Learning the craft

Young Leaders prepare for weekend business expo today in Summerside

As the jewelry buffing machine whirled to life in front of him, 12-year-old Evan Hume shrank away from the intimidating looking contraption.

Phillip Sullivan, owner/ operator of Jewellry Plus on Water Street in Summerside, proceeded to reach inside the glass-covered box containing the buffer and pressed a small gold ring against the rapidly spinning brush. As he did, he explained the process he uses to make jewelry look its best.

After a few minutes of demonstrating how to use the machine, Sullivan removed the ring from the box and offered it to his young protégé to try.

Tentatively at first, but with growing confidence, Evan pressed the ring against the brush. He smiled. Was it the first step on the road to a future career as a jeweller?

Maybe. Maybe not. But chances are it’s an option the boy hadn’t considered before. If so, then the Credit Union Young Leaders program has succeeded, Evan Hume, centre, tries his hand at buffing up a gold ring while Phillip Sullivan, left, of Jewellry Plus, shows him how it’s done. Watching are Max Desroches, rear, and Jason Gallant of the Summerside Youth Engagement Centre. said Jason “Lefty” Gallant, of the Summerside Youth Engagement Centre.

The Young Leaders program is currently winding down its second year. It matches participants between the ages of 12 to 15 with local businesses to learn about entrepreneurship and whatever it is the host does.

Evan partnered up with Jewellry Plus.

He’s been doing research on the business and has spent a day shadowing Sullivan.

“I thought it was pretty cool, how they organized the jewelry and that they more than just sell jewelry. They do repairs … and sell collectable coins,” said Evan.

As part of the program, Evan was to take a younger participant on his own tour of the business. He’s been partnered with seven-year-old Max Desroche.

“I think that will be pretty cool. I saw Phillip doing it and it seemed pretty fun, so I think it would be awesome to do that with Max,” said Evan.

“I think it’s really interesting to just look around,” added Max.

Sullivan said this was his second year participating in the Youth Leaders program and was pleased with how it turned out.

“It gives the kids exposure to businesses that they may not otherwise darken the doors of. Case in point, what’s a 12-yearold kid going to do in a jewelry store?” said Sullivan.

“I felt that if I could show them a bit of what we do and how we do things then maybe they could learn something that they can apply somewhere else down the road,” he said.

The Youth Leaders program culminates today with a special trade show and expo, taking place at Credit Union Place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Each pair of participants, like Evan and Max, will be manning a booth dedicated to the business they were partnered with. They will be responsible for engaging with visitors and telling them a little about what they learned.

In addition to the expo, there will be inflatable games, food and entertainment.

“Communication is a big part of it,” said Gallant. “We find that kids need to learn how to communicate a little better, instead of using their electronics. So this allows to them to work with the public face to face, it gives them those skills sets that are needed so that if they ever need to apply for jobs or go into whatever fields they decide to.”

It’s a big job, but Evan is looking forward to it.

“The program has helped me a lot with talking with my friends – I can’t make very many friends very often. It’s been helping me figure out the life of an adult,” he said.