As a business owner myself, I’ve come to really appreciate how important it is to celebrate the incredible women around us, especially on International Women’s Day. Each year, I love taking the time to highlight the amazing women who inspire me and are making a difference right here in our community.
These women are doing everything from running businesses and offering valuable services to bringing beauty, creativity, and joy into people’s lives and I’m lucky to know them personally. This year, I’m excited to share the stories of nine talented women I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know, some right here in Ormstown and the surrounding area, and others from Montreal. I hope their journeys inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me.
If you missed last year’s International Women’s Day blog, I’d love for you to check it out here, where I highlighted even more amazing women-owned businesses!
Kim L’Ecuyer
Registered Holistic Nutrition consultant (R.H.N.), C.T.I. Life coach, Certified Metabolic Balance coach.
What do you love most about the work you do?
I love connecting with my clients.
I am passionate about helping women break free from the cycle of battling with their bodies, their weight, and the constant guilt they often place on themselves.
I find it incredibly rewarding to guide my clients in reconnecting with their bodies, shifting from a mindset where they feel like their bodies are betraying them or need to be "fixed," to one of self-appreciation, gratitude, and excitement about nurturing and taking care of themselves.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
I have three to share:
1)That it’s not an ALL OR NOTHING game. Every small change adds up and pays big dividends in your health bank.
2)That healthy food and a solid self-care routine should not be boring or punishing. It’s all about finding the win-win, making your healthy food delicious and satisfying and cultivating a routine that feels effortless and enjoyable.
3)Hating and shaming on yourself, punishing, rigid, restrictive diets NEVER work. In fact they keep you in the yo-yo cycle. Step one always needs to be focusing on accepting your body as it is right now. That’s how you create a solid foundation for lasting change.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
I love everything food – sourcing it, cooking it, sharing it, eating it, pairing it with delicious wine…
I enjoy reading as an essential part of my morning and evening routines. My morning genre is: psychology, spirituality, neuroscience, self-help. Evenings are memoirs, historic fiction and sometimes fantasy.
I also love walking, gardening, entertaining, caring for my home and my small flock of laying hens.
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
TRUST! Trusting my intuition or my gut even if it isn’t always the obvious or logical choice. And trusting that things are unfolding as they should – comparing myself to others is the thief of my joy.
Rosemarie Leblanc
Real Estate Broker
What do you love most about the work you do?
What I love most about my job is helping my clients acquire their dream property. The process can sometimes take time, and finding the perfect home isn’t always easy. There can be moments of disappointment, especially when a great opportunity is missed, but the satisfaction of finally finding the perfect property always makes it worthwhile. My favorite moment is the signing at the notary’s office—seeing the excitement in my clients’ eyes when they finally receive the keys is truly rewarding.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
Being a real estate broker is much more than just helping people buy or sell a home. Every day, I wear many hats: designer to envision a space’s potential, inspector to spot every detail, psychologist to reassure and advise, mediator to facilitate negotiations… and so much more! My job requires versatility, attentiveness, and passion, and that’s what makes it so exciting.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
I am a creative person with a hidden talent for decoration, illustration, and even cake decorating. In my family, I’m officially the dessert expert!
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
Don't be afraid to take the leap. I have worked in several fields over the years—as a farmer and dairy producer, a graphic designer, an administrative assistant for a real estate broker, and now as a real estate broker myself. When I finally decided to go out on my own, I left everything behind to dedicate 100% of my efforts to my career, without any guaranteed income. It hasn’t always been easy, but through hard work, determination, and the invaluable support of my family, friends, and wonderful clients over the years, I can proudly say that every sacrifice was worth it.
Isabelle Arnau
Florist shop owner, designer
What do you love most about the work you do?
Creating. Taking loose flowers from a bucket and creating a unique bouquet or arrangement is amazing and rewarding. Creating with plants is very calming as well. Plants are mostly green but creating a garden with their different tones and shapes brings the indoor in and that is very me.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
People might not realize all the behind the scene to get to the final result. From products availability to delivery, we have to be able to adjust and turn on a dime.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
I love traveling! I’ a very very visual person so I need to be stimulated wether with hundreds year old homes in Ireland to huge evergreens on Vancouver island to cloud forest in Costa Rica to historical Paris. I love design and architecture as well which I also see in my travels.
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
Trust yourself. Easy as that. When something doesn’t sit well, you will know and when something is right, you will also know. When you trust yourself, decision are easier to take and when you are a business owner, you need to rely on that.
Lianne Finnie
Photographer
What do you love most about the work you do?
What I love most is the connection I build with the people I photograph. Each session—whether a wedding, family shoot, or even a final portrait—offers a glimpse into someone’s world. Photography requires trust and vulnerability, and being invited to capture both joyful milestones and tender moments is an honor. Preserving a piece of someone’s story, giving them a tangible memory of who they were—that’s why I love what I do.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
Many don’t realize the time and investment behind photography. While we showcase the joyful, creative side, there’s a hidden workload—planning, editing, and curating every image. A one-hour session often means days of work. Photographers also invest heavily in gear, software, and storage to maintain quality. Yet, what clients see is the experience we create, not the long hours behind the scenes. It’s a labor of love, far less glamorous than it appears.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
I love being outdoors year-round. In winter, I cross-country ski and snowshoe; in spring and fall, I hike, especially in the Adirondacks. Summer is all about water—swimming, canoeing, and camping. Nature keeps me grounded, energized, and happy no matter the season.
