Kyndra Farrell is looking to open more doors for young people in Fraser Lake and other small communities across Canada.

The University of Northern British Columbia Bachelor of Commerce student is spending the summer working with the Fraser Lake Eco Co-op, an internship program to connect young people with local small businesses. With support from the Herrendorf Family Foundation (HFF), Farrell is putting together a pilot project that she hopes can inspire young people to jump-start their careers.

“I hope to create a new resource for the students in the area, something I would have benefited significantly from when I was growing up,” Farrell says. “Currently my research has been catered to the needs of Fraser Lake, but I fully intend to make the pilot program adaptable for other rural communities so that as many people as possible can benefit from my research.” 

The Fraser Lake Eco Co-op project is a grassroots regional economic and co-operative development initiative that includes partnerships between the rural and Indigenous communities of Fraser Lake. The mandate of this non-profit, multi-service co-operative is to provide social and economic benefit to its members and the communities it will serve through education, skills and employment training, local manufacturing and food production, environmental stewardship, youth retention, and cultural enrichment opportunities. 

Through the fellowship, Farrell is working with HFF CEO Kasondra Cohen-Harrendorf and HHF Senior Director, Impact Tanya Slingsby on her proposal. She will be presenting her final project to the Eco Co-op at the end of the summer. 

Farrell came to UNBC after completing a Business Management Diploma at the College of New Caledonia in 2021. Her entrepreneurial interests piqued, she decided to continue her studies at UNBC’s School of Business. 

“I think Prince George is a great place to start and build a business, so I plan on fully utilizing the opportunities in the area,” Farrell says. “I could see myself working towards my MBA at UNBC after I complete my undergraduate degree and doing as much as possible to advocate for northern rural communities through research and new initiatives.”

Farrell hasn’t waited to complete her degree to kick-start her business ventures. She’s already started an industrial maintenance contracting company and is looking to launch Prince George’s first customized, mobile bartending trailer. 

Her entrepreneurial drive was partly inspired by her participation in the Leaders International through Virtual Engagement (LIVE) Summit hosted by HHF. 

“I met some truly inspiring industry leaders and have had the opportunity to connect with and learn from real change makers,” Farrell says. “Each speaker has brought a unique perspective to the table and has allowed me to look at things from a different lens.”

Ferrell also received the Face of Today Scholarship from the HFF. For that award, she needed to write an essay about how she prioritized her mental health in a time of crisis. She recounted her experience as an evacuee during the Shovel Lake wildfire in 2018. 

“My work with the Herrendorf Family has reassured me that I am on the right path,” Farrell says. “I get to participate in such unique opportunities and find new ways to do the things I am passionate about every single day. I could not be more grateful for the doors they have opened for me and the path they've led me to.”