The winners of the 2007 Lambton Secondary School Business Plan Competition were announced at an Awards Banquet last evening. The teachers, judges, sponsors and five finalists with their families were in attendance. The winners are as follows:
1st Prize $1000, sponsored by Sarcor (Sarnia) Inc. ~ Blake Watson, of SCITS, took home first place with his business plan titled “Trail Blazers”. Blake’s business idea is to open a bicycle repair and rental company in a tourist area to provide its residents and tourists with all of their bicycling needs. Blake will be traveling with his family to Niagara Falls in November where the Western Ontario Regional Awards Banquet will be held. He will compete at this next level for a chance to win up to $2500 in bursary money.
2nd Prize $600, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank ~ Jake Clelland, of Northern Collegiate, was awarded second place with his business titled “Davenport Rd.”, a distributor and marketer of premium lifestyle clothing.
3rd Prize $400, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank ~ Ashley Sherwood, of SCITS, with her idea for a spa to provide a peaceful and relaxing retreat. She named her business “Sensations Day Spa”.
4th Prize $200, sponsored by the Sarnia-Lambton Business Development Corporation ~ Aaron Drury, of Northern Collegiate, took fourth place with his business plan titled “The Heir Inn”. The Heir Inn would be comprised of a medium-scale hotel, an outlet mall and restaurant.
5th Prize $100, sponsored by the Sarnia-Lambton Workforce Development Board ~ Lisa Mariuz and Justine Taylor, of St. Patrick’s, were partners in a business called “JussLee Company, Flowers & More”. They would provide their customers with various lawn and gardening services.
The competition was hosted locally by the Business Enterprise Centre of Sarnia-Lambton. It is a province-wide initiative sponsored by the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Held in 38 communities, the provincial winner will be announced in November at the Western Ontario Regional Awards Banquet.
Its purpose is to help enhance business skills and allow students to showcase their entrepreneurial talents. To be eligible to enter, students must be enrolled full time in high school and can work in groups up to three.
A big thank you was extended to all sponsors, judges, and teachers. Fraser Parry, Small Business Counsellor for the Business Enterprise Centre asked the attendees, “When was the last time you thanked a teacher?”. Blake Watson thanked his teacher, Tony Alexander, by graciously presenting him with the school trophy which will be on showcase at SCITS this year.
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Media contact:
Fraser Parry
Business Counsellor
Business Enterprise Centre of Sarnia-Lambton
(519) 332-1820 ext. 223
parry@www.sarnialambton.on.ca