EntrepreNorth welcomes first cohort of Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon entrepreneurs

NUNAVUT, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, YUKON – SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 – EntrepreNorth is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of the recently launched northern entrepreneur support program. The theme of the first cohort is land- and marine-based products. Successful applicant ventures include: Hinaani Design, a clothing and design enterprise from Nunavut; Aurora Heat, a fur-based business from the Northwest Territories; and The Yukon Soaps Company, a bath and body company from the Yukon.

“Entrepreneurship can feel lonely at times,” says EntrepreNorth Project Director, Benjamin Scott. “We are excited to offer our participants a unique opportunity to learn valuable business skills and build connections with like-minded entrepreneurs from across the North.”

Beginning in September, nine Indigenous and community-based entrepreneurs representing seven businesses from the three northern territories will embark on a six-month personal and business growth journey. Through a unique combination of cohort-based learning, applied work sprints, one-on-one mentorship, and life coaching, the entrepreneurs will be supported in taking strategic steps to elevate their early stage ventures.

Northern entrepreneurs will benefit from partnerships established with RADIUS SFU through the RBC First Peoples Enterprise Accelerator Program (FPEAP) and the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO). Scott says, “Our partnerships will help ensure we deliver quality programming and experienced business mentorship relevant to each program participant and venture.”

Being part of EntrepreNorth will provide participants with a network of support to help them weather any circumstance as they build their businesses and positively impact their communities in ways large and small.

“It’s amazing to have a made-in-the-North program like this that gives us the tools to develop businesses that are not only successful and sustainable, but that reflect community values. I look forward to connecting with and learning from other participants in the program who can relate to my experiences of being an entrepreneur in the North, and to being mentored by people who know what it takes to start and grow a business,” says Bernice Clarke, of UasaU Soap, a bath product venture based in Iqaluit.

The first cohort includes:

Nunavut:

• Bernice Clarke – UasaU Soap | Iqaluit, NU
• Nooks (Keenan) Lindell and Emma Krueger – Hinaani Design | Arviat, NU

Northwest Territories:

• Brenda Dragon and Joel Dragon Smith – Aurora Heat, Inc. | Fort Smith, NT
• Misty Ireland – Dene Roots | Hay River, NT
• Tania Larsson – Tania Larsson | Yellowknife, NT

Yukon:

• Joella Hogan – The Yukon Soaps Company | Mayo, YT
• Kym Rempel – Anto Yukon | Whitehorse, YT

​The cohort will meet for the first time in Yellowknife September 15-21. Learn more about the entrepreneurs and their ventures here.