As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, LeanIn.Org, along with the Girls Scouts, are looking to ban the word “bossy” as they feel it discourages young girls from aspiring to be leaders in adulthood. By eliminating the word they are hoping to develop and nurture girls to become female politicians, CEOs, business owners, and leaders. It is an intriguing movement. As a…

Today, in celebration of International Women’s Day, we find out how one philanthropic entrepreneur built a profitable business on her passion for charity and love of a bargain She’s been named Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, and Humanitarian of the Year. She’s both president and CBO (Chief Bargain Officer) of the Bargains Group—an…

As winter came roaring into Toronto over the past few weeks, many Torontonians — close to 228,000 to be more exact — were left in the dark and without power for up to a week as a result of the freezing rain that blanketed the city. In total, the damage and cleanup is estimated to cost the city $106 million.…

Is all this cause marketing too much to care about? Everywhere you turn today, there’s another worthy cause trying to get your attention, time, and in all likelihood, money. Answer your door at home and it may very well be someone canvassing for a cause. Pick up a phone and odds are you could be on the receiving end of…

As I sat down to write this blog, the hot summer weather seeped into my office. Outside of the Bargains Group office it was a sunny, sticky 24 degrees and with our air conditioner on the fritz, it wasn’t much cooler inside. I was out of the sun, and had easy access to water to cool me off; but with Project Water on the…

On June 19th, Homeless Hub released their State of Homelessness in Canada 2013. I, along with many friends within the not-for-profit sector, was eagerly awaiting the data as the issue of accurately documenting the numbers related to homelessness has been a long standing challenge. According to the research, on any given night in Canada, there are 30,000 people homeless; a staggering…

Often in life, it’s the smallest things that have the greatest impact. It seems cliché to say, but it’s true that in today’s fast-paced technology driven world, people rarely slow down and appreciate the little things. Thankfully, following Project Winter Survival I’m reminded on a daily basis to sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy the little things. After…

Giving back makes good business sense! This motto is something that has guided me throughout my 25-year entrepreneurial career, reminding me that with any success I have, it’s still important to share that success with those less fortunate. It’s the reason I’ve founded and commit to Project Winter Survival, a remarkable event where volunteers come together to help the homeless…

You never know what a situation is really like until you see for it yourself. Homelessness in Vancouver is no exception to that rule. As someone who has a long history of dealing with social service agencies, homeless shelters, and outreach people across Canada, I thought I knew about the living conditions on the streets in Canada; however when I…

One of the biggest problems facing SuperMom entrepreneurs is finding balance between work and family life. Unfortunately, this balance doesn’t exist! There is no such thing as a perfect balance, but for 24 years I have owned and operated the Bargains Group, 13 of them while being a parent. It’s not always easy–being an entrepreneur or a mother is difficult…