Sowing Seeds of Empowerment: The Hope Blooms Story

11/09/23 • 49 min

Today's love story belongs to Jessie and Kolade. They are friends, colleagues, magic makers, and they are both part of a phenomenal social enterprise in Halifax, Nova Scotia called Hope Blooms.

Hope Blooms engages with inner-city youth to become change agents, positively impacting the community through innovative agricultural and culinary programs. These changemakers made a national impact a decade ago on the show Dragon's Den, where 6 young and enthusiastic youth pitched their salad dressing business and made a deal for $40,000. They even moved one of the dragons to tears.

It was a vision that started with a seed, and has since bloomed into a movement on a mission to create future leaders. It's all about growth. From the garden where the program took root, to salsa, salad dressings and scholarships.

Hope Blooms has become what it is today because of the hard work, commitment and compassion of Executive Director, Jessie Jollymore. The future is bright for this enterprise, and at the helm is Kolade Boboye, who is currently the Manager of Social Business and Innovation.

For more information about Hope Blooms visit https://hopeblooms.ca/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

Today's love story belongs to Jessie and Kolade. They are friends, colleagues, magic makers, and they are both part of a phenomenal social enterprise in Halifax, Nova Scotia called Hope Blooms.

For more information about Hope Blooms visit https://hopeblooms.ca/

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

Previous Episode

Tiny Tales, Big Love: Nancy Rose

Nancy Rose is a former teacher and guidance counsellor whose passion for photography and crafting has transformed into an unusual new career. When Nancy found herself seeking creative inspiration, she found it in her own backyard when she witnessed the entertaining behaviours of her neighbourhood squirrels.

She started creating miniature squirrel-sized displays and props, using cardboard, clay, and other craft supplies. Motivated by hidden treats, squirrels became the subject of her photographs, as they interacted with her creations. Chasing her creativity even further, Nancy turned these whimsical sights into children's stories.

Since then, Nancy Rose has published 6 children's books featuring her delightful photos, as well as board books, and a series of calendars by Workman Publishing. Her most recent book is titled Oakley the Squirrel: Camping 1, 2, 3!: A Nutty Numbers Book and can be ordered on Amazon.

Nancy's innovative creations have not only sparked joy for many but they also spread a powerful message: embrace your creativity, follow your passions, and never be afraid to be different.

Visit https://www.secretlifeofsquirrels.com/ for more information and to order Nancy's books.

Follow Nancy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/secretlifeofsquirrels

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!

Next Episode

To The Moon and Back: Lars Callieou

Today's love story belongs to Lars Callieou, a Canadian comedian who has given the gift of laughter to audiences all over the world, including six military tours. For Lars, feeling at home on the road was very normal, as his parents were travelling musicians. When following in their footsteps didn't quite pan out, he found solace and purpose in standup comedy.

His love of comedy has taken him across Canada and the US in his beloved 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, which he calls Silver. Lars has travelled so much that he's travelled the exact distance to the moon and back (768,00km)...and then some. Currently, he has logged 818,000km.

Lars has an impressive comedy career that spans 20 years, and he's worked with such luminaries as Joan Rivers, Jeff Foxworthy, and Bob Saget. His fuel is passion, generosity, and the pure love of performance.

Lars Callieou has appeared at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montréal and has a 1-Hour Comedy Special currently airing on The Comedy Network. He's been overseas to entertain the troops 5 times and is a 2-Time Canadian Comedy Award Nominee. He can be heard on CBC's Laugh Out Loud, CBC's The Debaters and on Sirius/XM. He's performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the last 8 years and has also appeared at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, the Boston Comedy Festival, the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas and the Halifax Comedy Festival.

For more information: https://extralars.com/

Follow Lars: http://www.instagram.com/ExtraLars

Presented by Charm Diamond Centres

Hosted by Nancy Regan

Produced by Podstarter

Do you have a great love story? You could be the next guest on the Canadian Love Map! Apply here!