Young Entrepreneurs on the Rise: 10 Canadian Youth Pursuing their Passions and Innovative Ideas
At PowerPlay, we have the incredible opportunity to work with countless talented students across the country. The current generation of youth under 30 is the largest we have ever had in history, making up almost half of the world's population. Now more than ever, unleashing the power of young people is essential to achieving enduring change through innovative solutions, creative applications of technology, and initiatives that have a powerful societal impact. Here are ten young Canadians making waves in the local and national scene.
1) Thomas Hallihan
Thomas started his entrepreneurial journey with a hockey-inspired business called Knucklepuck Hockey. He created apparel and other products aligned with his passion for the sport. Diving into entrepreneurship sparked other interests such as communications and podcasting. In November 2022, he started Lighting the Lamp podcast.
After a few months, he transformed his business into a media company encompassing his photography, videography, and public speaking passions. Thomas has since interviewed a diverse roster of NHL Legends and Hall of Famers, including Darryl Sittler, Eric Lindros, Lanny Mcdonald, Denis Savard, and PK Subban.
Thomas continues to grow his online prescence and proudly represents his hometown, Blackville, New Brunswick through his pursuits. He has spoken at various events including “We Believe” that had an audience of 8,000 people. He has also participated in our emPower Accelerator where he receives consistent support and mentorship to further build his company.
2) Mady Adamson
Mady Adamson is a fifth-generation Saskatchewan grain farmer. She is passionate about education, especially spreading awareness about agriculture. In April 2021, she started "Learning About Ag with Mady" on various social media platforms. She believes it is essential to tell the story of where food comes from in a way that is accessible and easy to understand for various audiences.
Mady believes that the entrepreneurial mindset has helped her grow significantly and expand the audience she can communicate with. Beyond the videos and online posts, she has been invited to various public speaking opportunities and collaborations. One important partnership she has developed is with a local company that helped her create merchandise with her logo. Mady has chosen to donate all proceeds from the products to Stars Air Ambulance as she is committed to their life-saving mission for those living in rural areas. Her story continues to be an inspiration to other students and she is a PowerPlay ambassador through our Youth Advisory Council.
3) Victoria Shmig
Victoria is a competitive tennis player and coach. She began teaching in the summer of 2022 with very few students. However, perseverance and passion allowed her to grow her business, learn new skills, and gain confidence. Over the last two years, she has amassed over 250 students across the Lower Mainland of BC. Victoria cites her father as the biggest inspiration for starting tennis at a young age, with his constant support propelling her growth and developing her coaching abilities. She hopes to expand the business in more regions across British Columbia and internationally, as she firmly believes the sky's the limit for her goals.
"PowerPlay has taught me how to grasp my self-worth and confidence. It has taught me how to work on myself and recognize opportunities. PowerPlay has taught me the importance of a business and entrepreneurial mindset. It has shown me that I can be strong, powerful, and influential in my own way." Victoria has participated in numerous PowerPlay activities as a student ambassador, including the Young Women Founders event where she served as an inspiration for other students and mentors.
4) Rachelle Virassamy
Rachelle is a self-taught crochet enthusiast who utilized the skills to create her own small business. Though it took many hours of hard work and dedication, her creations have been best sellers at various seasonal markets in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. She has since expanded her product line to bracelets with customized charms. Rachelle believes that entrepreneurship has made her see things in a different way and has inspired new ways of thinking. Along with being a talented business owner, she has achieved various academic awards and won art competitions including 'Draw the North' where her drawing was chosen as the front cover for a children colouring book.
When asked what aspect of the entrepreneurial mindset resonates with her the most, she responded with Empathy. Her ability to put herself in others' shoes helped her understand the problems around her and widen her perspective as a young entrepreneur. She says "I think to truly understand someone is to not only step in their shoes but to be able to guide and walk with them along their path”. To further grow and expand her skills, Rachelle has recently become a PowerPlay mentor and is a member of our Youth Advisory Council.
