For raising heart and stroke awareness

Food is both Stephanie Bertossi’s business and passion. Bertossi is the director of operations for four restaurants—il Mercato in Halifax and Bedford and Bish World Cuisine and Ristorante a Mano in downtown Halifax—which she owns with her husband, Maurizio. “I love reading about food, talking about food, and thinking about food,” says Bertossi, who credits her staff with contributing to her restaurants’ popularity. “You need great people working with you to achieve success.”

Six years ago, Bertossi’s belief in teamwork was reinforced after she suffered a stroke at 44. “As a business owner, one of my biggest fears was that I wouldn’t be able to return to work,” she says. With difficulty focusing and some memory loss, Bertossi thought she might not be able to manage her staff of 140. “The only way to come back was with their support,” she says. “I had to be honest about my limitations.” Although the transition wasn’t easy, it has worked. Together Bertossi and her employees developed strategies to overcome hurdles through trial and error, such as making sure she receives everything in writing and stays in constant touch with staff.

Bertossi has since become a board of director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia. “Even with a family history, I was surprised I had a stroke,” she says. “Ignorance is not bliss.” According to the Foundation, lack of awareness about strokes is common, especially among women. “Only one in eight women is aware that heart disease and stroke are their biggest health concerns,” says Heart and Stroke Foundation CEO Menna MacIsaac. “By sharing her story, Stephanie’s contribution to our efforts to raise awareness has been immense.”

Bertossi knows more voices are needed, so in early May she hosted a fundraiser called Heart and Stroke Red Hot in the City, where she gathered 200 women at Bish World Cuisine. “If I’ve learned anything, it’s that with a great team of people, the sky is the limit.”