream of. While she loves the creative outlet Banff Graze Co. provides her, the best is seeing people enjoying the experience she has created.

The first few months of Banff Graze Co. have been nothing short of amazing for Sal.

While at first sticking to graze boxes that were easily shared with those in your bubble or gifted to others who you couldn’t be with due to restrictions, Sal has added to her product offering now that the world is opening back up. The boxes served as a perfect introduction to Banff Graze Co. and allowed others to experience a snippet of what Sal has to offer.

Her hope is for everyone to continue supporting local businesses. The last 16 months or so have been incredibly tough on so many small, local business owners. However, through it all, these businesses have continued to know you by name and have memorized your order, provide their services or goods with love, and take genuine delight in your enjoyment of them. Those are the ones to keep supporting as we slowly move back into a new sense of normal.

Next time you have a special occasion to commemorate or celebrate, let Sal and her amazing work at Banff Graze Co. elevate your experience. With product offerings fit for every occasion, there’s guaranteed to be something perfectly suited. Check out her boxes, luxury picnics, and graze tables on her website, and keep up to date with all the latest happenings on Instagram and Facebook.

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
Crazy Dog Lady

Welcome back to the Local Love Blog Series! Our next feature is very recognizable if you’ve ever lived in Banff, as she’s always seen walking around town with no less than two four-legged friends.

I’m so excited to feature the incredible work Julianne Nicole Porter, or Jewels, is doing as the lovingly and very much self-proclaimed Crazy Dog Lady.

Jewels is the first person we’ve featured who took our regular interview questions and wrote her own blog! So, for this reason, I must give her credit for a few of the words that follow since some were just too good to change!

Jewels made her way to Banff from Ontario in what one can only consider a “missed connections” kind of fairy-tale story.

Having moved from Ontario to Calgary in 1999, young Jewels had landed herself in the oil industry as an exploration surveyor. During one of their typical summers off work, she would always pick up part-time work until being called back to surveying. One summer, the layoff wasn’t only seasonal, and Jewels took this opportunity to get a dog.

With a new puppy and a visiting sister in tow, Jewels headed to Banff for a day trip.

Stopping for gas in town, she just happened to run into Koko, an old high school buddy. By the time she got back to her truck and reminded her sister of the connection, Jewels said, “I’m going to marry him” – spoiler alert: she did!

Fast forward to a year or so later, Jewels was living in Banff with Paul (a.k.a. Koko) and quickly knew all the neighbourhood dogs by name.

Armed with dog treats in her work truck, she was soon dubbed the Crazy Dog Lady and the name just stuck. Not long after Jewels secured a job at Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours. Under the watchful and helpful hand of Carlin Kimble, then owner and third-generation musher showed Jewels the commitment and effort it took to look after a pack of dogs.

Navajo (or more adoringly known as Jo) was one of the dogs ready to retire and be adopted. After some rubber-arm pulling, Jewels convinced Paul to add Jo to their family. Soon after was when Jewels started thinking about putting together her dog walking business.

As she started the process of obtaining a business license and insurance, Jewels sought advice from Veronica’s Dog Grooming & Daycare.

Both the former and current owners were keen to help support Jewels, understanding that she wasn’t trying to compete with their business. They now have a great, supportive relationship where Jewels can send them business and vice versa. Working mostly, at first, with dogs who don’t thrive in a doggy daycare environment, Jewels slowly but surely started building her business. She struck gold being featured in the Caribou Properties brochure, catering to visiting canines needing a mid-day walk while their owners explored the town.

But Jewels couldn’t have made it without the amazing support of other local business owners.

When her Crazy Dog Lady magnets were stolen from her truck last year, Jim Kwan from Defending Awesome (past Local Love feature) immediately reached out to help! She also has a great partnership in the works with Ward and Jenny from the Banff Dog House – exciting announcements coming soon! And Jewels finds inspiration from Bow Valley Crossfit owner, Liz White, who has provided a strong and talented role model to look up to.

When we asked what three things need to happen every single day, Jewels knew that her dogs would be the ones to answer this with: feed them breakfast, walks & cuddles, feed them dinner. Her favourite part about her business isn’t just the amazing connections she makes with the dogs, but also the trust and respect from her clients who recognize the work that goes into it.

It’s the little things that keep her going.

Such as Blistwool, with products made with 100% Canadian wool grown by sheep in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC. Jewels also finds fuel for her unbelievably active days at the Banff Farmers Market from The Fryin’ Irish digging into hand-cut fries or their poutine. It should also come as no surprise that she has an undeniable love and respect for the work being done at the Bow Valley SPCA.

