Marlene Haley

Teacher-turned-businessperson Marlene Haley is the owner of The Merry Dairy, Ottawa’s first ice-cream truck business dedicated to nut-free original-recipe frozen custard and premium ice cream. Since 2012, The Merry Diry has become a favorite among locals, serving more than 100,000 signature frozen-custard cones from their shop on Fairmont Avenue and their fleet of Grumman trucks. Numerous publications and media outlets, including Ottawa Magazine, CBC Radio, and CTV News have chronicled the evolution of the business from a single ice cream truck to its increasing involvement in Ottawa’s amazing community scene. Marlene lives in Hintonburg, Ottawa, with her husband and two children and can often be found at the shop greeting first-time customers and loyal fans.