Introducing the 2024 challengers! Dive into their bios to learn more~
Support your favourite challenger through their live ‘Tip’ Jars until April 28th as they compete to become the next Bartender Challenger!
Meet Challenger Heather!
Heather Adams co-founded Rock & Bloom with a mission of becoming the best brand studio to work with and work for. With a rich background in marketing, communications, and brand strategy, she has not only achieved this lofty goal but surpassed it. Rock & Bloom is renowned for its ability to create beautiful, functional, and results-driven projects. Heather has made a career out of building relationships and creating killer brands for hundreds of clients across the globe.
At the helm, Heather guides clients toward continued success while inspiring team members to reach new heights of excellence and brilliance. With Heather leading the charge, every project exceeds expectations, never compromising on strategy or design.
Heather’s perfect blend of charisma and get-stuff-done determination makes her the best partner for clients. She listens with empathy, speaks with gravitas, and lights up every room she walks into. A core value of Rock & Bloom is to ‘Make a Difference’ – that’s why Heather is honoured to support Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatoon raise funds for the important programming.
Cheer on Heather as she strives to reach her $10,000 goal by supporting her journey to become our next challenger! Head over to her ‘Tip’ Jar now!
Meet Challenger Brad!
Brad Hritzuk has been a member of the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon since 2013, holding a number of positions within the club including Car Awards chair, Kinsmen Home Lottery Chair, Director, and Vice President. Brad was born and raised in Saskatoon and sees the club as a way of giving back to the city that has given him so much throughout his life. Outside of the club, Brad is a Senior Sales Associate with ICR Commercial Real Estate, having been with the company since 2012.
Brad is a sports nut, growing up playing hockey, football, baseball, golf, and pretty much everything in between. Brad spends his down time with his wife, Lauren, and two children, Jackson and Cameron.
Join us in supporting Brad as he strives to reach his $10,000 goal! Help him become our next challenger by visiting his ‘Tip’ Jar today!
Meet Challenger Helen!
Helen Oro, Designer/Owner of The Label Helen Oro Designs is from the Pelican Lake First Nation band. She is recognized as an international designer and entrepreneur making waves in the fashion industry. Helen wishes to share how beadwork can be worn, styled, felt and seen. Sharing her culture and contemporary approach through her creations. Helen Oro has been promoting her statement Beadwork through various fashion weeks across USA, Canada and overseas since 2013 Being the 1st First Nation from Canada to showcase in many countries such as Australia, New Zealand and various events like NBA AllStar Weekend Fashion Showcase in Los Angeles. In 2016 ELLE Canada named her top 4 Sask designers to look out for. In 2017 FLARE added her to one of their biggest articles #HowIMadeIt 100 cool women with cool jobs. In 2018 Helen was added to the woman of the year gallery by Chatelaine Magazine for her work with indigenous fashion. Through the years of travel and networking Helen has built an impressive loyal clientele base throughout Canada and US. Leading to her having her creations being seen at red carpet events. 2021/2022 she worked her first film job as a in house designer for the production Dusk & Dawn.
Helen has created once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for many through mentoring, helping to build portfolios, and teaching about model safety. Wanting to do more than create beautiful pieces she wanted to build a brand that gives back, educates and empowers others.
Cheer on Helen as she strives to reach her $10,000 goal by supporting her journey to become our next challenger! Head over to her ‘Tip’ Jar now!
Meet Challenger Rylund!
I am a partner at McDougall Gauley LLP, where I am a business law lawyer. I am also one of the founders of Arete Developments, which is currently building TwoTwelve, a sustainable luxury condominium building on Saskatchewan Cres. East. I consider myself incredibly luck to have been born and raised in Saskatoon and I’m happy to be able to give back to the community through my involvement with Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation, Autism Services of Saskatoon, KidSport, Saskatoon Minor Football and the Huskie Football Alumni Club. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors with my wife McKenzie and our dog, skiing, canoeing, hiking, biking, camping, whatever as long as we are outside and moving.
Join us in supporting Rylund as he strives to reach his $10,000 goal! Help him become our next challenger by visiting his ‘Tip’ Jar today!
Meet Challenger Steph!
~Bio coming soon!
Cheer on Steph as she strives to reach her $10,000 goal by supporting her journey to become our next challenger! Head over to her ‘Tip’ Jar now!
Meet Challenger Ian!
Ian is a proud father of two amazing girls, Dylann (18) and Jalyn (16). He is a Key Account Manager for Beam Suntory, a role he has held since 2014. In his free time, Ian loves to play golf.
He also had the exciting opportunity to be on Family Feud last year. Additionally, Ian is known for his extensive knowledge of Friends trivia, surpassing that of anyone he knows!
Join us in supporting Ian as he strives to reach his $10,000 goal! Help him become our next challenger by visiting his ‘Tip’ Jar today!
Meet Challenger Shawna!
Shawna Nelson, the Owner of Nelson Strategic Solutions, is a business consultant with over 30 years of experience in the hotel, hospitality, food, beverage, and tourism industries. She has worked in several major hotel chains and management companies in the role of Director of Sales, Marketing, and Event Management. She holds a BSc. in Nutrition and Dietetics, at the University of Saskatchewan and a certificate in board governance.
Shawna has built a reputation as a connector and supporter and a strong advocate for business locally, provincially, and nationally, having served on the board for the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, Past Chair of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, and represented Saskatchewan on a national level on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Board. Currently, she serves on the Tourism Saskatchewan board and is Chair of the Governance Committee.
Recognized for her commitment to giving back to the community and contributions to business in our province she was nominated by the YWCA Women of Distinction for Community Involvement and Professions/Management Award, recipient of the Athena Leadership Award by Business and Professional Women of Saskatoon, and most recently received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.
To recharge on her list is appreciating the beautiful sunsets at Candle Lake, playing the game of losing golf balls, traveling near and far, enjoying a sports game or music concert while connecting over conversations and relishing good food and wine with old and new friends.
No stranger to the bar scene … don’t get the wrong idea her parents owned and managed several hotels and bars and lounges in Saskatchewan, where Shawna has been working for decades at concocting the perfect cocktail!
Come cheer her on and witness the unveiling and tasting of the perfect cocktail!
Cheer on Shawna as she strives to reach her $10,000 goal by supporting her journey to become our next challenger! Head over to her ‘Tip’ Jar now!
Meet Challenger Brennan!
I’m Brennan Marcoux, no, not that one, the other one (I have a distant older cousin who lives in Saskatoon with the EXACT same name, neat hey). I’m a farmer at heart, plumber/gasfitter by trade and now I am managing an outstanding local business, Saskatoon Wash World.
I live on an acreage South of Saskatoon with my beautiful wife and my two boys, with a third child along the way (pushing 3 under 3….oh boy)! Being a father is something I’ve always dreamed of and it is quickly proving to be the most challenging and rewarding role I’ve filled thus far.
I’m passionate about relationships, music and cooking. I’m sarcastic and funny to mostly just myself, unless you count pity laughs, then I’m hilarious. I love being outdoors, producing and harvesting as much of our own food as possible, and sandwiches….everything can be made into a sandwich.
I have seen the positive impact that Big Brothers Big Sisters has on a family and community, and it is nothing short of incredible. It creates lifelong relationships and support for any and all individuals and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it!
Bartender Challenge 