Today's Woman by Meridian Source

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TODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WOMAN 2018 I MERIDIAN SOURCE

Giving back to a community that has offered so much mond found a place she made a home. “I came here for my nursing job,” she said as to why she moved out this way. “Nursing goes like everything else, in waves. I had applied in Regina and nothing too much, so I came to Lloydminster for a job.” While in the Border City Almond has raised three children, continued to work as a registered ROSEMARY ALMOND nurse and has been active in comNURSE, WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, munity involvement, including VOLUNTEER, BUSINESS OWNER volunteering. Caring isn’t just something Rose- Becoming a registered nurse mary Almond does, it’s part of her was something Almond knew she wanted to do, as in that time there everyday life. Moving to Lloydminster in 1971, Al- weren’t many options for a woman.

Being involved, being yourself … but knowing who you are and being part of a community and families lives is important. There’s so much out there you can be involved with, get with it. ROSEMARY ALMOND

She worked in the hospital for 20 years and has been in home care for 28 years. However, while she is retired she still works to help people with their health, including at the Legacy Centre. “I enjoy it. It’s a reward in its own way,” she said. Almond described being a nurse as a natural way of life for her.

“If you were to fall and needed help, that’s an extension. I’m not just going to sit there and watch you,” she explained. “It becomes a way of life.” Hearing the positive feedback from people has been her reward in the job. ALMOND CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Volunteering her way through retirement CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

“I think that’s what’s keep me there,” she said. Now Almond has slowed down to two days a week where she does wellness tasks at the centre. However, she started a private foot care business about a year ago. Working actively as a nurse for nearly 47 years, she was able to raise a family with three children, and is a new grandmother, with another one expected on the way. “I’m so happy to be a new grandma,” she said excitedly. But being able to balance a busy life, Almond said she did it with fun and help from family. “It was a little bit of juggling,” she said, adding she did a lot of volunteering with the schools. She also would play the organ

Nursing goes like everything else, in waves. I had applied in Regina and nothing too much, so I came to Lloydminster for a job. ROSEMARY ALMOND

at St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, was the Sunday School teacher for a bit, and was previously president of Catholic Women’s League there. Almond also spent time volunteering with the Vic Juba Community Theatre, Inclusion Alberta as well as with middle school advocacy groups. Being involved was important for Almond, something she said

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might be genetic. “My dad was the same way,” she said. “I saw it as a kid and was raised that way.” Her nursing background she explained also helped her to want to be so involved. Having been shy when she was younger, nursing got her out of her shell as she would not have talked to strangers quite as often. Almond has started to slow

down on things lately to focus on herself and family. “I’ve cut back on a lot of things trying to sort out where I’m going. Sometimes you get in too hard and ‘whoops you need to slow down a bit.’ I think that’s where I am right now, evaluating a little bit,” she said. With all the things that go on in life, Almond said what makes today’s women is being involved, there for your kids, and being a good person. “Being involved, being yourself … but knowing who you are and being part of a community and families lives is important,” she said. Her advice for other women was to be involved and be interested in community. “There’s so much out there you can be involved with, get with it.”

A homecoming in the professional sense

GEORGINA ALTMAN

EXTERNAL RELATIONS, ADVANCEMENT FUNCTIONS & INFRASTRUCTURE, LAKELAND COLLEGE

Born and raised in the Border City, Georgina Altman takes great pride in the work she does at Lakeland College, something she is no stranger to. Altman returned to Lakeland in 2014, but from 1992-1997 she worked with student services as well as the residence program. “It’s really interesting because there are people working here now who worked here in the 90s as well, or they just starting working here,

so for me it was a bit of a homecoming. The work I used to do here had me interacting with the students quite a bit doing programming and crisis and prevention, and to come back now and be in a role where I’m strategizing and setting direction is really exciting and really cool.” With Lloydminster being home for Altman, being a part of the fabric that makes up the local economy as well as educate young minds of the future is rewarding, and being able to play that role is important for her. “A lot of the jobs I’ve had in Lloydminster have been about building the community and giving back, so this is another step in that direction, and it’s a lot of fun because I really enjoy strategizing and thinking big,” she said. Prior to returning to Lakeland College, Altman was the executive director and CEO of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation from 2000-2013, and during that time she grew the organization’s revenue stream by more than $3 million. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Giving back to community in various ways CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

