Cape Breton University's In.Business program wraps first-ever territorial delivery

(Whitehorse, YT) – Cape Breton University’s Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies will bring this academic year’s mentoring program to a close for the Northern Region of In.Business.  This two-day closing conference for the Northern Region of In.Business is facilitated in partnership with Yukon College and includes students, mentors and peer mentors from Yukon, Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia. This conference is the last of a series of five regional face-to-face conferences where In.Business participants will celebrate a year of networking and learning focused on Aboriginal business.

“This is the first year that the In.Business Program was hosted in the Northern Region and I can already see the impact that it is having on our youth. The students are getting excited talking about their future educational prospects with their mentors, and the more they succeed in the In.Business program, the more confidence they build. These kids all have a bright future, they just need a few positive mentors giving them nudges in the right direction.” - Blair Hogan, In.Business Northern Regional Manager, CBU

From Friday, June 3 to Saturday, June 4, students and mentors will come together at the Canada Games Centre (day 1) and Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre (day 2) to celebrate and reflect upon their experiences during this year’s program. In.Business: A National Mentorship Program for Indigenous Youth teams Indigenous high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12 with Indigenous business mentors. These mentors are educated, working professionals who use their experience and background in business to lead students through a series of online “business challenges” throughout the year. These activities help students explore the various facets of business so they may make informed decisions about their future education and career plans.

The closing conference will include an introduction to Business Planning and Entrepreneurial Assessment workshop facilitated by däna Näye Ventures, and a team building exercise including a Nerf War / dodge ball with obstacles facilitated at the Canada Games Centre. The second day will include the presentation of the Annual Purdy Awards, which are voted on during the conference and recognize students for things like best Tweet, outstanding leadership and most enthusiastic participant, as well as group activities facilitated by the mentors.

This event will mark the official closing of the national In.Business program in Canada for the 2015-2016 year. A new group of students and mentors will be chosen for the 2016-2017 year this coming fall.

About the Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies’ In.Business Program
The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies was established at Cape Breton University in 2010 in response to Aboriginal community leaders’ desire to encourage entrepreneurship, business investment, and corporate skills training to create a model of self-reliance. The Chair promotes interest among Canada’s Aboriginal people in the study of business at the post-secondary level, while undertaking pure and applied research specific to Aboriginal Communities. Following the success of the Business Network for Aboriginal Youth – Nova Scotia pilot along with the $5 million in federal matching funds announced in 2012, the Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business studies has expanded the high school mentorship program nationally to include students all across Canada. Now fully operational in five regions of Canada, CBU has partnerships with Nipissing University in the Eastern Region, the University of Winnipeg in the Central Region, Vancouver Island University in the Pacific Region, and Yukon College in the Northern Region. In.Business includes students and mentors from every province and territory in Canada.

About Cape Breton University
Cape Breton University is one of Canada’s youngest and most ambitious universities with a comprehensive set of liberal arts, science and professional programs and a unique commitment to community, economic development, aboriginal learning and research into many aspects of environment and culture. Currently home to approximately 3300 students, CBU’s vision of higher education allows students to pursue diverse fields of study in programs with national reputations in final year student satisfaction, faculty-student interaction and employability. Cape Breton University delivers an authentic multicultural experience to all who become part of its academic community. Strong community involvement and a spirit of entrepreneurship enhance CBU’s position in post-secondary education.

Contact:
Lenore Parsley                                                                  Brian Smith
Manager, Communications & Media Relations                   National General Manager, In.Business
Cape Breton University                                                      Cape Breton University
t: (902) 563-1638                                                               c: (902) 574-0118
c: (902) 574-1299                                                              e: brian_smith@cbu.ca
e: lenore_parsley@cbu.ca