15 minute read
SOAR Awards
By Véronique Loewen
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This spring the 2022 SREDA SOAR kihiw paskîyâkêwin Indigenous Entrepreneurship Competition presented by PIC Group was another resounding success. This second annual program culminated by a live business pitch from five Saskatoon Indigenous entrepreneurs. The five finalists were selected among the top fifteen entrepreneurs previously chosen to participate in the Coaching Round with local experts in finance, business law, marketing, strategy and entrepreneurship. The five finalists provided an overview of their business as well as its current accomplishments and planned growth. A panel of five judges, representing business, educational and Indigenous organizations, determined who would take the top prize of $15,000 and shared the remaining $30,000 in prize money among the other finalists.
From baby apparel to commercial cleaning, cake baking, bartending and safety services, these five Indigenous winners are already contributing to Saskatoon’s business landscape and helping grow the economy. These are their stories.
Awāsis Boutique
First place winner of SREDA’s Soar Awards, Christine Marie, owner of Awāsis Boutique, a former teacher and stay at home mom first started selling Indigenous themed infant clothing on social media in 2018. She hasn’t looked back since, turning her parttime sewing venture into a successful online business with clients across western Canada.
“With a nursing baby and a toddler, I wasn’t ready to return to teaching and wanted to stay home to raise my children, but I needed an income. I started sewing and selling online the children bibs and blankets I designed using an Indigenous arrow patterned fabric and positive Cree words imprinted. The response was tremendous. I quickly learned that the fabric store didn’t have any other Indigenous inspired patterns. I knew I’d have a market so I went to work creating my own Indigenous patterned fabric,” explains Christine.
“Awāsis” means child in Cree. It was important for Christine to reflect in her business name and her designs part of her Indigenous-Filipino ancestry, and the Cree language she never learned growing up. Starting with a line of enfants and children articles, Christine’s offering quickly grew to include some adult apparels to respond to demand. “People wanted the same designs for themselves as they were purchasing for their kids, and I’ve even created Indigenous inspired custom logos and artwork for some customers,” says Christine.
Christine isn’t just imprinting the positive words on her clothing; they are part of Awāsis Boutique’s fabric – pun intended. Since her launch, Christine has donated over $30,000 to Indigenous community organizations. Christine remarks, “Some of the lessons I’ve learned in business are that it is important to learn from the lows and celebrate the highs; it means sharing the success. Gratitude is my foundation.”
Today, Awāsis Boutique continues its rapid growth, meeting its sales targets year over year, and seeing a rapidly increasing number of clients across Canada. “My part-time business has grown organically, and for that I cannot thank my customers enough, but it’s time I launch my first marketing campaign to continue my expansion from coast to coast in Canada,” concludes Christine with a smile.
www.awasisboutique.ca
Christine Marie, Awāsis Boutique
Theo-Clean Janitorial Services Inc.
With over twenty years of experience in facilities and commercial buildings maintenance and property management, Timothy Hudy was well equipped to offer “high-class cleaning and maintenance services to the commercial real estate and Indigenous markets” as per his company’s mission statement. Already father of two daughters, Timothy launched Theo-Clean Janitorial Services in early 2019 after the birth of his son. “Theo is our little miracle baby, that’s why I named the company after him. I wanted to provide for my family, do something that they could all be proud of by offering employment for Indigenous people and by contributing to the community,” says Timothy.
This spring Theo-Clean reported cleaning over 200,000 square feet of office and industrial space and employing ten Indigenous people out of their thirteen workers. They also established two annual scholarships, Timothy explains “one scholarship is for my home community of Yellow Quill First Nation to support a postsecondary student and the other for the Saskatoon Tribal Council fund to assist top students’ employment and training. And to pay it forward for the help we received when my son was born with complications, we donate to charities that support children and their families such as the Make a Wish Foundation and others at Christmas time.” With a strong work ethic and plans to become the largest Indigenous-owned commercial cleaning company in Saskatoon, Timothy hopes to continue growing the number of contracts and by extension the number of jobs he will provide to first nation people, while increasing charitable donations and scholarships. In an effort to grow their market share, people will soon see TheoClean advertising signs displayed around Saskatoon. Humbly Timothy credits for his company’s success to his employees. “We have a wonderful hard-working, high-performance team and I can’t thank them enough for their stellar work, particularly on the front lines during the pandemic. Together, as we keep learning and getting better every year, we continue to set higher goals for TheoCleaning.”
www.theocleanjanitorial.ca
Timothy Hudy, Theo-Clean Janitorial Services
Ally’s Cake Creeations
Ally Hrbachek discovered her passion for baking in 2018, providing delicious and beautifully decorated desserts for family and friends. Specialized in making custom cakes, cookies and cupcakes from scratch using quality ingredients, Ally’s hobby quickly turned into a money maker when she became a licensed home-based baker in 2020. “I earned the Best-Looking Cupcake award in the 5th Annual Dress it Up Cupcake Contest hosted by The Princess Shop and Saskatoon WinterShines,” says Ally.
