Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association 2026 Nominees
John Thomson
Treasurer
John has lived and worked in Maple Ridge since 2007.
A CPA since 2012, he became a partner in the accounting firm EPR Maple Ridge Langley, Chartered Professional Accountants in 2016. EPR changed it's name to Empire CPA in 2022.
A firm believer in giving back to the community he works and lives in. John has been involved with the Maple Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Ridge Meadows Ministries Community Council, and the Maple Ridge 2020 BC Summer Games.
The father of 3 young children, he is also very involved in their various sports and arts activities. John looks forward to bringing his community spirit and support to the board of the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association.
To learn more about Empire CPA and their services, go to their website.
Lyle Perry
Secretary
Lyle Perry was admitted as an attorney in South Africa in 2010 and called to the B.C. Bar in 2018.
Lyle is now a lawyer and partner at MHWP Law, located in the heart of Downtown Maple Ridge, focusing on business law, real estate and wills & estates.
To learn more about MHWP Law and their services, go to their website.
Ellie Jubene
Director
MealsAWeight started out because owner, Ellie, had a knack for creating one-of-a-kind healthy recipes from scratch. Her love for food paired with her passion of fighting diseases caused by poor nutrition and bad eating habits is why we are here today.
For Ellie, being busy and overwhelmed while in university led to poor dietary choices, but the real wake-up call was seeing her mother go through breast cancer. Seeing how integral health is, and realizing how nutrition is the root of it all, she started eating healthy, meal prepping, and making better lifestyle choices. Quickly Ellie realized her family and close friends all wanted to get onboard a healthier journey. Realizing she wasn't alone in the struggle to find time to prioritize her health, what started as a hobby job during university turned into a wonderful career.
Food is the greatest medicine we have, and if you invest in your health today you will save money in the future. Now MealsAWeight is a family-run business in a 1600sqft custom built commercial kitchen and has fed people over 700,000 nutritious meals. They truly believe healthy eating does not have to be bland, boring or restrictive. They HATE fad diets and will always encourage their customers to eat a well-balanced and nutrient dense meal that they will love.
Over 10 years in business - owner and operator, Ellie has big goals in store. Besides healthy individual meal prep, she wants to be your go-to for all of your ordered family meals, catering and corporate lunches. They truly believe feeding your loved ones a healthy and nutritious meal is the best way to show love!
So please share their story with someone you know and love!
To learn more about MealsAWeight and their services, go to their website.
Andrew Nemeth
Director
Andrew is the co-owner of The Therapeutic Collective with his good friend and business partner Karl Dahan. It is a boutique style Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy Clinic in the heart of Downtown Maple Ridge.
Andrew was born and raised in Vancouver and grew up in North Burnaby where he went to High school and University.
Andrew has the privilege to live and work all over the world which has allowed him to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of many different cultures.
Around 12 years ago Andrew and his wife found an amazing acreage in Whonnock where they now call it home with their dogs, goats and cats and the occasional Bear! Andrew is passionate for our community and the people of Maple Ridge, and love taking in all this wonderful city has to offer.
To learn more about The Therapeutic Collective and their services, go to their website.
Cindy Stephenson
Nominee
Cindy Stephenson have been steeping away in their little tea shop for over 16 years in downtown Maple Ridge, BC in her Mother and daughter duo business - T's Once Upon a Tea Leaf.
They source locally and internationally, we have curated a collection of gifts that are perfect for your daughter, your mum & your best friend. The items we source are thoughtful, well priced and designed to bring joy.
The team at T's Once Upon a Tea Leaf are the stylists who source unique occasion wear and accessories for many body types. We bring in a few sizes of an item and when it's gone there is something else fantastic in it's place!
Cindy has been a long-time supporter of the DMRBIA and for over a decade and has been in the President and Director roles.
Crystal Winterton
Nominee
Founder, Crystal Winterton, was born and raised in Maple Ridge, BC, and was expecting her fifth child when her husband received a life-altering cancer diagnosis. That moment shifted everything. What began as a mother’s desire to protect her growing family quickly became a passionate commitment to clean living and safer personal care.
“After my husbands diagnosis, I cleaned out our kitchen and bathroom of products that had questionable ingredients—eliminating anything with harmful additives or unrecognizable components. But I quickly realized that safer alternatives were expensive and hard to find. So, I decided to make my own.
I re-learned how to make soap—a skill my grandmother once taught me—and soon found myself crafting a full line of body care products. Before I knew it, I was a regular vendor at the Haney Farmers Market, and Sugar & Spice was born.”
At Sugar & Spice Bath and Bodycare, our goal is simple: to bring high-quality, healthy personal care products into your home—crafted with integrity, intention, and ingredients you can trust.