For the second consecutive year, Saint Mary’s University has been crowned National Champion at the Enactus Canada National Exposition. This win means the Halifax-based university will once again represent Canada at the Enactus World Cup, this year held in Bangkok, Thailand, from September 25-28.
The team’s outstanding projects, Square Roots and AlaagiTM, earned them the prestigious title. Square Roots is an innovative project tackling food insecurity by selling imperfect produce that would otherwise be wasted. This produce is distributed through 25 franchises run by entrepreneurs, who sell it below market rates, providing Nova Scotians with access to fresh and affordable food options. Their second project, AlaagiTM offers a fully compostable bioplastic made from seaweed. This innovative material can be used to manufacture plastic bags, ranging from sandwich to grocery store size.
Over three rounds of competition at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, 51 post-secondary teams presented community-driven projects that focus on innovative solutions and measurable impact, tackling some of Canada’s biggest challenges—from food insecurity and emissions to sustainability and access to affordable housing. Four finalists rose to the top this week to compete in the Final Round of Competition, proudly presented by Canadian Tire Corporation.
“We are proud to be a sponsor of the final round of the competition and support the home-grown innovation and community impact Enactus teams are creating across Canada,” said Susan O’Brien, EVP and Chief Transformation Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation. “Square Roots and AlaagiTM are providing a solutions to complex issues in Canada. Congratulations to Saint Mary’s University, the runners-up, and all the teams that competed over the past few days. We are inspired by your dedication to creating a bright future.”
An esteemed panel of judges from some of Canada’s top corporations, evaluated the post-secondary teams on entrepreneurial leadership, innovation, the use of business principles and sustainable positive impact within their projects and business ventures.
Wilfrid Laurier University was recognized as Runner-Up in the highly competitive final round for their impactful projects: Kuponya Innovations, which addresses the housing crisis with affordable, rapid-assembly “house-in-a-box” kits, and Sapphire, which creates inclusive workplaces and employment opportunities for autistic post-secondary students. The University of British Columbia – Vancouver and the University of Ottawa also earned spots in the final four.
“Congratulations to the 2025 National Champions and their back-to-back win, Saint Mary’s University! Their approach to addressing food insecurity and renewable alternatives to plastic waste has impressed and inspired us by driving tangible change. We are proud to have them representing Canada at the World Cup in Thailand. Their success, and the inspiring solutions showcased by all teams, proves what’s possible when we empower young Canadians to take entrepreneurial action,” commented Catherine Fowler, President and CEO at Enactus Canada.
Learn more about our programs, how you can get involved, and more news from the 2025 Enactus Canada National Competition.