Press Release: Corporate Canada shows unprecedented support for the Canadian Business Hall of Fame
April 16, 2025 National TORONTO, April 16, 2025 /CNW/ – At this pivotal time for our nation’s economy, Canadian companies and organizations are demonstrating unprecedented support for the Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF) annual celebration of business leadership. “The incredible roster of globally recognized brand corporations, foundations, education institutions who have pledged support is a testament to the mobilization and investment of the Canadian business community,” said Jim Leech, Chancellor Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Among those who have pledged support for the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in recognizing outstanding and inspiring business leaders are: Goodmans LLP, Peter and Joanne Brown Foundation, Beedie, Kilmer Group, Scotiabank, Franco-Nevada, Rio Tinto, National Bank Financial, RBC, NHL, The Globe & Mail, MLSE, Barclays, Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, Korn Ferry, Deloitte, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited, OMERS, RioCan REIT, CGI, CIBC, Canaccord Genuity, TD Bank, Teck, Avanade, University of Utah, PwC, Maple Leaf Foods, Air Canada, TorQuest Partners, Colliers, TMX Group, Irving Oil, Cogeco The Fund, Southdown Builders Limited, Lafarge Canada, Porter Airlines, University of Toronto, KPMG, University of Utah. The Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF) proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of leaders for their transformative contributions to Canada’s prosperity and business landscape, with proceeds of the event fueling JA’s mission to empower tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and innovators. The CBHF stands as a beacon of Canada’s economic development and prosperity. Strengthening Canada today transcends mere patriotism—it’s representing a commitment to investing in our communities and a dedication to building a more promising future. The Induction Celebration carries exceptional significance as it unites influential Canadian leaders and committed sponsors in empowering our nation’s youth and inspiring the visionaries who will lead tomorrow’s Canada. Honouring Visionary Leaders On May 22nd in Toronto, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame will induct the 46th class of Companions to the order of the Business Hall of Fame. The honourees have roots in critical industries including financial services, sports, manufacturing, equity & investment, natural resources, property development, construction trades, entrepreneurship, and academia. The 2025 honourees: Ryan Beedie, O.B.C., President, Beedie; Jacynthe Côté, F. ICD, Chair of the Board, RBC; Pierre Lassonde, O.C., GOQ, Chairman Emeritus, Franco-Nevada Corporation; Larry Tanenbaum, O.C., Hon LLD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kilmer Group of Companies. “These individuals who represent the very best in Canadian enterprise, leadership, and significant philanthropic impact,” said Scott Hillier, JA Canada CEO, “Their achievements and community contributions reflect the diverse backbone of the Canadian economy and serve as role models for the next generation,” said Hillier. Supporting Canada’s Future EntrepreneursThe Canadian Business Hall of Fame is the signature fundraising event for Junior Achievement of Canada (JA Canada) and stands as a powerful call to action. Proceeds from this year’s event will support JA’s flagship Company Program, which equips youth with the skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset to succeed in today’s business world. JA is renewing its program curriculum to meet the needs of Canada and scaling this internationally recognized program.“Our ambition is to empower more than 1 million Canadian youth annually, fueling the future pipeline of Canadian business leadership”, said Hillier. Join Us in Celebrating Canadian ExcellenceThe 2025 CBHF Induction Ceremony and Celebration will take place on May 22, 2025, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Featuring special guest, Heather Hiscox, Senior Host, CBC News Network.Ensure your organization is part of this national celebration of Canadian impact, innovation, and leadership. Sponsorship opportunities, tables and tickets remain available on a first-come, first-served basis for this exclusive event through May 1st, 2025. For more information, please visit cbhf.ca/participate.“At a time when supporting Canadian businesses is more important than ever, we invite organizations across the country to join the celebration of business leadership, knowing that your sponsorship will empower the next generation of business leaders made for Canada,” said Gary Kalaci, JA Canada Board Chair. View Full Press Release 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
Introducing the Alumni Excellence Award to Celebrate 40 Years of Entrepreneurship and Community Leadership on PEI