While Paul would love for Jewels to learn what a day-off looked like…

All the dogs in her life couldn’t be happier to see her so devoted to their tail-wagging, tongue-bearing smiles. So next time your pup needs some loving, or a friend visits town and wants a bit of time to explore a non-dog-friendly area, make sure to give Jewels, the Crazy Dog Lady, a call! You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
Remedy Skincare & Spa

We’re so excited to be featuring Renee Evans from Remedy Skincare & Spa on this week’s Local Love Blog Series! 

Renee has built a space for her clients to prioritize self-care while better understanding and improving their skincare. Remedy offers facials, HydraFacials, microneedling, dermaplaning, waxing, facial acupuncture, and therapeutic massage. All of their Advanced Aesthetics are relaxing while also being result-oriented. 

Renee ensures that her staff are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest technologies and techniques through training and workshops. This allows them to offer unparalleled services in a completely unique manner to Remedy. Part of this continuous education that Renee strives to provide is inspired by companies like Eve Wellness, whose mission is to educate women about their hormones. 

The experience at Remedy doesn’t end when your treatment does. 

Remedy has an amazing lounge or rooftop patio set up for clients to relax and let the benefits of their treatment set in. Renee’s favourite part of Remedy is connecting with their clients while helping them better understand their skin and providing a space to truly relax and bask in some self-care. 

Renee is originally from Aotearoa (Māori for New Zealand)! 

There she studied advanced aesthetics after secondary school, and moved to Banff afterwards in 2012. When she couldn’t find her ideal fit with existing spas that aligned with her vision, Renee saw a gap in the market where there was an opportunity to create something special to offer. After receiving Permanent Residency in Canada, Renee was confident about what her life in the Rockies was meant to look like, and that began with Remedy.

However, in December 2020 Renee had the opportunity to change it up and completely design a new space for her business. In February 2021, Remedy relocated to a new location in Harmony Lane where they are now offering their services. 

Although COVID was especially difficult on services that Remedy offers, Renee considers herself overall fortunate. 

The growth they saw before COVID allowed for Remedy to make the move to Harmony Lane, expand the team, and add more service offerings. Renee is thankful for all the opportunities from the past year, including focusing on the renovations and move to a new location, as well as taking some time to rest during the imposed closures. 

Renee has high hopes for the future of small businesses in the Bow Valley. 

With more small businesses opening up around the community, she hopes to see rent prices be affordable enough for these small, locally owned businesses to stay open.

With that, Renee wanted to make sure she gave a well-earned shout-out to the following locals doing amazing work! 

Mystee Maisonett from Om Cooking Banff has created delicious vegan creations including the Dandelion Latte served post-treament at Remedy. Julie Kapuscinki from Glowfood Creamery provides the Seabuckthorn, Out, and Argan Oils for Remedy. Willow Flower Co. are creating stunning floral arrangements ideal to bring a bit of beauty to any occasion or space. 

Renee also wanted to send some Local Love to Beatnik for the sense of community they are working to create, Wildheart for their adaptiveness to online classes in bite-sized workouts perfect for busy schedules, and Erin Evans for her presence in the community as a yoga teacher and leader of Yoga Teacher Training and Life Coaching. Lastly, Renee has huge admiration for the work being done by the YWCA in Banff towards safety, counselling, and support of women. 

This includes new offerings for clients, educational events for women in the community with professional guest speakers on topics such as services and treatments available at Remedy, full body wellness, hormone education, and so on. She truly believes the opportunities for growth at Remedy are unlimited. 

So next time you’re looking to set aside some time for self-care, give yourself a gift by visiting Renee and her team at Remedy Skincare & Spa. You can find all their available services and book your treatments online.  And make sure to keep up with them on Instagram and Facebook for all their latest updates. 

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
PROJECT A

Welcome back to the Local Love Blog Series! 

We’re thrilled to get to feature a born-and-raised Canmore local, Jade Ansley, who has been doing amazing things at PROJECT A. What started as a pop-up shop driven by a passion for supporting emerging artists, has now found its home in a permanent atelier in downtown Canmore. 

Slow-fashion indicates garments have been made in an ethically and environmentally responsible manner and includes clothing, jewelry, and leather products. Jade is proud to support emerging Canadian artists and makers, who are often in the first years of business and rely on the support of galleries and clients to gain their momentum. 

Jade got the idea for PROJECT A while she was studying and living in New Brunswick. 

After graduating from Canmore Collegiate High School, Jade made her way across the country to start school at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Here she fell in love with jewelry-making and became a skilled metal smith. During this time, she saw the pattern of friends graduating from art school and returning to regular jobs after struggling to make ends meet as a professional artist. From this sense of discouragement and a strong desire to support emerging artists, Jade knew she had a great business opportunity. 

In 2015, Jade hosted the first PROJECT A pop-up shop in Fredericton during her last year in school. 

