CALGARY, ALBERTA (March 16, 2015) – Three student teams, from University of Calgary, Okanagan College and the University of Saskatchewan have been named 2015 TD Entrepreneurship Challenge Regional Champions by this country’s largest student leadership development 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. Started in 2007 in partnership with TD, 9,057 students have positively impacted 47,758 aspiring entrepreneurs and 10,275 small businesses.
“At TD, we know that entrepreneurship drives innovation,” says Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. “We are excited to support Enactus Canada’s TD Entrepreneurship Challenge to give post-secondary students the chance to develop their entrepreneurial skills and deliver projects that encourage the ongoing growth of successful Canadian entrepreneurs.”
Student teams from across Western Canada showcased their projects to panels of industry professionals on March 13 in Calgary. 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:
University of Calgary was named a champion for their project, Empower, which assist immigrant women learn fundamental business and literacy skills so that they can succeed in their own business ventures. This brand new project had 11 participants who increased their business network and their knowledge of the Canadian financial system.
Okanagan College won a regional championship for InnSpire, a social enterprise that takes repurposed goods and sells them to raise money for, and awareness of, the issue of homelessness in Kelowna. The first month’s net profit of the operation was $2,858 with $2,500 going directly to a local shelter to support homeless men.
University of Saskatchewan took home a championship title for their Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge, a business idea incubator where – this year alone – 25 Aboriginal entrepreneurs (aged 16-35) participated in professionally-led workshops with the top two business plans receiving $10,000 in start up capital.
“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 Enactus student leaders are transforming lives through entrepreneurial action.”
These teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 11-13 at the 2015 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto, Alberta.
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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 2,400 entrepreneurial postsecondary students led 250 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
E: jody@enactus.ca
P:416.304.1566 ext.222
M: 416.346.0131