Ontario Partnering with Local Universities and Colleges to Create Innovative Programs
Ontario is helping student entrepreneurs in Ottawa learn business skills, access mentorship opportunities and gain hands-on experience to start and grow a business.
The province is investing $2 million in the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Algonquin College to support their commitment to entrepreneurship through the $20 million Campus-Linked Accelerators (CLA) program. The CLA program builds on world-class innovation and entrepreneurial programs at campuses across the province.
The academic institutions have partnered to create the Capital Entrepreneurs Project, a venture to encourage and cultivate youth entrepreneurship. The program will work to make Ottawa the best place to start and grow a business through the development of a common brand, educational standards, enhanced outreach and continued support of youth-led companies.
It will support job creation and economic development opportunities by encouraging on-campus entrepreneurship and innovation, with strong ties to entrepreneurial mentors.
The CLA program is part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy and is being launched at universities and colleges across the province.
Supporting entrepreneurship — at any age — is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
QUOTES
“Helping young entrepreneurs is another example of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy at work in Ottawa and across the province. These programs will help harness their ideas, their vision and their enthusiasm and turn them into jobs for today and for tomorrow. Their innovative spirit will build Ontario’s future.”
— Reza Moridi, Minister of Research and Innovation
“We want to build the most entrepreneurial postsecondary system in North America. That’s why we’re pleased that academic institutions, like Algonquin College, University of Ottawa and Carlton University are working to make that happen through the Campus-Linked Accelerator program. They are helping nurture our business visionaries and igniting their entrepreneurial spirit, helping them to succeed and to expand our economy.”
— Bob Chiarelli, MPP, Ottawa West-Nepean
“Thanks to the partnership and collaboration of Carleton University, Algonquin College and the University of Ottawa, we are proudly making a $2 million investment in youth entrepreneurialism. Ottawa’s Campus Link Accelerator is an investment in the entrepreneurs of tomorrow and will help build a stronger local economy and work force.”
— Yasir Naqvi, MPP, Ottawa Centre
“Ontario has some of the best-educated, hardest-working and most creative young people anywhere. Increasing campus-linked entrepreneurship activities will help student transfer skills and knowledge from school to the marketplace. Helping these young people launch companies and find jobs is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan.”
— Madeleine Meilleur, MPP, Ottawa-Vanier
“Ontario Centres of Excellence is pleased to be able to deliver these projects as a trusted partner of the Government of Ontario. I look forward to putting our years of experience in connecting academia and industry, and our on-going support of young entrepreneurs in Ontario to good use in making these initiatives a tremendous success.”
— Dr. Tom Corr, President and CEO of Ontario Centres of Excellence
“Through the Capital Entrepreneurs program, we can engage more students and youth in hands-on entrepreneurial opportunities. Algonquin is proud of the way we open our doors to the Ottawa community, and we thank the government for supporting our efforts. We look forward to working with Carleton University and the University of Ottawa to grow the innovative spirit and mindset within our community.”
— Cheryl Jensen, President, Algonquin College
“This collaborative program puts students first, said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. It will provide support to launch and grow youth-led businesses, strengthen Ontario’s ecosystem for young entrepreneurs, and enhance the educational and training experiences of our students. We expect the main outcomes to be more jobs for youth and a more competitive Ontario.”
— Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President, Carleton University
“The support of the CLA program to the Capital Entrepreneurs program enhances the uOttawa investment in our Entrepreneurship Hub programs. This regional partnership complements the entrepreneurship strengths of three postsecondary institutions. Together with Invest Ottawa, we are committed to driving creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and community engagement for our youth, our students and our region,”
— Allan Rock, President, Ottawa University
QUICK FACTS
- Almost all postsecondary institutions across Ontario have on-campus entrepreneurship programs (42 out of 44 institutions).
- Ontario is also providing more than $5 million over two years through the On-Campus Entrepreneurship Activities program.
- OCEA and CLA programs are managed by Ontario Centres of Excellence.
- Invest Ottawa is the partnering Regional Innovation Centre for the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Algonquin College program. As a member of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), it will act as the conduit between the university and the region’s business community.
- Ontario is investing $295 million over two years in the Youth Jobs Strategy to help 30,000 more young people from across the province connect with the tools, experiences and entrepreneurial support they need to find employment or start their own businesses.
- More than 26,000 job opportunities have already been created under the Youth Jobs Strategy.
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