By June 2017, Jade had launched the second pop-up shop which quickly turned into the permanent location on Main St. where you can now find PROJECT A. With help from her parents, Jade has created an entirely unique space that instantly calms customers as they walk through the door. 

Getting inspiration from travelling across Canada, Jade loves seeing what artists and shops are doing. 

While she does this, Jade builds trusting relationships with all the new artists she brings into the shop and her reward is being the first to unpackage the pieces they send. Artists have poured their heart and soul into each piece and Jade loves to marvel in their skill and dedication. 

Jade has been lucky to learn the ropes of small business ownership in the Bow Valley from her parents. 

Having owned their own renovation business, Impact Renovations Canmore, in Canmore for 20+ years and seeing the ups and downs of it all, Jade has learned first-hand the triumphs and tough times that small business owners experience. She’s also been lucky enough to have great mentorship and support from her best friend, Cassandra Elizabeth, a slow-fashion eco-friendly clothing designer based in Toronto. Jade has been by her side through her own journey of graceful failings and hard-earned successes. 

They often work with organizations such as the YWCA, ArtsPlace, and the Eagles Nest Family Shelter. Most recently, in partnership with Tapas, Jade and PROJECT A raised $3000+ for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, as part of an Indigenous Day fundraiser. In addition to their own efforts, many artists featured at PROJECT A donate to different environmental and social organizations on a regular basis. 

And while we knew it would be tough for Jade to pick a few locals to shout-out, we knew she would deliver. 

Jade wanted to highlight a couple of PROJECT A employees, including the shop manager and photographer Georgi Silckerodt and emerging artist staff member Mandy Genier. She also wanted to give some love to Pascale Ouellet, a talented painter currently focused on recreating the best local views from around town.  Lastly, despite being their competitors, Alberta’s Own Marketplace is also considered a friend to Jade and PROJECT A shop as they focus on showcasing artists from Alberta. 

Until a concrete decision has been made, Jade will continue to dream about transitioning to a larger space, opening other locations, exploring more e-commerce options, even opening artist studio space, and starting her own non-profit! The drive she gets to see from emerging artists wanting to sell their products and helping them succeed keeps Jade going and dreaming for more. 

Jade is grateful for the support of the community and customers throughout the years. 

In owning PROJECT A, she’s learned not to let people who didn’t share her vision distract her, and as long as she loved her business, it didn’t matter if not everyone else did. Taking on debt to open a business is terrifying, but a lot of hard work has paid off and Jade is very confident that the economy will bounce back from the tumultuous year COVID delivered us. 

She wishes more locals would venture downtown to visit the shops and restaurants just to see what’s new. Despite it being busy, taking some time to wander around the beautiful town we have all come to love and play tourist is a fun way to reconnect with our community. You never know what or who you might run into, and it’s a great way to support local businesses doing their best to provide for our community. 

So next time you’re looking for a gift, instead of heading to the city or looking online, pop down to Main St. for a visit with Jade at PROJECT A. Make sure to follow the shop on Instagram and Facebook for updates about daily pop-ups for local artisans during the summer months, and for the latest in-store products by new Canadian artists. 

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
Rocket Pie

Welcome back to the Local Love Blog Series! 

We’re thrilled to get the opportunity to feature Dave Carruthers from Rocket Pie this week! Dave is one half of the father-son owner duo, having partnered with his dad, Stephen, to create a great pizza joint. 

Stephen’s background is as an architect, where he changed the skyline of entire cities, built hospitals and fortified infrastructure for First Nations communities. Dave considers him the anchor in his life and his very best friend. 

As a family, these guys have a deep passion for hospitality, and of course, pizza! 

Together, they have created a family-friendly pizzeria that welcomes all guests to join in their belief that there is a pizza for everyone! They’ve received tons of support from Bow Valley locals, as well as mountain lovers out for a day of skiing, hiking or biking. Customers instantly become friends when they make a Rocket Pie pit stop! 

Dave’s cousin Andrew LeBlanc was the one to plant the seed for Dave’s passion for dough (and pizza in general). Andrew now owns Bello Pizza in Toronto and continues to be Dave’s biggest inspiration and loudest cheerleader. Because of all this, the dough is the heart and soul of any Rocket Pie pizza. Dave eats, sleeps, and breathes dough and believes that pizza is the only inanimate object he cares about! He loves the feel, the smell, and the visual transformation of the dough as it comes together all the way to the finished product. Patience is key with it and there’s no room for cutting corners. 

While offering classic Neapolitan style pizza, Rocket Pie has added their own distinctive flair. 

They have added special ingredients, like their very own sausage, as well as focused on using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Their most popular pizzas are the Formaggi and the Pepperoni. While the Pepperoni and Margherita pizzas make it onto Dave’s favourite’s list, he also has a soft spot for the Diavola when he’s feeling fancy. 

