Profile Story

SOAR

Helping promising Indigenous entrepreneurs launch their business in the Saskatoon Region

SREDA’s SOAR program provides grants of up to $5,000 to promising Indigenous small business owners launching or growing their business in the Saskatoon Region. SOAR is delivered in partnership with the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce who will provide networking and advisory support to SOAR participants.

Ernest Pumbing

Glassworks 360

Glassworks 360 is a studio that works with Stained Glass and Fused Glass and teaches this craft to the public. I have been doing this since 1994. It started with Stained Glass and as the glass industry changed and Fused Glass became a new avenue I started to create in this form as well. My passion for glass grew to the point of opening a store and teaching studio in Medicine Hat, AB.

I recently relocated back to my home province of Saskatchewan and have continued with the teaching aspect of my craft, commissions and producing finished pieces for the public. I love to see people succeed and enjoy glass in all its forms. I love to interact and encourage people to do a new craft and enjoy and continue on to become a glass addict. It is a craft you definitely can push the boundaries and let the imagination flow in a world of stress. I believe my teaching strategies are unique because I teach my students all the steps in the craft to become self sufficient and move on with the ability to succeed on their own. I teach for longevity and success for going forward in the craft.

Moving forward for me is growing to a bigger venue, with a much broader menu for Stained and Fused glass classes. Working hard with marketing and social media will help with this transfer. Saskatoon has shown me the need for Glassworks 360 and teaching my greatest passion, Glass. Patrick’s construction experience began at a young age, working alongside his Papa, Ernest. Patrick spent years in construction prior to beginning his plumbing apprenticeship in 2012 and attaining his Journeyperson Certification in 2017. Patrick’s plumbing career has taken him all over Saskatchewan as he completed new commercial builds, smaller scale renovations and repairs, and residential plumbing, heating, and drainage. He is a domestic gas fitter and certified boiler operator. While his specialty is plumbing, Patrick has experience with carpentry and framing, concrete, drywall, roofing, flooring, and more.

Patrick often works as conventional tradespeople do, completing all aspects of a project, however he also offers clients the option to work alongside him. This lowers the cost for the client, and provides an opportunity to gain skills and knowledge. With experience in other trades, Patrick is able to complete entire renovation projects rather than exclusively plumbing, which sets Ernest PHS apart. Patrick hopes to take Ernest PHS to remote communities where he has completed work in the past and affordable plumbing services can be difficult to find.

Recently, Ernest PHS gained 2 employees and the business’ reputation continues to grow; Patrick has an upcoming radio interview and is helping to sponsor his neighbourhood clean up. In April, Ernest PHS partnered with 2 locally owned Indigenous businesses for a giveaway, and Patrick hopes to continue with such partnerships in the future. The most exciting development for Patrick’s 3 year old son was the arrival of the work van, which will also help the business “SOAR.”

International Indigenous Speakers Bureau

Educating, shifting mindsets, and working to enlighten understanding of Indigenous people, the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau, or IISB, is building bridges between global communities and bringing together a world of unlimited possibilities.

As the first and only International Indigenous Speakers Bureau in the world, IISB provides organizations, institutions, and governments a resource that enables them to find, connect and build capacity with Indigenous Speakers, Experts & Knowledge Keepers from around the world. At the same time, IISB is providing Indigenous Speakers a supportive community dedicated to elevating their success. COVID-19 crushed the global multi-billion dollar Speaking Industry, restricting people from gathering anywhere in the world. Events everywhere were wiped off the calendar for the next two years, leaving businesses scrambling to find a way to exist.

Ahead of their time, IISB had already been exploring Virtual Interactive Presentations (VIPs), with a mission to bring Indigenous perspectives and knowledge into classrooms. The challenge in 2018 was that most people could not grasp virtual, and they did not understand the software IISB was using, called Zoom.

Times have changed and everyone is ‘Zooming.’ Those in the industry who did not embrace virtual solutions, ceased to exist. Yet IISB is SOARING. Never has there been such a high demand for virtual presentations or for Indigenous speakers. It seems closing doors has also opened others for Indigenous perspectives and solutions. With experts predicting that 60-70% of all presentations will continue to be virtual post-COVID, IISB’s ever-growing family is ready and answering the call.

Laserology Skin Clinic

Laserology Skin Clinic in Warman came to be because owner Raelene Perlitz wondered what solutions were available for her Melasma - a skin condition she’d experienced for years. She soon discovered that there are a variety of treatments available for those of us who need help with their skin concerns. And so, the beginnings of Laserology started to take shape.

At Laserology, you’ll find a relaxed, comfortable environment and a realistic approach to every procedure. Whether you want laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, micro-needling, or treatments for any skin related issues we invite you to book a free personal consultation.

We offer an exclusive Black Card Membership that helps to keep you consistent with your skincare routine and lets you try treatments you may have never tried before, giving you the best results possible while treating yourself to some well deserved you time.

Here at Laserology we truly believe that when people feel better about themselves, they feel empowered. A world where everyone loves the skin they’re in — what a vision.

Navigating the pandemic as a new business has been a challenge, but we are excited to finally expand our team by employing a part time medical aesthetician . With the added support and ability to offer more services we are looking to continually grow our clientele.

We are currently in the process of bring new services to the clinic. We are excited to be bringing in the latest technology for dermal infusion treatments, as well as offering dental grade teeth whitening. Continuous education is highly valued at Laserology, and we look forward to adding more services for our clients to access as we learn about the latest treatment offerings.

Stardust Clothing and Accessories

Stardust Clothing and Accessories was created with all the dreamers in mind. There are vibrant colours, vintage styles and a sense of whimsy in all of our products. Our products include but are not limited to: tie dye clothing, handmade clothing, home décor and custom vinyl printing. We’re open to many ideas and are willing to work with our customers to get them the product that they desire. In fact, it is a challenge which forces me to push my limits and has always taught me new skills.

We had begun with a used sewing machine, started out sewing slouch bags and that turned into alterations and clothing manufacturing. I had always wanted to tie dye and my partner Michael had bought me a little kit and it ignited something in me. It pushed my creative walls and tore them down and I haven’t stopped trying everything since. Creativity is a fuel to my soul, and it keeps me going.

With the SOAR grant that had been gifted, our storefront location at the Centre Mall will be opening, alongside our website going live. We have been building inventory, designing our shop, marketing and staying on top of our customers inquiries. It has been a whirlwind and we are incredibly grateful. I am excited to share this with everyone and I hope that this ignites something in someone to chase their dreams.

SymmetryPR

Our company is an Indigenous-owned, local Saskatchewan communications/marketing consultancy founded on:

Brains. We’re data-driven, focussed on research and measurement and connecting our work to our customers’ bottom line.

Guts. We seek challenges and try new and creative approaches to get results, embodying a “turn it upside down” attitude.

Heart. We’re communication professionals on paper but relationship builders at heart. We value people-centric communications to build trust and mutual benefit, and giving back to the communities we serve.

We’re the only communications consultancy in Saskatchewan founded and run by two Communications Management Professionals, an ISO-certified designation.

In April, we launched our Symmetry Collective, a novel initiative that joins other communication/marketing professionals in a virtual coworking environment who are aligned with our same values and principles of working together. Collectively, we seek to build a community of practice, sharing expertise and best practices to help us deliver stronger outcomes for our customers and a bigger impact in our communities.

This Collective of independent, socially responsible entrepreneurs, together, foster collaboration and collective business development while working to give back to the communities they serve. This initiative also means, by working with others to complement our skill sets, we are able to offer “big agency” results as a consortium of independent enterprises.

We’re also looking to expand further into the training arena with a focus on media and public speaking training.