(TORONTO) APRIL 8, 2020 – Students at the University of Ottawa are enabling local, community-led plastic recycling by manufacturing systems that allow people to shred and transform plastic waste into new and innovative products.
The Enactus team at the University of Windsor has partnered with school boards to provide elementary and secondary students a 10-week mentorship program and the tools to launch their own business.
Meanwhile, a group of students on the Enactus Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo) team have created a social enterprise that employs adults with developmental disabilities to develop package-free single-use, sustainable bathroom products for hotels and consumers.
These three Enactus teams have been named 2020 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.”
Enactus UOttawa’s Poly has impacted over 600 people whilst generating $80k in revenue.
Enactus Windsor’s project, Youthrive has impacted over 5,000 people and has exposed over 650 youth to entrepreneurship.
Finally, Enactus Laurier’s EarthSuds has impacted over 3,400 people and has created employment opportunities for over 10 people.
“I’d like to congratulate this year’s champions of the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge,” says Andrea Barrack, Global Head, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “As part of TD’s corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, we are proud to support Enactus Canada in helping inspire a new generation of business leaders who are passionate about building a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. Through their ideas and ventures these champions can help address important social and environmental issues that could help more people feel confident about the future.
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, 18,766 students have delivered over 2,200 entrepreneurship projects, exposing 122,597 people to entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
Student teams from Central Canada presented the impact of their entrepreneurial projects virtually to panels of business executives as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Competition.
Enactus University of Ottawa, Enactus University of Windsor and Enactus Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo will now move on to the national level of competition taking place in May 2020.
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 3,400 post-secondary students led 267 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, directly impacting over 50,000 lives.
As a global network of 37 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
ABOUT TD GLOBAL CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP: TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, the bank is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment the bank aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident – not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/thereadycommitment.
À propos de la responsabilité sociale à l’échelle mondiale de la TD: La TD est déterminée depuis longtemps à enrichir la vie de ses clients, de ses collègues et de ses collectivités. Dans le cadre de sa plateforme d’entreprise citoyenne, La promesse TD Prêts à agir, la banque vise un don aux collectivités d’un milliard de dollars canadiens (775 millions de dollars américains) au total d’ici 2030 dans quatre domaines essentiels pour ouvrir les portes à un avenir plus inclusif et durable : Sécurité financière, Planète dynamique, Collectivités inclusives et Meilleure santé. Par La promesse TD Prêts à agir, la banque aspire à relier ses activités, ses initiatives philanthropiques et son capital humain pour aider les gens à se sentir plus en confiance, pas seulement par rapport à leurs finances, mais aussi par rapport à leur capacité à atteindre leurs objectifs personnels dans un monde en évolution. Pour en savoir plus, visitez: www.td.com/lapromessepretsaagir.
Media Inquiries:
Jennifer Falzon
Vice President, Programs & Marketing
Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca | 416.304.1566 x222 | 416.315.2099