Reid Lehner poses with family who came to support him after receiving the 2021 Terry Fox Award. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Community Award

Local entrepreneur wins 2021 Terry Fox Award

Sep 10, 2021 | 12:00 PM

A local business owner who brings many big smiles to residents in Prince Albert and area has recently won the 2021 Terry Fox Award.

Reid Lehner, a 17-year-old entrepreneur from Prince Albert, received the award at Tuesday evenings city council meeting.

The Terry Fox award is presented annually to a young Prince Albert resident who emulates the traits and inspiration of Terry Fox.

Lehner has autism; a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication.

In 2020, Lehner created his own company, ‘Reid’s Baskets N Things’, a gift basket making business. Sometimes his anxiety is so bad he cannot leave the house. The business he created has really brought him out of his shell.

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“I was very thankful that the community would allow me to do such a thing,” Lehner said. “I have a very hard time going to school due to my anxiety, so one day I decided to make a few baskets and see if they would sell, and it was a hit.

“I was very surprised that people liked them so much. I am going to do the same for Halloween and Christmas this year.”

Most of the baskets are made-to-order for various occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, or appreciation, but he also does many gift baskets for holidays as well.

For Christmas 2020 he created and donated 140 food baskets to the Prince Albert Food Bank and 30 more hampers to the Prince Albert Christmas Dinner.

Reid Lehner, with family and members of the Prince Albert food bank pose by baskets that were donated to the food bank at Christmas last year. (Submitted photo/Reid’s Baskets N Things)

He has also brightened the day of many cancer patients, families who have fallen on hard times, and others that Lehner thinks needs cheering up. He supplies giveaway baskets to many community and sponsor groups like the SPCA and Canadian Cancer Society.

“Reid finds great joy in this business, and it allows him the social interaction which he is often missing,” Councillor Ted Zurakowski said. “These social interactions are very important for Reid as they allow him to share a story or a smile with others, and ease his anxiety attacks.

“Reid Lehner, like Terry Fox, shows courage everyday. He shows perseverance, and shows strength. All of this, while operating your small business, despite challenges. Your service to the community of Prince Albert is exemplary. Thank you for pushing yourself to be a role model for others.”

Lehner aspires to become a businessman and become the owner of a company someday. ‘Reid’s Baskets ‘N Things’ is his first step in achieving those dreams.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8