Fostering entrepreneurial spirit

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This article was published 04/04/2025 (356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Clinton Plett, work is a bonding activity — and a lucrative one at that.

In March 2024, the Steinbach high school student started a mobile welding service called Plemark Welding.

The following month, he impressed judges at the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Chamber Challenge, a student entrepreneur competition, and beat six other submissions to take first place.

The 17-year-old was awarded $1,000, which he used to purchase more welding equipment.

“I kind of thought it would be a good advertising opportunity,” Plett said of his decision to compete.

The Grade 12 Steinbach Christian School student learned the trade while working on his grandfather’s grain farm near Blumenort. He charges $95 an hour and works up to 20 hours some weeks.

“I just like everything about designing and welding and fabricating and all that,” he said. “I’m my own boss.”

Eleven applicants from southeast Manitoba, including an eight-year-old, will vie for the top prize when the Chamber Challenge returns April 17.

During the event, which is modeled after the popular reality CBC TV show Dragons’ Den, applicants will have five minutes to pitch their business idea, product or service to a panel of business leaders.

The competition is part of the Steinbach chamber’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship among young people, according to Tessa Masi, executive director.

“Entrepreneurship in youth is something that’s really important to us as a chamber,” she said. “We saw this as a next step to being able to encourage and mentor the younger generation.”

Participants will be judged on their presentation skills, the way their business is structured, marketing materials and whether or not they’ve considered a competitive landscape.

The first-place winner will once again walk away with $1,000, with the second- and third-place finishers taking home $750 and $500, respectively.

In addition to Plett, last year’s winners included Madison Enns with the Little Epoxy Company and Louis Tetrault with Lou’s Skate Sharpening.

“I liked the variety,” Masi said. “It’s really fascinating to see how creative they are and how their brains think, and how they’re able to translate that into a presentation.”

Whether they place in the top three or not, each competitor will have the opportunity to receive a free business consultation with Marsha McMullin, a former marketing professional who now runs Collecta Co, an artisan collective in the Clearspring Centre mall.

Collecta Co will also sell each competitor’s product free of charge for three months.

“For us it’s just another way to engage in the community,” McMullin said. “I’ve always been entrepreneurial, so seeing that spirit in young people is exciting. It’s the future of our community, so I feel we need to be there to support them.”

Masi regularly makes presentations in high schools to encourage students to consider entrepreneurship.

Her efforts are inspired in part by Business Development Bank of Canada statistics that show Canada has 100,000 fewer entrepreneurs than it did 20 years ago, despite adding 10 million new residents in that time.

“Entrepreneurship is important because there are things that some people can do — and ideas that some people have — that aren’t out there yet that fill a gap in the market,” Masi said. “We need those businesses to keep popping up to grow our communities.”

Members of the public are invited to attend the April 17 competition, which starts at 6 p.m. at Steinbach Christian School.

“I hope it inspires other young people that are maybe watching the presentations,” Masi said.

Originally known as the Board of Trade, the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce was established in the 1920s.

Last month, a membership trends survey from the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada revealed in 2024, the Steinbach chamber was the second-fastest growing in the country with more than 500 members. Its membership grew by 16 per cent.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca