THUNDER BAY -- Students from across Northern Ontario had an opportunity to examine their entrepreneurial skills Wednesday and Thursday and gain a real-world business experience.
The fifth annual Enterprise Olympics featured high school students from across regions of Northern Ontario competing in a business contest, where they asked to collaborate and design a pitch to their peers at Confederation College.
All competing students have a chance to take home a $1000 scholarship to Northern Ontario post-secondary school of their choice.
“We have students from Thunder Bay, from the far north, from Kenora, and a bunch of different locations,” says Cindy Reasbeck, the program manager for Headstarter. “Our goal is to create a culture of entrepreneurship across Northern Ontario.”
Students are given one full day to create, develop, and pitch a business idea that is specific to the sector where their passions reside.
“I’ve been to the finals twice. I’ve lost in the finals twice. But I keep coming back because it’s a great experience,” said Westgate student Nolan Paxton.
Paxton has been attending the event for four straight years and says the experience gives him the tools he needs to try and one day became a teacher.
“I’ve learned a lot about public speaking, how to be confident, and how to present properly,” said Paxton. “Even in school, and university, you need to know how to present, so it’s a great skill to have.”
Even though the central theme of the event is entrepreneurship, six different sectors allowed students to branch out and apply different skills.
Briana Cameron is from Beaver Brae secondary school in Kenora, and has transferred from the sector of arts and culture to the sector of technology and innovation.
“This year we’re pitching a historical virtual reality,” says Cameron. “You’ll be able to feel how the war was like, and get choose your roles.”
“We think the sectors really give each student an opportunity to focus in on what they're passionate about and what their strengths are,” says Ashlee Gerard, a coordinator for Enterprise Olympics.
“We’re all about keeping people in the north, so we want to provide the [students] with the passion and confidence to take their ideas and make something of them.”
