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Join us for a coffee and chat with John Liston, Partner at Newcastle West Partners! Growing up in a large Irish immigrant family in Edmonton, John was a standout hockey talent pursued by Ivy League schools until a sudden injury ended his professional aspirations. This early setback forced a transition into civil engineering and eventually the insurance industry, proving that a major change in direction can lead to even greater opportunities than the ones left behind.

John’s career took a monumental turn when he was handpicked for the due diligence team during the $2.94 billion acquisition of London Life. Competing against global financial giants, this high-stakes experience sparked a lifelong passion for mergers and acquisitions that now defines his specialized work in transitions and succession planning. His journey from drafting Edmonton's Anthony Henday ring road to navigating multi-billion dollar corporate sales offers a unique perspective on the grit and adaptability required to thrive in the Alberta business landscape.

Beyond the boardroom, John is deeply committed to community impact, specifically through his involvement with the Cure Cancer Foundation. Inspired by his father’s battle with the disease, he is a tireless advocate for funding research into CAR-T cell immunotherapy and raising the capital needed to build specialized labs right here in Canada.

This conversation captures the remarkable story of a man who balances high-level professional excellence with a profound dedication to his family and the long-term health of his community.

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Join us for a coffee and chat with Alana Tollenaar, Owner of Backyard Birds Nature Shop.

Alana Tollenaar’s path to owning Backyard Birds Nature Shop was paved by her childhood as the daughter of a zookeeper, where she helped hand-raise snowy owls. Though she briefly considered engineering, a university course in Environmental Management revealed her true calling: a perfect blend of math, science, and nature. In May 2021, she and her father launched their business in Spruce Grove selling birdseed and birdfeeders. Today, the shop is a thriving community hub featuring over 150 vendors, offering nature-based classes, and producing their own bird seed logs. It’s also home to Sweets, a rescued stray who transitioned from a pregnant parking lot find to a professional shop cat with her own business card.

Beyond the storefront, Alana is a dedicated educator who loves sharing the quirks of the 215 bird species found around Edmonton. Whether she’s discussing her favorite Alberta wetland bird, the Sora, or explaining how vultures aid public health by consuming disease, her enthusiasm is contagious. She even successfully converted her husband—a local physiotherapist—into a dedicated birder who now chases rare sightings across the province.

Through her shop and community outreach, Alana continues to foster a deep appreciation for the outdoors, proving that a passion for the environment is best shared with those around you.

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Grab a coffee and join us for an inspiring conversation with Rachelle Dubeau, the driving force behind Dani & Madi Boutique in Spruce Grove.

Raised by entrepreneurial parents in St. Paul, Alberta, Rachelle’s work ethic started early—from her first job as an 11-year-old janitor to her years as a competitive college hockey player. Though she eventually earned her Chartered Accounting designation and began a career in industry, she found herself missing the personal connection of face-to-face interaction, which sparked the vision for her own women’s clothing boutique in 2018.

The road to her storefront was far from easy. After launching her online store in 2019, Rachelle faced the ultimate test when the pandemic hit just as she was searching for a physical location. Refusing to quit, she pivoted by hosting Facebook Lives and even building a "mini-store" shed for contact-free try-ons. Her creativity and grit through the unknown, including a series of successful pop-ups in Stony Plain, eventually led her to a permanent location

Now celebrating five years in her Spruce Grove storefront, Rachelle’s story is a masterclass in perseverance and finding joy in the pivot. From high-stakes accounting to the dynamic world of fashion retail, she proves that the path to success is rarely a straight line, but rather a series of brave leaps into the unknown. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to find their own path and turn a vision board dream into a thriving reality.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments and leave us a review!

Follow Coffee in the Park with Jennifer and Cam on our social medias

Instagram: https://instagram.com/coffeeintheparkwithjenandcam

Website: https://www.coffeeinthepark.com

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coffee-in-the-park-podcast/