MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO (March 10, 2015) – Three student teams, from Lambton College, University of Ottawa and University of Windsor have been named 2015 TD Entrepreneurship Challenge Regional Champions by this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud program supporter, TD Bank Group.
The TD Entrepreneurship Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach relevant entrepreneurship skills to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Started in 2007 in partnership with TD, 9,057 students have positively impacted 47,758 aspiring entrepreneurs and 10,275 small businesses.
“At TD, we know that entrepreneurship drives innovation,” says Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. “We are excited to support Enactus Canada’s TD Entrepreneurship Challenge to give post-secondary students the chance to develop their entrepreneurial skills and deliver projects that encourage the ongoing growth of successful Canadian entrepreneurs.”
Student teams from across Central Canada showcased their projects to panels of industry professionals on March 9 in Mississauga. The champion Enactus student teams stood out to judges because they provided aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge and community connections to realize their passion.
The following are the winning projects that are using entrepreneurial action to transform lives:
Lambton College took home a championship title for OneSeed, an innovative farming and entrepreneurship project they implemented in Zambia. The project has trained 700 farmers on an environmentally friendly no-till farming method, created 10 new small business and impacted 4,900 lives.
University of Ottawa was named a champion for their project EcoEquitable Boutique , a social enterprise that is creating jobs for marginalized immigrant women and teaching them a valuable trade complimented by basic financial literacy and business skills . The project currently has 40 women enrolled in the training program and has generated $13,600 in revenue.
University of Windsor won the regional championship for CityThrive, a 12-week program designed to help unemployed individuals get off social assistance by launching their own businesses. Since its creation, seven people have been lifted off social assistance, saving $340,000 in taxpayers dollars.
“These teams are making a real difference in the lives of people in need through their entrepreneurship education projects,” says Nicole Almond, president of Enactus Canada. “They are a perfect example of how Enactus student leaders are transforming lives through entrepreneurial action.”
These teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 11-13 at the 2015 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto, Ontario.
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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, this country’s largest student leadership development organization, is shaping generations of entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,400 entrepreneurial postsecondary students led 250 community empowerment projects and business ventures this past year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 36 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
Media Inquiries:
Jody Lundrigan
Director of Communications
Enactus Canada
E: jody@enactus.ca
P:416.304.1566 ext.222
M: 416.346.0131