Okanagan College was crowned National Champion at the Enactus Canada National Exposition. The team’s social enterprise, Paper Trail, made a distinct impression with the judges during the three rounds of competition with 49 postsecondary teams from across the country. The Kelowna based college will represent Canada at the Enactus World Cup in São Paulo, Brazil in November.
Paper Trail is an eco-friendly fire brick made from unrecyclable books and local beeswax, offering a lightweight alternative to firewood. The production line for the bricks was developed in-house by students and has created new waste removal channels for libraries and businesses. The team has worked with local retail partners such as, Canadian Tire and Co-op, as well as, waste diversion partners ViviGro. Their financially sustainable model is covered by the organizations that pay Paper Trail to divert their waste, creating a funding source to cover their production costs.
Hosted at the Palais des congrès in Montréal, the annual two-day competition brought together teams to present their social impact ventures. Using entrepreneurship as a tool for change, these student-led, community-driven ventures are rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, tackling challenges from sustainability and carbon emissions to financial security and affordable housing. The final round of competition, proudly presented by Canadian Tire Corporation, had teams from Humber Polytechnic, Okanagan College, Saint Mary’s University, and Wilfrid Laurier University present their impact on the mainstage.
“It was incredible to see the innovation showcased by all four finalists, and we are proud to work with Enactus to shine a light on our national talent,” said Lindsay Colley, Associate Vice President, ESG Strategy and Integration, Canadian Tire Corporation. “Congratulations to Okanagan College and all the runners-up that competed over the past few days. We are inspired by your dedication to making life in Canada better.”
An esteemed panel of judges from some of Canada’s top corporations and community organizations, evaluated the teams on entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, the use of business principles, and sustainable positive impact within their projects and business ventures.
Saint Mary’s University was recognized as Runner-Up in the highly competitive final round for their impactful projects: Square Roots and Alaagi.
“Congratulations to Okanagan College and their social enterprise Paper Trail! Their unique fire brick concept supports local waste diversion while reducing carbon -based emissions and, impressively a circular economy sustainable model. We look forward to cheering them on in Brazil on the World Cup stage,” commented Catherine Fowler, President and CEO at Enactus Canada.
In 2027, Enactus Canada will celebrate its 40th anniversary and four decades of supporting postsecondary students in using entrepreneurship as a means for social change. We are looking forward to the celebration in Toronto at our National Exposition April 27-30.
Learn more about our programs, how you can get involved, and more news from the 2026 Enactus Canada National Competition.
