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Facing off against the Wolfpack Students' business ideas judged during Dragons' Den-like challenge
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 20, 2013
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Instead of writing a final exam, students in a new program at Thomas Simpson School had to face a panel of judges and sell their business ideas.
Devan Horassi: presents his idea to rent canoes to tourists. - NNSL file photo
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All that was missing were the television cameras and a chance at real money, as eight students in the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program participated in the Wolfpack Challenge on June 6. Having worked all semester to develop a business plan, each student had to pitch their idea to a panel of five
judges, just like on the television show Dragons' Den.
The idea was suggested in the course material for the program, said teacher Jim Broomfield, who led the program at the school. The evaluation forms, including marks and comments, filled out by each of the judges were used to create the students' final mark in the program.
"I thought it went fantastic," said Broomfield.
For some of the students, it was a little outside of their comfort zone, but they all did it, he said. Broomfield said he wanted the students to get feedback on their ideas and encouragement to continue.
Lory-Ann Bertrand, 18, was enthusiastic about the unorthodox final project.
"It was a really good idea," she said.
Bertrand, from Nahanni Butte, said the judges really liked her presentation about Great Heights, a taxi and transportation business. Bertrand told the judges about her plans to pick up clients and take them to wherever they want to go in addition to running a hot shot service – on call to deliver goods.
The judges' response was encouraging, she said.
"I learned that you really need to do research if you want to start up something," she said.
After listening to the eight presentations, the judges, drawn from the Fort Simpson business community, were also enthusiastic.
"Some of the business ideas are really excellent," said Angela Fiebelkorn, the president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce.
Some of the ideas could become viable business opportunities, she said.
John Dempsey, Northern's store manager, said he was particularly impressed by MacKenzie Studio, Jonah Sanguez's idea for a hair salon.
"It's a fabulous idea," said Dempsey, who added Sanguez could open it right now and make money.
Mike Mageean, the regional superintendent for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, said he liked Donovan Punch's well-thought-out business plan for a fish farm in Trout Lake.
"You could tell his passion," he said.
The program and the Wolfpack Challenge has shown there are young entrepreneurs willing to step up in communities around the Deh Cho, Mageean said.
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