Advertise on podcast: Amplify Canada

In 2020, the world stopped. Canada’s small business owners didn’t. Amplify Canada told their stories: the struggles, the determination, the refusal to give up. Now host Linda Freeman is going back. This episode follows the generosity at the heart of so many small businesses, and looks at the reality of giving in Canada today. We return to a barbershop in Nanaimo and a family bistro that opens its doors on Christmas Day, and meet a family-run business whose giving is changing lives in its community. About the HostLinda Freeman hosts Amplify Canada, revisiting the small business owners whose stories defined the show's first seasons. Linda is a media professional who has been immersed in Canada's media for decades. She has interviewed and told hundreds of stories over the years, gathering insight and perspective on how to be better. Amplify Canada: Season 3. Resilience Revisited. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Food is personal, and it's also an economy under pressure. In this episode of Amplify Canada, Food For Thought, we dig into what grows, gets harvested, and lands on our plates from cactus leather to farms to vineyards to fishing boats a hundred miles offshore, and the tariffs, labour shortages, and climate volatility now testing all of it. In this episode, host Linda Freeman reconnects with Desiree Dupuis, who left the seaweed business to launch a cactus-leather footwear brand; with Caroline Schaller, a French-trained winemaker who's worked three Okanagan wineries in eight years and is bracing for another unpredictable harvest; and with Fraser MacDonald, who's spent nearly two decades fishing off the BC coast and built Good Fish out of a pandemic-era pivot. Agri-food expert Dr. Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie's Agri-Food Analytics Lab sets the framework, breaking down why Canada's food processing sector is falling behind, what's really driving grocery prices, and where he still sees reason for hope. Canada's agriculture and agri-food system generates $149.2 billion in GDP and supports 1 in 9 jobs nationwide, with roughly half of everything grown and produced here sold abroad. The wine industry alone now contributes $10.1 billion to GDP and sustains nearly 100,000 jobs across six provinces. This episode is about what it takes to keep that system standing while the ground underneath it keeps shifting. In this episode: ●     Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on Canada's "entrepreneurial drought," why food processing productivity is falling behind the US, and where he sees the sector heading ●     Desiree Dupuis on walking away from the seaweed business she built and pivoting into cactus-leather footwear, and the sustainability throughline connecting both ●     Caroline Schaller on eight years and three Okanagan wineries, chronic labour shortages, and prepping for harvest under wildfire risk ●     Fraser MacDonald on tuna fishing 100 miles offshore, fuel costs that tripled in a decade, marine protected areas, and building Good Fish ●     Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on tariffs, counter-tariffs, and why grocers aren't actually the ones squeezing consumers The Host Linda Freeman brings decades of broadcast experience to every conversation, having hosted morning shows across both radio and television throughout her career. Known for her warmth, humor, and genuine curiosity, she has a gift for putting guests at ease and drawing out the stories of the people shaping this country. Always well-researched and professional, Linda's interviews feel less like Q&As and more like real conversations. That instinct for staying present and following the story in real time carries into her interviews. The Guests Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, where he has spent twenty-five years tracking the forces shaping what Canadians pay at the grocery store and advising governments across the country on food distribution and policy. Desiree Dupuis is founder of Vose, a vegan footwear brand built on cactus leather from Mexican supplier Deserto. Caroline Schaller is a French-trained winemaker with nearly a decade in the Okanagan, currently at Culmina, after previous roles at Osoyoos Larose and Rainmaker. Fraser MacDonald is co-founder of Good Fish, a Vancouver-based sustainable seafood company, and has fished BC's coastal waters for close to twenty years. The Businesses Cascadia Seaweed Vose Culmina Family Estate Winery Good Fish The Team Hosted, Produced and Written by Linda Rourke Showrunner: Kat Cullen Sound Engineer/Producer: John Masecar Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith Video Producer: Jordan Wong References Overview of Agri Food System Mark Carney on Food Security Business Matters: Food Inflation in Canada Expected to Remain Elevated On the House: Food Sovereignty Wine Growers Canada Deloitte economic impact white paper Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University IPSOS Cost Of Living   #FoodForThought #ResilienceRevisited

