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Ontario government press release ...

McGuinty Government Invests In New Strategy To Improve Aboriginal Student Achievement - First Nations, Métis And Inuit Students To Benefit

    SAULT STE. MARIE, ON, Jan. 23 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is launching an Aboriginal Education Strategy that includes a new education framework and an initial $6 million investment to improve achievement for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced today.

    "We are committed to reaching every student," said Wynne. "And our new education strategy has been designed to help improve opportunities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students - whether they live in remote areas or in urban centres."

    A key part of the strategy is the new First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework, which will set the foundation for improving achievement among Aboriginal students in provincially funded schools.

    "This new strategy is part of Ontario's new approach to building relationships with Aboriginal communities and creating a better future for First Nations, Métis and Inuit children and youth," said Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay. "The framework is an important part of that strategy, as a foundation for improving opportunities for Aboriginal students."

    The framework includes plans to:

• Improve literacy and numeracy skills
• Increase the number of Aboriginal staff working in school boards
• Encourage more parents to get involved in their children's education
• Further integrate Aboriginal content and perspectives throughout the Ontario curriculum to increase knowledge and awareness among all students.

    "The Ontario government's new policy framework is a positive first step towards recognizing and meeting the educational needs of First Nations students within the Ontario school system," said Angus Toulouse, Ontario Regional Chief from Chiefs of Ontario. "We look forward to working with the Ontario government on the implementation of this framework."

    In addition to the framework, the Ontario government is investing $6 million to support capacity-building efforts within school boards and build partnerships with Aboriginal communities and organizations.

    "We are pleased that the Métis Nation was given the opportunity to provide feedback on the framework," said Tony Belcourt, President of the Métis Nation of Ontario. "It's great that this framework has the potential to help so many students achieve their future aspirations, and that it was given such broad consultation."

    "The new framework and accompanying funding is intended to provide support to the education system to improve the academic achievement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students," said Mario Turco, Director of Education, Algoma District School Board. "This strategy will also benefit non-Aboriginal students as they learn more about the culture and perspectives of Aboriginal peoples in Ontario."

    In addition to the $6 million in funding, the McGuinty government has already invested more than $5 million in initiatives across the province that support Aboriginal student success, including:

• $2.3 million for Aboriginal Student-Focused Student Success Projects
• $650,000 annually for Alternative Secondary School Programs in Native Friendship Centres
• $50,000 to train teachers on Aboriginal perspectives in the revised elementary and secondary curriculum.

    "We are committed to strengthening Aboriginal voices and involvement in education, and to ensuring our First Nations, Métis and Inuit students have every opportunity for success," said Wynne. "By working with Aboriginal peoples and communities, we are delivering excellence in education for all of Ontario's students."

                              www.edu.gov.on.ca
                           www.ontario.ca/progress

Backgrounder - ABORIGINAL EDUCATION STRATEGY

    The Ontario government is dedicated to excellence in publicly funded education for all students and recognizes the need to develop specific strategies to meet the needs of Ontario's First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in provincially funded schools.

    Ontario's new Aboriginal Education Strategy will help support learning and achievement for Aboriginal students. The strategy will also help raise awareness about First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples' cultures, histories and perspectives in schools.

    The new strategy is in line with the commitments made in Ontario's New Approach to Aboriginal Affairs, released in spring 2005, which envisions prosperous and healthy Aboriginal communities that will create a better future for Aboriginal children and youth.

    Part of this new approach included a commitment to working together with Aboriginal organizations and communities to improve achievement among Aboriginal children and youth.

    Investment in Aboriginal Education

    The $6 million investment will provide funding for initiatives that support Aboriginal student success, such as:

• Regional capacity-building efforts within school boards
• Partnerships with Aboriginal communities and organizations to develop strategies to support Aboriginal student achievement
• A resource that summarizes expectations in the revised curriculum that incorporates perspectives of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples
• Joint capacity building workshops with school boards, First Nations and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada on tuition agreements and education funding.