He sees the opportunity to make someone’s day with each visitor to the shop, in the short amount of time they have with each guest. They’ve created an open and honest platform for feedback, and thrive on the times when a guest is thrilled with their food and experience. Dave considers it his personal mission to feed and water the guests that dine and the community around them. 

Dave hopes to one day get Rocket Pie pizza into the hands of anyone who loves pizza across Western Canada. 

Originally from Calgary and now based in Canmore, Dave started working on the dough recipe 10+ years ago and the concept for Rocket Pie 7 years ago. Throughout 2018-2019, they worked on finalizing the details of their business, including securing their location in the Shops of Canmore, and were able to open their doors in June 2020. 

The outpouring love from the Bow Valley community is something that Dave is incredibly grateful for. 

They hosted a great contest in March 2021 which was really well received where they gave out one pizza per week for a whole year to one lucky winner, so now they’re looking forward to running it year after year going forward!

While Rocket Pie is still relatively new in the Bow Valley scene, they’ve got some great local shout-outs! 

This includes Blake and Kale at 4296, Valbella Gourmet Foods, and Crock-a-Doodle Canmore. Dave also has incredible respect and gratitude for the work being done at Rocky Mountain Adaptive, where they are finding ways to adapt conventional pieces of equipment to ensure anyone can get out and enjoy the mountains! 

Opening the restaurant in the midst of COVID was certainly interesting…

This doesn’t dismiss the fact that Dave and his team had to do a lot of re-adjusting in the past year, but they’re thrilled to still be around and eager to welcome more visitors to the Bow Valley as we ease into a post-COVID world. 

Next time you’re looking for a slice, be sure to check out Rocket Pie and I would recommend calling early because they’ve been selling out lately! Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates and some drool-worthy pizza teasers.

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
Wild Life Distillery

Words can hardly describe how excited we are to feature Matt Widmer, Owner and Operator of Wild Life Distillery  in this Local Love Blog Series feature! Alongside his partner, Keith Robinson, and the whole team, Wild Life Distillery (WLD) has created a completely distinctive Rocky Mountain spirit experience.  

They are building great business relationships, resulting in massive success by ensuring to always put forth their best effort in everything they do while staying accountable to their commitments. 

WLD grew from a concept Matt pulled together in 2011 while living in Tofino. 

However, it took until 2014 for legislation in Alberta to change and allow for craft distilling in the province. As soon as that happened, Matt and Keith knew they were in for a great ride and started working hard on their business plan. Initially starting with the simpler and quicker spirits, WLD is now able to offer Vodka, Gin, Amaro, Whisky, Bitters and Syrups – almost all of which (Whisky to come soon!) can be purchased online, or at the distillery and tasting room on Bow Meadows Crescent in Canmore. 

Matt is what we would consider a “true local” having grown up in Banff with his parents and three siblings. His father purchased Ticino’s Restaurant in Banff in 1979 and has spent the past 42 years hard at work keeping the family business going. Matt’s experience managing the restaurant alongside his family helped give him a strong foundation for what it took to run a small local business.

Matt loves the potential for growth and creativity in his work with WLD. 

His belief that continuous learning is always possible is cherished within WLD, as Matt continues his personal and business growth. His favourite part of the business currently is recipe development for new gin and whisky. Drawing inspiration from delicious products on the market, WLD finds their new whisky to be the biggest motivator recently and hope to be able to release some amazing whisky in the next couple of years. 

In building a strong brand that resonates with anyone pursuing an active, outdoor lifestyle, WLD is already working on export plans for its products. They are starting with the US now and looking to expand into the Asian market in 2022. That being said, Matt and Keith aren’t blind to the amazing support from the Bow Valley since day one. 

WLD has had amazing support from the team at the Rundle Bar in the Fairmont Banff Springs, and the cocktails they’ve created are beyond delicious. 

Of course, we asked Matt what other Bow Valley businesses were doing great work and he wanted to make sure these great locals got a shout-out: Alexis Mckeown Photography, Mad Dog Curry, Rudi Peet Goldsmith,  Fireweed Glass Studio, Canmore Yoga Lounge, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co., and Where the Buffalo Roam Saloon. 

Matt also wanted to point out the incredible work being done at Rocky Mountain Adaptive. The team is passionate about making the mountains an accessible place for everyone by “providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate, learn, and excel at mountain sports and recreation.” They are inspiring amazing people to get outside and enjoy the activities they love! 

They’ve learned to just hold the course and that ultimately, quality will always trump fads or trends over time. Their biggest challenge now is keeping up with the demand for new products, while maintaining their high-standards and adding to their daily operations during continued growth. 

