JA Alumni in the News: Turning Point
December 17, 2025 Saskatchewan What started as an In-School JA Company Program experience in 2021 has now developed into an apparel business in Regina, SK: Turning Point. The business stays close to it’s mission and donates 20% of their profits to support to mental health and suicide prevention by supporting the You Matter Foundation. In November, Logan Curle & Tayson Smith were featured in a CTV segment to share more about Turning Point. This was a great opportunity to feature the business, where it began and where it is going. Logan Curle was also the recipient of the 2022 JA Future Leaders Scholarship referencing his experiences with through JA and the JA Company Program and the early days of his involvement with Turning Point. CTV Media Segment Watch CTV Segment Learn About Turning Point Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Z Zurich Foundation and JA Commit to Youth Mental Well-Being and Resilience
February 20, 2026 National Our partnership promotes mental wellbeing and resilience in JA’s program suite to positively impact of 355,000 young people in the next three years. Expanding Our Commitment: Looking Ahead to Part II Empowering the Next Generation: Wrapping Up Phase I Love0 Share Share Share Pin
JA Canada Participates in Trades Summit in Northwest Territories
We were deeply honoured to partner with Aurora College over the past two weeks to support 90 youth in the Northwest Territories as they explored pathways in the trades and learned about budgeting, entrepreneurship and career planning. Spending time in Fort Smith, NWT, allowed us to witness the strength of Indigenous communities, the beauty of the land, and the deep collaboration that truly reflects the meaning of community. Thank you to the people of Fort Smith for welcoming us and allowing JA to be part of the Trades Awareness Program. We were delighted to have students participate in the JA Be Entrepreneurial program and participate in a hands-on budgeting activity. Student Testimonials: I really liked how much variety there is in the program. Everyone was super nice. All in all, 11/10 experience! I want to be a clothing designer because I have been making clothes out of scraps since I was younger. I t brings me joy knowing I’m able to make something out of nothing with a piece of fabric. I liked learning new trades that I haven’t done yet and don’t know. Love0 Share Share Share Pin
BMO and JA Launch National Partnership at Guiding the Future Event
Partnership Video Left to Right: Zabeen Hirji, Carolyn Booth, Rachel Bruce, Asheesh Advani,Mona Malone, Larissa Chaikowsky, Dusya Vera Read the Full Partnership Press Release On September 19th BMO hosted Guiding the Future which convened 300 individuals – BMO employees, community-based organizations, higher education partners, and members of the community – for an address by Junior Achievement Worldwide CEO, Asheesh Advani. The event also featured an engaging panel focused on youth future skills, and the importance of developing the next generation of leaders. Volunteer With JA Love0 Share Share Share Pin
The Summer We Watched Possibility Turn Into Proof
There’s a moment in every good story when the work stops being practice and starts being real. For students this summer, that moment looked like sticky fingers, a half-straightened label, and a customer who smiled at the very first bite. On a Wednesday that smelled faintly of printer ink and strawberries, a circle of teenagers leaned over jars and sketches, debating fonts and colours with the seriousness of seasoned entrepreneurs. “Bolder font.” “Cleaner.” “Does this feel like us?” What began as an idea on paper had become something you could hold, taste, and share, a business with a name, a product, and a story of its own. They called it Strawbuddies, a name born from a dozen discarded ideas and one shared belief: we can do this. Not in theory. Not someday. NOW. This was the heartbeat of a BIPOC JA Company Program, a space intentionally built so young people who have been told “wait your turn” more times than they can count could build, sell and learn right now. With mentors like Sarah Lane and Ally Pyle asking sharper questions instead of giving easy answers, the students learned that business is less about having the perfect plan and more about listening, iterating, and showing up. The McCall MacBain Foundation made sure the lights were on, the doors were open, and the tools were there. The students did the rest. And it wasn’t just a classroom that changed this summer. Down the highway in Port Hope, conversations turned into commitments. At Trade Tech Industries, our President & CEO, John McNutt, stood beside Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development, David Piccini (also MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South), to talk investment in skills and about the future of Ontario’s workforce. The conversation was practical in the best way: how do we get more young people into the pipeline: skilled, confident, and hungry to learn? What do employers need? What tools do young people need? Where do employers have openings? And how do we stitch those two maps together? Then came Avery Pick’s story, a JA student from Flexjet, a small, clear example of what happens when opportunities meet preparation and how a program cracked open a door. She didn’t speak from a script; she spoke from a place that said, “This program changed the way I see what I can do.” That line landed in a room full of policymakers and employers in a way that budgets never could. Back in the JA Company Program, the team was learning a quieter lesson: entrepreneurship isn’t a sprint to a finish line; it’s a conversation with your community. Strawbuddies wasn’t just delicious, it was local, theirs, and surprisingly sophisticated for a first product because the students made it that way. They learned that pricing is a story, packaging is trust, and a good debrief after a bad sales day is the difference between stuck and