Youth Initiatives

Youth in our region are incredibly entrepreneurial and have great ideas for new businesses. That’s why the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce has been providing opportunities for youth to experience a variety of career options right here in southeast Manitoba.

If you have creative ideas for business, or a passion for local community clubs, or if you’d like to gain work experience through mentorship, the PRCC wants to help. It is our mission to make it viable for young entrepreneurs to stay in our region and work with us to enhance our region for work, play, raising families and doing business.

Let’s get started!

PRCC Youth Entrepreneur Challenge

In May 2025, the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce held its first-ever Youth Entrepreneur Challenge. This dynamic “Dragon’s Den” style event invited students from across the region to pitch their innovative business ideas for a chance to win cash prizes and gain valuable entrepreneurial experience.
 
Hosted in collaboration with local municipalities, schools and economic development partners, the event highlighted the creativity and drive of five student entrepreneurs. Each participant had four minutes to present their business to a panel of PRCC-member judges, followed by a five-minute Q& A session.
 
Congratulations to the 2025 Prize Winners
 
1st Place: Miguel Bouchard, Grandma’s Garage
($500 cash sponsored by the RM of Stuartburn and Smith Neufeld Jodoin Law Offices)
2nd Place: Alexis Gobeil, Gobeil’s Gifts
($100 Co-op gift card sponsored by Clearview Co-op, Vita location)
3rd Place: Tony Zacharias, Zacharias Lawn Care
($50 Co-op gift card sponsored by North 49 Land Management Services)
4th & 5th Place: Janessa Ginter, Cluck Houses and Carlos Zacharias, Farm Fresh Rabbit
($50 cash each sponsored by Prevost Perennials)
 
All participants also received gift bags, thanks to generous support of: Sunrise Corner Economic Development, Shevchenko School, RM of Piney, Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce, Manitoba Crime Stoppers, Konrad Narth MLA for La Verendrye, Delta Real Estate, and Access Credit Union.

The Chamber extends heartfelt thanks to the local Chamber members who volunteered as judges: Dylan Gurman (RM of Stuartburn Councillor and local beef producer), Konrad Narth (MLA and local business owner), Chris Loeppky (recently retired from Access Credit Union), Connie Gamble (Special Projects, RM of Piney) and Jonathon Prevost (Owner, Upper Hand Technologies).
 
The PRCC would also like to thank the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce for sharing
resources from their successful Chamber Challenge, which served as a model for this
event.

Career Symposium

A partnership of the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce (PRCC), the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn, local schools and Sunrise Corner Economic Development, the Career Symposium is a bi-annual event that provides local career advice and information to students and residents of southeast Manitoba.

Since 2018, it has been connecting future employees to local businesses and is building awareness of the unique opportunities in our region. It’s a great place for youth to secure a summer job, meet future employers, find a mentor, or get ideas for your own future business.

Learn more about the Career Symposium

Get inspired for the future by checking out the videos below:

Find Your Path: Direct to the Workforce

Learn about some of the career options available in in our region that offer on-the-job training.

Find Your Path: Entrepreneurship

According to the 2021 census, the Sunrise Corner (Piney-Stuartburn) region has twice the level of entrepreneurship than the Manitoba average. Hear from local business owners as they discuss their journey into successful entrepreneurial ventures.

Find Your Path: Post-Secondary

Going away to get an education and coming back to your hometown to build a life is a viable choice for many. Learn how higher education can help you contribute back to your community.

Youth Survey

How are we trying to make our Chamber more youth-friendly?

A survey was conducted at Ross L Gray School and Arborgate School to learn about the youth’s interests in the Piney Regional Chamber of Commerce. The survey pertained to three significant areas: youth volunteerism within the community as a volunteer credit, the career symposium, and the youth membership and mentorship. Over 80 students participated in the survey.

View the survey results in the document below.

(Link to youth survey document).

Is there a way the PRCC could engage with youth better? We want to hear from you!

Contact Us