IWD 2026 Theme: Give to Gain
BACD wanted to profile women owned businesses in Durham Region. We did a public call out on our socials and newsletter and these are the businesses that responded to the call.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to support women in business. When women are supported, communities strengthen. Families thrive. Local economies grow. And the next generation sees what’s possible.
This year’s theme—Give to Gain—fits perfectly. Because giving to women-owned businesses isn’t charity. It’s smart community-building. When we choose to spend locally, recommend a business, share a post, write a review, or connect someone to an opportunity, we create momentum that multiplies. Giving is intentional multiplication.
And that’s what this series of women-owned business profiles is all about—spotlighting the incredible entrepreneurs across Durham Region and celebrating the people who are building with heart, grit, and vision.
What we’re seeing across these stories: the Give to Gain effect
When women ask for support, they gain momentum: Many of these founders talked about the turning point that came when they stopped trying to do it all alone—finding community, mentors, programs, partners, and peers who helped them move faster and smarter.
When women lead with values, trust follows: From inclusive spaces to trauma-informed support to customer-first experiences, these businesses grow because they’re built with care and intention.
When women invest in community, community invests back: So many of these entrepreneurs are giving back through education, networking, collaboration, fundraising, workshops, and local partnerships and they’re building businesses rooted in real relationships.
A snapshot of the women-owned businesses we’re celebrating
Durham Region is full of talent—and these profiles show just how diverse and powerful women-led entrepreneurship is.
Wellness, therapy + mental health support
- MindSpark Psychotherapy (Stef Wood) – trauma-informed care plus psychoeducation tools beyond the therapy room
- Radiant Psychotherapy & Wellness (Rachael Pogue) – intentional growth and expanded access with a new Whitby location
- Noor El Huda – Guiding Light Therapy & Consulting (Huda Adnan) – culturally responsive, accessible therapy and organizational training
- Creating New Steps (Jodi Tingling) – career psychotherapy + CLEAR™ framework and the power of community support
- Vanessa Robson Therapy (Vanessa Robson) – Brooklin-based full-service psychotherapy with dedicated children’s services
- Raices Flourish Counseling (Jessica Batres) – therapy practice dedicated to supporting high achievers
- Teen Wellness Studio (Simone Grant) – mental health psychotherapy practice dedicated exclusively to supporting teenagers.
Service businesses that earn trust through excellence
- Pup Care by Dani (Danielle Tomasino) – one-on-one, calm grooming built on standards, leadership, and education
- Bee’s Knees Hair Co. (Hannah Deans) – sensory-friendly, gender-neutral salon experience rooted in inclusion and client comfort
- Brookstead Fine Flowers (Hilary Rambachan) – custom florals built with heart, tradition, and modern creativity
- Biscuits to Baskets (Suzanne Smith) – a community-loved café/bakery/gift shop in Ajax built through perseverance and belief
- Relieve Me Home Support Services (Rosemarie Brathwaite) – a real story of building while protecting mental health and learning to ask for support
- Crafted Safety (Diana Mihajlov) – An HR and Health & Safety consulting firm helping organizations protect people, meet compliance, and lead responsibly.
- ClutterBGone Inc. (Varsha Singh) – professional organizing and decluttering services helping families and businesses create calm, functional spaces.
- Clevette Coombs Consulting (Clevette Coombs) – sales strategy and AI implementation consulting for solopreneurs and small businesses to increase revenue and reclaim time.
- Finance with Binnie (Binnie Saini) – financial consulting supporting families and entrepreneurs with protection, planning, and long‑term financial confidence.
- Bray Ridge Farms (Amanda Kiezebrink) – local farm business producing high‑quality, sustainably raised food rooted in community and care.
- Lindsey Brouwers Design (Lindsey Brouwers) – interior design studio creating highly personalized, curated homes designed around how clients truly live.
- Nurturing Our Wellbeing (Angelique Benois) – helps organizations prioritize caregiver wellbeing as a strategic advantage, not a burnout response.
- The Travelling Stage (Toni Grates) – inclusive arts education and youth empowerment
- Madebyglahdees (Gladys Koya) – handmade crochet fashion and confidence through creativity
- JB Celebrations (Janessa Bain) – Wedding Coordinator, Event Planner + host of Durham Region Wedding Vendor Networking Nights – building connection with intention
- Unique Town Boutique (Paulette Grant) – curated local maker shop + The Loft event space in Downtown Whitby
- Boost Academy of Excellence (Trina Boos) – leadership and professional development firm focused on confidence, communication, and career advancement.
- Embrace Surrogacy (Darcy Herring) – a surrogacy agency that supports intended parents and surrogates with ethical, compassionate guidance throughout the fertility journey.
Product-based brands with purpose and impact
- KidzGlow Essentials by NCG (Kenesha Haughton) – organic kids skincare + affirmations and matching books: confidence built into the routine
- Stackaroo Tote Rentals (Ginta Smith‑Wright) – sustainable moving solutions built from noticing a community need and starting before feeling “ready”
- Dash of Dulce (Cynthia Reinoso) – the real-life juggle of business + motherhood + wearing every hat
- Picadilly Cakery (Elisabete Ferreira) – custom cakes and baked goods crafted to celebrate life’s milestones with care, creativity, and flavour.
- Genesis Jewellery Boutique (Debbie Hurley-Laing) – Ajax‑based jewellery studio offering custom‑designed, fine gold and silver jewellery, along with repairs, piercings, and meaningful pieces created for life’s special moments.
- Leah Gust Stylist – Personal styling services that help clients feel confident, polished, and aligned with who they are.
- Dreaming Big Lifestyle – Ana Belen Pautassi – A business and marketing coaching practice helping women design businesses that support their lives, not consume them.
Each one of these businesses is creating value—and each one is part of the local story we’re proud to amplify.
How to support women-owned businesses (without overthinking it)
If you want to “Give to Gain” this International Women’s Day, here are simple actions that actually move the needle:
- Give your dollars: Buy local. Book local. Order local. Choose a woman-owned business when you can.
- Give visibility: Follow them. Share their posts. Tag them in stories. Comment something real. Send their name to a friend who needs what they offer.
- Give credibility: Leave a Google review. Those reviews build trust fast—and help small businesses get found.
- Give connection: Introduce them to one person who could become a customer, collaborator, or partner.
- Give time: Attend their workshop, pop-up, or event. Community presence is powerful.
When you support local businesses, you’re not just buying a product or service. You’re investing in a thriving local economy where more businesses can hire, grow, and contribute back.
A note to women entrepreneurs: you don’t have to build alone
At Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD), we’ve supported thousands of business owners over the last 25+ years. We see the behind-the-scenes realities of entrepreneurship every day—and we know how much difference the right support can make.
If you’re starting, growing, or scaling a business—and you want guidance, structure, or a fresh set of eyes—we’re here.
We can help you with:
- Business planning and strategy
- Marketing plans and positioning
- Financial analysis and cash flow planning
- Mentorship and accountability
- Workshops and training
- Connections to local resources and opportunities
If you need support, reach out. You don’t have to figure it out on your own—and you don’t have to wait until you feel “ready.”
Give to Gain: What will you give this week?
International Women’s Day is a moment—but the impact lasts all year. When we give women entrepreneurs support, visibility, and opportunity, we gain stronger communities and a more vibrant Durham Region economy.
So here’s your challenge:
Choose one women-owned business in Durham Region this week and support them in a real way—buy, book, share, review, or refer.