Food For Thought. What is the real cost of the food on your table? In 2020, the world stopped, but small business owners across Canada didn't. Amplify Canada told their stories: the struggles, the determination, the refusal to give up. Now, host Linda Freeman is going back. For many Canadian businesses, the pandemic wasn't the end of the challenges, it was just the beginning. Today, rising costs are being felt at every stage of the food chain, from the dock, to the vineyard, to the grocery aisle. So what's driving the price on your plate? Is it the cost of getting the product to market? Supply and demand? Or is the way Canadians eat and what they're willing to pay for it changing for good? We follow the Canadian food economy from multiple angles: a conversation with commercial fisherman Fraser MacDonald of Good Fish on the real cost of getting seafood to market, a visit to the vineyards of the Okanagan, and a look at sustainable, plant-based materials with a cactus leather shoe designer. We also sit down with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, expert and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, to paint the bigger picture of what's shaping what we eat. About the HostLinda Freeman hosts Amplify Canada, revisiting the small business owners whose stories defined the show's first seasons. Linda is a media professional who has been immersed in Canada's media for decades. She has interviewed and told hundreds of stories over the years, gathering insight and perspective on how to be better. Amplify Canada: Season 3. Resilience Revisited. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Perseverance and Hope holds up Canada’s small businesses sector. Just keep trying and don't give up, that was the refrain from small business owners the first time we met them, mid-pandemic, holding on by grit alone. Years later, we're checking back in. What we found is a country still working hard just to stay in place: costs climbing, hiring stalled, and yet against a backdrop of tariffs and economic drift a stubborn, clear-eyed optimism that refuses to quit. In this episode, host Linda Freeman reconnects with Rosa Matice, who took over a small-town Saskatchewan pub the same year the world shut down, and with Jessica Jeboult, whose sober-living coaching business scaled fast through the pandemic and who, in the middle of testing her new app, lost her mother without warning. Economist David Williams of the Business Council of British Columbia breaks down what's actually driving the pressure on small business: the end of three economic booms, new tariff shocks, and what's left in Canada's own control.Nearly two-thirds of small businesses expect a cost-related obstacle in the next three months, and profitability outlooks haven't budged in a year. But 65% still say they're optimistic about what's ahead. This episode is about what sits underneath that number. In this episode: Rosa Matice on five more years behind the bar at KG Bar and Grill, and what's changed since the pandemicJessica Jeboult on scaling a coaching business overnight, training five coaches to carry her process, and losing her mother mid-pivotEconomist David Williams on GDP per capita, the end of Canada's "three booms," and the real cost of U.S. tariffs on Canadian businessDavid Williams on grit, social capital, and why he's cautiously hopeful about Canada's directionThe Host Linda Freeman brings decades of broadcast experience to every conversation, having hosted morning shows across both radio and television throughout her career. Known for her warmth, humor, and genuine curiosity, she has a gift for putting guests at ease and drawing out the stories of the people shaping this country. Always well-researched and professional, Linda's interviews feel less like Q&As and more like real conversations.The Guests David Williams is Vice President of Policy with the Business Council of British Columbia, where he brings extensive international experience in policy advising, research, and teaching, with particular expertise in macroeconomics, productivity, monetary policy, housing and mortgage markets, business surveys, tax reform, and transport policy. He holds a DPhil and MPhil in Economics from Oxford University, and is past president of the Association of Professional Economists of British Columbia and a past national director of the Canadian Association of Business Economics. Jessica Jeboult is the founder of A Sober Girls Guide and the Best Day app, and author of Save Your Own Damn Life. A former DJ and addiction survivor, she has spent nine-plus years in recovery and built a coaching community serving women worldwide before pivoting to a preventative, app-based approach to habit and craving support. The BusinessesKG Bar and Grill A Sober Girls Guide and Best Day App The Team Host, Producer & Writer: Linda Freeman (Rourke) Showrunner: Kat Cullen Sound Engineer/Producer: John Masecar Executive Producer: Jennifer Smith Production Support: Eric Chapman Video Producer: Jordan Wong References Statistics Canada — Canadian Survey on Business Conditions Entrepreneur Mental Health Survey - Business Development Bank of Canada CTV News Small Business

What does perseverance look like when uncertainty becomes the new normal? In 2020, the world stopped, but small business owners across Canada didn't. Amplify Canada told their stories: the struggles, the determination, the refusal to give up. Now, host Linda Freeman is going back. For many Canadian businesses, the pandemic wasn't the end of the challenges, it was just the beginning. From inflation and labour shortages to supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty, today's business leaders continue to navigate an ever-changing landscape.So what separates the businesses that continue to thrive? Is it innovation? Adaptability? Leadership? Or is resilience itself becoming one of Canada's most valuable economic assets? We sit down with Economist David WIlliams to talk about the current economy and explore the perseverance and hope that still exists with small businesses today. About the Host Linda Freeman hosts Amplify Canada, revisiting the small business owners whose stories defined the show's first seasons.  Linda is a media professional who has been immersed in Canada's media for decades.  She has interviewed and told hundreds of stories over the years, gathering insight and perspective on how to be better.  Amplify Canada: Season 3. Resilience Revisited. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #canada #hope #smallbusiness

