For Immediate Release                                                                                                                

  -“23^rd Annual Youth Ventures Awards Celebrates NL’s Young Entrepreneurs”-
Youth Ventures Newfoundland & Labrador hosts its biggest event of the year to recognize the outstanding achievements of youth entrepreneurs in the province.

VIRTUAL EVENT– Youth Ventures Newfoundland and Labrador hosted its 23^rd Annual Youth Ventures Awards recognizing the growing trend of youth business owners in Newfoundland and Labrador. The event is dedicated to celebrating the tremendous success of young entrepreneurs and future leaders of our province while promoting entrepreneurship as a viable career option for youth. In its 28 years of operation, Youth Ventures has helped 7,150 entrepreneurs start 4,665 businesses by providing advice on idea development, business planning, marketing direction and financial advice.

During the virtual event, six young entrepreneurs were awarded for their entrepreneurial excellence as well as Star Coordinator.

Emerging Entrepreneur
Emily Hewlett – Sweet Tails and Treats, Grand Falls-Windsor
Sponsored by Newfoundland and Labrador Association of CBDCs

Excellence in Marketing
Alex Antle – Bunchberry Beadwork, Corner Brook
Sponsored by Commonwealth Pharmasave

Excellence in Customer Service
Alyssa Barrett – Candy Treasures by Alyssa, Old Perlican
Sponsored by Jungle Jim’s

Outstanding Venture (17 years and under)
Shana Brown – Perfect Picks, Whiteway
Sponsored by Newfoundland Power

Excellence in Arts & Tourism
Luke Hudson, Owen Hudson – Cookie Bosses, Pinware
Sponsored by Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador

Trailblazer of the Year
Cahley Warren – Stowaway Succulents, Carbonear
Sponsored by iDesign Ltd.

Star Coordinator
Sofia Kabir – CBDC Long Range

“Being a business owner is an important life skill that all youth should learn. It teaches the value of supporting local businesses and how entrepreneurship can help shape a province. This year’s delivery was unique for the delivery sites and even more so for the new participants that joined the program,” said Roseanne Leonard, Managing Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of CBDCs.  “Yet we still saw a creative, resilient group of new business owners that had no issues with facing a challenge.”

The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), contributed $280,684 towards the delivery of the Youth Ventures Program this year.

“Young entrepreneurs play a critical in the future of our economy – their talent, skills, energy and ingenuity are key to its success,” said the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA. “More than ever, we need to help our young innovators pursue their passions and play a role in our economic recovery.  Congratulations to all outstanding award winners for your hard work, dedication and entrepreneurial drive, and best of luck in the future.”

The Provincial Government, through Service Agreements for Youth and Students, provided $95,000 to Newfoundland and Labrador Association of CBDCs, in support of this year’s Youth Ventures Program.

“Every year the Youth Ventures program enables young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to harness their talents and skills to start their own business. By providing guidance and support at every step of the process, Youth Ventures encourages youth to explore their entrepreneurial spirit. Their fresh outlook and innovative business ideas will help create new employment opportunities right here at home,” said the Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour.

Youth Ventures is a program presented by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of CBDCs that promotes entrepreneurship as a primary career option for youth in Newfoundland & Labrador. Youth Ventures employs Regional Coordinators across the province to foster youth business development.

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For more information, please contact Robyn Evans:

709-690-6595/ robyn.evans@cbdc.ca
Cell: Roseanne Leonard – 709-691-5530

Meet Your Coordinator is our new series where we will be interviewing your local Youth Ventures Coordinator so you can get to know them. Next up is Cathy Payne who is based at the Town of Parsons Pond.

What’s your name?
Cathy Payne

What Youth Ventures site are you based out of?
Town of Parsons Pond

What are some of your favourite hobbies?
Reading, learning new things, spending time with family

What’s your favourite movie?

Grease

What is your favourite band?

Journey

What is your favourite restaurant?

Swiss Chalet

Do you have any pets?

Dog named Bree & cat named Vic

What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Being your own boss and running your business your way

What is the coolest business you heard of?
Making crafts from moose antlers

What are you looking forward to most this summer?
Helping youth start their businesses

What are some interesting business opportunities you see in your region?
Crafts and tours

What do youth in NL need to know about Youth Ventures?
Starting a business is fun

What is the most important thing people of any age who want to start a business need to know?

It’s fun and you get to decide the way your business is going to run

How can people get in touch with you if they’d like to talk about starting a business?

P.O. Box 39

Parsons Pond, NL A0K 3Z0

709-243-2744

redochre@youthventuresnl.com

Meet Your Coordinator is a series where we interview your Youth Ventures coordinators so that you can get to know them. We are back again for the 2019 Youth Ventures season, and today we have Michael Barbour at Choices for Youth in St. John’s.

What is your name?
Mike Barbour

What Youth Ventures site are you based out of?
Choices for Youth Ropewalk Lane

What are some of yourfavourite hobbies?
Coaching basketball and reading comic books

What’s your favourite movie?
The Shawshank redemption

What is yourfavourite band?
The Rolling Stones, Wu-tang clan and Cher

What is yourfavourite restaurant?
Fort Amherst Pub

Do you have any pets?
Yes a 106 pound dog named Louie

What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Building a business and being your own boss

What is the coolest business you heard of?
The possibilities with 3D printing seems to be interesting, it is cool to see the multiple business growing with this technology.

