Linda Haynes, Co-Founder, ACE Bakery
Linda Haynes is co-founder of ACE Bakery Limited, an artisan bakery providing fresh and partially baked breads to hundreds of wholesale customers across Canada, New York State, the Midwest U.S.A, and the Bahamas. A percentage of ACE’s pre-tax profits is donated to charitable organizations in the principal centres where ACE breads are sold.
She is the author of the award winning best seller The ACE Bakery Cookbook and More from ACE Bakery. Her recipes have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines across Canada and the USA. TWO DISHES Mother and Daughter: two cooks, two lifestyles, two takes will be published by McClelland and Stewart in 2009.
After studying journalism, Linda worked as an ad copywriter, interviewer, and producer before turning her attention to food. She is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the Women’s Culinary Network. She and her husband, Martin Connell, founded Calmeadow in 1983. A world leader in providing access to financial services to the poor, Calmeadow is a non-profit organization, committed to encouraging sustainable and commercially viable micro-financial institutions in developing countries.
In addition to Calmeadow, Linda has been active serving on boards of arts and child centred agencies. She is a past chair of Variety Village, North America’s largest centre for physically and mentally challenged children.
Her honours and awards include: Order of Canada (2006), International Association of Culinary Professionals Humanitarian Award (2006), CESO Award for International Development (1997), Chief Barker Award (Variety Club) (1996), Entrepreneur of the Year (Ernst & Young, Canadian Business Magazine) (1995), and Canadian Women Who Make a Difference (Business Category) (1994).
Linda lives in Toronto with her husband, Martin Connell and their two children.