(TORONTO) 15 May 2018: In northern food-insecure communities, students from the University of Ottawa are manufacturing commercial grade hydroponic systems that enable entrepreneurs to create their own businesses growing produce locally.
Enactus University of Ottawa has been named the 2018 TD Entrepreneurship Challenge National Champion by this country’s largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud supporter TD Bank Group. The national competition took place at the 2018 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto.
Enactus University of Ottawa’s Growcer system has yielded 10,000 servings of vegetables in just 5 months. Two additional systems have been established and the team has confirmed eight additional systems to launch in the next year, which will empower 8 entrepreneurs, generate over $2M in revenue and over 120,000 pounds in produce.
“Entrepreneurship drives innovation, creates new employment opportunities, empowers individuals and helps communities thrive,” says David Pinsonneault, Senior Vice President, TD Business Banking . “We have been proud sponsors of this National Challenge since 2007 because with every year, Enactus students make entrepreneurship more accessible to thousands of people and that has the power to change lives.”
The TD Entrepreneurship Challenge is a national competition that empowers post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach relevant entrepreneurship skills to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Since 2007, 14,996 students have exposed 105,869 people to entrepreneurship as a viable career path and have positively impacted 18,848 entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurship is at the core of what we do,” said Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. “So it’s incredible to see how Enactus University of Ottawa has used their entrepreneurial leadership and skills to empower entrepreneurs, and in turn, their community.”
The 2018 Enactus Canada National Exposition unites 1,500 delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs to enable progress by supporting entrepreneurial action through competition, recognition and education.
For competition results throughout the event, please follow @Enactus_Canada on Twitter. All event results will also be published on enactus.ca/events/national-exposition.
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ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, a national charity and 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 3,300 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, positively impacting over 26,000 lives.
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:
Nicole Almond
Enactus Canada
(416) 702-2251