Not everyone in our industry knew Brenda Parkes. She was one of those people who didn’t crave attention, who worked quietly behind the scenes, and who worked best in one-on-one situations to make everyone around her better. She just wanted to help improve the lives of those she worked with or came in touch with. For this reason, I’d say Brenda was very much the living embodiment of the spirit of the natural health industry.

There are two pieces in this issue that twigged a thought that’s been on my mind for a while. 

While attending the Health First Network (HFN) annual general meeting (AGM) in Montréal, Quebec, this past spring, I made it a point to try and connect with people I’d never met before. It was very encouraging to meet some first-time AGM retailer attendees, folks who in many cases are brand new to our industry.

It was not so many years ago when our industry was divided and in turmoil—caused primarily by the federal government’s desire to clarify and impose a stricter regulatory standard to our products.

 If you were around back then, you can remember how people were clearly on one side or the other. It was a very unsettling time.

 Today, a different federal government—this one from south of the 49th—has caused confusion and turmoil in our industry and in our country, with its desire to impose tariffs.

During the 2024 CHFA NOW in Toronto, two very successful natural health retailers told me that they wished they were making more sales in their stores. I guess all retailers feel this way—who doesn’t want more sales? What made this different, however, was that these two are among the most astute retailers I know. If they are having concerns, it’s likely that many, or most, or all even others are too.