TORONTO, ONTARIO (March 17, 2014) – Three Enactus student teams from University of Ottawa, Lambton College and University of Windsor have been named 2014 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 Bank Group, 6,079 students have positively impacted 39,005 aspiring entrepreneurs and 8,575 small businesses.
“Through the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, we’re delighted to see the entrepreneurial spirit and collaboration thriving in post-secondary students across Canada,” says Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. “Providing opportunities for students to create and build a small business will benefit their future development as well as encourage the ongoing growth of successful Canadian entrepreneurs.”
Student teams from across Central Canada showcased their projects to panels of industry professionals on March 14 in Toronto. The champion Enactus student teams stood out to judges because of their ability to empower individuals through entrepreneurship.
The following are the winning projects that are using entrepreneurial action to transform lives:
The Enactus team at the University of Ottawa established a boutique selling women’s fashion accessories made from repurposed fabric through their project, EcoEquitable, which employed two marginalized immigrant women, generated over $11,600 in profit and diverted over 3000 pounds of textile waste from landfills.
The Enactus team from Lambton College has transformed the rural village of Kasaka, Zambia through their innovative farming and entrepreneurship project, One Seed, which has created 41 jobs, started seven small businesses, processed 150 micro loans and generated $623,000 in economic impact.
Enactus Windsor has introduced entrepreneurship into the high school curriculum in the Windsor area through their project, YouThrive, which has already impacted 1,500 students in 40 classrooms and produced $15,000 in student-generated revenue.
“These teams are making a real difference in the lives of people through their entrepreneurship education projects”, says Nicole Almond, president of Enactus Canada “They are a perfect example of how our student leaders are transforming lives through entrepreneurial action.”
These teams will now move on to the national level of competition taking place April 28-30 at the 2014 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Calgary, Alberta.
-30-
Media Inquiries:
Jody Lundrigan
Director of Communications
Enactus Canada
E: jody@enactus.ca
P:416.304.1566 ext.222
M: 416.346.0131