Sucess Stories

Click on any of the stories below to find out how EMBERS has changed the lives of Vancouver residents.

 

Audra's Story

RabbitRabbit, a quirky line of greeting cards byentrepreneur Audra Ann Ricketts allows the Emily Carr graduate to support herself creatively, something few artists achieve. Her greetings make you laugh out loud or do a double-take. Business is booming.

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Lovena's Story

“I was on social assistance, a newcomer to Canada, recently divorced with two children and disillusioned with my career as an architect. I had zero in my bank account when I came to EMBERS,” says Lovena Galyide as she outlines her remarkable career transformation thanks to support from EMBERS.  

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Hinda's Story

When Hinda Abdillahi made food for her friends, they raved about it and encouraged her to start her own culinary business. But Abdillahi, a chef who emigrated from East Africa to Canada in 1990 with a baby son, didn’t know where to start. She had no connections, no capital and no clue about legal requirements.

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Tom's Story

It was a rough two years for Tom Porcina after he was fired from his union job as a gas pump repairman for P.D. Maclaren Ltd. for using crack cocaine at work.  He wound up collecting bottles to feed his addiction.  His return to respectability as a business founder and owner took six years but would likely never have been possible without Vancouver's Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society (EMBERS).

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Terrance's Story

When people walk, cycle, push their wheelchair or jog down the sidewalk in Vancouver, they don't trip over broken sidewalks.  That's thanks to the work by people like Terrance Sim, who works for the City adding fillets - asphalt used to level off cracks or heaved cement - to the sidewalks.

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About

EMBERS Ventures' support services were designed to fill a need in Vancouver's inner city.  It started with a small mandate to provide a model for economic self sufficiency through entrepreneurship and has successfully grown to help over 500 individuals travel that path to become financially autonomous.  By using principles of community based economic development, we have seen people without a business background go on to become self-sufficient owners of their own micro-enterprise, and along the way, increased their confidence and entrepreneurial know-how to become leading and innovative members of Vancouver’s growing economic district.

EMBERS Ventures is proud to offer two programs to the public; EMBERS Build A Business and EMBERS Grow A Business that are scheduled at various times throughout the year.

Embers Shaw's VCommunity Channel from D'Arcy Hamilton on Vimeo.

 

Testimonials

	"Before working with EMBERS and the Grow a Business Program I was working really hard on my business and had a lot of plans and ideas, but I was having a hard time turning them into a reality. Working one-on-one with my coach, Guy Thorburn, helped me put a map down on paper, and make several key decisions which will help take my business to the next level. "One thing that I really admire and appreciate about the Grow A Business Program is that my coach and I are creating a 3-month follow up plan so that I still have someone to check in with regarding the future development of my business. I am very blessed to be part of this program. Thank you Guy and thank you EMBERS." -Deb Chaney, Contemporary Artist To learn more about Deb, click here
	“In all honesty, before EMBERS I was nowhere. My business was making next to no money and I had very little confidence that I was going to be able to make my business a success. I got really excited when I heard about the EMBERS Ventures program. And after meeting with my coach Guy, I started to believe that there was hope for my business… sometimes all you needs is a little “you can do this” push. The Ventures program has enabled me to run the business that I want, in such a way that makes me happy and committed to success.” - Sabea Mante, Soul Harmony Mobile Massage To learn more about Sabea, click here
	"I am an EMBERS client, graduate of the Build A Business Program and currently enrolled in the Grow A Business Program.   EMBERS Ventures has been hugely catalytic in helping me focus on the business end of my life. Creating a business is not an easy path by any stretch, but with the assistance of the EMBERS coaching team, there is help in not only seeing the path but learning to walk it.” -Michael Rouse, Producer To learn more about Michael, click here
	"In the four years that I did creative schooling I learned nothing about operating a business. EMBERS opened up that part of my brain, helping me to realize that I can be an artist and a small business owner… and that I can do both successfully.” -Stephanie Menard, Jeweler (Fibre Manipulator) and Small Business Owner (Tiny Finery) To learn more about Tiny Finery, click here

Does Your Home Need a Renovation?

EMBERS Green Renovations assist homeowners, strata, real-estate agent, landlords, retail and commercial clients with all their needs whether it is new construction or remodeling and general maintenance of existing buildings. Our goal is to make any home improvement project a success by providing excellent customer service with reliable, guaranteed workmanship, one job at a time - at very competitive rates, quickly and with minimum stress to the homeowner.

 

Our one-stop services include:
•  Kitchen Installations	•  Painting
•  Bathroom Refurbishing	•  Dry wall
•  Flooring	•  Windows & doors
•  Demolition	•  Landscaping
•  Home Remodeling	•  Insulation
•  Energy efficiency upgrades	•  Blower-door test
•  Thermal Imaging	•  Weatherization
Don't see what you need? Just ask!

 

Projects Done Right, Guaranteed­!

We work tirelessly, from project start to finish, to fulfill our clients' visions. Our vast experience ensures the best solutions are found in terms of cost, choice of materials, quality and overall project sustainability. We will always provide a complimentary quote to every inquiry.   Don’t hesitate to contact us today

• Outstanding quality at very affordable prices
• 2-year warranty on all work (small home repairs excluded)
• Strong commitment to sustainable building, recycling and labor practices 
• Detailed written scope of work for all jobs
• Superior customer service
• Free Assessment  

Did you know that 100% of our profit goes to build our community through EMBERS employment programs?  EMBERS is a charity that helps people living on low incomes to develop productive futures.