Matt’s top tip for new business owners since opening WLD is to stay focused – along with making time for coffee and yoga every day! 

Tackling projects one at a time, over a steady period of time will allow you to build something awesome. Being able to tune out the millions of daily distractions and focusing on your goals, short or long term, will pay off. Arguably, Matt wishes this was the case for people in general, not just when it comes to business.

You can catch Matt down at the river fly fishing, on the trails mountain biking in the summer, ski touring in the winter, and hopefully soon abroad catching some waves.

If you’re not as much of an outdoor enthusiast as he is, no worries! You can always go visit the tasting room to try Matt’s favourite cocktail, the Barrel-aged Gin Negroni (which also happens to be my favourite)! Make sure to follow Wild Life Distillery on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with their latest cocktail menu and their Whisky release!

Either way, make sure to pick up your favourite spirit and syrups so that you’re never short on the ingredients for a truly Wild Life. 

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
Banff Tea Co.

We’re thrilled to get to feature Siona and her amazing team from Banff Tea Co. this week on the Local Love Blog Series! They have found an amazing way to bring people from all over the world together, in celebration and appreciation of tea! With up to 200 different teas, and 40 completely unique blends, Banff Tea Co. has something for everyone. 

Inspiration for the shop came as Harry Potter meets Zen. 

It’s important to Siona that the shop feels open and inclusive to encourage clients and staff to be creative and curious about exploring taste and flavours in their teas. They are also striving for zero-waste and have a strong eco-driven ethos to their business practices. 

Siona’s passion for tea began early, when she received a cup of her Gran’s very own blend. 

At the time she was only 4 years old, but eventually knew she wanted to run her own tea business. She worked for a family company in the UK selling loose-leaf tea and coffee beans, which gave her some insight into how she would ultimately run her own business someday. Eventually, she made a trip to visit friends in Banff who lured her with the promise of beautiful mountains and the potential for a job at the local tea shop in town. 

With the experience of her family’s business owning and operating the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse, Susanne Gilles-Smith, first opened Banff Tea Co. because she was passionate about giving back to charities while sharing her love for tea. After meeting Susanne and securing a job, Siona knew she had found the place where she wanted to be. So, when the offer came to buy the business, it was truly a dream come true. 12 years later, Banff Tea Co. is selling locally to the entire Bow Valley and all its visitors, as well as internationally online!  The business and tea are integral parts of Siona’s identity now, and it has allowed her and her team to live a lifestyle they all love. 

While Siona admits that one of the hardest challenges has been finding the right people and keeping them around, given the transient nature of the Bow Valley. This is why Roxy appreciates Siona’s hard work to offer a living wage and loves Siona’s belief that the team should be able to live and not just survive in the Bow Valley. Due to this, the whole Banff Tea Co. team are happy to be at work everyday, work well together, and are ultimately able to offer personal and genuine customer service! 

While Siona hails from Northwest England, the outdoors wasn’t a mystery to her growing up. 

Siona was lucky to have the Lake District National Park at her doorstep, making tourism and natural beauty easily accessible to her and not a huge adjustment to get used to when she moved to Banff. The rest of the Banff Tea Co. team come from all over Canada, including Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, and the East Coast. 

She hopes that they can eventually have a direct line to each ingredient they use in unique blends, ensuring that they are being as ethical as possible. And, while they already ship internationally, the hope is for their e-commerce sales to reach more customers all over the world.

Banff Tea Co. also proudly gives 5 – 10% of their profits each year to a variety of charities. 

While their donations vary from Canadian charities, and those in other tea-growing countries, Banff Tea Co. is also an involved part of the Bow Valley community. They wanted to make sure the following artisans and local businesses got a shout-out: Katie Borrowman from Of Cabbages and Kings, artist Mike Cameron,  Kirstie Tweed from Orange Girl Photography, Banff Food Rescue, The Bear Minimum, and Café Books. 

There was a silver lining in being able to slow down and really enjoy time with family while working shorter workdays. The heightened calm and lowered pressure allowed them to savour those moments, all with a cup of tea in hand. Given this, Siona hopes that more people will not forget to take the time to listen more intently as things get busier again. An often-overlooked skill, listening is one she wishes we would all choose to perfect because the feeling of being heard is the greatest way to feel valued and loved. 

As things are slowly re-opening, Siona is excited for her trip back to the UK to visit family and friends. Meanwhile, the Banff Tea Co. team has incredible travel plans dreamed up, including South America and Africa.

At the end of the day, Siona’s favourite thing about tea is its connection to humans. 

All around the world, offering a cup of tea is a welcoming tradition that has endured centuries. Banff Tea Co. has provided Siona and her team the opportunity to connect with others and make their day a little brighter. With the never-ending combination possibilities, there is time yet for so many more amazing blends. The amazing properties of the tea leaf, in combination with other herbs and spices, are yet to be fully discovered which gives Siona plenty to explore with!

