Every business begins with a first spark (1 min
59 s)
Added on March 22, 2022 | Personal
[Context: A video describing the stories of
various small business owners and their paths to
becoming GoodSpark Grant recipients. The text in
square brackets describes audio and visual
content in the video other than the dialogue or
narration.]
[Soft, melodic music plays under throughout.]
[On-screen action: Open on Rav Singh, the owner
of Shade of Miti, standing in a greenhouse
surrounded by plants. The Desjardins chevron
surrounds her.]
[On-screen text: Rav Singh, Shade of Miti]
Rav: My name is Rav, I'm the owner of Shade of
Miti, a small-scale organic farm where I focus
on food and climate justice.]
[On-screen action: Cut to a profile shot of Rav
tending to plants.]
Rav: Someone who really inspires me is my really
good friend, Rahul…
[On-screen action: Cut to Rav speaking to the
camera.]
Rav: He has such a genuine curiosity for
learning, which I try to bring into my business.
[On-screen action: Cut to Rav watering plants
with a watering can.]
Narrator: At Desjardins, …
[On-screen action: Cut to a shot of Rav picking
radishes.]
Narrator: … we know every business begins with a
first spark.
[On-screen action: Cut to Hamayal Choudhry, the
owner of smartARM Robotics, standing in his
office.]
[On-screen text: Hamayal Choudhry, smartARM
Robotics]
Hamayal: Sekai, she was basically our first
customer.
[On-screen action: Cut to a profile shot of
Hamayal.]
Hamayal: She gave us our first cheque …
[On-screen action: Cut to Hamayal working on a
robotic arm.]
Hamayal: … helping us make our first prototype.
[On-screen action: Cut to Hamayal smiling as he
works on the robotic arm.]
Narrator: Someone who encourages and supports
with all their heart.
[On-screen action: Cut to Lucy Cullen, the owner
of EarthPup, standing in a kitchen.]
[On-screen text: Lucy Cullen, EarthPup Dog
Treats]
Lucy: We really wouldn't be here without the
support of …
[On-screen action: Cut to a profile shot of Lucy
working.]
Lucy: …my boyfriend's mom.
[On-screen action: Cut to an overhead shot of
vegetable pulp being mixed. Cut to the mixture
being piped onto trays.]
Lucy: She helped get the company…
[On-screen action: Cut to Lucy talking to the
camera.]
Lucy: … to the next level and really …
Chris [off camera]: Hi, Lucy!
[On-screen action: Lucy looks over in surprise.
Lucy and her first spark – her boyfriend's mom,
Chris – embrace.]
Narrator: So, we reunited small business owners
with the first sparks who believed in them.
Lucy: Hi!
Chris: I'm so proud of you.
[On-screen action: Cut to Hamayal's first spark,
Sekai, walking into his office and surprising
him.]
Hamayal: What are you doing here?
Sekai: Surprise!
[On-screen action: Hamayal and Sekai embrace.]
Hamayal: How are you?
[On-screen action: Cut to Rav's first spark,
Rahul, walking up to her in her greenhouse and
surprising her.]
Rav: One thing I really appreciate about him is
how he …
Rahul [laughing]: Thanks so much, Rav!
[On-screen action: Rav turns to look at Rahul in
surprise. Rahul laughs.]
Rahul: How's it going?
[On-screen action: Rav and Rahul embrace.]
Rav: What are you doing here?
Rahul: Good to see you!
[On-screen action: Cut to Sekai and Hamayal.]
Sekai: Your dedication to your work, your
passion, you show me every single day what's
possible.
[On-screen action: Cut to Rav and Rahul pulling
back from their embrace.]
Rahul: I'm here to remind you how amazing you
are. I want you to meet someone special.
[On-screen action: Rav turns her head to look.
Matthew from Desjardins enters the frame and
shakes Rav's hand.]
Matthew: Hey, I'm Matthew from Desjardins.
Rav: Hi.
[On-screen action: Cut to a shot of Matthew.]
Matthew: We really love what you're doing, and
we are here to support you.
[On-screen action: Cut to a green Desjardins
envelope being handed to Rav.]
Narrator: And in one day, our agents and
advisors …
[On-screen action: Cut to Rav opening the
envelope.]
Narrator: … delivered three million dollars'
worth of Desjardins GoodSpark Grants.
[On-screen action: Cut to a close up of Rav
pulling the grant certificate out of the
envelope. Cut to the three standing together.]
Rav: Oh, thank you!
[On-screen action: Rav looks overcome with
emotion.]
Narrator: Because we believe in them, too.
Rav: This means a lot to me. Thanks.
[On-screen action: Cut to Mohammad Emami, his
father, and Maria from Desjardins standing in
Mohammad's restaurant. Mohammad opens his green
Desjardins envelope.]
[On-screen text: Mohammad Emami, Nannaa Persian
Eatery]
Dad: Thank you very much.
Mohammad: No way!
[On-screen action: Cut to Chris and Lucy with
Jameel from Desjardins in Lucy's kitchen. Chris
hugs Lucy.]
Chris [laughing happily]: Congratulations!
Lucy: Thank you!
[On-screen action: Cut to Kevin Cyr and his
parents standing in a classroom with Jacqueline
from Desjardins. Kevin looks at his grant
certificate in disbelief.]
[On-screen text: Kevin Cyr, Brave Education]
Kevin: Oh my gosh!
Cut to Sandra Smith and her daughter with Jyoti
from Desjardins standing in Sandra's boutique.
Sandra looks at the grant in disbelief.
[On-screen text: Sandra Smith, Gilded Cage
Boutique]
Sandra: Ohhh!
[On-screen action: Cut to Luanga Nuwame looking
at his grant certificate with his first spark,
Hugh, and Samantha from Desjardins.]
[On-screen text: Luanga Nuwame, Zelpha Comics]
Luanga: This is surreal!
[On-screen action: Cut to Dina from Desjardins
standing with Sekai and Hamayal as Hamayal looks
at his grant certificate.]
Hamayal: Oh, no way! Thank you so much!
[On-screen action: Cut to Hamayal and Dina
shaking hands.]
Dina: All the best, we can't wait to see what
you're going to do with it.
[On-screen action: Cut to Chris and Lucy.]
Chris: You're going to be a success. You are a
success.
[On-screen action: Cut to Matthew, Rav and
Rahul. Rav is teary-eyed.]
Rav: I've always wanted to encourage other
people of colour, and women, and people in the
same boat as me to just follow their dreams and
I know this will definitely help.
[On-screen action: Cut to Rav and Rahul sharing
a warm embrace.]
[On-screen text: To all those who spark their
communities,]
[On-screen action: Cut to Sekai and Hamayal
hugging.]
[On-screen action: Cut to Chris and Lucy
hugging.]
[On-screen text: thank you]
[On-screen action: Cut to Rav holding her
Desjardins GoodSpark Grant envelope, smiling.]
Rav: This is the biggest cheque I've ever held.
[On-screen action: Cut to a green background
with the Desjardins end slate.]
[Music stops]
[Desjardins jingle]
[On-screen text: Desjardins logo]
[On-screen legal text: Desjardins Insurance
refers to Certas Home and Auto Insurance
Company, underwriter of automobile and property
insurance or Desjardins Financial Security Life
Assurance Company, underwriter of life insurance
and living benefits products. DESJARDINS™,
DESJARDINS INSURANCE™ all trademarks containing
the word DESJARDINS, as well as related logos
are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses
Desjardins du Québec, used under licence.]
[End of text transcript]