Welcome to "From Concept to Creation," celebrating the remarkable journeys of entrepreneurs who have transformed their visions into thriving businesses on North Vancouver Island.
This page is dedicated to highlighting the stories of North Islanders whose hard work, talent, and grit have fueled their path to success. Discover how these innovators have harnessed their passion and creativity, navigated challenges, and made a lasting impact on their communities.
Their inspiring stories are a testament to the spirit of entrepreneurship and the vibrant, diverse business landscapes across our region.
Join us as we spotlight these visionaries and celebrate their valuable contributions to the region’s economic vitality.
If you are a North Island Entrepreneur that would like to be featured on these pages or if you would like to recommend an inspiring North Island entrepreneur whose story needs to be celebrated, please reach out to [email protected].
If you are considering venturing into the world of self-employment and would like to find out about programs/services that can support your entrepreneurial journey, reach out to us at 250-286-3441 or toll free at 1-866-286-6788!
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In our latest feature we’re proud to spotlight The Sourdough Whisperer, a remarkable Campbell River example of entrepreneurship built one thoughtful step at a time. What began as a deep dive into the craft of sourdough grew organically through hands-on learning, community feedback, and a willingness to start small and scale smart.
By testing products, reinvesting carefully, embracing social media, and sharing hard-earned lessons with fellow business owners, The Sourdough Whisperer shows that creation isn’t just about making something — it’s about building something sustainable, authentic, and rooted in purpose. This feature highlights how experience, generosity, and grit can transform knowledge into a thriving enterprise that lifts others along the way.
We invited co-owner Mandi Relyea-Voss to write up the story of the Sourdough Whisperer so we could help spread the word about this fabulous new business that is out there doing great things in our community. We hope you find it as inspiring as we do!
The Sourdough Whisperer: From Mother’s Kitchen to Main Street
The story of The Sourdough Whisperer didn’t begin in a commercial kitchen with industrial mixers and proofing cabinets. It started with a childhood curiosity in my mother’s kitchen that eventually spiraled into a full-blown obsession. By my early 20s, I had completely sworn off store-bought bread. I decided that if I wanted it done right, I’d have to do it myself.
I was always the one bringing towers of baked goods to Christmas, or playing the “fun aunt” to my friends’ kids—the one who always had a baking project ready to go the moment they walked through the door. If anyone I knew wanted to learn how to bake something, I was their first call.
In early 2020, I dove into sourdough because my Mom was doing it and, in her words, it was a “new challenge.” She sent me some dehydrated starter all the way to Ontario, I brought it back to life, and boom—the obsession officially took hold. My first loaf was perfect. I’m not saying that to brag; I’m saying it because it’s likely the only reason I kept going! I found the process easy and the results spectacular, so I just... never stopped. I eventually ditched every other bread recipe and went 100% sourdough.
Then, in mid-2020, I packed up my life and moved to BC (long story there). What started as baking two loaves a week for my own breakfast quickly began to snowball. I met Brad in the spring of 2022, and we were living together by the end of that year.
The Condo "Side-Hustle"
Now, you have to understand that I’ve been self-employed most of my life. I started my first business—a social media marketing agency—when I was 20, and I ran it for 12 years. But after I met Brad, the "vibes" in the marketing industry shifted, and I felt my passion for it starting to fizzle out.
In late 2022, I put a tiny sign up in my condo building just to see if any neighbors wanted a free loaf of fresh sourdough. Brad and I couldn’t keep up with my baking habit, and I hated seeing good bread go to waste. To my surprise, the response was immediate and enthusiastic. Within a couple of weeks, I posted an ad on Facebook Marketplace and things truly took off.
The night I posted that first ad, Brad and I were sitting on the couch and my phone was dinging like a Vegas slot machine. Brad asked, “Who on earth are you talking to?” and I had to come clean. Back then, I hadn’t actually decided to shut down Like A Voss Inc. yet; I was mostly just slingin' dough to save up for a motorcycle—a hobby I’d returned to because Brad is such an incredible rider.
For a while, I was living a double life: running Like A Voss with five employees by day, and baking 8–10 custom orders by night. I even fully branded The Sourdough Whisperer and built a social media following before a website even existed. I was just using Marketplace ads and grit to keep the momentum going.
