“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the launch of ROSE Magazine”

By Ruby Cole-Ellis, Editor & Co-Founder

Looking around this room tonight is honestly a little surreal. Two years ago, ROSE was just an idea, a dream to create a magazine for millennial women, by millennial women. A place where we could celebrate entrepreneurship, creativity, resilience, and the incredible stories that often go untold. What started as a conversation has become a magazine, a community, and hopefully the beginning of something much bigger.

Before we celebrate, there are a few people I need to thank.

First, my best friend and co-founder, Rachel Stewart. Rachel, thank you for believing in this vision from the very beginning and for jumping headfirst into what was, at the time, a completely crazy idea. Thank you for the late nights, the long unpaid hours, the endless brainstorming sessions, and the countless moments where we had no idea what we were doing but decided to do it anyway. Building something from scratch is not for the faint of heart, and I could not have asked for a better partner on this journey.

I also want to acknowledge our co-founder, Luci Morales, who couldn’t be with us tonight but is certainly here in spirit. Luci has been by my side for years, and at this point we’re practically the same person. Luci, thank you for saying yes to this dream and for pouring your extraordinary talent into every page of this first issue. The beautiful design work, the layouts, the ads, was all her beautiful work.

I also need to thank my husband, Matt.  Ah, my poor husband…

Every time I come home with a “small idea,” he somehow knows it’s about to become a full-scale operation. Thank you for the late nights, the extra parenting duties, the driving, the lifting, the setup, the takedown, and for supporting every ambitious venture I’ve ever dreamed up. None of this would have been possible without your support.

A very special thank you goes to our title sponsors, Zona, the Best Western team, and Freude Coffee. Thank you for believing in ROSE and for helping make tonight possible. Zona, your generosity, kindness, and commitment to supporting women and small businesses are truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your story, for opening your doors to us, and for creating such a beautiful space for this celebration.

I would also like to thank my dear friend Tanya Rogalczyk. Tanya is the kind of friend every entrepreneur  needs… the kind who says “yes” before you even finish pitching the idea. I am pretty sure half of the times you have no idea what you are committing to. 

Your support, encouragement, and generosity have meant so much, and I am incredibly grateful to have you in my corner.

I would like to name all of the sponsors of tonight, if you are here if you could please wave.

• Thank you to Melody with Inspiring Virtues, our Pop Star Popcorn Sponsor.
• Thank you to Annie with ABC Creation & Design, our amazing Sparkle Glitter Tattoo Sponsor.
• Thank you to our Bestie Bracelet Station, Bright Learners Academy.
• Thank you to our Beauty Bar Sponsor, Lauretta Gorman with Mary Kay, make sure you stop by and get glammed up!
• Thank you to Allyson with Meaningful Fundraising and Events for our delicious Candy Bar.
• Thank you to Nicholle and all of the Meraki Collective for our gorgeous Swag Bags. 
• Thank you to Marci from Special Event Rentals Red Deer for Sponsoring our Bar.
• Thank you to our Sip Happens Sponsor, Chelsea Zimmerman Real Estate.
• Thank you to The Maby Studio Team for our digital photobooth and oursetting up this room so beautifully, and particularly Robyn and Alana who are working as ushers tonight.
• Last but not least, thank you to the literal life of the party, DJ Packard! Literally the best entertainer in all of Alberta.

And finally, I want to thank all of our contributors, featured women, creatives, volunteers, family members, friends, and supporters. Tonight would not exist without you.

The truth is, these aren’t just businesses to me. Many of the people in this room have become some of my closest friends. When I first arrived here, I didn’t have family nearby or a built-in community. Over the years, you became that community. 

Because the reality is that building a business can be hard. We don’t get staff parties. We don’t always get recognition. Most days, we’re simply showing up, solving problems, and hoping we’re moving in the right direction.

So tonight is for all of you.

It’s for the dreamers, the builders, the risk-takers, and the people brave enough to bet on themselves.

It’s for the incredible stories featured in our first issue. It’s for the women who continue to lift one another up instead of competing with one another.

And it’s for every person in this room who chose to support a dream before it became reality.

Thank you for believing in ROSE Magazine. Thank you for being part of this journey. Most importantly, thank you for being here tonight.

Now LET’S PARTY!