Ally’s recognition doesn’t stop in Saskatoon. Earlier this year she was among eighteen Indigenous entrepreneurs selected across Canada to appear on the new APTN TV series “The Bears’ Lair” that will air this fall.
A Cree woman, member of the Peekeekisis First Nation and living on Treaty 6 Territory, Ally wanted to incorporate her heritage and community in her business. She included the word “Cree” in her business name and the word “Nation” in her philanthropic program. “I was raised by a single parent and saw first hand the struggles. My mom worked hard to give us everything she could and make celebrations special even when she had so little. In honour of my mom, I wanted to help single-parent families celebrate their children’s birthdays. I created my CakeNation program to do that. I invite single parents to apply to receive a custom cake for their child’s birthday,” explains Ally. struggles with other women entrepreneurs. Her latest community building move is to recruit a helper to assist with the rapid growth of her business and help maintain her presence at various farmers markets.
As an entrepreneur, Ally has come to realize that it can be tough to juggle family life with three small children and a successful home-based business, that’s why she recently announced, “I’m in the process of restructuring my business and streamlining my ordering system to make it more efficient and reliable to better serve you, my clients.” Adhering to the saying “success isn’t measured by wealth, but by those with whom you share it,” Ally is well on her way to success sharing one delightful cake at a time.
www.allyscakecreeations.ca
Ally Hrbachek, Ally’s Cake Creeations
Ally set out to build a caring community by delivering elaborate cakes as well as offering opportunities to share ideas, successes and
Little Kahuna’s Beach Café & Tiki Bar
Little Kahuna’s (formerly JT’s) Beach Café and Tiki Bar is Joshua Turner’s brainchild. After retiring from a fifteen-year career as a flight attendant and having an extensive background in hospitality, tourism and marketing, Joshua wanted to bring back to Saskatchewan some of the relaxed and fun atmosphere of the many resort locations he visited. “Our tiki theme and cocktails make people feel like they have escaped to a tropical island while they are still right here in Saskatchewan. With our umbrella drinks, reggae music, and friendly staff with Hawaiian shirt uniforms, people attending our parks beach cafés can feel like they’re in paradise,” explains Joshua.
Although Joshua held the concession at Blackstrap Provincial Park for five years prior, he launched the tiki bar in that location on Canada Day last summer and employed one helper. Today, Joshua has a second concession at Wakaw Lake Regional Park and is in talks to continue to expand in more parks. Joshua says, “We offer a unique experience and people want more of it. So in just a couple As a business owner, you have no other option but to deal with issues; you can’t pass off difficult situations to someone else. You’re responsible to overcome difficulties and succeed over and over. It’s a game of persistence.
Joshua Turner, Little Kahuna’s Beach Café & Tiki Bar
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of years, I’ve been able to hire thirty staff and managers to keep up with the demand at both locations.”
Through his entrepreneurial journey, Joshua has learned valuable lessons in business ownership. “As a business owner, you have no other option but to deal with issues; you can’t pass off difficult situations to someone else. And if you have no clue how to handle something or deal with a daunting task, well you quickly learn to manage it. You’re responsible to overcome difficulties and succeed over and over. It’s a game of persistence,” he states. Joshua has great plans to continue to grow Little Kahuna’s with another location set to open this year and three more next season, he adds “We want to grow beyond being just a local burger place to being a full-scale replicable business with uniform procedures. Our name change from JT’s to Little Kahuna’s is already helping with the transition into multiple locations and even possibly a franchise opportunity offering fun and quality service anywhere in the world.”
Preventative Measures Ltd.
Entrepreneurs see a need in the community and develop solutions to address that need. This is exactly what prompted Delaney King and Cole Tait to launch their pre-employment and skills training program for adult learners and neurodivergent individuals, such as youth with autistic spectrum disorders. “ We understand that adult education can be difficult, we create real-time solutions to assist our learners. We also have a focus on Indigenous youth. And we work with neurodivergent individuals and the employers interested in hiring them.
Equipped with Delaney’s Master’s in Adult Education & Global Change and Cole’s professional experience as a Firefighter with extensive training focused on mental health and safety in the workplace, they are helping youth and adults develop the Delaney King, Preventative Measures Ltd.
skills they need to enter the workforce and stay safe at work. They also offer businesses with tailored safety training programs and “train the trainer” in-depth coaching in compliance with occupational health and safety standards. “We work with all types of businesses and safety professionals. And because we understand that adult education can be difficult, we create realtime solutions to assist our learners. We also have a focus on Indigenous youth. And we work with neurodivergent individuals and the employers interested in hiring them. We help them find safe and positive work environments,” says Delaney.
