VANCOUVER, BC (May 9, 2017): A team of students from Mount Allison University have today been awarded $20,000 in start-up capital to launch a social enterprise in Atlantic Canada.
The award comes from Canada’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud supporter McCain Foods Limited, as part of the McCain Social Enterprise Project Partnership.
The Enactus Mount Allison University Team is producing a non-carcinogenic and environmentally-friendly alternative to fibreboard, using potato starch waste. With a plan to build a factory in Florenceville, New Brunswick, their social enterprise, Enviroot, will also drive employment opportunities and economic benefits for the region.
The team presented to a panel of McCain executives and were evaluated based on a variety of criteria including a definable project need, an economically sustainable business model, the project’s economic, social or environmental impact, budget and more.
Jeff DeLapp, President of McCain Foods Limited, North America comments: “It was the Canadian entrepreneurial spirit that led the McCain brothers to open the first McCain facility in their hometown of Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada – and the Enactus Mount Allison University Team keeps that spirit alive today. We are proud to work with Enactus Canada, allowing us to give back to the place where it all began!’
Enactus Canada is an experiential learning platform that empowers post-secondary students to use entrepreneurial action to advance the social, economic and environmental health of Canada.
The McCain Social Enterprise Project Partnership is designed to empower Enactus teams with significant resources to identify, create and operate a social enterprise which is located in or has impact on Florenceville, New Brunswick.
“This innovative partnership uses the power of business for social good and encourages entrepreneurial solutions to this country’s economic issues,” said Nicole Almond, president of Enactus Canada.
The McCain Social Enterprise Project Partnership Award was presented 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 CEO – 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