By Luke Edwards, PC Leader:  Madeline Taylor isn’t letting a crummy economy keep her from a summer job.

A recent Port Colborne High School graduate, who finished with a 99 per cent academic average and received the Governor General’s scholarship, has opened up an ice cream shop to save money this summer. Taylor, 18, has been selling Kawartha Lakes Dairy ice cream out of the front of her mom Sandra’s spa on King Street.

“I couldn’t really find a summer job, so I decided to make my own,” she said.

Taylor admits she’s not really sure how she came up with the idea. Sandra said her daughter showed some entrepreneurial spirit growing up. She used to have a lemonade stand during Canal Days and also helped Sandra with her spa.

“I think it’s a great idea. I love Kawartha Lakes ice cream,” she said. Sandra’s only concern about the business was a fear she’d gain weight with so much of the frozen treat around. Luckily, that hasn’t happened.

Taylor was one of the top graduating students in the province this year. Her 99 per cent average was heavily based in challenging math and science courses.

She’s enrolled in the biomedical and life sciences program at McGill University, and plans to do a double major in neuroscience and pharmacology beginning her second year. Her goal is to eventually get her PhD and go into research.

Taylor started the business in May and plans to remain open until she heads to school at the end of August. With her busy academic schedule she admits the early months were tough.

“There were lots of long nights,” she said. “But it was nice because I’m my own boss and could study, then serve people when they came.”

Business was kind of slow when the weather was cold, but with the temperature rising her clientele has increased.

Getting the word out has been among the toughest challenges. She’s done some advertising but said one of her best ideas was to draw arrows with chalk on downtown sidewalks, pointing people to where they can find ice cream.

The store will be open daily until around Labour Day. It’s open 12:30 to 9 p.m. everyday.