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
People love their photos more when they have a great experience. It’s not just about perfect lighting or flawless shots—it’s about how they felt in the moment. Not every session goes perfectly, and circumstances vary, but my job isn’t just to create beautiful images. It’s to make people feel comfortable, seen, and valued. That’s what they remember long after the photos are delivered.
Sharon Greer
Hair stylist
What do you love most about the work you do?
I love the creativity and making my clients feel good about themselves. It’s very rewarding and fulfilling.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
I learn new techniques & trends all the time.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
Horseback riding! I love being around my horses and even doing chores lol.
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
Be confident and have trust in yourself.
Katrina Legault
President & Founder of KL Marketing Inc.
What do you love most about the work you do?
I'm a huge believer in storytelling. I love a good story, and I believe that sharing a powerful story with the world should be three things: unique, meaningful, and visually appealing. My work empowers me to help brands share their purpose through social media, marketing channels, podcasts, events and more, and I am continuously fuelled by the ideation process that leads to creatings something that stands out. I pull the beauty out of all things in life, and the result always inspires me to keep pushing.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
It's not just posting pictures on Instagram. It's strategy, content creation, copywriting, editing, translating, and so on. A lot of love, and a lot of people go into the final result you see on the other end.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
In all my spare time - lol! I love to read and cook. I love weight training, Pilates and outdoor activities in the warmer months. I'm passionate about fashion and beauty, and also daydream about so many travel destinations.
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
You can't accomplish anything great if you don't just start somewhere. It won't be perfect... but no one will notice except for you.
IG Personal | IG Professional | TikTok | Hudson Holiday Market | Illume Festival
Neva Shelton
Director of L’Ecole de danse Neva Shelton and have been since starting the school in 1980 (soon to retire!)
What do you love most about the work you do?
I love teaching; even after more than 40 years of teaching, even when I am tired, once I start teaching, I am energized, and I always leave in good spirits.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
There are so many aspects of what I do, many more than just teaching because it entails running a business as well (not my strongest skill) The teaching alone has entailed years of study covering anatomy, psychology, pedagogy as well as exams in the syllabus I teach, the Cecchetti Syllabus. To obtain a higher level of teaching I traveled to Ottawa bi-weekly for 2 years and studied with Joyce Shietze, the then chairperson of Cecchetti CANADA and founding director of the School of Dance in Ottawa.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
I have always tried to be involved in my community, participating in many committees over the years; I was a founding member of the MRC’s Comité Culturel. Although I am still volunteering, I now try to spend as much time as possible with my grandchildren and helping on the farms of both of my children.
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
Although I studied Social Work, after a friend had a bad car accident, I stepped in to replace her as a ballet teacher since we had the same background training. I soon realized that I really loved teaching so I decided trying my hand at starting my own school when we moved to Ormstown. The rest, as they say’ is history.
Daniella Trombetta
Brand Designer
What do you love most about the work you do?
I love that I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse range of creative founders to tell their stories through impactful brand design.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
Good design will never be cheap. It’s not about creating an appealing logo, it’s about depicting your brand’s purpose and developing a visual identity that is unique to you through a strategic brand strategy. In order for me to design a proper logo, I need to understand your story, your target audience, and your goal as a brand to remain authentic to your values.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
Cooking and baking have always been a hobby of mine, so much that if I wasn’t a designer, I probably would have pursued culinary school. It has served as an outlet for creativity, inspiration, and exploring. I’m currently trying to nail baking a good sourdough loaf.
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
Step away from the screen. It sounds simple and counterintuitive as a designer for the digital space, but sometimes my best work comes from disconnecting. We tend to forget that there are other ways to explore our creativity beyond our devices.
Carolina Aragao Safi
Tablescape Stylist and Etiquette Coach
What do you love most about the work you do?
Bringing people together around the table. The table holds deep significance in both personal and professional life—it’s where we create emotional memories, educate our children, and make important decisions. Taking care of the table is an act of love, self-care, and care for others. It’s a fully intentional habit that transforms everyday moments into something special.
What is one thing people might not realize about your profession?
It involves a lot of studying, especially in etiquette, as it evolves over time with cultural shifts and trends. Staying up to date requires continuous learning and research.
What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of your professional life?
Reading books, enjoying moments of solitude, and entertaining family and friends
What’s a piece of advice that has influenced you the most?
Be myself and trust my instincts. It sounds simple, but in reality, it takes courage and consistency.
I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know these incredible women as much as I have. Their passion and dedication inspire me every day, and I’m so grateful to have them as part of our community.
Last year, I featured another group of inspiring local women in business—if you’d like to meet them too, you can check out the post here.
Are there any local women-owned businesses that inspire you?
If you know a local woman in business who inspires you, I’d love to hear—please share her name in the comments! Let’s keep celebrating and supporting the amazing women around us.