Jean-Dominic Bedos – Contributor

While most students at Bishop’s University spend their evenings buried in textbooks, one student is equally at home balancing blueprints and construction schedules. At just 22, Chris Barkhouse is running his own construction company, overseeing contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars—all while studying for a B.B.A. in Management and keeping a full course load. 

Photo courtesy of Jean-Dominic Bedos

His journey began not on a job site but in the kitchen of Chez Moi Chez Toi, a restaurant in Bodville, Quebec. It was there that his boss, Nick, became both a mentor and a role model. “Nick really showed me what hard work looks like,” he recalled. “He gave me the confidence to start something of my own.” At the same time, side projects at the restaurant, helping his father with manual labour and stints cleaning trucks at an excavation company planted the seeds of a career in construction. 

With a friend and business partner, Charles, he took the leap. Their first projects were modest—painting fences and refinishing decks. But a breakthrough came quickly with a six-figure house repainting contract. “That’s when I realized this wasn’t just a side hustle, it could be a real business,” he said. From there, he reinvested every dollar back into tools, equipment and eventually a shop in Cowansville, Quebec. 

Today, the business is incorporated and thriving. In its first year, revenues topped six figures; in its second, the company has already surpassed that, averaging five figures a month. Notable contracts include a mobile lounge project for Chrono Aviation and large residential jobs. He currently has two ongoing projects, and at peak summer demand, he managed four projects at once. 

Balancing this entrepreneurial life with academics hasn’t been easy. A self-described average student, he arranges all his classes into two days a week to free time for business. “I pack all my classes into Tuesdays and Thursdays; it’s not easy, but it gives me the time I need to be on site and keep the company running.” He explained, “My hours per day can range from two to 12; I haven’t had a day off in six weeks.” Dyslexia has made his studies more challenging, but he focuses on persistence. “Showing up and participating is half the battle.” 

The challenges of entrepreneurship have been real. “Getting those first contracts was the hardest part. At first, people don’t take you seriously because you’re young,” he said. He also admitted to early missteps, such as partnering with the wrong people. Still, each mistake became a very valuable lesson. He said the most important skill for construction is problem-solving: “You have to look at a problem, diagnose it, and piece it out step by step.” 

Looking ahead, he plans to scale. After graduation, he wants to steer the company toward larger developments, employ more people, and grow revenues to $3 million to $5 million within five years. “Right now, we handle projects; after graduation, I want to scale the business, move into developments, and build a bigger team,” he said. For him, entrepreneurship is driven by lifestyle and family—building stability for the future. 

His advice to fellow students is simple: be patient, work hard and focus on quality. “Be prepared to work without immediate pay,” he said. “Quality and persistence matter more than anything.” 

For this young entrepreneur, the lesson is clear: with mentorship, resilience and relentless effort, it’s possible to build a business—and a future—while still in the classroom.