Bold Spirit Awards
We first launched the Bold Spirit Awards in 2025 and in the applications process we met some of the most incredible entrepreneurs across Canada.
It felt impossible to choose but we did our best. In the end, we picked four small business who came from different corners of the country, who all ran wildly different business and who were all managing very different struggles. But what mattered is that when we read their applications and heard their stories it felt obvious that they shared a similar Bold Spirit.
We feel really lucky to have granted these small businesses $5,000 each towards their growth and we’re excited to see what the future holds for them.
Without further ado, here are your winners:
[we take a small bow as the audience explodes into thunderous applause]
The Resilience and Reinvention Award
Sugandh Gupta
Founder of Linus and Co.
📍 Mississauga, Ontario
Meet Sugandh Gupta, owner of Linus and Co. and recipient of The Resilience and Reinvention Award!
Sugandh started a business selling clothing for pets and pet parents, and soon found success selling at local markets. But things changed when she unexpectedly experienced a devastating injury and struggled to manage the same level of physical labour required at markets.
So she slowed down, but didn’t stop.
Instead, she reinvented the way she did business; increasing her presence in the digital market to make up for lost sales while truly embodying the spirit of resilience and reinvention required in entrepreneurship.
The big leap award
Rochelle Williams
Founder of The Dessert Artist Inc.
📍 Kitchener, Ontario
Rochelle’s business started with the decision to take a big leap and turn her passion for patties and pastries into a real operation. She started in 2023 and by 2024 her business was already receiving attention from customers and popular media – and for good reason.
Her business specializes in bespoke cakes, cookies and other confections that celebrate Black culture; bringing representation to the baking industry.
The flying start award
Sarah Moore
Founder of Artist Avenue
📍 Okotoks, Alberta
Artist Avenue is both a creative hub and cultural movement born in Okotoks, Alberta. And in just one year, it's seen a flying start while quickly becomig a creative sanctuary for artists of all kinds.
With a unique curriculum of hip-hop, krump, breaking, popping, animation, musical theatre, DJing (and more) this creative sanctuary plays a key role in social healing and community resilience by offering spaces where people can freely express themselves and find belonging with artists they otherwise may not have met.
Places like Artist Avenue are a rare find in Alberta so we feel lucky to be offering a bit of support in their direction as they continue to build a one-of-a-kind community of creatives.
The community impact award
Mia Taylor
Founder of Dreamcatcher Holistic Health Services Inc.
📍 Sooke, British Columbia
As a proud Indigenous-owned organization, Dreamcatcher Holistic Health Services Inc offers both Indigenous communities and professionals working in trades a range of mobile wellness solutions to support their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
Their services take a holistic approach to healing by acknowledging and addressing their clients’ unique barriers to care in Canada. Where public services have failed to offer these communities adequate support, Mia and their business have stepped in to fill the gap.