HALIFAX, NS – March 6, 2009 – Young leaders and entrepreneurs from across Atlantic Canada gathered in Halifax today to compete for Regional Champion titles by showcasing their community projects and entrepreneurial ventures to live panels of business professionals.

The 2009 Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) Regional Exposition – Atlantic Canada is an amazing event that brings together over 150 attendees including 100 top students, in addition to faculty, alumni, business professionals and supporters from universities and colleges in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

“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.”

“The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is pleased to support initiatives that inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs,” said the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency). “Our investment of $35,000 toward the 2009 ACE Atlantic Canada Regional Exposition is both an investment in our youth and in our economy. I congratulate the teams who competed in this ‘Regional Champion’ event, and extend my best wishes to the teams who will be representing our region at the national level.”

Thanks to support from ACOA, students, faculty and business leaders from across the region came together to discuss and share best practices for increasing entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canadian communities; ultimately, with the end goal of promoting entrepreneurship as a viable career option for youth. 

Three competitions took place during the annual Regional Exposition; 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 Memorial University of Newfoundland and College of the North Atlantic- St. John’s.

First Runner Up: College of the North Atlantic- Grand Falls- Windsor
and St. Francis Xavier University
Second Runner Up: College of the North Atlantic- Clarenville and Saint Mary’s University

Regional Champions of the TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge, proudly presented by TD Bank Financial Group are Memorial University of Newfoundland and College of the North Atlantic - Grand Falls - Windsor.

First Runner Up: Saint Mary’s University and St. Francis Xavier University
Second Runner Up: Mount Saint Vincent University and Université Sainte-Anne

Regional Champions of the Student Entrepreneur Competition, proudly presented by CIBC are; Newfoundland Champion – Ryne Flood, Memorial University of Newfoundland student and owner of 6am Software and Nova Scotia Champion –Leah Skerry, Saint Mary’s University student and owner of EQ Media.

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

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

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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