12 full time post-secondary students running their own businesses are recognized for their entrepreneurial efforts
TORONTO, ONTARIO (FEBRUARY 16, 2016) – To celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of young business owners across the country, Enactus Canada and the John Dobson Foundation are proud to announce the 2016 Student Entrepreneur Provincial Champions.
Since 1997, this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and the John Dobson Foundation have partnered to support Canadian entrepreneurship through the Student Entrepreneur National Competition, the only national competition to focus solely on full time Canadian post-secondary student entrepreneurs.
Business executives and entrepreneurs from across Canada were asked to select 12 champions from more than 200 nominees. This year’s winners are:
- Tariq Bakir, owner of Bakir Contracting Corp. and student at the University of Alberta
- Sonja Behmel, owner of Watershed Monitoring and student at Université Laval
- Ben Canning, owner of Farmium and student at Ryerson University
- Ross Connolly, owner of Are Audio and student at Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Scott Duncan, owner of Arc Home Automation Inc. and student at the University of Waterloo
- Patrick Durepos, owner of PS Spuds & Dogs and student at Mount Allison University
- Dustin Erickson, owner of Float Space and student at the University of British Columbia
- Alex Henniffent, owner of VOLTFUSE and student at College of the North Atlantic – Corner Brook
- Sunil Jachak, owner of Exorcism Detailing and student at the University of Regina
- Joshua Reyes, owner of LVD Fitness and student at Carleton University
- Paul Shumlich, owner of Deepwater Farms and student at Mount Royal University
- Marie Wright, owner of Mirror Image Media and student at St. Francis Xavier University
“Entrepreneurship and innovation are key to Canada’s economic success and these student entrepreneurs are sure to help solidify Canada’s place in the global economy,” explains Enactus Canada president Nicole Almond. “We are proud to celebrate and support student entrepreneurs across the country through this competition, and give them an opportunity to showcases their businesses.”
And the competition is just heating up. These 2016 Student Entrepreneur Provincial Champions now compete for regional championship titles in Atlantic, Central and Western Canada. Regional champions then move on to the final round of competition at the 2016 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto, Ontario taking place May 2-4. The National Champion receives a $10,000 cash prize and takes home the John Dobson Cup.
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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 2,650 entrepreneurial post-secondary students led 288 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
jody@enactus.ca
416.346.0131