February 26, 2025 Prince Edward Island Junior Achievement Prince Edward Island (JA PEI) is proud to announce the launch of its Alumni Excellence Award, commemorating 40 years of fostering entrepreneurship and business leadership across the Island. This award recognizes outstanding JA PEI alums and represents a milestone in JA’s commitment to fostering business leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. The successful candidate will embody the following values: Embraces the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Serves as an inspiring role model for future entrepreneurs and Island youth Ability to overcome challenges, commitment to continuous learning, potential for future growth, and positive influence on PEI’s Business Landscape Approaches work with passion, honesty, integrity, and excellence Committed to the betterment of PEI and the communities they serve Anyone, including oneself, can submit a nomination for the JA Alumni Excellence Award. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 4:00 PM via the nomination form. The successful recipient will be selected by the JA PEI Board of Directors and honoured at the JA PEI Business Hall of Fame Gala on Thursday, May 22, 2025. Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Press Release: JA Canada and RBC Collaborate to Empower Youth with the Skills for a Thriving Future
January 23, 2025 National World of Choices Skilled Trades Summit Photo Credit: Garcia Creative (CNW Group/JA Canada) TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2025 /CNW/ – JA Canada is proud to announce the renewal of its collaboration with RBC, reaffirming a shared commitment to equipping youth across Canada with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to thrive in an ever-changing global economy. This long-standing collaboration focuses on career readiness programs, with a particular emphasis on empowering young Canadians to explore skilled trades and emerging job opportunities. Through RBC’s continued support, JA Canada has been able to scale its World of Choices program, providing youth with invaluable opportunities to explore diverse career pathways. Interactive panels, workshops, mentorship sessions, and career fairs allow students to connect with industry professionals from a variety of sectors, offering firsthand insight into the skills and educational pathways needed to succeed in today’s job market. “RBC is committed to strengthening the workforce of tomorrow by supporting projects that focus on equipping youth with the skills needed for a thriving future,” said Gayle Corcoran, Sr. Director, Social Impact, RBC. “That is why we are proud to collaborate with JA Canada to help unlock the potential of the next generation by providing youth with the opportunities and programming needed to kickstart their careers with confidence.” The renewed collaboration also highlights RBC’s focus on fostering opportunities within the skilled trades, a critical area for Canada’s workforce development. As the National Community Partner of the World of Choices Skilled Trades Summits, RBC is supporting an innovative initiative aimed at inspiring young people to explore rewarding careers in skilled trades. As the need for trade professionals continues to grow across Canada – 700,000 of Skilled Trade Workers to retire by 2028 – these summits provide students with the tools, knowledge, and hands-on experiences to navigate potential career paths in this vital sector. These summits, delivered in partnership with Colleges & Institutes of Canada, will involve hosting more than twenty events each year across every province and reaching the Territories. Additionally, RBC is a National Supporting Partner of the JA Career Exploration Centre, an open-access virtual platform designed to support self-guided learning and exploration. Aimed at youth aged 13-18, the centre offers a range of learning resources focused on trends and emerging opportunities in the workforce. By engaging with these tools, students can make better-informed decisions about their future career choices. “JA Canada is excited to announce the renewal of our longstanding partnership with RBC,” said Scott Hillier, CEO of JA Canada. “This renewal strengthens our shared mission to prepare the next generation for an evolving workforce. RBC’s continued support allows us to enhance and expand our career readiness programs, providing youth with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the future of work.” Through this collaboration, we expect to reach over 24,000 direct beneficiaries across our series of initiatives. Together, JA Canada and RBC are creating opportunities for thousands of students annually, building a stronger, more resilient workforce, and preparing the next generation to seize their potential. View Full Press Release Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Press Release: JA Canada, Coke Canada Bottling and the Coca-Cola Company Partner to Advance Youth Employability in Canada
