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Young Entrepreneurs Driving Positive Change

News Release ******************* (NORTH BAY, ONT.) – This Friday will mark graduation day for the youth participants in Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION)-Youth Entrepreneurship Placement Program (YEPP).

News Release

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(NORTH BAY, ONT.) – This Friday will mark graduation day for the youth participants in Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION)-Youth Entrepreneurship Placement Program (YEPP).

A two-year pilot, IION-YEPP is a paid placement program led by IION and funded by FedNor, which involved experiential learning for high potential youth aged 18-29 interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.

The unique custom designed 16-week program focused on high intensity leadership, innovation, business, and personal mentoring development. Participants were guided through a structured online skill building program, plus four days of inspirational venture camp activities, totaling over 500-hours of educational outcomes to complement workplace mentoring and practical experience.

IION received an overwhelming response for the 10 positions available for the first cohort which began in May 2015.

Youth were matched with Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) that were rich in entrepreneurial innovative spirit. The SMEs operated in various industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and IT and were located throughout IION’s region which extends from Mattawa to West Nipissing, and from Huntsville to Earlton.

“The feedback we are receiving is that YEPP is an extremely impactful program,” said Rob Deline, Executive Director of IION.  “It has been a win-win for the youth and companies involved. The strengths and capabilities of the youth participants span far beyond any of our expectations. We saw them grow and become increasingly confident as they tackled challenges throughout the 16 weeks.”

Sheri Yank, a graduate of Canadore College’s Office Administration and Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Commerce programs, was paired to Gin-Cor Industries out of Mattawa, Ont. through the YEPP process.
Yank believes that YEPP was the perfect way to round out her postsecondary knowledge with real world practice. She said that the theories she learned in class really helped her excel quickly in her new work environment.

“I absolutely loved every aspect of my placement,” said Yank. “I’m constantly learning new things, and I’m challenged with new tasks daily. This experience has allowed me to see how business works from a behind the scenes perspective. I have so much respect for independent business owners who work to be creative so they can stay ahead of the competition, balance their books and get every job done effectively and efficiently.”

Canadore College and IION have a long-standing relationship of working together to prepare people for meaningful employment. They are partners in the On-Campus Entrepreneurship Activities Program (OCEA) with Enactus Nipissing University and The Business Centre of Nipissing Parry Sound. The OCEA initiative runs through the On-Campus E-Hub at Canadore College, a collaborative workspace and resources centre for youth interested in becoming entrepreneurs.