Being able to call Peninsula anytime and get HR advice changed everything

Milk Jar Candle Company started as a small creative project in Calgary, Alberta. Founder Holly Singer began making candles at home while attending nursing school, never expecting it to turn into a growing business.

Today, Milk Jar is more than a candle company. The business creates handmade candles, hosts candle-making workshops, collaborates with local brands, and most importantly, builds an inclusive workplace where one-third of employees have a disability.

As the company grew from a solo operation to a team of more than 20 employees, Holly began encountering new responsibilities around HR compliance, workplace health and safety, and employee documentation; three areas she had never formally trained for.

That’s when Peninsula entered the picture

“It freed up so much of my time so I could actually work on the business again.”

Like many Canadian small business owners, Holly was managing HR decisions on her own while trying to run the business. When employee issues arose, she often turned to the Internet to find answers.

But managing people fairly and legally isn’t always straightforward and easy.

“I would Google what we’re supposed to do, but you don’t always get the right information—or information for your province.”

Without structured HR guidance, challenges started to add up:

• No formal employment contracts or HR policies
• Limited understanding of health and safety requirements
• Difficulty managing employee issues or setting boundaries
• Stress from trying to support employees personally while also running the business

Holly describes that period simply: “It was exhausting.”

When Milk Jar partnered with Peninsula, the goal wasn’t just compliance; it was clarity.

Peninsula helped Holly establish foundational HR and health & safety processes that growing businesses often lack, including:

• Contracts and documentation tailored to different employee roles
• A full health and safety manual designed specifically for their workplace
• Workplace training programs, including harassment prevention

The partnership also gave Holly access to HR advisors whenever complex situations arose.

“Being able to call Peninsula 24 hours a day and ask an HR question changed everything.”

Instead of guessing, she could make informed decisions aligned with labour standards and best practices.

“Structure protects the business, but it also helps employees succeed.”

One of the most valuable moments came when Holly had to navigate disciplinary issues and the potential termination of an employee something many business owners dread.

Peninsula guided the team through proper documentation, training requirements, and the correct steps to ensure both fairness and legal protection.

“The paper trail protects the business, but it also ensures the employee understands what they need to succeed.”

This guidance helped Holly realize that structure isn’t about being harsh; it’s all about setting employees up for success.

With HR processes, policies, and training systems in place, Milk Jar began operating more smoothly.

The team now understands expectations from day one; workplace policies are clearly documented, and Holly spends far less time managing issues she wasn’t trained to handle.

“I didn’t even realize how much time I was spending on things outside the business.”

Since implementing these systems, Milk Jar has continued to grow—manufacturing around 70,000 candles a year and expanding wholesale partnerships across Canada and internationally.

Most importantly, Holly can focus on what matters most: building an inclusive workplace and growing the brand.