A rejection does not always close a door. Sometimes it opens a business. This is the case of Dylan Wilkinson who picked up a snow shovel and started knocking on doors in his neighbourhood in Thorold, Canada, offering snow removal services, when he could not find a suitable part-time job.

By the time summer came, he had expanded into landscaping. What began as a one-man hustle has since grown into Dynamic D Landscaping, a business offering mowing, spring cleaning, design, and other services to clients across Thorold and neighbouring communities. He has also created jobs for two of his Thorold Secondary School classmates.

The Conversation That Changed Everything

The turning point came when Dylan attended an entrepreneurship event in March and met a business information officer who saw his potential immediately. Dylan walked up and started asking how to register a business name. That conversation led to an application for the Summer Company Program, a provincially funded initiative that provides students with up to $3,000 to run their own company, alongside mentorship from experienced business owners.

How Dylan moved from a Shovel to a Full Operation

The funding allowed Dylan to scale quickly. He purchased a brand-new lawnmower, added weed whackers, leaf blowers, and hand tools to his inventory. He also invested in promotional materials like door hangers, branded t-shirts, hats, and yard signs. Furthermore, he won an additional $1,000 grant through a pitch competition, which he reinvested into the business.

Dylan and Leading From the Front

What makes Dylan’s story stand out is not just the hustle, it is also the leadership. From early on, he brought his friends into the operation, creating a positive work environment while still getting the job done. His long-term vision stretches well beyond lawns and gardens. It to study carpentry and eventually grow Dynamic D into a full-scale interior and exterior renovation company.

He credits his work ethic to his father. “He always told me, no matter what I do, I should go 100 per cent and lean into it.” 

At 16, Dylan is already doing exactly that.