CYBF and CFIB Join Government of Canada in Launching Year of the Entrepreneur

TORONTO, January 25, 2011 – Today, the Canadian Youth Business  Foundation (CYBF) and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)  joined the Honourable Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance) and the  Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) at a media  event to officially designate 2011 Year of the Entrepreneur. The  announcement comes at a pivotal time in Canada’s economic recovery.

As leaders in small business in  Canada, CYBF and CFIB recognize that the country’s future depends on the continuing  contributions of entrepreneurs. Small- to medium-sized businesses account for  98 per cent of all businesses across Canada, and with more than 19 per cent of  owners plan to retire within the next five years, The Year of the Entrepreneur  is a prime opportunity for Canada’s frontrunners to create entrepreneurial  initiatives that will help move Canada into more prosperous times.

CFIB  president Catherine Swift says, “The success of the small- and medium-sized  business sector has contributed greatly to the economic and social success of  Canada. As CFIB celebrates 40 years of defending small businesses, designating  2011 as the ‘Year of the Entrepreneur‘ is definitely an occasion we should all  be proud of.”

“Through this designation, the Federal Government  has shone a bright light directly on entrepreneurship – demonstrating that our  collaborative efforts to build a more entrepreneurial Canada are paying off,”  says Vivian Prokop, CEO of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. “This year,  we will build upon this momentum to show the world that Canada is propelling  economic recovery and growth through entrepreneurship.”

The official announcement was made  today at Ryerson University’s Digital Media Zone (DMZ), a space where creative  young entrepreneurs gather to innovate, collaborate and market their services  and products. The announcement was followed by a tour of the facility,  including an opportunity to meet with entrepreneurs from CFIB, CYBF and the DMZ  as well as a pre-budget roundtable discussion with Ministers Menzies and Moore.

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About the Canadian Federation of  Independent Business (CFIB)
As Canada’s largest  association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by  Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 107,000  members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and  influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy. www.cfib-fcei.ca

About  the Canadian Youth Business Foundation – Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway
The  Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the ‘go to’ place for youth  entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing our  nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not  collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business  resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a  successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca

For more information about CFIB, CYBF  or the Year of the Entrepreneur, or to request an interview with a  spokesperson, please contact:

CFIB Media Contact:
Gisele Lumsden
Manager, Public Affairs
Email: public.affairs@cfib.ca
Phone: 416-222-8022 x268
Cell: 647-808-5769

CYBF Media Contact:
Rachel Azagury
Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications, CYBF
Email: razagury@cybf.ca
Phone: 866-646-2922 x2111
Cell: 647-834-2923