What are you looking forward to most this summer?
Getting to know some awesome people and helping them chase their own passions

What are some interesting business opportunities you see in your region?
Social Enterprise is on the rise!

What do youth in NL need to know about Youth Ventures?
We can help you build your own dream job.

What is the most important thing people of any age who want to start a business need to know?

It will not always be easy, but it will be worth it.

How can people get in touch with you if they’d like to talk about starting a business?
709-697-4936 or choicesforyouth@youthventuresnl.com.

Youth Ventures delivers official kick-off to NL students and young entrepreneurs

St. John’s, NL – Youth Ventures is proud to partner with Frontline Action to kick-off the 27^th season of Youth Ventures. The kick-off is dedicated to celebrating the success of young entrepreneurs in the province and to highlight the entrepreneurial resources available to youth in Newfoundland and Labrador. If you’re between the ages of 12-29 and interested in starting your own business, then Youth Ventures can help you do just that.

“Youth Ventures encourages youth to tap into their entrepreneurial spirit by starting their own money-making profitable ventures,” said Robyn Evans, the Provincial Coordinator with Youth Ventures. The program runs from April to August, with coordinators from coast to coast who can assist youth with creating a business idea, writing a business plan, accessing financial support, marketing and promotion, business counselling, mentoring and more.

To kick-off the season, Youth Ventures hosted an entrepreneurial showcase featuring Youth Ventures’ businesses and partner organizations. Youth from Villanova Junior High, Choices for Youth and Association for New Canadians attended the event to learn more about how entrepreneurship can be a viable career option for youth in Newfoundland and Labrador, and the entrepreneurial support that is available to them.

The start of the Youth Ventures season is always an exciting time for the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC). “Youth Ventures has been delivered by the CBDCs since 1996. Even though it is a summer-based entrepreneurship program, the energy that the young business owners show carries throughout the year,” said Roseanne Leonard, Managing Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of CBDCs.  “We see the lessons learned through owning a small business help shape the futures of the young people of this province. Many find that their experiences help direct their careers. Quite often we see the entrepreneurial skills help them become community leaders, business owners and the innovators of this province.” Since its inception, Youth Ventures has helped over 7,000 entrepreneurs in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), provided $425,009 to support the delivery of the Youth Ventures Program this year.

“Our government is committed to investing in initiatives that promote innovation, entrepreneurship and career development among our youth in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA. “The Youth Ventures Program has been instrumental in fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in our province’s young people and guiding them every step of the way in setting up their own businesses. I applaud all program

participants for their hard work, creativity and entrepreneurial drive, and I wish them good luck with their summer ventures and continued success in the future.”

The Provincial Government is providing $95,000 this year to the Youth Ventures Program.

“Our government is proud to partner with Youth Ventures, which has a proven record of successfully supporting young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in creating entrepreneurship opportunities,” said the Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour. “I congratulate Youth Ventures for kicking off what is sure to be another successful year and commend everyone involved with the organization for the crucial role they continue in play in strengthening our workforce and creating jobs.”

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For more information, contact Project Coordinator – Community Development, Robyn Evans:
709-745-4406 (office) / robyn.evans@cbdc.ca (e-mail)
Cellular: Roseanne Leonard/ 709-691-5530

Meet Your Coordinator is a series where we interview your Youth Ventures coordinators so that you can get to know them. We are back again for the 2019 Youth Ventures season, and today we have Jenna at CBDC Gateway in Channel-Port aux Basques.

What’s your name?

Jenna Skinner

What Youth Ventures site are you based out of?

CBDC Gateway

What are some of your favourite hobbies?

I love hanging out with my friends, going for drives, taking my dog for a walk or binge-watching netflix shows!

What’s your favourite movie?

The lion king was always an all time favourite of mine! Super excited for the new live action one coming out this summer!

What is your favourite band?

Currently fangirling over the Jonas Brothers again now that they’ve made a comeback!  

What is your favourite restaurant?

Swiss Chalet or Jungle Jims.

Do you have any pets?

Yes! I have a pomapoo, his name is Quinn!

What does entrepreneurship mean to you?

To me, entrepreneurship means being innovative, dedicated and determined to follow your dreams and turn them into a reality!

What is the coolest business you heard of?

I’ve recently learned about the 3D Portrait Prints business that started up in Stephenville last year and thought that was super cool!

What are you looking forward to most this summer?

I’m most looking forward to meeting new people, getting involved in the community through different events and helping as many youth as possible get involved in the program and ultimately start their own business!

What are some interesting business opportunities you see in your region?

Anything that has to do with tourism, I think an interesting idea in particular for someone interested and good at drawing could be to set up a stand at one of the tourist hot spots in town and do on the spot caricatures or something of that sort!

What do youth in NL need to know about Youth Ventures?

That it’s an amazing program with endless opportunities and a great way to start your own business or to learn more about entrepreneurship.

What is the most important thing people of any age who want to start a business need to know?

That it’s important to be patient, driven and willing to learn! There is lots of help available, don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance.

How can people get in touch with you if they’d like to talk about starting a business?

Jenna Skinner

CBDC Gateway

Channel-Port aux Basques, NL

A0M 1C0

Email: gateway@youthventuresnl.com

Phone: (709)-695-7406