Jun 24, 2009 - 05:10 PM
By = Melissa=20 Mancini
DURHAM -- At just 15, Cole Towie has already begun the business that = may=20 jump-start his career.
He's not even old enough to drive, but Cole, who had a job at a farm = last=20 summer, will spend this season while school's out as the CEO of his own = company.
The Courtice High student has been riding BMX bikes since he was 11 = years=20 old. The hobby quickly became his passion and, in addition to riding, he = started=20 learning repair techniques to keep his cycle in good shape. He even = builds his=20 own bikes. His current ride is a BMX with blue handle bars he put = together two=20 years ago.
"I started out ripping my friends' bikes apart and fixing them," said = Cole,=20 who will be going into Grade 11 in September.
Now he's opening up his family's immaculate garage so he can fix = bikes for=20 anyone who enjoys a nice ride. Cole's shop features his bikes hanging = from the=20 walls and a display case that, in its former life, was a make-up = counter. The=20 case features some of the parts he can order for customers.
Cole's company is called Prodige BMX. In addition to fixing any kind = of bike,=20 he will also be available to build custom BMX bikes and will sell parts = that he=20 buys from a wholesaler to do-it-yourselfers.
Cole is funding his venture with help from a grant from the Ontario=20 Government. It's part of a program called Summer Company, where youth = ages 15 to=20 29 can apply to launch their own startups with financial help and moral = support.
Locally, the program is run by the Business Advisory Centre Durham. = Students=20 are chosen to participate through an extensive application process where = they=20 have to draw up a business plan, said Wenda Abel, co-ordinator at the = centre.
Those who are approved for the program are eligible for up to $3,000. = They=20 are given a mentor to help with aspects of running a business and attend = classes=20 to help with things like marketing and book-keeping.
Cole is among 20 Durham youth approved for the program this year. Ms. = Abel=20 said many of the business plans submitted were stellar and she thinks = the centre=20 is going to have some very successful entrepreneurs. The new companies = are=20 diverse, offering a variety of services and products from music lessons = to=20 landscaping to handmade jewelry.=20
Cole heard about the program from his cousin and jumped at the chance = to=20 apply. He said it fit in perfectly with his long-term goal of opening = his own=20 bike repair store.
It's only a few weeks into the program but Cole said he's already = happy he is=20 part of Summer Company.
"I am so glad I did this," he said. "I would recommend it to any kid = with the=20 confidence to do it."
Cole said he's noticed the popularity of the sport growing locally = and hopes=20 that will mean a successful summer.
"More and more kids are getting into it," he said. "Even the little = kids will=20 watch us do tricks out of the bowl and be fascinated."
Regardless of how the summer venture pans out, Cole's dad Hugh is = already=20 beaming when he talks about his son's accomplishments.
"I am so proud of him," Mr. Towie said. "He's done this all on his = own."
E-mail: prodigebmx@rogers.com
Phone: 289-240-4256
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