VANCOUVER, BC (May 9, 2017) – Students from Concordia University are providing financial literacy and employment opportunities to Syrian refugees, while increasing awareness about e-waste, through their project, E-Vision.
Concordia University has been awarded the 2017 RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Best Project by this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud supporter RBC. The awards presentation took place today at the 2017 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Vancouver.
This year, the project employed three Syrian refugees to work as collection agents for electronic waste, ensuring toxic chemicals such as lead and mercury don’t pollute Canadian landfills.
“Canada’s future prosperity will increasingly depend on our ability to remain a destination of choice for skilled immigrants,” said Valerie Chort, vice-president, Corporate Citizenship, RBC. “To help our communities prosper, we need to support newcomers, both in terms of finding employment and in fulfilling their entrepreneurial ambitions.”
The RBC Newcomer Advancement Project was designed to accelerate the advancement of newcomers to Canada, creating social and economic opportunities that will strengthen the well-being of communities.
“As a country, when we welcome newcomers to Canada, we carry a responsibility to support them through their transition,” said Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. “We are proud to recognize the Enactus team from the Concordia University for using entrepreneurial action to address this challenge and, in partnership with RBC, recognizing the difference they have made in people’s lives.”
The RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Best Project was awarded at the 2017 Enactus Canada National Exposition, where more than 1,500 delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs came together to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.
For competition results during the event, please follow @Enactus_Canada on Twitter. All event results will also be published on enactus.ca/events/national-exposition.
ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, 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 2,734 entrepreneurial post-secondary students led 280 community empowerment projects and business ventures last 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.
Media inquiries:
Jen Falzon
Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca
(416) 315-2099