Contact Owner Bios
Jana-Rai
Email us: hailo11@mts.net
August 31, 2002 would change the trajectory of Jana-Raiʼs life forever; it was the birth day of her beautiful blue eyed, vivacious Weimaraner, Hailo. Cultivating a career, running a household and caring for a “one of a kind” Weim puppy inspired a search for a dog daycare in Winnipeg, to no avail. The question was posed and pondered, “How many other professionals require help with their canines?” As an entrepreneur, her pursuit naturally transformed into research, interviews, surveys, sleepless nights and culminated in journies to well known Toronto, Minneapolis and New York dog daycares… An idea was born.
Shelley and Jana-Rai always shared common complaints of being employed by others and always dreamed of owning a business together. They imagined giving others the opportunity to work hard in a nurturing environment where each client and team member alike felt value, respect and appreciation. Combined with the utter and complete love of dogs, a year and a half of dedicated research, creativity and hard work, Urban Canine was born. For Jana-Rai, Urban Canine redefined the expression “labour of love”.
Jana-Rai was born in 1978 and raised in Winnipeg by three unparalleled and incredible parents Georges, her daddy, Shelley, her mum and her Grams Lila. She was nurtured by her three loving parents, but molded by her two siblings: Jamie two years her senior and Jason, 11 years her junior. Family is everything to Jana-Rai.
She has spent the last three years sharing her time between London, UK and Winnipeg with Russell, her husband of seven years who attends law school at the University of Westminster. They both enjoy the culture, diversity and challenges of residing in two such unique and completely different places. She feels that living in one of the most dynamic cities in the world provides an exclusive edge to the ever-growing business.
With a background in photography and an insatiable thirst for creativity, Jana-Rai brings a distinct and personal flavor to Urban Canine. Her pursuit of excellence and thirst for knowledge always keeps her and the team provoked, stimulated and inspired. She prides herself in discovering talents within team and nurturing and developing those strengths. She is humbled everyday by the passion, dedication and talent of what she believes, whole-heartedly, is the dream team. Her prerequisites for hiring at UC are simple: an adoration for dogs, a great attitude, hard work and the inherent desire to learn. She believes everything else is trainable.
Jana-Rai relishes in being engrossed in every detail of the company. From growing the UC image, photography, marketing, website design, client relations, charity work, hiring, working with the team or dogs, to what most would consider the non-glamorous aspect of business ownership like cleaning, problem solving and renovations.
Jana-Rai feels so sincerely Blessed to come to a place that started as a dream and seven years later, is a loving family that welcomes other families and their beloved canines.
“My ideas and dreams are simply just that; without the incredible people I work with who believe, trust, encourage and empower me to make it all possible. It is impossible to talk about me, without talking about the Dream Team”
Shelley
Email Us: hailo11@mts.net
As the only child at home, Shelley grew up with dogs at her side as her constant companions. Being the daughter of an Ontario Provincial Police Officer in the small towns of North Western Ontario, police dogs were part and parcel of her family life. Due to her isolation geographically and her father’s occupation she learned as a young child that dogs could be many things to humans. They were friend, protector and loyal companion. As a very young woman Shelley moved to Winnipeg, got married and started her family. Raising her two children with their wonderful father was a privilege. Once her kids were in school Shelley embarked on her quest for a fulfilling career.
The next twenty or so years of her life were spent involved in the music business and briefly on the periphery of Winnipeg’s burgeoning film industry, It became more and more apparent that the front row seats and back stage passes to concerts brought her little personal satisfaction and the film sets and movie stars even less so. Glamorous maybe, but not life changing for anyone, including herself.
That was all to change quite drastically with a phone call and request from her daughter Jana-Rai for much needed help with her “special needs weim”. They still laugh out loud at that perception, as Hailo was just an ordinary puppy doing what puppies do. Their subsequent search for help led them to the life changing revelation that their own needs reflected those of countless others. That combined with their desire to start a family business was the advent of Urban Canine.
If hard work could be defined as fulfillment, Shelley got her wish. The learning curve for her and J.R. was steep and sometimes fraught with trials and tribulations. But the joy derived from this rewarding work was unprecedented in her life. Watching her daughter thrive on the challenges as she educated herself in “everything dog” was nothing short of amazing and becoming the student to this young teacher with her insatiable thirst for knowledge was inspiring.
Shelley was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2008 which naturally shifted her focus to fight for her life. With out the unwavering support of her partner/daughter Jana Rai and all of the” her girls” to back her she could not have left her business for two months and endured many more months of treatment without a second thought. These amazing women had her back and she eventually conquered her enemy, returning to a business that was not only intact but thriving. A year and a half later found her in Salmon Arm B.C. taking an intensive three week course in Dog Obedience training. Again she was covered and all was well due to the hard work of her team, J.R. and company.