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In her role, being able to strategize and do some critical thinking is a dream come true as they are both attributes of her personality. “That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning, that’s what drives me to do more and achieve more and help others do the same thing,” she said. “Altman’s resume in regards to volunteering with local organizations is lengthy, but as she put it, “I volunteer because it’s something I love to do. I’ve been involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Economic Development, I was on with Health Quality of Alberta for a while, Association of Health Care Philanthropy, and I’m just about to start with The Olive Tree.” Altman also played a pivotal role

in the organization of Lloydminster Region Health Foundation’s first gala, an annual fundraiser that has become very popular throughout the community. “I felt like I wanted to get involved in The Olive Tree because I haven’t worked with a local organziation in a while and I love the things they do,” she said. Altman and her husband TJ met at Lakeland College when he was a student and she worked for residence life and have been married for 22 years, and as a couple try to do their part in the community. “We try to help out through sponsorships and attending events in the area or helping with the behind-thescenes work, and that’s kind of par for the course for us,” she said. Volunteering and helping the community is something Altman has and always will have a passion for.

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Keeping a passion for art going Floen was an art teacher at E.S. Laird Middle School for 25 years before retiring in 2015 due to discovering she had fibromyalgia, while still keeping her passion for art active in many different forms “I’ve been an artist all my life and I used to teach art here in Lloyd and the only reason I’m not teaching anymore is because of the fibromyalgia,” she said. “I having trouble thinking of the DAWN LAWRENCE FLOEN was right words to use in situations as ARTIST, JEWELLER, COLLECTIVE well as remembering kids’ names ART MARKET, FORMER TEACHER ... it’s almost like autism.” Art can have many meanings for Despite not growing up in the many different people, and for Border City, Lloyd is home for Dawn Lawrence Floen, it’s about a Floen as it’s the city she’s lived in the longest and is passionate about passion for educating others.

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I’ve been an artist all my life and I used to teach art here in Lloyd and the only reason I’m not teaching anymore is because of the fibromyalgia. DAWN LAWRENCE FLOEN

sharing her knowledge of art to members of the community. Through sharing her love of art as well as jewelry, Floen has been an active member of the arts community, something that has really grown in the city over the last few years. Floen is one of the founders of the Lloydminster Jewelry Guild 2012, an group that originally came together through work she was doing with Amanda Amundrud be-

fore she opened The Root. “I helped Amanda find artists to display in The Root and I would also find a jeweller every three months to have a different medium,” she said. “I found a lot of jewellers, and didn’t realize until then how many there were in the area, so I thought why not get them all together.” FLOEN CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Sharing a passion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Floen is also one of the pioneers of the Collective Art Market, another organization she noted was birthed from the Lloydminster Jewelry Guild. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beth Bernard, one of the founding members of the Jewelry Guild, her and I always wanted to do a pop-up sale so we made a pop-up booth and we popped up at Synergy Credit Union for the first month they were open in their new location,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We then decided it should be more than jewelry so we invited some friends and had 18 artists, and Beth came up with the name The Collective Art Market, and knew we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to stop after that first month.â&#x20AC;? After looking throughout the downtown core for a pop-up location in April 2016, space was finally found and the plan was to

pop-up until June. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Artists just kept coming and by May 15 we knew we were going to be permanent,â&#x20AC;? she said. The idea for an organization such as The Collective Art Market came as a way for local artists to showcase their work and gain exposure in their own communities instead of driving to bigger cities to display their work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At any one time we have about 30 artist and have served over 80 artists since we started,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you walk around and look at all the art, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all Lloydminster and area and we have a lot of talent here.â&#x20AC;? After a successful run the Collective Art Market will be closing on Dec. 20. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to grow. We need a place like this where the arists come and take or teach classes,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just need more space than what we have now.â&#x20AC;?

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Being a mother comes first Originally from the Border City, the mother of two knows the importance and sees the value in giving back to the community she grew up in and the personal reward associated with that. “I think helping build our community up in areas of need is very important. We all can do more for the people who need our help the most,” she said. JANICE HAUGHIAN “I also think that being a role MOTHER, HOME EDUCATOR, model for our kids is invaluable ENTREPRENEUR, PHILANTHROPIST because they are the future. I want our children to give back, help othFrom being a home educator, an ers in need, and help build a betentrepreneur, a baker to a philan- ter community. I hope they learn thropist, being a mom will always empathy and compassion and be open minded about the world.” come first for Janice Haughian.

