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Summar Bourada

@gldnsummar

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traded in the corporate life for Saturday nights in a lavender field talking about mental heath and sparking meaning into jewelry.

best decision I’ve ever made.

#entrepreneurlife #ottawaevents #ottawabusiness #smallbusiness #permanentjewelry

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another amazing weekend hits the books ✨

we did a record weekend between a private spark Friday night, @soireeinthefield Saturday evening and @greelygoodmarket Sunday.

ready for a real talk?

pop-ups are exhausting. a lot of work, time and preparation goes into every small business that attends a market, pops up at events or offers mobile services. we attend unaware of if we’ll make back our money spent on products, time and the cost of the booth. we trust blindly (and hope hard).

that’s why I am always in awe of the support Ottawa has for their community.

supporting local means giving us little guys a chance to follow our dreams and pursue our passions. we work long hours as entrepreneurs - typically doubling the standard working hours every week. we take your concerns, feedback, and positive reviews to heart. we glow when happy customers bring their friends with you to shop. when we hear “I love your story” and you look at me with eyes that say it all. that tell me you resonate and have been through enough.

creating a business based on your tribulations and struggles as a person is always open for criticism. it means vulnerability and can be terrifying. but it can also create beautiful moments.

Sunday at Greely we had a customer who adores her fidget ring bring 3 friends who all purchased fidget rings because of how much she loves hers.

we got to celebrate a lovely couple’s 1 year anniversary with matching bracelets.

we attended girls night and shared in laughter and memories that will last a lifetime. I watched the hostess with the mostess be showered with love and the genuine gratitude and love felt in the room.

I made connections and talked about women’s health, shared stories of struggle and discuss ways to move forward with advocacy in a lavender field.

I had people tell me what my story means to them - just by reading an 8.5x11 snippet of it.

That is the power of small business. I feel it all with you. I am excited with you.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who chooses to support small, shop local, and believes in gldn grl’s mission to foster community, be open, and embrace a new way of doing business.

xx Summ

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I’m in awe.

Ottawa - you showed up yesterday. We hit a new sales high - way beyond my imagination. We did 31 sparks (I think - I lost count) yesterday. We danced. I cried (a little) we ate some of the best food, we celebrated community, women’s empowerment, small business and connected with new and old friends.

I had several of you say you attended the event just to see us. You showered me with love beyond words that brought me to tears. You reaffirmed my decision to give this business my heart, and I am still processing the all-consuming feelings from yesterday.

It was a 14 hour day (not including hours of prep)- but it flew by thanks to you.

To @tortaboyz.ot - you outdo yourself every year. You create something that exemplifies the power and love within this city. You bring people together in a way that celebrates culture, creates family and unites us under one goal - to support each other no matter where we come from.

gldn grl has always been about community. creating meaningful connection through difficult moments, trying times, challenges life throws at us. I am thankful and speechless for those of you that believe in that mission, and help us accomplish it.

I am so f-ing grateful.
I love you.
summ

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If you had told me that starting this side hustle would become my time job a few years later, I don’t know if I would have believed you.

But gldn grl has become so much more than that. It has become a community where we align on values and the same drivers for change. Where we connect based on pain and create something beautiful.

It gave me the courage to be vulnerable about my struggles, and has encouraged others to do the same (something I still can’t wrap my head around).

It isn’t easy - it’s more work than a regular job, it is personal, it can be emotionally draining and makes me doubt myself more often than not, but it is the most fulfilling and rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

So if you’re ever contemplating taking the leap, whether personally or professionally, the most important lessons I’ve learned about myself and my goals have been from that jump and I am grateful everyday.

#smallbusinessowner #entrepreneurship #ottawabusiness #womeninspiringwomen #mentalclarity

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Over the past two weeks, Ground to Grow had the privilege of hosting four screenings of “This is Endometriosis” across Canada, bringing the film to Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa.

As someone whose own life has been shaped by endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, and infertility, it was an honour to help bring these conversations to communities across Canada while feeling connected to a much larger global conversation.

What stays with me most are the stories.

The people who came despite pain. The partners, parents, friends, healthcare providers, and advocates who showed up to listen and learn. The people who stayed afterwards to connect.

I heard stories of delayed diagnoses, years of uncertainty, resilience, grief, and hope. Again and again, one message emerged:

“I feel so seen.”

