2 - Southpoint Sun
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Take Your Shot awards $90,000 to local entrepreneurs
By Fred Groves The expression on the face of Sarah Haefling was priceless. Haefling, who recently turned 25, was the recipient of $20,000 courtesy of ‘Take Your Shot Entrepreneurial Pitch and Bursary Competition’, hosted by Leamington’s Bridge Youth Resource Centre. With the final judging held Saturday afternoon, August 7, Haefling’s Elevate Podcast Company was one of five finalists of the competition which is similar to the popular TV show Dragons’ Den. “I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said a humble Haefling, who plans on investing her winnings into a recording studio to get her business up and running.
Second place in the event went to Signature Catch which will receive $10,000; Sprouts, $5,000; Snow Peak Cold Brew, $2,500; and Filips Blaze and BBQ Sauce, $1,000. According to The Bridge’s Executive Director Krista Rempel, when the competition started a few months ago there were 30 applicants who participated in three workshops including finances, marketing and practice pitch. That was narrowed down to 11 and on Saturday seven finalists made their final pitches to the five judges. During the actual pitch, judges were allowed to make comments and ask questions of the young entrepreneurs. When Haefling took to the
Firefest in Kingsville KINGSVILLE — A family oriented fire-themed festival is coming to Kingsville next month. Kingsville Firefest will take place on Saturday, September 4 and will kick off with a pancake breakfast at the Cottam fire station at 8 am. At 11 am, there will be a parade from Cottam
to Kingsville which will include some of Kingsville’s fire equipment and over 20 antique fire vehicles and apparatus. After the parade, the vehicles will be on display, parked along Main Street until about 3 pm, when they will clear out for Open Streets.
stage, she was poised and confident. “I think this is great,” said judge Peter Quiring about Elevate Podcast. “I like to be informed, not influenced. I like the podcast idea.” Other judges were Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Sal Albano, Joe Oswald and Dave Kirby. The event was open to those 17 to 24 who will not only receive the financial support to get their
By Mark Ribble KINGSVILLE — The Kingsville Community Centre is back on track as the province loosens COVID restrictions, complete with a new Program Director in the person of Kim DeYong. DeYong is no stranger to the community as she has been on Town Council since the 2018 municipal election. Her first task is organizing a reopening of the Community Centre now that restrictions will allow. Although the centre has been open for a few weeks, a grand reopening is set for September 14
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ries was $20,000 in memory of Ryan Friesen. “Our goal is you take it, learn, and pay it forward,” said John Friesen on presenting the award named in honouring his deceased son. In all, $90,000 was awarded on Saturday and The Bridge Youth Resource Centre hopes that it will become an annual event. “We have a very generous community,” said
Rempel.
SARAH HAEFLING
Kingsville Community Centre reopens
BUY ONE GET ONE
KINGSVILLE
business up and running, but also a continual coaching and mentorship program. “Part of what we do is empower youth,” said Rempel. Not only did the Take Your Shot event provide young people with new funding, there was also a bursary competition for those who have enrolled or are already attending post-secondary education. One of those bursa-
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and DeYong hopes that restrictions will be further eased at that point. “ W e n e v e r k n o w , but we’re hoping to grow this going forward,” she said. DEYONG The centre was up and running for about three years prior to the COVID pandemic and DeYong is optimistic she can help get it back to full programming. Currently, the centre is open from 9 am to 12 noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with programming
featuring the Yarn Social on Tuesdays and Tai Chi on Thursdays. The Yarn Social is for those who love to knit and crochet and may want to share their knowledge or get some help. On both days each week, the café is open, with free coffee, cookies and wi-fi available for anyone who wants to drop in. DeYong says the café is a great place for people to connect. “It’s free and you can drop in and mingle,” she said. “It’s great for people who want that social aspect or to just relax.” She said they are al-
ways hoping to increase their programming, with the bonus that everyone is welcome. “Everything that the centre offers is free to the public,” she added. Meanwhile, as things ramp up toward the grand opening, DeYong is hoping to reach out to the community about programming wants and needs. The Kingsville Community Centre is located at 1860 Division Road North, sharing space with the Kingsville Community Church. They can be reached at 226-773-5830.
