What's Up Wednesday

Solving problems and building new businesses is something Darren Burrowes lives for.

Planet Botanix's Heather Garrod found it ironic that, at a time when her customers needed her business the most, she couldn't be there.

Trina Mather-Simard, producer of popular Indigenous festivals like Ottawa's Summer Solstice, wants to take cultural tourism to the next level.

When a neighbouring store on Elgin Street closed, Robin Coull saw her opportunity to grow her kitchenware business.

When COVID forced theatres to close, Pete Dillon responded. "If the audience can't go to the theatre, we'll bring the theatre to them."

Farah Asnaashari has been designing and making bespoke clothes for women in Ottawa for nearly 30 years, but COVID pandemic lockdowns nearly put an end to that.

“We wanted to be different. That's how we are," says Andrea Gormley, owner of the Somerset Street West micro-brewpub.

“It was a life-and-death situation because this is the only income for three families,” says owner Tammy Giuliani.

For the last 20 or so years, more than a dozen artisanal wineries have taken root around the capital region, making eastern Ontario one of Canada's most northerly wine regions.

Stacey and Mark MacLellan, the store owner of Plato's Closet, are hopeful that the "thrifting" trend among the younger generation could help their new location be successful.