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
BEATNIK Salon

We have our very first dynamic-duo feature on this instalment of the Local Love Blog Series, and we can’t wait to share the awesome work being done by Cassidy Geddes and Pam Traut at BEATNIK Salon!  

Cassidy and Pam have created a space that encourages continuing education, offers gender-neutral pricing, and they have become trailblazers of environmentally responsible initiatives. They are committed to offering high-end services in a casual and ‘good vibes only’ setting! 

Tucked in the coziest nook of the Wolf & Bear Mall, BEATNIK is a must-visit for your post-COVID haircut. 

Cassidy and Pam have their routine dialed where Cassidy is the creative hairdresser with 17-years of experience, and Pam is the self-proclaimed “Money Lord” as the face behind all administrative, organizational, and business needs of BEATNIK.

Pam and Cassidy wanted to set their salon apart from the classic hair salon experience. 

Which is the reason its name is what it is – BEATNIK Salon. While you can find plenty of definitions online, Cassidy and Pam like to think of it as creating their own counterculture by stepping away from the current salon norms and towards their own idea of an open community space. This includes supporting the arts, from live music to musicians, from artists to improv groups. 

Inclusion and self-expression are leading principles at BEATNIK. 

Cassidy and Pam have created a safe, friendly, and accepting space for clients to explore a hairstyle that fits their lifestyle while still allowing for true self-expression with zero judgement Whether it be a first haircut ever, graduation and wedding hairstyles, a post-breakup refresh (I’ve personally been there, done that so no judgement here!), or just a milestone that needs commemorating, BEATNIK provides it all.

At the end of the day, Cassidy and Pam love seeing clients transform before their eyes and the reactions when clients leave feeling great!

Both hailing from Ontario, Cassidy from Kitchener-Waterloo and Pam from St. Mary’s Banff has now been home for the past decade. BEATNIK has allowed them to spend quality time with a hugely diverse group of people from the Bow Valley and abroad. While Cassidy lived in Toronto for 7 years and attended the Aveda Academy, Pam was keeping herself busy in Guelph getting a BAH in Psychology. 

However, this pair didn’t actually connect until they were both in Banff when Pam made a hair appointment and her stylist turned out to be Cassidy!

With a current focus on making their laundry systems more responsible, BEATNIK is always working towards becoming eco-friendlier and more renewable in all their practices. They are keen to collaborate on projects near and far, such as the Dresscode Project which is working to, “educate and empower hair stylists and barbers to give people haircuts that help them look the way they feel…envision(ing) a world where every hair salon and barber shop is a gender-affirming, safer-space for LGBTQ2S+ clients.” 

Being so involved with the community, we had a feeling that Cassidy and Pam’s shout-out list would be long, and we were not disappointed! 

While there are surely so many more, here are a few people in the Bow Valley that Pam and Cassidy wanted to be sure had a special shout-out: Bryan White at Bow Media Banff, Jeremiah Marsh from Wilderness Weddings, Christine Kauffman’s beautiful arrangements at Banff Mountaintop Flowers, Sherry McEwen at Last Temptation Vintage, Pauline Brennan of Wild River Artwork (check out her staff cartoons on the BEATNIK website!), Nikkie Goodwin of Nak Creative, amazing musician Alanna J. Brown, and last but not least, Pat the Baker from The Uprising Bakery. 

In addition to all the amazing people Cassidy and Pam work with everyday, they’re also committed to giving back to the community. 

They recently offered half-priced haircuts to restaurant staff in the Bow Valley, and donated all proceeds to the Banff Food Rescue, who does amazing work keeping good food out of landfills and providing our community with perfect and affordable food. If you’re looking to get involved, they’re always looking for volunteers! 

It’s been a tough stop-and-start pattern of work throughout the three lockdowns BEATNIK saw this past year. They were putting in 12+ hour days leading up to each new lockdown, then shut down for weeks as they recovered before reopening with full schedules. Throughout it all, Cassidy and Pam couldn’t be more grateful for local friends and clients supporting them whether it was buying product and gift cards during closures, or dropping by with coffee and snacks (special shout-out to Sue Shih!) when they were open and working tirelessly! 

So, what would make the Bow Valley a better place, according to the BEATNIK crew? 

Pam is actively involved with the Town of Banff’s ‘Trash Talks’, a thinktank for concerned businesses and individuals working to help Banff achieve zero-waste status. Cassidy and Pam are also super excited for the Banff Isn’t Disposable (BID) program, which is a pilot program for reusable containers where customers can choose to have their food packages in a reusable container from any participating business by paying a $5 deposit – all containers can be returned for a refund of the deposit, then cleaned and reused! 

