Young entrepreneur champions business program aimed at aboriginal youth

A new program is about to be launched to help aboriginal youth follow in the footsteps of people like Jordan Low.

Raised in Prince George, Low is 20 years old and Metis. He is also a co-owner of the Freshslice Pizza franchise which has met with its share of success in the time it's been open.

Low was a keynote speaker Friday at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre where the Youth Aboriginal Business Circles pilot program was unveiled.

Starting in October, Junior Achievement B.C. will be introducing the program in Prince George, as well as in seven other B.C. communities, with the aim of inspiring and preparing aboriginal youth to become entrepreneurs.

It's modelled on Junior Achievement B.C.'s "Be Entrepreneurial" program. Along with juggling the demands of school and playing elite hockey, Low participated in Junior Achievement and credits the organization with giving him the skills needed to start and run a business of his own.

"I think it's really important to have a program like this, it's going to really open a lot of young entrepreneurs' eyes and change their mindset on what's available to them and take advantage of it," Low said.

Low's abilities on the ice were strong enough to win a spot on the Prince George Spruce Kings junior A hockey club from where he was traded to B.C. Hockey League rival Nanaimo Clippers. It was while in the Vancouver Island community that he saw an opportunity to pursue once his playing days were over.

When he returned to Prince George during Christmas break, he pitched the idea of opening a Freshslice franchise here to Stew and Sheryl Malgunas, two major supporters of local hockey and owners of the Husky Travel Centre. They liked it enough to back him and, in turn, the trio won Freshslice over.

It took a lot of hard work and late nights to get everything in place, said Low.

"But it was such a good process when I look back on it now and think about how much I learned from having such a good mentor...having a business plan, being able to identify your area," Low said.

It's been so far, so good for Low and the outlet, which employs between 12 and 15 people.

"We opened our doors and within our first week we had broken every franchise record," Low said. "Now, six months later, we had a great summer and we're still holding strong as the number one franchise. It's been such a good ride."

Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Minister Shirley Bond said small businesses form the heart of the province's economy and described B.C.'s aboriginal population as a source of untapped entrepreneurial potential.

"Our aboriginal young people are the fastest-growing demographic in this province," said Bond, the MLA for Prince George-Valemount. "Nearly half of the aboriginal community is under the age of 25 so partnerships like this are about empowering First Nations young people to be engaged in key and critical economic growth."

The Community Futures Development Corporation of Central First Nations will be out promoting interest in the program.

"We don't have a lot of role models historically for being in business," Geri Collins, the agency's director of operations said. "So getting a starting point is extremely important in the aboriginal community."

Low, meanwhile, is feeling few if any regrets.

"I really wanted to be my own boss, I wanted to control what I did and this is the path for me," he said. "This is probably the best decision I've ever made, opening a business."

More information on the program will be posted on the Junior Achievement B.C. website, jabc.ca, in the coming weeks.