CDETNO successfully hosted its first bilingual women’s entrepreneurship competition, 48h Top Chrono, from April 25 to 27, 2025, in Yellowknife. Participants, trainers, and jury members all expressed their satisfaction with the organization of the event and the knowledge gained.
Out of the 18 applicants who registered, 13 were selected and divided into three groups. Each team worked through the process of creating a business, including writing a business plan, developing a marketing strategy, and exploring funding options. Participants demonstrated impressive adaptability despite the tight schedule and dense content and quickly applied what they learned to their projects. For the trainers, it was a mutually enriching experience that they are eager to repeat shortly.
The jury unanimously praised the quality of the presented projects, including a palliative care center, a cultural restaurant, an early childhood and mentoring center in French.
According to Stacia Kean, Economic Development and Tourism Manager for the City of Yellowknife, the participants managed to generate relevant and thoughtful ideas with discipline and passion in record time. Tracy Peters, Member Relations and Program Coordinator at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, also highlighted the event’s multicultural and bilingual character, which she found particularly moving. Cynthia Mufandaedza, co-owner of Best Movers, emphasized how the projects were “extremely relevant and rooted in real-world issues,” and expressed hope that these ideas would turn into real businesses.
First place was awarded to Jennifer Vega, Samanta Rios, Iciar Bercian, and Pampa Boote for their project: a palliative care center addressing the lack of such services in the North. They received $500 from the City of Yellowknife, $150 in CDÉTNO gift cards, and $150 in photography services from Epic Studio.
In second place, Yency Garcia, Llyanina Lora, Blanca Nieves Lopez, and Miriam Briones won over the jury with their inclusive cultural cuisine project, which would not only enrich the city’s culinary landscape but also showcase the rich gastronomic diversity of Yellowknife’s communities. They received $500 in services from Addvaloren, $100 in gift cards, and $150 in photography services.
Finally, Marie Tapsoba, Elsa Fendzi, and Francine Motso secured third place with their French-language daycare and mentorship service. In a context where daycare spaces are scarce and Francophone parents want to ensure their children grow up speaking French, their initiative addresses a vital need. They received a full Aquafolia skincare routine worth $460, $100 in gift cards, and $150 in services from Tru Hardware Yellowknife.
All other participants receive a $50 gift card, courtesy of CDETNO.