January 30, 2025 National TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2025 /CNW/ – Junior Achievement Canada (JA Canada) together with Coke Canada Bottling and The Coca-Cola Company are proud to announce a new partnership offering skills, experiences, and support to help Canadian youth overcome barriers to employment. In May 2024, Statistics Canada reported an approximate 30 per cent increase in unemployability rate among youth ages 15-24, a reality attributed to increased competition for less jobs and lack of experience. The initial findings from the RBC Young People and Economic Inclusion Longitudinal Study highlight the shortage of work-integrated learning opportunities for youth, which would inherently allow them to integrate in the workforce more successfully. Recent studies, highlighted by The Conversation, show that mentorship has the potential to improving social and economic outcomes for underserved youth. Moreover, a study by Être, indicates mentorship boosts confidence among teenage girls. Through this new partnership, Coke Canada Bottling employees will engage in career mentorship sessions with youth aged 14 and up across the country, sharing their personal knowledge about what it takes to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving job market. These sessions will take place through JA’s World of Choices events and a new program, called Pouring Potential: A JA Job Shadow Experience at Coke Canada, being piloted at select Coke Canada facilities and designed to provide opportunities for their manufacturing, distribution, merchandising, and warehouse employees to participate. World of Choices, JA Canada’s flagship work readiness program, is an interactive initiative designed to annually equip over 7500 high school students, with essential skills and knowledge to prepare them for future career success. Over 30 per cent of participants come from underrepresented and underserved communities. Pouring Potential: A JA Job Shadow Experience at Coke Canada offers youth with a unique job shadowing experience. These custom-designed events at select local Coke Canada facilities offer students an immersive opportunity to gain insights into the industry, develop career skills, and learn directly from professionals in the field. Both programs have been designed to shape the next generation’s career journeys, helping them realize their full potential and contribute to making a positive impact in local communities. Quotes from Leadership “We are thrilled to partner with Coke Canada to support the next generation of Canadian leaders,” said Scott Hillier CEO of JA Canada. “Together, we are creating meaningful opportunities that empower our young people to develop the skills they need to thrive in their careers, aiding to a stronger and more resilient workforce.” “We have a role to play in helping Canada’s youth be better enabled to gain employment through career mentorship, skill building, and work readiness. This new partnership allows our employees to share their unique work experiences and the skills necessary for their career success. We are excited to see this partnership come to life with our teams coast-to-coast.” – Todd Parsons, CEO, Coke Canada Bottling View Full Press Release Love0 Share Share Share Pin
The Canadian Business Hall of Fame and Junior Achievement of Canada Announce the 2025 Inductees to the Order of the Business Hall of Fame
December 10, 2024 National Ryan Beedie, Jacynthe Côté, Pierre Lassonde and Larry Tanenbaum will be honoured with induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, May 22, 2025. TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2024 /CNW/ – Each year, The Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF) honours and celebrates the achievements and contributions of Canada’s business leaders for their vision, leadership, national and global economic impact, community engagement and philanthropy. Today, the CBHF is pleased to announce its 2025 Inductees to the Order of the Business Hall of Fame: Ryan Beedie, O.B.C., President, Beedie Jacynthe Côté, F. ICD, Chair of the Board, RBC Pierre Lassonde, O.C., GOQ, Chairman Emeritus, Franco-Nevada Corporation Larry Tanenbaum, O.C., Hon LLD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kilmer Group of Companies These distinguished Canadians will be formally inducted at the 2025 Canadian Business Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Celebration at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on May 22, 2025. “As Chancellor of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, it is my pleasure to congratulate Ryan Beedie, Jacynthe Côté, Pierre Lassonde and Larry Tanenbaum,” said Jim Leech. “We celebrate these industry titans for their business achievements, philanthropic impact and visionary leadership, and for serving as role models. Larry, Pierre, Jacynthe and Ryan inspire us!” The Canadian Business Hall of Fame was established in 1979 to recognize business leaders for their contributions to the economic development and prosperity of Canada. Each year, nominees are reviewed and chosen by an independent selection committee convened by Korn Ferry, the official CBHF Selection Partner. The annual CBHF Induction