Pam and Cassidy have poured their hearts into creating an inclusive and engaging space of refuge in the Bow Valley with BEATNIK Salon. 

Next time you’re looking for an awesome spot to hang out and get a great haircut, be sure to check out BEATNIK Salon. Until then, make sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook for updates as they re-introduce their hang-out spot (waiting room), host live music events, and return to being the fully open-door, social space they used to be! 

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
Mountain Fire Foods

Welcome back to the Local Love Blog Series! 

I found myself having to write this feature first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee, because any other time I sat down to write in the afternoon or evening I would be too hungry and end up just looking through photos of delicious food instead!

Damian targets anyone who is hungry and enjoys real, fresh food. 

He puts out a new menu every week, which keeps him on his toes and his customers from becoming bored. His homemade comfort food always includes super fresh ingredients, and will be delivered to your doorstep. 

Damian makes ordering amazing home-cooked meals beyond easy! 

A new menu is released every Wednesday for the following week, but you can also sign up to have it emailed to you as soon as it is released! Then you peruse the menu, make a few selections, and place your order! As long as your order is in by 9 pm on Saturday, you’ll receive your meals the following week (Monday for Canmore and Tuesday for Banff). If you’re not home when Damian drops by, no worries! Just leave a cooler or reusable bag at your front door for your meals to be safely stored in until you make it home. 

Damian spent so many years of his career working incredibly hard within the regular constraints of restaurant kitchens, whereas now he has the ability to be completely creative while also providing restaurant-level meals for people to enjoy in the comfort of their own home. He got his start as a dishwasher at the Banff Springs Hotel in the mid-80’s, where he caught the bug for cooking while watching other chefs.

With a new menu every week, we just had to ask Damian where he gets his inspiration from? 

He often tries to outshine last week’s menu while he puts together the next one. Drawing inspiration from the seasons and new seasonal ingredients, Damian is able to put together interesting menus every week that will keep customers excited. As a proud First Nations Chef, Damian finds it comes naturally to draw menu ideas from what is readily available and in season. “Fresh is the name of the game,” he says. 

Now based in Canmore, Damian grew up in Nova Scotia but his heritage is from Saskatchewan. 

He has huge goals for Mountain Fire Foods, hoping to have the business grow to a nation-wide level. With a completely unique business model, Damian knows that he has something people want with restaurant-quality mobile meals that doesn’t leave a huge hole in your bank account. 

Despite having thought about the business idea for a long time, taking the leap to get started was, of course, the hardest part! It wasn’t until Damian’s crossfit coach asked if he would make some meals in anticipation of an upcoming competition. At this point, Damian figured there was no better time to start and so put his plan into motion. His first order was 6 meals, and he now fulfills 200+ orders every week. 

Amazingly, Damian has been able to support Bow Valley Locals with free meals through his “Feed the Bow – a helping hand” initiative. 

With the support of the Banff Canmore Community Foundation and the Rotary Club of Canmore, Damian received a $10,000 grant to provide free meals to residents of the Bow Valley. Damian has a simple goal of helping those in need in the Bow Valley. He believes that those who work in the service and hospitality industry are the ones who truly make the Bow Valley run, and they’re also the ones who have been the hardest hit by the pandemic. So, he felt a natural need to support Bow Valley locals who need a little bit of a helping hand.

As always, we asked who in the Bow Valley Damian felt he wanted to shout out. 

Carson, from Crossfit Canmore, was the first on Damian’s list for the great work he does keeping people healthy and motivated. Damian also wanted to shine some light on Ray from Full Steam Carpet Clean, and Ilona from Adventure Tails.  

With restaurants closed due to restrictions, Damian was still able to provide restaurant-quality meals to the doors of people all over the Bow Valley. The hardest obstacle to overcome was adapting to the new level of busyness while struggling with supply issues and sorting out new systems to handle the flow of food in versus the flow of food out. 

At the end of the day, what keeps Damian continuing to make amazing meals is because he loves the heat and smells of the kitchen, and the creation of something that brings a smile to people’s faces. That and coffee, taking time to breathe and smell the flowers, and then more coffee! 

So, if you’re anything like me and fail time after time to meal prep and plan for the week, give Mountain Fire Foods some love. Affordable meals with delicious menu options delivered right to your door – how can you beat that? Check out his new menu every Wednesday and get your orders in by Saturday night!

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Local Love Blog Series –
Defending Awesome

This Local Love Blog Series feature is one that we’ve been so excited to share! Grab your preferred drink of choice and buckle in because this feature is a bit of a longer one, but I promise it’s worth it!

