Saskatchewan Success Stories
Nicole de Gooijer – Head Quirk Designs
Introducing our first entrepreneur story from Saskatchewan as we continue our #EDP25Anniversary celebration!
Nicole de Gooijer began her entrepreneurship journey because of the flexibility and creativity it provided while dealing with the mental and physical tolls of chronic pain. Head Quirk Designs is based in Saskatoon where you can purchase greetings cards, buttons, and postcards made for the quirky and kind. What’s more, Nicole’s Etsy shop allows her to reach customers across Canada and beyond!
http://www.headquirkdesigns.com/
Vanessa Savage – Tisdale Florist
Our next Saskatchewan #EDP25Anniversary entrepreneur spotlight leads us to Tisdale, SK where Vanessa Savage is in the business of brightening people’s day at her locally owned flower shop!
Tisdale Florist offers professionally designed fresh floral products, artificial botanicals as well as a wide selection of tropical plants and locally curated giftware.
Vanessa shares this about the support she received through Community Futures “CF has been instrumental in the purchase and operation of Tisdale Florist from the beginning. The support and training offered has helped me through countless ups and downs that come with owning a small business in this ever evolving and changing world.”
https://www.tisdaleflorist.com/
Mark Monsebroten – Blind Trapper Holistic Foods
Mark Monsebroten, a visually impaired entrepreneur, founded Blind Trapper Holistic Foods. Residing off the grid in the Cumberland Delta on his Trapline, Mark discovered various wild plants. Amid the pandemic, he initiated their marketing, creating job opportunities for local residents. Mark’s approach involved sustainable harvesting, drying, and bulk marketing of these plants.
Mark successfully established markets with pharmaceutical and food manufacturing companies, utilizing a local workforce for sustainable harvesting, drying, and shipping of over 30,000 lbs of bulk dry herbs. Supported by the CNIB, and Community Futures Tisdale, SK, and with assistance from the Disabled Entrepreneur Fund, Blind Trapper Holistic Foods devised a digital marketing plan. The company is now directly marketing smaller quantities of packaged products to consumers through its website’s shopping cart. Blind Trapper Holistic Foods is presently expanding markets for bulk sales, focusing on fiddlehead, chanterelle, and morel mushrooms, as well as wild blueberry, cranberry, and Saskatoon berries.
Hannah Hannah – The High Maintenance Hippie Local Market
Meet Hannah Hannah! That isn’t a typo…she has the same name twice and has a passion for all things fresh and local! You can find an assortment of handmade goods, local produce, and more at Hannah’s shop The High Maintenance Hippie Local Market in Warman, Saskatchewan.
https://www.facebook.com/highmaintenancehippiesk
David Panasiuk – Spine Design
Our next Saskatchewan #EDP25Anniversary business story leads us to meet David Panasiuk who helps his customers maintain and beautify their yards and landscapes!
Since 2003, Spine Design has been offering exceptional customer care and quality service for outdoor spaces in the Wadena, SK area.
Heather and Doug Symenuk – The Carousel Cookie Co.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then this next #EDP25Anniversary entrepreneur spotlight will really intrigue you!
The Carousel Cookie Co. in Saskatoon has been a lifesaver for owners Heather and Doug Symenuk who have found that their entrepreneurial venture has supported their mental, physical, and financial health!
With Heather’s diagnosis with hypophosphatasia and Doug’s hip mobility issues they have landed on a tasty business that can support their passions and goals!
Learn more about their story through this AMI #IGotThis episode:
https://www.ami.ca/category/igotthis/media/heather-and-doug-and-nicole
April Griffin – April Griffin Art
April Griffin is a Saskatchewan entrepreneur that has made great strides in the artistic and autistic communities. She is a professional artist who has worked with various artistic mediums including metal art, 3D, oils, water colours, acrylic, photography, and illustration.
April represented Canada and won an award at the 2014 International Naturally Autistic People Awards Convention and Festival. Her experience was showcased in the film Connected: A Film About Autistic People:
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ancaconnected
