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Innovation Centre establishes youth development team

The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) has established a Youth Development Team to engage Sault Ste. Marie youth who are interested in entrepreneurship.
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The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre has established a Youth Development Team to encourage youth entrepreneurship.

The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) has established a Youth Development Team to engage Sault Ste. Marie youth who are interested in entrepreneurship.

In partnership with Algoma University and Sault College, the innovation centre has hired Heather Lewis to co-ordinate the On Campus Entrepreneurship Activities program (OCEA). Funded through Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy and managed through Ontario Centres for Excellence, the On Campus Entrepreneurship Activities program aims to help post-secondary students develop interest and skills related to entrepreneurship and transfer that knowledge into the marketplace.

In addition to the OCEA program, SSMIC has created three innovative youth development positions.

David McCaig will be the youth entrepreneurship co-ordinator responsible for coaching and supporting youth of all ages.

Ashlee Gerard is the youth entrepreneurship outreach officer intended to reach out and ignite the entrepreneurial spirit at the elementary and secondary levels. These two positions are funded through the MaRS Discovery District.

Taylor Trecroce is the new business development research specialist intern, who will support entrepreneurs through research and advisory services.

Gerry Bugyra, the innovation centre’s business development manager, will oversee this project.

“I see this as a great opportunity for the youth of Sault Ste. Marie to collaborate amongst themselves and others, to spark entrepreneurship and develop ideas into real businesses here in the Sault,” Bugyra said in a news release.

“I am excited that SSMIC, our partners at Algoma U and Sault College, and others in the city are working together to retain our youth and future jobs for Sault Ste. Marie.”

The youth development team will undergo further development and branding in the coming months in order to prepare for the return of students to classes in September.