Yorkton, SK – June 16, 2026
Innovation in rural communities has long been part of the conversation in Eastern Saskatchewan, but coordinated action and dedicated support systems have often been limited. Through its applied research mandate, Suncrest College has participated in numerous regional projects that required solutions extending beyond traditional approaches. Increasingly, these projects called for innovative thinkers, entrepreneurial approaches, and startup-minded organizations to help solve complex, real-world challenges.
This led to an important question: Could Eastern Saskatchewan not only generate innovative ideas and startups—but actively support, attract, and benefit from them?
To test that hypothesis, Suncrest College launched the Suncrest Innovation Exchange (SiX) and introduced its inaugural Startup Program.
What began as an experiment quickly became a learning opportunity for both the College and the broader community. The program demonstrated strong interest in entrepreneurship and innovation while highlighting a larger opportunity: the need for dedicated supports that extend beyond the College environment.
While SiX proved successful as an innovation initiative within Suncrest College, it became clear that long-term regional impact would require a complementary model focused on businesses, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem development.
In response, community and entrepreneurial partners came together to establish a broader Rural Innovation Ecosystem that operates alongside—but independent from—the College. This approach allows Suncrest to remain focused on its core strengths of supporting students, staff, applied research, and programming, while the wider ecosystem works to attract innovation, support startups and businesses, and strengthen regional economic growth.
SiX will continue to evolve within Suncrest College through entrepreneurial programming for students and staff, including exploration of a blended learning model that combines entrepreneurship, business, and operational training.
Together, this complementary approach expands applied research opportunities, supports job creation, and creates new pathways for training and innovation across the region.
What began as a hypothesis has demonstrated real potential—and is already creating long-term value for Suncrest College, the community, and Eastern Saskatchewan.
Startup Program Outcomes
The inaugural Startup Program ran from February to April and welcomed eight startups: six from Saskatchewan, one from Quebec, and one from Indiana.
Participants met weekly in an online format facilitated by Andrew Leaman. Sessions were structured around themes designed to support the development and growth of technology-focused businesses and included guest speakers selected for their expertise and connections across industry and support agencies.
Program topics included:
- Introduction to the East Central Saskatchewan community
- Customer discovery and sales
- Reconciliation and entrepreneurship
- Problem validation and solution mapping
- Cybersecurity and rural populations
- Building the offer and sales conversations
- Operations and organizational structure
- Resilience and growth
- Reflection and next steps
Each 90-minute session combined discussion, practical activities, and targeted assignments to help founders advance specific areas of their business development. One key assignment involved creating and refining an elevator pitch for their startup.
In total, 16 speakers contributed to the program, including four Suncrest College staff members and 12 external experts.
The program was scheduled to conclude with an in-person Pitch Gala at Suncrest College’s Trades and Technology Centre, where founders would present to community supporters and agencies offering entrepreneurial supports. Unfortunately, a late spring snowstorm resulted in the event being cancelled.
To ensure participants still had an opportunity to showcase their work, pre-recorded startup pitches were collected and compiled into a video that will be shared publicly on YouTube.
Demonstrating Regional Potential
The Startup Program demonstrated that there is strong potential for entrepreneurship and startup development in East Central Saskatchewan.
Two participating startups from outside Saskatchewan are actively exploring establishing offices in the Yorkton region, while another participant is considering relocating to Yorkton to continue building their business locally.
In addition, participating startups are exploring future applied research opportunities with Suncrest College’s Centre for Applied Research and Innovation (CARIS).
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. All startups indicated they would recommend the program to others interested in launching a technology-based business, and all reported that participation strengthened and advanced their business development.
Looking ahead, future offerings of the Startup Program will be delivered in partnership with The Eastern Junction, Yorkton’s newly established Tech and Innovation Hub.
This initiative was supported through funding provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Innovation Saskatchewan.
About Suncrest College: Suncrest College provides accessible, high-quality education and training through campuses in Canora, Esterhazy, Fort Qu’Appelle, Kamsack, Melfort, Melville, Nipawin, Tisdale, and Yorkton, located across Treaty 4, Treaty 5, and Treaty 6 Territories and the Homeland of the Métis Nation. Learners can choose from a wide range of educational opportunities, including university degrees, skills training diplomas and certificates, trades training, high school upgrading, employability programs, safety training, corporate and professional development, and opportunities to participate in applied research projects led by the College.
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For interviews or questions regarding this release, please contact:
Suncrest College Marketing
1.639.562.9312
