Meet the Board

Louise has been making soap since the early '90s and Soga Artisan Soap - vegan and cruelty free - was born in 2010. Soga has grown from a hobby, to 2 brick and mortar storefronts, online sales, and wholesale, in just a few short years. Louise is passionate and optimistic about life and makes a wonderful addition to the Board of Directors.

An award winning cosmetic trainer, Cathi Westrop has worked in the cosmetic industry for 30 years from cosmetician to National Training Manager of a global prestige brand. She brings her understanding of product knowledge, sales and merchandising to the Guild and hopes that she can share her passion for knowledge with the members. Currently she is the CEOC (Chief Essential Oil Chooser) & owner of The Whitby Soap Company & loves to create family friendly & kid safe products focussing around FUN. Her pet peeve? The “all natural, no chemicals” client and says with a smile “Don’t ask me for chemical free products without being prepared to take a seat & be open to learning!”

Patricia says that she was born in a restaurant kitchen, and went on to study hotel management. She transformed her passion for cooking into a soaping addiction when her aunt taught her how to make her grandmother’s country soap, and has been soaping for 18 years.She built her company as a mother of 2, while also working full time for the federal government, and opened her store in 2020, where she employs 8 people.Patricia is well known for her positive personality. She considers her strength in business to be the ability to balance creativity with cost effectiveness.

Soapmaker and cosmetic crafter for over 20 years, Ariane C Arsenault is established in the Magdalen Islands, in the province of Quebec where she runs her business «La Fille de la Mer, Savonnerie Artisanale inc» . Born on an island andraised on a sailboat, Ariane’s product lines are inspired by the seaside. Always in search of new designs, additives and color combinations, her soaps and other handmade cosmetics are both stunning and stylish. She specializes in ColdProcessed and Melt & Pour soaps as well as handmade cosmetics, bath bombs and hand poured candles. She is constantly perfecting her makers’ skills through the years and loves learning new techniques and formulas that she happily shares with her followers on social media and YouTube channel.

Mary-Ann began making soap to address her son’s skin sensitivities, which sparked her passion for crafting bath and body products, especially bath bombs. Noticing a lack of unique mold options in the Canadian market, she invested in a 3D printer and embarked on a creative journey, resulting in over 1,500 innovative designs. She launched the first-ever Bath Bomb Makers subscription box, featuring 66 themes. Her business introduced the Bombshell mold, Breaking the Rainbow colorants, and popularized the term “hybrid” in the industry. Mary-Ann continues to inspire makers and develop new products.