stronger. When the Rossy Foundation, in celebration of Dollarama’s 30+ years serving Canadians, stepped in to support JA’s signature JA Company Program, it clicked into place. This is how change scales: one partner steadies the ladder while another holds the blueprint, and the students climb. If you pull the camera back, the picture is simple and stunning: A jar of jam that began as a half-sketched idea and now sits in someone’s kitchen, proof that youth can ship real things. The roundtable and sight tour in Port Hope, where industry and education agree that opportunity isn’t accidental; it’s designed. And finally, a student story that reminds us investment isn’t measured only in dollars, it’s measured in direction. Through it all is a throughline of leadership you almost don’t notice until you do, the steady, student-first focus of John McNutt. No fanfare, just the same question asked in different rooms: What would it take for this young person to thrive? Ask that enough times, and you get summers like this one. So yes, we taught budgeting and marketing. We practised pitching and customer engagement. We checked all the boxes that look good in a report. But the real outcome is harder to graph and easier to feel: Confidence. The kind that turns “maybe” into “I’ll try,” and “I’ll try” into “I did.” It’s students learning to speak up in a meeting, to balance a budget, to take a risk and survive it. It’s a bedtime conversation about price points and packaging that would have sounded impossible before. The moment a student stops waiting to be chosen and starts choosing themselves. If you read one line and take it with you, let it be this: when communities, mentors, funders, and leaders ask the same question: How do we help young peoplethrive? The answer is not a single program. It’s a network of small, stubborn acts that, together, change trajectories. We’re not done. Strawbuddies is Chapter One. The roundtable in Port Hope is a bridge. The support from our partners is fuel. And the next student who walks into a JA room will find not just a lesson, but a launchpad. We’re building more of them. Want to help write Chapter Two? Mentor, host, invest, or simply come listen. Stop by and ask a student what they’re working on. They’ll light up. You will, too. From ideas to impact, from “maybe” to “we did it”, that was the story of our summer. And if the students have anything to say about it, it’s only Chapter One. Love0 Share Share Share Pin
2025 National Scholarship Recipient
We’re delighted to share JA Canada’s national scholarship winner. This year, the Seymour Schulich Entrepreneurship Scholarship was available to graduating students who participated in the JA Company Program (with one of the 14 local offices across Canada). As part of the application process, participants developed a personal reflection about their JA experience and how they’re now better equipped with new skills to help them in their future. The 2025 Scholarship Recipient is Chris Tao from JA South Western Ontario. Congratulations! Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Press Release: JA Canada and Enterprise Mobility™ Join Forces to Build the Road Forward for Canadian Youth
April 01, 2025 National TORONTO, April 1, 2025 /CNW/ – Enterprise Mobility has selected Junior Achievement Canada (JA Canada) as a key partner of the ROAD Forward initiative, helping fuel programs and strategic initiatives that are preparing youth for post-secondary education and the future of work. Launched in 2020, Enterprise Mobility’s ROAD Forward initiative supports organizations advancing social equity in three key areas: early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation. “The ROAD Forward initiative was designed to help open doors for youth who are disproportionately affected by lack of access to resources in the areas of education, career preparation, health and wellness,” said Earl Jackson, Enterprise Mobility assistant vice president of strategic diversity initiatives. “ROAD Forward grants support outstanding organizations that are leading efforts to advance equity in our communities across North American and Europe – and we are thrilled JA Canada has joined us as key partner in this work.” Through 2030, the ROAD Forward investment will directly support 75,000 student learning experiences, fueling program enablement and delivery of highest in-demand career readiness, entrepreneurship, post-secondary preparation, and youth well-being programs and events in all provinces across Canada. “Building on the longstanding engagement of Enterprise Mobility in Western Canada this new national partnership is a game-changer for JA Canada as we work toward our strategic goal of delivering 1 million student learning experiences annually in the coming years,” said Scott Hillier, President & CEO of JA Canada. “With Enterprise Mobility’s investment, we are strengthening our ability to support students and scale delivery of high-impact programs that equip them with the skillset and mindset to thrive in the ever changing economy,” said Hillier. This partnership will support three suites of JA programs: self-directed and digital learning opportunities; classroom-based program delivery; and intensive experiential learning through after-school programs and events including JA Company Program. Students will develop transferable skills, explore academic pathways and benefit from direct access to career mentorship, practical experience, and industry expertise. Enterprise Mobility team members across Canada will join as JA volunteers, sharing insights and guidance to empower the next generation. “I have personally supported JA British Columbia, a part of JA Canada, for many years in various roles and have witnessed the profound impact JA programs have in empowering youth to cultivate essential skills for success,” said Troy Klemo, Enterprise Mobility vice president and general manager in Canada. “JA Canada is an ideal partner to help advance our efforts to bridge equity gaps and support the next generation of leaders in Canada.” The support of Enterprise Mobility will also drive several key strategic initiatives− ensuring JA programs remain relevant by supporting program renewal, innovation and ongoing EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) best practices; expanding career readiness programming into new regions, including the Northern Territories broadening access to self-directed learning for underserved communities; as well as developing the foundations of JA’s alumni engagement strategy, fostering lifelong connections with Junior Achievers. JA Canada is thrilled to build the road forward along Enterprise Mobility and creating pathways to success for tens of thousands of young Canadians. Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Empowering the Next Generation: Preparing youth for careers in the trades
