Photo Credit: Community Futures Grande Prairie

By Shane Clausing

lemonade day

Youth entrepreneurs setup shop across Grande Prairie area for Lemonade Day Saturday

Jun 19, 2021 | 7:00 AM

June 19 is Northern Alberta Lemonade Day, a day organized by Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region which is intended to teach youth how to run a business.

Sarah Bateman, the Projects Coordinator for Community Futures in Grande Prairie says there are 15 young entrepreneurs in the area who will be participating in this year’s event.

She adds in order to take run a stand for Lemonade Day, participants had to take part in two training workshops.

“The first (training session) they learned basic business skills like how to design a stand. They learned how to make a profit and things like that. In the second (training session), they had to learn a bunch of safety rules because of COVID-19,” explained Bateman.

The Grande Prairie Downtown Association and its member businesses will also be involved in the day. Over ten downtown shops and eateries will be welcoming lemonade stands to set up outside of their businesses.

Stands will be set up in various locations in Grande Prairie, Clairmont and the Towns of Sexsmith and Beaverlodge.

Maps of stand locations will be available for pick up on Saturday at the CF Lemonade Day tent in the west parking lot of 214 Place. A map can also be found on the Lemonade Day website.

Bateman says there will also be awards available up for grabs.

“We give out (awards) for the best tasting lemonade and that stand will have a ribbon to display. The other awards will feature the best entrepreneur of the year and best lemonade stand.”

The funding for Lemonade Day was made possible thanks to support from the City of Grande Prairie’s Community Group funding, as well as the approval of various permits.

Canadian Tire also sponsored gift cards to help the entrepreneurs decorate their lemonade stands and purchase supplies.