    This in addition to more than $5 million that has already been invested in initiatives across the province that support Aboriginal student success, including:

• $2.3 million for Aboriginal Student-Focused Student Success Projects
• $650,000 annually for Alternative Secondary School Programs in Native Friendship Centres
• $50,000 to train teachers on Aboriginal perspectives in the revised elementary and secondary curriculum

    First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework

    The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework will be the foundation for delivering quality education to all First Nations, Métis and Inuit students in Ontario.

    The framework includes strategies for schools and school boards that will boost Aboriginal student achievement and close the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

    These strategies include resources to support teaching strategies that are appropriate to Aboriginal learner needs, increasing the number of Aboriginal staff working in school boards, and improving literacy and numeracy skills among Aboriginal students.

    In addition, the framework sets out strategies to encourage more parent involvement, build capacity within school boards to build partnerships with Aboriginal communities and organizations, and to integrate First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples' histories, cultures and perspectives throughout the Ontario curriculum to increase knowledge and awareness among all students.

    Through regional consultations with school boards and school authorities, Aboriginal communities and organizations, and other education stakeholders, nearly 500 people provided feedback on the framework.

    As part of the Ontario government's Aboriginal Education Strategy, the framework and investment will help create a school environment that encourages Aboriginal student engagement and achievement.

For further information: Michelle Despault, Minister's Office, (416) 212-3747; Patricia MacNeil, Communications Branch, (416) 325-2676; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892

Ontario government press release ...

McGuinty Government Supporting Grandparents Who Care For Vulnerable Grandchildren

Extended Family, Community Members May Be Eligible For Support

NIAGARA FALLS, ON, Jan. 23 - Grandparents, extended family members and community members who care for children in need of protection may now be eligible for financial support and services as part of new reforms to Ontario's child well-being and protection system, Minister of Children and Youth Services Mary Anne Chambers announced today.

"Children who are unable to grow up with their parents due to protection concerns should have the opportunity, wherever possible, to grow up with members of their extended families," said Chambers. "Protection of Ontario's children is our number one priority. These new supports and services will encourage and enable grandparents and extended family or community members to provide the stability and security where children are not able to stay with their parents because of safety concerns."

Under the new policy, grandparents and extended family or community members who are looking after a child in the care of a children's aid society (CAS), and who are approved as foster parents, will receive the foster care rate of approximately $900 per month from their local CAS. This includes members of aboriginal communities who are looking after a child under customary care arrangements.

"Some grandparents have told us that they want a system that makes it easier for them to adopt their grandchildren or become their legal guardians or foster parents," said Niagara Falls MPP, Kim Craitor. "As a result of today's announcement, more grandparents and extended family members will be able to provide vulnerable children with caring, secure homes."

Grandparents and extended family or community members caring for Crown wards who obtain legal custody, or who decide to adopt those children, may also be eligible for funding and support services, up to the foster care rate.

The changes also mean that grandparents and extended family or community members looking after children who are in need of protection, but have not been admitted to the formal care of a CAS, could be eligible for emergency financial aid for a variety of needs.

"For a long time, many grandparents and kinship family members have wanted to care for their vulnerable grandchildren and kinship children, however have been unable to do so because they could not get the funding or services they needed," said Betty Cornelius, president of CANGRANDS, a national support group for grandparents and Kinship family members raising kin-children. "We are delighted that the government has listened to those who advocate for kinship children who need care, and the grandparents and extended family or community members who are willing to give them safe, loving, permanent homes to grow up in."

"Grand-Parenting Again Canada has made it a goal for the past 5 years to receive financial support for children living with alternate kin equal to that of foster parents," said Sandra Schoenfeldt, president of Grand-Parenting Again Canada. "Our hope is more children will be able to stay with their family members now that our provincial government is making this commitment."

