Accessibility Tools

PEAK – Self-Employment Training for Adults

Launch your future. Build your business.

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PEAK is a bold, supportive training experience for adults (18+) considering business ownership.

In just a few sessions, you’ll:

  • Explore your ideas
  • Build confidence
  • Learn foundational business skills
  • Decide whether entrepreneurship is the right path for you

With group workshops, one-on-one support, and practical tools, PEAK makes space for possibility—without pressure.

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PEAK

Push. Elevate. Achieve. Keep Rising.
The PEAK Mindset

P

ush Limits

Try new things. Challenge comfort zones.

E

levate your vision

Go from idea to plan. From "maybe someday" to "I’m doing it."

A

chieve with purpose

Create value. Build momentum. Define success on your terms.

K

eep rising

Learn. Iterate. Grow. There’s always a next step.

No matter your background, experience, or idea stage—

PEAK is where your next chapter begins.

Your Entrepreneurial Toolkit

PEAK is a focused, practical training experience designed to give you a well-rounded business foundation. Here's what we cover:

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Build a Business Idea

  • Explore what makes a strong business concept
  • Clarify your goals, motivations, and values
  • Learn to articulate your "what," "why," and "how"
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Understand the Money

  • Income vs. expenses vs. profit — and how to balance them
  • Build a basic budget using real-world numbers
  • Learn the difference between financial risk and reward
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Know Your Customer

  • Define your market and niche
  • Develop a basic customer profile
  • Learn how to talk to (and sell to) your audience
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Develop a Marketing Plan

  • Understand your brand message
  • Choose smart marketing methods based on your strengths
  • Build a simple plan to test your idea in the real world
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Draft a Real Business Plan

  • Piece together your business idea, money plan, and operations into one page
  • Walk away with a functional, flexible business plan draft
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1-on-1 Business Coaching
(Post Program)

After completing the workshops, each participant will receive a personalized coaching session where they can troubleshoot specific challenges, refine their business plan, and receive tailored advice on next steps toward launching or validating their business idea.

Explore Self-Employment with Confidence

PEAK is designed to help adults (18+) discover whether entrepreneurship is the right next step. In just a few sessions, you’ll dive into business planning, financial literacy, operations, and marketing — all focused on making self-employment real and achievable.

Topic

Date and Time

Description

From Idea to Action

Part 1

July 15, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

Participants explore creative brainstorming techniques to generate business ideas based on personal interests, market needs, and community opportunities. They learn how to "sift through" possibilities and focus on ideas with real-world potential.
The session emphasizes setting clear business objectives, understanding personal motivation, and identifying ideal customers to anchor their business concept.

Key Skills:

  • Creative thinking

  • Goal setting

  • Customer identification

Part 2

July 16, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

Show Me the Money

Part 1

July 21, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

This lesson introduces participants to business financial basics in an accessible, beginner-friendly way. They will learn how to analyze if their idea can realistically make money by understanding key financial concepts like income, expenses, and profit margins.
Hands-on exercises include basic pricing strategies, simple profit calculations, and recognizing common hidden costs.

Key Skills:

  • Financial literacy for entrepreneurs

  • Budgeting basics

  • Evaluating profitability

Part 2

July 22, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

High Key Action

Part 1

July 23, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

Participants move from planning to action: how to sell their product or service, how to choose the right legal structure for their business (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership), and how to plan for growth by identifying when they need to upskill, hire, or partner with others.
The focus is on building operational resilience from the start and aligning business choices with long-term goals.

Key Skills:

  • Sales fundamentals

  • Organizational structure choices

  • Growth planning

Part 2

July 28, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

Who is My Customer and Where Are They?

Part 1

July 29, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

This final lesson focuses on understanding the marketplace. Participants learn what defines a market or market niche, how to pinpoint where their target customers "hang out," and how to begin testing their product-market fit.
They will also get an introduction to basic marketing strategies, including digital and in-person methods, and how to develop messaging that resonates with their intended audience.

Key Skills:

  • Market research

  • Finding and segmenting a target audience

  • Marketing fundamentals

Part 2

July 30, 2025

5 PM - 7 PM

If You’ve Got the Spark, You Belong Here

This program is for:

  • Adults (18+) exploring self-employment
  • Side-hustlers testing a new idea
  • First-time entrepreneurs looking for guidance
  • Anyone who wants to learn how to build a business on their own terms

We especially welcome:

  • Indigenous participants
  • Newcomers to Canada
  • Women entrepreneurs
  • People from underrepresented communities

No business experience? No problem.

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Take the Next Step

Whether you're looking to join, refer someone, or support PEAK, here's how you can plug in:

I’m an adult (18+)
Ready to build your future? Apply today and take the first step.

I’m a school, organization, or youth worker
Looking to refer a potential participant? Download the info pack or contact us to set up a presentation.

Please fill the required field.
Please fill the required field.

About PEAK

PEAK is a project of Community Futures Lac La Biche designed to spark entrepreneurship in rural adults. It's also part of the Young Entrepreneurs Training Initiative suite of programs

We believe great ideas don’t need permission. Just a push, a plan, and a little support.

Learn More About Community Futures

If you are 15 to 18 years old or in senior high school, and looking for a meaningful activity over the summer, try our YETI program

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Contact Us

10106-102 Avenue
Box 2188
Lac La Biche, AB  T0A 2C0
P: 780-623-2662
E: contact@cfllb.com 

Communities Served

Atmore, Avenir, Barnegat, Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Behan, Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, Briereville, Caslan, Craigend, Fork Lake, St. Lina, Grassland, Heart Lake First Nation, Helina, Hylo, Imperial Mills, Kikino Metis Settlement, Lac La Biche, Margie, Normandeau, Noral, Owl River, Pelican Portage, Philomena, Pitlochrie, Plamondon, Rich Lake, Tweedie, Venice, Wandering River.

Questionnaires

Note: In order for your equity investment application to be considered, first submit a completed questionnaire.