Written By Olena Riznyk
AILSA CRAIG – Three young entrepreneurs received Lions Quest Youth Entrepreneurship Grants during a presentation held as part of the annual Ailsa Craig Lions Family Fishing Day.
The grants were awarded through the Lions Quest Discovery Program’s Youth Entrepreneurship Series, which teaches students in Grades 5 to 8 how to develop a business idea, build a business plan and create a budget. Nine youth took part in this year’s program.
Applications were reviewed by a three-member selection committee made up of North Middlesex Councillor Bill Irwin, local business representative Mark from Ailsa Craig Home Hardware and Lions Club representative Joe Mulholland. The committee evaluated each application based on the completeness of the business plan, the viability of the business idea and the financial plan.
Irwin said the program encourages young people to think about entrepreneurship at an early age.
“The municipality is very happy to support this initiative and have young people in our community thinking about starting a business and becoming entrepreneurs,” he said.
“We want to promote new businesses. One of the best ways to grow business is to have local people start businesses. Having young people who are 11 and 12 years old doing this is fantastic.”
The three winning business ideas ranged from agriculture to furniture restoration and local food production.
Isabelle Bloemen received a grant for “Tube It”, an agricultural tool she created to tube-feed calves on her family’s farm. She hopes to manufacture the product on a larger scale. Bloemen also recently won the Invest in Middlesex Pitch Your Plan competition.
Lively Colbridge was recognized for “Lively’s Fix It Furniture”, a business that restores antique and unique furniture with the help of her father before selling the pieces through Marketplace and Kijiji.
Emma Rasimus received a grant for “Emma & Austin’s Eggs”, a business she operates with her brother. The pair plan to expand by purchasing more hens and increasing the number of multi-coloured eggs they sell to local customers.
The Lions Quest Discovery Program is sponsored by the Ailsa Craig & District Lions Club through a Community Vibrancy Grant from the Municipality of North Middlesex. In addition to entrepreneurship, the weekly program helps students in Grades 5 to 8 develop social-emotional and practical life skills.
Registration for the 2026-27 Lions Quest Discovery Program will open in September. Information will be shared through the program’s Facebook page and with North Middlesex public schools.