November 14, 2024 National JA Canada is proud to celebrate the success of the 2023-2024 World of Choices Skilled Trades Summits, an innovative initiative aimed at inspiring youth to explore rewarding careers in skilled trades. As the need for trade professionals continues to grow across Canada, these summits provide students with the tools, knowledge, and hands-on experiences to navigate potential career paths in this vital sector. Read more about Mark Beckles’ insights here. We’re grateful to RBC Future Launch for their support in fueling skilled trades education, helping embed these programs in the fabric of JA’s career readiness offering. And we are immensely appreciative of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) for their invaluable contributions as Summit Hosts and resource contributors for the JA Career Exploration Centre. Skilled Trades Summits The summits provided a space for students to get exposed to: Industry panels led by electricians, mechanics, carpenters, and other skilled trades professionals, including women and BIPOC leaders, who shared their career journeys and offered advice from a range of personal perspectives. Interactive transferrable skills workshops helping students identify and build essential career skills: communication, problem solving, adaptability, creativity & innovation, collaboration, among others. Live demonstrations and hands-on sessions where students could explore the tools, technologies, and techniques used in various trades, igniting curiosity and sparking new interests. Networking opportunities where students connected directly with industry experts, learning about apprenticeship programs, certifications, academic pathways, and employment opportunities. Supporting Canada’s Workforce of the Future The World of Choices Skilled Trades Summits directly align with Canada’s growing demand for skilled trade professionals. By providing young people with the guidance and resources to explore these paths, JA Canada is helping to ensure a strong, diverse, and skilled workforce for the future. As we look ahead, JA Canada is excited to expand the reach of these summits, with plans to bring the program to even more communities in the coming year, helping youth across the country unlock new career possibilities in skilled trades. And now, students can learn about skilled trades careers on their own or as a class through the JA virtual Career Exploration Center. JA Local Offices Shared Successes of the Trades Summits Contact your local JA office to learn about how you can participate in Skilled Trades Summits and World of Choices this year! Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Preparing Youth for their Careers: World of Choices
October 30, 2024 National JA Canada is excited to celebrate the success of our flagship work readiness program: World of Choices. Through this initiative, we’re empowering youth to explore diverse career opportunities and make informed decisions about their future. Through a series of interactive panels, workshops, career mentor sessions, career fairs, and networking sessions, students connected with industry professionals from a wide range of sectors, gaining valuable insight into the skills and pathways needed to succeed in today’s evolving job market. These events featured: Plenary Sessions and Panels: Students heard firsthand from industry leaders in various fields like healthcare, finance, technology, skilled trades, and the arts. These professionals shared their personal career journeys, discussed challenges and rewards in their fields, and answered students’ questions. Career Mentor Sessions: Students connect directly with seasoned professionals in intimate, small group mentoring sessions. They had the chance to ask questions, seek advice, and gain firsthand knowledge from subject matter experts. Career Fair & Networking Opportunities: Youth explored a diverse range of career options during interactive career fairs while also building valuable connections with mentors and peers. Empowering Youth for the Future The impact of World of Choices events has been profound, with students from across Canada reporting a deeper understanding of the career options available to them and the skills required to pursue those careers. In 2023-2024. Making a Lasting Impact As JA Canada continues to bridge the gap between education and the workforce, World of Choice has proven to be a transformative experience for students, particularly those from underserved and equity-seeking communities. By introducing them to a variety of industries and empowering them with the confidence to pursue their dreams, these events help build a more inclusive and prepared future workforce. As we move forward, JA Canada is excited to continue expanding World of Choices events, ensuring that even more students across the country are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to navigate their future careers successfully. Contact your local JA office to learn more about the World of Choices events in 2024-2025 and how they are preparing youth for success in the workforce. Love0 Share Share Share Pin
