Zensurance $25,000 Business Grant Recipient: Sol & Sage Yoga

Zensurance is pleased to announce Sol & Sage Yoga in Bowmanville, Ontario, is the recipient of our $25,000 Small Business Grant.

Established by emergency first responder, Samantha Lemus, Sol & Sage Yoga offers dynamic Vinyasa and restorative Gentle Flow yoga classes, serving people who need a space to release stress, reconnect with their bodies, and find balance in their demanding lives.

Lemus intends to use the $25,000 funding to expand classes, support additional instructors, and strengthen the foundation of Sol & Sage for long-term sustainability.

“The investment would help grow our community, increase access to wellness in Bowmanville, and prepare the business for its next phase of growth while maintaining balance and integrity in how we scale,” she said.

Owning a business challenges you beyond the day-to-day – it asks you to grow as both a professional and a person, she said. “The unexpected moments are where the real growth happens. Don’t let them stop you from chasing what you’re called to build.”

Regarding the importance of business insurance for any organization, she said it’s essential for protecting your business.

“Not just your physical assets, but the business you’ve built and the lifestyle it supports,” she said. “Even one unexpected moment can have a lasting impact, which is why having the right protection matters.”

Words of Wisdom From Our $1,000 Grant Recipients

From the thousands of grant applications received, Zensurance is proud to support five additional hardworking business owners, each of whom was awarded a $1,000 grant. 

We are honoured to help these entrepreneurs expand their businesses and continue to contribute to their communities.

We asked each of our $1,000 grant recipients the following two questions:

1. What is one piece of advice you have for other Canadian small business owners or self-employed professionals?
2. Why is it important to have business insurance to protect your company?

Here’s what they had to say:

You Got This With Coach Jenn is a personal training, health coaching, and wellness education company dedicated to helping Gen X adults and chronic illness warriors rebuild their strength.

Jenn Moore’s advice to other business owners is to build your business in a way that respects your capacity, not just your ambition.

“Sustainable systems, clear boundaries, and realistic pacing matter just as much as vision and passion,” she said. “When your business fits your life instead of constantly fighting it, you’re far more likely to stay in it for the long haul.”

Regarding the value of having business insurance, she said it provides peace of mind so she can focus on her clients and work instead of constantly worrying about risk.

“I’ve invested a lot of time, energy, and care into building this business, and having the right coverage helps protect that,” she said. “It allows me to operate responsibly, knowing that one unexpected situation won’t undo years of work or place unnecessary stress on me or the people I serve.”

2 Farmers & A Cow Ice Cream Co. is a family-owned business and farm making small-batch ice cream made exclusively from local A2 Golden Guernsey milk – one of the rarest, easiest-to-digest dairy types in Canada. 

Co-founder Pam Edmunds encourages other business owners to never give up, stay positive, and keep learning.

“One of the organizations that I was speaking with when starting and building our business told me we chose the hardest product we could get into. They were correct,” she shared. “Working with milk is the hardest venture to get into as there are so many rules and regulations. I’m always up for a challenge, and it has been that, but keep looking at the end of that tunnel and think of the great things that are ahead.”

Concerning the value of business insurance, Edmunds said it’s vital to have.

“Working with food, you have to be very careful as people can sue you, or something could happen at one of your events. It’s really good to have (insurance protecting your business) in all areas.”

Founded by an Indigenous-Canadian woman, Georgette Dunn Cosmetic and Medical Tattooing provides restorative areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors and patients who have undergone mastectomies or gender-affirming surgery. 

Georgette Dunn said small business owners should think long-term, even when it’s hard, and build their businesses in a way that they’ll be proud of five or 10 years from now.

“Invest in education, do things properly, ask questions, and don’t cut corners just to grow faster,” she advised. “Credibility, integrity, and relationships matter more than quick wins, and they will carry you through challenges when things get uncomfortable or uncertain.”

Turning to the value of liability insurance, Dunn noted insurance protects more than just your income. It protects the time, energy, and care you’ve poured into building something meaningful.

“No matter how careful or experienced you are, unexpected situations can happen, especially in professional or healthcare-adjacent work,” she said. “Having the right coverage allows you to operate responsibly, manage risk, and keep moving forward without one incident undoing years of work. 

“For me, insurance is part of taking my work, my clients, and my responsibility seriously.”

Aspire 2 Heal empowers youth impacted by parental incarceration. They provide micro‑scholarships, financial literacy and professional development resources, mentorship, and mental health support to help young people transform challenges into opportunities.

Founder Raine LeBlanc recommends other business owners to build a community around their mission.

“Whether you’re selling a product or running a social‑impact initiative, strong relationships and authentic partnerships create resilience, visibility, and long‑term growth,” she said.

Thinking of risk management and insurance, she added insurance safeguards a business’s stability by protecting organizations from unexpected risks, financial losses, and operational disruptions. “For a community‑focused program like Aspire 2 Heal, it ensures we can continue supporting youth even when challenges arise,” she said.

Founded by 19-year-old Zachary Yetman, Westend Woodworking offers carpentry services and handmade custom furniture. 

Yetman is a carpenter’s apprentice pursuing a Red Seal designation while helping renovate living spaces for the homeless. 

The young entrepreneur’s advice to other aspiring business owners is to take their time and make sure they understand all of the challenges and hurdles they will face and “come up with a plan to tackle them.”

He added insurance is very important for every business.

“If anything happens, the last thing you want is to not have coverage,” he said. “Insurance is very important in my industry. Without it, a simple slip up could cost you thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Congratulations to all of our Zensurance Small Business Grant recipients!

Our previous $10,000 grant recipients include:

• Steadiwear in Toronto, Demex Cakes in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and SnuggleTooth Mobile Smile Clinic in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 2025.
• Down East Dance Academy in Montague, P.E.I. in 2024.
• Malarctic Design + Builds in Ottawa in 2023.

Meet all of our previous Zensurance Small Business Grant recipients.

The Zensurance Small Business Grant will be back.

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