Startup Support Helping Fort Smith’s Entrepreneurs

Bridging the Gap: Wintergreen Travel Makes Medical Journeys Easier

For residents of northern communities,traveling for medical appointments can be an incredibly stressful experience. However, a new travel booking platform called Wintergreen Travel aims to change that by simplifying the process and alleviating the burden on patients.

“When you’re going for medical appointments, it’s already stressful enough and you should not have to worry about your travel arrangements and things not working out properly,” explains Mildred Martin, the founder of Wintergreen Travel. Martin,a former GNWT benefits officer,was inspired to create this platform after hearing countless complaints from individuals struggling with the complexities of medical travel.

“One of my goals is to help the clients because I used to work in that area helping clients. That’s one of my main reasons why I wanted to get involved in this,” Martin shares.

A Platform for Simplified Medical Travel

Recognizing the unique challenges faced by northern communities, Martin, along with her business partner Rashmi Patel, created Wintergreen Travel. This platform offers a extensive solution for booking flights, accommodations, and transportation, all tailored to the specific needs of medical travelers in the region.

By streamlining the booking process and providing customized support, Wintergreen Travel aims to make medical travel more manageable and less stressful for patients. The platform also emphasizes building strong relationships with local healthcare facilities and transportation providers to ensure seamless coordination and a positive travel experience.

Pottery Classes Offered at Makerspace Thanks to Indigenous Entrepreneurship Support

A new pottery studio is coming to Fort Smith’s Makerspace, thanks in part to support from the Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship (IWE) program. Krystal Brown, a local artist, was inspired to launch her business after attending a marketing workshop offered by the program.

From Inspiration to Action

“One of the things I remember them talking about was: who is your target market? And I hadn’t thought about that at all. That really shifted the way I was thinking about the services I was delivering. It helped me expand my business plan,” Brown said.

The program’s guidance proved invaluable, helping Brown clarify her vision and develop a complete business plan. “It really highlighted for me that I was actually ready to start launching my business if that was something that I

wanted to pursue,” Brown added.

wintergreen Travel: Simplifying Medical Travel

Travel in northern communities can be challenging, especially when it comes to accessing healthcare. Wintergreen Travel is working to change that by offering a seamless and stress-free way for residents to manage their medical travel arrangements. Founded by local entrepreneur, Martin, the company aims to simplify the process and showcase the beauty of the North.

“It’s exciting. We still have to get out there and get people to sign up with us,” she says. Martin hopes the platform will launch within the next few months and allow her to showcase the beauty and opportunities of the North.

Empowering Business Women

supporting women entrepreneurs is crucial for the growth and advancement of northern communities. The Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs program provides vital resources and mentorship to women like Martin who are launching their own businesses. Denise Yuhas, a business support officer for the program at Fort Smith’s Thebacha Business Progress Services, explains the program’s impact:

“A lot of it is indeed helping them get whatever it is they need to help them to succeed with their plans. It is a pretty great possibility. And of course, no education is worthless, right?”

The program offers micro-loans to help fund business ventures and provides valuable workshops and training opportunities to equip participants with the skills needed to succeed. yuhas emphasizes the empowering nature of entrepreneurship:

“Being an entrepreneur is a very empowering thing for anybody that’s looking for that different way of making a living and having independence.”

Finding Solace in Creativity

Despite the challenges of living in a remote area, northern communities offer unique opportunities for creative expression. Krystal Brown, an artist who recently moved to Fort Smith, exemplifies this potential. Brown discovered a passion for pottery after attending a local studio and has as embraced the therapeutic benefits of creating ceramics.

“It felt like home,” Brown says about settling in the town. She hopes to share her passion for pottery by offering workshops and classes in the future.

Looking Ahead

Innovators like Martin and Brown are contributing to a brighter future for northern communities. wintergreen Travel represents a promising step towards improving access to healthcare and reducing the stress associated with medical travel. The platform’s goal of simplifying travel arrangements while also promoting the beauty of the North is a compelling vision. As more individuals like Martin and Brown contribute to the local economy and enrich their communities through entrepreneurship and creativity, we can expect to see continued growth and prosperity in the North.

