Sharla Boonstra

With almost 15 years in the lighting industry, I have built my career around helping people create spaces they love while growing businesses, teams, and brands along the way. As the General Manager and Part Owner of Chateau Lighting, I have played a key role in transforming the company from a traditional lamp and ceiling fan retailer into a destination for lighting, furniture, décor, staging, and commercial design solutions. My passion lies in creating showroom experiences that are inviting, inspiring, and highly shoppable. I thrive on reimagining spaces, curating product offerings, and helping customers envision what's possible in their homes and projects. Throughout my career, I have successfully expanded product categories, developed strategic supplier partnerships, launched new business initiatives, and built high-performing teams that genuinely enjoy what they do. Most recently, I spearheaded the launch of Chateau's Commercial Division, which has grown into a thriving segment of the business, securing and managing multi-million-dollar residential and commercial development projects. I have also been proud to help foster partnerships with industry-leading suppliers, including contributing to the growth and market recognition of emerging Canadian lighting brands such as Vinci. One of my greatest accomplishments has been helping lead Chateau Lighting to earn the Consumer Choice Award for five consecutive years, a reflection of our team's dedication to exceptional service, expertise, and customer experience. In 2025, our company faced one of its biggest challenges when a fire destroyed our showroom. Leading our team through the transition to a new location taught me valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability, and leadership. Together, we rebuilt, reimagined, and emerged stronger than ever. At my core, I am passionate about design, business development, team leadership, and creating memorable customer experiences. Whether I'm transforming a showroom, mentoring team members, building supplier relationships, or developing new opportunities for growth, I believe success comes from combining creativity, hard work, and a genuine love for what you do.