5) Michael Hachey
Michael is an actor and budding young entrepreneur from Fredericton, New Brunswick who created wooden coasters in the PowerPlay program. He learned how to make his products from his grandfather and has since expanded his woodworking skills. Though he is not sure whether he will be a business owner in the future, he believes that his entrepreneurial experiences built up his confidence, honed his public speaking abilities, and taught him valuable knowledge about money management.
An advocate for helping students learn more about the entrepreneurial mindset, Michael has attended the PowerPlay National Education Summit where he connected with New Brunswick’s Premier and other key community members. He is also an active member of our Youth Advisory Council.
6) Avery Johnson-Browning
Avery began her entrepreneurial journey by learning new skills from her mom and grandmother. Through this, she discovered how to paint, create beaded pieces, and make pastries which paved the way to selling an array of products in markets throughout her community in the Northwest Territories. She believes that the most important skill she obtained from starting her own business is curiosity.
Avery’s inquisitive nature has led to an interest in languages and she has since learned several different ones including Spanish, Cree, Chipewyan, and Sign Language. To build upon this, she has also developed a strong growth mindset as she continues to discover new passions along the way. She has also participated as a PowerPlay mentor and a member of our Youth Advisory Council.
7) Lily Harper
At the start of Lily’s entrepreneurial journey, she was bullied physically and emotionally at school. She developed a wellness routine with her mom as a way to improve their mental well-being. However, she discovered that the candles they were using had toxins and chemicals that caused headaches. Lily took it upon herself to create her own aromas and experiment with wax melts that would be safe and healthy to use. She founded a self-care brand named Lily Lou’s Aromas which has taken the Canadian and International markets by storm.
Lily loves the entrepreneurial mindset because it had led her to exploring and creating new things. Starting her own business has changed her life in many ways. She has attended various events including the PowerPlay National Education Summit where she delivered a speech to inspire other students. Lily has also connected with new people including powerful women entrepreneur role models. She continues to pursue her dreams and set new goals that stem from her different passions.
8) Ishaan Dhaliwal
Ishaan is a passionate hockey player and an enthusiastic young entrepreneur. He has always been intrigued by financial literacy so he combined his diverse interests and created “Ishaan’s Custom Signs”. He learned woodworking and vinyl skills from his grandfather and uncle. After mastering the various customized options he could create, he began selling his product and has since taken on large orders from various clients including a 500 unit purchase.
Ishaan is an engaged PowerPlay Ambassador and has participated in opportunities such as the “City Innovators Camp” where he developed various solutions with his peers and presented to the Surrey City Councillors in BC. He frequently contributes his ideas to our Youth Advisory Council and advocates for other students to learn how to save, share, and invest their money for the future.
9) Arita Barton
Arita created “Fun Fidget Rings” through the PowerPlay program and since then, she has not stopped exploring the world of entrepreneurship. Using wire and beads, she aimed to develop a discreet yet fashionable item that helps individuals who experience anxiety or nervousness. Through her business, she has participated in events hosted at Emily Carr University and Simon Fraser University's Opportunity Fest hosted by the Chang Institute of Entrepreneurship where she won the top prize in the Junior Innovator category.
Arita is part of the emPower Accelerator and she has been actively working towards creating e-commerce options for selling her rings. She is also a member of the Youth Advisory Council. She states "I didn't imagine for myself that I would have a business, but now I see that it's possible and it's actually fun. PowerPlay has shown me that I can use my creativity in different ways." Her favourite part of the entrepreneurial journey is the ability to bring her ideas to life.
10) Pari Soni
Pari is a multi-talented student who never expected to fall in love with entrepreneurship. Over the years, she has collected 87 notebooks so she decided to create a brand based on a product that she already loves. Pari founded “Note Well Notebooks” and has experienced significant growth over the last year and a half. She has fulfilled hundreds of orders and has attended countless events including opportunities with the Surrey Board of Trade.
When asked what advice she would give to other youth pursuing their own passions she says, “It is hard and you may not see success right away. But you have to continue trying and not give up. Don’t compare yourself to someone else because you may be comparing your Step 1 to someone else’s Step 100. Your journey will take time but you have to keep going”. Pari is a PowerPlay ambassador, a member of the Youth Advisory Council and the emPower Accelerator. Her next goal is to expand her product line and sell more of her creations at various retailers and markets.