Supporting Young Entrepreneurs, Summer Company Start ups and Their Winning Ideas Across the Province

Ontario is partnering with Staples Canada to showcase more than 500 young entrepreneurs who are part of the Summer Company program across the province.

The third annual Summer Company – Staples Youth Entrepreneurship Day offers Summer Company students the opportunity to showcase their summer businesses at 54 Staples locations in Ontario. This initiative helps young entrepreneurs promote their products and services to customers, getting real-time feedback and priceless business experience.

Summer Company is a unique program that helps young entrepreneurs start and run their own business over the summer. The program provides students aged 15-29 with hands-on business training, mentorship from local business leaders, and grants of up to $3,000 to turn their ideas into a business.

“We are pleased to connect young entrepreneurs with our customers through this engaging initiative we’ve been hosting for the past three years. This is an opportunity for Summer Company students to promote their summer business and receive feedback from customers. Helping to develop the talent and business skills of our youth is a good investment for our company.” — Steve Matyas, President, Staples North American Retail

Supporting the next generation of job creators is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario’s history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

QUICK FACTS

  • Almost 7,000 students in Ontario have launched a summer business through Summer Company since 2001.
  • Summer Company complements Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy by investing in training youth so they can develop their skills and contribute to Ontario’s economic growth.
  • Ontario is investing $250 million over the next two years in the renewed Youth Jobs Strategy to serve up to 150,000 more youth. This additional funding will bring the total four-year investment to more than $565 million.