CALGARY- Small businesses make up 95 per cent of all businesses in Calgary, and a generous donation from a local family hopes to increase the odds of success.
The Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is the brainchild of Doug and Diane Hunter, who donated $5 million to bring the program to the University of Calgary. Starting this fall, every business student will take a class at the centre, in hopes of encouraging their entrepreneurial spirits.
“It’s an attitude and a mindset, and the ability to take on great ideas, take on challenges and come to a successful conclusion,” explains Doug Hunter. “It’s being able to ask ‘why?’ and come up with a new answer.”
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The couple has high hopes for the centre.
“My husband has already talked about a five year goal of becoming one of the best entrepreneurial schools in Canada,” explains Diane Hunter. “We hope to see and meet a number of young adults as graduates from this program becoming very successful in this community.”
Martyna Gatkiewicz is one of the students who hopes to benefit from the program, despite already successfully launching ‘Miss Martin Hosiery’ in Kensington about two years ago.
With files from Doug Vaessen
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