Celebrating Women in Wellness: International Women's Day 2026

Who run the world? Girls! March is Women's History Month, and March 8th is International Women’s Day. What better time than this to lift up the women around us! Because of the entrepreneurial courage of our founder Jo Anne & the continued efforts of our current owner, Margo, and team (which is over 80% women), we have been serving Peterborough & The Kawarthas for 50 years!


We are thankful not only for the amazing women in our team but also for the meaningful connections we have made with so many inspiring women in our community. It is important to us to continue fostering an environment where women feel safe, supported & inspired. We are excited to look to the future and continue to evolve to meet the needs of our community.

A collage of the many women who work at Jo Anne's Place

As a female-founded business, Jo Anne’s Place is excited to celebrate the talented women in our wellness community. Today we wanted to highlight some amazing woman-led brands that we carry in-store:

SUPPLEMENTS

AERYON WELLNESS – FOUNDED BY AERYON ASHLIE

Canadian


After spending 25 years struggling with eating disorders, hormonal issues, and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body, Aeryon created Aeryon Wellness to help women from all walks of life find sustainable health and wellness. However, she was not seeing enough female-focused supplement formulations specifically designed to improve women's health. Using the highest quality ingredients, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and science-based research, Aeryon Wellness was born. As a mother, she wants her daughter to make educated, informed decisions when it comes to her body.


BEEKEEPER'S NATURALS – FOUNDED BY CARLY KREMER

Canadian


After years of battling on and off tonsillitis, Beekeeper's Naturals Founder Carly Kremer finally found relief in an ingredient called propolis: a combination of tree and plant resin created by bees to protect the hive. Carly left her job at Goldman Sachs to pursue Beekeeper's Naturals full-time in 2016, starting at farmer's markets. Beekeeper's Naturals is a Certified B Corp and they partner with one of the leading bee research institutions​ to raise awareness and support pollinator protection: ​The University of California Davis Honey Bee Research Facility.


VYKON SUPPLEMENTS – FOUNDED BY Lisa Pitel-Killah

Lisa Pitel-Killah, Hair Mineral Analysis Expert & Educator, Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Functional Diagnostic Practitioner and multi-time Kettlebell Sport World Champion founded Vykon Supplements. She chose to specialize in HTMA testing when that particular diagnostic test was the first to identify the true root cause of her debilitating fatigue. Lisa believes minerals are the foundation of health and longevity, and from the science of HTMA you can identify exactly what your body, or your animal’s body, needs to thrive. Custom powders, made with only the finest ingredients, nothing artificial, just all natural flavours and sweeteners.


PRAIRIE NATURALS – OWNED BY JEWEL TRAN

Canadian


Jewel has an incredible story. After being orphaned at 18 months old, Jewel was raised by her grandparents under trying conditions that grew her strength and determination. With keen entrepreneurial skills and a passion for nutritional health, she devoted her time training retailers about nutritional supplements in her home country of Vietnam. A single mother of four, Jewel emigrated to Canada in search of a better life for her family, and a goal of making a positive impact. She brings that same drive to Prairie Naturals - one of the wellness industry's most established supplement companies.


ITL HEALTH – LED BY MEAGHAN ESSER & LYNAE MORNINGSTAR

Canadian


ITL Health was founded by George Esser, a philanthropist and innovator with a vision to help people feel their best. Headquartered in Sarnia, Ontario, ITL is led by two of George's daughters -  Meaghan and Lynae. After 9 years running her own nutritional consulting practice, Meaghan took her business and nutrition expertise to her family's expanding supplement venture in 2019 - she is now the Managing Director. Lynae - Director of Operations - has been engaged in small businesses from an early age. With an education in Business Administration and a history of owning and participating in various ventures, coupled with her enthusiasm for wellness, she joined the ITL Health team in 2017.


NIYAMA – FOUNDED BY JILLIAN MARIANI

Canadian


Niyama Wellness was founded by Jillian Mariani, who spent her over 20-year corporate career in the natural wellness and supplements industry. She found herself mixing up her own elixirs to get exactly what she wanted to support her own lifestyle, without any of what she didn’t want - namely, artificial sweeteners, flavours, preservatives and less ideal forms of nutrients. Niyama loosely translates to “good habits” in Sanskrit. Niyama is the embodiment of Jillian’s desire to create wellness products that meet her own high standards for herself and for other like-minded wellness seekers.


A collage of the many women who work at Jo Anne's Place
COSMETICS / PERSONAL CARE

NATRACARE – FOUNDED BY SUSIE HEWSON

Natracare was created as a campaign to shake up the menstrual products’ industry with real, viable eco-friendly alternatives for periods. Founder & Owner Susie Hewson developed the world's first brand of organic and natural period products in 1989 - a true eco pioneer!


After learning about the dangers of dioxin pollution and the damaging impact of plastics, she was appalled to learn that period products contained these ingredients. So, she created her own. In the wake of the recent UC Berkeley study that found heavy metals in traditional menstrual products, Natracare had no qualms as their products have always been organic, plastic-free, and non-toxic!



CHEEKS AHOY – FOUNDED BY LEAH BLACK (JO ANNE’S GRANDDAUGHTER!)
Canadian


Cheeks Ahoy was founded in 2013 by former Jo Anne's Place employee and Jo Anne's granddaughter, Leah, when she decided to make the switch to reusable baby wipes, and wanted to share her products with other parents.


Today, Cheeks Ahoy offers a full line of household cloth reusables with the goal of helping families care for the environment, while also saving money. Cheeks Ahoy now has an amazing lineup of products from reusable makeup pads to kitchen towels! Each item is sewn with love and care right here in Peterborough, Ontario.



