Kelowna’s Club Penguin co-founder Lane Merrifield new Dragon on Dragons’ Den

KELOWNA – Lane Merrifield of Club Penguin fame will be listening to pitches from entrepreneurs on the next season of the Dragons’ Den.

Merrifield, a Kelowna business icon and a co-founder of Club Penguin which at one time was called the largest social network for kids, will join fellow Canadian entrepreneur Vincenzo Guzzo on the new season of the popular reality TV show on CBC this fall, according to a media release.

Merrifield and Guzzo are replacing financier Michael Wekerle and fashion icon Joe Mimran who are leaving the series, the CBC says.

“I am thrilled to be joining the incredible lineup of Dragons in the Den this season,” Merrifield says in the release. “I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the power and adventure of entrepreneurialism throughout my life, and I can’t wait to share that joy and experience with others.”

The public broadcaster says Arlene Dickinson, Jim Treliving, Michele Romanow and Manjit Minhas will remain with the show next season.

Merrifield says he is privileged to live in a country “where entrepreneurs are given a platform like this.”

Club Penguin was sold to Disney in 2007 for $700 million. 

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