MISSISSAUGA (March 13, 2013) – Student led teams from University of Windsor, Lambton College and Ryerson University have been named 2013 TD Entrepreneurship Challenge Regional Champions in Central Canada by national charitable organization Enactus Canada and proud program supporter TD Bank Group.
The TD Entrepreneurship Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach relevant entrepreneurship skills to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Through this Challenge, 5,037 students have positively impacted 33,346 aspiring entrepreneurs and 7,686 small businesses.
“We are delighted to foster an entrepreneurial spirit in our post-secondary students through the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge,” says Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. “Providing these students with comprehensive training and diverse challenges helps lay the ground work for their future success. All Canadians will benefit from their passion and drive to create and build new businesses.”
Student teams from across Central Canada showcased their projects to panels of industry professionals on March 11th in Mississauga. The champion Enactus student teams stood out to judges because they provided aspiring and existing entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge and community connections to realize their passion.
The following are the winning projects that are using entrepreneurial action to transform lives:
The Enactus team at the University of Windsor looked at their city ravaged by job loss as a result of the recession and the collapse of the auto sector and began CityThrive, a 12 week program that teaches people on social assistance the financial tools needed to operate their own businesses. The program boasts a 92% pass rate and four individuals who have taken the program are no longer on social assistance.
Lambton College’s One Seed project found environmentally friendly solutions to farming and electricity problems that were stifling a rural village in Zambia. By providing six new computers and training 25 local farmers, crop yields have increased five-fold and revenue has multiplied by six. Beyond direct project numbers, a financial foundation has been laid for school and community growth and the village has a new found sense of hope and optimism.
University of Ryerson’s Start Me Up project helps start and expand businesses through education, resources and funding, while spreading the culture of entrepreneurship. The results are incredible. Through this project, Enactus Ryerson worked one-on-one with 95 entrepreneurs, helped start and expand 90 businesses, created 50 new jobs, directly impacted 3,400 individuals and generated $2.1 million in economic activity.
“These teams are making a real difference in the lives of people in need through their entrepreneurship education projects”, says Nicole Almond, president of Enactus Canada “They are a perfect example of how our Enactus teams are enabling progress through entrepreneurial action.”
These teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 6-8th at the 2013 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto, Ontario.
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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada is a community of student, academic and business leaders enabling progress through entrepreneurial action. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,300 student leaders create and implement over 350 community empowerment projects and business ventures every year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 39 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 E: jody@enactus.ca P: 416.304.1566 x 222 M: 416.346.0131