Oxford Properties

Briogeo

Briogeo, the Black-owned hair-care brand that made its debut on Sephora shelves in 2014, quickly became a standout in the beauty industry with its clean, effective products like the Don’t Despair, Repair! Conditioner and Deep Conditioning Mask, earning Allure Best of Beauty and Readers’ Choice Awards. Its rapid growth caught the attention of Wella Company, leading to a strategic partnership in 2022. Although acquired, Briogeo founder Nancy Twine remains as CEO while also joining Wella’s executive leadership team, helping drive future growth and innovation. The partnership promises to elevate Briogeo’s global expansion and success, aligning with both companies’ shared values and vision.

Nancy Twine, Briogeo Founder

Good Man Brand

Co-founded in 2016 by NFL Quarterback, Russell Wilson, Good Man Brand stands for evolved essentials. Made for the man-on-the-move who seeks timeless, authentic, and sustainable style with a premium, modern edge.  Their bestselling sneaker and apparel line-up lets you focus on things more important than what you’re wearing: living life, working hard, and helping others. B-Corp Certified and built with a 3% giveback to the work of Why Not You Foundation, Good Man Brand is here for all the ways you do Good. Do Good, Look Good, Feel Good.

Russell Wilson, Good Man Brand Founder

Pattern Beauty

Pattern Beauty promises to exceed the needs of the curly, coily & tight-textured masses & to offer access to your best hair in your own bathroom. They embrace, love & celebrate their community & the gorgeous hair they have. They empower curl patterns & meet them where they are. They promise to offer superior hydration, through safe ingredients & deliver high-performing products.

Pattern believes hair doesn’t have a gender or race. Their content, their product development & their messaging are centered around the celebration of Black beauty & Black joy. They are proudly Black-owned and Black founded.

Tracee Elliss Ross, Pattern Beauty Founder

FORVR MOOD

FORVR MOOD is all about enhancing the everyday, encouraging self-care, and making your life a little more lavish. As a luxury self-care brand, they strive to create welcoming, affordable experiences as a reminder to cherish and pamper yourself each day. Take some time to unplug and unwind with their collections of home fragrances.

Jackie Aina, FORVR MOOD Founder

Rachel Spencer Wong, content creator

If you’re a fashion girlie with a love for thrifting and DIY projects, you probably know Rachel Spencer Wong (aka @rachspeed). The Toronto-based content creator (who created the genius and now-viral “333 outfit challenge”) has built a loyal following for her fun, aspirational and yet still approachable take on fashion and styling.

Rachel’s favourite memories of Lunar New Year include spending quality time with her family.

“Every year I celebrate Lunar New Year with my immediate family – as well as my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Now that we’re all grown up, my cousins have their own families and children that we’re also able to share these traditions with,” she says.

One tradition Rachel is looking forward to this year is giving out red envelopes, now that she is married.

“This [year] is my first LNY married, which means traditionally it’s now our turn to give hong bao (lucky red envelopes) to our younger relatives!”

(Photo: Dylan Yang)

Rachel’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. Nudestix Nudies Glow Cream Highlighter Stick in Hey Honey (Available at Sephora): “My fave gold highlighter!”
2. ‘Dim Sum Palace’ by X. Fang (Available at Indigo): “I purchased this book for my cousin’s children during the holidays – in my childhood my cousins and I used to go to dim sum every week! Thought this would be a very special gift.”
3. Aesop Resurrection Duet (Available at Aesop): “It’s tradition to clean house in anticipation of LNY – and I love any reason to stock up on my favourite luxury hand soap.”

Shop Nudestix | Shop books | Shop Aesop

Nudestix at Sephora

Indigo

Aesop

Mai Nguyen, author, ‘Sunshine Nails’

Mai Nguyen is the author of Sunshine Nails, a tender and humorous story about a Vietnamese Canadian family in Toronto who will do whatever it takes to protect their no-frills nail salon after a new high-end salon opens up closeby. The book’s complex characters showcase the diversity of immigrant experiences and community resilience.

Mai, who is also a National Magazine Award-nominated journalist and copywriter, was born in Winnipeg, raised in Halifax, and is now based in Toronto. She has fond memories from childhood of celebrating Lunar New Year (or tết) with her family.

“Growing up, my Vietnamese parents would buy these massive trays of dried, candied fruits every year. Ginger, tamarind, wintermelon, you name it. My favourites were the colourful coconut ribbons called Mứt Dừa. I could eat a whole batch of those!” she says.

This year marks her first Lunar New Year with her daughter, and Mai is looking forward to passing on traditions to mark this special occasion.

“I’m looking forward to dressing her up in red and giving her her first red envelope. I also can’t wait to eat this sticky rice cake called Bánh chưng made with glutinous rice, mung beans and pork. It’s best when it’s pan-fried so that it’s nice and crispy on the edges,” she says.

(Photo: Lucy Doan)

Mai’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. ‘Lunar Love’ by Lauren Kung Jessen (Available at Indigo)
2. Jellycat Bashful Dragon Plus Toy (Shop at Indigo)
3. Dr. Martens Adrian Year of the Dragon Hair-On Tassel Loafers

Shop books | Shop Jellycat | Shop Dr. Martens

Indigo

Jellycat at Indigo

Dr. Martens at Browns Shoes

Deborah’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. Red sweater: “[It’s] always a good reason to choose a red sweater to add to the closet that can be worn at LNY and other occasions, like Christmas. [I’ve] already got mine.” ((Editor’s Pick: Guest in Residence cashmere sweater at Holt Renfrew)
2. Gold bracelet: “When you receive lucky red pockets from elders or give pockets to others, the attention is on the hand gesture of giving and receiving. I love the Tiffany T True Narrow bracelet from Tiffany & Co. as it reminds me of some architectural features of Chinese design in a substantial [way].“
3. Red Hunter Boots (Available at Hudson’s Bay): “Some lucky red Hunter boots to do all the travelling, celebrating, home visits, and event set up, all while being protected from the rain.”

Shop red sweaters | Shop gold bracelets | Shop Hunter boots

Guest in Residence at Holt Renfrew

Tiffany & Co.

Hunter at Hudson’s Bay

Sasha Mei, content creator, writer and co-founder of Yu + Mei

You could say fashion runs through content creator Sasha Mei (@sasha.mei)’s veins. With a mother who worked in fashion marketing at GUESS in Malaysia, it’s clear that style runs in the family. Over the past few years, Sasha has solidified herself as a purveyor of style, providing endless inspiration of chic and effortless minimalism.

Community and conversation are also important to Sasha, which led her to co-found a supper club called Yu + Mei. Yu + Mei brings individuals together for stylish, intimate gatherings, where food and conversation take center stage.

When it comes to celebrating Lunar New Year, Sasha enjoys her special tradition of having Peking duck or dim sum with friends and, of course, dressing up for the occasion.

“We don’t have many family traditions surrounding LNY – the half of my family that celebrates is in Malaysia, and we didn’t have any relatives in Canada. My mother never really reinforced strict traditions, probably because LNY during her childhood involved endless rounds at relatives’ homes and she found it exhausting. [However], two things were guaranteed on LNY growing up: special red envelopes from our parents and grandparents, and some sort of delicious meal. When I went to university, I started bringing my friends for Peking duck or dim sum on LNY and it became a new tradition – they don’t have to celebrate it, but I always think that the best part of any holiday is sharing food with people.”

(Photo: Sam Bolianatz)

Sasha’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. Pandora Two-tone Chinese Year of the Dragon Collier Necklace (Available at Pandora)
2. Chanel N°1 de Chanel Revitalizing Serum (Available at Holt Renfrew)
3. Loewe Tomato Leaves Candle (Available at Holt Renfrew)

Shop necklaces | Shop Chanel beauty | Shop candles

Pandora

Chanel at Holt Renfrew

Loewe at Holt Renfrew

Hannah Sung, Canadian media veteran, award-winning journalist, co-founder Media Girlfriends

You may remember Hannah Sung gracing your television screen in the early 2000s as a MuchMusic VJ who hosted MuchNews and TheNewMusic. She was one of the few racialized women in media at the time, and for many, was one of the first examples of Asian representation in the Canadian media landscape. Her journalism career also includes roles at CBC Radio, TVO and Globe and Mail, where she produced Colour Code, a podcast about race in Canada.

These days, Hannah continues to create space for misrepresented voices in media through Media Girlfriends, an award-winning podcast production company led by journalists of colour which focuses on promoting greater inclusion of perspectives in Canadian media.

As a proud Korean Canadian, one special Lunar New Year tradition Hannah follows is getting dressed in a hanbok.

“It’s so much fun to do with my children because it’s the only day of the year that they get to put them on. They’re also growing so fast that their hanbok is always either too small or too loose, which is cute. We wear hanbok to bow to older generations. The kids watch my husband and I kneel down to the floor and bow to my parents and my kids bow to all of us,” she explains.

“My kids don’t speak much Korean but they’ve definitely perfected the Korean phrase for ‘Wishing you good luck in the New Year.’ They love this ritual of respect and they get money and well wishes in return. Then we eat ddeok guk (떡국), an absolute fave. It doesn’t feel like a new year until we have that meal.”

(Photo: May Truong)

Hannah’s Lunar New Year Picks:

1. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair (Available at Sephora): “My skin is crazy dry right now, so I’ll use anything that is healing.”
2. Muji: “For some home office organization items.”
3. “A few baked treats for the family.” (Editor’s Pick: Saint Germain Bakery)

Shop Dr. Jart+ | Shop Muji | Explore more dining options at The Food District

Dr. Jart+ at Sephora

Muji

Saint Germain Bakery

Trevor Lui, chef, restauranter, author and co-creator of Highbell Group and Quell

Chef Trevor Lui is a known pillar in the Asian Canadian community, particularly in Toronto, where he’s based. The chef, restauranter and entrepreneur has a knack for bringing people together through culinary experiences—whether that be through his restaurant Bao Bird, food concept Fat Bao, management agency Quell, or hospitality business, The Highbell Group.

It should come as no surprise, then, that one of Chef Trevor’s favourite Lunar New Year traditions is the celebration of food with friends, family and community.

“Having a family banquet to both close and open the year (‘tuin leen’ and ‘hoi leen’) is always a wonderful time to have the family get together and eat great food. We also love the custom of exchanging turnip and sugar cakes (‘bak tong go’ and ‘leen go’),” says Chef Trevor.

This year, Chef Trevor is most looking forward to the continued emergence of the Asian community, one, he says, has begun to finally garner a voice beyond our own borders.

“Modern day successes buoyed by prominent figures in our community and growing allies are helping to tell stories of our generations of history of struggle, racism and success (particularly in the role we played in building North America),” he explains.

Some of these successes include what Chef Trevor calls a “new renaissance” of Asian chefs in New York City. “[These chefs] were classically trained and have now gone back to cooking the food they grew up with ‘their way’ and are now being recognized for it. I’d love to see that in our communities here in Toronto. With that, we need to take this time to help shine a light on the talent we have and find ways to support and elevate their names and establishments.”

(Photo: Brett Ida for Fete Chinoise)

Chef Trevor’s Lunar New Year Picks:

“Support LNY-themed products that support community: where major retailers use LNY as a way to capitalize on culturally-important events, select those that do so authentically and intentionally to support our communities.”

Editor’s Picks:

1. Roots x Clot Lunar New Year Dragon Varsity Jacket (Available at Roots)
2. Sulwhasoo Lunar New Year First Care Activating Serum VI (Available at Holt Renfrew)
3. Mission Red Pocket Big Luck, Big Wins Red Pocket (Available at Holt Renfrew)

Roots x CLOT

Sulwhasoo at Holt Renfrew

Mission Red Pocket at Holt Renfrew

Sustainable Fashion Brands

When it comes to eco-friendly clothing, consider shopping for brands that use sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and natural fibres like linen and bamboo. These materials are better for the environment and often have a lower carbon footprint than sustainable materials (plus, they feel like a cloud on your skin!). Additionally, look for brands that use as few natural resources as possible throughout their products’ life cycle, as well as companies that support ethical labour practices.

Canadian fashion brand Frank and Oak “inspires better living” with its conscious products that last through time, while Reformation (available at Holt Renfrew) has solidified itself as the fashion girlies’ go-to for cute clothes that you can feel good about. You can also find more sustainable brands such as KOTN, Stella McCartney, Veja and Girlfriend Collective at Holt Renfrew.

