(TORONTO) May 10 2021: A team of students from the University of Toronto – St. George created an initiative that has helped Toronto restaurants survive during the pandemic by leveraging problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills to help these small business owners adapt to stringent laws to curb the spread of the virus through Enact-a-preneur.  

The University of Toronto – St. George Enactus team won the 2021 HSBC Entrepreneurship Project Accelerator Best Project award and were recognized on May 10th at the 2021 Enactus Canada National Exposition Opening Ceremony. 

Enact-a-preneur had a profound impact on local businesses struggling during the pandemic. The 36 students logged over 1600 volunteer hours and impacted 8 entrepreneurs directly and 36 indirectly, helping 6 businesses to increase revenue by $35,910.  

Fostering entrepreneurial spirit is so important for developing the talent and future skills of young Canadians,” says Caroline Tose, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Bank Canada, and executive sponsor for the partnership. “The University of Toronto St. George Enactus team’s work is an inspiring example of how the next generation is poised to bring creative business solutions to help our communities thrive.” 

The HSBC Entrepreneurship Project Accelerator, launched in 2018, is designed to empower Enactus teams with the resources needed to identify, create and deliver projects that empower aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to set up or grow their businesses through entrepreneurship training and support, and/or empower Canadians to develop employment-related skills.  

The 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 updates, visit nationals.enactus.ca. All competition results will also be published on enactus.ca/events/national-exposition following the event.  

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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 3,000 post-secondary students led 275 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, directly impacting over 39,000 lives.  

As a global network of 35 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 HSBC BANK CANADA:  HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in the country. We help companies and individuals across Canada to do business and manage their finances internationally through three global business lines: Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Wealth and Personal Banking. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of HSBC Bank Canada, is headquartered in London. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 64 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,984bn at 31 December 2020, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations. 

Media Inquiries:
Gaston Calzato
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Enactus Canada 
gaston@enactus.ca 647.867.6357