Young Entrepreneurs Shine at Lemonade Day 2024 in East Parkland

East Parkland, AB – Budding young entrepreneurs took to the streets in Bashaw, Castor, and Wetaskiwin for Lemonade Day 2024, turning a simple summer tradition into a hands-on business experience. The annual event, organized by Community Futures East Parkland (CFEP) in collaboration with local municipalities and business organizations, gave youth the opportunity to learn real-world business skills by planning, setting up, and operating their own lemonade stands.

This year’s participants learned about financial literacy, customer service, and business planning while competing for awards in various categories, judged by local leaders. Community members showed overwhelming support, stopping by lemonade stands throughout the day to sample refreshing drinks and encourage the young entrepreneurs.

Celebrating the Winners

Lemonade Day also recognizes participants who excelled in different aspects of business development:

• Bashaw:
  • Best Tasting Lemonade – Better Than Revenge Lemonade (Jennifer & Jackson Innes)
  • Best Stand – Tangy Twist (Asher Swystun)
  • Best Entrepreneur – Squish Mellow Lemonade (Arcadia Gallant)
• Castor:
  • Best Tasting Lemonade, Best Stand & Best Entrepreneur – ET Lemonade (Ella White)
• Wetaskiwin:
  • Best Tasting Lemonade – The Lemon Brothers (Gus Martens, Dieter Schamber, Jasper Schamber)
  • Best Stand – Lemon Land (Susannah & Rosalie Bellous)
  • Best Entrepreneur – Lazy Cat Lemonade (Bexley Kowak-Zielke)

Local leaders, including Mayor Rob McDonald (Bashaw), Mayor Richard Elhard (Castor), and Mayor Tyler Gandem (Wetaskiwin), as well as councillors and chamber representatives, served as judges and helped recognize the creativity and dedication of the participants.

A Learning Experience Beyond the Stand

More than just a fun summer event, Lemonade Day provides a stepping stone into entrepreneurship. Participants create business plans, secure funding, and make real-time decisions on pricing and marketing strategies—offering valuable lessons in responsibility, money management, and customer relations. Many participants even chose to donate a portion of their profits to local charities, reinforcing the importance of community support.

“Lemonade Day gives youth a chance to experience what it takes to run a small business, from setting up a stand to engaging with customers,” said Chris Yaremchuk, Economic Development Officer with Community Futures East Parkland. “It’s inspiring to see their confidence grow throughout the day as they learn first-hand what it means to be an entrepreneur.”

Looking Ahead

With another successful year wrapped up, Community Futures East Parkland looks forward to expanding Lemonade Day to more communities in 2025. The event continues to grow in popularity, providing an essential learning experience for youth while fostering economic development at a grassroots level.

For more information on Lemonade Day or to get involved next year, visit eastparkland.albertacf.com.