Frank And Oak

Veja at Holt Renfrew

Clean Beauty

If you’re wanting to incorporate sustainability practices into your beauty routine, there are a few things to look out for. You’ll want to find brands that use sustainable beauty ingredients (that is, those formulated without harmful ingredients) and sustainable packaging that has as little waste as possible (think: reusable glass jars and compostable cardboard). And just like we mentioned, look for companies that take steps to lower their impact throughout their entire supply chain and that create products with the well-being of animals, people and the planet in mind.

A great place to start is by checking out Sephora’s “Clean at Sephora” program which features products that are free from over 50 harmful ingredients, including sulfates, parabens and phthalates. Our top picks include Biossance, Tata Harper and Rose Inc.

Other sustainable beauty brands we love include L’Occitane en Provence, The Body Shop, Lush and Salt & Stone (available at Indigo).

L’Occitane

Tata Harper Skin Care at Sephora

Recycle and Repurpose

Another way to incorporate more sustainability practices into your everyday life is to recycle and repurpose items you already own.

Holt Renfrew’s H Project, Sephora, The Body Shop, Lush and MAC Cosmetics have beauty recycling programs which allow you to recycle beauty items such as compacts, lipsticks and concealer, foundation and mascara tubes. From there, the items are sorted, separated and used to create new products. Additionally, H&M has a Garment Collecting program that collects any brand’s unwanted clothes or textiles in any condition (bonus: you receive a thank-you voucher to use towards your next purchase).

MAC Cosmetics

Lush

Abercrombie & Fitch

In support of Pride and their ongoing partnership, Abercrombie & Fitch is donating $400,000 to The Trevor Project this year, regardless of sales. To date, they’ve raised over $5 million with our customers for The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQIA+ young people.

Their Pride collection was designed for everyone—to be worn by anyone.

Store Details

American Eagle

Wear your pride! American Eagle is proud to celebrate Pride all year-round with this collection in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Store Details

Coach

The Coach Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities and remove barriers for the next generation of young people who have the courage to Dream It Real.

For more than a decade the Coach Foundation has supported LGBTQIA+ communities and allies through organizations like the Point Foundation, the Hetrick-Martin Institute and CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ+ Centers.

Store Details

Indigo

Celebrate diversity and inclusion with a collection of LGBTQIA+ books available at Indigo! Explore stories that reflect the beautiful spectrum of identities and experiences.

Store Details

Levi’s

This year, the Levi’s Pride collection shines a light on togetherness and the importance of safe spaces for all LGBTQIA+ folks. In support of this collection, Levi’s® makes an annual $100,000 USD donation to Outright International, a global organization working to advance human rights for LGBTQIA+ people all over the world.

Store Details

Lululemon

Created with their LGBTQ2IA+ Network, this collection celebrates a Proud Present + Future for multifaceted communities—and all the colours in between.

Store Details

Purdys Chocolates

Celebrate love of ALL kinds with amazing chocolates crafted with love. The Purdys Pride collection is full of chocolate gifts, baskets, and treats share with friends, coworkers, classmates and around the community.

Store Details

Specsavers

Check out the new Elton John Eyewear collection, exclusive to Specsavers. Created and named by Elton himself, the range reflects the music legend’s love of self expression, and has just a hint of his flamboyant sense of style.

Store Details

Vessi

With every pair of our Limited-Edition Pride Sneakers, you help LGBTQIA+ youth through Brave Trails.

Vessi has teamed up with Scotty Gillespie because his art is full of joy, celebration, and a creative blend of queerness and nature. Scotty practices digital illustration, ceramics, and tattooing in the UK. And now he’s a shoe designer too!

$20 from every pair of Limited-Edition Pride Sneakers goes to Brave Trails, a summer camp by LGBTQIA+ people, for LGBTQIA+ people. Together, we’re helping queer youth find their people, place, and passions.

As a special bonus, every shoe purchase will include a limited-edition bandana.

Store Details

Square One Shopping Centre and Oxford Properties create and foster spaces that connect and reflect the communities we serve. We champion equality and diversity, recognizing that embracing different perspectives enriches our collective experiences when everyone can express themselves freely and authentically.

Join us in honouring Pride by snapping a photo at our vibrant “Celebrating Pride” heart installation located on Level 2, near H&M.

Spot-On School Supplies

From filled-to-the-brim lunchboxes and ultra-durable water bottles to that all-important backpack, a new set of staples gives them a fresh start to the year.

