Jack Read Most Innovative Solution

Jack Read was born on March 23, 1930, on the family homestead near St. Walburg, Saskatchewan and was nicknamed Jack after his brother Stewart’s imaginary friend. As a youngster, he worked on the family farms in Saskatchewan and later in Salmon Arm, BC. Jack loved building and fixing things. After a short post-WWII Navy service in Halifax, he settled in Edmonton where he transitioned from Typewriter Repairman to Automotive Mechanic and Service Station owner, to Oilfield Service Technician. In the 1980s, Jack started building and repairing oilpatch items, leading to the founding of Panama Enterprises (1990) Inc., initially working from home with his wife as a seamstress and eventually into larger facilities in West Edmonton. Jack became “Panama Jack”, known across the oilpatch for his signature Tilley hat and the outstanding windsocks among other products Panama Enterprises produced and delivered around the globe.
Jack was big-hearted and a passionate giver who donated both time and money to many charities and people, Jack’s philosophy was always to give anyone the best chance to succeed.

Available to students competing in the JR Shaw School of Business Innovation Showcase event. Awarded to the participant that scores highest in the Most Innovative Solution category. Participants must address the problem their business addresses, the solution for the problem, their idea and business model, progress to date and their ask or call to action. Students must have a minimum of 25% ownership in the business. Showcase judges will be provided with a rubric for use in scoring and final selection will be made by NAIT staff.

Students will be automatically considered for this award.