Arlette Prada: A Life of Adrenaline, Family, and Financial Clarity

Arlete  Rodrigues far from your stereotypical bookkeeper. While she serves as the owner of Equals Inc., a full-cycle bookkeeping firm supporting businesses across Canada, her professional precision is balanced by a personal life defined by "rainbows, unicorns, and sprinkles." With over 30 years of experience as a Certified Professional Bookkeeper, Arlette prides herself on bringing clarity to the often-overwhelming world of numbers, but as her vibrant personal presentation reveals, her heart belongs to her heritage, her family, and the next big adventure.

Roots in the Azores

Arlete’s story begins in the Azores, specifically on the island of Flores, the second smallest in the nine-island archipelago. Born in the capital, Santa Cruz, she maintains a deep pride in her Portuguese roots. She notes with a smile that her home island is actually closer to Canada (2,000 km) than it is to mainland Portugal (4,000 km). Though she immigrated to Canada at the age of two, the lush landscapes of Flores—famous for the blue hydrangeas that serve as natural property dividers—and the traditions of her parents have remained central to her identity. Whether it’s painting her face for a soccer match or traveling to Munich on a whim to watch Portugal defeat Spain in a UEFA shootout, Arlete bleeds green and red.

A Legacy of Hard Work and Adventure

Arlette attributes her lifelong love of travel to her parents, who had her trekking across the globe before her third birthday. This adventurous spirit has led her to seek out adrenaline-pumping experiences that most would shy away from. Despite a fear of heights, Arlette has:

• Completed a 13,000-foot tandem skydive in Ohio to experience a longer freefall than Canadian regulations allowed at the time.

• Conquered the CN Tower Skywalk in Toronto.

• Bungee jumped in Portugal.

• Swum with wild stingrays in the Cayman Islands, where her partner Michael worked for 25 years.

This boldness extends to her leisure time, where she is an avid curler. In a testament to her "say yes" attitude, she is set to represent Portugal in a mixed doubles curling tournament in Scotland this October—joking that while it might be because they were the only team to apply, she is embracing the experience fully.

The Center of Her World: Family

Above all her professional and personal accolades, Arlette’s favorite role is being an "Avo" (the Portuguese word for grandmother). Her life revolves around her three adult children and three grandchildren.

Her eldest, Bradley, works as a property manager at the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation Camp, carrying on a family connection to the land. Her daughter Britney, an entrepreneur in her own right, was a "cowgirl" from a young age, winning plaques and ribbons showing cattle at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Her youngest, Gabby, is her concert buddy, joining Arlette for "hair-down" fun at boy band shows and 5K runs.

The true "hero" of Arlette’s story, however, is her 12-year-old grandson, Jaden. Born with a 16% chance of survival due to a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Jaden defied the odds. Today, he is a focused hockey goalie and a talented golfer. In keeping with family rules, Arlette focuses on gifting "experiences" rather than things, recently taking Jaden to a skydiving simulator to share her love for flight.

Balancing the Black and White

In her professional life, Arlete is known for a "black and white" approach. There is no gray area when it comes to corporate books; she demands the same discipline in her work that she applied to her years of being a "professional bridesmaid" in the Portuguese community. Yet, she brings "energy and heart" to the local community, whether she is volunteering for a Rotary Club duck race or managing lunch orders for her colleagues.

Arlete Rodrigues is a woman who wears rose-colored glasses in life but keeps a sharp eye on the bottom line, proving that you can be a rock-and-roll-loving, skydiving grandmother and still be the most reliable person in the room when it comes to the numbers.

Lena gave the tanks and Paul gave the official thanks

Most of this was done by Gemini