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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1505828
FELICIA CHANG 32 BCBUSINESS.CA SEPTEMBER 2023 extreme emotions. But then she thought about how technology is undeniably permeating our lives: "They're already using AI to write obituaries and eulogies," she points out. So, in March 2020, Sheldon and Hoglund launched Be Ceremonial. The app and platform together have 32 pre-existing ceremonies (like themes) for people to apply to transitionary moments in life (think "fertility and birth" or "health and wellness"). There are 300 rituals within these ceremonies, although Be Ceremonial also helps users draw from nature to create their own ceremonies and rituals for big moments like weddings, loss, terminal diagnoses, anniversaries, organ transplants and more. "It's looking at ritual as a mental health tool," Sheldon explains. Be Ceremonial's membership model offers access to the pre-existing ceremonies plus an online community called the Be Ceremonial Vil- lage for $12/month (or $72/year). Sheldon hosts workshops and courses in this community and creates different opportunities for people to con- nect with each other. "In 2021, I had about 500 students come through my Becoming Ceremonial course," she says. In June of this year, Sheldon worked with Lululemon to create a hybrid tribute ceremony to bring the apparel company's global community together. "They had a senior executive die and there's a lot of emotions being held around that death," says Sheldon. The tribute spanned two days, exploring themes like grief and legacy as well as self-care and community care. Now Sheldon is glad she found ways to "humanize" technology and implement it into her business. It allowed her to expand her client base beyond North Vancouver and Canada to about 4,000 global users as of July: "We've been able to host retreats, have conferences, people can hire us for additional services through the app if they want... It's been a big focus for us to look at how we can diversify." To other small businesses, Sheldon recom- mends thinking outside the box. "Sometimes it's painful and challenging to let go of a part of your business that you've grown, but it's about notic- ing where you are now and where you want to go. And if things are kind of holding you back, how can you—with ritual and intention—let go of that so that you're lighter moving forward?" –R.R. REAR-VIEW MIRROR Megan Sheldon (bottom right) helps people reflect on (or prepare for) major life events through her app SLICE OF LIFE Bicycle Pizza's Andrew Johnson (left) weighs in on what small business owners like himself can do to buckle up in hard times S M A L L B U S I N E S S