A new Platform Aims to Ease Medical journeys in Northern Communities

Traveling for medical appointments can be particularly stressful for residents of northern communities, often involving logistical complexities and added anxieties. Mildred Martin, former GNWT benefits officer and founder of Wintergreen Travel, aims to alleviate this burden with a new booking platform designed to simplify the medical travel process.

“When you’re going for medical appointments, it’s already stressful enough and you should not worry about your travel arrangements and things not working out properly,” explains Martin. Her inspiration stemmed from the countless complaints she heard from individuals struggling with medical travel. “One of my goals is to help the clients because I used to work in that area helping clients. That’s one of my main reasons why I wanted to get involved in this.”

Bridging the Gap: Wintergreen Travel’s Mission

Wintergreen Travel aims to provide a comprehensive solution for medical travelers,streamlining the booking process and ensuring a smoother journey. the platform will connect patients with a network of reliable transportation providers, accommodation options, and other essential services tailored to their specific needs, all managed through a user-amiable interface.

Addressing a critical Need

The need for accessible and reliable medical travel solutions is particularly acute in northern communities, where geographic isolation and limited infrastructure can pose notable challenges. Wintergreen Travel’s focus on tailored solutions and personalized support recognizes thes unique needs, aiming to empower individuals to access essential healthcare services without undue stress or hardship.

Beyond convenience: enhancing Patient Experience

Martin emphasizes that Wintergreen Travel’s mission extends beyond simply simplifying logistics. “We want to improve the overall travel experience for patients,” she explains. “Our aim is to make medical travel less stressful by taking care of the details and ensuring patients can focus on their health and well-being.”

Building Partnerships for Success

Wintergreen Travel’s success will rely on strong partnerships within the healthcare and travel industries. By collaborating with hospitals, clinics, and transportation providers, the platform can create a seamless and integrated experience for patients, fostering trust and reliability.

Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future

Martin envisions Wintergreen Travel becoming an integral part of the healthcare ecosystem in northern communities, not only addressing the immediate needs of medical travelers but also contributing to broader health outcomes. By reducing the barriers to accessing care, the platform has the potential to improve health equity and well-being for individuals in underserved areas.

Learn more about Wintergreen Travel and its services by visiting their website or following them on social media.

Simplifying Healthcare Access: Wintergreen Travel & Northern Community Resilience

The challenges of accessing healthcare in remote northern communities are well-documented. Long distances, limited infrastructure, and high travel costs often create significant barriers for residents seeking essential medical care.But a new venture, Wintergreen Travel, is aiming to address this issue head-on, offering a streamlined and less stressful approach to medical travel.

A Vision for Seamless Travel

Founded in 2022 by Mi Patel, Wintergreen Travel emerged from a desire to provide residents with a more manageable way to navigate medical travel arrangements.Initially operating with manual bookings, the company is poised for significant growth with the development of a user-friendly online booking platform akin to Expedia. Patel envisions this platform:

“It’s exciting. We still have to get out there and get people to sign up with us,” she says. Martin hopes the platform will launch within the next few months and allow her to showcase the beauty and opportunities of the North.”

This innovation represents more than just convenience; it has the potential to play a vital role in improving healthcare access for remote communities.

Empowering Entrepreneurship

Wintergreen Travel’s success story embodies the spirit of resourcefulness and innovation that characterizes many northern communities. Programs like the Indigenous Women entrepreneurs (IWE) initiative provide crucial support to women like Patel who are launching their own businesses. Denise Yuhas, a business support officer with Thebacha Business Progress Services in Fort Smith, highlights the program’s multifaceted approach:

“A lot of it is indeed helping them get whatever it is they need to help them to succeed with their plans,” Yuhas explains. “It is indeed a pretty great possibility. And of course, no education is worthless, right?”

