The Movers and Shakers column has generally been dedicated to upcoming events, award winners, business openings and other miscellaneous tidbits from Burnaby’s business community, but today, I want to use this space to thank all the business sources in the community who have come forward and shared their stories.
Since joining the Burnaby NOW newsroom, I have had the privilege of profiling Burnaby businesses. I have written about the awards and accolades they receive, I have attended Burnaby Board of Trade events, but most importantly, I have had the opportunity to sit with business owners and find out why they choose to open up shop in our city.
Anyone who has ever started a small business knows it isn’t easy. And of course, anyone who has ever started or run a big business knows it isn’t easy, either. It takes a particular kind of person to dedicate themselves to a career beyond the 9 to 5 existence, working whenever necessary, against difficult odds and a high chance of failure.
Those are the people I’ve been lucky enough to interview. In some cases, just when they’re starting out, and it isn’t always clear whether or not they’ll make it.
In other cases, I’ve written about businesses run by multiple generations of family members, or ones that close when the family members decide to move on to other pursuits.
It has all been fascinating – to hear about what drives business owners, what worries them and what accomplishments fill them with pride.
It isn’t your usual, dry business fare, much of the time. For every story with its share of bureaucratese, I have been able to write many others with frank, fresh perspectives; wonderful quotes and interesting back stories.
There was Burnaby resident Olesya Aleksandrova, owner of Perfect Fabrics, who attributed her tenacity when starting her business to her father. She detailed her family’s struggle living and working in Kyrgyzstan, where she grew up.
“I was grown in my strong father’s hand,” the fabric importer said in an interview with the NOW.
There was Lynn Mueller, CEO of International Wastewater Systems, who explained his drive to conserve energy by harnessing wasted heat from sewage systems with his sewage Sharc.
“I used to go to these villages in the Arctic, now, these same villages are under water,” Mueller told the NOW. “I personally see the effect of climate change, but I never thought I would in my lifetime.”
And there were families such as the Siormanolakis family, owners of Romana restaurant in the Heights. They were featured just last year when the restaurant celebrated 40 years in business.
This year, they announced they would be putting the business up for sale by the end of March.
“My parents have worked very, very hard, and they’re very tired, and it’s time to move on,” Jenny Siormanolakis, daughter of the owners, told the NOW. “We know that Romana is an institution, and it couldn’t be there without the support of so many people in Burnaby and the community.”
Community has been a big aspect of covering business in Burnaby. The connections made with customers and other business people, the desire to create something beyond a successful business venture – something that is a part of the fabric of the community – these are the stories I have been lucky enough to write.
So thank you, to everyone who has sent an email or phoned to let me know about a new business opening, to those of you who have kept in touch over the years and let me know how your businesses are doing, and, of course, to all our readers.
I am off for the next year on maternity leave, but I look forward to coming back and telling your stories upon my return.
Please send items and ideas for business stories to the Burnaby NOW.
