From classroom to career: Mitacs supports success in digital marketing

The challenge: Building digital presence for rural business support 

Small businesses in rural Saskatchewan need accessible support services, but many potential entrepreneurs don’t know where to turn. Community Futures Ventures (CFV) in Yorkton provides crucial loans, training, advice and entrepreneurial programs, yet struggled with low community awareness due to an outdated digital presence and no social media activity. With a small staff focused on client service, CFV needed strategic support to reach their audience. 

The solution: Connecting fresh talent with real-world business challenges 

CFV partnered with Suncrest College through the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) program to bring innovative thinking to their organization. Bella Matos, who had recently completed a Global Business Management Diploma at Suncrest College, joined CFV as their Mitacs BSI intern to develop and implement strategic communication, digital marketing, and social media plans while streamlining internal administrative processes. 

The partnership proved transformative. Bella brought fresh perspectives to long-standing challenges, applying classroom theory to real business problems in a supportive environment. As CFV General Manager Priya Timiri noted, “The most important aspect was the fresh pair of eyes that the new intern added to our organization. Bringing in fresh ideas, fresh perspectives to the issues we have been facing in terms of market visibility.” 

“I loved [my internship] because anything that challenges you invites you to grow. In a world that is constantly demanding you for change, you have to grow and see how can you give your best every time.” 

Bella Matos, Mitacs Intern (Suncrest College), Community Futures Ventures 

The outcome: Measurable impact and career advancement 

Bella’s success demonstrates the power of work-integrated learning. By the end of her four-month internship, she successfully increased social media views by over 200%, extending CFV’s reach beyond Yorkton to Regina and Saskatoon. Over 75% of content viewers were non-followers, demonstrating genuine community expansion.

Bella completely redesigned the organization’s flagship annual general meeting report and streamlined client policy record-keeping systems, strengthening data management protocols. She also made sure to implement systems that would outlast her internship, including a social media calendar to guide Community Futures on how to sustain momentum.   

The impact extended beyond metrics. Bella’s contributions were so highly regarded that they offered to extend her internship for an additional four months. The experience launched Bella’s career in digital marketing, allowing her to advance more permanently at a different company while remaining in Yorkton, which is exactly the kind of talent retention rural communities need. 

The partnership also created lasting institutional connections. CFV and Suncrest College collaborated for the first time through Mitacs, leading to CFV’s involvement in a local economic development group championed by the college — a relationship that continues today.  

Talent in action: Strengthening innovation capacity in rural communities 

Mitacs continues to strengthen innovation capacity in Saskatchewan and across the country while driving global competitiveness. Mitacs supports post-secondary institutions to deliver hands-on, industry-responsive education and training opportunities to strengthen local economies and accelerate talent development. 

This includes Mitacs Business Strategy Internships, which help small and medium-sized businesses access top talent and introduce innovation through strategic projects while providing students with career-defining work experience.

As Suncrest College’s Alesia Malec explains, “Mitacs Business Strategy Internships are an ideal way for small and medium sized businesses in our local communities to introduce innovation into their operations through a small investment in a student and their own business.” 

Bella Matos’s journey highlights the transformative power of connecting classroom learning to real-world business challenges. 

Mitacs’s programs receive funding from multiple partners across Canada. We thank the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon for supporting us to empower Canadian innovation. 

Do you have a business challenge that could benefit from a research solution? If so, contact Mitacs today to discuss partnership opportunities: [email protected].