Calgary, AB (February 27, 2009) – Young leaders and entrepreneurs from across Western Canada, gathered in Calgary on February 27th to compete for Regional Champion titles by showcasing their community projects and entrepreneurial ventures to live panels of business professionals.

The 2009 ACE Regional Exposition, Western Canada is an amazing event that brings together over 200 attendees including top students, faculty, alumni, business professionals and supporters from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Three competitions took place during this annual event; two team based competitions – “HSBC SIFE Financial Education Challenge” and the “TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge” as well as one individual based competition, the “Student Entrepreneur Competition”.

Regional Champions of the HSBC SIFE Financial Education Challenge, proudly presented by HSBC are University of Calgary and Okanagan College.

Runner-Up: Royal Roads University and Brandon University

2nd Runner-Up: BCIT and Mount Royal College

Regional Champions of the TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge, proudly presented by TD Bank Financial Group are Okanagan College and Royal Roads University.

Runner-Up: Brandon University and University of Saskatchewan

2nd Runner-Up: Thompson Rivers University and BCIT


Regional Champions of the Student Entrepreneur Competition, proudly presented by CIBC are; Manitoba Champion – Devon Holenski, University of Manitoba student and owner of Devon Holenski Farms and British Columbia Champion – Milun Tesovic , Simon Fraser University student and owner of Metroleap Media Inc. 

“Once again, our socially minded students have created community outreach projects and businesses that are having a measurable impact.” comments Amy Harder, ACE President. “Together with all our stakeholders, ACE will build a more sustainable and enterprising Canada.”

Regional champions will now move on to the national level of competition at the 2009 ACE National Exposition taking place in Toronto on May 4 to 6  to compete and showcase their accomplishments to panels of top executives and leading Canadian CEO’s.

About ACE
Founded in the mid-1980s, ACE is a national charitable organization that is teaching and igniting young Canadians to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities through enterprise. Working in partnership with business and higher education, ACE operates a team-based program, Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) and an individual-based program, Student Entrepreneur. Through these two programs, ACE guides students along the path to becoming the champions that will define the enterprising mission of Canada. For more information about ACE, visit www.acecanada.ca.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact:    

Andrea Louden
Coordinator, Communications and Events 
ACE (Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship)
Tel: 416-304-1566 Ext. 233 | Toll free: 1-800-766-8169
Mobile: 416-524-3798 | Fax: 416-864-0514
andrea@acecanada.ca 
www.acecanada.ca