New Westminster business Sisters Sage has won a Small Business BC award in the category of best community impact.
Lynn-Marie and Melissa-Rae Angus are the sisters behind Sisters Sage in New Westminster, an Indigenous brand that hand-crafts wellness and self-care products, inspired by their culture and traditions.
The award goes to a company that is “truly making a difference in their community,” said a news release. “This business has taken positive action to invest in their community and sees social responsibility as an integral part of the business’ success.”
“Sisters Sage was selected as a finalist for this award because of how they use their platform as an Indigenous business to raise money for vulnerable local communities, while also raising awareness for causes they believe in,” reads the judge’s comments.
Sisters Sage was created in September 2018 and uses traditional Indigenous ingredients to create modern self-care and wellness products.
“Sisters Sage grew out of a need to change what we were doing with our lives,” reads a post on the Sisters Sage website. “We both felt that it was important to start a business where we can create something to help others, showcase our culture in a positive way to share with the world, and gain financial independence. We both had an interest in artisan soaps and bath bombs. With much research and testing, we have created a line of products that pay homage to our Indigenous heritage. Through our various products we are able to share a tiny piece of our culture, for instance, our Smokeless Smudge Spray combines traditional fragrances of Sweet Grass and Tobacco Leaf. We explain to our customers the cultural significance of smudging and what it means to us.
“The Smudge Spray allows you to have the essence of smudging wherever you are It creates a calming aura and smells divine. We created this product out of necessity, unable to smudge at home because of the smoke, this spray makes it convenient for a quick refresher. Another popular item is our bath bombs. We make lavender, cedar, sage as well as many other non-traditional scents, like bubblegum. We also make cold processed soaps, and medicinal salves.”
This year, the Small Business BC Awards received a record number of nominations; a sign of support for local entrepreneurs who endured many challenges this past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 937 nominations were received, representing 558 small businesses in 88 communities across B.C.
