A personal support worker is the winner of this year’s 16th annual Meaford Dragons.
Five slayers took on the dragons Thursday night at Meaford Hall to battle it out for various prizes including $20,000 worth of the dragon’s own money, advertising packages, and consulting services.
Based on the popular CBC show, the event featured five dragons from local businesses including Tim Fischer from Mentor Technologies, Amanda Mejia from the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre, Paul Chapman from Chapman Private Wealth Group, Chris Herbert from MI6 Marketing Integration, and Cathi Parrish of Royal LePage Locations North.
The slayers this year included Natasha Bell of NLB Personal Support Services, which provides supportive programs and events to people with disabilities, Tanya Vesely from Emergency Pro Solutions, which provides first aid training, Franney Wensley, who owns and operates a local restaurant and is trying to set up a space for youth to learn about cooking, Kyle Clements of Georgian Bay Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Olivia Herbert, who is starting up a new organization, All Living Things, which aims to educate people about various animals.
The winner this year was Bell who won a total of $10,000, which was comprised of consulting services, advertising packages, as well as $2,600 of the dragon’s money.
Her husband James who was present to represent her as a result of illness says the funding will be a blessing for his wife in what she is trying to do in the community.
“She is supper excited to be involved in the Dragon’s Den and she has been really working hard towards it,” says James. “She is going to be working on getting more qualifications for her customers, she is also going to be doing a security system, and she is also doing a response system. She is also needing some furniture and electronic equipment to help also support the programs and activities she is doing.”
Vesely won second place and received a total of $5,950, which also included consulting services, and $2,300 of the dragon’s money.
“I am very happy with the way that I placed and the prize money will definitely go to expanding the business and bringing in new sectors for marketing and bringing in new equipment that is extremely responsive, instantaneously to the participant taking the class,” says Vesely.
Clements was also named the recipient of the community choice award, which included a $500 prize.
Additionally, each participant walked away with a Meaford Chamber of Commerce membership.
Mayor Ross Kentner says, “what makes this such an entertaining evening is that emotions run high. Big risks are taken on both sides of the stage.”