May’s spotlight for our series: Women in Airdrie Killin’ It is Amy Rivard, our very own SweetLegs Independent Distributor. Every month, we feature an Airdrie business that’s owned and operated by the incredible women in our community.
A few months ago, Amy Rivard’s mother reached out to us to nominate her daughter for the spotlight. (Yes, you can reach out and nominate your favorite female entrepreneur too!) It really reinforced to us the kind of women that we want to showcase.
Women tirelessly hustling in the face of so many challenges, all the while making a positive impact in the community. So, with a special nod to Mother’s Day, here are Amy’s mother’s words:
“My daughter Amy Rivard is a local elementary school teacher at Windsong Heights. She puts in countless hours of her own time after school and again on weekends preparing for classroom activities, marking, and in general, doing as much prep work ahead of time for her students to prosper and grow in Grade 1. Even though she is an amazingly busy mom of two and a teacher, she is also a super busy SweetLegs representative. This young woman of nearly 35 NEVER STOPS… she’s lucky if she’s in bed before midnight every day and then she’s back at school by 7am to get ready for the next day of classes. She inspires me to be a better person and she sure is setting an amazing example for her own daughter and son to succeed at anything they want in this world.”
We asked Amy who her role models are. She replied, “I feel so lucky to have two amazing parents who are the most wonderful role models for myself, my brother, and now for my children growing up. They both believe in hard work, perseverance, and grit as a form of work ethic that can accomplish any task. My parents are both the first to offer help in a difficult situation, make a hot meal for someone who is sick, or pitch in and help someone when heavy lifting is required. They taught me never to shy away from something that is difficult and that if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right. My dad is famous for his quote saying, ‘You’re not going to leave it like that, are you?’ in terms of a job being unfinished. My parents also talked to us about money and keeping a little bit aside for a rainy day which I appreciate now as a parent and business owner.”
Entrepreneurship is not for everyone and certainly not for the faint of heart. As Amy reminds us, it’s important to step out of your comfort zone now and again!
To quote her directly,
“Upon moving to Airdrie from Northern Ontario 4 years ago, I knew absolutely no one. My husband and I found jobs on a whim and made a move with our two children. Once we decided to make Airdrie our permanent home after a year here, I realized that I needed to get out and about and meet people as I’m typically a pretty reserved and shy person. I had moved from a very close-knit community and felt that I needed to make some connections with people in the community and get out of the house and my classroom now and again. I decided that it was time to take a chance, start a business, and try my hand selling a product I love to use myself.”
When we asked Amy why she sells SweetLegs, this is what she said:
“I’ve been wearing SweetLegs for six years now and they still look as good as the day I bought them. As a busy Grade 1 teacher during the day, I live in my SweetLegs. I love how comfortable and versatile they are as I encounter a variety of things each day in the workplace. SweetLegs look professional and come in an ever-changing variety of colors and patterned prints. I have been a distributor for almost three years now in Airdrie and love having the flexibility of running my own business from home while also working in the local community. SweetLegs in the first Canadian leggings company to have its own in-house designed Signature Line — available in four adult sizes and three children’s sizes to fit most, with dozens of unique and beautiful prints. SweetLegs have a four-way stretch and a kitten-soft finish which makes them adored by individuals of all ages and genders.”
They really do look so comfortable! The Yellow Brick Road team agrees that matching team leggings are a must.
Her favorite Airdrie businesses are:
“Dylan and Vanessa are both absolutely amazing and have been fantastic since I joined in 2019. They do so much for our local community for health and wellness. I struggled for years with signing up for a gym membership, going a few times and never going back again. F45 is so much more than a gym! I feel like I’m part of a community there.” — Amy
“Paros has quickly become our family favorite restaurant since moving to Airdrie. The food and service are absolutely amazing every time. Each Friday, our family supports a local restaurant for take-out and quite often our choice is Paros! Our children love it which makes ordering SO easy when every is happy!” — Amy
“If you are looking for an amazing pharmacy where the pharmacist knows your name, then look no further. Finding a great family doctor was high on our list of must-haves when we moved to Airdrie. Along with it came the most amazing pharmacist — Harsh Patel who knows us so well, he delivers prescriptions when we are sick and is just genuinely a wonderful human being.” — Amy
Amy, we are lucky to have you in our community! Here’s how you can get in touch with her:
Email: Rivard.amy@gmail.com or Phone: 705-943-8761
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