Inspiration

International Women’s Day is a time to commemorate the achievements of women all around the world, while also acknowledging the continued importance of gender equality and inclusivity across different races, identities, and backgrounds. This Women’s Day, Spark recognizes and celebrates the many contributions of our women leaders, who make up...

Nursing Week couldn’t come at a more poignant time given the current pandemic crisis. At a local level, our healthcare providers are working around the clock: full time, overtime, and then some to help save lives and comfort those in need. At Spark, we believe Nursing Week should be celebrated...

The social pressure to conform to ‘the norm’ is strong enough that we tend to sit up and take notice when people very publicly refuse to do so. In the late 90s, a struggling software company called Apple (maybe you’ve heard of it) created the wildly successful ‘Think Different’ advertising...

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a Christmas classic, and I’ll brook no argument on the subject. I’m referring, of course, to the original 1966 television special (I haven’t seen the new film currently in theatres, and I’ll save my opinions on the Jim Carrey version). When I...

My son Cooper is five years old. He is a beautiful, amazing, hilarious bundle of joy. Everything changed for me the moment he was born. There’s nothing else like holding your child for the first time. Nothing else like the feeling that he needed his mom and me more than...

Being swept by Lebron and the Cavs again hurts. But in opening up about his depression this season, the Raptors' star has done something powerful. In the midst of leading the Toronto Raptors to the greatest regular season in their history, DeMar DeRozan had the best year of his career. Peaking...

We all experienced pain as kids. And we were never the same. In a good way. I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur. I initially became a respite worker because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of kids who were dealt a tough hand. My education and...

A story of the wonderful, spunky woman who still inspires us. "You'd Never See Her Without A Smile" Before I joined Spark, I worked as an activities director at a retirement residence. I used to love crocheting with the ladies; it’s how I kept up to date with the latest news. I...

Like my father and his father before him, I've battled anxiety all my life. I learned early how important it is to talk about it. It's taken some time, but I'm finally ready to share my story. Bradley Bezan Home and Second Home I grew up in Kapuskasing, Ontario. Industry town. Remote. A...