H&M | Backpack

Indigo | Dry Erase Board

Lululemon | Water Bottle

MINISO | Pencil Case

Old Navy | Lunch Bag

Teacher-Approved Tech

Elevate their learning experience with high-tech essentials. Think fast-processing laptops, time management-assisting smart watches and a pair of headphones that’ll help them dial into homework.

Sport Chek | JBL Headphones

Samsung | Galaxy Smartwatch

Best Buy Express | Belkin Power Bank

Walmart | Calculator

Apple | Desktop Computer

Elementary Style

Between a much-needed outerwear update and crisp set of gym class-ready kicks, lean into a collegiate cool aesthetic that your little one will love.

Gap | Sweater

Uniqlo | Jacket

Gap | Wide Leg Jeans

H&M | Striped Long-Sleeve Shirt

Kids Foot Locker | Puma Sneakers

The Stylish High Schooler

Tap into a trove of on-trend separates, accessories and essential skincare that’ll earn you an “A” in your teenager’s books.

Aritzia | Shirt

Simons | Loafers

Uniqlo | Jacket

Abercrombie & Fitch | Loose Workwear Pants

Sephora | Skincare set

Influencer: Mishal, Editorial Manager at Pinterest Canada

About Mishal: With well over a decade of experience covering beauty, fashion and lifestyle for some of Canada’s most renowned magazines, Mishal knows a thing or two about great style. Recently, Mishal made the leap from writing for publications such as FASHION and Hello! Canada to begin her exciting new role at Pinterest Canada. When she isn’t at the social network predicting the year’s biggest style trends, you can catch Mishal and her infectious, bubbly personality on-air at The Social, where she often shares her top beauty tips and need-to-know product recommendations. And as if her plate wasn’t already full enough, Mishal also finds time to run her impeccably designed website, 100 ml-a hub for all things beauty and travel. A leading (and style inspiring!) member of our community, she grew up near Square One and still lives close by, visiting the shopping centre on a weekly basis.

Her advice for other women: “My advice would be to always support each other because when one of us rises, all of us rise.”

Dress: Holt Renfrew.

Dress: Simons. Leather Jacket: Michael Kors. Boot: L’Intervalle.

Innovators: Sarah and Lina, Co-Founders of ACTN

About Sarah and Lina: Tapping into their motivation to help their community of Mississauga, Sarah and Lina collaborated to launch their up-and-coming company, Always Connected Treatment Network (ACTN). An interdisciplinary therapeutic centre for children, youth and adults, ACTN works within Mississauga, Peel, Halton and surrounding communities serving as a centralized hub of resources that includes both virtual and in-person support. Sarah and Lina began their initiative in 2015 as two therapists who offered mobile services and have since expanded their program into a dedicated team of collaborative-minded therapists and an integrative framework that supports the varying needs of the local community. Utilizing a wide range of tools including, but not limited to, speech and language, occupational, applied behaviour analysis and music therapies, Sarah and Lina go above and beyond to create safe, educational spaces for those in need. Their dedication and commitment with ACTN helps to bridge the gap between the limitations many people face today and the resources they need to thrive.

Their advice for other women:
“My advice for other women is make time for your other hats. It’s okay to prioritize when you need to and when you are, fully invest yourself in that time.” – Sarah

“My advice to other women is never forget how strong you are. You can carry so much on your shoulders, you can empower yourself, and you can really push through lots of different things. Also, I’m so, so incredibly blessed to be a mother and an entrepreneur and being able to capture both things in my life. As a woman, really shows the strength that we carry as women being able to empower ourselves and do all the things that we want to do.” – Lina

Sarah’s Look: Sweater Vest: Banana Republic. Skirt: Club Monaco. Heel: Michael Kors. Lina’s Look: Dress: Banana Republic. Blazer: Laura.

Sarah’s Look: Holt Renfrew. Lina’s Look: Sweater: Torrid. Pant: Banana Republic.

