Fresh Idea Collective

08/28/2026

I still get a little thrill seeing my book on a store shelf wedged between other people’s stories. 🥰

If you’re looking for a summer read, here’s where you can find “Helium: Leveraging the Power of Community to Lift Yourself and Others” (besides Amazon):

📕 Betty’s Bookshelf (St. Marys)
📕 Got It Made (Stratford)
📕 Coles Stratford (Stratford Mall)
📕 Pedal Works Café & Studios (Kingston)

Pick up your copy this week! 🎈

08/27/2026

So glad you could join us at this year’s Speaker Camp, Teri — can’t wait to see what comes next! 🎙️

08/26/2026

Are you missing out on funding opportunities that could help grow your business? ⚾️ Visit https://tinyurl.com/4hjcvjra to join me at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Mary’s on Friday, Oct. 23rd (morning or afternoon) for “Pitching for Profit” to learn how grants, sponsorships, awards and other funding can help you grow your businesses.

Since launching my first business in 2001, I’ve secured $100,000+ in grants, sponsorships and award funding. I’ve also evaluated hundreds of funding applications as a reviewer and panelist.

Now, I’m sharing what I’ve learned in a practical, hands-on 2-hour workshop for women entrepreneurs.

Together we’ll explore where to find funding opportunities, what funders look for, how to position your business and how to make a compelling ask.

Come ready to think bigger, learn from each other and leave with practical next steps.

⚾️ Let’s knock your next funding pitch out of the park, fabulous !

08/25/2026

Dolly was a true original 🦋 who showed us that you can be a brilliant businesswoman, a generous human being and unapologetically yourself, all at the same time.

08/25/2026

See you there!

**Women’s voices matter. And on October 26th, our votes will matter too.**

We are excited to have **9 women running for Stratford City Council and a woman candidate for Mayor** in this year’s municipal election.

Women make up approximately **52% of Stratford’s population**. Our experiences matter. Our concerns matter. The issues that affect our families, workplaces, businesses, neighbourhoods and community matter. And our voices deserve to be part of the conversation about Stratford’s future.

Please join us for **Meet the Women Candidates**, a FREE community event hosted by **CFUW Stratford**.

This evening will be an opportunity to hear directly from the women who have stepped forward to serve, to learn what matters to them and to hear their perspectives on some of the issues that matter to our community.

Tuesday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m.
James Reaney Auditorium, Stratford Intermediate School
Everyone is welcome. Admission is FREE.

Come curious. Come ready to listen. Leave Informed.
Registration link to follow in a future post...for now, please SAVE THE DATE.

08/24/2026

Sometimes in the middle of one of my events, I stop for a moment, zero in on two women connecting, and simply watch.

Not in a creepy way, I promise.

It's just that, as an event organizer, I don't always have the luxury of pausing to take it all in. But when I do, I love watching the connections unfolding around the room.

I see women exchange ideas, laugh together, encourage one another, and discover they have far more in common than they realized.

Those few quiet seconds remind me why I do this work.

Yes, it takes weeks to plan an event, build the agenda, coordinate speakers, throw in some unexpected, fun elements, organize the catering, and manage all the other details.

But the real magic happens when people show up and are open to connecting. 💛

For me, those little moments are the real success stories.

Looking to create your own magic? Visit https://www.freshideacollective.com/events to join us at one of our upcoming events!

08/23/2026

Here's a peek inside our official Speaker Camp photo album which has now been published inside our free, private Fresh Idea Collective Community of Women Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Check it out today!

Photo cred: Cheyenne's Creations (London)

08/23/2026

Thanks for joining us at Speaker Camp this week, Kim - we loved having you! 🍋

Missed out on this year’s Speaker Camp? Visit https://www.freshideacollective.com/events to see what’s coming up next!

08/19/2026

Did you know you have a chance to earn $150 when you complete the Speak to Lead Academy for Women which launches next month? 🎤

This 8-week, live online program helps women develop their signature talk — and next spring, you’ll have the opportunity to take it to the stage!

Thanks to support from the Destination Stratford Development Fund, we’ve lined up the Here for Now Theatre, where 10 Academy grads will have the opportunity to deliver their 10-minute talk to a live audience and get paid $150 each to do it.

Because we believe women should have more opportunities to get paid for what they know, not just what they do.

There’s still space in the Speak to Lead Academy for Women, launching Sept. 16th and running for just one hour per week via Zoom until Nov. 4th with an amazing group of women.

Ready to find your voice, develop your talk and take the stage? 👉 Visit https://www.freshideacollective.com/speaktolead to register today!

08/17/2026

So grateful to have been nominated again this year for the 2026 Trailblazing Award as part of the Stratford & District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards!

A huge thank you to whoever put Fresh Idea Collective forward for this recognition. 💛 It’s a true honour to be nominated, and we’re incredibly grateful to be part of such a supportive local business community.