13th Annual Meaford Dragons event participants from left to right: Steven Ormsby, Christina Sheardown, Hope Farrow, Adam Vaughn, and Amy Trembley. (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
The 13th Annual Meaford Dragons event has named its first place winner, who will receive over $14,000.
The local Chamber of Commerce’s event on Nov. 4 at the Meaford Hall, hosted five participants from varying backgrounds who took to the stage to try an impress the panel of dragons.
The panel was comprised of Russ Ellis from CTRE, Tim Fischer from Mentor Technologies, Blair Almond from Bruce Street Technologies Limited, Nancy Butchart from BrokerLink Insurance, and Marie-Catherine Marsot from The Frauxmagerie.
Meaford Mayor Barb Clumpus says, “I am pleased to welcome another group of hopeful entrepreneurs to the stage as they attempt to wow the judges with their business ideas. Over the years, many bright and creative business owners have brought innovative goods and services to the Meaford community with the support of the Dragons event.”
Starting the presentations was Amy Tremblay, who asked the dragons for assistance in helping her set up a therapeutic practice in Meaford to assist residents with a variety of mental health programs.
Adam Vaughn from the East Grey Hunters and Anglers Association asked the dragons to assist with providing funding, to help with renovations to their building, and making it more accessible.
Then was Hope Farrow from Love Me Long Time Boutique, who asked for funding to update her POS system.
Chef Christina Sherdown followed up by proposing a restaurant which would work with local farmers and food suppliers to put “the community on the plate,” and was asking for financial assistance to make it happen.
Lastly was Steven Ormsby of Still Fields Brewery who saw a boom in business and needed to close for the winter season. Ormsby took to the stage to ask the dragons for help to fix this.
Each dragon questioned the participants on their proposed business model, their finances, back up plans, and other aspects of their business.
When it came time to render a decision on who the dragons would be backing, the dragons told each contestant how much money they would be receiving to support their business venture, and a range of services each of the dragons would provide.
Marsot offered Sherdown a supply of cheese when she gets her business off the ground, Ellis offered to shoot some social media promos for Farrow, to name a few.
The total amount of money was tallied up for each participant, and Ormsby came in first receiving over $14,000, with Vaughn being named the runner up, receiving over $2,700.
“I didn’t anticipate it and I am so happy and so ecstatic. I grew up in this community and gave a lot, and now this community is giving back to me,” says Ormsby. “We were overwhelmed this fall, in a really positive way, and heading into the winter we want to lean into the outdoors and we are going to reinvest this money into bringing people onsite, and have an enjoyable outdoor experience at the brewery.”
The prizes were not over yet, as The Rotary Club of Meaford held an audience choice award, where one of the contestants would be given $500. During the event’s intermission, the audience was able to cast their ballots, and it was announced Sherdown had won the choice award.
Meaford Chamber of Commerce President Scott Gooch says, “the event went fabulously this year. We had five really strong contestants with diverse backgrounds and different business ideas, and so it was really great that way. Everyone walked away with something, as someone who didn’t win a lot of money formally, walked away with $10,000 worth of other cash and other supports promised that were not a part of the show.”