Artist: Yen Linh, Muralist

About Yen: With work displayed in public spaces all over Port Credit, Toronto and even at the Art Gallery of Ontario, no doubt you’re familiar with Yen’s stunning creations. The muralist and illustrator’s colourful artwork has been featured throughout the GTA, including local windows in Mississauga, art installations at the Distillery and High Park and most notably at Celebration Square. Drawing her inspiration from personal narratives, Yen dives deep into the whimsical to create everything from large scale, jaw-dropping murals to smaller, customized pieces for local businesses including window paintings and more. Through her art, Yen brings joy and a sense of playfulness to her community and beyond with her work elevating public spaces to a new level. You can follow along with Yen’s art-filled adventures on her blog which includes a recent trip to Los Angeles where she painted a mural that’s filled with a menagerie of animals from birds to a humpback whale. As part of this campaign, Yen has created complimentary downloadable iPhone wallpapers titled We Bloom and We Rise.

Her advice for other women: “The advice I would give to other women is just go for what you want. Do the thing.”

Sweater and Pant: Simons. Heel: Aldo.

Sweater: Michael Kors. Dress: Frank and Oak. Heels: L’Intervalle.

Entrepreneur: Samantha, Founder of Catalyst & Co.

About Samantha: Samantha’s passion for design and travel inspired her to launch Catalyst & Co. in 2017. Her background in graphic design and business development guided her dream to create a space where she could share her love for whimsical jewellery that would bring customers joy through pieces infused with meaning and purpose. With Samantha’s dedication and hard work, she’s grown Catalyst & Co. from a tiny market jewelry booth to a shop in Port Credit followed by a permanent store location in Square One that also sells giftable home and lifestyle wares. An entrepreneur with a vision, her brand is built on the connection between quality and simplicity and Samantha says it’s a reminder to live on the bright side and to appreciate the small things in life.

Her advice for other women: “Be fearless because you’re capable of more than you know.”

Sweater: Shirt and Jean: Frank and Oak. Shoe: Aldo.

Sweater: Simons. Pant: Banana Republic. Shoe: L’Intervalle.

Fundraiser: Deloan, Senior Development Officer, Philanthropy for Trillium Health Partners Foundation

About Deloan: Like many people working in the charitable sector, Deloan is an unwavering champion of philanthropy, dedicating her career to enhancing her community through years of professional experience. Her journey began while studying at the Schulich School of Business, where she worked part-time as a Student Philanthropy Officer at York University’s alumni office, igniting a passion that still inspires her today. As a Senior Development Officer at Trillium Health Partners Foundation, Deloan’s tireless efforts have helped raise critical funds for Trillium Health Partners. A true leader, doing charitable work comes naturally to Deloan and is an inherent part of who she is. Her unwavering efforts have undoubtedly touched the lives of many.

Her advice for other women: “You deserve to live a life that brings you joy. Don’t be afraid to put yourself first and do what makes you happy and proud. ”

Dress: Club Monaco.

Blazer and Pant: Banana Republic. Camisole: Michael Kors.

For the Cozy Enthusiast

It’s #cozyszn! Help make the transition to winter a little smoother by giving the gift of cozy. From oversized scarves to flannel pajamas and plush robes, these picks are the next best thing to receiving a warm embrace.

Coach

la Vie en Rose

For the One Who Deserves Relaxation

Self-care gifts are the perfect way to remind a loved one to prioritize themselves and indulge in some extra TLC. From luxe bath essentials to aromatherapy diffusers and beautifully crafted candles, the gift of self-care will let the important people in your life know they’re loved.

Urban Outfitters

Tiffany & Co. at Holt Renfrew

For the Gourmand

Admittedly, those with advanced palettes can be difficult to shop for, but luckily there are some foolproof picks any foodie will be sure to love. High-end teas and delectable confectionaries are a great pick as are luxurious truffle oil sets. And if you really want to impress the foodie in your life, head to The Food District for memorable gift ideas including gourmet Brazilian brigadeiros from Chocollata, award-winning wines from The Wine Shop or even a beautiful bouquet of florals from Blossom Moments.

Blossom Moments

Chocollata Brigadeiros

For the Tech Savvy

Tech gifts are universally loved by all and are a great option for those who are particularly hard to shop for. Big ticket items include Apple Airpods Max and the Apple Watch, while smart rings, Air Tags, and aesthetically pleasing wireless chargers make for perfect stocking stuffers. And don’t forget those high-tech beauty gifts including the Dyson Airwrap, Theragun massager and an LED face mask!

Hudson’s Bay

Apple

Victoria Clarke – Chief Executive Officer, Visit Mississauga

Victoria Clarke joined the dynamic team at Visit Mississauga as CEO two years ago and hasn’t looked back.

