The Beat of Her Own Drum


I was creating a modest space on my FB page to highlight entrepreneurs so that perhaps students and teachers from HSB might be exposed to stories of those who have gone on to the future world of 'becoming'.


I thought, " Wouldn't it be great if we also used FB to actually highlight what some have become. Students might get the idea that the traditional ideas of Doctor and Lawyer, for a career are not the only thing; that there are other avenues not only to achieve success but better yet independance!

I thought that success is about "spending" - literally spending your life time doing what it is that fufills you, moment by moment -and of course if it pays too - then great!


I thought of Charlie, Norman Perry, Mark Stafford, Dr. Ralf, Bob Houston with his Dr.Gum and A.D. Display, John Saunders, Colleen Hillock and her 'addiction practice' and Lynda Young Chapleau who saw a niche and established a wonderful business; simple model that works and provides an income stream.

All of these people I will highlight here and in FB. But there is someone very special who has been brought to my attention.

I thank Kathie Parsons Harnest for giving me the name of Ruth Douglas. It was only after seeing Ruth's grade 10 picture that I recognized her.




Ruth was one grade ahead of me at HSB.

Ruth has succeeded in grabbing hold of a real business opportunity, by taking the media operator known as "News Canada" off the hands of Venture Capitalists using a management/employee 'buy-out'. Her previous experience with Quebec Or paid off.

As the new President, Ruth went to the various Banks, attained financing and made the parent company an offer they couldn't refuse.

Ruth and her team were ready to spend the time, blood, sweat and tears to kick start this opportunity recognizing media buget cuts were in the air. Having to cut staff, the media outlets still need 'story content' all while governments, institutions, and comercial enterprises need to get their message to target audiences.

An opportunity! Ruth took it; guts in action - she did it!

From $7 hundred thousand in revenues, the team harnessed action and momentum, driving revenues to $7 million. Now that's business!

Their firm has risen from 84th on Canada'a major entrepreneuial listing to number 34. WOW! Has she ever got ...'what it takes'!

Ruth's daughter works in the business when not playing Hockey in the Women's Canadian Hockey League ( I should introduce her to Cathy Gulkin speaking of women's hockey) and her son has his eye on entering the tool and die manufactiring sector- nothing like a challenge...he should learn Madarin while he's at it.

On the side, Ruth supports ceaseless efforts of her older sister (Chateauguay High Grad from 1967) Lois (Douglas) Shaw who for 30 years has been investing her life in Kenya, working with women, enabling them to get ahead against all odds in Nairobi slums, where AIDs has decimated much of the youth leaving people our age as grandparents to look after infants. Lois and her husband teach post graduate studies encouraging students to go back to their communities to make a difference.

Ruth has become the nucleus of a Canadian Women sponsored support group who help with her sister's efforts and with orphanages in Nairobi.

There is much more detail I should and will write about this project.

The point of this writing today is to highlight Ruth and what she has accoplished as a model to others; a woman who has achieved much and is continuing to do more.

There is no such thing as "trying" -only 'doing'.

Ruth continues on, to the beat of her own drum.