(MISSISSAUGA) 12 March 2018 – Students at the University of Toronto – St. George Campus have launched a student-owned and operated social enterprise that transforms under-utilized corporation bi-products, like potato starch, into eco-friendly alternatives to Styrofoam.
Meanwhile, a team of students at the University of Ottawa have launched a youth entrepreneurship development program that inspires, connects, and empowers future entrepreneurs through a series of bootcamps, competitions and an annual conference.
Last but certainly not least, Lambton College students are empowering farmers in Zambia through their project Hippy Peanut Butter, which has provided local farmers with access to a new peanut butter production facility and a sellable product that helps combat malnutrition in the Zambian community.
These three Enactus teams have been named 2018 TD Entrepreneurship Challenge Regional Champions by Canada’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and program supporter TD Bank Group.
“Entrepreneurship plays an essential role in the long-term economic success and sustainability of our country,” said Nicole Almond, President of Enactus Canada. “This challenge helps us promote entrepreneurial growth across Canada.”
The Enactus University of Toronto team has raised over $30,000 in funding for their project EcoPackers, and has recruited five youth to-date.
Enactus University of Ottawa’s Legacy project has impacted 850 people, launched and grew 50 businesses and is on track to impact 1,500 youth this year alone.
Enactus Lambton’s Hippy Peanut Butter has helped Zambian farmers earn $6,000 per hectare and thanks to a new partnership with a local grocery chain, the project will scale to include over 100 more farmers.
The TD Entrepreneurship Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach entrepreneurial skills to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Since 2007, 14,996 students have delivered over 2,000 entrepreneurship projects, exposing 105,869 people to entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
Student teams demonstrated the impact of their entrepreneurial projects to panels of business executives on March 9 in Mississauga as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition – Central Canada.
Enactus Lambton College, Enactus University of Ottawa and Enactus University of Toronto – St. George will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 14-16 at the 2018 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto.
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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, a national charity and the country’s largest post-secondary experiential learning platform, is shaping entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 3,300 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, positively impacting over 26,000 lives.
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:
Jennifer Falzon
Director, Marketing & Strategic Growth, Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca | 416.304.1566 x222