Could tourism could save us, is Canada's small business backbone bending or getting stronger? Welcome back to Amplify Canada, Season 3.We first met these entrepreneurs mid-pandemic, reinventing on the fly, holding their doors open by sheer will. Years later, we are going back. What we found wasn't a recovery story. It was something tougher, and more interesting: businesses that never stopped adapting, in an economy that never stopped moving the end zone. In this episode, host Linda Freeman travels from a rural British Columbia pub at the foot of the Rockies, to a century-old hotel in Chilliwack now run by a family who fell in love with the building's history, to a paddling shop in Deep Cove that found how to make staff feel like family and its customers into ambassadors. Along the way, economist Marwa Abdou of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Business Data Lab breaks down what's really happening beneath the headlines.  The rising costs, a stubborn labour crunch, and an industry economists say isn't recovering so much as reinventing itself entirely. Tourism supports 1.8 million jobs across Canada and is on track for a record $140.9 billion in visitor spending. But behind every one of those numbers is an owner doing the math at 11pm, wondering if this is the year they raise the menu prices, hire the extra hand, or finally build those cabins they've been dreaming about. In this episode: Ed Abbey on surviving the pandemic -  only to discover the after was harder Christine Lai on inheriting a 1908 hotel, and the community that showed up on day one Erian Baxter on why "the great pivot of 2020" never really ended Economist Marwa Abdou on the multiplier effect, the new metrics of success, and why she's cautiously optimistic" About Your Host Linda Freeman brings decades of broadcast experience to every conversation, having hosted morning shows across both radio and television throughout her career. Known for her warmth, humor, and genuine curiosity, she has a gift for putting guests at ease and drawing out the stories of the people shaping this country. Always well-researched and professional, Linda's interviews feel less like Q&As and more like real conversations. The Guests Marwa Abdou is Senior Research Director at the Business Data Lab, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the Research Centre of Excellence on trade, business conditions, and inclusive growth. With over 15 years of global experience, she has led projects across the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific with institutions including the World Bank, APEC, OECD, and the Asian Development Bank, and previously advised Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation on private sector engagement. She is co-author of Borders Without Barriers, an ADB publication on regional trade integration, and holds a Master's from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University. The Businesses Bull River InnRichca Heritage HotelDeep Cove Kayak & Coast OutdoorsThe Team Hosted, Produced and Written by Linda Freeman (Rourke)Showrunner: Kat CullenSound Engineer/Producer: John MasecarExecutive Producer: Jennifer SmithProduction Support - Eric ChampmanVideo Producer - Jordan Wong References Travel and Tourism Statistics The Canadian Tourism CollectiveDestination CanadaThe Impact on Covid-19 on the Tourism SectorTourism - Our World In DataWorld Travel and Tourism #TourismCanada #DestinationCanada #CanadaStrong #travelCanada #localTravel #CanadaTourism

In 2020, the world stopped, but small business owners across Canada didn't. Amplify Canada told their stories: the struggles, the determination, the refusal to give up. Now, host Linda Freeman is going back. Because resilience didn't end when the pandemic did. Rising costs. Labour shortages. Tariffs. An economy that keeps shifting. In Season 3, we sit back down with the entrepreneurs who inspired a nation to find out what they carried forward, what they learned, and what it really takes to keep going.  With insights from economists on where Canada's economy stands today, alongside the stories of the people still building it, one small business at a time. What to Expect This SeasonFollow-up conversations with the original entrepreneurs from Amplify CanadaA look at what's changed and what hasn't since 2020Economist perspectives on Canada's current economic landscapeReal talk on rising costs, labour shortages, and tariffsStories of resilience, adaptation, and staying powerAbout the HostLinda Freeman hosts Amplify Canada, revisiting the small business owners whose stories defined the show's first seasons.  Linda is a media professional who has been immersed in Canada's media for decades.  She has interviewed and told hundreds of stories over the years, gathering insight and perspective on how to be better. Amplify Canada: Season 3. Resilience Revisited. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. #podcast #canada

On the final chapter of Amplify Canada, we reflect on the small businesses that make Canada great and the resiliency they showed through the pandemic and beyond.  We will explore the importance of small businesses and how they shape, support, and make communities strong.  We head to St. George British Columbia to The Pepper Tree, for the past fourteen years, the Pepper Tree has been First Nations owned and operated by a mother-daughter duo. We fly into Lethbridge in the southeast corner of Alberta, home to a non-profit organization called Streets Alive Mission which is changing people’s lives in their community. And we will hear from a majority female-owned business, Universal Geomatic Solutions Corp. who are committed to finding solutions to help maximize sustainability. These are just a few of the stories that we reflect on as we close the book and celebrate the incredible stories that gave us Amplify Canada.   About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories

