By Ellen Wheeler
With another year ending, I invite you to take a moment to reflect, express gratitude, and celebrate the wins—both big and small. While there are always things we might have done differently, we’ve all achieved plenty that is worth celebrating this year.
One of the things that has stayed with me most this year is seeing how so many of you are boldly shaping the natural health industry. From connecting with retailers across the country to the return of COTA’s Organic Month, the launch of Bruce W. Cole’s In Conversation With… podcast, and Plant a Seed and See What Grows Foundation’s work with children, this sector is full of people finding creative ways to push wellness forward.
I spent most of September on the road—one of my favourite places to be. I started in Manitoba, where I spent the day with Tony Ingilli, the Assured Naturals representative. Together, we visited Good + Natural in Steinbach and Nurture Your Senses in Selkirk and joined our friends at Vita Health Fresh Market for its grand reopening in Winnipeg’s St. Vital Square. The conversations with our retailers were a highlight, and experiencing the Manitoba market firsthand was a gift.
From there, I headed to Medicine Hat, Alberta, to visit our partners at Nutters for their AGM. My colleague Nina Wagner and I presented research on today’s wellness consumer and participated in their trade show.
CHFA NOW Toronto 2026 in September offered another reminder of how much there is to be proud of in the natural health community.
I loved connecting with our retailers and fellow exhibitors, discovering emerging wellness brands in the Greenhouse. Everywhere I turned, the conference reflected our industry’s warmth and enthusiasm. The Industry Achievement Awards brought another kind of celebration, recognizing the people who have gone above and beyond in the world of natural health, including Stewart Brown, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
While the experience was certainly educational and inspiring, it was also something more: A chance to come together, celebrate how far we’ve come, and look forward to where we’re going next.
I also had the privilege of participating in LeBeau Excel’s first vendor summit just ahead of CHFA NOW. Ryan Benn (alive’s CEO and president) and I spoke with their brands about the importance of community, specifically the natural health community. I also hosted my fourth annual lunch for women in the industry, bringing together 25 powerhouse women to share resources and support one another. This event is always a highlight of my year as it lets me celebrate the innovative women propelling the natural health and wellness community forward. In fact, this lunch is what inspired my In Her Own Words column that you can see in every issue of CNHR.
When I look back at this year’s highlights, I’m struck by one thing they all have in common: people.
The people who make up this industry are uniquely caring, determined, and resilient. Whatever challenges we face, there is a level of care, respect, and support we show one another that feels rare.
As we look ahead to 2027, I’m sure there will be more inspiring changes, unique challenges, and groundbreaking innovations. But before turning our attention to what comes next, I encourage you to look back on all you’ve accomplished and celebrate the moments that made this year what it was.
Here’s to all that we’ve built—and all that’s still to come.
I hope to connect with you soon. Don’t hesitate to reach out anytime at ellen.wheeler@alive.com.