For those who wanted to attend but couldn’t because of a flare, fatigue, pain, or the realities of living with this disease, this series was for you too.

My deepest gratitude to @georgiewileman for her vulnerability and courage in sharing her story, and to @laurenfrankfort, @harriette_wright, @itsmatthoughton and the entire team at @thisisendoglobal for creating something so raw, moving, and impactful.

Thank you to the panelists who generously shared their expertise and insights across all four cities.

Endometriosis affects more than 190 million people worldwide, yet too many continue to face delayed diagnosis, limited treatment options, and gaps in care. Across our discussions, one message was clear: awareness matters, but awareness alone is not enough. We need continued investment in research, education, timely diagnosis, and access to care.

We were also proud to donate all net proceeds from the screenings to @fertilityfriendsfoundation, supporting Canadians navigating fertility treatment.

To everyone who attended, shared the events, volunteered, sponsored, participated in the panels, or continues to advocate for change: thank you.

I leave this series feeling deeply grateful, moved by the stories that were shared, and reminded that we are not alone.

May these conversations continue, and may they help move us from awareness to action.

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Recently, I received a text message from someone who was diagnosed with endometriosis in the late 1970s. She couldn’t believe how little has changed.

These pics are by Jean Levac and Tony Caldwell.

Find the story at OttawaCitizen.com by searching my name + endometriosis.

#endo #endometriosis

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super logical decision, I know. but somehow this just hits different.

tell me you’re an entrepreneur, without telling me you’re an entrepreneur 👇🏼

#ottawabusiness #entrepreneur #businessowner #relatable #businessowners

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💛Ottawa Run to End Endo 2026💛
A bit of a late photo dump from this years Run to End Endo.
Thank you so much @endonetwork_canada for having me take photos. Thank you at @gldnsummar for sharing your story, your strength, and the work you put in!
It has been an incredibly moving experience to capture this event and the community it has cultivated. I cannot wait for next year! 🎗️

#endowarrior #runtoendendo2026 #endonetworkcanada #ottawaphotographer

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what a weekend!

we did over 30 bracelets between Drip House and Greely Good Saturday and Sunday making it record breaking weekend. I’m still recovering from the gratitude (okay, and maybe a little exhaustion).

Each time I pop up, I’m reminded why gldn grl exists.

This weekend I met someone who, after getting a permanent bracelet, looked us up, realized what gldn grl stands for and came back to chat with me about something very personal we both have in common. That meant everything to me.

Someone told me about the run to end endo not realizing I was the run director, which might have been the coolest feeling in the world.

I custom engraved a memorial charm from a piece of jewelry of her late father’s that we added to a permanent bracelet to have with her always.

On Sunday at Greely, I had several of you mention how you came just to see GG (despite it being cold and rainy). For that I am eternally grateful.

The conversations, the connection, and the admiration for our mission makes every endo flare, every down day, and every moment I contemplate my path steer me back on track.

Thank you to the people and places like @driphouseottawa and @greelygoodmarket that help us achieve our purpose.

I can’t believe how much this little business has grown, and I owe it all to you.

thank you endlessly,
summ

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we love our mini gldn grls… except when they lick the mirror.

yes, that actually happened.

#smallbuisness #businessowner #entrepreneur #ottawabusiness #businesshumor

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Join us in Ottawa for an evening of film, conversation, and community.

@groundtogrow.co is bringing *This Is Endometriosis*, the BAFTA-winning short film to Ottawa, followed by an expert panel discussion with local specialists in endometriosis, pelvic pain, fertility, and patient-centred care.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 people, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underdiagnosed conditions in reproductive health.

This event is for anyone touched by endometriosis, curious to learn more, or wanting to better understand pelvic pain, diagnosis, treatment, and the lived experience of navigating this condition.

📍 uOttawa, Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS 2005) — Ottawa, Ont

🗓️ Wednesday June 17, 6:00pm - 7:15pm

🎟️ Tickets: $20 | Net proceeds to @fertilityfriendsfoundation

Link in bio to register.

With gratitude to our community partners:
@get_joni & @birdbeco

And our generous sponsors:
@ottawafertilitycentre
@thefertilitypartners
@emdserono
@reachlabuottawa

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