(CALGARY) MARCH 2, 2020 – Students from Brandon University launched ReNu Hygienics, a social enterprise that collects, sanitizes and upcycles used soap from hotels. For every new bar of soap sold, one is donated to a person in need.
The Enactus team at Thompson Rivers University created E-Cycle, an initiative that salvages old desktops to create refurbished computers that are sold at thrift stores serving low-income households. The program not only diverts e-waste but also provides employment opportunities and offers technical training.
These two Enactus teams have been named 2020 TD Entrepreneurship Challenge Regional Champions by Canada’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and program supporter TD Bank Group.
“Entrepreneurship plays an essential role in the long-term economic success and sustainability of our country,” said Nicole Almond, President of Enactus Canada. “This challenge helps us promote entrepreneurial growth across Canada.”
The team at ReNu Hygienics has secured three hotel partnerships to date whilst diverting over 1000 pounds of waste. Through E-Cycle, 360 lbs of waste has been diverted and over 27,000 litres of water has been saved.
“I’d like to congratulate this year’s champions of the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge,” says Andrea Barrack, Global Head, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “As part of TD’s corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, we are proud to support Enactus Canada in helping inspire a new generation of business leaders who are passionate about building a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow. Through their ideas and ventures these champions can help address important social and environmental issues that could help more people feel confident about the future.
The TD Entrepreneurship Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that teach entrepreneurial skills to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Since 2007, 18,766 students have delivered over 2,200 entrepreneurship projects, exposing 122,597 people to entrepreneurship as a viable career path.
Student teams demonstrated the impact of their entrepreneurial projects to panels of business executives on February 28 in Calgary as part of the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition – Western Canada.
Enactus Brandon University and Enactus Thompson Rivers University will now move on to the national level of competition taking place May 19-21 at the 2020 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto.
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 TD GLOBAL CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP: TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, the bank is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment the bank aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident – not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit www.td.com/thereadycommitment.
À propos de la responsabilité sociale à l’échelle mondiale de la TD: La TD est déterminée depuis longtemps à enrichir la vie de ses clients, de ses collègues et de ses collectivités. Dans le cadre de sa plateforme d’entreprise citoyenne, La promesse TD Prêts à agir, la banque vise un don aux collectivités d’un milliard de dollars canadiens (775 millions de dollars américains) au total d’ici 2030 dans quatre domaines essentiels pour ouvrir les portes à un avenir plus inclusif et durable : Sécurité financière, Planète dynamique, Collectivités inclusives et Meilleure santé. Par La promesse TD Prêts à agir, la banque aspire à relier ses activités, ses initiatives philanthropiques et son capital humain pour aider les gens à se sentir plus en confiance, pas seulement par rapport à leurs finances, mais aussi par rapport à leur capacité à atteindre leurs objectifs personnels dans un monde en évolution. Pour en savoir plus, visitez: www.td.com/lapromessepretsaagir.
Media Inquiries:
Jennifer Falzon
Vice President, Programs & Marketing
Enactus Canada
jen@enactus.ca | 416.304.1566 x222 | 416.315.2099