Rural Saskatchewan Heart Beat: Women Entrepreneurs Week

Gilles Laberge
Female Entrepreneurs are being celebrated this week during Women Entrepreneurs Week in Saskatchewan (Runs May 20th to 26th, 2018).

Saskatchewan is home to many female entrepreneurs; including farmers/ranchers, business owners, artists, filmmakers and musicians. This column will showcase some of the coolest female run art studios, galleries and artisan businesses around the province.

Assiniboia is home to a new business. Janielle Simard opened The Paisley Teacup Studio and Market, at 124 Centre Street, in mid-September 2017. She sells retail items including Furniture Paint, Stationery Items, Women's Accessories, Jewelry and Gift Items. The store also has Creative Community Space for Workshops including Furniture Painting and Sign Workshops. Check out her Facebook page at The Paisley Teacup Studio & Market.

Bruno is home to The Garage Gallery (429 Cheerie Street), which opened in the garage of Robin and Randy Renneberg for the first time on August 13th, 2017 and closed for the season on September 17th, 2017. Robin is the owner and curator of the gallery. She works with acrylic paintings and hand crafted jewelry. The gallery opened for the 2018 season on May 17th and showcases artists from across the province. Check out their website at https://www.thegaragegallerybruno.com.

Davidson is home to the painter, Gail Prpick, who opened And Art Gallery at 112 Washington Avenue in 2017. She decided to practise the craft more seriously about 10 years ago. Gallery is open year round with flexible hours. Local Art Exhibition is on display for the month of May. Check out her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GailPrpickAndArt/

Elbow is home to Linda Kennedy, who opened Gallery 148 in May 2013. New Sculpture Garden was built behind the gallery to house memorable pieces from prominent Saskatchewan Artists. There are 30 plus Saskatchewan artists represented at the gallery. Check out her Gallery 148 Facebook page.

Goodsoil (North of Meadow Lake) is home to Kara Perplitz, who is a Master Spinner and Fibre Artist. She discovered the craft almost 10 years ago and has been in business for almost 5 years. She has a studio/shop in Goodsoil. Kara has tight spinning classes in Goodsoil, Meadow Lake, Regina and Olds, Alberta. She is also willing to travel to teach her class. You can check out her Facebook page at Spinheartspin Handspun Yarns and Other Wooly Treasures and website at https://www.spinheartspin.ca/.

Gravelbourg Gourmet Mustard was established in 2008. Val Michaud purchased Gravelbourg Gourmet Mustard in June 2011. There are 3 new flavours including Beer, Cajun and Honey Dill. You can buy her products at many locations across Saskatchewan. Check out her website at www.gravelbourgmustard.ca.

Meacham is home to June Jacobs, who opened Hand Wave Gallery at 409 Third Avenue in 1982. The Hand Wave Gallery is a proudly Saskatchewan art gallery that features the original art of known and upcoming Saskatchewan art and artists that work in fiber, pottery, paint, ceramics, metal, glass, paper, and other interesting mediums so worth exploring on these pages 2018 is the gallery's 36th year. Check out her website at www.handwave.ca.

Moose Jaw is home to many artists, including Monica DeCampo and Laura Hamilton and Karen Peterman.

Monica DeCampo was born in South Africa and moved to the Prairies in 2009, she loves to use lots of color in her porcelain clay pieces. She has her studio called Monicats Studio in her home at 40 Wood Lily Drive. Check out her website at www.monicats.com.

Laura Hamilton is a painter and has her studio in her home at 128 Blue Sage Drive. She won the Perservance Award at the 2018 Business Women of Moose Jaw PRISM Awards. Her first solo exhibition "Polka Dots on the Prairie" was displayed at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre Art Gallery in March 2018. Her artwork is also on display at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (Crescent Park), Tourism Moose Jaw 9450 Diefenbaker Drive) and Western Development Museum (50 Diefenbaker Drive). Check out her website at www.laurahamilton.ca

Karen Peterman has been making pottery for 13 years and has a pottery studio in her home at 166 Wood Lily Drive. Sunshine Pottery is her business name. All pottery is handthrown by Karen Peterman herself. She works out of the Moose Jaw Pottery Club and her home. You can find her page on Facebook.

The Southey Area is home to photographer and videographer Andrea Lawrence. Her picture is at the top of this article. She photographs sunsets/sunrises, storms, abandoned buildings and the Northern Lights. She showcases her photographs and videos on Rumble.com (Her account is "Fridays My Day") and her website at https://andrea-lawrence.pixels.com/.

Female Entrepreneurs can access help from Women Entrepreneurs Saskatchewan. Check out their website at https://wesk.ca.