Northeast youth prove business chops at YBEX award night

Equine therapy centres, cattle ranches, skateboard shops, catering and pet care centres were some of the business proposals Northeast youth received awards for at the Youth Business Excellence Awards.

There were 24 awards presented at the awards night, which were organized by Community Futures NewSask, at the Tisdale Civic Centre May 6.

“The board of directors of Community Futures NewSask really takes pride in empowering youth,” said Cameron Choquette, the chair of the organization’s board of directors. “The event is a display of our commitment to engaging youth in our region and empowering them to become entrepreneurs.”

Students from St. Brieux School received 14 awards. That was followed by five from Cumberland College’s business program, four from Nipawin’s L.P. Miller, one from the Kinistin Business Group and one from Arborfield School.

 “They’re very unique,” said Judy Childs, NewSask’s general manager, about the business plans. “Everyone had a great plan and it’s so exciting to watch the students, their enthusiasm when they win and being part of the event.”

Choquette, who also serves as NewSask’s youth representative, said the plans were outstanding.

“The board has a chance to look at them and it’s really a testament to their teachers – and to the communities that they work and live in – [that] students have a wide breadth of ideas and opportunities that they’d like to get involved with,” he said. “It shows their commitment to making their communities better.”

The students will receive cash prizes worth $5,050 at the event, while their schools will receive $2,125. Over the 16 years NewSask has held the event, winning youth have received $65,950 in cash prizes.

The awards have an effect on the future of the youth participating. Childs recalled one youth.

“He started submitting in Grade 6, went through to Grade 12, went on to university and became a computer engineer. He then started his own online radio station. He also has his own apps store and he’s won several youth awards.”

One member of Childs’ staff, Diana Hoppe, received an award in 2013.

Choquette said NewSask plans to hold the event next year.

“We just hope to engage more schools and more communities in the project to increase submissions because we see the impact of students that have gone through the program and we feel that it’s extremely valuable to teach entrepreneurship to as many young people as we can.”

Award winners