SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — With the $25,000 championship prize she won during the first-ever edition of RDÉE Prince Edward Island’s Francophone Ignition Contest, bilingual podiatrist Stéphanie St-Onge will set up an additional treatment room in her brand-new Blossom Foot Care clinic in Summerside, modernize her equipment and set up a website.
St-Onge accepted her giant cheque from P.E.I. Lt. Gov. Antoinette Perry and contest co-ordinator Velma Robichaud following the championship round of the entrepreneurial start-up competition (formerly called the Dragons’ Contest), on March 16. The event was held jointly with the 2019 Acadian Entrepreneurs' Gala at the Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside.
But before she accepted her prize, the champion made it a priority to hug and congratulate the other two finalists, Belgo Transport (Philippe Guidon and Nathalie Coupet of North Wiltshire) and Elm Grove Centre (Josée Gallant-Gordon and Bobby Gordon of Alma).
When she finally made it to the stage, she encouraged them both to keep persevering and pursuing their entrepreneurial dream, reminding them that even if one door closes, it doesn’t mean that all doors are closed.
She admitted that last year, when she had been a finalist in RDÉE PEI’s former Dragons’ Contest, she had been extremely disappointed at losing. But now, she consoles herself with the fact that at that time, she would have only won $10,000 while this year, the value of the prize increased to $25,000.
An esthetician, St-Onge established Blossom Beauty Care in Summerside in 2011. She quickly saw a great need and a huge clientele for a foot care service.
Since she is also a podiatrist, she transformed her business into Blossom Foot Care. She now concentrates on the health and care of feet, sells foot-care products, offers a house-call service (including manors and hospitals) and delivers educational sessions. Her new clinic is located on Rufus Street.
The panel of judges consisted of three respected business people: Marc Côté from Evangeline-Central Credit Union, Linda Lowther from the Lowther Group and Islands Frozen Yogurt, and Olivier Bertrand from xoxolo.com, les Druides du Web and Elumicate from Moncton, N.B.
In addition to the $25,000 investment, the winners receive a free one-year membership to the Summerside and Charlottetown Chambers of Commerce. The three finalists get a free membership to the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of P.E.I.