Victoria brings nearly a decade of hands-on tourism experience to Mississauga’s newly formed Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), and is forging ground-breaking marketing strategies and partnerships with industry leaders to redefine the Mississauga tourism landscape.

Victoria has 15 years of philanthropic industry leadership and digital marketing knowledge. She has won numerous Canadian and global tourism industry awards, launched new campaigns, earned her Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation and sits on the newly formed Canadian Destination Leadership Council representing Canada’s DMO needs with Destinations International. Victoria also proudly serves on both the CDME Board and the Foundation Board of Trustees with Destinations International.

Blazer: Melanie Lyne | Pant: Melanie Lyne | Flower Pin: Simons | Heel: L’intervalle

Blazer: Holt Renfrew | Dress: Holt Renfrew | Heels: Holt Renfrew

Valene Campbell – Founder, Zou Zou Media | Author, The Amazing Zoe

Valene Campbell embodies the spirit of resilience and advocacy, seamlessly blending her passion for writing with a commitment to promoting diversity in children’s literature and health equity. Born in Canada and deeply connected to her Jamaican roots, Valene’s journey is marked by her academic achievements, including an honours degree from her Master of Physical Therapy program from two historically Black Colleges and Universities, Oakwood University, and Howard University.

Recognizing the gap in her daughter’s home library, Valene founded Zou Zou Media House Inc., a boutique publishing imprint that has brought the world three (and counting) acclaimed books from The Amazing Zoe series. Her stories offer children of colour mirrors into their own experiences, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding.

Valene’s work extends into the community through school presentations and community read-alouds, where her stories become catalysts for meaningful conversations. She also mentors aspiring authors, guiding them through the nuances of self-publishing and emphasizing the importance of diversity in literature.

Her advocacy for marginalized characters in Canadian literature aims to dismantle their invisibility, promoting a culture of positive exchange and visibility for young readers. Recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch in 2022, Valene’s contributions are indeed noteworthy. However, she cherishes her role as a mother above all, striving through her writing and advocacy to craft a world where every child can see themselves reflected in the stories they read.

Dress: Melanie Lyne

Shirt: Holt Renfrew | Skirt: Holt Renfrew

Lucie Shaw – Owner, D and L Shaw Partners

Lucie Shaw’s extensive background in customer experience and leadership after 25+ years in the Airline Industry, was the baseline in making a change towards a new and positive career move.

Making lives better in senior care was the decision. Lucie and her husband David established Nurse Next Door home care in Mississauga. While growing the company for almost 15 years, she was heavily involved in the community. Giving back to the community in which we work and live is so important, rewarding, and inspiring.

Nurse Next Door now continues to grow under new leadership, and while Lucie is looking at a more balanced lifestyle, her focus as a consultant at D & L Shaw Partners is a blend of supporting other small businesses and entrepreneurs, and continuing with community service, allowing her time for personal pursuits.

Top: Banana Republic | Pant: Simons | Flower Pin: Simons | Heel: L’intervalle

Sweater: Tory Burch | Pant: Simons | Jewelry: Banana Republic | Heel: Aldo

Amanee Nassereddine – Chief Brand Officer, Run the World Summit

Amanee Nassereddine is a people’s person at heart.

With a natural drive for human connection, supplemented by a Public Relations certificate from Toronto Metropolitan University, Amanee has leveraged her ability to cultivate genuine relationships in building symbiotic partnerships with brands and organizations such as Dove, SunLife, TD Bank, Marriott International, BMO and more.

She has been a guest speaker for conferences, graduating classes, financial and teaching associations, and Instagram Lives. At the core of what she does is a passion for helping others unlock their next achievement by being a support system and a mentor for others alike. She believes that the power of giving back and being kind is what will push a community forward.

Blazer: Holt Renfrew | Pant: Holt Renfrew | Heel: Holt Renfrew

Top: Holt Renfrew | Skirt: Holt Renfrew | Boot: Holt Renfrew

Rafaa Chapti – Co-founder, Run the World Summit

Rafaa Chapti is a dynamic serial entrepreneur who has embarked on a multifaceted journey spanning various industries. Beginning her career in finance, Rafaa swiftly transitioned into the realms of fashion, media marketing, and creative directing, showcasing her versatility and passion for exploring diverse avenues of business.