On the final chapter of Amplify Canada, we reflect on the small businesses that make Canada great and the resiliency they showed through the pandemic and beyond.  We will explore the importance of small businesses and how they shape, support, and make communities strong.  We head to St. George British Columbia to The Pepper Tree, for the past fourteen years, the Pepper Tree has been First Nations owned and operated by a mother-daughter duo. We fly into Lethbridge in the southeast corner of Alberta, home to a non-profit organization called Streets Alive Mission which is changing people’s lives in their community. And we will hear from a majority female-owned business, Universal Geomatic Solutions Corp. who are committed to finding solutions to help maximize sustainability. These are just a few of the stories that we reflect on as we close the book and celebrate the incredible stories that gave us Amplify Canada.   About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories

In 2019, just before the pandemic, the Fitness industry hit an estimated $96.7 billion dollars.  The industry is slowly recovering and is expected to hit those numbers again.  But it hasn’t been easy.  We’ll chat with Sam Dalupeng, owner of 9 Round Kickboxing in Leduc, Alberta, he tells the story of how he worked to keep his community going and how they are still recovering from the pandemic. And for almost 20 years Jonathan Hamilton from Romper Room Indoor Rock Climbing Center, in Nanaimo, British Columbia has been making exercise fun, he and his wife Brianna open their doors to everyone.  Personal trainer and boxing expert Andy Dumas will show us the ropes and talk about fitness changes and making a comeback. About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations, and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories.

In 2019, just before the pandemic, the Fitness industry hit an estimated $96.7 billion dollars.  The industry is slowly recovering and is expected to hit those numbers again.  But it hasn’t been easy.  We’ll chat with Sam Dalupeng, owner of 9 Round Kickboxing in Leduc, Alberta, he tells the story of how he worked to keep his community going and how they are still recovering from the pandemic. And for almost 20 years Jonathan Hamilton from Romper Room Indoor Rock Climbing Center, in Nanaimo, British Columbia has been making exercise fun, he and his wife Brianna open their doors to everyone.  Personal trainer and boxing expert Andy Dumas will show us the ropes and talk about fitness changes and making a comeback. About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations, and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories.

More than half of Canadian households (60%) own at least one dog or cat. They are part of our family. In this episode, we explore the true extended family - our pets. We'll meet Melanie Glen, owner of A Better Chance Animal Rescue in Pincher Creek, Alberta, her motto is rescuing one animal at a time, for 30 years she has been making a difference. We'll explore a one-of-a-kind cat café on Vancouver Island and we'll introduce you to the Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) their staff and volunteers use a progressive and humane approach to care for more than 1400 dogs, cats and large animals each year. About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories.

On the next episode of Amplfy Canada; More than half of Canadian households (60%) own at least one dog or cat. They are part of our family. In this episode, we explore the true extended family - our pets. We'll meet Melanie Glen, owner of A Better Chance Animal Rescue in Pincher Creek, Alberta, her motto is rescuing one animal at a time, for 30 years she has been making a difference. We'll explore a one-of-a-kind cat café on Vancouver Island and we'll introduce you to the Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) their staff and volunteers use a progressive and humane approach to care for more than 1400 dogs, cats and large animals each year.  About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories.

Companies that turned their mission into a movement. Do you ever wonder what your purpose is, do you think – am I doing enough?  What really matters to me? Now think for a moment about the businesses you shop at or the brands you support.  A ground-breaking global study has found consumers are four to six times more likely to support businesses with a strong purpose. One key way for companies to show they have a purpose is by giving back. This country is built on small businesses.  Let’s listen to the stories of the incredible Canadian small businesses that give back and create purpose. Nominees:  Blissful Bubbles Bathcreations: Corry Scott and Kim Streets alive mission: Jennifer Lepko The Modern family boutique: Jenn MarpleGuest:  Mary Barroll from CEO of Charity village    Artist:  Marshall Potts    Song:  The change About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories.

Join us on our next episode of Amplify Canada: Companies that turned their mission into a movement. Do you ever wonder what your purpose is, do you think – am I doing enough?  What really matters to me? Now think for a moment about the businesses you shop at or the brands you support.  A ground-breaking global study has found consumers are four to six times more likely to support businesses with a strong purpose. One key way for companies to show they have a purpose is by giving back. This country is built on small businesses.  Let’s listen to the stories of the incredible Canadian small businesses that give back and create purpose. Nominees:  Blissful Bubbles Bathcreations: Corry Scott and Kim Streets alive mission: Jennifer Lepko The Modern family boutique: Jenn MarpleGuest:  Mary Barroll from CEO of Charity village    Artist:  Marshall Potts    Song:  The change About AmplifyAmplify Canada is an initiative created by Pattison Media designed to celebrate and elevate small businesses, the backbone of our economy. Thousands of small businesses, groups, family organizations and individuals are showcased on Pattison Media radio stations from Winnipeg to Vancouver throughout the year. Every month we go deeper and share the incredible journey of a few that have made an impact on their community. Some have flourished, others may need a little extra love and support. We also feature an emerging local Canadian Artist we think you'll enjoy. These are their stories.