Collaboration Is the Point
Collaboration Is the Point
In late 2025, I put out a call to the Business Sisters community to open up our events and programming to a wider circle of collaborators.
Not because something was broken—but because something was working.
At the heart of Business Sisters has always been a simple belief: as individual business owners, we already hold an extraordinary amount of collective wisdom. In the right environment, that wisdom deserves to be shared more openly. Especially in rural communities, where access to resources, training, and networks can feel limited or fragmented.
The truth is, as the Business Sisters’ community host, I should never be the only one at the gate. No one is an expert in everything. We are stronger, more resilient, and more innovative when we build together.
That belief is now shaping the next chapter of Business Sisters.
A Growing Platform for Women Entrepreneurs in Rural Eastern Ontario
What started as a single event in 2018—one gathering that attracted 80 women—has grown into a vibrant, trusted ecosystem serving women business owners across Stormont–Dundas–Glengarry and Prescott–Russell.
Today:
- Over 700 women entrepreneurs subscribe to our twice-monthly e-newsletter
- We serve a region just under the geographic size of the Greater Toronto Area, with a population of approximately 250,000
- In 2025 alone, we delivered:
- 12 live events (including our annual conference and 11 networking events)
- 10 virtual events
- 450+ attendees across the year
Business Sisters has become more than an event organizer. It’s a connector, amplifier, and testing ground for ideas, expertise, and programming designed by and for rural women in business.
And that’s where collaboration comes in.
What Collaboration with Business Sisters Really Looks Like
We may not offer financial capital—but we offer something just as powerful:
- Access to an engaged, values-aligned audience
- Thoughtful event hosting and facilitation
- Strategic promotion through our platforms
- Community trust built over years, not algorithms
- Real feedback from women who show up, participate, and apply what they learn
When a collaboration aligns with our mission, we support it fully—in kind, in community, and in visibility.
Which brings me to a recent example that perfectly captures what’s possible.
A Collaboration Rooted in Community
Just before Christmas, I received an email from Rachel Anne Hamelin, a Business Sister who has been active in the community for nearly two years.
Rachel shared that her book, Permission to – Through Burnout into Healing: A Journey of Breaking Patterns and Redefining Self, will be published in March 2026. While it’s a narrative memoir, she felt strongly about extending its impact by creating practical tools to support other women.
Together with her business partner, Mélissa-Anne Leduc, she developed a series of training courses focused on burnout prevention and redefining performance in an entrepreneurial context.
What struck me most was this: Rachel didn’t just use the community—she built this project with it.
Her book coach, marketing strategist, brand support, and beta readers all came from within the Business Sisters community. So when it came time to pilot these workshops, she knew exactly where they belonged.
How could I not say yes?
From Idea to Impact: Piloting New Programming Together
We’re proud to support Rachel Anne and Mélissa-Anne as they beta-test two high-impact workshops at the Business Sisters Centre in Alexandria.
- Saturday, January 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Redefining the Pace: How to Stay Human in a High-Pressure World
A full-day, practical workshop open to women across professions—educators, healthcare providers, entrepreneurs, and busy moms.
- Monday, February 2, 2026,1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Redefining Performance: A Workshop for Women Entrepreneurs
A half-day experience designed specifically for business owners.
Why Partners Choose to Work With Business Sisters
Time and again, collaborators tell us the same thing: they feel supported, prepared, and genuinely valued.
“Business Sisters is an exceptional organization that caters to the needs and wants of women entrepreneurs in Eastern Ontario. Every event I attend is exceptional and equips me with new leads and provides me with new friends.”
— Leah Lindeman, Author, Writing Coach & Wedding Planner
“It’s such a gift to be part of a community that supports, uplifts, and empowers rural business owners… and reminds us we’re not alone on this journey.”
— Lyane Pennell, Hira Wellness
“What an incredible event [the 2025 annual conference]. I am blown away by the energy in the room on Monday. Thank you for everything - the connections have already changed my life.
The talk we had at the end of the night with Eden was a complete eye opener for me. I left the CMO position and feel so much lighter. Enjoy your weekend and I hope you get some incredibly deserved rest.”
— Mariah Scrivens, Author, social media strategist
This is the environment we work hard to cultivate—because meaningful collaboration requires trust.
Looking Ahead: An Open Invitation
Over the coming months, you’ll see:
- More guest hosts
- More community-led events supported and promoted by Business Sisters
- New opportunities to co-create workshops, content, and conference programming
We are actively looking for:
- Business Sisters interested in collaborating on workshops or educational content
- Members who would like to moderate discussion groups on our private platform, HeartBeat
- Values-aligned organizations and partners who believe that rural women entrepreneurs deserve access, visibility, and support
If that sounds like you, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out at hello[at]business-sisters.ca—and let’s build what comes next, together.
