Defacto
Listening to the Sound of Ribbet
Take a stroll through downtown Peterborough and you’ll hear it… ribbet, ribbet. What started as a business challenge for Trent University students Sana Virji and Ribat Chowdhury, has transformed from an entrepreneurial notion to a money-making venture. Last fall, the Trent Business Students Association hosted a challenge that saw students challenged with making as much money as possible through a start-up business initiative. They were given $5 in seed money and five days to make it all happen. With their business discount coupon program, which allows shoppers to save on meals, eyeglasses, spa treatments and more, Ms. Virji and Mr. Chowdhury, then both fourth-year students, exceeded the expectations of their professors and classmates. The $5 challenge turned into $6,300 for the pair, setting an all-time record in the challenge’s history.
King of Quinoa Battles the Dragons
After a health crisis that resulted in the loss of a third of his pancreas, Trent alumnus Jamie Draves, a graduate from Environmental and Resource Science and Chemistry, turned to quinoa. This superfood inspired him to start his own business, and to help others like him. About six months ago, Trent alumnus Jamie Draves, a graduate from Environmental and Resource Science and Chemistry, took his pitch to CBC Television’s Dragon’s Den, looking to introduce quinoa to his already established Katan Kitchens business, an innovative, health food enterprise that produces high quality superfoods for the ‘Food for Health’ market, which has emerged as a leader in the research and development of quinoa in Ontario. His venture – both on television and in the ground – has begun to bear the fruits of his labour. “We are just now starting to receive crops from 15 different farmers, tallying more than 150 acres of quinoa,” Mr. Draves said. “We also are expecting to make some announcements in the next month or two on the outcome of the deal with Vikram Vij from Dragon’s Den.”
Tech Savvy Seniors
In true Trent style, a recent interdisciplinary partnership sees, Cammie Jaquays, professor in Business Administration, and Kim English, professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, teaming up to address the needs of seniors. Connected Care Communications is a platform solution provider that incorporates mobile technology with secure cloud storage to address the needs of seniors. The concept replaces the outdated paper trail system involved for senior in home care with new mobile technology that helps seniors with managing everyday health challenges so they can safely stay at home longer. “We are committed to empowering seniors in their homes with technology innovations and also for the nursing registries that provide for them,” Prof. Jaquays says. “Studies show that seniors want to age at home. It’s critical that we determine how technology can help and how the use of technology affects seniors and care providers.”
Poutine and Ph.D’s
It’s probably oversimplifying things to say Canadian Studies Ph.D. candidate Peggy Shaughnessy has a passion for helping people. But it’s the reason she’s back at Trent and juggling her studies with running a successful downtown Peterborough business. Owner of the Whistle Stop, a popular poutinerie and restaurant, Ms. Shaughnessy, who completed her B.Sc. in Psychology at Trent, before tackling the master’s of Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies also at Trent, applies her drive as a passionate entrepreneur to everything she does. Most recently, that includes heading back to Trent to continue her work with First Nations communities, and building on her Master’s research, to develop a social network for those affected by mental health and addiction. “Trent has been a huge part of my success. This is my passion,” says Ms. Shaugnessy.