VANCOUVER, BC (May 9, 2017): The Enactus team at the University of Ottawa is fostering entrepreneurship in Iqaluit, Nunavut by providing resources, connections and support to help local entrepreneurs launch and develop their own businesses.
Their efforts were rewarded on Tuesday, May 9 at the 2017 Enactus Canada National Exposition, where the Enactus University of Ottawa took home the award for BDC Entrepreneurs First Project Partnership Best Project for their project, The Iqaluit Innovation Hub. The Hub hosts exclusive workshops, events and mentorship sessions, while also providing a business address for local entrepreneurs to use to register their business. Since the Hub’s launch, eight entrepreneurs have benefitted from the program.
“BDC is proud to have sponsored University of Ottawa’s participation in the Enactus competition and contribute to the development of Canada’s next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs,” says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC. “The project is more than a simple academic exercise as the service they developed has a real and direct impact on the local community.”
The BDC Entrepreneurs First Project Partnership, launched in 2011, is designed to empower Enactus teams with the skills and resources to make a meaningful difference in their communities through entrepreneurship.
“Enactus students are transforming lives and shaping a better world. These opportunities wouldn’t exist without the support of corporate partners like BDC,” said Nicole Almond, president of Enactus Canada.
Enactus University of Ottawa is a group of dedicated, hard-working students, working together towards one goal, to make their province and the world a better place through entrepreneurship.
The BDC Entrepreneurs First Project Partnership Best Project was awarded at the 2017 Enactus Canada National Exposition, where more than 1,500 delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs came together to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.
For competition results during the event, please follow @Enactus_Canada on Twitter. All event results will also be published on enactus.ca/events/national-exposition.
ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, 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 2,734 entrepreneurial post-secondary students led 280 community empowerment projects and business ventures last 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.
ABOUT BDC: BDC is the only bank devoted exclusively to entrepreneurs. It promotes Canadian entrepreneurship with a focus on small and medium-sized businesses. With its 110+ business centres from coast to coast, BDC provides businesses in all industries with financing and advisory services. Its investment arm, BDC Capital, offers equity, venture capital and flexible growth and transition capital solutions. To find out more, visit bdc.ca.
Media inquiries:
Jen Falzon
Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca
(416) 416-315-2099
Shawn Salewski
BDC
mediainfo@bdc.ca
1-844-625-8321