Debates of the Senate

1st SESSION . 42nd PARLIAMENT . VOLUME 150 . NUMBER 18

BARB STEGEMANN

Statement by:

The Honourable Yonah Martin

Thursday, February 25, 2016 306

THE SENATE Thursday, February 25, 2016

VISITORS IN THE GALLERY By sourcing fair market natural essential oils from nations rebuilding after war or strife, Barb aims to encourage change and The Hon. the Speaker: Honourable senators, I wish to draw to reverse the effects of war and poverty through trade and your attention to the presence in the gallery of Ms. Barb commerce. I am not alone in thinking that the 7 Virtues is a Stegemann, Founder of The 7 Virtues, a social enterprise based remarkable business venture. Not only was Barb the first woman in Halifax, , accompanied by Patrizia Quas. They are from Atlantic to land a venture-capital deal on the CBC guests of the Honourable Senator Martin. TV show ‘‘Dragons’ Den,’’ she became the ‘‘Top Game Changer’’ in the history of the show. On behalf of all honourable senators, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada. In recognition of her remarkable vision and success, Barb has Hon. Senators: Hear, hear! also been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, has been awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, in the emerging entrepreneur category for Atlantic Canada, and was ranked of one of Profit Guide BARB STEGEMANN Magazine’s Top 30 Cool and Fabulous Canadian Entrepreneurs.

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, that’s not all. Her fragrance collection Honourable senators, I rise today to speak about an won Chatelaine’s Beauty 100 Award and Barb received the outstanding Canadian entrepreneur and global leader, Barb Women’s Innovator Award from the U.S. State Department at Stegemann, creator of the 7 Virtues Beauty Company. She is the APEC Women and the Economy Summit. Of this long list of also the author of The 7 Virtues of a Philosopher Queen and the achievements, one of Barb’s proudest moments was becoming the embodiment of her book as a working mother and wife of a first female Honorary Colonel in the history of 14 Wing successful international social enterprise that aims to change the Greenwood base, Royal Canadian Air Force. world scent by scent. Barb’s vision for her cosmetic line was originally inspired by her I met Barb in 2003 when we began our friendship as community best friend, Captain Trevor Greene, who, while serving in builders and festival organizers within the city of Coquitlam. I in 2006, was brutally attacked by a Taliban fighter. was one of the first people to read and be inspired by The 7 She transformed her feelings of anger and vengeance to Virtues of the Philosopher Queen in its draft form and I have forgiveness and action that would truly honour her friend’s witnessed her rise from regional to national to now global legacy of service in the Canadian military. stardom as she raised her two beautiful children, Victor and Ella, and found her true love. To love her friend was to love the people he was willing to die for. She realized that supporting Afghanistan’s economy was a She continues to be a visionary leader who is an inspiration to key to building stability for its people. Her first perfume was the me and to anyone who has ever had a dream and the ‘‘Orange Blossoms of Afghanistan,’’ made with the oil of orange determination and dedication to see it through. blossoms that grow in abundance, to empower farmers to harvest these crops in contrast to the illicit poppy crops of the Taliban. She later created other fragrances called ‘‘Noble Rose of Honourable senators, please join me in recognizing a proud Afghanistan,’’ ‘‘Vetiver of Haiti’’ and ‘‘Middle East Peace.’’ Nova Scotia native and incredible Canadian, Barb Stegemann. These beautiful fragrances are available across Canada at the Bay, in fact. Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.