WILDCRAFT SKINCARE – FOUNDED BY LAURA WHITAKER

Canadian


Wildcraft was born from the notion that natural skincare products don’t have to be super expensive. Growing up in the country, home was always a place that felt very connected to the natural world for Laura. Looking for alternative ways to access affordable natural skincare, she began experimenting with making and using handmade natural products. In 2014, she founded Wildcraft to bring the powerful effects of nature to the everyday routine. Today, Wildcraft continues to grow and expand their natural small-batch skincare offerings. Learn more here.


THREE SHIPS SKINCARE – FOUNDED BY CONNIE LO AND LAURA BURGET

Canadian

Three Ships Beauty Co-Founders Connie Lo and Laura Burget started their business as recent university grads with just $4,000. With a mission to be the world’s most effective natural beauty brand, they pooled their limited savings and started making products by hand. Founded in Toronto in 2017 after extreme frustration with the lack of natural beauty products on the market, Three Ships has become one of the fastest-growing and successful natural skincare brands! Learn more about Three Ships here.



ROUTINE – FOUNDED BY NEIGE AND PIPPA

Canadian


Routine Natural Beauty Products were founded by sisters, Neige and Pippa! Their mission is to offer beautiful, natural personal products that feel and smell incredible, and that compliment your natural pheromones without compromise! Routine products are mindfully sourced and sustainably packaged in Calgary. You can shop Routine deodorants at Jo Anne's Place!

A collage of the many women who work at Jo Anne's Place
FOOD & DRINK

GEORGIAN BAY GRANOLA CO– FOUNDED BY SHEILA HANNON
Canadian

Georgian Bay Granola Company is a Canadian business that believes in working with our planet. Sheila began making granola in the early 1970s for her growing family. All ingredients used in their granola are 100% organic and gluten-free. They started out selling from a table in a local summer market in Parry Sound Ontario, and now share their organic granolas far and wide.


NUTS FOR CHEESE – FOUNDED BY MARGARET COONS
Canadian

Margaret started experimenting with dairy-free cheese when she worked as a vegan chef – using the restaurant kitchen after hours to perfect her recipes. After launching Nuts for Cheese at the London, Ontario Farmer’s Market, this artisanal 100% dairy-free cheese has become a staple to vegans and non-vegans alike, all across Canada. Learn more about Nuts for Cheese here!


BECK'S BROTH – OWNED BY BECK & DOM
Canadian

Beck's Broth is an innovative instant coffee, matcha, and hot chocolate bone broth product! CEO and Registered Holistic Nutritionist, Beck, and COO Domenique, lead Beck's Broth. When Beck discovered bone broth and all of its health benefits, she wanted to find a way to help others incorporate it into their diets. She collaborated with Domenique, who brings a passion for healthy food and a deep understanding of sustainability engineering to create Beck's Broth!


BLUME – OWNED BY KAREN DANUDJAJA
Canadian


Karen founded Blume in 2017 after feelings the effects of consuming too much caffeine while in a corporate job and noticing a gap in the market for dry latte blends. She went on a journey to feel better and find alternatives that weren't espresso-based. Blume's products have expanded from functional latte blends to include their uber popular SuperBelly gut-building drinks!


ZAZUBEAN – OWNED BY TIZ & TARA

Canadian


Zazubean's motto of "Good for the Growers, Good for the Planet, and Good for You" is clear in everything they do. The idea for Zazubean started on a bike excursion of a group of women to an island off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, where a conversation was started about ethical, healthy, yummy chocolate. Tiz (Co-Founder and Physiologist) began formulating their amazing chocolate with super-powered ingredients and joined forces with Tara (Co-Founder) who's passion for social justice and expertise in sustainable business practices brought Zazubean to life!

A collage of the many women who work at Jo Anne's Place
PLUS SO MANY MORE:

The list of accomplished women-owned businesses in wellness goes on and on. Here is a list of even more amazing woman-led brands we carry in our stores which we encourage you to check out:


COSMETICS / PERSONAL CARE


  • Mintier - Founded by Rhaelyn Gillespie & Jessica Sheppar



  • Koope - Founded by Nadia Badowski


  • Satya - Founded by Patrice Mousseau





  • Joni  - Co-Founded by Linda Biggs


  • Diva - Co-Founded by Francine Chambers and Carinne Chambers-Saini


  • Earth Mama Organics - Founded by Melinda Olson


  • Paume - Founded by Amy Welsman


  • Epic Blend - Co-Founded by Tracy Lengyel 


  • Midnight Paloma - Founded by Tayler Rogers


  • Wild Rose Care - Co-Founded by Rose Broadbent


  • Fresh Faces Skincare - Founded by Amy Rempel



HOUSEHOLD




  • Mala Candles - Founded by Melody Lim




FOOD & DRINK



  • Yoggu! - Founded by Jade Herrmann


  • Organic Traditions - President & Second-Gen Founder (Daughter of Original Founder) Ally Zeifman Mamalider


  • Stellar Eats - Founded by Stella Vanstone, Michelle Boigon, & Emma Kula







  • La Hacienda Artisan Products - Owned by Sandra Arciniega




  • Giddy Yo - Founded by Bridgitte Longshore




  • Sweet Monk - Co-Founded by Nicole Benes and Kelsey Gemmill


  • Sipology - Founded by Tonia Jahshan


  • Nutes Nutrition - Founded by Cheryl Harvey


  • Eatlove Chocolate - Founded by Andra Cosereanu


We encourage you to show these hard-working women some love, this month and always!


And be sure to keep an eye out for quality products from these great female-powered companies on our shelves!

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