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I never thought about being a teacher or an educator but you just do the best with what you’re given and try to make your child as successful as they can be, and this is the path that’s leading us there. JANICE HAUGHIAN

Haughian and her husband Lee have their own small business which keeps Lee busy with oilfield construction, which as of late has seen work in land reclamation so land can be reused by farmers. For Haughian, her full-time job is being a mom and educating her youngest son Jordy, 14, from home. “Jordy has had a lot of different struggles and he’s been diagnosed with quite a few different things

and he’s struggled with his mental health, so working with that, working with him, and helping him find the most success he can has been my number one mission, and he’s always wanted to be able to give back and he’s always saying ‘I want to help the world more,”’ she said. HAUGHIAN CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Providing our children with the best opportunities CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Haughian made the decision to take Jordy out of school when he was in Grade 2, something she never really looked into as her oldest son Brody, now 18, went through the school system. “I never thought about being a teacher or an educator but you just do the best with what you’re given and try to make your child as successful as they can be, and this is the path that’s leading us there.” Haughian is also a founding member of the 100 Women Who Care Lloydminster, a group of 100 passionate women who are here to help community groups with funding, and she gives a lot of credit to Jordy for inspiring her to get involved and start the group. “He always says he wants to give back and help people, and I think because of his struggles he’s really wanted to give back,” she said.

“So we started to look at the 100 Youth Who Care, but at first I wasn’t too sure how it would work, so I said what if we start the 100 Women Who Care first and then we can get an idea of what it’s all about and how it runs, and get a bunch of moms involved and then they’ll be more likely to want to get their children involved.” When the 100 Women Who Care Lloydminster first got off the ground in the Border City the interest shown was outstanding, something Haughian said was truly inspiring and it shows how the women in Lloydminster and surrounding area are absolutely amazing and compassionate. Jordy’s story and everything he and his entire family have been through over the years is powerful to say the least, and after giving a presentation on why she wanted to start the 100 Women Who Care at an open house as the group was starting to take

shape, she was approached by Kristen Traverse and Jessie Mann from “My Why” and asked if she was willing to share her story for a video about mental health. “I said we have to share this story because there are so many people out there struggling with mental health and they have a need to feel left alone. The people that have been reaching out to my husband and myself are incredible, and there are so many people out there living with this, and nobody talks about it. It’s something we need to talk about,” she said. For Haughian, the most rewarding part of her day is seeing Jordy be happy. “Just seeing a big smile on his face after he’s created something, or just being happy in general is amazing,” she said. Getting involved in the community with organizations such as the 100 Women Who Care was impor-

tant to Haughian for a number of reasons but a big one was the fact she knows there are so many small non-profit organizations that need recognition and need awareness. “A lot of people don’t know about all of the different services in Lloyd and I think part of the 100 Women that is great is we get to learn about these different non profits and see how we can help, so even if they don’t receive funds we’re still help in other ways.”

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Back row from left: Joem Balbiran-Weinkauf, Rosemary Almond, Janice Haughian. Centre row from left: Andrea Kay, Heather Walker. Front row from left: Billi J. Miller, Jessie Mann, Dawn Lawrence Floen and Chelsey Pihowich. Missing: Georgina Altman

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Turning a passion into a career to help others in the community

ANDREA KAYE

OWNER AND PHYSIOTHERAPIST, ALTA-SASK WELLNESS

Finishing up her last year of high school in Lloydminster is when business owner Andrea Kaye decided what she really wanted to do.

After her brother, who sprained his ankle earlier on in the year, suggested she become a physiotherapist she decided that was the path to take. “I just love it. I love the field. I love healthcare and helping people … we have a huge impact on people’s lives and their ability to do things or do things pain-free,” she said. Kaye is the owner of Alta-Sask Wellness, and her decision to open the clinic in Lloydminster came after being in the big cities like Edmonton and Saskatoon. “I didn’t think I was going to come back to Lloydminster when I was finished school,” she said.

After working at the Lloydminster Hospital and having opportunities to be part of Little Theatre Lloydminster and being the trainer for the then Blazers, she felt more connected to the community, unlike when Kaye was in Saskatoon. While in Saskatoon she saw many patients were travelling from Lloydminster, Meadow Lake, North Battleford and more. That’s when she saw a need and came back to open a clinic, Alta-Sask Wellness in January 2000. “I was not this business-minded person at the time, and I don’t think I really am still. It was really about people needing care, and we were seeing in Saskatoon and now we see them here, some very significant injuries, people that needed high-level or multidisciplinary treatment, and that option wasn’t

available here,” said Kaye. Having the support of her family, and the community is what helped her to make the move back to the Border City. “Being around family, and just the support that was out there, I felt like it couldn’t go wrong,” said Kaye. Opening up a business is no small feat, but as a woman, there are some extra hurdles to face. There is no denying that. Passion and determination were ways Kaye was able to push through it all. “When you’re passionate, people know you are passionate about it. Particularly when you are trying to help people, they know if you are genuine or sincere,” she said. KAY CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