"We have advocated for over six years for recognition for grandparents raising grandchildren. We see more and more grandparents, many of whom are widows, on fixed incomes taking care of their grandchildren and in desperate need of financial assistance," said Sheila Volchert, spokesperson for Second Chance for Kids. "Today's announcement will finally give grandparents and their grandchildren a more secure future."

These measures are part of the reforms the McGuinty government has made to strengthen Ontario's child well-being and protection system. In February 2006, the government also introduced a kinship regulation to require background checks on all adults in the home where children in need of protection will be living.

Other improvements that came into effect in November 2006 under amendments to the Child and Family Services Act include:

• Increasing the accountability of children's aid societies through an independent and timely complaints process
• Allowing openness arrangements that will make it possible for more children to be adopted while keeping important ties to their birth families and communities
• Emphasizing customary care arrangements that allow Aboriginal children and youth to maintain important cultural and family ties
• Helping to resolve child protection cases outside of the courtroom more quickly through collaborative solutions such as mediation.

For more information :

• Backgrounder - Government Reforms Include Support For Grandparents To Care For Vulnerable Grandchildren
• Questions and Answers - Support for Grandparents Caring for Children in need of Protection

- 30 -

UNESCO press release ....

Breaking Barriers. Using free and open source software for development - http://www.apdip.net/publications/ict4d/BreakingBarriers.pdf 
 
The successful deployment of free and open source software (FOSS) in projects in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America are described on a publication entitled "Breaking Barriers" by UNDP's Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme.

UNESCO, the International Open Source Network (IOSN) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada participated in the publication.

Each case study describes the reason for choosing to use FOSS and discusses the development, implementation and impact of the FOSS applications. The benefits obtained and challenges encountered, as well as any valuable lessons learned are also highlighted.

The benefits offered by FOSS have been extremely useful for developing countries around the world. In particular, the ability to obtain FOSS without licensing fees has proven to be beneficial to users in these regions as this makes the use of ICT more affordable to them.

Over the last few years, as FOSS has matured and become more widely accepted, many projects have been carried out that attempt to make use of FOSS to help bring about socio-economic development and empower people in developing countries or regions. Some of these projects are highlighted in the new publication that highlights the benefits obtained and challenges encountered, as well as any valuable lessons learned.

It is hoped that the publication will create greater awareness of the ability of FOSS to empower and help poorer and less developed communities.

The publication includes a DVD containing a 40-minutes version of a documentary on FOSS, entitled "The Codebreakers". This was aired as a BBC World TV documentary in May 2006 featuring a number of projects described in this publication.

This publication is the first in the trilogy of ICT4D Case Studies. Upcoming titles include: "Empowering the Poor: Information and Communications Technology for Governance and Poverty Reduction - A Study of Rural Development Projects in India" and " Exploring New Modalities: Experiences with Information and Communications Technology Interventions in the Asia-Pacific Region - A Review and Analysis of the Pan-Asia ICT R&D Grants Programme".

Bibliographic reference:
Breaking Barriers: The Potential of Free and Open Source Software for Sustainable Human Development - A Compilation of Case Studies from Across the World . - [By] Nah Soo Hoe . -
Bangkok: NUDP-APDIP, Elsevier, 2006 . - 103 pages
ISBN: 81-312-0631-9

Related Links:

• Full text of the publication
• Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP)
• International Open Source Network (IOSN)
• International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

The chiefs from the six Keewaytinook Okimakanak member First Nations are meeting for the next two days (January 23, 24) in Balmertown.

Topics of discussion include:

• Finance planning and reporting
• Advisory services development and implementation
• Partnership discussions (Thunder Bay Telephone)

Pikangikum Men's Invitational Hockey Tournament

February 2, 3, 4 2007

10- 12 teams needed

entry fee

• outside teams $800
• local teams $900

Accommodations will be provided

Contact Van Keeper (H) 807 773 5129 (W) 773 5933

Rules will be faxed out to confirmed teams

A new report making the development of the mining sector a priority for the federal government is available online from the Conference Board of Canada. In the following press release, the strong recommendation concerning First Nations states: "As many new mines will be close to Aboriginal communities, engaging Aboriginal people in the mining sector must be a priority."

