CHFA’s inaugural Ottawa Regulatory Forum took place from May 27 to 28, 2025, and was a resounding success. This reimagined event brought together members of the natural, organic, and wellness (NOW) industry with policymakers, Members of Parliament, and peers to help shape the future of Canada’s NOW sector.

The Health First Network (HFN) conference and annual general meeting (AGM), held in Montreal, Quebec, from May 28 to May 31, brought 210 retail members, vendor suppliers, and HFN staff together for three days of meetings, awards, and networking.

Bioforce Canada (A.Vogel) has welcomed Émilie Portugais as marketing director.

There is a lot of good information on how to properly merchandise a store, build displays that move product, category manage to increase margins, and keep a store clean and organized for consumers to navigate.

Nikki Moir has stepped into the role of account manager for all Natural Factors and Assured Natural accounts on Vancouver Island.

Last year, when Vicky Hachey decided to launch her own podcast Talk to Vicky, RHN: A Total Approach to Wellness, she saw it as the next logical step in her continuing journey in a career that spans almost three decades.

The annual John Holtmann Golf Tournament, held this year at the beautiful Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, Ontario, was a huge success. With 114 golfers from across the industry participating, the event raised over $9,000 to benefit Community Food Centres Canada, an organization committed to building healthier and more connected communities.

The Good Health Mart in Ontario brings its franchisees and store managers together once a year for a two-day education conference. This year’s meeting was held in June at the Georgian Bay Hotel, Collingwood, Ontario.

The column is led by Ellen Wheeler, vice president of partnerships for Alive Publishing Group and associate publisher of CNHR. In this column, Ellen introduces you to Deb Larocque, national sales manager at Assured Natural Distribution with 26 years in sales and marketing.

For years, the Organic Council of Ontario (OCO) has been a vital advocate for organic farmers, building public trust, promoting transition, and advancing sustainable agriculture. But despite these efforts, the organic movement in Ontario is facing a troubling trend: fewer farmers are staying certified organic. Even with rising climate concern, consumer demand isn’t keeping pace with supply.

Since 2002, Pure Lab Vitamins has led the way in effective, Canadian-made magnesium supplements. Their trusted magnesium glycinate line now offers excipient-free selections that meet today’s growing demand for cleaner, more natural supplements.

Imagine strolling the aisles of your local natural health retailer and spotting foods and supplements proudly displaying a “feeds your microbes” badge. I believe if that were to happen, chronic-disease curves would finally begin trending downward.

You can help kids across Canada experience the wonder of the seed-to-table cycle, one garden at a time.

Until November 30, 2025, the Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation will match your donation up to $1,500 per school garden.

A.Vogel had the pleasure of hosting a lovely dinner in Montréal, Quebec, with some of the Health First retail partners from across Canada.

This is a big anniversary year for Lifestyle Markets in Victoria, BC. It was 30 years ago—in 1995—when Lifestyle Markets first opened on Victoria’s Douglas Street with the goal to offer natural and organic produce and groceries, supplements, vitamins, and bodycare products.