ASSINIBOIA — Alyssa Harris, Little Sunshine Co. Baby & Kids, Assiniboia, and Austin Coward, Wood Coulee Cattle Co., Hodgeville, Gravelbourg, were two of the recipients recently awarded as young entrepreneurs in the province.
Young entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan are getting a boost — both financially and in other ways — with help from the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and the Government of Saskatchewan.
Assiniboia and Gravelbourg young businesspeople were both included in the list of 57 young entrepreneurs in the province, coming from 48 communities, who were chosen from over 340 applications out of 87 communities, recognized through the Sask. Chamber’s inaugural Young Entrepreneur Bursary Program.
Alyssa Harris was raised in Assiniboia and moved back with her family just over three years ago, citing Assiniboia has always been home, so she says she is grateful to have her family and business in the community.
Harris tells the Assiniboia Times, “I first opened Little Sunshine Co. in October 2023 as an online shop and did pop ups and markets with it. In March of 2025 we opened our storefront in the Prince of Wales Centre.”
The Assiniboia businesswoman says she sent her application in once learning of the bursary opportunity.
“The bursary will be a great help for me to continue to grow my business in a few different ways. It will help me with improvements to the boutique itself as well as allowing me to add some new products. The $5000 will also allow me to put more into marketing and branding for the business which I have been wanting to do. Something else I’m really looking forward to is the opportunity to learn through mentorship workshops offered with the program.”
Little Sunshine Co. Baby & Kids is located on the second floor of the Prince of Wales Centre in Assiniboia. The business carries baby, children’s and women’s clothing and accessories.
Asked if Harris collaborates with other women business owners in Assiniboia, she replied, “Yes, I definitely love to collaborate with other women led businesses as well as just small businesses in general. I have collaborated with a number of amazing small businesses for pop up events in the store and am excited to continue collaborating on more projects and events in the future.
“One of my favourite things about becoming an entrepreneur is the fellow entrepreneurs I have met and how supportive everyone is of each other.”
The Government of Saskatchewan is providing nearly $1 million over three years to the program, fulfilling one of their election commitments, with the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce responsible for managing the program and the selection. Those eligible must be between 18 and 35 years of age and in operation 10 years or less.
