News Release

For Immediate Release
July 15, 2005

Helping Youth Break Into Business

Eskasoni, NS – Mark Eyking, MP for Sydney–Victoria, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) today announced that ECBC has provided financial assistance to the Eskasoni Band Council to aid in the development of Youth Entrepreneurship Summer Camps.

“This is a wonderful initiative to introduce Mi’kmaq First Nations youth to the entrepreneurial opportunities that are available to them in their communities,” says MP Eyking. “These camps will provide a hands-on environment for young people to learn the entrepreneurial skills that they will need in the business world.”

The Eskasoni Band Council will hold seven 5-day camps for youth from various Mi’kmaq First Nations in Nova Scotia. The camps will target participants as young as nine years of age, teaching them about self-employment, entrepreneurship and technology.

“I cannot think of a better way to motivate our youth and show them the opportunities for business in the community,” said Tracy Menge, Manager of economic development for the Eskasoni Band Council. “Through the camps, they have an opportunity to broaden their horizons and learn life-long skills in goal-setting, team building, decision making and creativity.”

The camps start in July and continue throughout the month of August. Campers will be grouped by age, a youth camp for those 9-12 years of age and a senior camp for those aged 13-15.

The total cost of the project is $68,550. ECBC will provide a non-repayable contribution of $22,500 through ACOA’s Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Program.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.
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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

SYDNEY-VICTORIA MP MARK EYKING, ANNOUNCED A $22,500 INVESTMENT FROM ECBC FOR THE ESKASONI BAND COUNCIL TO HOST YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMER CAMPS.

EYKING SAYS THAT THE CAMPS ARE A WONDERFUL WAY TO INTRODUCE MI’KMAQ FIRST NATIONS YOUTH TO THE ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SEVEN 5-DAY CAMPS WILL RUN THROUGH JULY AND AUGUST AND WILL FOCUS ON YOUTH BUSINESS SKILLS SUCH AS DECISION MAKING, GOAL SETTING, CREATIVITY AND TEAM BUILDING.

TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS $68,550. ECBC WILL PROVIDE A
NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $22,500 THROUGH ACOA’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valerie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honorable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of Mark Eyking
MP Sydney-Victoria
(902) 567-6275

Tracy Menge
Manager of economic development, Eskasoni Band Council
(902) 379-2422

D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
(902) 564-3617