(TORONTO) APRIL 8, 2020 – Students at Saint Mary’s University have created a program dedicated to helping at-risk youth achieve their potential through social enterprise and skill-building workshops.

The Enactus team at Memorial University of Newfoundland designed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) locating mobile app that aims to increase the chance of survival for cardiac arrest victims. They’ve also created a social enterprise aimed at providing at-risk youth with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, while simultaneously addressing furniture poverty in their province.

Thanks to these initiatives, Enactus Saint Mary’s University and Enactus Memorial University of Newfoundland have been named the 2020 Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge Regional Champions. The winning teams were selected by Canada’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and program supporter Scotiabank.

“Our youth are facing unique challenges that can result in record-high debt and unemployment,” said Nicole Almond, President of Enactus Canada. “Thanks to this challenge and the work done by our Enactus students, we can help youth take greater control of their future.”

Enactus Saint Mary’s Options Youth has impacted over 400 youth and has lifted 30 youth out of poverty in the process.

Enactus Memorial’s HeartStarter has educated 209 youth on the importance of heart health and logged 148 defibrillators. Project Reclaim has provided employment and training opportunities for 7 youth.

“Congratulations to Saint Mary’s University and Memorial University of Newfoundland for their inspiring work,” said Craig Thompson, Regional Senior Vice President, Atlantic Region at Scotiabank. “Scotiabank knows that how we support young people today can prepare them for tomorrow, and that’s why we are proud to play a role in empowering them to help other young people reach their infinite potential.”

The Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge encourages post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that address the needs and opportunities facing youth. Focused on education, skill development and supporting the life-long success of youth aged 25 and under, this challenge has engaged 8,315 students since 2015, who have impacted more than 65,345 youth through 609 empowerment projects.

Student teams from Atlantic Canada presented the impact of their youth empowerment projects virtually to panels of business executives as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Competition.

Enactus Saint Mary’s University and Enactus Memorial University of Newfoundland will now move on to the national level of competition taking place in May 2020.

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 267 community empowerment projects and business ventures last year in communities coast to coast, directly impacting over 50,000 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 SCOTIABANK: Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: “for every future”, we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 100,000 employees and assets of approximately $1.2 trillion (as at January 31, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

Media Inquiries:
Jennifer Falzon
Vice President, Programs & Marketing
Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca | 416.304.1566 x222 | 416.315.2099

Kate Simandl
Scotiabank
kate.simandl@scotiabank.com
416.866.6806