We are excited to introduce La Petite Maison, a new business that is testing their concept in the kitchen space at NorthLight. This is part of a new initiative to offer a launching space and testing kitchen for food-based businesses, thanks to support from the Yukon government. Entrepreneurs can have up to a one year term to launch and grow their food-based business in our kitchen incubator. Applications for use of the kitchen space will open annually.
The kitchen incubator space is in the front lobby of NorthLight Innovation, nestled next to Yukonstruct’s members’ lounge, where Yukonstruct members and the public alike can work, connect and eat!
Focused on take out and catering, this new business is sure to please with both sweet and savoury crêpes! You can see the menu and learn more about La Petite Maison here. Now, let’s meet the team!
Emilie Morin
Growing up in rural Burgundy (France) on a vineyard, Emilie (She/Her) always felt close to the land. Raised surrounded by nature and farm animals, her family taught her to value Mother Earth and the simple things that make life precious.
A free-spirit, life-goer and lover of good food, she learned pastry and crêpe making in France. She graduated in real estate and vocational luxury hospitality and eventually left burgundy to work in the French Riviera, Monaco, and Vancouver later on. Her knowledge is backed by over 20 years of experience in the international gourmet food industry.
Passionate about food pairings and fresh seasonal products, Emilie is excited to bring traditional buckwheat crêpes to Yukon. Founder of Crêperie La Petite Maison, due to open in August 2021 in Yukonstruct, she looks forward to ravishing Yukoner’s tastebuds and offering an experience that goes beyond food degustation. She promises to provide a wholesome experience and make her customers travel through her cuisine and universe.
Edwine Veniat
Alumni of Yukonstruct’s Start-Up Bootcamp 2020 Cohort and entrepreneur, Edwine (She/Her) has always been a lover of good food. She is proud to bring the Creperie La Petite Maison to Whitehorse, offering fresh, healthy and hearty crêpes. Edwine is excited to mix her French culture and her love for Yukon onto a plate.
With over ten years of experience in the hospitality industry and a background in communications, Edwine is the recipient of the Jeunes Leaders d’Ici Awards from CBC/Radio Canada for BC/Yukon and formerly worked as a ministerial advisor in Yukon Government and as a journalist/editor-in-chief.
Edwine is originally from a family of French cooks. It comes back to her great-grandmother, who used to make unmatched provincial dishes all night long to sell as a caterer and provide for her family. French cuisine is more than eating. It’s about love and care. Edwine hopes La Petite Maison’s meals, led by the savoir-faire of its founder and chef Emilie Morin, will convey this message.
Gina Nagano
Gina Nagano (She/Her) is an avid entrepreneur, social innovator, and member of Yukonstruct’s Cospace community. Gina has served on many local boards, including Chief Isaac Development Corporation, and has launched multiple ventures, including the local business Foot North Reflexology.
After a 20-year career with the RCMP, Tr’ondëk Hwëchin citizen Gina Nagano began work to bring change and reform to the justice system in the Yukon and across Canada. Gina’s work focuses on Community safety, which includes community safety officer programs and crime prevention through environmental design. Gina has worked with many first nation communities including KDFN, Selkirk and has just begun work in Teslin, to implement programs that bring justice back to the community level.
Gina believes in the concept of keep it in the community- which means establishing local businesses in the community- there are opportunities for the Yukon to have every opportunity that you would find in a major city. Businesses here mean more jobs, more opportunity, and a thriving local economy.
You can stay up to date on the latest happenings by following La Petite Maison on Instagram. See you soon!
