Top 20 Honoree: Kaitlyn Fraser

Small City, Big Growth Cannabis.

It’s a word that evokes feelings for nearly anyone who hears it. For some, it’s medicine; for others, it still holds a stigma. But for visionaries like our next Top 20 Under 40 recipient, it’s been a vehicle for success and innovation.

Kaitlyn Fraser, founder of Prism Equipment, and Head of Partnerships for the Pantheon Cannabis Group grew up in small-town Manitoba living the farming life. As the oldest of four children, she learned the value of a strong work ethic early on. After attending post-secondary school in Lethbridge, Alberta, and working in the struggling oil and gas industry, Kaitlyn was ready for adventure and took a job on a whim in a small town with a funny name, Salmon Arm. She moved to the area, with only a car full of stuff and her horse, and was instantly hooked on the lifestyle and community. It was the first place that felt like home since leaving where she grew up, so she planted roots and has been blooming ever since.

Kaitlyn’s entrepreneurial road map hasn’t been an easy one. When her father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when she was only 17, Kaitlyn began investigating the medicinal use of cannabis in an attempt to help her father. Her passion for the plant grew the more she learned and with federal legalization on the horizon, Kaitlyn jumped into this booming yet uncertain industry. Losing her father at such a young age sparked a fire in her that led to creating Prism Equipment, and provided her the drive and perspective to push forward.

“Starting a new business in any industry can be tough, but when you do it with a community around you that is as supportive as Salmon Arm is, it makes the whole experience a lot easier,” says Kaitlyn. That support has been a key to her success. By partnering with top-tier manufacturing firms, and having both investors and staff with roots right in this community, they have been able to navigate the uncharted waters of legalization. There is no playbook, and no established routes to market, so being able to draw on your network is essential for a business to succeed. Thankfully, Kaitlyn is a networking maven and in her role as Head of Partnerships, she is perfectly suited to traverse this rapidly growing and ever-changing industry. Standing out and making waves in a male-dominated industry can be difficult, but by genuinely appreciating those who work beside her, and holding an authentic passion for what she does, Kaitlyn has proved to be a natural leader and others are eager to support her, and her businesses.

Congratulation Kaitlyn. We are excited to watch you grow!