Ceili Minten receives Daniel Keane Entrepreneurial Legacy Award

BRACEBRIDGE — The eighth annual Daniel Keane Entrepreneurial Legacy Award was presented recently at the Gala Business Awards Ceremony at the Bracebridge Sportsplex, hosted by the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce.

Ceili Minten’s entrepreneurial initiative and social conscience earned the Bracebridge student the $1,000 Keane award.

This award is provided each year to a student who has participated in the Muskoka Small Business Enterprise Centre’s delivery of the Provincial Summer Company Program, and who has shown a spirit of community service, an innovative business idea, and a strong work ethic.

This year, the award was presented to 17-year-old Ceili Minten, whose business, Foundations Tutoring Services, offers personalized tutoring sessions to kids from kindergarten to Grade 11. Each lesson is tailored to the specific needs, learning styles, and exceptionalities of the students.

Aside from running a successful business, she is an anti-bullying activist, and a school leader for ‘Me-To-We.’

She also leads initiatives like ‘We Rise Above’ (a kindness challenge); ‘We Are Silent,’ (representing all the people in the world who do not have a voice); and ‘We Well-Being’ (helping kids overcome the struggles of mental health issues and providing global solutions to one of this generation’s biggest problems).

The Daniel Keane Award was established in 2011 by Lynn Keane and her family to honour the memory of her son, Daniel, whose life ended tragically, and to recognize his entrepreneurial spirit and interest in giving back to the Muskoka community.

According to Keane: “Our son, Daniel, had such an amazing experience starting his summer business ‘Cottage Concierge’ in 2007.

“For two summers Daniel was able to employ students, meet area cottagers and residents, book cottage maintenance projects and truly get involved in the Muskoka community. He benefited greatly from the Summer Company Program.

“Through the Daniel Keane award we want to recognize the importance of the Summer Company program in Muskoka; and support young people who go beyond running a successful summer business, but who also contribute to the betterment of their community.

“We also hoped to draw attention to the stigma that surrounds youth depression and encourage conversations around mental health, mental illness and suicide prevention. “Congratulations to this year’s recipient.”

For information on Summer Company for students ages 15 – 29, contact the Muskoka Small Business Centre by phone (705) 646-9021 or email: programs@muskokasmallbusiness