b'BROCK YOUTH CENTREIt was a busy week (March 19-26)MacbethofBlueHeronBooksintop two pitches from each school are for North Durham high school stu- Uxbridge;CesarCaneoofTheselected to move on to thenals, with dents as they prepared for this yearsNourish and Develop Foundation insix pitches vying for the grand prize. Business Idea Pitch competition. Cannington;RickCarlstromoftheThe competitionrotatesbe- nal Students from Brock High School,Spark Centre in Oshawa; and Staceytween the three high schools, chang-Port Perry High School and UxbridgeJibb from the Regional Municipalitying location each year. An added fea-Secondary School pitched their busi- of Durham.ture this year was an update on the nessideastoaDragonsDenstyleAlso,thankyoutoourspon- entrepreneurialexperienceofPort panelofjudgesatthe6thannualsors: Brock Board of Trade; CanadaPerry High School alumnus, Jasmine BYC Business Idea Pitch CompetitionProtection Plan; Rotary Club of PortRutschmann who was a participant on Tuesday March 19at Port PerryPerry;RotaryClubofUxbridge;in thenal competition while she was HighSchool.ThecompetitorswereTD Canada Trust; The Nourish andin high school and is now a member well prepared as they strived to beDevelopFoundation;TheRoxyof the BYC Board of Directors.abletoclaimcashprizesof$1,000TheatresofUxbridge;andThorahThank you to all participants for for place,$500forsecondandInsurance. their hard work and courage in stand- rst $250forthethird-placewinner.Business Idea Pitch Competitions ing up to pitch their business ideas. Thank you to this years judges GingerThepitchcompetitionkicks-o JacksonofMcDonaldsRestaurantswith semi- nal rounds being held at in Port Perry and Uxbridge; Shelleyeach of the three high schools. TheABOUT BYCBrock Youth Centre (BYC) offers And the Winners Are:entrepreneurship development 1st : Demitri Torres,2nd:Kara Ste ensmeier,3rd: Melody Cannon,programs for North Durham from Brock High Schoolfrom Uxbridge Secondaryfrom Port Perry Highhigh school students in Brock, pitching his business,School pitching herSchool pitching herScugog, and Uxbridge. Demitris Woodworking business, Society business, Mind at EaseThe program is innovative and provides a suite of skills that were previously unavailable to rural youth. Students develop a business plan, marketing plan,nancial plan, and prepare to pitch their business to a Dragons Den style panel of judges, with the goal of winning one of the cash prizes to invest in their business. Numerous solid, sustainable, youth-run businesses have been initiated as a result of this program, each contributing to the economic development of the respective community.Brock Youth Centre is a charitable organization committed to building youth capacity through innovative programs and services. We gratefully recognize the support of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and South Lake Community Futures Development Corporation. Contact: Congratulations to the winners, L-R: Demitri Torres from Brock High School, KaraLois Shaw, Executive DirectorSteffensmeier from Uxbridge Secondary School and Melody Cannon from Port Perrylois@brockyouthcentre.caHigh School.FOCUS - MAY 201949'