Ontario invests in young entrepreneurs

Nipissing MPP Moniques Smith
News Release

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Nbisiing Secondary School is one of 19 successful recipients of the Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships (YEP) program grants for their project Nbisiing Spirit Creations, the Honourable Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing announced today.

Nbisiing Secondary School will receive $58,164 for Nbisiing Spirit Creations to help foster a culture of entrepreneurship among youth by encouraging Aboriginal youth to participate in a range of entrepreneurial activities, including camps, trade fairs and cultural events, and the development of viable hospitality and tourism ventures in their community.

Launched in 2006, Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships provides grants to non-profit organizations for programs that promote the development of entrepreneurial skills in youth aged 12-29. The third round grants total over $1 million.

The goal of YEP is to influence the way Ontario youth think about entrepreneurship by:
 Introducing enterprising principles to youth in school and early in their career

 Creating excitement about entrepreneurship

 Building a team of informal entrepreneurship ambassadors.

“Through Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships, young people discover entrepreneurship as a viable career option. They learn valuable skills early in life so they are ready to lead our businesses and drive Ontario’s economy,” said Harinder Takhar, Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services.

“This is a great way to introduce our youth to entrepreneurship,” said Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing. “By investing in programs like the Nbisiing Spirit Creations, we are encouraging our youth to pursue entrepreneurship opportunities and helping them build employment skills that will last a lifetime.”

"Nbisiing Spirit Creations has provided our youth on Nipissing First Nation with opportunity to experience and learn first hand about two entrepreneurial ventures, in the areas of fashion design and culinary arts, by being totally immersed in the ongoing development and implementation of the school based program," said Judy Manitowabi, Business Teacher at Nbisiing Secondary School.

QUICK FACTS

 In two rounds of funding, YEP has provided approximately $2.27 million to 20 projects.

 Since 2006, the Ontario government has contributed grants totalling $4 million to the Canadian Youth Business Foundation for their work in helping youth to create new businesses.

 The establishment of the “Spirit Creations” brand by Nbisiing Secondary School was assisted through previous funding by the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services. Now the school will expand and strengthen its unique business model, which was designed to spark the entrepreneurial spirit of Aboriginal youth, all while incorporating vital cultural components.

Learn more about Nbisiing Spirit Creations at www.nbisiing.com.

OTHER YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMS IN ONTARIO

 There are a number of programs for young entrepreneurs in Ontario, including: Summer Company, Future Entrepreneurs, Ontario Global Edge and the Ontario Secondary School Business Plan Competition.

 Summer Company is part of the government's Youth Opportunities Ontario. For information on other youth programs, visit Youth Opportunities Ontario.

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