Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur Kicks-Off 2014 Based in Business Boot Camps in Quebec City

Program helps transitioning members of the Canadian Armed Forces start their own businesses

QUEBEC CITY, May 11, 2014 – Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur, a program of Prince’s Charities Canada launches the third season of its annual Based in Business boot camp today in Quebec City.
Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur provides training and resources to transitioning Canadian Armed Forces members interested in starting their own businesses.  The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur is a made-in-Canada program that combines two of HRH The Prince of Wales’ lifelong interests of encouraging entrepreneurship and support for the Canadian Armed Forces.

The 2014 Based in Business series kicks-off at Laval University (Quebec City) in French. Two other boot camps will be held in English over the summer at Memorial University (St. John’s, Newfoundland) from July 20 to 26 and at The Paul J. Hill School of Business, University of Regina from August 17 to 23.

“Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur is designed to help transitioning military members become entrepreneurs and to create economic and social impacts. With their participation in Laval’s Based in Business, twenty military members will be better equipped as they re-enter the civilian world and start second careers. We look forward to tracking their success as they complete their business plans, apply for funding and mentoring, launch their businesses and build successful enterprises,” remarked Capt. (Ret.) Andrew Webb, program Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

A unique feature of Based in Business is its intergenerational collaboration. Business students from Laval University are paired with participants throughout the week to provide one-on-one workshops as a way to share their learnings and help participants build their business plans.

Gino Savard was a Sergeant Major for the combat engineers division in Afghanistan and suffered from a fractured spine which ended his career in the Armed Forces. Savard overcame numerous challenges, completed the Based in Business program, and graduated last year. “The program gave me all of the knowledge and tools I needed to build a successful business.  Only one year later, and I’m the proud owner of a successful and growing business,” said Savard. He is the founder of an innovative and growing delivery business which uses electric vehicles.

“It is a privilege for Laval’s professors to both contribute to the participants’ transition into civilian life and offer them skills and the tools to build confidence in their business ideas and plans,” explained Maripier Tremblay, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration and responsible for the training coordination of the program.

The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur is the only program of its kind in Canada. “Over the years, we have seen very inspiring business success stories. His Royal Highness is deeply committed to supporting the military community, for whom he serves as Colonel-in-Chief to seven different regiments. This program is a way of acknowledging the incommensurable work that the Canadian Armed Forces deliver to serve their country every day,” stated Amanda Sherrington, President and CEO, Prince’s Charities Canada.

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About the program

The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur (POE) is a made-in-Canada program of the Prince’s Charities Canada that combines two of HRH The Prince of Wales’ lifelong interests of encouraging entrepreneurship and support for the Canadian Armed Forces. Founded on  integral partnership with Enactus Memorial and Futurpreneur Canada, POE provides education, mentoring and financing options for transitioning members of the military who are interested in their starting their own business or exploring entrepreneurship. It combines the skills of top business professors, student volunteers and the financing and mentoring options. Supporters of the program include The Queen’s Trust, Government of Canada, True Patriot Love, Aimia, Mosaic and Canada Company.
/en/poe

About Prince’s Charities Canada

The work of Prince’s Charities Canada (PCC) is focused on The Prince of Wales’s core interests that have been well-established in the UK for more than 30 years.  These include improving the lives of disadvantaged youth, education, responsible business, improving the built environment, regeneration of heritage, environmental sustainability and support for the armed forces.  PCC works with existing Canadian charities already connected to The Prince and facilitates new opportunities for charitable organizations in Canada and the U.K. to work together.
www.princescharities.ca

Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur

Astrid-Maria Ciarallo
Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur
416.408.2923 ext. 3610
416.873.7556
AstridMaria.Ciarallo@princescharities.ca

Media contact:

Roseline Joyal-Guillot
Kaiser Lachance Communications
514.758.9810
roseline@kaiserlachance.com