Event in Sherwood Park promotes woman-owned business and supports a shelter organization

With International Women’s Day approaching, more than 100 local businesses gathered in Sherwood Park, not just to promote women in business but also to support a good cause.

Natalie Halabi has been in business since 2019, specializes in different tattoo art, piercing and permanent jewelry.

“Just being around the art and being super creative has inspired me to get into tattooing,” said Halabi. “It’s been about four and a half years now in the tattoo business itself.”

This is the second annual Queen of Hearts Women’s show to promote and showcase the importance of women in the business industry.

“Just being able to put myself out there, showing everybody that we can do it and we could be a mom, we can be a wife, we can be a business owner and we can do it all to be honest,” said Halabi.

A women’s show like this one in Sherwood Park is a fitting opportunity to partner with a charity organization like ‘a safe place’ to raise money and donations to help women and children from domestic violence.

“This is all about women and it’s focused around that so we thought that this would be a great opportunity to raise awareness,” said Carly Letros co-founder of Queen of Hearts.

“There have been many stories that I’ve heard where women were suffering from certain situations. So the fact that I am working towards a goal with all these women to be able to help these specific people is super fulfilling,” said Halabi.

According to the executive director 129 women and 60 children were sheltered in 2024.

“Stays at shelter are increasing, it’s harder to find safe and affordable housing so they are staying a bit longer with us,” said Karen Kadatz, executive director of a Safe Place.

They hope that this event will help raise money and receive donations to help the women and children from domestic abuse.

“We don’t require that someone has to leave, we just want to help them be safe,” said Kadatz.