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While she encountered these barriers, Kaye explained people were willing to help her through them. “I felt like people were very helpful to break down those barriers as you approach them and share your vision with them. Sharing your dreams and visions with people often makes them want to be part of it,” she said. The clinic in Lloydminster has been opened for almost 19 years and has grown exponentially since. “We have really come to be this large facility, and it was because of the fantastic support in the community,” she said. “We really have worked on getting highly educated, skilled therapists where people used to think ‘we have to go to the city for that.’ We have well trained therapists that can treat you right here … we have so many services that we can offer its exciting and empowering to know we can help those people.” There are now clinics from Cold Lake and Meadow Lake as well. While Kaye has been busy growing

a business that helps residents of the city, she also volunteers. She has been part of Inclusion Lloydminster, the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation gala board, Chamber of Commerce and much more. “Between myself, personally, or our staff, part of our package for our staff is that if they are out volunteering, representing Alta-Sask Wellness they have paid time to go to meetings and do fundraisers,” she said. With many women finding their way and trying to build their own business, Kaye said finding out what your passion is will be vital. “Getting educated is very important, making sure you stay in touch with your community – friends, family, the community as a whole- you really want to move through life with passion and enthusiasm,” she said, noting to always ask questions, and not to be afraid. “Never think your dreams are too big, or things aren’t possible. If you can dream it, it can happen. Being a woman in this day and age is so powerful.”

Jessie “Manns Up”

JESSIE MANN

PHOTOGRAPHER, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Having a horse roll over her hasn’t stopped Jessie Mann from being active in her community. In July 2017 Mann had an accident just as she was wrapping up her pre-run routine for the $50,000 Breeze slot race in Ponoka, Alta. “I heard and felt many of the breaks I incurred, and as I laid there in the dirt I knew it wasn’t good,” she said. Bones she broke included many in her pelvis, lower vertebrae, a few cracked ribs as well as injured muscles. “My careers, horses and independence have always been what I pride myself on and what keeps me sane. In a minute, I lost all that.

I couldn’t work, I certainly couldn’t ride and I had to ask for help with even the smallest task,” said Mann. However, she didn’t let the accident define her. She didn’t feel bad, she used it as motivation. As she said “I had to Mann Up.” She worked very hard in her recovery despite having a liver disorder that permits her from taking any pain medications. With a great team of doctors, physio and massage therapists she was able to come back to work months sooner than the doctors anticipated. “If you don’t learn through the lowest points in your life and try to make yourself and life better, what was all the pain for?” she said. Mann has been a staple in the community, especially when it comes to mentoring the younger generation. Since its inception she has had a role with the Lloydminster Youth Council. She was asked by Lorelee Marin to come on board, and never looked back. “We have worked with three truly incredible groups of teens who show us every day what being truly busy looks like. They take

My careers, horses and independence have always been what I pride myself on and what keeps me sane. In a minute, I lost all that. I couldn’t work, I certainly couldn’t ride and I had to ask for help with even the smallest task. JESSIE MANN

chances, put themselves out there and really want to show everyone the power of youth. When things happen all over the world I look at the youth here, and they restore my faith in humanity,” Mann explained. While she is out there mentoring the youth of today, it wasn’t without some mentorship from her own family and friends that has led her to where she is today. “Our community is full of fighters, survivors, opportunities, optimists and people who know the true definition of hard work. A week never goes by without someone in this city giving me pause and posing me to think in a new way. If you need to feel inspired just look next door, down the street, in our schools or at one of the countless events,” she said. Mann has a passion for riding

horses, but is also instrumental to the youth on LYC. However, she also works at the Lloydminster Catholic School Division, is a photographer, and teaches at Lakeland College in the evenings. She has also teamed up with Kristen Traverse and Kim Capiral to start a project “My Why.” “Our My Why team recently got our organization registered and are working with the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation to tell real, empowering and educational stories through videos,” she explained. With everything that is going on in Mann’s life and all the adventures and projects she takes on, she said it is important for her to be involved in her own city. “This is home,” she said. MANN CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Supporting the local woman in our community • Miss Mann believes in people. She supports her students, her colleagues and her family and friends. • She truly believes in the potential of our youth and is devoted to their success. • Jessie possesses youthful enthusiasm, a tireless work ethic, great knowledge and even greater love. • Jessie makes the impossible, possible. For her, overcoming challenges is an everyday accomplishment. We are blessed to work with this young woman of inﬂuence, Jessie Mann. www.lcsd.ca

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Getting involved in community to benefit youth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

“The people here rally around those in need, and I love the small town Saskatchewan values you can feel here mixed with that Alberta optimism, grit and drive. We know how to have fun, we know how to feel and rally when one of our own hurts. We aren’t scared to plan and strive big either.” For Mann, it’s important to

Becky Schille Director

Community Outreach

get involved, but also for today’s women to be involved in their own backyard. If there was advice she could give to young women, it is to surround yourself with quality people, and not to be scared to make yourself uncomfortable in order to grow. “No one is guaranteed tomorrow,” she said. “Not one single person. Only you have the power to make today a great day.”