Scaling Up (and Into an RV)
Once it became too much to handle alone, I recruited Brad. I remember my first "ask" was: “Can you roll out this English muffin dough? I literally don’t have the strength.” If you’ve ever hand-rolled dough after the first dozen are cut, you know the struggle. Soon, he was boiling bagels and weighing out pretzels. By that stage, I was managing at least 10 custom orders a day, organizing the chaos on a whiteboard mounted right over my office desk.
Then came the cross-Canada road trip. Brad had bought an RV so we could visit his kids, grandkids, and my family in Ontario. But a 3,000-mile trip wasn't about to slow me down. I wrote the business plan and built the website from the passenger seat of the rig. I even posted in local community groups at every stop, baking English muffins in the tiny RV kitchen (there’s still video proof of this on Instagram if you want a laugh).
The funniest part? I actually sold a fair amount of English Muffins out of that RV in random campgrounds. The biggest hit was Ignace—Brad’s hometown. People didn't care that I was in a RV; they just wanted fresh baked goods.
Going Brick and Mortar
One day, Brad came home from grabbing pizza at our favorite spot, Fratelli's Pizzeria. He mentioned a “For Rent” sign in the window and joked it would be a great place for a bakery. That joke was all I needed. From that second on, we were in "planning mode."
One night, while I was deep in the business plan, I stopped and said to Brad: “I guess I never officially asked if you wanted to be part of this.” So, I asked. He said, “Absolutely.” I said, “50/50?” He said, “Okay.” And that was that. We secured the space in Willow Point, and it was go-time.
Brad’s construction skills were a godsend. He transformed that 450-square-foot space into something we were incredibly proud of, squeezing in every piece of equipment possible. Meanwhile, I handled the "fun" stuff: paperwork, licenses, bank accounts, and Food Safe certification.
During the transition, I was still running the marketing agency during the day and doing renovations with Brad all night and through the weekends. It wasn’t until the fall of 2023 that I finally “fired” my marketing clients and told them I was officially moving on to flour and yeast.
Where We Are Now
We opened our doors on January 20th, 2024, and we haven't stopped running since. About seven months in, we decided to leave that first space (another long story for another time). Incredibly, we moved out and opened our current location within just seven days—a feat that is basically unheard of in the industry.
The new spot is home. Brad did the minor renovations himself, and we’ve since added a mini-market and a rental kitchen. We’ve seen amazing staff come and go, and we’ve had some "fails" too—it’s all part of the being a business owner. Today, we have a solid team of 5 part-timers, and one new full-time baker (still in training).
Brad and I still put in 50–60 hours a week, but we love what we’ve built. This bakery is our baby. As we look toward the rest of 2026, we’re excited to keep growing as individuals, as partners, and as business owners.
Advice From a Serial Entrepreneur
I’ll switch to the first person here, as I’ve been self-employed for 17 of my 21 years in the workforce. If you're looking to start your own journey, here is what I’ve learned:
- Do your research. Know what you’re getting into. Study the "competition," see how others operate, and decide exactly what you want to do differently.
- Write a business plan. It sounds dry, but it uncovers the "blind spots" you’ll otherwise hit at 60mph later. It’s also essential for funding.
- Separate your banking immediately. Mixing personal and business money is a nightmare. Make the distinction on day one to save your future self a massive headache.
- Hire a bookkeeper right away. Best money you will ever spend. Let a professional handle the numbers so you can focus on the craft.
- Product testing. Great marketing and a pretty website mean nothing if the product doesn't deliver. Get your goods into people's hands (and mouths) early.
- Invest and scale slowly. I started with my home kitchen tools and only upgraded as the sales paid for them. By the time I moved to a storefront, I knew the product was a winner without having risked my life savings.
- Just post. Your social media doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to exist. It’s a free way to tell your story and give people a place to find you.
A Full Circle Moment: Like A Voss Inc.
Finally, I have to mention that I officially relaunched Like A Voss Inc. in December 2025 as a consulting agency. I realized that after years of talking to fellow business owners at the bakery, there was a massive need for straightforward, experienced advice.
It’s just me now—no employees—and while I don’t have a ton of free time, I will always make time to help another entrepreneur avoid the mistakes I’ve already made. If you’re just starting out or want to set your business up the right way, please reach out. I'd love to help you find your "Whisperer" moment.
Contact Information
2011 Island Hwy, Campbell River, BC V9W 2G5