Small business is big in Canada, accounting for 97.8 per cent of all businesses. While it’s the engine of our economy, the profession is both rewarding and challenging.
It’s been shown that business owners with education in entrepreneurship have an 80- to 90-per cent chance of success. Airdrie’s SMARTstart entrepreneurial training program can accelerate your learning, helping you avoid costly mistakes. This made-in-Airdrie program offers online learning, workshops with local experts, mentorship and business planning to people with a business idea and owners who have been in operation for less than three years.
Each program participant walks away with a completed plan — either feasibility, business or strategic — and connections to the supportive Airdrie business community.
In the past ten years, 144 entrepreneurs have completed the SMARTstart program.
This issue, we feature the final six participating entrepreneurs from the 2024 cohort.
TWIN OAKS TELEHEALTH SERVICES INC.
Ian Irvine I have a BSc in kinesiology and biology and developed a vocational skill in occupational rehabilitation over five years where I learned a variety of injury profiles, treatment protocols and critical-thinking skills to provide quality care. Throughout my experiences, I have witnessed gaps in the care that people are being provided in the medical industry and telehealth is a great solution to many of these challenges. Twin Oaks Telehealth Services will specialize in delivering exercise therapy for the prevention and recovery of disease and/or injury.
Why entrepreneurship? While I was working night shifts in a seasonal job this last summer, I was listening to podcasts when I heard Alex Hormozi. His authenticity and direct communication about his journey in leaving a safe job to do what he loves, while building a means to earn far more than what he could in stable predictability, was inspiring to me. I realized I had skills and knowledge that could meet a need I care about and saw how I could forge a path to provide a better future for my family.
What I hope to learn: I am brand-new to entrepreneurship and there are an infinite number of resources, advice and directions to go. Time is valuable and I don’t want to waste it. That is why I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this program that can help me to connect to real resources, to know which advice is wise, and know what I need to focus on with development and execution so that Twin Oaks Telehealth Services can have a really “smart start.”
Mentor: Jennifer Benner, Benner Database Designs
REVOLUTION HOLISTIC HEALTH COACHING
Caira Haynes I have been a Registered Nurse (RN) for 12 years and have spent my career at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Most recently, I received my Health Coach certificate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and am planning to open a holistic health-coaching practice to help improve the health and wellness of those in our great community. I have a passion for nutrition and achieving optimal health through natural means. My goal is to help you uncover the root causes of your concerns and work towards improving your well-being in a sustainable way!
Why entrepreneurship? In January 2023, I began the journey to improving my own physical and mental health. As part of the Health Coach program, I held practice coaching sessions with a volunteer client. She helped me realize the fire I had burning inside of me since I became a nurse — I truly love helping and educating people. This sparked my desire to begin my own coaching business to help others the way I helped myself.
What I hope to learn: I see myself thriving in a beautiful office space in Airdrie within five years. Therefore, I need support with all the steps required to hit the ground running to start and maintain a successful business.
Mentor: Tracy Goodbrand, Irricana Kountry Kennel
YOGA ROOM ELEMENTS
Ellen Wolfe To support my own yoga practice and artistic interests, I took my unappealing yoga supports and redesigned them into textile art. While attending yoga events, I was being approached as to where I purchased my yoga props and requests started coming in. Yoga Room Elements is an e-commerce platform offering handcrafted yoga and meditation-support products, including yoga bolsters, meditation seats, supports and accessories. My products are handcrafted locally, utilizing sustainably sourced local materials and are beautifully designed to reflect your unique personality.
Why entrepreneurship? There is nothing more rewarding than to support a person in health and wellness. My wish to support yoga and meditation instructors and practitioners with quality products that respect our environmental footprint while nourishing their own wellness is a legacy I can wholeheartedly stand behind.
What I hope to learn: I want to create the foundations and systems to build this hobby into a business. As a product-based business is a new venture for me, I want to develop my skills in collecting data to make informed business decisions.
Mentor: Tia Callaway, Sonic Breakthrough Coaching
VINTAGE APOTHECARY
Pam McLeod Vintage Apothecary is a traditional herbal dispensary, natural product retailer, and holistic health and wellness consultation service. I am proud to offer high-quality, therapeutic herbs that are organically grown or wildcrafted, sustainably sourced, and purchased at fair trade or better. I am a passionate herbalist and clinical aromatherapist, and am currently pursuing a Clinical Herbalist certification. My areas of focus include women’s health, Alzheimer’s disease support and end-of-life care. In addition to being a natural progression of my professional experience in the environmental and natural skin-care industries, Vintage was formed from my desire to empower people with options for their health and wellness following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why entrepreneurship? Having been a contractor for 12-plus years prior, I loved the fast pace and variety of work I found myself in. I have always been methodical, resourceful, creative, self-motivated and eager to learn, which I feel has really complemented the demands of entrepreneurship. I am greatly motivated by my desire to live an engaged, meaningful and fulfilling life with and for my loved ones and community.
What I hope to learn: I want to structure and grow my business in a way that is financially stable and sustainable long-term to become a staple in the community. In five years, I’d like to be considering moving into a brick-and-mortar location.
Mentors: Dawnie McElligott of At Dawn Wellness, and Joan Traub, former owner of Airdrie Yoga Studio
CONTINENT CONSTRUCTIONS
Lalit Mohan At Continent Constructions, our passion lies in crafting environments where everyone can thrive. Our journey began with a simple, yet powerful vision: to revolutionize the renovation industry. As a general contractor, I noticed a gap between exceptional craftsmanship and quality service, motivating me to establish Continent Constructions. Whether it’s designing cozy homes or functional workspaces, we aim to elevate productivity, satisfaction and overall success for both residential and commercial clients. From grasping our clients’ visions to bringing them to life, our devoted team ensures meticulous attention to detail in every project, regardless of its size.
Why entrepreneurship? My entrepreneurial journey started with a desire to fill this gap in the market. Witnessing the disconnect between craftsmanship and service, I founded Continent Constructions, committed to setting new industry standards and delivering superior client experiences. By focusing on residential and commercial projects, alike, our goal is to create environments that inspire success and fulfilment.
What I hope to learn: Looking ahead, I’m eager to further develop my skills in sales, networking, marketing and social media. Over the next few years, I envision Continent Constructions evolving into a comprehensive builder, transforming spaces and lives and fostering a sense of belonging for all.
Mentor: Kari Lines, Budget Blinds of Airdrie
CURSED DOLL CULT
Kristy Ecklin I’m passionate about helping people to express themselves through the use of fashion as art. My mission is to bring together beautiful humans with a strange aesthetic — lovers of shoujo manga, horror stories and bold street fashion — and to give them a place to connect and bring their unique style to life. At Cursed Doll Cult, the entire garment is used as a canvas. I’m so excited to bring you an experience that is more than fast fashion: this is unique, wearable art!
Why entrepreneurship? I love how alternative fashion brings together people who would otherwise be outsiders from the mainstream, connecting us by our shared love for unusual things, our desire to share who we really are and our acceptance of each other’s diversity. I want to create more of that joy and excitement in the world and provide a safe place for people to express themselves.
What I hope to learn: I hope to learn the practical business skills I need to bring my customers as much weird joy and fun fashion as possible. The Airdrie business community is truly a special group of people and it’s an honour to be a part of SMARTstart!
Mentor: Kelly Paisley, The I.T. Company
MENTORS AT LARGE:
Shelley Bitz, Bank of Montreal
Heather Harke, former owner of Shoplift Deals Limited
Jo-Anne Yau, Miles Davison LLP
Gary Manocha, Condor Integrity CPA
