Business: Charity providing shelter, furnishings and community to refugees and those transitioning to permanent housing.
Born: Toronto
Biggest business achievement: Turned around a local charity that was struggling financially.
(Sponsored)
Advanced Business Interiors (ABI) is Making Space Work in Ottawa
ABI’s journey began with a small team on Thurston Drive in 1989; four locations and almost 37 years later, Advanced Business Interiors is now one of the largest office furniture
Powered by passion, backed by Ontario Made: Turning bold ideas into entrepreneurial success
Back in the winter of 2018, a brutal cold snap dropped temperatures in Merrickville to -46°C. Michael J. Bainbridge and Brigitte Gall looked outside and told their holiday visitors to
Biggest obstacle overcome: Increased donors by 162 per cent and donations by 168 per cent in 2020, even as more than two-thirds of charities nationwide saw a decline in donations amid the pandemic.
Biggest lesson learned during COVID-19: Don’t base your decisions on other people’s assumptions. Early on in the pandemic, I kept hearing that “the timing wasn’t right to fundraise for charity” as “everyone” was struggling. I took a different approach and invited people to support the important work we are doing at Matthew House Ottawa, and we saw a significant increase in donors and donations during the pandemic.
Charitable involvement: Matthew House Ottawa
First job: Selling poultry and eggs at a market
Advice I’d give the younger me: Listen well. Be open-minded, and learn as much as you can. Be confident enough to think for yourself.
Favourite pastime: Reading
