Provincial bursary program recognizes Yorkton-area young entrepreneurs

Two Yorkton entrepreneurs get $5,000 plus mentoring to grow their businesses.

Two young entrepreneurs were awarded a bursary cheque in Yorkton on Friday.

In late October, Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of the Government’s 2025-26 Young Entrepreneur Bursary. The aim of the program is to support new and growing businesses.

This year, two young business owners from the Yorkton area were among the 57 recipients, receiving $5,000 to help their small businesses: Kurtis Decker from Diamond Asphalt in Yorkton, and Langenburg-based Kaylee Miller, owner of Insightful Growth Pathways.

They were awarded the cheques at the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, by executive director Juanita Polegi and Melissa Brookshire on behalf of Yorkton’s MLA David Chan.

“We hope that they find [the support] to be very valuable and useful in their development as entrepreneurs,” Polegi said in her speech.

She also reminded everyone of the eligibility criteria.

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“The young entrepreneurs had to be between the ages of 18 and 35 years old, own a for profit business based in the province, and have been in business for less than 10 years,” she said.

Their Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce received over 340 applications this year.

“The $5,000 will allow my business specifically to purchase different assessments, tools and sensory materials to use in our clinic to work directly with the kiddos and the families,” said Miller, whose business focuses on applied behaviour analysis services.

Decker emphasized the need for safety measures in his construction company.

“We’re implementing more and more safety measures all the time, so I’ve invested some money into that already,” he said. “It’s kind of going to be a forever, ongoing process.”

He added that he’d also like to invest in marketing and equipment.

The two proud recipients didn’t only receive monetary support. They’ll also be provided with exclusive mentoring workshops and networking opportunities.