Conference Board of Canada press release ...

New Mines Needed for Canada to Shine in Metals Boom

    OTTAWA, Jan. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada needs to develop more new mines to fully capitalize on the global demand for minerals, according to Mission Possible: A Canadian Resources Strategy for the Boom and Beyond.

    Released today by The Conference Board of Canada, this final report of a three-year research program-The Canada Project-is perhaps the most comprehensive attempt in the past two decades to reimagine the Canadian economy.

    "This sector is enjoying prosperity due to high commodity prices, but Canada's reserves of major metals are declining because of inadequate exploration activity in the last decade," said Gilles Rhéaume, Vice-President, Public Policy. "Greater exploration efforts than ever before will be required to boost our reserves and open new mines."

    Governments should support exploration activity through tax credits and by developing a permitting process and set of rules that are consistent across provinces and territories. Governments must also provide adequate funding to develop the geological data that are critical to mineral discoveries.

    Most exploration activity will take place in remote, environmentally-sensitive regions. The Canadian industry and governments will need to ensure that all mining companies, regardless of size, are motivatedand equipped to provide excellent environmental stewardship. As many new mines will be close to Aboriginal communities, engaging Aboriginal people in the mining sector must be a priority.

    Mission Possible: A Canadian Resources Strategy for the Boom and Beyond discusses the futures of four key Canadian resource sectors-forest products, agri-food, mining and energy. This report is Volume II of a four-volume set entitled Mission Possible: Sustainable Prosperity for Canada. It is the final report of The Canada Project, a three-year program of research and facilitated dialogue that seeks to help improve our standard of living and position in North America and the world. This research was funded in part from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), an independent federal government agency that funds university-based research in key areas of Canada's social, cultural and economic life.

    The report is publicly available at www.e-library.ca .

For further information: Brent Dowdall, Media Relations, (613) 526-3090, ext. 448, corpcomm@conferenceboard.ca

Get your GED - Upgrading

Offered at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education and Training Institute in Thunder Bay. 

Commencing February 12th and ends May 11th.  March Break, Good Friday and Easter Monday no classes.  Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm daily.

Apply within.  For any questions, please call 807-626-1880 or toll free at 1-866-636-7454

Would you like to continue with your education?  Would you like to do so without having to move away from home?  If so, Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education & Training Institute might be the answer for you!

At Oshki-Pimache-O-Win we recognize that our students are often employed full time or reside in Northern communities.  Our special delivery methods allow students to remain employed and reside in their home community for the majority of their program.  We offer the following programs through a modular/distance education format:

• First Nation Business Administration Certificate (September intake)
• Aboriginal Community Services Worker Diploma (September intake)
• Native Early Childhood Education Diploma (September intake)
• Anishinabe Recreation Leadership Certificate/Diploma (September intake)
• Basic Radiography Worker Certificate (September intake)
• Indigenous Wellness & Addictions Prevention Worker Diploma (September intake)

The application deadline for September programs is April 15, 2007

All of these programs are delivered in partnership with an Ontario college.  This means that you will receive a level of education that is equivalent to, and even exceeds that found in mainstream schools and you will graduate with a college diploma or certificate!  Our staff and instructors have a passion for working with and teaching First Nations students.  You will not get lost in the crowd!

To learn more about our programs and their admission requirements please contact our Student Recruitment Officer, Loretta Sheshequin, toll free at 1-866-636-7454 or by email at lsheshequin@oshki.ca .

Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education & Training Institute
106 Centennial Square, 3rd Floor
Thunder Bay, Ontario  P7E 1H3
Phone: (807) 626-1880
Toll Free: 1-866-636-7454
Fax: (807) 622-1818
E-mail: info@oshki.ca
Website: www.oshki.ca

Last week, Robert Munsch video conferenced from his hometown of Guelph with First Nation young students from four First Nations gathering together at the Eel Ground First Nation school. The entertaining one hour session is available online on the K-Net streaming server. Click here to watch this entertaining presentation by Mr. Munsch.

ABC Canada (www.abc-canada.org) press release:

Children's author Robert Munsch and families get ready to celebrate ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day, January 27

TORONTO, Jan. 19 - Robert Munsch, renowned Canadian children's writer and this country's best-selling author, joins families across Canada next week in celebrating ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day(R), January 27. Family Literacy Day, now in its ninth year, is the national initiative created by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation and made possible by Founding Sponsor Honda Canada Inc. It celebrates families reading and learning together on a regular basis, engaging in numerous activities that help boost literacy skills in a fun way, including making up stories, singing songs, playing word games and puzzles, and measuring out ingredients for a recipe.

Robert Munsch, Honorary Chair of Family Literacy Day, will appear at a number of media and public events. "We're so pleased to continue to have Mr. Munsch's support in raising awareness of the importance of regular family literacy activities," says Margaret Eaton, ABC CANADA President. "He's a wonderful ambassador for creative and fun learning." Munsch will lead public-school children in Toronto in a storytelling time on January 23, and will appear for a public reading at the Port Moody Public Library in British Columbia on January 27.

Kids share ideas and read along with Robert Munsch
New this year, Munsch will be interacting with children and families across the country through two Corus Entertainment websites. In the weeks leading up to January 27, kids can post on the message board on www.ytv.com their own ideas for stories. Mr. Munsch has been reading their story ideas and will post his comments on the site on Family Literacy Day. Also, parents can submit audio clips of their children reading Mr. Munsch's story Mortimer on the www.treehousetv.com website. On January 27, the site will post a special compilation of kids reading the story, along with Mr. Munsch.

As a fitting end to a busy week of activities, Mr. Munsch will visit the home of the Blackley family in Port Moody, BC, where he will enjoy a Family Literacy Day party put on by the family and also attended by neighbouring parents and children. The Blackley's won the visit from Mr. Munsch in the national Munsch at Home contest, where families across the country who submitted descriptions of what they were doing for Family Literacy Day could win a visit from the author. "I really enjoy being a part of Family Literacy Day," says Munsch. "It's a natural with what I do, and this is an issue that makes such a dramatic difference in a person's life."

Hundreds upon hundreds of events across the country
While Robert Munsch is ABC CANADA's ambassador for Family Literacy Day, a legion of people in libraries, schools, literacy organizations and, of course, families participate in parties celebrating the day. Throughout the week leading up to January 27, these events are as wide-ranging as the imagination.

Consider these events:

- A roster of guests at the Regina Family Literacy Network, including Premier Lorne Calvert, Deputy Police Chief Troy Hagen and Saskatchewan Roughrider Matt Dominguez, will be reading children's stories throughout the day, and a city-wide 'Read-in' encourages people to register and read with a child between 1:30 and 1:45 on the afternoon of Saturday, January 27;

- The Dollard-des-Ormeaux Public Library on the west island, Montreal, is hosting separate English and French screenings of films from the National Film Board's Talespinners series, targeted to children age 4 to 8;

- Vancouver-based Literacy BC will host, at the Vancouver Public Library, its annual week of literacy-focused seminars and events leading up to the day, when there will be an afternoon of literacy activities for children age 5 to 12 featuring writers Bob Heidbreder and Melanie Jackson;

- Port Hope Public Library in Ontario will have the Victorian Operetta Society, cast of next spring's production of Into the Woods, read fairy tales, and will promote a collection of hockey books by having a pick-up hockey game in their parking lot with members of the Predators hockey team;

- Toronto Public Library features a number of storytelling and book-reading events in its many branches;

- Aboriginal storytelling in the Cree language for Inuit and Metis families and children at the Minwaashin Lodge in Ottawa includes activities such as families painting T-shirts with native images; and

- Wolfville Memorial Library in Nova Scotia is holding its 4th annual Library Sleepover for families with children age 6 to 11.

