A local entrepreneur from Terrace is among 12 finalists of the 2019 ThriveNorth Business Challenge.
Lucy Sager, who has lived and worked in the northwest for more than two decades, is nominated in the Best New Business category.
Sager is the founder and owner of All Nations Driving Academy, which provides drivers’ education for Class 5 licensing.
She is among 12 entrepreneurs across 3 categories selected from the 65 plus young business owners who applied for nomination.
It is the 5th year for the Challenge, which offers nominees a chance to secure 10 thousand dollars following a presentation in May.
You can find a full list of finalists below:
Best Growth Opportunity
Rachel Vowles – Mile 0 Farrier Company (Dawson Creek) – Rachel and her spouse have been active
equine enthusiasts their entire lives. From working on B.C.’s largest cattle ranches to competing with
sport horses, they knew horses were always going to be a huge part of their lives. After completing their
education in Advanced Farrier Science at KPU, they opened a horseshoeing company in Northern B.C.
After a few short months, they realized the North had a need for their services, so they purchased their
first home in Sunset Prairie, B.C. Rachel and her spouse hope to complete their certifications to become
journeymen farriers and take on apprentices to continue supporting education in their trade.
Devrey Crossley – Whole Wheat and Honey Café (Fort St. John) – Devrey Crossley is passionate about
food. She studied commerce, accounting and finance at university, but quickly realized that something
was missing. She took over operations of Whole Wheat and Honey Cafe in September 2016, a venture
which allows her to blend her skills with her desires in creative and challenging ways every day. Whole
Wheat and Honey Cafe serves down-to-earth, locally sourced, homemade fare while supporting local
musicians and artists. Within these walls, you’ll find cozy nooks and sunbeams to settle in with a hot
drink or a glass of wine, smiling cooks and barista’s and delicious, wholesome comfort food. It is the
beating heart of Fort St John.
Katrina Slorstad – Imperative Recycling (Fort St. James) – Katrina was born and raised in Fort St James
and considers herself an “Eco-Warrior”. She has always had a deep appreciation for the environment.
After high school, she started her own curbside recycling company. Eight years later, it is her full-time
business and she is exploring the option of purchasing a local bottle depot. If she was to win the
ThriveNorth Business Challenge, she would upgrade this building to begin accepting end-of-life
electronics in addition to the beverage containers. She has learned that education is key when
encouraging communities to recycle and she fully intends to launch an education campaign to promote
all recycling options in this town.
Brittany Kinahan – Halo Athletic Apparel (Terrace) – Brittany Kinahan is the owner and creative brains
behind Halo Athletic Apparel and Designs in Terrace, B.C. She and her team mix their love of sewing and
high-end fabrics to create custom garments sized for real people rather than conforming to generic
sizes. The company began as an Aerial Arts apparel side hustle in Victoria BC in 2013, and in 2017
blossomed into a full-time dream that has expanded to include sports bras, leggings, swimwear,
maternity wear and more.
Best New Business (18-28)
Charlie Broome – The Mutty Paw (Fort St. John) – Charlie Broome has always had a love for animals
since growing up on a cattle ranch, but dogs have a piece of her soul. Charlie has turned this passion into
her full-time career. The Mutty Paw is the first and only mobile grooming company in Northeast BC,
providing accessibility and affordability. The Mutty Paw also engages with other small businesses and
non-profits to create new and unique experiences within the communities she visits. This is a rapidly
growing business with so much room to expand, and her priority is in improving what already exists to
ensure it continues to thrive.
Baljit Singh – Countryside Pizzeria (Dawson Creek) – Working in a kitchen and meeting new people is
something Baljit always did in his free time. Working in restaurants in Canada gave him a platform to
meet and serve people every day. Baljit turned that hobby into a profession and now, as he walks the
streets of Dawson Creek, people recognize him for his amazing pizzas and donairs. Having this
connection with his local community gives him the confidence to open his own small venture, a pizzeria,
and serve people in one of the best places on Earth.
Cameron Bell – Farmer Cam Foods (Terrace) – After completing an Environmental Studies degree at
UNBC, Cameron spent two years in local government and economic development before committing to
a career in agriculture. He has worked with farms, social enterprises and urban agriculture consulting
firms in BC and his home province of Ontario, returning to the Northwest last fall. Terrace provided the
ideal confluence of agricultural, recreational and musical opportunities for Cam, who is starting Farmer
Cam’s Foods this year. Farmer Cam’s Foods produces fresh vegetables for farmers market and wholesale
customers in the region. With an entrepreneurial attitude and unbridled stoke, Cam looks forward to
growing a business in the northwest.
Riley McNeice – Not So Shaggy (Prince Rupert) – Twenty-year-old Riley McNeice is Prince Rupert’s 2019
Young Entrepreneur of the Year and owner/operator of Not So Shaggy, the 2019 Rookie Business of the
Year. Riley strives to make the community she has grown up in more dog-owner-friendly by offering
services that can only be accessed in the next town over – 140km each way. She attended Western Dog
Grooming School and is a certified dog groomer. Riley opened her grooming business and is now
expanding into a dog boarding, daycare and training facility. Riley will be continuing her training this
September at the West Coast Canine Academy to be an accredited dog trainer.
Best New Business (29-39)
Katy Peck – Canadian Acres (Charlie Lake) – Katy and Clay Peck own Canadian Acres, a 160-acre
homestead. Katy holds an MBA and is a Permaculture Designer with a passion for gardening and caring
for her animals. Clay has a Bachelors in Environmental Science, is a professional Agrologist who believes
Regenerative Farming is the only way forward. They believe eating local and knowing where our food
comes from is important now more than ever. Creating small-batch gourmet canned goods, wild forage
skin care and raising beyond-organic produce and meats, they want to provide high quality, nutritious,
delicious, locally sourced food, while teaching people how to grow and create their own.
Kristen Auger – Wâpikwanew Arts (Fort St. John) – Kristy Auger is a nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) artist from
Fort St. John. She is a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation (Wabasca, Alberta). Kristy has a Bachelor of
Arts in Indigenous Art from First Nations University in Regina and her work combines block printmaking
with beadwork. Her love of the arts inspired her to create Wâpikwanew Arts. Wâpikwanew Arts will
teach people about Indigenous arts, culture and languages. Her vision is to give people of all ages the
tools they need to empower themselves through the creation of artwork. She wants people to feel pride
in who they are and gain the self-confidence one needs to blossom.
Dannielle Young – Divine by Dannielle (Smithers) – Dannielle Young recently opened a holistic spa
specializing in medical skin rejuvenation. She has 14 years of experience in the esthetics industry,
working in a variety of spa environments from seven-star private yachts to high-end nail boutiques.
Through her life experiences, she feels that she has the knowledge and drive to make this a very
beneficial spa to have in the North.
Lucy Sager – All Nations Driving Academy (Terrace) – Lucy has an extensive knowledge of Northwest
British Columbia, along with over 20 years of experience living in and working with rural British
Columbia First Nations communities. Lucy started All Nations Driving Academy, providing the education
necessary for Class 5 drivers. Lucy stresses the importance of supporting First Nations communities through
the process of owning and operating their very own local driving school. Working to further make a
difference not only in the community but in the boardroom, Lucy earned her MBA from UNBC in 2013
and she currently resides in Terrace, British Columbia with her two sons.
