Ratana Stephens

Upon arriving in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the Stephens' operated Golden Lotus Natural Foods, a restaurant Arran had opened in 1967, and now regarded as the first vegetarian restaurant in Canada. The Stephens' would go on to open several more successful vegetarian restaurants and a popular health food store.

In 1990, Arran opened Nature's Path, North America's first certified organic breakfast cereal production facility in Delta, British Columbia, while Ratana ran their popular Woodlands restaurant. In 1992 Ratana joined Arran at Nature's Path, eventually taking the position of co-CEO. Two of Ratana's four children, Jyoti and Arjan, hold positions of leadership at Nature's Path. Nature's Path has grown to become the largest exclusively organic breakfast food manufacturer in North America.

Stephens has served on the Boards of Directors of several prominent Canadian institutions, including the United Way, the BC Children's Hospital, and the Royal BC Museum. From 2009 to 2014, Ratana served on the Advisory Council for BC Children's Hospital Foundation's Night of Miracles South Asian Gala. Since 2018, she has served on the Faculty Advisory Board for the Food and Land Systems for University of British Columbia.

Ratana and Arran Stephens, and their family company have been involved in many philanthropic efforts over the years, primarily to the following:

Food Banks across North America (over CAD $41,000,000 in food between 2010 and 2023) serving those in need

Gardens for Good, an initiative of Nature's Path (establishing organic food gardens in underprivileged neighborhoods, community centers and schools)

Vancouver General Hospital ($2,000,000 to the Gastroenterology Department)

Vancouver Coastal Health Withdrawal Management Centre

British Columbia Children's Hospital, where Ratana served on the Board of Directors from 2018 to 2024.

St. Paul's Hospital Wellness Garden

Royal British Columbia Museum, where Ratana has served on the Board of Directors since 2018.

United Way, where Ratana served on the board of directors.

University of British Columbia (UBC Farm / Land & Food Systems)

University of Victoria (bursaries for students)

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Simon Fraser University

Science of Spirituality Meditation Centre