Garden River student wins award for business idea

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Naomi Sayers of Garden River First Nation has earned the Silver award at the E-Spirit Business Plan Competition held in Halifax May 16. Sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada, the annual Internet-based competition encourages Aboriginal young people in grades 10 to 12 to experience entrepreneurship through hands-on learning.

Sayers' business concept, Etcetera Event Planning, provides special occasion planning services for both families and businesses.

Although the competition encourages students to work in teams on proposals, Sayers entered on her own, which is unusual. She was unable to find anyone in her school or community who was able or willing to dedicate the time.

Her coach at White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie is Diana Thompson.

"Naomi was interested in the competition, even without being able to find anyone to team up with her on the project. She is a determined and hard-working Grade 11 student," she said.

Sayers anticipated all the steps necessary in co-ordinating conferences, meetings and family gatherings.

"She produced a logo and a motto. She projected a cash flow for her business, and she had to research a location for her venture," said Thompson.

Carrying a full load of subjects at school, pursuing her archery hobby, and exploring the many facets of the business plan meant dedicating numerous after-school hours to the project.

"I've been watching my mom organize activities in her role as cultural events co-ordinator for our band, and have worked as a volunteer as well at several, so I was somewhat familiar with what is involved," said Sayers, 16. "There's a lot of planning takes place behind the scenes. It's not just about streamers and balloons."

Her business plan included events at every possible level, from a large national conference, to a small family birthday party. "Often with both parents working, there is just not enough time to attend to the details of making a birthday celebration a special event, and that's one important area where my proposed business could step in and take over."

Sayers is considering activating her proposal as a pilot project this summer, with the idea that it may become a full-time profession when she graduates in 2004. With the slogan of "Parties and So Much More," she anticipates getting a wide variety of clients.

Sayers and her father travelled to Halifax for the conference, awards and trade show, which brought together 200 students on 65 teams from 60 schools.

An independent panel of experts judged the presentations, business displays, promotional videos and laptop demonstrations of participants.

The E-Spirit competition has a full complement of modules to guide teams of students through the process.

"The first step was to do a needs assessment, to ensure there was a market for the type of service offered," explained Thompson, who as school librarian received the initial notification of the competition.

Sayers also had to provide inventory statistics, financial statements, an executive summary and a suppliers' list.

"Naomi is concerned about carrying out all these steps within the Aboriginal culture, promoting it and using First Nations resources," said Thompson.

Jim Richardson, national director for Aboriginal banking at the Business Development Bank, noted that it was hard to pick winners. "It was an extremely difficult job for our judges," he said. "But every student participating in this event wins from the experience."