Pow Wow Pitch propels new Nipissing Thrift
By Kelly Anne Smith
NIPISSING FIRST NATION—Ursula Ullrich has a successful quest in motion with her new business, Nipissing Thrift. She aims to propel her venture to the grand finale of Pow Wow Pitch 2026.
Ursula’s excitement started on Earth Week with setting up the Nipissing Thrift donation bin at 40B Couchie Industrial Road in Nipissing First Nation, at the top of the hill from Duchesnay Falls.
“I got my donation bin set up front at 40B. It’s like a deck box that’s chained to my front entryway. People can now leave their donations there. So, that was pretty exciting.”
She then posted to her community online, asking for donations and within 24 hours had to empty her bin three times.
The thrifty treasures can come in ways other than the bin. Donations are very welcome, says Ursula.
“I just had someone reach out today, actually, where they say they inherited a house from their family. And they are having a family member start to empty it. They assume that they are going to have some stuff left over. So, this individual has contacted me. I didn’t know it would happen so soon. This is going to also be an inflow that I’m going to be able to take. Those are going to be huge bulk donations that are going to come in. I’m looking to fill up volume and have a whole store.”
The new proprietor is already feeling successful with the community vowing support. The next big ask will be for community members to vote for her to make it as a Pow Wow Pitch finalist. Pow Wow Pitch is a pitch competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island, which shines a spotlight on pow wow vendors, artists, creators, makers, and business innovators from all industries, whether starting out or ready to grow to the next level.
“Nipissing members specifically are really excited for a local idea to support. And they’re all excited for the Pow Wow Pitch potential, where the community can vote to get me into the grand finale, which would be very great. I remember the winners from last year had over 800 votes to get into the grand finale. You have to rally your community to be able to do that. It would feel so meaningful if I was able to get into the Powwow Pitch grand finale with the support of the community.”
Ullrich is trying for a second time to be a finalist in Pow Wow Pitch.
“It was before I secured the space. I was just starting to test the idea in pop-up form. I appeared at the Northgate Mall for my first pop-up on Indigenous Peoples Day, which was June 21st, 2025. It was a beautiful Saturday and super busy. That’s where I really got the validation that, ‘Ok, I can hit my numbers for a busy day in a store’. It really gave me the strength to keep pursuing the idea. Even though I made it to the semi-finals of Pow Wow Pitch, I really want to make it to the grand finale this year.”
Ursula graduated from Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship at the University of Victoria in 2023. A fellow alumnus led her to find the venue for Nipissing Thrift.
“All these people that I met in the program who are part of my cohort, I see all the time now. Actually, the people that were in that class with me share my business space. We’re kind of splitting a building right now. They were the ones who tipped me off to get ready for this space. And it all panned out. It’s just all working out for me,” she recollects. “In 2024, I did another business program. It was called Aboriginal Best through the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, prepping you for pitching. They did lots of Toastmasters’ work. Every day, we would do a 60-second pitch. At the end, it was a pitch competition because the program coordinator had competed in Pow Wow Pitch himself. That really prepped me to be able to take on this mission. I had the coaching from an instructor that did it before to give me that confidence to pitch, to get that video ready for sixty seconds full of what they need to know.”
With the highway turn off close to Nipissing Thrift, it’s the perfect location, says Ullrich.
“The highway is right there. And there’s new traffic lights, which will help direct traffic our way, giving some safe left turns into the business. It’s close to my First Nation, which was a value that I had if I want to serve the community, I need to be as close as possible to them. So, I really do think I have a great location and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to have it and my landlord (Natalie Payette-Chevrier and Douglas Chevrier), who really saw the potential in my idea, too, to grant me this space. She prioritized me and I’m so grateful for that.”
With some landfills no longer accepting textiles, giving clothing a second life is a great way to upcycle, says Ullrich.
“For Nipissing Thrift, the donation element of the business is great way for locals to act on sustainability by giving back to their community, while being aligned with local municipalities targeting reduced textile waste in landfills. One landfill has already expressed interest in potentially receiving a 24/7 textile donation bin from Nipissing Thrift. Within the first day being active, our pilot donation bin captured hundreds of pounds of textile donations to be circulated back into our community.”
With donations open at the 24/7 bin, Nipissing Thrift will accept clothing, shoes, accessories, and small housewares. Ursula Ullrich awaits Nipissing First Nation Chief and Council approval. She is hoping for a June opening for Nipissing Thrift.