Aboriginal students discover entrepreneurship through national business plan competition

2015 BDC E-Spirit business plan competition winners announced

MONTREAL, May 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced the winners of the fifteenth edition of BDC E-Spirit, a national business plan competition open to Aboriginal students in grades 10 to 12.

"Throughout the 16 weeks of the BDC E-Spirit competition, the participants had an opportunity to explore every facet of the business planning process and discover first-hand what it takes to launch a new venture," said Robert Lajoie, National Director, Aboriginal Banking.  "We believe in helping students gain valuable and practical skills while building self-confidence. We hope this experience has led them to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career choice and to stay actively involved in their communities. "

The three winning teams and their respective schools received total cash prizes in the amounts of $4,000 for Gold, $2,000 for Silver and $1,000 for Bronze. Seven Special Achievement awards were also presented to acknowledge merit in the following categories: most innovative marketing; best branding; most original concept; best use of technology; best environmental or community impact; best video and a leadership award.

2015 BDC E-Spirit Winners:

GOLD
Project: Arviat Cinema Group
School: John Arnalukjuak High School from Arviat, Nunavut
Students: Justin Kuksuk, Justin Suluk, Kyle Schaubroeck
Facilitator: Mike Prowse

Arviat Cinema Group looks to achieve food security in Arviat, Nunavut. As potentially the first and only movie operators in the community, they propose raising much-needed funds through screening movies. These funds would help local organizations and programs addressing food scarcity, all while delivering a high-quality, affordable movie experience. Screenings would be held at John Arnalukjuak High School with the support of a number of local businesses. As it stands, Nunavut's only movie theatre is in Iqaluit.

SILVER
Project: Kiitchi Ma'iingan Trading Company
School: Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute from Winnipeg, Manitoba
Students: Curtis Beardy, Brayden Campbell
Facilitator: Leigh Brown

Kiitchi Ma'iingan Trading Company draws inspiration from The Forks National Historic Site in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for its proposed shop. The Forks, located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, has been a meeting place for thousands of years and a strategic trade site–and still is to this day. Kiitchi Ma'iingan, which means "Great Wolf" in the Ojibway language, seeks to be part of this tradition by opening a small store at this location and selling hand-crafted products that reflect the ancient artisanal traditions of their ancestors. An online boutique is also proposed so that all may enjoy these creations.

BRONZE
Project: Innu-Recueille
School: École Manikanetish from Sept-Îles, Quebec
Students: John-Alex Fontaine, Pascale St-Onge, Samuel St-Onge, Sarah Régis
Facilitator: Guylaine Turbis 

The Innu-Recueille project proposes a youth residential centre to service the Uashat mak Mani-Utenam community in Uashat (incorporated into the town of Sept-Iles, Quebec), and Mani-Utenam, fifteen kilometers away.  The centre would open its doors to teens who are in a transitional period or difficult family environment and is dedicated to offering them the support they need to thrive. The center would also house students from out of town completing their studies. Innu-Recueille's structured environment offers teens the opportunity to realize their full potential while building their confidence and self-esteem. 

2015 BDC E-Spirit Special Achievement Awards

Most Innovative Marketing
Innu-Recueille, École Manikanetish (Sept-Îles, Quebec)

Best Branding
Kiitchi Ma'iingan Trading Company, Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Most Original Concept 
Innu-Recueille, École Manikanetish (Sept-Îles, Quebec)

Best Use of Technology
Jasmine's Beaded Jewellery, Children of the Earth High School (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Best Environmental or Community Impact
Arviat Cinema Group, John Arnalukjuak High School (Arviat, Nunavut)

Best Video
Jasmine's Beaded Jewellery, Children of the Earth High School (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Leadership Award
Kashes Potts, Thunderbird Skateboard Company, Wetaskiwin Composite High School (Wetaskiwin, Alberta)

About BDC E-Spirit
BDC E-Spirit is a 16-week web-based competition for Aboriginal high school students in grades 10 to 12 that provides interactive business planning resources. The 2015 BDC E-Spirit edition involved 107 students in over 30 teams from 18 different schools. http://www.bdc.ca/espirit 

About BDC
Canada's business development bank, BDC, puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 2,000 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers loans, consulting services, growth and transition capital, securitization services as well as venture capital to over 30,000 small and medium‑sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity. For more information, visit: www.bdc.ca.

SOURCE Business Development Bank of Canada

Maria Constantinescu, Senior Advisor, Public Relations, Business Development Bank of Canada, [phone], [email protected]