— Doreen
Collaboration Is the Point
In late 2025, I put out a call to the Business Sisters community to open up our events and programming to a wider circle of collaborators.
Not because something was broken—but because something was working.
At the heart of Business Sisters has always been a simple belief: as individual business owners, we already hold an extraordinary amount of collective wisdom. In the right environment, that wisdom deserves to be shared more openly. Especially in rural communities, where access to resources, training, and networks can feel limited or fragmented.
The truth is, as the Business Sisters’ community host, I should never be the only one at the gate. No one is an expert in everything. We are stronger, more resilient, and more innovative when we build together.
That belief is now shaping the next chapter of Business Sisters.
A Growing Platform for Women Entrepreneurs in Rural Eastern Ontario
What started as a single event in 2018—one gathering that attracted 80 women—has grown into a vibrant, trusted ecosystem serving women business owners across Stormont–Dundas–Glengarry and Prescott–Russell.
Today:
- Over 700 women entrepreneurs subscribe to our twice-monthly e-newsletter
- We serve a region just under the geographic size of the Greater Toronto Area, with a population of approximately 250,000
- In 2025 alone, we delivered:
- 12 live events (including our annual conference and 11 networking events)
- 10 virtual events
- 450+ attendees across the year
Business Sisters has become more than an event organizer. It’s a connector, amplifier, and testing ground for ideas, expertise, and programming designed by and for rural women in business.
And that’s where collaboration comes in.
What Collaboration with Business Sisters Really Looks Like
We may not offer financial capital—but we offer something just as powerful:
- Access to an engaged, values-aligned audience
- Thoughtful event hosting and facilitation
- Strategic promotion through our platforms
- Community trust built over years, not algorithms
- Real feedback from women who show up, participate, and apply what they learn
When a collaboration aligns with our mission, we support it fully—in kind, in community, and in visibility.
Which brings me to a recent example that perfectly captures what’s possible.
A Collaboration Rooted in Community
Just before Christmas, I received an email from Rachel Anne Hamelin, a Business Sister who has been active in the community for nearly two years.
Rachel shared that her book, Permission to – Through Burnout into Healing: A Journey of Breaking Patterns and Redefining Self, will be published in March 2026. While it’s a narrative memoir, she felt strongly about extending its impact by creating practical tools to support other women.
Together with her business partner, Mélissa-Anne Leduc, she developed a series of training courses focused on burnout prevention and redefining performance in an entrepreneurial context.
What struck me most was this: Rachel didn’t just use the community—she built this project with it.
Her book coach, marketing strategist, brand support, and beta readers all came from within the Business Sisters community. So when it came time to pilot these workshops, she knew exactly where they belonged.
How could I not say yes?
From Idea to Impact: Piloting New Programming Together
We’re proud to support Rachel Anne and Mélissa-Anne as they beta-test two high-impact workshops at the Business Sisters Centre in Alexandria.
- Saturday, January 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Redefining the Pace: How to Stay Human in a High-Pressure World
A full-day, practical workshop open to women across professions—educators, healthcare providers, entrepreneurs, and busy moms.
- Monday, February 2, 2026,1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Redefining Performance: A Workshop for Women Entrepreneurs
A half-day experience designed specifically for business owners.
Why Partners Choose to Work With Business Sisters
Time and again, collaborators tell us the same thing: they feel supported, prepared, and genuinely valued.
“Business Sisters is an exceptional organization that caters to the needs and wants of women entrepreneurs in Eastern Ontario. Every event I attend is exceptional and equips me with new leads and provides me with new friends.”
— Leah Lindeman, Author, Writing Coach & Wedding Planner
“It’s such a gift to be part of a community that supports, uplifts, and empowers rural business owners… and reminds us we’re not alone on this journey.”
— Lyane Pennell, Hira Wellness
“What an incredible event [the 2025 annual conference]. I am blown away by the energy in the room on Monday. Thank you for everything - the connections have already changed my life.
The talk we had at the end of the night with Eden was a complete eye opener for me. I left the CMO position and feel so much lighter. Enjoy your weekend and I hope you get some incredibly deserved rest.”
— Mariah Scrivens, Author, social media strategist
This is the environment we work hard to cultivate—because meaningful collaboration requires trust.
Looking Ahead: An Open Invitation
Over the coming months, you’ll see:
- More guest hosts
- More community-led events supported and promoted by Business Sisters
- New opportunities to co-create workshops, content, and conference programming
We are actively looking for:
- Business Sisters interested in collaborating on workshops or educational content
- Members who would like to moderate discussion groups on our private platform, HeartBeat
- Values-aligned organizations and partners who believe that rural women entrepreneurs deserve access, visibility, and support
If that sounds like you, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out at hello[at]business-sisters.ca—and let’s build what comes next, together.
— Doreen
Join the conversation