Author: admin_ed

Teaching Canadian Kids Entrepreneurship

Programs and courses on kids entrepreneurship help children to learn about planning and goal setting and master skills such as time and cash management and communication.

Entrepreneurship Skills

Skills that aid career development and effective business planning include networking, communication, problem solving, and ability to cope with burnouts and stressful situations. Skills that children can master are innovative thinking, problem solving, ability to handle challenges, curiosity, and confidence and self-esteem.

Programs in Canada

Entrepreneurship Adventure

Offered in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Alberta, and Ontario, this program by the Learning Partnership focuses on key skills such as collaboration, problem solving, and critical thinking. Students learn about basic components that make for a good business plan, including relevant laws and regulations, financing, promotional activities and marketing, demand, and more. Advisors and teachers help participants to open a business and master important skills such as team building, business planning, and marketing. The program is open to children and youth from kindergarten to grade 12.

Summer Company

Run by the government of Ontario, Summer Company targets postsecondary and high school students who wish to start a summer business. The program is open to youth aged 15 – 29, and participants benefit from mentorship, advice, and financing of up to $3,000. Only Canadian citizens who live in Ontario are eligible to participate provided that they are enrolled in a university or college or go to high school. Any type of enterprise qualifies, whether a corporation or sole proprietorship, if based and operating in Ontario. Applicants who are accepted in the program are asked to submit licensing requirements, sign an agreement, and prove they have a bank account.

Explorer Hop

Helping women and children to build financial literacy skills, Explorer Hop offers a number of programs, including e-Camp Millionaire, e-Teen Entrepreneurs, and the Art of Storytelling. E-Teen Entrepreneurs, for example, targets children in grades 6 – 9 and teaches them how to open and market a business and raise funds for charitable organizations. E-Camp Millionaire is another program for children in grades 6 – 11, helping them to learn about money, investments, and budgeting.

DECA

Offered by extraurricular clubs, DECA offers students the opportunity to take part in activities such as international, provincial, and regional competitions, business role playing, leadership building, and more. The non-for-profit has more than 15,000 members, 317 chapters, and over 800 advisors. Members can join various events such as the Summer Leadership Conference, Fall Symposium, and Power Conference. The goal is to gain knowledge and skills and become a successful entrepreneur in management, hospitality, finance, and marketing. Partners of DECA include Brock University, CPA Ontario, the Vector Marketing Corporation, and many others.

Shad Valley

A program with a focus on entrepreneurship, engineering technology, and science, Shad Valley is open to students in grades 10 – 12. Students from all territories and provinces are eligible to apply and are offered financial assistance. Application criteria include factors such as academic performance, participation in extracurricular activities, commitment to excellence, and innovation and creativity. International students from different countries completed the program, including the U.K., United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Hong Kong, and the U.S. International admission fees apply. Participating universities that offer the program include the University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick, and Mount Allison University.

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities in Canada

Canadian entrepreneurs with disabilities are offered counseling and training, access to resources, and assistance by organizations that help them to start a business.

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program

Established by the Canadian government, the program offers development assistance and training, business information, and counseling to individuals who are mentally or physically disabled. Persons living in Western Canada are eligible to apply. They are offered business loans that can be used to create marketing or promotional materials, upgrade equipment and facilities, and expand or start a new business. The money can also be used as working capital or to implement or purchase new technologies. Business services are also available through the Francophone Economic Development Organizations, Community Futures offices, and other bodies. The Community Futures offices are responsible for program delivery in rural areas. Different organizations work in cooperation with Western Economic Diversification Canada to deliver the program in urban areas. Such organization is, for example, the Prospect Human Services Society in Edmonton.

The program is offered through urban and rural delivery agents in 4 provinces – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Community futures organizations provide a number of services, including self-employment assistance programs, loans to medium-sized and small businesses, and advisory and technical services. Services targeting youth and strategic economic planning are also offered. The services provided by urban delivery agents vary by province and may include research for capital options, financial forecasts, information resources, and peer support and mentorship. In Manitoba, entrepreneurs are offered consulting services, networking opportunities, and help with business plan development. In British Columbia, loan applicants also benefit from business counseling, mentoring or coaching services, and financing for business training or planning. Other services offered to persons with disabilities include referrals, workshop training, and business advice. Click here for more options.

Organizations Offering Support and Networking Opportunities

Different organizations in Canada work to support entrepreneurs with mental and physical impairments, among which the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network and Ability First Ottawa. The latter offers support to disabled persons to help them develop employment and social skills and reach their full potential. Volunteers also work with participants to teach them self-promotion and networking skills. In addition, the organization offers guidance to mentors at a variety of events, including Entrepreneurs in Action and eSAX Ottawa Entrepreneur network trade shows.

The Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network has a membership of 900 agencies and individuals, offering mentoring, networking opportunities, and workshops. Participants can join meetings to explore topics such as accessible workplaces, labor market challenges, business development, and access to capital, management staff, and skilled labor force. The meetings are held every two weeks, and the goal is to educate participants and facilitate peer collaboration and networking.

Covid-19 is significantly impacting small businesses and entrepreneurs. Click here to learn more.

Funding for Postsecondary Education

Students with mental and physical impairments can apply for grants that cover university tuition, living costs, and equipment and services. The maximum amount for living costs and education is $4,000 and for services and assistive equipment – $20,000. Students are asked to submit supporting medical documentation, an application form, and schedule 4. Documents that serve as proof of disability include learning disability assessment and copies of a medical letter. The documentation required depends on the type of impairment that the applicant has. Students with ADHD or ADD are asked to provide a letter from a physician or psychiatrist or a neuro-psychological or psychologist report. Those who are hearing impaired or deaf present a letter from a physician or an audiologist report. Applicants who are submitting schedule 4 fill in amounts for specialized transportation, educational attendant care, academic strategist, and tutor with specific course knowledge. Estimates must also be indicated when applying for assistive technology and equipment, including smartpen or digital recorder, assistive software, and electronic writing or reading software. Students also indicate type of disability – psychological or psychiatric, visually or hearing impaired, agility or mobility impairment, etc.