Ceremony and Celebration is the signature fundraising event for Junior Achievement of Canada (JA Canada). Proceeds support JA Canada’s mission to develop and deliver financial health, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs that equipping youth with the skills and mindset for success. “At Junior Achievement Canada, we are thankful to the Companions of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame who serve as role models to the next generation of ambitious young Canadian entrepreneurs, innovators and leaders” said Scott Hillier, CEO JA Canada. “Our 2025 Inductees join an exceptional group of individuals who have made a significant impact on Canadian economy.” JA welcomes members of the business community and leaders from across the country to the CBHF Induction Ceremony and Celebration event in May. Sponsorship, tickets and the opportunity to donate in honour of the Inductees are now available. For more information regarding sponsorship and participation opportunities, please visit www.cbhf.ca or contact info@cbhf.ca. About The Canadian Business Hall of Fame (CBHF) The Canadian Business Hall of Fame celebrates outstanding achievements of Canada’s most distinguished business leaders. Since 1979, more than 200 business leaders have been inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. Celebrating the leaders of today and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow, the CBHF Induction Ceremony and Celebration is the signature national fundraising event in support of JA Canada. For more information, please visit www.cbhf.ca. View Full Press Release 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
Teacher Spotlight: JA in Saskatchewan
July 31, 2024 National Learn More About Margot Arnold Through This Interview How long have you been incorporating JA Company Program into your classroom? I have been teaching for 23 years at the end of June 2024. I have taught Entrepreneurship since 2002 and incorporated the Junior Achievement Program into my Ent. 30 class since 2014. A former Entrepreneurship teacher then working for the Ministry of Education, arranged a meeting with me to discuss this option. I have never gone back to textbook and assignment/project base. The hands-on, real-life experience provides an invaluable experience for the students. How may JA Company Program teams have you supported/mentored over the years? I have supported/mentored 25 Junior Achievement companies–this semester is my last and 25th company. What types of businesses have your students developed? Do you have any highlights that you can share? Students often ask me, which was your favorite? I reply all of them! The ideas for JA products have varied over the years and many were unique. JA SK has annual Business Hall of Fame Awards. Several of the JA companies listed below have won numerous awards including Product Design. What skills have you seen your students develop or further enhance by participating in JA Company Program? The skills the students have developed, enhanced, and acquired are dependent on what they put into the company. It is so rewarding to see the growth from the beginning of the semester until the end. What do you feel is the biggest takeaway students gain from the program? I believe one of the biggest takeaways for students is learning how to work respectively with everyone. The companies are comprised of such varying personalities, which may clash sometimes, and you have to learn to make it work. Also, students can easily see this program as one which so many life skills occur. Teamwork, Communication, Organization, Leadership are all areas where I have observed students grow from the beginning to the end of the semester. Do you have any students quotes you can share? “Thanks to Junior Achievement, I am currently planning to pursue a career in business after high school.” “The Junior Achievement Program has taught me hands-on what running a business is all about. It is a unique program that lets young adults experience more than just questions out of a textbook.” “The Junior Achievement Program was an incredible experience, and I learned more than I ever imagined about business and how to apply it to real-life.” “Junior Achievement gave me a real sense of business and responsibility.” “Junior Achievement gave me the confidence that I can be a business leader of tomorrow.” Do you have any words of wisdom to share with those who may be thinking of supporting JA Company Program in their classroom? I believe the Junior Achievement program is invaluable. It is a “real life” hands-on class where students repeatedly say it was their best class in high school. I encourage my students to not only make a PROFIT, but to make a DIFFERENCE! Ten percent of their company profits must be donated to a charity/non-profit of the company’s choice. To date, without the 25th company’s donation, the WCS Junior Achievement program has donated $17,625.47 back to charities and non-profits. A huge thank you to Margot for her time and dedication to the JA Company Program! Love0 Share Share Share Pin