Staples Canada Manager Pasquale Coccimiglio
In Thunder Bay along with the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC), two will be held in Kingston and the other two will be in Barrie.
Staples had a draw for the Summer Company participants to award one of them with a $500 Staples gift certificate. Staples customers are also invited to take advantage of a 10 per cent discount during the event. The summer students had a coaching session with the Business Solutions Group to help them prepare their booths.
“We were excited when Staples approached us to host the event in their store,” said Stacia Kean, Small Business Development Officer ‐ Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC). “We couldn’t ask for a more perfect venue to display what these young enterprising students have to offer.”
“Entrepreneurial spirit is an important part of our business culture here at Staples, “said Pasquale Coccimiglio. “The Entrepreneur Centre shares our passion for building and cultivating entrepreneurship and preparing youth for a successful future while encouraging the importance of education.”
Stacia Kean – Thunder Bay and District Entrepreneur Centre
Each summer the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC) administers the Summer Company program which is an Ontario Government initiative for youth entrepreneurship and employment.
The program is designed to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in students 15 to 29 years of age who are returning to school in the fall. In place of a summer job, students have the opportunity to be their own boss.
Summer Company is a grant program funded by the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment through the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC). The program is designed to assist enterprising young people, between the ages of 15 and 29, start and run their own summer business while continuing their education.
Thunder Bay City Councillor Rebecca Johnson
“Summer Company offers students an opportunity to realize their vision,” said Rebecca Johnson, Acting City Mayor. “These exceptional students have taken on the task of getting a business up and running and to make it profitable within a few short months. The valuable business experience will last them a lifetime; they are our future entrepreneurs.”
Summer Company applicants can earn up to $1,500 to assist with their business start‐up costs and up to an additional $1,500 in the fall for completing the program. Each business owner is required to comply with provincial regulations for Small Business. Mentoring by the Thunder
Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC) is ongoing throughout the program.
More information about this program can be obtained at: www.ontario.ca/summercompany or by contacting the Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre (EC) by email at skean@thunderbay.ca or by telephone at 625-3960
