Enterprising student takes to the skies with new drone business

Craig Bakay | Aug 30, 2019

Suppose you’ve just finished Grade 11 and you’re looking for something to do in the summer.

Would you plan to get a summer job somewhere, do a lot of reading, goof off until September, start a band?

How about start your own business?

Well, that’s what Granite Ridge Education Centre student Makayla Parks decided to do and so far, it looks like a good decision.

Parks has been taking Wade Leonard’s drone courses and she’s not only hooked on the technology, she sees it as a viable career.

“I heard about this grant ($3000) you could apply for to start your own business,” she said. “You had to make a business plan and do a presentation.

“I had help from Mr. Leonard. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

So, she applied, presented and was accepted.

Next thing she knew, she had a checque for $1,500 and was enrolled in business boot camp.

“The camp was great,” she said. “You do have to learn about invoicing and all those things.”

Her company is Highland Aerial and she is listed as RPAS operator & business owner.

“It was kinda slow getting started with all those bank meetings,” she said.

So, even though she’ll only turn 17 in September, she’s already done aerial photography for North Frontenac’s cemetery project and several clients.

“I’d like to direct it (her business) towards real estate but a lot of people just one to see their property from the air,” she said. “I had one client who owns a large property but a lot of it is marshy and he hadn’t been able to see it all before.”

She said she’s had a lot of help from family and friends including dad Dave and math teacher Michael Smith.

And, her grandmother, Cheryl Parks, even chipped in by giving her a Chevy Malibu to get around in.

“She got a new SUV, so she gave me her old car,” Parks said.

Parks grew up on the Maberly-Elphin Road, where her family has lived for about 200 years. She decided to come to GREC for Grade 9 and now calls it “the best decision I’ve ever made.

“I like to take pictures and this (flying the drone) is really fun,” she said. “I’ll be returning to GREC for Grade 12 and although I would like to go to college, I may stick around for another year after that to build the business up.”

And she is a legitimate business.

“I have my license, insurance and I’m open to any assignment I’m legally allowed to do with the license I have,” she said. “I can’t do mapping yet, but I’m hoping to have that capability before long.”

She said the best way to contact her business, Highland Aerial, if you want some aerial photography done is by phone: 613-390-9964 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.