Sip, Learn & Create | Your Wealth, Your Wishes, Your Legacy

If something unexpected happened tomorrow, would the people you love know what to do?

Who would make important decisions about your healthcare? Who would manage your finances? Would your wishes be known, and would the right people have the authority to act on your behalf?

These aren't always easy questions to think about, but they're important ones to have answers to.

Estate planning is often something we put off, assuming it's for later in life or something to think about once we've accumulated more wealth. But it's about much more than what happens when we pass away. It's about protecting yourself, your wishes, and the people you love while you're still here.

This November, we're bringing this important conversation to Sip, Learn & Create for an evening of practical learning, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connections.

Whether you're a business owner, a parent, a professional, or simply someone who wants to be better prepared for life's unexpected moments, this is a conversation worth having.

🎤 Meet Our November Speaker: Colby Marie Althouse

We're excited to welcome Colby Marie Althouse, Notary Public, of Colby Marie Notary Public in Nanaimo.

Born and raised in Nanaimo, Colby has a genuine connection to the community she serves.

Her professional journey brings together financial services and legal education. Before becoming a Notary Public, she spent approximately 10 years working with financial institutions, including four years as a Business Account Manager with RBC.

She went on to complete her Master of Arts in Applied Legal Studies at Simon Fraser University and was commissioned as a British Columbia Notary Public in June 2022.

Colby specializes in estate planning and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Canada. She is also pursuing a STEP Canada Diploma in Trusts and Estates.

Through her practice, she helps individuals and families approach estate planning with greater confidence, clarity, and care.

💡 What We'll Explore Together

During her 30-minute presentation, followed by a 5-minute Q&A, Colby will walk us through four important areas of Estate Planning in British Columbia.

1. Wills

Understand how a Will helps protect your loved ones, appoint an Executor, and ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

2. Enduring Powers of Attorney

Learn how to appoint someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs if you become unable to do so yourself.

3. Representation Agreements

Understand how to appoint someone to make personal care and healthcare decisions on your behalf when you cannot make those decisions yourself.

4. Protecting Your Legacy

Explore why estate planning goes beyond signing documents. It's also about understanding how your assets are owned, protecting your relationships, and ensuring your wishes are respected.

Whether you've already started planning or haven't given estate planning much thought, you'll leave with a better understanding of why these arrangements matter and what you may want to consider for yourself and your family.

🤝 And That's Just Part of the Evening!

At Sip, Learn & Create, we believe some of the best things happen when people come together.

Picture this: You arrive, grab a bite, and start chatting with someone you haven't met before. Maybe you reconnect with a familiar face, exchange business ideas, or discover that someone across the room has exactly the experience or connection you've been looking for.

Then comes an opportunity to learn something new, ask questions, share perspectives, and take part in an interactive activity designed to get people talking and connecting.

And we don't stop there!

We'll leave plenty of time for open networking, so you can continue conversations, meet new people, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities to collaborate.

We'll wrap up the evening with closing remarks, a thank-you to the local businesses and community partners who make these gatherings possible, and our raffle!

Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, freelancer, professional, or simply someone who enjoys meeting people and learning something useful, there's a place for you in this room.

Come on your own or bring a friend. You don't need to know anyone beforehand. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to connect!

💛 More Than Networking. A Community That Grows Together.

Sip, Learn & Create is about bringing people together to learn, connect, share ideas, and grow alongside one another.

We're building a welcoming space where local entrepreneurs, small business owners, professionals, and community members can form genuine relationships, discover new opportunities, and learn from one another.

It's not about collecting business cards or making as many introductions as possible. It's about the conversations that turn into relationships, the ideas that spark something new, and the connections that continue long after the evening ends.

Whether you're joining us for the first time or returning for another evening, we're always happy to welcome you!

🌿 Our Community Partners

A big thank you to the local businesses and community partners who help make Sip, Learn & Create possible:

• Amanda Gangoso | Osonourished
• Columbia Bakery
• Cosmic Salt
• Dairy Queen, Country Club Mall
• Datasphere Dynamics
• Kare Tax Services
• Koffeeology
• Mayned Decor
• Michael Furlott | Financial Services & Life Insurance
• Modern Marketing Advantage
• Self Discovery Wisdom Podcast

Your support helps us continue bringing our community together, creating opportunities to learn, and building meaningful connections. 💛

📍 Join Us in Nanaimo This November!

Whether you're coming from Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan, or elsewhere on Central Vancouver Island, we'd love to have you join us.

Event Details

📅 Tuesday, November 17, 2026

⏰ 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

📍 Beban Park Social Centre, Nanaimo, BC

🎟️ $15 per person

👥 Limited to 35 seats

Ready to join us? Reserve your spot today!

Come for the learning, stay for the connections, and leave feeling part of something bigger.

We can't wait to see you there!

Sip, Learn & Create 💛

Meet good people. Learn something useful. Build meaningful connections.

📝 The Fine Print

• Seating is intentionally limited to create meaningful conversations
• Refunds or ticket credits for a future Sip, Learn & Create event are available up to 72 hours before the event
• Questions? Reach out to Wealth@BinishaGiri.com or Mortgage@DamienRoss.ca