Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

I moved from southern England 13 years ago and found small town Canada has very little access to quality cheese. I learned to make my own cheese and with further education I have become a teacher and cheese educator. I enjoy helping people discover new tastes and finding comfort in the foods we grew up on.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

In my first year of business I was a finalist for business person of the year with the PG chamber of commerce, I was also a finalist in the marketing and promotional category. My cheesemaking classes took the platinum award with community votes for cookery classes, and a silver award for hobby and craft. I teach at the railway and forestry museum, a non profit, which financially benefits them. I also teach at the family resource centre, administrated by the Elizabeth Fry society, again benefitting that organization. About once a month during the season you can find me demonstrating cheese making at Huble Homestead historic site, where I provide outreach and education in this heritage craft. My local radio and community have consistently supported the growth of my business.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

Cheese is a growing industry and home cheesemaking specifically is an industry riddled with misinformation and food safety peril, I am advancing my education to enable me to better diagnose and troubleshoot people’s cheese issues. I have been running the Facebook group for free for over 9 years.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

I literally sell culture! Cheese culture! My business is inclusive and supportive of all. I support several charities that advance the education and inclusion of BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and First Nations peoples. My classes are open to all, and a carer can attend free with any person with disabilities. I specialize in teaching persons with autism, as two of my children have the condition and I obtained a BSc (hons) psychology which has been very useful, when dealing with online personality clashes.

Why do you think you should win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award?

As more people turn away from orange bricks of cheese in vacuum seal at the grocery store, finding safe advice online is getting harder. Every homestead YouTuber has a channel pumping out content - some of which is not science based. It is my mission to root out the facts and present safe advice to the home Cheesemaker as they begin their cheese making journey.