If you’re in and around Cold Lake on June 13, Sawyer’s Fresh Lemonade Stand in Willow Crescent, near Kinosoo Beach in Cold Lake North will be serving up lemonade, berry lemonade, chips, chocolate bars and freezies for National Lemonade Day.
Across northeast Alberta, throughout the Portage College service area, there are more than 80 lemonade stands registered on the Canada-wide Lemonade Day directory, ready to serve up the sweet stuff on June 13.
Sawyer, who says some proceeds from his stand will go to the local food bank, is just one of the youngsters involved in the nationwide Lemonade Day event raising money, awareness and empowerment for young entrepreneurs.
The choice to offer more than just lemonade, the choice to serve only lemonade, and where to set up the lemonade stand, are some of the business decisions that Portage College Business program instructor Dr. Merlyn Foo explained to young students at recent school visits called “Lemonade University”. The quick lessons during visits to several regional schools taught goals, budgets, customer service, product choices, pricing and location choices in advance of the Lemonade Day event.
Foo joined Portage College Business program graduate and current business owner David Schultz and Community Futures-Lac La Biche Economic Development Coordinator John Peloton at the recent school visits. The Lemonade Day initiative was first brought to northeastern Alberta by Community Futures in 2018, to teach youth valuable life skills using simplified business lessons relating to the operation of a lemonade stand.
“Lemonade Day is a free, fun, experiential learning program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business – a lemonade stand,” notes the Community Futures’ Lemonade Day website. “The foremost objective of Lemonade Day is to empower youth to take ownership of their lives and become productive members of society –business leaders, social advocates, volunteers, and forward-thinking citizens of tomorrow.”
Lemonade all day
Since 2018, Peloton says Lemonade Day participants in northern Alberta have made more than $152,000 in profit, and raised more than $50,000 for local charities. There are now registered Lemonade Day stands in 13 northern Alberta Community Futures regions.
Something sweet for charity
Lukas’ Emoji Lemonade Stand in St. Paul – popping up just south of the Portage College campus on 48 Ave. and 50 St. – is one of them. Lukas will be serving up lemonade, sno-cones, sour worms, ring pops and crafts. Lukas says some proceeds from the sale will be going to the St. Paul Figure Skating Club. Similar charitable thoughts are happening in Lac La Biche, where youngsters calling themselves the Arctic Lemons are selling lemonade, freezies and chips to raise money for the Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society (and for a family trip and to buy a new iPhone case).
Foo hopes the local youngsters who took part in Lemonade University will enjoy their Lemonade Day – and drink in the sweet taste of business success.
“Have a great Lemonade Day!” Foo said.