Daughters of Penelope ‘Salute to Women’ Awards
It is always a privilege to be celebrating women who have achieved some measure of success in their careers. Yesterday, I was blessed to be able to celebrate the achievements of one woman who has my utmost admiration, Toronto’s style icon and entrepreneur, Mary Tripi, at the Daughters of Penelope Salute to Women luncheon in Toronto. It just so happens that Mary was also honoured along with a woman I have wanted to meet for years, the former Mayor of Mississauga, The Honourable Hazel McCallion. Also honoured in this salute to women were Gloria Bazos, Aspa Kostopoulos and a number of Greek female doctors in our community.
Congratulations to all!
Mary Tripi and The Hon. Hazel McCallion
The Daughters of Penelope organizers and honourees
Mary’s son and business partner, Nicholas Vrettakos
Mary gives a rousing speech
Season 3, Episode 4 airs tonight on Extraordinary Women TV on Rogers TV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2014 – Season 3, episode four, of Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner airs tonight featuring special coverage and interviews from the Canadian Beauty Innovation Awards. Shannon speaks with Natalie Lewis, founder, Canadian Beauty Innovation Awards; Linda Leatherdale, VP Marketing and Business Development, Cambria and financial columnist; Mary Tripi, hair stylist icon and entrepreneur; and Academy Award-nominated actress and wellness advocate, Mariel Hemingway. Also featured are interviews with founder and executive director, Re-Think Breast Cancer, MJ DeCoteau; and renowned Toronto artist, Beverley Jenkins.
The show airs tonight at 7pm ET on Rogers TV Cable 10/63 in Toronto/Scarborough.
The show aims to empower women get their dreams into action by providing the tips and tools from some of today’s most extraordinary women. This season, Shannon goes on-location around the city of Toronto to speak with women from a range of pursuits about their passions and challenges — and how they overcome them.
Now in its third season on Rogers TV, the television series began as a live web TV talk show for women in Canada, and has grown into an inspirational, relevant and informative resource for women who want to follow their hearts and dreams, and live extraordinary lives. In January 2013, the show began airing on Rogers TV in Toronto/Scarborough, with 46 episodes being produced and aired over the first two seasons. The show has also aired in several other Rogers’ Ontario markets. And last season featured the “Woman to Watch” regular segment.
Shannon’s guests are women from all walks of life and industries, including: arts and entertainment, business, charities, media, sports, experts – and more. Some past notable guests include: entrepreneur Debbie Travis; singers Jully Black and Sarah Slean; philanthropist, The Hon. Margaret McCain; dean of law faculty at the U of T, Mayo Moran; fashion designer and Canadian icon, Linda Lundstrom; president/CEO, ROM, Janet Carding; Rebecca MacDonald, founder, Just Energy; actress Sarena Parmar; Plan Canada’s president/CEO, Rosemary McCarney; among many others.
Nearly 300 episodes have been posted and archived on the web for public access since its inception in September 2010, when it began as a live web TV series, and 52 episodes have been produced to-date for Rogers TV. Extraordinary Women TV is produced and owned by Shannon Skinner and Comfy Chair Productions Inc., and is filmed in Toronto.
Rogers TV Toronto’s full scheduling information: click here.
Inside The Private World of Mary Tripi
The moment we make the decision to pursue a dream or inner calling, we probably have no idea how long and far that journey will take us. Or how long the passion will last, given passion’s “ebb and flow” nature. Besides, creating value in this world takes time and space. This morning, I was reminded of that because I realized it was one year ago when I first met, and subsequently interviewed, one of Toronto’s iconic women entrepreneurs and hair stylists, Mary Tripi, who at 74 years of age was starting a new business adventure — and I was starting a new dream for myself.
By the time most people reach their early 60s, on average, they begin winding down their work life in favour of retirement. But, at 74 years — more than a decade past the median retirement age for most women (61.4 years, according to the CBC), Tripi was gearing-up her business and opening a new salon in Toronto. In the time I had spent with Tripi, what I discovered was a woman who has no intention of slowing down any time soon, but has a vision for herself that is fully alive and crystal clear.
I discovered one other thing: what I want to be when I grow up.
Now I am not talking about starting an avant-garde and cutting-edge salon business — that’s not my forte. Surely people would not pay me to give hair design advice. What I am talking about is continuing to live my passion with unstoppable energy and creativity, and maintain a youthful presence — well past the age of retirement.
