Business Profile:

Rocky Point Kayak Ltd., in conjunction with Rocky Point Ice Cream & Café operates from Rocky Point Park in Port Moody from March to October. It provides kayak/canoe rentals, lessons, tours and storage. Kayak accessories are also available for sale. Specialty coffee, homemade ice cream and dog treats are also offered by the café.

His Story:

Jamie was inspired to become an entrepreneur because of desire to have a flexible schedule that would allow him to spend more time with his family during the off-season. He saw entrepreneurship as a great opportunity to be creative and continue to challenge himself.

At the age of 21 he started an in-line skate rental company and taught skating lessons. Feeling the need to diversify his product offering, he moved the location to Rocky Point Park and added ice cream as well as other concession items. However, the skate company and ice cream store was not enough for Jamie. In 2001 he helped create Casa Docle Gelato on the shore of Lafarge Lake, British Columbia. In 2002, Jamie received start-up financing and Mentor, Alexander Prodanovic from CYBF. Having Alexander for support was very helpful to him, as he could discuss ideas and challenges with a successful business leader. For a few years he ran all three businesse – however when the kayak rental fleet was expanded to include 26 kayaks, Jamie realized it was in his best interest to focus more on his Rocky Point ventures. As a result, he sold Casa Dolce Gelato in 2006.

Rocky Point Kayak is now an established business in Port Moody thanks to a man who was once a tour guide for a backpacker tour bus company.

Short Quote:

“I love being an entrepreneur because it gives me the ability to earn a living in an area I love. It gives me an opportunity to be flexible with my time and pursue other personal and business interests. CYBF is a great way to establish capital for your business and have a whole team of business professionals at your finger tips to bounce ideas off.”

- Jamie Cuthbert, Rocky Point Kayak Ltd.

Mentor Quote:

“Through the years it has been a great opportunity to have someone like Alex, my CYBF mentor, to talk through my businesses challenges and help with financial statements and questions. Mentoring is another voice that is not necessarily as emotionally involved as you, and it provides sound direction and advice. Alex gave me direction when my vision was clouded with emotion. He was able to turn my passion ‘to make the business work at all costs’ into real financial projections. You need to be confident in your product, location or idea and persevere through the endless obstacles that you will face everyday!”

- Jamie Cuthbert, Rocky Point Kayak Ltd.

About CYBF
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character, not collateral, when providing youth aged 18-39 with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring to help them launch and sustain successful businesses. CYBF has been recognized as a global leader in advancing youth entrepreneurship, is a founding member of the global G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA), the Canadian member of the Prince’s Youth Business International, and the Canadian Host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 18-24, 2013). Visit www.cybf.ca.