The biggest dreams begin in the smallest places

Last Thursday, while I was in Edmonton attending the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association AGM, something pretty special was happening back home in the Crowsnest Pass.

Twenty one young entrepreneurs were setting up lemonade stands, greeting customers, making change, learning business skills and, perhaps without even realizing it, learning what it means to be part of a community.

Lemonade Day arrived in the Crowsnest Pass thanks to one powerhouse woman, Brandy Fehr.

Brandy, who works out of our local Community Futures office, came to a group of female business owners with an idea. Why not bring Lemonade Day to the Pass?

For those unfamiliar with the program, Lemonade Day is a hands on entrepreneurship initiative that teaches young people how to start, own and operate their own small business through the simple act of running a lemonade stand. The goal is to teach financial literacy, responsibility, customer service and entrepreneurship in a fun and engaging way.

Community Futures has long been a tremendous asset to our community. Their mandate is to support small business, entrepreneurship and economic development, but here in the Crowsnest Pass they have become so much more than that. They are connectors, problem solvers and community builders. Time and again, they help turn good ideas into reality.

Brandy assembled a committee consisting of Tawny Davidson, Daina Lazzarotto, Melanie Schefter, Kim Lewis, Rebecca Randall and myself, and we got to work.

One of the best parts of this project was the opportunity to work alongside such an incredible group of women. Each brought their own strengths, ideas and energy to the table. What a delight it was to be part of a committee that was so focused on the goal and so committed to making the event a success.

I sit on some fairly large boards and committees across Alberta and Canada, and I can honestly say this group would rival any of them when it comes to professionalism, organization and work ethic. Every meeting was productive. Every task was completed. Everyone showed up ready to work.

That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when driven people come together around a common goal and decide to make something happen.

From there, we visited schools, recruited students from Lundbreck School and Isabelle Sellon School and started building excitement around the program. Let me tell you, the schools were absolutely amazing. I know because Tawny and I had the privilege of presenting to the students ourselves. The enthusiasm was contagious.

Then the community stepped up.

Summit Home Hardware donated all of the lumber needed to build the stands. Municipal council supported the initiative with a $1,000 Category 3 grant.

Tanrock Homes donated its time and expertise to build stands for students who ordered them. Deepy Sharma not only provided a significant financial contribution but also volunteered as one of the event judges. Joining him on the judging panel were Mayor Pat Rypien and Tanner Murphy. Generous donations also came from K&M Custom Homes, Tawny Davidson, Crowsnest License & Registry and the Pass Herald, which also provided discounted advertising to help promote the event.

Northback sponsored the event T-shirts, which were produced locally by Chad Petrone. ASA Contracting contributed funding and photography support. Karen Randall also volunteered her time behind the camera. Berta and Gilded Haus donated some wonderful prizes, while Sinister Sports provided garbage cans for the event.

When you look at that list, it becomes clear that Lemonade Day was never just about lemonade. It was about a community rallying behind its young people.

Programs like this build far more than entrepreneurial skills. They build confidence. They build connections. They build community.

In a time when it sometimes feels like the world is pulling people apart, events like Lemonade Day bring people together. They create laughter, conversation, friendships and memories. They create joy. And frankly, we could all use a little more joy.

What struck me most was how many people were willing to step forward and help. In a community of our size, that willingness to give back is one of our greatest strengths.

The Crowsnest Pass is at its very best when people roll up their sleeves, volunteer their time and work together to create something bigger than themselves. Lemonade Day was a perfect example of that spirit in action.

Even though one team walked away with the grand prize for best lemonade stand, the truth is everyone won.

The students won by learning valuable lessons about business, teamwork and responsibility. The parents won by watching their children challenge themselves and grow. The volunteers and sponsors won by seeing an idea come to life. And those of us who stopped by to buy a cup of lemonade won too, because we got to witness the next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders and community builders in action.

In the end, Lemonade Day was never really about who sold the most lemonade. It was about bringing people together, creating opportunities for young people and reminding ourselves what can happen when a community rallies around a good idea.

While our young entrepreneurs were making their business debuts in the Pass, I was fortunate enough to experience another reminder that where you come from does not determine where you can go.

Last week, I was honoured to be re-elected to a third term as president of the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association.

My journey with this board began in 2020 as a director, followed by a term as vice-president and now a third term as president. It has been an incredible privilege to represent an organization that advocates on behalf of 78 community newspapers across Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

I am fortunate to work alongside the best executive director in the industry, Dennis Merrell, and a professional, hardworking and exceptionally passionate board made up of people from every corner of this great province. Together, we represent our members and advocate at all levels of government on issues that matter to community journalism.

This role has given me a seat at tables in Edmonton and Ottawa, allowing me to speak up for small and medium-sized publishers across Canada and champion the importance of local news.

When I look at those young lemonade stand owners and think about my own journey, I see the same lesson.

Be bold. Be courageous. Take the chance.

Whether you are selling lemonade at your first stand or representing an industry on the national stage, amazing things can happen when you believe in yourself and put up your hand.

Never let anyone tell you that living in a small community limits what you can achieve.

Some of the biggest dreams begin in the smallest places.

Who would have thought a small town girl from the Crowsnest Pass would have the opportunity to step onto such a big stage?

And I know two people who would be smiling about that today. Buddy and Gail would be so proud.