However, it was her innate entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to fostering local talent and small businesses that truly defined her professional trajectory. Recognizing the potential of budding entrepreneurs and the importance of community support, Rafaa has been instrumental in providing platforms and resources for emerging talents to thrive.

Co-founding Run the World Summit stands as a testament to Rafaa’s visionary leadership and commitment to empowering individuals to achieve their aspirations. Through this initiative, she has created a platform that not only celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship but also fosters meaningful connections and opportunities for advancement.

Dress: Tory Burch

Jacket: Banana Republic | Shirt: Banana Republic | Denim: Banana Republic | Heel: L’Intervalle

Zaina Moussa – Founder, Run the World Summit

Zaina Moussa has always had a passion for entrepreneurship since her early years. Trying out almost every business possible, she stumbled upon event planning after being inspired by another women-led organization during her travels in the US.

After coming back home to Toronto, Zaina hosted her first ever sold out, female-founded event with over 300 women in 2017. Since then, her business grew and so did her team. Run The World Summit has now hosted over 100 pop-ups and networking events while empowering and inspiring over forty thousand women globally.

Through her events, Zaina has recognized that her passion truly lies in being the source of that “light bulb” moment for other women. Her goal is to continue inspiring more women to live a life of purpose and to continue hosting unique and impactful experiences around the world.

Blazer: Michael Kors | Sweater: Michael Kors | Pant: Simons | Jewellery: Simons | Heel: Holt Renfrew

Blazer: Holt Renfrew | Pant: Holt Renfrew | Heel- Holt Renfrew

Oh Emma

“When it comes to Lunar New Year traditions, I’m most looking forward to the red pockets. When I was a kid, I would collect them all and secretly count the bills with my cousins. The adults would tell us it’s impolite to open them right away, but we do it anyway. Now my daughter opens hers with a big smile on her face and we count them together.” – @oops_ohemma

@oops_ohemma

Cher Bai

“I’m most looking forward to enjoying a big feast with my family. And for good luck, I’ll most likely be wearing red and gold throughout my look and/or makeup to call in all the lucky spirits.” – @chermycloset

chermycloset

Justin Wu

“I’m excited that it’s finally the Year of the Tiger — my zodiac sign! A few traditions I always do is to clean before the spring festival, have dinner with my family on New Year’s Eve and exchange red envelopes. I like that the act of cleaning symbolizes bad luck being swept away and I can start the year anew. During Lunar New Year I like to cook a few dishes that are deemed lucky within Chinese culture. This includes fish for prosperity, wrapping my own dumplings to bring in wealth, and longevity noodles for great health and long life.” – @justinwu

justinwu

Alyssa Lau

“I’m most looking forward to seeing my family although it’ll likely be digitally again just to keep everyone safe. Also, eating tteok mandu-guk, which is a Korean dish typically eaten on New Years that consists of rice cakes and homemade dumplings (mandus)! It’s a lot of work so it’s a good thing we only eat it for New Years celebrations.” – @imalyssalau

imalyssalau

Isabelle Cheng (@ allons.y)

“Spending time with my family and celebrating all the traditions is always my favourite thing, especially after the past few years. It’s nice to have something to look forward to and it’s always a happy time. My favourite family tradition is making dumplings together. We all have our role in the “dumpling assembly line” and it’s always extra special because we did it together.” – @allons.y

allons.y

Didier Young

“Lunar New Year has always been a very important celebration for me because my whole family gathers to celebrate over a delicious meal my grandma spent the whole day working on. It is thanks to Lunar New Year that I got to learn to cook some of my family’s dishes just by watching my grandma working on the feast. As such, I think that my favourite thing about the Lunar New year would be the sense of family and community you feel during that time of the year. I also like the red envelopes, too.” – @didieryhc

didieryhc

Chloe Zhang

“Something I look forward to every Lunar New Year is the gathering of the family together and eating a table full of delicious food. Growing up as a kid, one of my favourite traditions is receiving red envelopes (lai see). It symbolizes good luck, good life and happiness to those who receive it.” – @chloezhaang

chloezhaang

Qing Zeng

“I am most looking forward to the food during Lunar New Year. My mom and I always make dumplings from scratch ahead of the new year. It’s a fun activity to do with family–not to mention, we get lots of delicious dumplings from it. – @qingaling

qingaling