Media.Knet.Ca

Press release 

BDC announces the winners of the 2009 E-Spirit National Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition

KELOWNA, BC, May 15 - The winners of the ninth annual E-Spirit National Aboriginal Youth Business Plan Competition were revealed last night in Kelowna during a special awards gala ceremony. The event attracted over 160 Aboriginal students from across the country and was hosted by the University of British Columbia Okanagan.

Organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and aimed at Aboriginal students in grades 10 to 12, E-Spirit is an Internet-based business plan competition that features 16 weeks of interactive business planning resources, including online mentorship. E-Spirit also enables participants to meet and network with other students online and in person during the trade show, presentation rounds and gala awards. This year's event took place in Kelowna, British Columbia and involved 63 teams, 30 schools and 167 Aboriginal students from across Canada. An independent panel of experts judged group presentations and business displays that included laptop demonstrations, product samples, promotional videos, posters and 3D mock-ups.

"On behalf of our Government, I would like to congratulate all the winners of this competition for the exceptional drive, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit they have demonstrated," said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. "By investing in Aboriginal youth, we are proudly contributing to the development of our country's future business leaders and entrepreneurs."

"At BDC we know the commitment it takes to bring a business plan to completion," said Wilson Neapew, BDC National Director, Aboriginal Banking. "These young people understand the importance of taking their future into their hands and plan to launch their own business someday. We appreciated the quality of the projects submitted this year and we were impressed with the students' pledge to contribute to the well-being of their home communities."

E-Spirit 2009 winners

The Gold Award was presented to Saugeen District Secondary School in Port Elgin, Ontario. The students are Sammi Jo Thompson, Jodylee Johnston and Richelle Ritchie, coached by Adrian Kahgee. Their business project, "Living Earth Community Garden Center" is a community garden in the territory of Saugeen First Nation. "Living Earth" promotes cultural awareness of plants native to the area and their use by First Nation peoples since time immemorial. As a business that focuses on the natural world and the abundance provided from within, the winning team wants to help people find healthier alternative ways of living on Mother Earth and promote traditional Native ecological knowledge.

The Silver Award was presented to Grand Forks Secondary School in Grand Forks, British Columbia. The winning students Erika Williamson and Merissa Kelly were coached by Laura Matheson and Trevor Murdock. Their business concept, "The Creation Dance Studio," would offer Aboriginal dance classes to students of all ages. Instructors will focus on teaching jigging, pow-wow and other traditional dances of the Ktunaxa, Sinixt and Okanagan peoples. "Creation Dance Studio" aims to become a cultural, tradition-inspired business that connects to the Seven Sacred Teachings and is nourishing for Mother Earth and the human soul.

The Bronze Award went to the Kitigan Zibi Kikinamadinan School from Maniwaki, Québec. The winning students are Jerika Wawatie and Amy-Sue Jerome, coached by Amanda Buckshot. Their winning business idea, "Jerties Spa," would provide spa services to the population of Ottawa. With friendly and caring staff, "Jerties Spa" seeks to establish itself as a relaxing oasis in the middle of a commercial centre.

"E-Spirit exposes First Peoples youth to the current realities of the business world and encourages them to preserve our traditions and cultural values," said E-Spirit Elders Jules and Margaret Lavallee. "We were proud to see the students present their projects and benefit from a valuable real-life business experience."

Cash prizes were awarded to the three winning schools in the amount of $2,500 for Gold, $1,500 for Silver and $750 for Bronze. Twelve Special Achievement awards were also presented, as follows:

Most Original Name
Koo-kum's Catering, Gordon Bell High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Best Logo
Bear Claw Activity Center, Salmon Arm Secondary - Jackson Campus, British Columbia

Most Original Services
Mi'kmaw Community Heritage Site, Unama'ki High School, Eskasoni First Nation, Nova Scotia

Best Video
Tiiturvik Café, John Arnalukjuak High School, Arviat, Nunavut

Cultural Expression
Whispering Red Willow Funeral Home, Bonar Law Memorial School, Rexton, New Brunswick

Most Innovative Marketing
Slide 'N' Ride, Salmon Arm Secondary -Sullivan Campus, British Columbia

Best Use of Technology
Creation Dance Studio, Grand Forks Secondary School, British Columbia

Environmental Awareness
Living Earth Community Garden Center, Saugeen District Secondary School, Ontario

Best Team Spirit
Nish Tours Inc. Kitigan Zibi Kikinamadinan School, Maniwaki, Quebec

E-Spirit Ambassador
Ni'k3 (Now), Chief Allison M. Bernard Memorial School, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Best Tradeshow Display
Whacky Kart Way, Wasse Abin High School, Wikwemikong, Ontario

Best Presentation
Unama"kik Helping Hands, Wagmatcook School, Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia

The following schools attended the 2009 E-Spirit Business Plan Competition:

Alberta
Canmore Collegiate

British Columbia
Chase Secondary School
Clearwater Secondary School
Grand Forks Secondary School
J.V. Humphries (Kaslo)
North Peace Secondary School (Fort St. John)
Salmon Arm Secondary - Sullivan Campus and Jackson Campus
Stein Valley Nlakapamux School (Lytton)

Manitoba
Children of the Earth High School
Gordon Bell High School
St. John's High School (Winnipeg)
Margaret Barbour Collegiate Institute (The Pas)

New Brunswick
Bonar Law Memorial School (Rexton)
Southern Victoria High School (Perth-Andover)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Lake Melville School (North West River)

Nova Scotia
Chief Allison M. Bernard Memorial High School (Cape Breton)
Sydney Academy
Wagmatcook School
Unama'ki High School (Eskasoni First Nation)

Nunavut
John Arnalukjuak High School (Arviat)
Nuiyak School (Sanikiluaq)

Ontario
Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School (Thunder Bay)
Espanola High School
Saugeen District Secondary School (Port Elgin)
Wasse Abin High School (Wikwemikong)

Québec
Ecole Manikanetish (Sept-Iles)
Kitigan Zibi Kikinamadinan (Maniwaki)

Saskatchewan
Regina Christian School

Yukon
Del Van Gorder School (Faro)

About BDC Aboriginal Banking

The number of Aboriginal entrepreneurs in Canada has grown to over 27,000, representing a 30% increase from 1996 to 2001. This growth in self-employment is more than nine times the Canadian average. With this increased activity comes the need for a greater variety of consulting and financial services. BDC Aboriginal Banking consists of Aboriginal people who are aware of the specific needs of Aboriginal entrepreneurs, and play a leading role in the development and delivery of BDC's customized, long-term, and flexible solutions.

The E-Spirit program was developed by BDC and is supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

About BDC

BDC is Canada's business development bank. From 100 offices across the country, BDC promotes entrepreneurship by providing highly tailored financing, venture capital and consulting services to entrepreneurs. Visit www.bdc.ca for more information. For more information on E-Spirit, visit www.bdc.ca/espirit.

For further information: Maria Constantinescu, BDC Media Relations Coordinator, (514) 496-7146, maria.constantinescu@bdc.ca;. Johanne Bissonnette, BDC Media Relations Manager, (514) 283-7929, johanne.bissonnette@bdc.ca.