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From the city to farm life and loving it

BILLI J MILLER

MOTHER, AUTHOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, SPEAKER, WRITER

Going from a 9-5 p.m. office job with Alberta Housing to life as a farmer ’s wife while being a photographer, author, public speaker, and a mother to name a few roles wasn’t something Billi J Miller saw coming when she was young. Like many young Border City residents, Miller got out of Dodge right after high school and moved to Calgary. She later found herself working in Edmonton until she met her

partner, Dean, who is a fourth generation farmer from south of Lloydminster, in 2009. The couple m a r r i e d within 18 m o n t h s and are the proud parents of two daughters. “I never thought I would have moved back to Lloydminster but I can’t imagine having it any other way,” she said. “It’s been amazing.” Living on the farm, Miller soaked up as much of the lifestyle as she could as she grew to love the lifestyle and how supportive everyone is for each other. This observation, and her passion for writing and photography while she was growing up, led her to turn a passion into an entrepreneurial endeavour and hasn’t looked back since. Miller has published two books, Farmwives in Profile: 17 women, 17 candid questions about their lives (photos, recipes), as well as Farmwives 2, built up a successful photography business, and has been featured throughout Canadian media on many different formats including CBC.

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You have to be in a business first mind set or you won’t be able to make a living off of it. You have to figure out your way and it’s not going to be the same for everyone because we all have different gifts and we all have different passions. BILLI J MILLER

“This started as a passion project and I figured out how to make a business out of it,” said the selfmotivated entrepreneur. When it comes to professions involving photography and writing one thing that can never fall by the wayside is the business side of things, and if your mind isn’t business first, you’re not going to be in the game for very long. This is something Miller knows first hand and explained how “you have to be in a business first mind set or you won’t be able to make a living off of it . “You have to figure out your way and it’s not going to be the same for everyone because we all have different gifts and we all have different passions.” Not only was her photography and writing business started as a passion project, it was also a way for her to stay at home with her kids while they were young.

“When I met my husband and moved back to the area I was looking for a transfer but there was a hiring freeze with the Government of Alberta, so the only job that was open was at the Vermilion Court House. It was a big step down from what I was doing before, but it got me here and to Dean so I took it,” she said. After working that job for a year she went on maternity leave with her first child and never went back. “I knew that specific role I was in wasn’t for me, and I knew that being a stay-at-home-mom, I needed something extra on the side for work,” she said. Her first book, Farmwives in Profile, was as she called it, a labour of love, and the inspiration for it came from moving to the area and becoming immersed in the farming lifestyle. MILLER CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Making a passion project a career with hard work and determination CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

“Watching everything hum and work like a well-oiled machine was the inspiration,” she said. “The area where we farm, there are third and fourth generation farming families there. You watch their moms and you watch their parents ... their parents used to hang out together, their parent’s parents hung out together, and now you watch their sons and daughters hang out together.” Miller also wanted to dissolve the theory that people who get into farming in this day and age do it because that’s all they know, which she said is completely untrue. “Some of my husband and I’s best friends are people who have all gone away, went to university,

and worked in the city, but all made the decision to come back, farm and raise their families there because that is what they love, and I found that very inspiring to be around,” she said. “The women for me are just unbelievable ... I looked at these farms and the one common denominator behind all of them is a strong woman, especially these traditional farm wives.” Being a work-at-home-mom, Miller knows first hand how much work goes into keeping a house rolling, and that experience along with witnessing these farm wives work as hard as they do inspired her to tell their stories, and what transpired was a successful independent business Miller is proud to call her own.

MERIDIAN SOURCE I TODAY’S WOMAN 2018

Setting an example for young business owners CHELSEY PIHOWICH OWNER OF LUXX HAIR LOUNGE

Luxx Hair Lounge first opened in 2010 with eight stylists and over the years ownership has changed hands a couple of different times, but as of this past April Chelsey Pihowich decided to take the plunge and become a local business owner. “I’m actually the OG of Luxx because only myself and one of the girls has been here since the doors first opened,” she said with a laugh. Prior to starting as a stylist at Luxx in 2010 Pihowich worked at a salon downtown and explained the owner there was very passionate about business and treating employees and customers with as much respect as possible, and her love for the business rubbed off on

