PRINCE GEORGE – Seven provinces down, three to go. The momentum is building as Startup Canada, a grassroots, entrepreneur-led initiative created to support and inspire business development, sweeps across the country on a national tour that includes 40 stops in 10 provinces over a seven-month period.
All eyes will be on Prince George as the Startup Canada entourage rolls into town next month to celebrate the incredible people and groups that make B.C. a great place to launch and grow companies. The B.C. leg of the Startup Canada tour is a collaborative initiative that links a diverse group of individuals and organizations with a common goal to support and celebrate all entrepreneurs – a group vital to driving the economy in B.C. and beyond.
“Spirited entrepreneurship is a cornerstone of B.C.’s culture and a key driver in the province’s economy,” said Dean Prelazzi, chair of B.C.’s steering committee for Startup Canada and managing director of the British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC) Acceleration Network. “We welcome the opportunity to give B.C. entrepreneurs a strong voice in this national dialogue. It’s a valuable opportunity for communities across the province to compare notes, share ideas and work together to advance B.C.’s and Canada’s entrepreneurial performance in a global context.”
A total of 23 events focused on a variety of issues related to social, technology, immigrant and student entrepreneurship – to name only a few – are being planned as part of the official British Columbia leg of the tour. The Startup Canada team will be in B.C.’s northern capital September 17th for a town-hall style forum about entrepreneurship, and a Prince George Chamber of Commerce event to celebrate the city’s top 40 business leaders and entrepreneurs under 40.
“Entrepreneurship is alive and well in northern B.C. and we welcome Startup Canada to Prince George,” said Renata King, northern representative on B.C.’s steering committee for Startup Canada and director, business development with Northern Development Initiative Trust. “The Startup Canada team will hear lessons learned from local entrepreneurs, dialogue with students and those who are taking early steps toward entrepreneurship and join in the celebration of our best and brightest at the Top 40 under 40 Chamber event.”
Stay tuned for more information about how you can be a part of this exciting national movement in Prince George.
Follow all of the Startup Canada action on Twitter using #StartupB.C. and Facebook.
Click here to learn more about the Startup Canada B.C. steering committee.
About Startup Canada (www.startupcan.ca)
Startup Canada is Canada’s first-ever, entrepreneur-led, national movement to enhance the nation’s competitiveness and prosperity by supporting and celebrating Canadian entrepreneurship. Startup Canada is harnessing the collective energies of Canadian entrepreneurs and enterprise support communities from coast to coast with the goals of providing the entrepreneurship community with a strong voice, promoting a vibrant entrepreneurial culture and creating a unified brand that Canadians can rally around. Startup Canada is launching this effort with the country’s first national entrepreneurship tour and campaign. The tour will run from March to September, engaging 25,000 Canadians and 250 partner organizations across the country. Entrepreneurs will participate in more than 30 town hall and 100 fringe events and connect through a social media groundswell campaign.
For more information, contact:
Renata King
Director, Business Development
Northern Development Initiative Trust
renata@northerndevelopment.bc.ca
250-561-2525
Jennifer Brandle-McCall
Chief Executive Officer
Prince George Chamber of Commerce
jennifer.mccall@pgchamber.bc.ca
250-562-2454
