Woody the Talking Christmas Tree (Paul Hollingsworth/CTV Atlantic)
It's that time of year again when the mall fills with holiday shoppers, dazzling lights and a magical talking tree from the North Pole. Woody, the talking Christmas tree, returned to the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth in 2021, after a 15-year hibernation. Woody has a fresh new look, and it's not just because he's been getting plenty of beauty sleep.
Mohammed Issa BComm’16
Mohammed Issa BComm'16, the founder of Eureka Technologies Inc., has restored life to Woody's face through 3D printing. Woody also owes his magical abilities to Eureka Technologies Inc., who designed and built all the mechanical elements that bring Woody to life.
Although Rome was not built in a day, Woody was constructed in just two weeks. The mall had initially contacted Eureka Technologies Inc. in March of 2021 to inquire if they could take on the Woody project but then decided to move forward at the end of October.
"Woody arrives at the mall the day before Remembrance Day and wakes up the day after (November 12). So, we only had two weeks to construct and assemble Woody," says Mohammed.
No stranger to challenges, he was confident that his team would deliver.
Mohammed was a mature student studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Saint Mary's. With three small children at the time, he enrolled in the business program to gain the knowledge required to start a completely different business venture he had in mind.
"I purchased my first 3D printer intending to create a prototype for my new business idea. However, I realized I could also generate extra income by providing 3D printing services using Kijiji." This led to the birth of Eureka Technologies Inc. in 2015. As a full-time student, Mohammed utilized his entrepreneurial spirit to support his family with his printer, which ultimately led to the success of his business today.
Today, Mohammed is passionate about growing the entrepreneur in others, and he does so by collaborating with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. Together, they offer a robotics class where Eureka Technologies Inc. provides each student with 3D-printed robot kits. The students get to build and program their robots in this class.
"Learning entrepreneurship through this class is expanding the mindset of our students from diverse backgrounds across different faculties," says Mohammed.
Mohammed's dedication to Saint Mary's students and his entrepreneurial mindset is evident through his active participation in the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. The Saint Mary's University Alumni Association has recognized his exceptional work with Eureka Technologies Inc. and his unwavering support for young entrepreneurs by awarding him the Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year for 2023.
"I plan to continue giving back to the community and supporting students the way that I was helped as a student," said Mohammed, expressing his gratitude for the recognition of his efforts.
To learn more about Eureka Technologies Inc., visit www.eurekatec.ca/about.
Check out Woody's Twitter account to join in on the magic!