Moncton, New Brunswick, May 12, 2011 – Over 200 Aboriginal high school students across Canada will attend the annual E-Spirit national Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition in Moncton from May 17 to 19. Organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), E-Spirit increases Aboriginal students’ awareness of entrepreneurial and business opportunities.
For 16 weeks leading up to this Internet-based competition, students concentrated on developing viable business plans and perfected their presentation skills. Following the award ceremony on May 19, three teams will take home the Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes, while another ten teams will receive Special Achievement awards. Over the past ten years, E Spirit has exposed close to 5,000 Aboriginal youth to the potential of entrepreneurship.
E-Spirit media opportunities include a trade show, opening ceremony of finalist presentations and an awards gala.
1. E-Spirit trade show
Visit the BDC E-Spirit trade show, meet with the student team members and review their business ideas.
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Opening Ceremony
10:30 a.m – 1:30 p.m.: E-Spirit Business Tradeshow
Location: Pavillon Rémi-Rossignol, Université de Moncton (60 Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur Street, Moncton, NB)
2. Opening ceremony of E-Spirit finalist presentations
Date: Thusday, May 19, 2011
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Address by Mi'kmaq singer Mindy Ward who will talk about performing at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and will sing a song from her repertoire.
Location: Pavillon Rémi-Rossignol, Université de Moncton, Room R221 (60 Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur Street, Moncton, NB)
3. E-Spirit Awards Gala
Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.: Special opening performance, honour song and Elder blessing.
6:50 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Awards Gala Ceremony
Location: Delta Beauséjour Hotel (Ballroom) (750 Main Street, Moncton, NB)
Interviews may be arranged with:
- Aboriginal students and teachers from across Canada
- Wilson Neapew, National Director, Aboriginal Banking, BDC
- Cheryl K. Watson, E-Spirit Project Manager, BDC
- Gwen Bear, E-Spirit Elder
- Donna Augustine, E-Spirit Elder
- Aaron Rae, E-Spirit Alumnus
The following schools will attend the E-Spirit Business Plan Competition in 2010:
British Columbia
Barriere Secondary School (Barriere)
Chase Secondary School (Chase)
Clearwater Secondary School (Clearwater)
Correlieu Secondary School (Quesnel)
Four Directions Storefront School (Kamloops)
Gold River Secondary School (Gold River)
Hazelton Secondary School (Hazelton)
Pleasant Valley Secondary (Armstrong)
Salmon Arm Secondary (Jackson Campus) (Salmon Arm)
Salmon Arm Secondary (Sullivan Campus) (Salmon Arm)
Stein Valley Nlakapamux School (Lytton)
W.L. Seaton Secondary School (Vernon)
Alberta
Canmore Collegiate High School (Canmore)
Ponoka Composite High School (Ponoka)
Ponoka Outreach School (Ponoka)
Saskatchewan
Kakisiwew School (Whitewood)
Manitoba
Children of the Earth High School (Winnipeg)
Gordon Bell High School (Winnipeg)
Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute (The Pas)
R.B. Russell Vocational High School (Winnipeg)
Sagkeeng Anicinabe High School (Pine Falls)
Sisler High School (Winnipeg)
St. John’s High School (Winnipeg)
Ontario
Espanola High School (Espanola)
Kenjgewin Teg Educational Institute (M’Chigeeng)
Saugeen District Secondary School (Port Elgin)
St. Mary’s College (Sault Ste. Marie)
Wasse Abin High School (Wikwemikong)
Quebec
Kitigan Zibi Kikinamadinan (Maniwaki)
Manikanetish (Sept-Îles)
École Monseigneur-Labrie (Havre-St-Pierre)
Nova Scotia
L’nu Sipuk Kina Matuokuom (Indian Brook)
Sydney Academy (Sydney)
Wagmatcook School (Wagmatcook)
Newfoundland and Labrador
B.L. Morrison School (Postville)
Nunavut
Nuiyak School (Sanikiluaq)
Sakku School (Coral Harbour)
About E-Spirit
The E-Spirit competition was developed by BDC and is supported by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). www.bdc.ca/espirit.
About BDC
Canada’s business development bank, BDC, puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 1,900 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers
financing,
subordinate financing,
venture capital and
consulting services to 29,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada’s economic prosperity.
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