His amazing work throughout the Bow Valley made him the perfect collaborator for this series and I’m so excited to show off all the great work he’s been doing! 

First off though, if you’ve ever thought, “That would make a great t-shirt!” you need to go see Jim! 

Defending Awesome can customize just about anything you can think of, from t-shirts to vehicle magnets, storefront decals to camping mugs, and so much more! The possibilities are endless to create a unique gift for any occasion, or to get your business name out there and seen!

Soon enough, they transitioned to their own branded clothing, and then started small with printing year-end garments for ski hills. Jim has now worked his way up to printing just about anything for small businesses, artist merchandise, and personal occasions. Jim also loves the opportunity to use his creativity in the items his customers are looking for. The reactions of customers when they see their finished product for the first time is priceless. 

Seeing the business grow and being an active part of the community is what keeps Jim going. 

He’s also doing great work in giving back to the community by working with all sorts of non-profit organizations and fundraisers in the Bow Valley. Jim has been a loud-and-proud supporter of local businesses – you will surely have seen “Support Local” stickers, pins, and bags around the Bow Valley recently! As restrictions have eased and local businesses have started re-opening, Jim went to all the small independent restaurants, retail and service clients who support Defending Awesome with Support Local stickers in tow for the businesses to hand out to their best local customers as a little “thank you”! 

But for Jim, Supporting Local is more than just financial support from customers or clients. Which is why he’s encouraged 5 things that everyone can do to support local without spending money! 

1. Like their social media accounts
2. Write a positive review/feedback 
3. Engage in their posts by liking, commenting, and sharing
4. Post your own photos to social media, making sure to tag them
5. Make referrals and recommendations to friends and family 

Jim believes that supporting local also includes a responsibility for local businesses to rise to the occasion. 

Jim believes that businesses need to demonstrate their willingness to actively help the communities in which they operate and serve. He’s amazed to see that while COVID impacted small local businesses more than anyone could have imagined, they were still helping, donating, and giving back to the community! For example, Banff Roasting Company has donated free coffee to essential workers/hospital staff, and Domino’s Banff has hosted a day where funds from pizza’s sold that day went to the Banff Food Bank. If you’re looking to get involved, Jim recommends connecting with Alanna from Banff Food Rescue for volunteer opportunities with a great local initiative. 

But to do that, they need a bigger space so if anyone has any leads, make sure they touch base with him! He first showed up in Banff in 2000 expecting to stay for one winter but 21 years later we’re happy to still have him around! He’s always known he had an entrepreneurial spirit, which really kicked off 8 years ago with the first market booth. Despite having explored buying an existing t-shirt shop at the time, the financial requirements were unreasonable, and Jim figured he could do it better, and with less! 

Even though Jim supports all things local, we still asked him for a few of his favourite businesses and people to shout out here! 

He wanted to make sure that Nikki Goodwin at Nak.Creative got some attention for her use of ink, watercolours, and real foliage in her original artwork, as well as Michelle Brown from Root and Revive who is making hand-rolled protein balls with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and naturally sweetened options. Ryan De Alwis from Curry’s Curries is also getting a shout out for his new line of hot sauces (we at LDF can confirm that they’re awesome)! 

With so much of their business being word-of-mouth, it’s really what drives Jim to keep being involved with so many of the community initiatives that they do! He is beyond grateful for anyone who has recommended them or given them a social shout out! He’s also got some really great help from Jay and Dan, who are an essential part of the Ninja family! With a rise in the urge to support local businesses through COVID, Jim is thankful to have a great community and wouldn’t be where they are without it! 

We also asked Jim what he would like to see improve or change in the Bow Valley. 

He is definitely concerned with the cost of living and seeing so many people leave town due to the lack of affordable housing is disappointing. He hopes to see more availability of affordable housing and the potential for tiny home communities in the Bow Valley. Jim also wanted to point out the lack of green-initiative programming in the Bow Valley, considering being in or around national and provincial parks! He wishes everyone, from businesses to individuals, would do a better job at recycling, especially when blue bins are almost always right beside the garbage. 

So, where can we find Jim and Defending Awesome? 

As mentioned, Defending Awesome is currently located in the Bear St. Mall in Banff. He will be doing Canada Day-themed live t-shirt printing at the Banff Farmers Market on Wednesday, June 30 and Thursday, July 1! You can choose your own design, t-shirt style, and colours, then watch it get printed in front of your eyes! If you prefer to avoid the line-up, you can pre-order on their Facebook or Instagram Page. 

So, next time you think your inside joke needs to be immortalized in print, don’t dismiss the idea – pick up your phone and get in touch with Defending Awesome to see what awesome product Jim and his team can come up with to capture that memory!

Interested in being featured in the Local Love Blog Series? Check out more information here and make sure to follow us on Instagram!