Like Mary Tripi.
“Every person is beautiful.” – Mary Tripi
Born and raised in Greece, it was at the young age of 14 when Tripi began her study of hair design. Three years later, she moved in Canada, bringing with her a unique vision forged from her European training and her personal creative energy. She launched her career in Toronto’s Forest Hill neighbourhood before opening her first midtown salon in 1962, and quickly made a name for herself as an innovator in hair design. Constantly challenging herself as an industry leader, she is inspired by her clients to continue developing new creative approaches. Tripi has been named to several prestigious associations, including the Guild of Hair Design and Style Directors Committee, and she was honoured to represent Canada at the Intercoiffure in Paris.
Inspiring her son, Nicholas Vrettakos, who spent many days as a young boy in her salon absorbing the creative energy and vision, Nicholas learned the tricks of the trade, becoming a leading colorist in his own right, and eventually joined Tripi’s business, The Private World of Mary Tripi (the name is inspired by a friend’s New York-based salon many moons ago).
When the opportunity arose this past year to move her Yorkville salon, The Private World of Mary Tripi, to another location (also in Yorkville), she used that opportunity to innovate, again. True to her visionary and forward-thinking nature, the new salon includes the addition of Studio Beauty 890, a chic and modern full-service beauty boutique, in partnership with beauty expert, Cheryl Gushue.
Upon delving into Tripi’s business philosophy, in a world where fashion and lifestyles are constantly shifting, it became apparent that it reflects her personal inner values. Says Tripi, “Your hair expression should reflect these changes and move in parallel with them. I believe there is beauty and style to be found in every woman. The stylist’s final decision should be a mirror image of your individual personality and lifestyle. I create a look designed to bring that out in each of my customers.”
As Tripi continues to impact the lives of many women and men in Toronto, and creates her legacy, at the heart of her passion is a desire to inspire our city’s youth to not only look and feel their best, but also to be empowered and follow their dreams.
I want to be like Mary Tripi when I grow up.
To learn more about Mary Tripi and the keys to her success, check out my interview with her on Extraordinary Women TV.
Move over, Marilyn Munroe!
One of my favourite things in the world to do is visit The Private World of Mary Tripi hair salon in Toronto. I am having so much fun experimenting with new hair styles. Mary truly has the magic touch and is so creative, and I am so grateful for her.
Today, she did my hair “Marilyn Munroe” style. It was a lot of fun!
Tune-in tonight for Extraordinary Women TV on Rogers TV: episode 17
Tonight on Extraordinary Women TV on Rogers TV: episode #17
special guests: recording artist Anna Cyzon; PLUS Toronto icon and hairstylist, Mary Tripi
TORONTO, May 6, 2013 – On tonight’s episode of Extraordinary Women TV, host Shannon Skinner speaks with Canadian recording artist, Anna Cyzon about her latest EP release, inspiration behind her music and her career as a host of eTalk and MTV; PLUS Toronto icon and hairstylist, Mary Tripi, owner of The Private World of Mary Tripi salon, who talks about beauty and the importance of taking care of ourselves, and why, at 73 years of age, she is opening a new salon. Tune-in to Rogers TV Cable 10 & 63 in Toronto/Scarborough tonight for this 17th episode at 7:30 pm ET.
Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner is the first-of-its-kind web TV talk show that is an inspirational, relevant and informative resource for women who want to follow their hearts and dreams. In January 2013, the show began airing on Rogers TV Cable 10 & 63 in Toronto/Scarborough Monday nights at 7:30 pm ET, with repeats throughout the week.
Shannon’s guests are successful women from all walks of life – many high-profile — from Toronto and across Canada, from a range of industries, including: arts and entertainment, business, finance, charities, eco, media, experts – and more. Some notable guests include: singers/songwriters Suzie McNeil, Sarah Slean and Amy Sky; news director/anchor, Kym Geddes; media personality/relationship expert Jen Kirsch; journalist/author Jan Wong; fashion designer and Canadian icon, Linda Lundstrom; businesswomen Rebecca MacDonald (Just Energy) and Kelsey Ramsden (Belvedere Place Development); actresses Sarena Parmar, Lisa Berry; Plan Canada’s Rosemary McCarney; former Chatelaine editor Rona Maynard; among many others.
More than 200 one-on-one, in-studio interviews have been conducted and archived since its inception in September 2010.
Rogers TV’s full scheduling information: click here.