Since taking ownership in April the transition has been pretty smooth because I learned a lot from my old boss which helped me a lot. I’ve always wanted to own my own business which also helped things go smoothly. CHELSEY PIHOWICH Pihowich, which led her to where she is today. “Since taking ownership in April the transition has been pretty smooth because I learned a lot from my old boss which helped me a lot,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business which also helped things go smoothly.” Pihowich is still behind the chair

Mon-Fri 9:30am-9pm, Sat & Sun 9:30am-6pm, Holidays 10am-5pm t Educated staff in sports nutrition and nutrition for wellness t Passionate about customer service t Gluten free, sugar free and Keto friendly lines available t Certiﬁed sports nutritionist and weight loss coach on hand and available to help you and your family with all your questions regarding safe supplementation for everyone in your household

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TODAY’S WOMAN 2018 I MERIDIAN SOURCE

full-time which she noted she loves and never wants to give up, and a great part of her day is working along side the rest of the team at Luxx as they’re more of a family than coworkers. “I’m here more now and busier, but I like being busy, I’d rather be super busy than sitting around doing nothing.”

Being born and raised in the Border City, Pihowich took a year off after high school before going to Saskatoon for post-secondary education for hair styling. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

A labour of love CONTINUID FROM PAGE 20

As a business owner, something new for Pihowich is having an apprentice in the salon who just finished school, which keeps her on her toes but is rewarding as she’s helping a new stylist get chair time. Being a business owner in the community she grew up in what was almost full circle for Pihowich. “It’s been amazing so far, and it hasn’t really hit me yet because it’s only been six months, but I love it because a lot of people I know or grew up with come in, and meeting new people is another great part of the job,” she said. “I feel like things are going well and I hope it continues in the future.” One aspect of the business Pihowich really enjoys is being able to watch some of her clients grow up

if she starting cutting their hair when they were young. “You cut their hair when they’re really young, then you’re cutting their grad hair, and then you’re cutting their wedding hair and it’s really cool to watch,” she said. “To take a moment and think, ‘wow this industry is pretty cool,’ because you touch people in a different way and I feel that here everyone knows everyone’s clients so it’s very friendly in that sense.” Being able to own a business in her home town holds a special place in Pihowich’s heart while helping support local businesses at the same. At 34-years-old, Pihowich admitted taking over the business in April was a lot to take in, but noted her supportive clientelle, coworkers, and the community have made the experience great so far.

MERIDIAN SOURCE I TODAY’S WOMAN 2018

Working towards a hole-in-one done since 2010 with Rolling Green Fairways Golf Course and RV Park. Walker has been instrumental to help build up events at the golf course, which she said was a 10-year progression. “When I first came into Rolling Green, I came in at a capacity of doing the books HEATHER WALKER and looking after the RV park,” she said, adding her position has EVENT PLANNER AT morphed into her duties as club ROLLING GREEN FARIWAYS manager now. Being part of a family business Always having a foot in the door means helping it evolve and con- of customer service and the service tinue to be successful. industry she kept taking on more That’s what Heather Walker has rolls.

TODAY’S WOMAN 2018 I MERIDIAN SOURCE

I wouldn’t have it any other way, it’s what defines us and sets us apart from other businesses, that trusted interest in it. It’s our family name on it, so if something doesn’t go right, that’s my name, that’s my family’s name on the line. HEATHER WALKER “It kind of morphed, there was a lot of room for growth and expansion,” she said. Walker has been able to take her love of food, people and creating exceptional experiences for people to another level with Rolling Green. “Each year I’ve added a few new things and tried a few new things,

some worked, some didn’t,” she said. In 2013 Rolling Green built the pavilion, which allowed them to be able to expand services. “It has allowed us to really branch out to more events, bigger events,” she said. WALKER CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Take pride in a family business CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

Being able to be part of the evolution of Rolling Green in the last 10 years has been great for Walker, and she noted it is a family business and how her husband’s family makes it more special. “It’s a completely different vibe, we have a relationship with our clients,” said Walker. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, it’s what defines us and sets us apart from other businesses, that trusted interest in it. It’s our family name on it, so if something doesn’t go right, that’s my name, that’s my family’s name on the line.” While taking on so many roles at Rolling Green, she added she gets help from those that work there as well, including her manager, who has taken off some of the load. Previously to joining Rolling Green Walker worked as an office manager for an oil company, and with being in a male-driven business she saw some extra hurdles she had to overcome. “If you work your butt off I think at the end of the day everybody can recognize that,” said Walker. “There’s always some challenges,” she added, but noted working in a family business she hasn’t had to face hurdles being a woman. Born in Lloydminster, but moved away when she was younger, Walker found her

