In this 30th edition of Women in Business, women were interviewed who are employed in front-line positions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These women share their stories of overcoming negativity, working with the community and turning unpredictable situations into something positive91裸聊视频� in the hope that their perseverance and success will become the guiding light for the next generation of women in business.

Women in Business shows who the movers and the shakers are in Kelowna and that there is always a space to share stories of successful women.

Surrounded by flowers and nature is what Debbie Scott has sought for most of her life.

Her mother was an avid gardener and the apple didn91裸聊视频檛 fall far from the tree when Scott decided to launch a career in landscaping.

91裸聊视频淚 live on five acres and I have always decorated my yard for all the seasons. I have a park bench out on the street side of my property and people stop there. Last year, I hung up dog bones for people who take their dogs by there and they would come get a dog bone with the dog91裸聊视频檚 name on it,91裸聊视频� laughed Scott.

These would be the same people who would stop and admire Scott91裸聊视频檚 garden often waiting for her to pop outside so they could ask her for advice on their own yard.

91裸聊视频淭hey would start asking if I could come to their house and help them. Of course, I could come to their house and help,91裸聊视频� Scott said smiling.

That is where it started 91裸聊视频� Three Girls and a Hoe, Scott91裸聊视频檚 Peachland landscaping business, built from referrals around her neighbourhood for the next 15 years she would go about beautifying gardens.

Scott plants seeds of love and hope in her community, taking the time for others who want an opportunity to prove themselves. She looks to hire women who are interested in gardening but don91裸聊视频檛 have a background in landscaping, a traditionally male dominated industry. are not necessarily professional horticulturalists.

91裸聊视频淚 really look to give women a chance who need a chance,91裸聊视频� she explained.

91裸聊视频淚 teach on the job and I hope that I can give them enough that they end up moving on and doing something they really want to do. I want them to start on their own after they have learned what they can from me.91裸聊视频�

Most of her female employees are also mothers and their availability was impacted when the pandemic hit, which ended up trickled down on Scott91裸聊视频檚 business.

91裸聊视频淭he kids were all out of school, so these women had to be at home. I couldn91裸聊视频檛 work alone because WCB won91裸聊视频檛 cover me,91裸聊视频� she said.

Instead, Scott was forced to work in two different garden centres to make ends meet, although she had clients she wasn91裸聊视频檛 able to find the staff to keep her business afloat at the start of the pandemic.

91裸聊视频淚t was a huge struggle for me, my season starts in March and it hit,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淣one of the girls who had been working for me came back. It has been too precarious on when the kids are going to be in and out of school, they (mothers) couldn91裸聊视频檛 risk it.91裸聊视频�

Scott said she enjoys employing women on her team 91裸聊视频� they pay close attention to detail and are dedicated workers.

It was also important to her to help these mothers, some of whom were struggling as single parents, to get out in the community and meet different people and find different interests.

However, as the pandemic continues and COVID-19 outbreaks persist finding the women who can meet Scott91裸聊视频檚 needs has been a challenge.

91裸聊视频淚t is really hard to find people to work,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 have had an ad out for a month and only one guy responded.91裸聊视频�

Yet, Scott doesn91裸聊视频檛 give up her passion and continues to curate beauty at Passionate Blooms, a flower store in West Kelowna.

She has not forgotten her roots in horticulture but is now enjoying this phase of life where she gets to engage with clients in the creative world of flower arrangements.

jen.zielinski@bpdigital.ca
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