Darren Bondar from Spirit Leaf | Mimi Lam and Drummond Munro from Superette

Recorded live backstage at the Lift & Co. Canadian Cannabis Awards in Toronto, Michael LeBlanc interviews finalists, winners and industry advocates and chat about all things retail cannabis. First up Darren Bondar, President and CEO of Inner Spirit Holdings, which we would experience as Spirit Leaf, one of the biggest retail chains with 42 retail cannabis stores and ten more in the pipeline. We talk about the importance of awards to this young industry, and the path ahead for Spirit Leaf. Darren was a finalist in the ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR category. Next, Spirit Leaf bud tender Mona Pinette, Lift & Co nominee for Budtender of the year. Mona Won Spiritleafs Cannabis Concierge of the year award. At Spiritleaf she is the manager of our Chinook location. We talk about her personal journey in the profession, and what it takes to be a great bud tender on the front lines. Next Mimi Lam and Drummond Munro founders of Superette stop by just after taking home the hardware for Startup of the Year, WOMXN IN WEED – TRAILBLAZER, and top retail store (single location, Ottawa) as well as being finalists in the Employer of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year categories. We talk briefly about what it takes to get a single brand concept developed and off the ground, and the path ahead for Superette. lastly Michael connect with Kelly Green, from Kelly’s Green Lounge in Orno Ontario. We talk about what its like to be both a fellow podcaster and retail entrepreneur. Finally recorded live in Montreal at RCC’s DTLQC conference, Michel Sirois, President of Blue Star Canada walks us through the retail technology product infrastructure, the impact of big platform and product trends such as 5G, enhanced security and unpacks the role of Distributors and Value Added Resellers in the retail industry.