A local 14-year-old is making the best of the pandemic after taking an idea and turning it into a business.
High school student Maria Whittal took these last four months as an opportunity, using all of her extra time to launch a business that felt right in the moment.
Whittal's business is called Ohana Ice.
The business is run out of a retro-inspired trailer that can be found on the corner of 330 Richmond Street in Chatham.
"Both of my parents are entrepreneurs and that is something that has always inspired me," the soon-to-be Grade 10 student said. "I decided I would become an entrepreneur too. I thought [what better time than] the summer during COVID-19 because there is so much time."
Whittal said she found the old trailer for sale on Kijiji and spent two months renovating it with help from family.
Maria Whittal,14, sells sweet treats out of a vintage trailer located at 330 Richmond Street in Chatham, Ontario. (Photo by Millar Hill)
"It was going to be just me working on the trailer, that was the deal I made with my parents but my uncle felt bad for me, so he helped me out," said Whittal.
Whittal's mother, Rachel Schwarz said the business was something her daughter wanted to do for a long time.
"She totally took charge," said Schwarz. "I think the pandemic really gave her the time to put the thought into it. Now she's doing this thing that she has been talking about for a while."
Whittal said the community was not hesitant to show support when she opened on July 31.
"I had lots of doubts and I was super nervous on the first day, but I quickly figured out it was a lot of fun," said Whittal. "I'm pretty proud."
Schwarz said her daughter will put a portion of the money earned back into the business and put 50 percent of the money from the business towards post-secondary school.
More information is available at ohanaice.ca.
