Meet Sharon Bond: Kekuli Cafe Owner, Purppl Entrepreneur In Residence, Indigenous Tourism Board of BC Director-At-Large (plus 100 other things)
For Kekuli Cafe owner, Sharon Bond, food has always been more than nourishment. It is a way to tell stories, strengthen community, and show Indigenous resilience. 
Sharon grew up in Nlakapamux Territory as a member of the Nooaitch First Nation, where she developed a deep passion for sharing Indigenous culture. Sixteen years ago, after starting her journey selling bannock from a concession stand at a carwash, she was able to open the first Kekuli Café in West Kelowna, unaware then of how far her dream would spread.
Today, with Indigenous-owned franchise locations in Merritt and Kamloops, and a new one set to open soon in Fort St. John, Sharon’s vision continues to expand. But at the heart of it all is her own journey as an Indigenous woman, entrepreneur, and knowledge keeper.
“I wanted to be a teacher first, then wanted to own my own restaurant all through my 20s and 30s,” Sharon recalls. What started as a desire to run a café has become a larger purpose. “I don’t want to ‘just be an Indigenous business.’ I want the business to be the best it can be, to be as well-marketed as Starbucks.”
What she is creating, as Sharon puts it, is “ReconciliaAction.”
She views reconciliation not as an abstract idea, but as something lived out daily through her work. “Reconciliation is such a complex word; it means something different for everyone. For myself, I created an Indigenous business where people can choose to support in many different ways. Our company is established in areas where people can come to the cafe for coffee, bannock, and the experience. When you walk through the doors of a Kekuli, you are representing “reconciliation.” You are choosing to support and promote Indigenous businesses, which in turn enables us to provide excellent customer service and support our staff and families.”
This way of thinking and being has led to massive success, and recognition has followed. Kekuli Cafe has been featured on programs like You Gotta Eat Here and has surpassed milestones, winning the BC Achievement Award for Business of the Year and being recognized as the first Indigenous food franchise in the country. But Sharon measures her impact differently.
“I measure the success of Kekuli by the stories from people who have visited Kekuli Cafes around the province, knowing we are making a difference and an impact in our community. Having a business like Kekuli Cafe, that is sustainable and creates jobs and opportunities, is a measure of success.”
The staff she leads are a central part of her story. “Our staff are empowered to lead the business, and have been with us since day one. ‘Success’ means the creation of sustainable jobs, livable wages, a supportive environment, and care for each person, their family, and communities.”
Sharon is also actively involved in community building, mentoring more individuals than just her staff through her roles as coach/Entrepreneur In Residence at Purppl, Futurpreneur Canada, and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. She also serves on various boards, like the Indigenous Tourism BC Board and the Westbank First Nation Economic Development Commission.
When asked about legacy, Sharon looks both outward and inward. “Thinking long-term, having a Kekuli Cafe that people can look back on and say: ‘Wow, Kekuli Cafe has been here forever and is still making a positive impact in the community.’” She shares. “My legacy is being resilient, like Bannock. A Bread that gave sustenance to our people.”
At the same time, she points to her four grandchildren as her most important future. “My grandkids are my legacy, and Kekuli Cafe will continue to be resilient for their future.”
It has been and continues to be in Sharon’s nature to teach, share, and give back to the community. She mentors young people in business; her staff are empowered, and she has shared her experience in the restaurant, tourism, and hospitality industries.
At Purppl, we are inspired by her clarity, courage, and generosity. She demonstrates how reconciliation, entrepreneurship, and culture can coexist in practice.
This is part of Purppl’s Purposeful People series, celebrating the unique voices committed to building a just, regenerative economy.
