TRURO - Two young women from Colchester County want to become Canada's top youth entrepreneur.
Truro's Mallory MacDonald and Shortts Lake's Meggan Colpitts are two of about 25 people participating in a national contest by the Canadian Youth Business Foundation in which the winner will be awarded a $100,000 real estate prize package.
"I want to win because I've always been a leader and an entrepreneur at heart. I was the kid in the sandbox delegating play time," said MacDonald, 22, a nanny and sociology and business student at St. Mary's University.
"This means everything to me ... I've always wanted to own my own business and my dad owned a construction company so I grew up with entrepreneurs," said Colpitts, 25, a stay-at-home mom.
The contest began in early September. Entrants submitted a short video explaining why they possess the best "Ypreneur" - or youth entrepreneurship - gene. Ten participants will be short-listed to submit a business plan and the top three, with the most votes, will travel to Toronto to be interviewed by a panel of judges during the live taping of CBC TV's Dragon's Den. The winner will be announced on the show Nov. 13.
The ladies believe their chances are good.
"I've always been a people person and helping people makes my day. I've been going to ... schools talking about the project and entrepreneurship. We are in a dire economy and entrepreneurship can be the answer," said MacDonald.
She has entrepreneurship experience through opening a summer dance camp and offers hip-hop dance sessions at children's birthday parties.
Colpitts says her strength lies in creating business plans, which is the second part of the competition, and her availability.
"I have helped develop business plans at the Stewiacke and Area Resource Centre," said Colpitts, "and I stand out because I'm done school, don't have another job and am ready to start immediately."
Both MacDonald and Colpitts said having a winner from Colchester County would benefit the area as well.
"Usually it seems the bigger areas succeed so it would be nice to see someone win from a smaller community," said Colpitts.
"I'd like this to be the Canadian Idol of the business world. It would be nice for this area to get on the map and be like Salmon River's Hockeyville," added MacDonald.
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
Local women vying for Canadas top youth entrepreneur crown
Local women vying for Canadas top youth entrepreneur crown
- Published on October 30th, 2009
- Published on December 31st, 2009
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Monique Chiasson
$100,000 prize package up for grabs
- Number of views : 1973
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Comments
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- Proud Resident
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:12:49
Congrats to Meggan and Mallory.
SCHS and SCA must very proud of you two young ladies. -
- Jules
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:00:25
Congratulations to these two young ladies for showing the initiative we need in our young people today. Small business is what runs our economy in Atlantic Canada and
the dot com world is the future. What an incredible and generous initiative PropertyGuys.com is taking with this contest to spread the word about Youth Entrepreneurship in Canada. I hope that the residents of Truro get behind these young ladies and vote and once again put Truro on the map as well as get these two deserving candidates to the Dragons Den. Contest closes Saturday Oct 31. Good luck ladies and thank you for encouraging todays youth.
Vote...www.ypreneurgene.com
I did. -
- Proud
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:55:45
Congrats to these two young ladies. You have both have worked hard to get this far in the competition. To have two ladies choosen from the area is so awesome. Meggan and Mallory your foundation of being from South Colchester should open the eyes for other young people, if you want it, work hard for it. Meggan and Mallory, wishing you both all the best.
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- Good Luck
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:55:21
Good work. All the best.
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- Canadian
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:48:30
First time I've heard not having a job as a reason for standing out in a competition.
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- Daina
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:46:43
Thank you for recognizing the importance of featuring local young women Mallory MacDonald and Meggan Colpitts as your lead story. These contestants need public votes to remain top contenders in the competition to win a PropertyGuys.com Franchise.
As the local Colchester County Franchisee words can not express how proud I am of these two young ladies. Today's youth are our future and these women need support and votes online to continue on their quest and make it to the next phase of the competition. Let's keep it local and get behind them...VOTE today at www.ypreneurgene.com
Daina Hernden
PropertyGuys.com-Truro -
- Mallory
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:44:59
Thank you so much everyone for voting AND to the Truro Daily News for running this story! I encourage EVERYONE to get online and check out these videos and PLEASE vote!
This would mean the world to me and I need your support to get to the next round of this competition!!
Thank you so much!
Mallory MacDonald :)