"We encourage all families to read and learn together," says Eaton. "The 15 minutes or so that you take each day to read go a long way to preparing your child for the challenges ahead, and for a lifetime of reading enjoyment."

Fundamental to ABC CANADA Family Literacy Day's success is the financial contribution made by its Founding Sponsor, Honda Canada Inc.

ABC CANADA also acknowledges the generosity of numerous corporate and media supporters enabling, among other things, the distribution of materials and public service announcements that bring literacy and learning messages to millions of Canadian families.

For information on FLD events in your area - Check with your local library, school or literacy organization. There are also a number of events posted at www.abc-canada.org/fld.

---------------------------------------------------------------
ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation is the national charity committed to promoting family, adult and workplace literacy to the general public and to the private sector. ABC CANADA's focus is on public awareness programs, providing promotional support to local literacy groups, and conducting research to further the development of a fully literate Canadian population. For more information, visit www.abc-canada.org.

For further information: Media, please contact: Jim Pollock, Director of Communications, ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation: (416) 218-0010, ext. 126, or 1-800-303-1004, ext. 126, cell: (416) 524-8267, jpollock@abc-canada.org.

Ontario government press release ...

McGuinty Government To Make Major Investment In Youth Entrepreneurship

TORONTO, Jan. 19 - The Government of Ontario is providing over $1.5 million through the Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships initiative to foster a culture of entrepreneurship amongst Ontario's youth, Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Harinder S. Takhar announced today.

"Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships provides Ontario's young people with opportunities to develop the critical business and life skills that are so important to their future," said Takhar. "It's important that our young people learn these skills early in life, so they will be ready to lead our businesses on the world stage and drive Ontario's economy forward for years to come."

Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships provides grants to non-profit organizations for programs that promote the development of entrepreneurial skills in youths. Fourteen projects representing $1,597,000 in funding have been selected in the second round of proposals.

This second round of Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships represents the largest amount of grant funding provided to non-profit organizations. In June 2006, $673,000 was awarded to six successful associations in the first round of the Partnership project.

"It's a goal of our government to support the skilled young people of Ontario by providing them with opportunities to learn, grow and succeed," Takhar said. "An investment in our youth is an investment in an even better Ontario for the future."

For more information on the Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship's Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships and other youth programs, visit: http://www.sbe.gov.on.ca/ontcan/sbe/en/youth_main_en.jsp

Since 2003, investments in infrastructure, postsecondary education, research and innovation and key economic sectors have helped strengthen Ontario's economic foundations and continue to build opportunity.

www.sbe.gov.on.ca

Backgrounder
---------------------------------------------------------------

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES FUNDING TO SUPPORT YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships provides grants to non-profit organizations to run programs promoting the development of entrepreneurial skills in young people.

The primary goal of Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships is to influence the way Ontario youth think about entrepreneurship by:

• introducing enterprising principles to youth in school and in their early career
• creating excitement about entrepreneurship in all industry sectors - building a team of informal entrepreneurship ambassadors.

Through collaboration with key stakeholders and influencers including educators, community organizations, parents and private sector partners, programs will connect with diverse youth groups across Ontario.

Fourteen projects representing $1,597,000 in funding were announced on January 19, 2007, as the successful candidates of the second round. They are:

- East Central Ontario Training Board: Will receive funding over a three-year period to fund its "Community of Entrepreneurs" initiative. This project is a community-wide effort in support of rural and remote youth and students in Trans Hills, Havelock-Norwood and the North Kawartha region. It will provide young people with a range of entrepreneurial activities and resources, including camps, support services, and resource material.

