Community Futures Ventures
2007/2008 Annual General Meeting Report
2005 Youth Entrepreneurship Conference
The 2005 youth entrepreneurship conference hosted by Community Futures Ventures was held in Southey on March 2, 2005. As the students from Robert Southey School, Lipton School, Cupar School and William Derby School arrived, the once empty hall came alive with approximately 190 students in attendance. Breanda Edwards, director of education for the Qu'Appelle Valley school division, welcomed the students and ensured them that at today's conference they would learn the business side of being an entrepreneur. She shared a story with those in attendance about two former grade six students and how they had started up a bank and were lending money to students. Although the school had to put a stop to their business it proves that you are never too young to be an entrepreneur.
The morning activities continued on as the students grew more suspicious wondering what are the wooden frames all around the hall were for? These wooden frames are a part of learning the 5 P's of marketing - Product, Promotion, Place, Price and people through "The lemonade Game". After a brief presentation and overview of the game by Vickie Newmeyer from Meridian CFDC, students prepared advertising strategies, performed commercials, and produced "Lemonade". The Lemonade Game is a very interactive game allowing students to mingle with students from the other schools. The hard job was up to the judges to choose the best Lemonade Stand. The winning team was "Juice Junkies" and they took home a $250 cash prize ($25 Each).
Students, Teachers, and Staff finished off the morning and were able to take a break from all the hard work and enjoy a wonderful home style lunch, catered by JDMD Catering of Southey.
Troy Payne, Master of Ceremonies and keynote speaker, continued the afternoon activities. Troy, Senior Business Coordinator/ Youth Services with Entre-Corp Business Development Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta captivated the students. He shared with the students his success story by taking a part time job or a hobby and turning it into a successful job demonstrating that you are never too young to become an entrepreneur. Troy's interactive presentations included statistical information on Small Business's in Canada, becoming an entrepreneur and how the Community Futures program can assist in the entrepreneurial process. Troy also shared some Youth Business success stories.
CFV gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following sponsors: Conexus Credit Union, SaskEnergy, Sasktel, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, Scotiabank, Parkland Chapter of Women Entrepreneurs, Harvest Meats, Saskatchewan Government Insurance, Eastshore Credit Union, Stamatinos Leland Koskie Law Firm, Royal Building Movers, The Yorkton News Review, Bank of Montreal, Rusnack Balacko Kachur & Rusnack Law Firm, Yorkton Aircraft Services, Redwood Motel and Western Economic Diversification Canada.
