Our Gem Story

Hello Artisan Chocolate Lovers!

We are Mimi and Nathan, the lucky people who get to write the next chapters of the Gem Chocolates story, that Glenn, the original founder, first started writing.  We are so grateful to Glenn for entrusting us to take care of his baby. As you may already be aware, Glenn opened Gem Chocolates back in December 2011 after a successful career in corporate finance.  The genesis of the name of our chocolate business, Gem, comes from the initials of Glenn and his two children, Eamon and Madeleine.

The name of our chocolate business will continue to be Gem because we love and believe in that word. We feel everyone is unique and a Gem in their own right!  We have had the privilege of being part of the neurodivergent community for almost two decades.  It truly has been a blessing to be the parents of our sons.  Our younger son, Josh, has provided us the blessing of seeing the unique abilities and possibilities of those in the neurodivergent community.

For much of her career, Mimi had been a CPA focusing on corporate and personal tax, founded and operated her successful accounting firm for almost 24 years as well as active participation as a Director in Boards of several nonprofit organizations.  After years spent building her firm and fostering connections with nearly a thousand clients, there still seemed to be something missing.  The same goes for Nathan.  After decades in a career focused on scaling small and medium-sized businesses as well as multinational companies for exponential growth, there was a nagging sense that something else still needed to be done.

And along came Gem…

After her last tax season in mid-2023, Mimi decided to retire from the world of public practice accounting.  She wanted to take some time to figure out what she really wanted to do.  After some soul searching and a number of foodie trips, her thoughts were beginning to crystallize.  Just before her first ever Spring Break vacation in 2024, Mimi and Nathan saw that Gem Chocolates was listed for sale and the rest, as they say, is history.  For Nathan, it was a complete no-brainer, working with Mimi again, in a chocolate shop!

Mimi and Nathan officially took over Gem Chocolates in the Summer of 2024.  We will continue to craft our award-winning, artisan chocolates, made fresh in the heart of Kerrisdale, Vancouver using only natural, local, and pronounceable ingredients but absolutely zero preservatives or chemical additives.  Our purpose is a bit different though.  Gem Chocolates is a business of inclusion, especially for members in the neurodivergent community, to learn a wide range of skills in running a business and being accountable for taking care of customers’ needs as well as the needs of their Gem team members. 

Come by and visit our bright Gem blue & white shop at 2029 West 41st Avenue between Maple Street and East Boulevard. You can also purchase our chocolates online here on our site.