Young entrepreneurs from Rainbow Schools showcase innovative businesses

Rainbow District School Board held its annual Entrepreneurship Fair at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School on Thursday, June 6, 2013. Innovative businesses were on display as students from Rainbow Schools sold their products and services. The event was hosted in partnership with the Learning Initiative and the Regional Business Centre. 

A panel of judges from the business community evaluated the displays. They looked at the effectiveness of the presentations to select the winners for Best Presentation, Best Business Plan, Best Product and Best Service. Participants voted amongst themselves to select the winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award.

“The Rainbow District School Board Entrepreneurship Fair gave students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 the opportunity to create and run a business,” said Event Chair Paula Biondi.  “Students developed and implemented business plans,” she added.  “In the process, they gained knowledge of basic marketing tactics and applied a range of academic skills.”

Students used math for accounting and research skills to gather market information. Artistic abilities were used to create visual aspects and displays. Students also used oral and written communications skills by speaking with the public, selling their products and services, creating professional business plans, and developing business cards, websites, brochures and other promotional material. The tradeshow provided a dynamic learning experience for students, bringing the classroom curriculum to life.

And the winners of the 2013 Entrepreneurship Fair were:

1st place – Scottish Sassy Shells

Kara Passi, Churchill Public School

2nd place – The Shuk Shack

Brett Lalande, Churchill Public School

3rd place – Sweet Beats

Zach Desjardins and Brennan deBurger, R. H. Murray Public School

1st place – A-Way to Travel Ontario

Andrew Dominick, Markstay Public School

2nd place – Bad News Brynn

Brynn Kiley, Central Manitoulin Public School

3rd place – Imagine Events

Hailey Leblanc, Central Manitoulin Public School

1st place – Dani-Dogs

Daniella Harvey, R. L. Beattie Public School

2nd place – Tornapple

Hannah York McGee and Autumn Dini, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School

3rd place – Smootheze

Joshua Tilson and Cyrus Gorbani, R. L. Beattie Public School 

1st place – Pucker Up

Bridget Spoel and Sydney Tarini, R. L. Beattie Public School

2nd place – Smelly Salts

Amy Vincent, Churchill Public School

3rd place – The 60’s Shop

Rebekka Neilson and Taylor Wilkinson, MacLeod Public School

1st place – Sweet Beats

Zach Desjardins and Brennan deBurger, R. H. Murray Public School

2nd place – Smootheze

Joshua Tilson and Cyrus Gorbani, R. L. Beattie Public School 

3rd place – LBEE Balm

Liam Bursey, MacLeod Public School

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,

Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,

Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.