This past weekend at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition in Calgary, Alberta, the Enactus University of Saskatchewan team placed first in their league of the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge with their project: The Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge (AYIC) presented by PotashCorp.

Keenan Davreux and Chase Shevernoha, who are 3^rd and 2^nd year students from the Edwards School of Business, presented the award-winning project to a panel of judges that were made up of some of Canada’s most prominent business leaders. This is the third consecutive year that the team, headquartered in the Edwards School of Business, has placed first in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge. This successful placement was particularly impressive considering that 16 of the top universities from across Western Canada compete in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge. Keenan and Chase will be representing the University of Saskatchewan and the Edwards School of Business from May 2^nd to 4^th when the team travels to Toronto, Ontario, to present AYIC at the Enactus Canada National Exposition.  The team also has their sights upon the Enactus World Cup to be held in Toronto, ON in September 2016.

The Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge is a program that offers young aspiring Aboriginal Entrepreneurs eight professionally led workshops to deliver the skills to create a successful business plan. The top three winners are awarded a total of $10,000 in start-up or expansion capital provided by the presenting sponsor, PotashCorp. The project also affords business students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and help Aboriginal entrepreneurs turn their business ideas into a sustainable business venture.

The Enactus team also had six other Edwards students present in three categories:

• Jessica Hill and Carlene James presented in the Scotiabank Eco Living Green Challenge on the project Food for the Future, which looks to implement community gardens in Northern Saskatchewan to combat the issue of food insecurity.

• Alexander Shimla and Derek Barr presented in the new Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge on the team’s new project: Lessons from Legacy. The program aims to provide high school students in rural Saskatchewan communities with the education, tools, and resources needed to develop a sustainable business idea.

• Chris Kizlyk and Curtis Sorestad presented in the Capital One Financial Education Challenge on the project CentsABLE. The program aims to provide financial literacy to young women in a partnership with the Princess Shop, and to University of Saskatchewan students with the support of the Co-operators Insurance and the Edwards School of Business.

The presenting teams were supported by a tech team comprised of: Karlie Shewchuk, TJ O’Donnell and Rameez Virji. The Enactus University of Saskatchewan team was accompanied by their faculty advisors Chelsea Willness and Tyler Case, whom have both provided immense support to the team.

The Regional Exposition brought together student, academic, and business leaders from across Western Canada to present on projects that specialize in improving the environmental, economic and social health of communities across Canada. Enactus University of Saskatchewan is a group of 45 entrepreneurial students from across the University of Saskatchewan.

Media Contact:

Peter Siarkos

President, Enactus University of Saskatchewan

Email: peter.siarkos@usask.ca

Phone: 306-241-5530

Enactus University of Saskatchewan

247-25 Campus Drive

Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A7