Atlantic Canada’s Entrepreneurial Community to Gather

The annual Spirit of Entrepreneurship 2001 conference will help fuel Atlantic Canada’s entrepreneurship engine.

The conference, presented by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED), will be held April 26-28 at the Université de Moncton.

Up to 700 entrepreneurial-minded people will fill the campus with the energy and innovation of students, educators and economic developers from across Atlantic Canada and beyond.

"The conference brings all elements of entrepreneurship together," says Chris Curtis, chief entrepreneurship officer for CEED. "The Young Entrepreneurs Going Places programming is youth- focused while the Atlantic Edge portion of the conference is presented for entrepreneurship educators, community entrepreneurship organizations and economic development professionals.

"New this year are joint sessions and events where networking and learning among generations is promoted: youth with their educators and community-support organizations; educators and economic developers with their target market: youth."

Experts from across the region will share their knowledge and experience with up to 250 Atlantic Edge delegates. Session topics include mentoring, entrepreneurship camps, entrepreneurship education, classroom resources and community resources.

Up to 450 youth delegates will take away practical skills for creating their own careers in entrepreneurship. Golden rules for success, tips on finding money, time management and the realities of the e-commerce world are hot topics in entrepreneurship that experts will share with students.

"At last year’s conference in Halifax, delegates asked for more opportunities to network," says Curtis. "So this year we have included scheduled networking sessions, plus joint sessions where youth, educators and economic developers will discuss women in business, community resources for entrepreneurs and diversity in entrepreneurship together."

Nikki Barnett, co-host of CBC Television’s youth consumer show, Street Cents, will emcee throughout the conference. Chris Griffiths, the inspirational 27-year-old president of Griffiths Guitars International Inc., is Friday’s keynote speaker. Atlantic Canada’s entrepreneurial stars will rise at the Planet Entrepreneur Awards on Friday evening. Delegates will shine again at Saturday''s trade show at Champlain Place Mall, where they will showcase their wares to delegates and the public.

Students will pay a flat fee of $160 that includes everything:
sessions, events, trade show, bus transportation, on-campus accommodation and meals. Chartered buses provide return transportation for students and chaperones from designated points within their provinces. Delegates to the Atlantic Edge portion pay $199 to attend seminars and events.

To ease the financial burden for students, educators and economic development organizations, funding comes from several sources, including the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Human Resources Development Canada, the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development and the education departments in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. Sponsors include Centre Assomption de recherche at de développement en entrepreneuriat, CBC Television, Atlantic Progress, Cadillac Fairview, Université de Moncton, Sable Offshore Energy Inc., Aliant, Certified General Accountants’ Association of New Brunswick, Radio Canada and CIBC.

Online registration is available at www.planetentrepreneur.com . The website is updated frequently and includes profiles of speakers, travel and accommodation information, and online registration.