The IWE program offers micro-loans, workshops, and training opportunities, empowering participants to build lasting businesses and contribute to the economic growth of their communities. “Being an entrepreneur is a very empowering thing for anybody that’s looking for that different way of making a living and having independence,” Yuhas emphasizes.

Finding Solace in Creativity

Beyond the realm of business, the arts offer another avenue for resilience and personal expression in northern communities. Krystal Brown, an artist who recently relocated to Fort Smith, discovered a love for pottery at a local studio.

Brown found solace and therapeutic benefits in the process of creating ceramics, even amidst the budgetary constraints of pursuing this passion. She shares, “It felt like home,” describing her experience settling in Fort Smith. Brown’s vision for the future includes sharing her passion through workshops and classes, further enriching the artistic landscape of her adopted community. Her story exemplifies the power of creativity to uplift and foster connections within northern communities.

A Brighter Future

Wintergreen Travel, empowered by initiatives like the IWE program, illustrates the potential for positive change in northern communities. By simplifying access to healthcare and fostering entrepreneurship and creativity, these endeavors pave the way for a brighter future.The commitment to empowering individuals and nurturing a supportive surroundings is crucial for these communities to overcome challenges and thrive.

As Wintergreen travel prepares to launch its innovative platform, it stands as a beacon of hope, promising to bring a new level of ease and accessibility to healthcare for residents of the North. By supporting local ventures like Wintergreen Travel and initiatives that empower individuals,we can contribute to building a stronger and more resilient future for northern communities across Canada.

How does Wintergreen Travel plan too address the unique challenges faced by residents of northern communities in accessing healthcare?

Simplifying Healthcare Access: A Conversation with Mildred Martin, Founder of Wintergreen travel

Traveling for medical appointments can be especially stressful for residents of northern communities, often involving logistical complexities and added anxieties. Mildred Martin,the founder of Wintergreen Travel,aims to alleviate this burden with a new booking platform designed to simplify the medical travel process. We spoke with Ms.Martin to learn more about her vision for Wintergreen Travel and its impact on northern communities.

Q&A with Mildred Martin

What inspired you to start Wintergreen Travel?

“When you’re going for medical appointments, it’s already stressful enough, and you should not worry about your travel arrangements and things not working out properly,” explains Martin. Her inspiration stemmed from the countless complaints she heard from individuals struggling with medical travel. “One of my goals is to help the clients as I used to work in that area helping clients. That’s one of my main reasons why I wanted to get involved in this.”

How does Wintergreen Travel aim to simplify the medical travel process?

Wintergreen Travel aims to provide a comprehensive solution for medical travelers, streamlining the booking process and ensuring a smoother journey. the platform will connect patients with a network of reliable transportation providers, accommodation options, and other essential services tailored to their specific needs, all managed through a user-pleasant interface.

What are some of the unique challenges faced by residents of northern communities when it comes to accessing healthcare?

The need for accessible and reliable medical travel solutions is particularly acute in northern communities, where geographic isolation and limited infrastructure can pose notable challenges. wintergreen Travel’s focus on tailored solutions and personalized support recognizes these unique needs, aiming to empower individuals to access essential healthcare services without undue stress or hardship.

beyond convenience, what other benefits does Wintergreen Travel seek to provide for patients?

Martin emphasizes that Wintergreen Travel’s mission extends beyond simply simplifying logistics. “We want to improve the overall travel experience for patients,” she explains. “Our aim is to make medical travel less stressful by taking care of the details and ensuring patients can focus on their health and well-being.”

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of Wintergreen Travel?

Martin envisions Wintergreen Travel becoming an integral part of the healthcare ecosystem in northern communities, not only addressing the immediate needs of medical travelers but also contributing to broader health outcomes. By reducing the barriers to accessing care,the platform has the potential to improve health equity and well-being for individuals in underserved areas.

For readers who are interested in learning more, where can they find additional information about Wintergreen Travel?

Learn more about Wintergreen Travel and its services by visiting their website or following them on social media.