Spotlighting the Value of Entrepreneurial Mentoring

Spotlighting the Value of Entrepreneurial Mentoring

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation joins with national partners during Global Entrepreneurship Week

TORONTO, ON – November 21, 2013 – As individuals and organizations across Canada come together to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is joining with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to offer new online resources on entrepreneurial mentoring. CYBF has also partnered with The G. Raymond Chang School to offer a unique workshop as a professional development opportunity for mentors.

“Over our sixteen years of business, one of the most poignant things we have seen is the real difference that mentoring makes to the positive outcome of an entrepreneurial venture,” said Julia Deans, CEO, CYBF. “We are thrilled to be working with our industry partners, BDC and Ryerson University to continue to develop our mentoring program with resources based on real-world findings.”

In partnership with BDC, CYBF is excited to announce the addition of mentoring-focused crash courses to the online Business Resource Centre. These interactive learning modules provide in-depth, self-guided learning for both the entrepreneurial mentor and the young entrepreneur. They provide information on how to build a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship and preventing common mentoring challenges.

CYBF and BDC have a common goal – help young entrepreneurs succeed by providing access to funding, resources and mentorship. The mentoring-focused crash courses are the initial component of a new three-year CYBF/BDC partnership. As part of the three-year partnership, BDC has committed $100,000 on an annual basis to help CYBF develop resources for its industry-leading mentoring program, which will be available in both official languages at no cost.

“Our long-standing partnership with CYBF has had a real and positive impact on mentorship in Canada,” said Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs, BDC. “We are delighted to continue to provide the necessary resources so that Canadian mentors have the tools they need to help guide the next generation of entrepreneurs.”

Tomorrow, mentors in British Columbia will be attending an exciting entrepreneurial mentoring initiative, Entrepreneurial Mentoring: Cultivating the Art, a workshop offered in partnership with The Chang School. This day-long workshop will provide participants with the skills and knowledge needed to be highly valued mentors. It combines leading-edge academic learning with the collective experience of people who are actively mentoring young Canadian entrepreneurs. Attendees will reflect on their approach to mentoring, refine their listening and guidance skills, learn to recognize mentoring blind spots, and gain new perspectives on creating optimal entrepreneurial mentoring relationships.

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About the Canadian Youth Business Foundation
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to growing Canada’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character, not collateral, when providing youth aged 18-39 with pre-launch coaching, business resources, low-interest financing of up to $15,000, and industry-leading mentoring to help them launch and sustain successful businesses. CYBF’s co-financing partner, the Business Development Bank of Canada, leverages CYBF’s application process to provide up to $30,000 in additional support for CYBF entrepreneurs.

Established in 1996, CYBF has been recognized as a global leader in advancing youth entrepreneurship. CYBF is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance, the Canadian member of The Prince’s Youth Business International, and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (being held November 18-24 in 2013).

About BDC
Canada’s business development bank, BDC, puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 2,000 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers financing, subordinate financing, venture capital, securitization and consulting services to more than 28,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada’s economic prosperity. Visit www.bdc.ca for more information.

About The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education – Ryerson University
Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education (www.ryerson.ca/ce) is Canada’s foremost provider of university-based adult education, facilitating access to the University’s renowned, professionally relevant courses and programs. Since 1975, we have been delivering leading-edge workplace knowledge that empowers learners to reach their personal and professional goals. We have approximately 70,000 annual enrollments (in 1,500 courses) in Arts; Business; Communication and Design; Community Services; Engineering, Architecture, and Science; Gateway for International Professionals; Programs for 50+; and Spanning the Gaps – Access to Post-Secondary Education. We also offer 93 career-related certificate programs and numerous course series, with 20 certificate programs that can be completed entirely at a distance. Our flexible, accessible programming is available on campus, via distance education, and off-site for employee groups at leading organizations.

About Global Entrepreneurship Week Canada
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is an international movement to inspire millions of young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity through entrepreneurship. From November 18-24, 2013, we will come together to champion Canadian entrepreneurship as part of this global movement. Join the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) – as we celebrate our 5th year as the official host of GEW Canada and get involved in gewcanada.com.

For more information, or to arrange an interview,  please contact:

Lesley Wilmot
Director, Marketing and Communications
CYBF
(416) 408-2923, ext. 2203
lwilmot@cybf.ca

Maria Constantinescu
Senior Advisor, Public Relations
Business Development Bank of Canada
(514) 496-7146
maria.constantinescu@bdc.ca