Education minister Russ Marchuk had his own personal session of Dragons' Den at A. E. Peacock Collegiate on Friday.
Marchuk was presented with two business proposals from entrepreneurial students from Central and Peacock Collegiate. The students have been preparing their business ventures and pitches all semester for their entrepreneurial business classes, as part of the junior achievement program.
The minister was visiting Moose Jaw students in honour of Financial Literacy Month and used the students' projects to share the importance of a well-rounded education.
“Literacy comes in many forms," he said. "Reading and writing might be first to come to mind, but equally important are community, family and financial literacy.”
Marchuk was presented with two business ventures created by the Central and Peacock students, as part of their senior entrepreneurial classes.
Peacock students presented a business proposal for their company entitled Cust-A-Mug, a customizable beverage package, with the slogan, “Drink it — Love it — Cust-a-Mug it!”
“I really like that," Marchuk told the students. "Good play on words."
Central Collegiate students presented their venture, Cyclone Sweets, a part of Cyclone Century Products, in honour of the school's upcoming one hundredth anniversary. The business offers wine bottles filled with candy and treats and decorated in their schools official colours.
When Marchuk asked about the marketing campaign being used, students laid out a social media strategy involving heavy advertising for the upcoming holiday season.
The students have to prepare and manage every aspect of the company, with group members taking on the roles of president, vice-president, advertising and finance.
A dollar from each sale goes towards Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program, which helps children take part and participate in organized sport and recreation.
After the presentations, Marchuk shared with the students how impressed he was with their hard work and maturity.
“Just listening to you articulate your ideas is just great,” he told the students. “You’ve learned three of the most important skills in spades - organization, problem solving and interpersonal skills.”
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