A partnership between University College of the North and Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute is helping students gain real-world business experience.

The schools recently wrapped up the 2026 BizQuest competition, where students developed and presented their own business concepts.

MBCI Business Teacher Lisa Gibb says it was inspiring to watch students apply classroom learning to real-world challenges and create original ideas of their own.

This year’s top performers were Praise Alexander in first place, earning a full year of tuition in UCN’s Business Faculty, Cooper Rousson in second place, Evelyn Parks in third, and Jace Dorion in fourth.

UCN says programs like BizQuest strengthen youth engagement while helping prepare students for future education and career opportunities across northern Manitoba.