way back to the Border City. “We are going to be here until we retire. Our friends are here, our family is here, our roots are here. We are very involved in the community,” she said. Being involved in the community is important for Walker, and one of the successful events over the past two years has been organizing the Farm and Ranch Charity Golf Tournament. “We sold out both years,” she said. This past tournament they were able to raise nearly $20,000, with proceeds being split between three charities. As well whenever they hold fundraiser events at Rolling Green they donate back to the charity by cutting down on their costs and will help with donating a big ticket item for auctions. “We are part of the community, I feel like if you’re making a contribution you are helping and making for a better environment. Whatever you do it comes back to you,” Walker said. One thing Walker wanted to tell other woman was to trust your gut, especially when it comes to business. “If you have an opinion and you feel strongly about it, and your gut is telling you it’s right, it probably is. Sometimes you have to take a risk, and it’s okay if it doesn’t work out,” she said.

Raising money to support families living with breast cancer in our community In partnership with the Lloydminster Health Foundation, we offer the

“I Love Alberta Boobs” Assistant Fund This is given out quarterly throughout the year to individuals in need of financial assistance.

To apply or nominate for the assistance fund, go to www.ilovealbertaboobs.ca

For more information, contact Brandy Schwenk 780.808.9624 or email ilovealbertaboobs@gmail.com MERIDIAN SOURCE I TODAY’S WOMAN 2018

TODAYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WOMAN 2018 I MERIDIAN SOURCE

Helping a community that’s helped you

JOEM BALBIRAN-WEINKAUF FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND BUSINESS OWNER AT SUN LIFE FINANCIAL

Joem Balbiran-Weinkauf moved to Canada from the Philippines 2001 at age 27 to better her life, with a promise to her sister that she would put her through medical school so she could become a doctor, and amazingly, her sister, Dr. Apple Limjuico, became the first Filipino doctor in Lloydminster. “We were very poor (in the Philippines). I watched my dad die in hospital when I was 15 because in the Philippines you have to give

money before they will admit you to hospital, and I looked and said ‘that’s not the life I want.’” Weinkauf came to Canada to better her life, but within six years she was working three jobs and was broke, but found a book that changed everything. “It was Solomon’s The Richest Man Who Ever Lived and my mindset changed that while I’m on my financial freedom I have the opportunity to help immigrants, because they work so hard and send money back home,” she said. Canada and the Lloydminster community have given Weinkauf opportunities she never thought were possible which is why she was so passionate about trying to give back and help immigrants get the same opportunities she has received since moving to Canada 17 years ago. In 2008 she started Brighter Horizon Sunlife Financial with her husband Darren. WEINKAUF CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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Paying it forward with financial advice CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Fast forward 10 years and Weinkauf was able to bring her whole family to Canada to experience the same opportunities as her, and her business has grown greatly over the years. “I have one sister who is a doctor and one sister who is an immigration consultant and my brother prepares taxes and we all work out of the same building, so it’s a one-stop shop,” she said. “We have about 10,000 clients across Canada.” Hard work throughout the last decade has paid off in spades for Weinkauf and the team at Sun Life Financial as over the last three years Weinkauf has been in the top 10 financial advisors across Canada for sales. Being from another country, Weinkauf knows the importance of immersing yourself into a community and to be an active member in that community. “I’m so thankful for Lloydminster. Even during rough times or boom

TODAY’S WOMAN 2018 I MERIDIAN SOURCE

times, there are people that are passionate about community. Lloydminster accepted me for who I am and I love to help immigrants get rooted and have a good life here.” Happily married to her husband Darren, Weinkauf spends every waking minute of the day outside of the office being a proud mother of an eight-year-old daughter. “I squish an eight hour day into five hours, because at 3 p.m. I’m already a mom,” she said. Weinkauf has also been working on a book titled “You are Rich, Claim it Inmigrante” since 2012. “The book is about how immigrants can get rich in the promise land. It’s all about planning,” she said. “I love what I’m doing and I’m able to help people even if the economy is down, and I believe we’re the only team in Canada that can help clients avail the benefits of the government, and everyone working here is just so passionate about helping others get financial freedom.”

