photo: choosecornwall.ca
Cornwall, Ontario – Every summer, teenagers head off to jobs at restaurants, pools, camps, and retail stores. This year, nine local students decided to take a different route: start businesses of their own.
They make up the 2026 Summer Company cohort through the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre, each turning an idea into a real business.
- Katsitsionni Thompson – Violet Visions
- Yves Yepseu – Photography
- Brynleigh Meacoe – Farmstand
- Caedmon Van Putten – Vadropho
- Burke Thompson – Lawncare
- Zaineb Haroon – ZaiMuse
- Mary Iranyumva – Divine Shine
- Liam Mulvihill – Mulvi
- Scarlett Bowling – Nail Services
Their businesses span everything from photography and drone videography to lawn care, baked goods, crafts, clothing, lip gloss, and nail services. Each one reflects a different idea of what people in the community are willing to buy.
Summer Company, funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, provides each participant with up to $3,000 in start-up funding, along with business coaching and mentorship.
The funding helps cover early expenses such as equipment, inventory, marketing, or a website. But receiving the grant isn’t automatic. Participants must develop a complete business plan, including marketing strategies and financial projections, before launching.
According to Business Advisor Mireille Lemire, the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre received a record number of applications for the 2026 program, making this year’s group the largest and most competitive to date.
The public will have an opportunity to meet the young entrepreneurs and learn about their businesses at the annual Summer Company Showcase.
Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Benson Centre, 800 Seventh Street West
The program has produced several successful local businesses over the years, including Swish School, Crystal’s Beautique Spa and Beauty Lounge, and Ol’Sugar Barn Ice Cream Stand.
Not every business launched through Summer Company will become a permanent enterprise, and that’s part of entrepreneurship. The experience of developing a business, meeting customers, managing finances, and learning from mistakes gives participants practical skills that few summer jobs can match.
For these nine young entrepreneurs, this summer is about testing an idea in the real world and discovering what it takes to build something from the ground up, as well as earning a pay cheque.
Good luck to all of them
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