Preventative Measures currently offers twentyfive courses through their e-academy to help people acquire the tools they need to find employment and enter the workforce with confidence. Delaney states, “We listen to the learners and the employers to gather constant feedback and continuously improve our programs and our interactions. We believe in getting to know our students and their communities and partnering with businesses to achieve greater success.”
True to their commitment to help Indigenous youth, they have partnered with two local Indigenous communities to build an onreserve neurodivergent employment program. “We are helping keep neurodivergent people working on-reserve,” states Delaney.
Beyond the expansion of their online courses and customized training manuals and programs, Preventative Measures is in the process of gathering data and input to develop an app. “Through the app and other web-based options, we want to continue helping neurodivergent individuals grow and to improve health and safety in workplaces,” concludes Delaney.
www.preventativemeasures.ca
Entrepreneurs are a special kind of people. They see an opportunity and seize it. They are innovative and unafraid to take risks. What skills do you need to succeed? Many people think it only takes a great idea and some determination, but that's only part of the story. In order to be successful, entrepreneurs need a variety of skills to manage a business effectively.
Several of the most important skills for entrepreneurs are:
Business Focus: the business world is competitive, and staying on top of your game can be difficult. That's where business reports come in! These documents provide vital information about an organization, such as analyzing performance or company health, that might otherwise go overlooked. This helps entrepreneurs make decisions based on what they know (and don't) and increases their chance of success. Determination: determination is an unrelenting drive in the face of challenges, obstacles and sometimes even physical pain. Delegation: there are many benefits to be gained from delegating. Other people's strengths can help teams perform at their best while freeing up time for you! It may require letting go of control and trusting others, but once learned, this skill will make a difference in important matters like work, your family, and yourself. Knowledge: Entrepreneurs and business owners have to make many decisions. Some of them are small and insignificant, while others can make or break the business. It's important to remember that knowledge is power, and making informed decisions based on correct information is the best way to ensure success in both the short and long run. Having access to the right resources and information can mean the difference between success and failure, so entrepreneurs who are armed with this knowledge are more likely to come out on top. So next time you're faced with a difficult decision, don't be afraid to do your research and arm yourself with the knowledge you need to make the best possible decision for your business. Confidence: often described as a belief in oneself and one's abilities, confidence also has to do with feeling certain about something, whether it's a decision you've made or a product you're selling. It's about having faith in your ability to succeed, even when others doubt you. It's this unwavering belief that allows entrepreneurs to take the initiative, persevere, and ultimately achieve their goals.
Of course, entrepreneurs don't always feel confident. Everyone has moments when they question their decisions and wonder if they’re on the right track. The most successful entrepreneurs learn to quiet that inner voice of doubt and focus on achieving their goals. They surround themselves with positive people who believe in them, and they stay informed about industry trends and best business practices. By doing these things, they gain the knowledge and strength they need to push through any negativity and become more confident entrepreneurs.
Being an entrepreneur is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and determination to be successful in business. If you're thinking of starting your own business, or if you're already running one, it's important to focus on developing the necessary skills.
Consider reaching out to a business coach or taking online courses on subjects you know you need to work on. BizAcademi Training Inc. is a 50 percent Indigenousowned company that was created to give like-minded individuals a place where they can go for insight, solutions, and guidance. Having immediate access to years of expertise is invaluable for new business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Through on-site and online training, new business owners can increase their knowledge, add to their skillset, and expand their networks, resulting in a closely-knit community of empowered entrepreneurs who are better equipped to overcome the challenges of business ownership.
Our signature course, Business Planning, helps entrepreneurs assess the viability of their business idea, clarify their strategy, identify potential roadblocks, and create a roadmap for success
Collaborations – clients supported by: • Clarence Campeau • SMEDCO • SIEF
Partnerships: • Gabriel Dumont Institute • Saskatoon Open Door Society Women’s Business Hub • Wiley – Everything DiSC
About BizAcademi’s Partners:
Linda Prake’s primary focus is on the development and growth of small-tomedium enterprises. She has over two decades of experience as a facilitator both in and out of the classroom, including specialized training in the field of entrepreneurship, and has over two-and-a-half decades of experience as a consultant specializing in strategic planning, market research, and business assessment, planning, and development.
Lana Sheppard’s primary focus is on the numbers behind each business. She works closely with entrepreneurs to teach them not only how to read their business’s financial statements but to understand how they affect the business’s day-to-day operations and overall financial health. Lana has experience working with over 1300 entrepreneurs in the capacity of a bookkeeper and has served as a business coach and consultant for individuals and organizations throughout Saskatchewan.
We teach entrepreneurs how to build successful business.
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