Journey to Wellness

Sharla became a member of PARO in 1997, when she joined Aurora, PARO’s very first peerlending circle. It was at these meetings she discovered her entrepreneurial spirit. It wasn’t long before she started her first home-based business, becoming an independent giftware consultant. With the help of a PARO circle loan, she was able to build a successful business, not only getting her feet wet in sales, but becoming the 7th highest sales person in North America that year, and earning an all expense paid trip to China.

This first success lit an entrepreneurial spark for Sharla, and she decided it was time to grow and learn new skills, not only in sales, but in manufacturing. Miss Sharla’s Candles was born in 1999, and she spent the next 5 years making and selling candles at various craft sales. Sharla and the Aurora circle was also an integral part and driving force behind the development of the PARO Presents store, a cooperative store for crafters.

Five years after starting her business, along with working for the Canada Revenue Agency, Sharla decided to make some changes, as she felt her life-balance was suffering. She sold her business in 2004, and began her mission to create a healthy lifestyle for herself. This personal quest inspired her to begin a healthy-living group, to help herself and others learn and support one another. In less than one year, the group grew to over 120 people, with a year-long waiting list. This is when Sharla really discovered her passion for helping others, and in 2007, Sharla, along with her business partner, purchased a building and created Journey to Wellness, a 4000 square foot health and wellness centre that continues her work in helping people create positive, healthy lifestyles that work for them.

Sharla lives by the motto of her business, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”