Five local business owners slayed some dragons at the 15th annual Meaford Dragons event Thursday evening.
The event at the Meaford Hall welcomed an all female cast of slayers each vying for $15,000 in prizes as well as a $500 community choice award. Each of the contestants were attempting to win money to help their individual businesses.
Based on the popular CBC show, the event featured five dragons from local businesses including Chris Herbert from MI6 Marketing Integration, Cathi Parrish from Royal LePage Locations North, Tim Fischer from Mentor Technologies, Darryl Hindle from Quench Buggy, and Shannon Fry from Pharmasave Thornbury Pharmacy.
The prizes ranged from the dragon’s own money, to advertising packages, consulting services, and Meaford Chamber of Commerce memberships.
The slayers in this year’s event included Tracy Marsh from House’n Order, a business which helps people downsize their homes, declutter and professionally organize, Lisa Almond from Lisa’s Pet Grooming which provides mobile pet grooming services, Diana Simmons-Smith from Solo-Fit, a rentable private gym, Stefanie Peel from Le Pooch Boutique a shop which specializes in selling Canadian-made products for dogs and their owners, and Christina Sheardown from Sheardown’s Wine Bar and Cuisine, who made her return for the third time after winning last year’s event.
The winner for this year’s event was Marsh who won a total of $8,000, which was comprised of marketing, advertising and consulting services, as well as $2,500 of the dragon’s money. She also won the community choice award.
“I can’t be anything more than ecstatic, I mean it’s just really great. These are four other awesome entrepreneurs all providing great services and I am really thankful to have the support of the dragons tonight to expand my business,” says Marsh.
With the winnings, she plans to get the training needed to help those who are living with disorders organize and declutter their homes.
In second place was Almond, who won a total of $4,550, which also includes an advertising package, as well as marketing and the development of a safety program, and $1,800 of the dragon’s money.
She plans to use the money to buy new equipment to help groom people’s pets.
“I’m ecstatic,” says Almond.
In addition to some other money allocated by the dragons to each of the slayers, all contestants were walking home with a Meaford Chamber of Commerce membership and consulting services valuing at $400.
Mayor Ross Kentner says Meaford Dragon participants have launched 68 local businesses and expansions.
“To date, over $300,000 has been awarded to contestants in start-up cash and prizes. But no monetary value can be attached to the coaching provided and self-confidence instilled by the chamber in our budding entrepreneurs. Meaford Dragons grows every year,” says Kentner.
