Impact Story: Stephanie Markakis-Plouffe

Rise Volunteer

Edmonton, AB

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What’s the best part of volunteering with Rise? For Stephanie Markakis-Plouffe, it’s the “lightbulb moment” when an aspiring entrepreneur realizes that they really are capable of achieving their dream.

Stephanie has been volunteering with Rise for more than five years, supporting dozens of clients through one-on-one mentorship and providing her expertise to many more as a Subject Matter Expert. She has been one of the most active members of the digital Rise Community, logging in daily to provide guidance and support to Rise alumni.

Stephanie is a long-time entrepreneur who has built businesses that have both succeeded and floundered.

“I wish I had a mentor,” she says. “When I started in entrepreneurship 20-some-odd years ago, there wasn’t anybody.”

She recognized this gap while she was working to start a bakery. She realized that no one was talking about how to start a business in the food industry, so she got to work making plans and began mentoring.

Stephanie describes volunteering with Rise as a special experience.

“Rise allows people who have mental health or addiction challenges to come in and start a new life; to start something that they’ve always wanted,” she says.

Stephanie understands entrepreneurship, but she also understands what it’s like to have mental health struggles, and she says these experiences have made her connections with her mentees more meaningful. “To support somebody who is going through something and let them know that they’re not alone…that is important to me because it allows people to go ‘hey, there is support out there’.”

In addition to her extensive personal background, Stephanie has also expanded her mentoring toolkit by becoming certified in Mental Health First Aid and deepening her understanding of trauma-informed care and psychological safety.

Stephanie credits her impact as a mentor to her breadth of experience, not just in business, but in life as well. She says having someone walk beside you who has been through it themselves can be life-changing.

“Knowing that I’ve come out the other end, even though I’ve had some failures along the way…allows [my mentees] to go ‘hey, she can do it. So can I’.”

Rise clients aren’t the only ones who benefit from the mentor relationship. Stephanie enjoys seeing her mentees gain skills, confidence and experience. Recently, a client told her she was the first mentor who allowed them to “think the way they needed to think.”

“That really filled my cup,” she says, “and reminded me why I do what I do.”

What would Stephanie say to aspiring volunteers?

“Come on, come on, I welcome you! You’re going to have a blast.”

Congratulations to Stephanie Markakis-Plouffe, 2025 Scotiabank Volunteer of the Year.