4 th Annual

Mistletoe Magic SERVUS SPORTS CENTRE

5202 12th Street, Lloydminster, Alberta November 9 10 am - 9 pm, November 10 10 am - 6 pm & November 11 10 am - 4 pm

VENDORS (AS OF OCT. 10/18) ALICRAFT ALL SAINTS UKRAINIAN CHURCH ALL WOUND UP KNITTING & SOAP ALPACA & NATURAL FIBERS ARBONNE INTERNATIONAL BANDANA THANG/IT’S JERKY TIME/ THE SOUP COMPANY BELLEZZA MODA BEV'S KITCHEN C+J CUSTOM TRUCK CENTER CALEIGHS CRYSTALS CANUCKITUP CANDY CREATIONS CARL’S CREATIONS CARPE DIEM CREATIONS CHAINMAILLE CREATIONS BY FAY CHARBONNEAU'S PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLENE'S BOUTIQUE CHARLEY + CO. CHERYL'S COZY KITCHEN CLASSIC HANDCRAFTED JEWELLERY/ALPHATOONS COAL LAKE HONEY FARM COME, LET'S SEW COPPER KETTLE FUDGE CO. CREATIVE LIVING CRE8ED 4 U CRYSTAL VIBRATIONS CUSTOM PAPER CRAFTS DARLENE'S KNITTING DEB'S CROCHET CORNER DOLLY & ME DOSC DOTERRA ESSENTIAL OILS E & G WELDING LTD

ECUATHENTIC ELF ANGELS CREATIONS EMMA AND APRIL ENERGY JEWELLERY PURE STRENGTH EPICURE EXPRESSION BEYOUND PURPOSE FANCY ALPACA FANCYTASTIC CRAFTS FASHION FUSHION FIFTH AVENUE JEWELLERY FISHERMANS DREAM TABLE FLIGHT CENTRE INDEPENDANT GAYLE'S GIFTS/VIOLETS AND BEES GREG SHIERBECK FINANCIAL HAIR STRAIGHTNERS ROYALE HAPPY HIPPO BATH CO. HAVING A PARTY HEARTWARM KNITS HEAT PADS, COOL HEAT HERITAGE EDUCATION FUND INASCENT BATH & BODY INFINITE WATER SOLUTIONS INFORMATION BOOTH INNOVATIVE IRON WORKS LTD. JANE'S PRAIRIE LINEN AND LACE JERIDEE GENEST/LINDSAY POLLARD JOE'S ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES JUST BAKED! KATHY ALEXANDER KICK ASS CARAMELS KIDS CHRISTMAS KNOTTY'N NICE DOGGY DESIGNZ KONA-ICE OF NE ALBERTA KRAZY KANUCKS BEEF JERKY KRISTEN'S HOMEMADE PRESERVES LAYNA LAMPS & TREASURES LEATHER

LEO/IRENE BABOWAL LIFE'S LITTLE LUXURIES LUV 21 LEGGINGS AND APPAREL MADAME NADINE JEWELLERY MADE ESPECIALLY 4 U W LOVE MAGNOLIA AND VINE MARLENE'S GLASS MARY KAY MEDICINE HAT MEAT TRADERS MERINO MEN INC. MERV & JOANS CREATIONS MI TALENTZ COMPANY M.J. VETERINARY SERVICES MOJI LIFE MONAT MY HORSE ASSETS MY INNER HIPPE NORMA'S THERAPUTIC PRACTICE NORWEX NURTURE ALL NATURAL PRODUCTS PAMPERED CHEFF PARTYLITE GIFTS PAUSCH DESIGNS PEACH PATINA PINK ZEBRA PRAIRIE BABY DESIGNS PRAIRIE FIRE ALPACAS PRAIRIE WOOL RAW KNITS PURE BLISS BOUTIQUE PUZZLES FOR NO BRAINERS RAMIS ROCKIN’ DOC MUSIC & STUFF SAWDUST AND SOUL/ WHITE PEACOCK LABEL SCENTSY SEACRET DIRECT SENEGENCE/LIPSENCE

SEW KOZY SIPLICIOUS SKIN CARE PRODUCTS SOUL HEART STUDIO SOUP TIME SPRINGTIDE ESSENTIALS STORCH KNIVES SUNSET GOURMET SWEET SHEETS BY ARLEIGH TENS MACHINE, IQ MASSAGER THE ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE THE PILLOW NOOK THIRTY ONE GIFTS THOSE DAMN COLLECTABLES TUPPERWARE VOXXLIFE WE ROCK IT WATKINS/RAWLIEGHS PRODUCTS WEATHERED & MEASURED/ COUNTRY BLESSINGS WICKHAM NURSERYLAND WILD WOOD DESIGNS WOOLY GOAT SOAP YOUNG LIVING

REMEMBRANCE DAY LAST POST & MINUTE OF SILENCE NOVEMBER 11 AT 11AM

COME & SEE OLAF FRIDAY 12 PM - 8PM, SATURDAY 11 AM - 5 PM, SUNDAY 10 AM - 3PM

WAINWRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL BAND

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MERIDIAN SOURCE I TODAY’S WOMAN 2018