- Heritage Skills Development Centre: MSBE will fund the centre to support its African-Canadian Youth Entrepreneurship project. Through educational and development opportunities, the project will facilitate the development of an enterprising culture among 150 marginalized African-Canadian youth in Scarborough.

- Enterprise Centre Sault Ste. Marie: MSBE will support the Entreprise Centre's production of Youth Initiatives DVD and Youth Network. The promotional DVD and web content will highlight programs and services related to youth entrepreneurship.

- The Learning Partnership: Will be provided funding over a three-year term to support the Province-wide expansion of the Entrepreneurial Adventure Program. This initiative aims to expand the existing program by developing a bilingual Entrepreneurial Adventure resource kit.

- Community Opportunity and Innovation Network Inc. (COIN): MSBE will grant funds over a three-year span in support of Peterborough's Rural Youth Entrepreneurship Program. The program will deliver COIN's Team Entrepreneurship training curriculum to 30 young people per year, assist with business plan development and provide support to post-secondary students to help create businesses.

- Youth in Motion: MSBE will support Youth in Motion to aid in the launch of its Freedom, Flexibility and Financial Rewards:
Entrepreneurship Has It All program. Youth in Motion will host two, one-day interactive learning courses in Toronto for 500 grades 7-10 students and 100 at-risk youth to promote entrepreneurship.

- Employment & Resource Services of Georgian Bay Area: MSBE will fund Employment & Resource Services of Georgian Bay Area over three-years to support its Tracks to Business program. This program will engage rural youth in the Collingwood area by exploring entrepreneurial concepts and helping to grow their own businesses through the creation of a "storefront" operation.

- Impact: The group was funded to aid the launch of its Impact Leadership Conference. The conference will be held in Toronto on November 17, 18 and 19. Three hundred students from across Ontario are expected to attend.

- Nbisiing Secondary School: MSBE will support the Nbisiing Secondary School "Company" Program. The program will facilitate the development of an enterprising spirit among Aboriginal youth in Nipissing and the surrounding Aboriginal communities by giving them a series of educational and entrepreneurial opportunities involving elders. The program will be offered in both the English and Ojibwe languages.

- The Business Centre - Nipissing Parry Sound: MSBE will provide the centre with a grant, spread out over a three-year span, to support its Business Centre in a Box initiative. The initiative will include a comprehensive toolkit, DVD, lesson plans and an interactive website to encourage youth to pursue entrepreneurship as a career. It will be distributed to grade 12 secondary school business class teachers in the Nipissing and Parry Sound area.

- Centre des jeunes francophones de Toronto: MSBE will grant funding over three years to support Ouvrir les portes de l'entrepreneuriat aux minorites ethnoculturelles. Through workshops, seminars and mentoring in the Greater Toronto Area, this French-language program will assist racial minority and ethnocultural francophone youths in the business planning process.

- Junior Achievement of Central Ontario: Will receive support for the expansion of the JA Titan project. This project develops students' entrepreneurial and leadership skills through interactive learning opportunities and web-based simulations. Students will work in teams to compete as companies in a fictitious market. In the first year of operation more than 100 JA Titan projects were launched in high schools across Ontario.

- Conseil de la Cooperation de l'Ontario: MSBE will fund the Conseil de la Cooperation de l'Ontario over three years to support the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Cooperatives. This French language program targets post-secondary youth, ages 18-29, across the province and encourages them to start their own cooperatives through a three-staged approach.

- Le Cle d'la Baie: MSBE will provide funding over a two-year period to aid the Programme partenariat jeunesse. This program will prepare rural francophone youths in Simcoe County for careers as entrepreneurs through workshops, training and mentoring sessions. The program will also help young Ontarians launch their own businesses under the guidance of their mentors.

Non-profit organizations interested in learning more about the Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships initiative should visit the website at: http://www.sbe.gov.on.ca/ontcan/sbe/en/youth_main_en.jsp