Two of Weyburn's up-and-comer-entrepreneurs took home prize money from the 2021 YouthBiz Competition, and the winners were announced earlier this week.

$2,200 in prize money was awarded to students in southeast Saskatchewan for their efforts in describing their business ideas and developing business plans. This year, 275 students from 12 schools registered to compete in the youth contest. 

"Youth Biz is a business competition for young people, and it requires them to think big, grab an idea for a business that they are interested in, or maybe that they've already been working, and write about it, following along with a very simple business plan," said General Manager with Community Futures Sunrise, Verna O'Neill.

"They connect to the small business community to do some research for their plan, and they also work out the numbers and the dollars and cents of with this business. So it connects really well to that financial literacy piece that we do feel is so important to help our young people understand."

This year, the competition was modified.

"Of course, due to COVID, we did have some pivots and some restrictions that we needed to keep in mind. YouthBiz was delivered to the students in the schools totally virtually this year. We were really proud of the way we were able to modify the delivery, still have a really great quality experience for the students," said O'Neill.

"It took a ton of support from our teachers within the school system and we already know that they're the superheroes in the in the school, and all of this so hats off to them and hats off to our sponsors who have really supported YouthBiz and youth entrepreneurship for the 15 years that we've offered this program, and that's our sponsors Information Services Corp., Weyburn Credit Union and Sasktel this year, a big thank you for their generosity."

In the Grade 6 to 8 category, first place and $500 in prize money was awarded to Kamryn Doud of Radville for her jewelry business, Dzigns. Second place and $300 went to Brooke Dzeryk and Kate Dalziel of Estevan for their lunch delivery service, Bistro 2 Go. Third place and $150 was awarded to Ember Sim of Weyburn for her rock jewelry and gifts business, Embers Alley.

In the Grade 9 to 12 category, first place and $500 went to Brianna Macfarlane from the Carnduff Education Complex for her RV restoration business Redemption Roads Custom Van Builds. Ella Leko from Weyburn Comprehensive School earned second place and a prize of $300 for her bakery Cookie Co. Third place and $150 was awarded to Connor McIndoe from Midale School for his hunting supply store Gunners.

Approximately 2,825 young people in southeast Saskatchewan were able to participate this year.

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Above, Chad Klein (teacher, St. Michael School), Ember Sim (YouthBiz winner), and Verna O’Neill (General Manager, CF Sunrise)

Achievement Awards were given to students whose entries displayed outstanding qualities, worthy of special recognition. Students from Assiniboia Park Elementary School and Carnduff Education Complex earned awards for the Income Calculations they showcased in their entries. The award for Big, Bold Commercials went to four students at St. Michaels School in Weyburn: Kyde Schwindt, Mulugeta Kesete, Mira Bourassa and Sophie Walkeden. The grade six class at Carievale School won an award for the Audio Commercials they submitted to support their YouthBiz submissions.