Mackenzie Brown
Amy Willier Award
Mackenzie Brown is a First Nations Cree woman from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, now residing in Moh’kinstsis. She is a performer, drummer, entrepreneur, advocate; and a multidisciplinary artist working in acrylic, beadwork, leatherwork and murals. In 2019, she was recognized as Indigenous Woman of the Year by the Assembly of First Nations Alberta Association.
Yvonne Jobin
Amy Willier Award
Yvonne Jobin is Cree First Nations, originally from High Prairie, now residing in Calgary. She is the owner of Moonstone Creation, a gallery she started with her daughter, the late Amy Willier, who is the namesake of the Made in Alberta Award for Indigenous Artisans. Jobin’s artwork is in private and public collections in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
Vanessa Marshall
Amy Willier Award
Vanessa Marshall is a proud Edmontonian and Métis woman and founder of the hair-care brand Jack59. It has earned her numerous accolades, including the Alberta Women Entrepreneurs 2022 Indigenous Entrepreneur Award and the Amy Willier Award for Indigenous Artisans. Jack59 is a Certified B Corp, reflecting high social and environmental standards.
Marie Bertrand
Beauty
As chief creative officer of SkinScience, Marie Bertrand has more than 20 years of experience in the skin-care industry. Prior to founding SkinScience, Bertrand worked in management for L’Oréal Canada, developing skin-care training programs for cosmeticians and dermatologists throughout Canada. In 2018, Bertrand launched her own skin-care line, Aliquote Skin.
Tara Cowles
Beauty
Makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur Tara Cowles is the founder and director of Artists Within Makeup Academy and creator of the makeup line AW03 Maquillage, which she launched two decades ago. AW03 was first designed for makeup artists and students before being available to consumers. It retails at various Alberta businesses and online at artistswithin.com.
Jill Nuckles
Craft
Jill Nuckles is a Calgary-based visual artist who works at the Alberta Craft Gallery. She holds a Business Management diploma from MacEwan University and has a BFA with distinction in sculpture from Alberta University of the Arts. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions and galleries in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
Nichole Windblad
Craft
Nichole Windblad is the owner, director and producer of the annual Art Market Craft Sale, a highly successful, high-end art and craft sale renowned across Canada. Windblad believes in supporting fine art and craft and serving both the consumers and the artisan community.
Madeleine MacDonald
Alcoholic Drink
Madeleine MacDonald has been in the hospitality industry for two decades and ran bar programs at Model Milk, Calcutta Cricket Club and other spots. She completed her Certified Specialist of Spirits through the Society of Wine Educators and now inspires the next generation as an instructor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism at SAIT.
Don Tse
Alcoholic Drink
“The Don of Beer” has famously sampled and written tasting notes on more than 28,000 beers over the past 25 years. Tse writes about beer for Forbes.com, Craft Beer & Brewing, Poured Canada and other publications; co-hosts the All About Beer podcast; and has presented on beer in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Ukraine and Singapore.
Jonathan Barembruch
Non-alcoholic Drink
Jonathan Barembruch is the founder of Santé Dry Bottle Shop, an exclusively non-alcoholic retail space. After becoming a father in 2022, Barembruch made a lifestyle change to consume less alcohol. He set out to find the best non-alcoholic drinks and make them more accessible to those who are sober, curious or anywhere in between.
Nathan Newman
Non-alcoholic Drink
Nathan Newman is the owner and operator of The Derrick Gin Mill & Kitchen and Untitled Champagne Lounge, where everything from bitters to infusions are all made in-house. Newman has three decades of hospitality experience and is currently spearheading the creation of a line of non-alcoholic spirits.
Haithem Elkadiki
Fashion & Accessories
Libyan-Born, Toronto-bred, Calgary-based Haithem Elkadiki continues to challenge the norm in Canadian fashion by offering sleek fits, bold colours, loud prints and mega-sexy swimwear for men. His collections have been selected to show at Berlin Fashion Week and L’Oréal Fashion Week (Toronto).
Theo Popilchak
Fashion & Accessories
Master artisan and leather product designer Theo Popilchak transitioned from a career in municipal government and sales to start his ONE21 accessories line. His handbags, purses and wallets have garnered acclaim across North America, including the Overall Grand Prize at the 2023 Made In Alberta Awards.
Melissa Edighoffer
Savoury Food
Born and raised in Calgary, Melissa Edighoffer’s passion for food and drink is as lively as her hometown. Her unwavering appreciation for all things local, led her to take on the role of Marketing Director at Calgary Co-op, where she loves supporting the incredible flavours and products of Alberta.
Chanry Thach
Savoury Food
Chanry Thach is a marketing professional and agency owner. For the past decade, she has shared her love of food through social media and her writing, which has appeared on the Food Network online, CBC Hamilton, Hamilton Magazine and in Avenue, where she co-curates the annual “Best Things to Eat” lists.
Pierre Lamielle
Sweet Food
Pierre Lamielle is the award-winning author and illustrator of the Munchy Munchy Cookbook and Kitchen Scraps and the co-author of Alice Eats. He appeared on TV’s Top Chef Canada and was a winner on Chopped Canada. He loves eating and gardening with his wife and dog, Fife.
Saïd M’Dahoma
Sweet Food
After receiving his PhD in neuroscience in Paris, Saïd M’Dahoma moved to Canada to conduct research at UCalgary, before quitting to follow his passion for baking. The French-Comorian pastry chef now teaches amateur bakers around the world the art of French patisserie through online classes.
Lara Presber
Furnishings & Home Decor
Lara Presber began her career in the field of architecture before moving into fashion. She has since returned to architecture as principal of Studio Presber Architecture and Design Inc., and is Past-President of the Canada Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and a Certified Passive House Designer.
Dayle Sheehan
Furnishings & Home Decor
Dayle Sheehan is the lead designer and owner of Dayle Sheehan Interior Design Inc.; a bestselling author and public speaker; host of the Proof It’s Possible podcast and co-founder of the Ultimate Girls Trip business mastermind. She aims to inspire others to live their best lives in the most beautiful environments possible.
Kelly Jubenvill
Leisure & Lifestyle
Kelly Jubenvill supports Alberta small businesses and non-profits through her consultancy, Solve4 Results Ltd. She previously chaired the Calgary Stampede Maker’s Market and the Your Brain on Art Committee for the Branch Out Neurological Foundation, and has been part of the HomeStart Foundation.
Melanie Love
Leisure & Lifestyle
Melanie Love helps Type A achievers restore their bodies and relax their minds with her unwind body works practice. She supports women-led businesses with capital and advisory as a Coralus Activator and is a 10-year contributor to the Calgary Stampede, previously vice-chairing the Western Showcase Creative Arts & Crafts sub-committee. In 2016, she led a team to pitch the idea for a craft market at the Calgary Stampede, which ultimately became the Maker’s Market.