‘Younger they start, faster they’ll start to lead’: 13-year-old Montreal entrepreneur making waves
Posted February 4, 2026 5:04 pm.
Last Updated February 4, 2026 5:51 pm.
Young Gifted and Rising is an inspiring initiative by the West Island Black Community Association. It’s putting youth leaders front and center, and young people aren’t just being celebrated for who they are, they’re being equipped for who they’re becoming.
Adriana Jackson is a 13-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist already making waves. Joan Lee, president of the West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA), says investing in young voices like Adriana’s isn’t just powerful, it’s essential.
“The younger they start, the faster they’ll start to lead and it’s important,” said Lee.
Jackson lives with generalized epilepsy, which causes her to have seizures, but she’s not letting anything stop her. She started an online boutique called Boutique Winnie and Moe in 2020 amid the pandemic, and that’s where she shares a lot about her story.
In a social media post, she says, “You may notice me leaving classes/activities/events, napping, needing to take a breath. But what you don’t see is the chronic pain, fatigue, and general malaise that I feel throughout the day. You don’t see the stress and anxiety of being overstimulated. It’s easy to pass judgement and think that I have it easy. In fact, I don’t. I have to work harder than most.”
“I figured that I would try and make a difference and show people like me that it’s okay, and to try and make a difference and make your dreams come true,” said Jackson.
“What inspired me was not seeing a lot of young people like me out in the world trying to make a difference.”
The boutique sells hair ties, bow ties, and more, and Jackson says it’s all thanks to how her grandparents inspired her. Her ancestors are from Pakistan and Barbados.
“Boutique Winnie and Moe was inspired by my grandparents who always taught me that I can do whatever I want with my future. In fact my business is named after them. When he stands for Winona, my mother’s mother, and mom stands for my father’s mother. I wanted to name it after them because they helped me so much with making my dream come true,” she explained.
“After wondering about my culture and where I come from, I dove into books and I asked for some stories of ancestry and did some studying. I got really inspired by all those people that I saw trying to make a difference.”
During the Black Lives Matter protests, Adriana would donate proceeds from her boutique to the WIBCA, which is honouring her at their Young, Gifted & Rising: Shining the Spotlight on Our Youth event, Saturday, at the Gerry-Robertson Community Center in Pierrefonds.
“Young Gifted and Rising is important to WIBCA to highlight the youth. They are our present and our future and we definitely want them to know that WIBCA is here for them to support them, and we see them,” said Lee.
“We try to have not just during Black History Month but throughout the year, our weekly program like our Black Girls Gather Book Club. It’s an amazing program where they get together every week and also our Masai Boys program and also our STEM Robotics program. So we have many programs that encourage our youth.”
As for Jackson, she hopes her story inspires other young people.
“I hope that they receive a message that inspires them to try and make their hopes and aspirations come true,” said Jackson.
For more on Saturday’s event, check out Boutique Winnie and Moe on Instagram and the WIBCA website.
