Meet Our Friends

I am a middle child who grew up in mid-town Toronto in the 50s. I’ve spent my life trying to please everyone and fix everything, I’m turning seventy and still learning that I can’t. I am still too agreeable and eager to please and placate but I’m growing stronger year by year. At the age of twelve I underwent open heart surgery to repair an atrial valve defect. My grandmother repeated “Be a good soldier”; words that became my life motto. I married at the ridiculously young age of eighteen to my high school sweetheart, he was a real catch. Forty-five years later he left me for a woman almost the same age as our daughter, something I would never have imagined. I spent my married years raising our family, teaching, and then building a successful career in the world of consulting. A career I never wanted but was necessary to support our family. I was a good soldier. I’m smart but anxious, friendly but solitary, well read, and playful, and as a result of my consulting career, I’m a great listener and good at asking seriously great questions.

I grew up in the north end of Toronto, have 2 older brothers and my parents were happily married for 46 years (puke, right?!..wait for it…) School was never great for me. I puttered along; it wasn’t easy, the education or the social elements. I was around 13 when I first remember dealing with endless hopelessness and depression (the wonderful world of anxiety hit years later).

It wasn’t until my 20’s that I finally found some courage and started to take control. I found a solid group of girlfriends (which sadly didn’t last as long as I’d expected) and although I still struggled, I was happy (kinda happy, mostly happy). During those years I had worked a variety of interesting jobs. Everything from a wardrobe stylist to digital marketing account manager to wholesale custom kitchen sales. I lived abroad for awhile, fell in love a few times and got burned, I called it “ill timed perfection”, poetic right?! Despite the falls, again and again, I keep getting back up and trying my best to figure it out, new job, new friends, new workout, new routine...so here I am, a little smarter, a little wiser but still me; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Recently I have been dreaming about getting my small little counter restaurant going. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, one which is quite scary and exciting all wrapped into one.
Still several years away from the 'action plan' it is still something I think about constantly.

The more I think about it, the more I want to start my own YouTube channel regarding food and aspects of food culture, but don't tell anyone quite just yet.

I walk a lot (upwards of 3 hours a day sometimes), but I believe everyone does this now quite a bit.

Hi, I'm Fender. I got this name cause my dad loves playing the guitar. Personally, I prefer the drums, but I don’t mention it. I'm 3 years old and I am a Shih tzu / Maltese mix. I love meeting new people and to see them smile when I walk by. I’m in school now for my visiting therapy dog accreditation, it’s pretty rough. Everyone tells me I’m a good pup. I never bark and I’m super chill. Mom said my great great grandparents were Tibetan monks and my family was so special we would live in palaces with Chinese royalty!!

I grew up in Vaughan, Thornhill to be specific. I had great friends growing up but was often envious of the popular crowd, never quite fitting in there. Case and point, I had the same childhood crush for 10 years. That never panned out, had a few minor relationships, but I met my (now) husband when I was 18 years old and can’t picture my life without him. I call him the summer fling that never ended! My childhood consisted of a lot of pets. Everything from a lizard to a rat, my younger brother ;) and cats & dogs in between. I became allergic to cats and dogs at about 12 years old but couldn’t part with them. So I had pets until about 2 years ago, but then my kids wore me down and I agreed to hamsters. They are named Chip & Potato.

My parents who are still married and always worked together as entrepreneurs were strong role models for me. When I graduated from the University of Waterloo, I worked for them in large Trade Show and Conference event planning. I went from there to starting my own company doing publicity, which I learned I did not like (although I was very good at) because I get nervous cold calling for sales purposes. I learned I am less anxious doing operational, customer service-style activities than trying to meet other people’s sales goals.

The excitement I get from being onsite at large scale events always gives me a great rush. I still get equal joy out of my last two smaller planned events… a Hamster’s 1st Birthday Party and my daughter’s Harry Potter themed 9th birthday :)

We are always on the look out for new Friends. Please send us a note through our Contact Us page and we'll be sure to get in touch!