Entrepreneurship Tent Officially Opens at International Business Camp

EDUCATION--Entrepreneurship Tent Officially Opens at International Business Camp

Entrepreneurship education gets a boost today as Halifax's only mobile entrepreneurship tent is opened during the Open for Business (OFB) International Break Into Business Camp.

Mary Ann McGrath, MLA for Halifax-Bedford Basin, on behalf of Education Minister Jane Purves, and Peter Kelly, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality, will untie entrepreneurial the knot at Chebucto Landing, near the Cable Wharf at 1 p.m.

Mayor Kelly and Ms. McGrath will shop as they meet entrepreneurial teens representing Sweden, Kenya and Canada, who will be selling their products or services on the Halifax waterfront.

The teens will be again trying their hands at selling their wares, their first day of business having been cut short by Wednesday's weather. Business for a Day is a highlight of Open for Business's week-long international entrepreneurship camp. Open for Business is a project of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development.

The mobile tent is OFB's newest service. Staff will conduct entrepreneurial activities and provide help with the how-to's and next steps to anyone who wants to start, improve or expand a business. The tent, funded by Nova Scotia Economic Development and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, is a way to bring entrepreneurship out into the community.

"We've got two great things happening on the waterfront on Friday," said Ms. McGrath. "We're very excited about OFB's new mobile tent. It provides an opportunity to expose the entrepreneurial option to a wider audience by bringing OFB's services, resources, information and activity to places frequented by potential clients."

"As well, camp participants will discover entrepreneurship and how it crosses all borders," said Ms. McGrath. "In keeping with the international flavour of the event, the underlying theme is Growing a Business Beyond National Borders. We've got international participants who will learn how to stay in their own backyard but reach the world."

The International Break Into Business Camp introduces teens aged 15-18 to entrepreneurship through a learn-by-doing approach. Activities are interactive and fun, and campers get to be their own boss and discover the entrepreneur within.

Campers will participate in interactive workshops and peer-group discussions, have lunches with entrepreneurs, make on-site visits to businesses with international ties, have one-on-one sessions with specially trained business counsellors and run a business for a day.

They will have other opportunities as well, including:

• developing business contacts with successful entrepreneurs;
• learning how to access international markets;
• identifying opportunities;
• meeting other young and aspiring entrepreneurs to build long- term business relationships; and
• comparing youth entrepreneurship from a Nova Scotia perspective with youth entrepreneurship from an international perspective

These opportunities will help them build stronger international links.

The OFB tent will be moved to different parts of the Halifax Regional Municipality to reach people as they participate in summer events and activities. It will provide clients with an opportunity to discover entrepreneurship through fun activities and games. Clients will also learn about their own entrepreneurial potential while learning about the support and resources that are available to them if they choose to start their own businesses.

The tent will provide mini-workshop sessions, one-on-one service, entrepreneurship games and activities, information about the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development's services and resources, information on partners and funders, information on complimentary services and resources and mini-trade shows.

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development is a joint venture funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification. The agreement is managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development.