REGINA, Sask. — A total of 57 young entrepreneurs from 48 communities across Saskatchewan have been selected for the second intake of the Young Entrepreneur Bursary Program.
The program, launched in 2025, is run by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and funded by the Ministry of Trade and Export Development. The ministry is supporting the program with nearly $1 million over three years.
Each recipient will receive $5,000, for a total of $285,000. They were selected from 321 applications received from more than 70 communities.
This year's recipients were announced at an event at the legislature Tuesday at noon.
Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding pointed to the benefits of the program in developing homegrown entrepreneurs.
“I think that's the one thing about the program, is that it is meant for the entire province,” said Kaeding. “And what you'll see in this year's crop, and certainly last year as well, is where they come from, from ultimately the far north to the south, east, west, all corners of the province. And that 57 number is indicative of the number of chambers that are currently operating in the province.
“So that's why we've settled on that 57, because that's the number of chambers that we have functioning in the province. And we hope that each and every one of them has been bringing some of their young entrepreneurs forward and applying for the program.”
“The strength of this program is its reach,” said Prabha Ramaswamy, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “Young entrepreneurs need the right support at the right time, wherever they are building their businesses. Through our network of local chambers, the program recognizes entrepreneurs in communities of every size across Saskatchewan. The Chamber thanks the province for its partnership, and we look forward to following the progress of this year’s recipients.”
One of the recipients is Morgan Walter of Estevan, whose business, H.E.R. Softball Hub, aims to reach and support female athletes across the province.
She told reporters that with the bursary money, they “plan to totally invest it into being able to provide more training opportunities. We can go to much larger areas as well.”
“Right now we're in the southeast area. I plan to go province-wide if possible, but as well as really try to enhance the online version of our platform as well. We do have an app that's up and running right now where athletes can access drill tutorials, practice plans. They can get access to our feedback. They can upload videos and we can analyze their swing and send feedback back to them. I really want to try and invest our money into making our platform and our app much more accessible to more diverse groups, whether that's coaches or mentors or parents as well as just players.”
Young Entrepreneur Bursary recipients
The following is the list of this year's Young Entrepreneur Bursary recipients, organized alphabetically by community based on the business addresses provided in their applications. The associated chamber of commerce or board of trade is listed in parentheses.
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Air Ronge: Jayme Woodhouse Mckenzie, Pawsitive Attitude Dog Training (La Ronge & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Beechy: Dylan Watt, HD Creatives (Kyle & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Biggar: Natasha Taylor, Natasha Dawn Esthetics (Biggar & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Birch Hills: Cody Demerais, Limitless Gear Clothing Corp (Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Briercrest: Jana Ludwar, Monarch Outfitting Ltd. (Carrot River & District Board of Trade)
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Canora: Lucas Vaughters, Slinger Tire and Rubber Vulcanizing (Hwy 49 East Chamber of Commerce)
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Carlyle: Nicole Turgeon, Prairie Haven Dog Lodge & Daycare (Stoughton Chamber of Commerce)
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Denare Beach: Shayna Cossette, Shayna Cossette Media (Flin Flon & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Denzil: Evan Volk, EV Fitness and Nutrition (Luseland Chamber of Commerce)
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Eastend: Lonnie Basso, Trim Shady Yard Service (Eastend and District Chamber of Commerce)
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Estevan: Jenna Kress, Kindred Care Collective (Estevan Chamber of Commerce)
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Estevan: Morgan Walter, H.E.R. Softball Hub (Estevan Chamber of Commerce)
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Handel: Danica Evanisky, Boots and Barbed Wire (Kerrobert & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Herbert: Franklin Meyers, Forward motion fitness (Herbert & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Hodgeville: Rae Boehm, 306 Equine Dentistry (Gravelbourg Chamber of Commerce)
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Hudson Bay: Cassandra Pretzer, Shear Expressions (Hudson Bay Chamber of Commerce)
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Indian Head: Morganne Cochrane, The Gallery Coffee House (Indian Head & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Kindersley: Caitlin Geiger, Kindersley Denture Clinic (Kindersley & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Langenburg: Nicole Recknell, Prairie Sky Sport Therapy (Yorkton Chamber of Commerce)
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Lloydminster: Jaylene Dumont, awâsisak impressions (Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce)
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Luseland: Sammantha Gill, Beautifully Pristine (Luseland Chamber of Commerce)
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Macklin: Kelsey Jamieson, Macklin Dental Hygiene (Macklin Chamber of Commerce)
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Maple Creek: Katie Gordon, Keystone Ranch Solutions (Maple Creek Chamber of Commerce)
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Meadow Lake: Tharren Moberly, All Rut Long (Meadow Lake & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Medsted: Nicolas Anderson, Anderson Electrical (Edam & District Board of Trade)
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Melfort: Andrew Morrant, Mentally Mighty Beard Care (Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce)
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Mildred: Megan Wasden, NW 28 Livestock Nutrition (Debden & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Moose Jaw: Jade Herle, Honey & Co. (Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Moose Jaw: Riley Balerud, QYC Landscaping (Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Moosomin: Cara Grant, Trends Mercantile (Moosomin Chamber of Commerce)
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Moosomin: Kody Wolf, Grace and Gather Boutique Ltd. (Moosomin Chamber of Commerce)
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Muenster: Amie Harrison, Redco Hauling & Towing Ltd. (Humboldt & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Nipawin: Nicole Francis, Torch River Flower Farm (Nipawin & District Chamber of Commerce)
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North Battleford: Clarissa Scheidl, Birdies Golf Lounge (Battlefords & District Chamber of Commerce)
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North Battleford: Kayla Kuttai Keys, Free Spirit Salon Studio (Battlefords & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Outlook: Hailey Spence, Chaff Marketing co. (Outlook & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Prince Albert: KC Moostoos, Paskwaw-Mostos Wellness (Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Regina: Kaitlyn Van De Woestyne, Impact Pictures Inc. (Regina & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Regina: Stephen Schwindt, EhOS IT Solutions Inc. (Regina & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Rockglen: Rieley Beliveau, Canopus Greenhouse (Assiniboia & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Saskatoon: Ryssa Alarcon, HatHouse Marketing (Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce)
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Saskatoon: Surbhi Takyar, CraveNest Foods by Surbhi (Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce)
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Shaunavon: Aurora Bowery, Prairie Roads Market (Shaunavon Chamber of Commerce)
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Shellbrook: Jaira Kissick, Divine Accounting (Shellbrook & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Sturgis: Kylee Morniuk, NCCco. Custom Clothing & Boutique (Preeceville & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Swift Current: Carson Ljunggren, Prestige Detailing Services LTD (Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Swift Current: Erin Cassidy, Peggy's Bake Shop (Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Tisdale: Ryann Leader, Hair By Ryann Leader (Tisdale & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Unity: Bronson Volk, Back Forty Custom Fencing (Unity & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Wakaw: Melissa Nedjelski, Prairie Lake Chiropractic (Rosthern & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Warman: Jaylen Stacheruk, S2 Electrical Contracting Limited (Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce)
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Warman: Reagan Harding, Warden Leather Co (Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce)
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Watrous: Melissa Galay, Green Acres Greenhouse (Humboldt & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Watson: James Rutko, Reaper Automotive (Watson & District Chamber of Commerce)
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Weyburn: Galilee Regines, Meok Ja 2D milkteabar (Weyburn Chamber of Commerce)
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Weyburn: Jo Beach, Cedar & Vine Design Ltd. (Weyburn Chamber of Commerce)
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Yorkton: Rebecca Daneluk, Skin Lab Aesthetics (Yorkton Chamber of Commerce)
