Ottawa Named Futurpreneur Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Community for Second Year

Ottawa, Ontario wins nation-wide community challenge by hosting more Global Entrepreneurship Week events than any other Canadian city

Dialogue during Global Entrepreneurship Week.

For immediate release

Toronto, Ontario, November 24, 2016 Futurpreneur Canada wrapped up Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) by naming Ottawa, Ontario Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Community. Ottawa earned this distinction for the second year in a row by hosting 74 GEW events – 20 more than any other Canadian community. The city of Sherbrooke, Quebec was singled out as Canada’s Entrepreneurial Hot Spot with the highest number of GEW events per capita.

“I am very proud that Ottawa had been named Top Entrepreneurial City this year by Futurpreneur Canada,” said City of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. “This is a great recognition for our city and for all of the entrepreneurs who have shown that Ottawa is a leading city to turn a great business idea into reality.”

“It’s the second time Sherbrooke participated in the Entrepreneurial Community Challenge. People were very interested in finding out what the programming looked like this year and to participate in other partner’s activities!” said Julie Plamondon, Coordonnatrice of Entreprendre Sherbrooke. “GEW’s a beautiful way to rally our community, a chance to see engagement efforts take a concrete form and a great opportunity for people to get together.”

“We know how valuable these seminars and networking events can be to those in their first few years of business,” said Blair Kilrea, founder of CollabSpace , which hosted 48 GEW events this year. “Ottawa is packed with some amazing entrepreneurs and, in a city filled with government opportunities, it is amazing to
see people breaking the mould and contributing to the community by nurturing their passions. It is such a privilege to be part of their journey, and to offer these entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow and really benefit from everything we have to offer.”

From November 14th to 20th, GEW took place around the globe and for the eighth consecutive year Futurpreneur served as the Canadian host. Approximately 10 million people in 165 countries participate in 35,000 GEW events and competitions worldwide, inspiring them to engage in entrepreneurial activities while connecting with potential collaborators, mentors, investors and other stakeholders in their community.

“The passion and innovation of young entrepreneurs, mentors and our partners is at the core of what we do,” said Julia Deans, CEO, Futurpreneur Canada. “GEW celebrates this passion while allowing everyone who participates to connect, collaborate and impact the Canadian entrepreneurial landscape. Futurpreneur is proud to host GEW for the eighth year in a row and is excited to see communities across the country engage in entrepreneurship.”

This year, Futurpreneur saw over 400 activities registered in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Sherbrooke earned its title of Entrepreneurial Hot Spot by hosting 49 GEW events. Ottawa’s 74 events included a six-part Lunch ‘n’ Learn series during which participants explored the question ‘Am I An Entrepreneur?’, discussed the anatomy of a business plan, and much more.

For more information about Futurpreneur Canada and Global Entrepreneur Week events in Canada, visit www.futurpreneur.ca/GEW and follow @futurpreneur and @gewcanada.

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About Futurpreneur Canada

Futurpreneur Canada has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of enterprising young Canadians since 1996. We’re the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of almost 3,000 volunteer mentors. Futurpreneur Canada  is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance, the Canadian member of Youth Business International, and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

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Photos: Find press photos, here.

For interview opportunities and media inquiries, please contact:

Megan te Boekhorst
Futurpreneur Canada
416-408-2923 x 2120
mtboekhorst@futurpreneur.ca