PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise Announces 2010 Business Women of Distinction Awards
by Scott A. Sumner
www.thunderbaybusiness.ca
Rosalind Lockyer, Executive Director of the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise was on hand at the Slovak Legion to announce the 2010 Women of Distinction Awards. “We have had these awards for the past 5 years. There is a selection committee who evaluates business
owners that have been in business for at least two years, are creating significant revenue in the community and most importantly, are leaders giving back to each other and to the community,” said Rosalind Lockyer.
“We had 100 or so businesses to choose from. It is quite an achievement. We have women of all ages and different types of businesses. They are very representative of the women that go
through PARO and sustain their businesses in the community. The women have a terrific energy, perseverance and are passionate about their businesses but also about giving back to their community. I think that it is very important as to whether a business survives in a
community.”
The organization is expanding all the time. Last year PARO on Wheels installed video conferencing on Wednesdays along with e learning which helped PARO grow. “We have worked with over 120 women through video conferencing in 30 communities. Contact North allows them to see the power point displays and actually see each other. We have worked
with 1344 women including 674 Aboriginal and Metis people. We are using all types of media including radio to talk to the women.” said Lockyer.
The winners this year in attendance at the awards were:
Sharla Brown of Journey to Wellness, a health spa. “We help people create a healthy lifestyle that works for them. Our business encompasses a full sized gym, fitness classes, a day spa,
massage therapy, different treatments, workshops, and cooking classes and basically everything you need to lead a healthy lifestyle. We even have a girls’ self esteem camp in the summer.”“ We are located at 239 West Amelia Street which used to be a church
before we opened May of 2008. Things are going very well. We are continually growing and just finishing our 3rd year of operation. We have 1 employee and the two owners with 10 to 12 women who run their own business out of the building. Many of us are PARO members.”
Erika Maki of A Spa for You is located down the street from Journey to Wellness. “We do herbal facials, hot stone massage, manicures, body wraps and are a full service spa. We have people who rent from us. I took over a 100 year old building, one of the first buildings on Frederica Street built in 1912. We started 9 and half years ago and also operate Adventures with Erika. The only limitation is basically my imagination as to where I can bring it. I have had the oportunity to go to the Dominican Republic and Cuba and teach new spa directors there on new services with the business in a bag program from S
roptimist International.”
Linda Bruins owns An Extra Hand. “People all need an extra hand as they are very busy when they are working. I give people the hand they need including cleaning, gardening, organizing or whatever it may be. We go into homes and businesses. I started in 2002 and have been working for myself since then. Another project for us is Evergreen the United Neighborhood. We are building capacity for the Simpson Ogden Street with residents making things better for them. I love my work!”
Loretta Shymko is founder of Loretta Hand Knits. “ I started about 15 years ago doing hand knits and selling at craft tables and was fortunate to be critiqued by PARO for their gift shop PARO Presents. I have been involved since it opened and also do one major craft sale.
It is not a big business but something I love doing. I love fiber wool, alpaca and natural stuff. I am pretty excited and pleased to win the Women of Distinction Award and never thought I
would be recognized for things I do. For me it is enjoyable.”
Marcia Arpin is the founder of All the Daze Productions. “It started out as a series of activity books for young children and PARO saw a business concept waiting to happen. It has evolved into work shops with care providers and teachers and event planning for children. If it is a
retailer, business or organization that wants to cater to young families we have ideas that will work for them in their environment. I am a home based business but it feels like I
work out of my car as I drive NW Ontario so often. The airlines and I have become one. Thompson Manitoba is my farthest North destination. There are young families with children that need simple activities such as cooking. I have been an early childhood educator and was
being requested to conferences and consulting and there wasn’t enough time in the day, so I had to go with my heart and do this full time. The passion in me is to make sure people hold on to their creativity.”
Jean Paul of Lean Paul Photography was unable to attend the event.
