Students submit business plans

May 24, 2013
One Wasse-Abin High School entry in the 2013 E-Spirit Business Plan competition was a proposal for Just Dance Studios, which would offer dance, fitness and yoga classes six days a week for young people at a Wikwemikong location. Participants, from left,) Brett Pangowish, Tammy Fox and Kodi Trudeau formed one of nine Ontario teams entered in the competition. Team facilitator was Jason Thibault.
One Wasse-Abin High School entry in the 2013 E-Spirit Business Plan competition was a proposal for Just Dance Studios, which would offer dance, fitness and yoga classes six days a week for young people at a Wikwemikong location. Participants, from left,) Brett Pangowish, Tammy Fox and Kodi Trudeau formed one of nine Ontario teams entered in the competition. Team facilitator was Jason Thibault.

KAMLOOPS, BC – The “Kanata of Youth” team from Winnipeg won the 2013 top prize in the E-Spirit Business Plan competition with a proposal for an online cultural hub for youth. The students took home the $1500 top prize with their concept for a subscriber-based website that would blend Elder teachings with technology in offering educational content in the form of articles, discussion forums,, documentaries, and interviews and videos of Elders.

Kalamalka Secondary School from Coldstream, B.C. won the $750 second prize with their proposal for “Frisbis” – a new flying disc sport. Third-place honours and $500 went to the “Onimiki’ team from Kitigan Zibi Kikinamadinan in Maniwaki, Quebec for their business plan for an outdoor adventure program designed to immerse participants in First Nations culture.

A total of 34 teams of Aboriginal students from across Canada participated in the 13th annual event, a 16-week web-based competition sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada for Aboriginal high school students in Grades 10 to 12. The event is designed to provide interactive business planning resources, online access to mentoring, and extensive student networking opportunities.

Nine Special Achievement awards were also presented with winners receiving iPads, Netbooks, and iPods.

“I’m always impressed by how E-Spirit students have the ability to turn a business idea into a full business plan in just 16 weeks,” said Wilson Neapew, BDC National Director, Aboriginal Banking Unit. “Throughout the competition, students use the Internet and social media as a strategic business tools. Their participation in this competition offers them practical business experience that can be applied to many of their personal and future professional pursuits.”