(VANCOUVER) 7 May 2019: Students at the University of Ottawa are leveraging their social enterprise, Poly to help Northern, remote communities have better access to child safety products.
The Enactus uOttawa team has won the 2019 Northbridge Safer Communities Project Accelerator Best Project award at the 2019 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Vancouver.
Poly manufactures small scale recycling machines that enable entrepreneurs to create their own business by turning discarded plastic into new recycled products. Through the development of moulds for child safety products, they are allowing entrepreneurs in remote communities to make these products more accessible and affordable.
Launched this year, the Northbridge Safer Communities Project Accelerator empowers Enactus teams by providing the resources needed to identify, create and deliver projects that use innovation and risk mitigation to create safer communities within Canada.
“At Northbridge, we’re committed to building safer communities across Canada,” says Lori McDougall, Chief People and Strategy Officer, Northbridge Financial Corporation. “The work Enactus uOttawa has done to create a safe, liveable community by making safety products more accessible is extraordinary and will have an impact for years to come.”
The 2019 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.
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 3,400 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, positively impacting over 28,000 lives. As a global network of 37 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.
ABOUT NORTHBRIDGE FINANCIAL CORPORATION: Northbridge Financial is a leading commercial property and casualty insurance group that’s been helping to protect Canadian businesses for more than 90 years. We’re 100% Canadian and wholly owned by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. We offer a wide range of innovative solutions to Canadian businesses through our Northbridge Insurance, Federated Insurance and TruShield Insurance brands. Visit us at www.nbfc.com to learn more.
Media inquiries:
Northbridge Financial Corporation
Emily McCauley
Communications Manager
Emily.mccauley@nbfc.com
416-350-4341