A World of Choices – Preparing Young People for the Future of Work
September 04, 2024 National Interview With Mark Beckles – Vice President, Social Impact and Innovation At RBC RBC and RBC Foundation have been long-time partners of JA in Canada, supporting the development and scaling of career readiness programs aimed at equipping youth for the future of work. RBC’s partnership has specifically enabled JA Canada to focus on the trades. In the Spring of 2024, The Globe and Mail interviewed Mark Beckles, Vice President, Social Impact and Innovation at RBC to learn more about the partnership. Read on for the interview to learn how together we are empowering youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in their careers through World of Choices and Skilled Trades Summits. What are the mandate and goals of RBC Future Launch? The goal of RBC Future Launch is to prepare young people for the future of work and specifically the jobs of tomorrow. That stems from the fact that we recognize Canada’s economic prosperity and future is directly linked to the extent to which we can prepare young people to succeed in an ever-changing global economy. We recognize when young people succeed, Canada succeeds; and that by investing in young people and equipping them with skills for a thriving future, we can ensure Canada’s economic prosperity. For the past decade, Canada’s GDP growth has trailed its G7 competitors due in part to the mismatch between the skills young people are graduating with from college and universities and the kinds of skills and experiences needed to super-charge our key productive sectors. By ensuring that young people have access to those skills and opportunities and know where they are, they can transition from school to work and find meaningful employment in the process, and if we do this well, we will have empowered Canadian youth in the way in which we intend. How does the World of Choices Program suite align with RBC Future Launch? RBC Future Launch is focused on three priority pillars. The first pillar is skills development. The notion of skills development and helping young people gain relevant skills, knowledge and credentials to better position themselves for the future really aligns to the World of Choices program and is core to what RBC Future Launch is all about. The second is networking and helping young people to connect with the right relationships, mentors and resources to grow and sustain their network. And the third is practical work experience and helping young people understand different job experiences and build opportunities to showcase their own talent. When you think of networking skills and practical experience that really aligns well to JA Canada’s World of Choices program. Why has RBC put an emphasis on skilled trades? Why now? There is a lack of understanding and awareness of the role that skilled trades play in helping to fuel Canada’s economic prosperity and moreover, there is a lack of education and exposure to what those opportunities look like. There is a real deficit in terms of the number of skilled tradespeople that are able to help advance and drive competitiveness in the Canadian economy. When you break it down by demographic; in addition to there being a lack of skills trades professionals across the country, there’s also under representation in terms of BIPOC youth and women, in particular. Then you add the intersection of green skills and skills trades and as we move toward a greener economy, we acknowledge that skills trades professionals need to develop new skills as you think about creating infrastructure to support electric vehicles or retrofits for homes that are trying to green their environments. Those are some of the reasons why we’re emphasizing skills trades and why we’re doing it now. What impact are you seeing as a result of these programs? We are proud of the outcomes that we hear directly from the program participants. When you hear directly from the program beneficiaries that they found value in the learning opportunity, that’s when you know that the partnership is working well. Particularly among diverse youth and women, hearing them talk about actively considering a career in skills trades to secure Canada’s future prosperity is really powerful. And it’s all the more inspiring when they tell us that through practical work experience, they’ve been able to transition into the trades whether now apprenticing or taking a college program in plumbing, electrical, or carpentry. These examples of people pursuing the skilled trades with a sense of pride and intentionality, and who are making a really good living demonstrate that we are contending with the stigma around skills trades, and changing the perspective of how skilled trades are perceived. What are RBC Foundation’s hopes for youth? RBC’s new Purpose Framework defines the societal challenges that RBC Foundation wants to help address. With a rapidly changing workforce, we will help equip people with skills for a thriving future. We want to ensure that youth feel more empowered for the jobs of tomorrow and support them as they access jobs that secure them financially, secure their families financially and secure their communities financially. When surveyed, nearly 80 per cent of young people ages 18 – 29 told us that they felt better prepared for the future of work. Outcomes from the World of Choices program contributed significantly to that state of preparedness. That’s how we know that these programs are working and having the desired outcomes. The World of Choices program supports general career exploration and provides the ability to scale programs that are focused on the skilled trades and allows young people to attend summits or learn through the online skills trades content center. It is phenomenal what this program delivers and that it is having the impact that we believe aligns to the larger goal of preparing young people for the future of work. Congratulations to JA for standing up this impactful program! Love0 Share Share Share Pin