The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, August 29, 2006 -A7 Students Iearning young about world of business By Howard Mozel SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION Don't let the t-shirts, flip- flops and beach shorts fool vou: the 2006 graduates of Halion Regions Summt-r Company pro- gram proved they're indcd business leaders in the making. Each of the 19 young people -the largest turnout lever for the local program - runs their o,,Nm company, witb products and services ranging from, band- crafîed jewelry and XVeb site design to summer camps and chartered fishing trips. AIl are secondary and post-secondary students between the ages of 15 and 29. "The McGuinty government is on the side of small business and entrepreneurs who help Ontario prosper" said Ontario Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Harinder Takhar. on hand to offer bis congratulations during the recent graduation ai the Halton Regional Centre. Studenîs get funding The government i.s spending more than $1 million in 2006 to provide 370 studenîs across the province with first-band expeni- ence in starting their own sum- mer businesses. This initiative pros-ides hands-on business training and mentoning. togeth- er witb awards of up to $3,000. Small Business Enterpnise Centres and other groups help deliver the Summer Company progam to, students across the province. Locaîll> the Halton Region Business Development Centre co-ordinates the pro- gram and delivers it îhrough volunteer business mentoring groups. Successful applicants are chosen through a competitive process. based on the business plans they submit, ibeir under- standing of the business idea and the probabilitv of success. Once students are accepted for the program, thcy receive an award of up 10 $1.500 in early summer to help with business sîart-up costs, and a $1,500 award in the faîl after success- fully completîng the program and returning to school. They also gel a minimum of 12 hours of business training and the opportunity 10 meet with a local community mentoring group for support and advice. "The young people selected for the Summer Company pro- gram will certainly benefit from the guidance, funding, and mentorship they will receive through the program," said Oakville MPP Kevîn FIN nn. "The program will allow them to develop and apply fundamen- tl entrepreneurial skîlls that will last a lifetime." Takhar - appoînted 10 bead bis newly-created ministry just two montbs ago - used several statisties 10 prove that alI this effort is worth the trouble: of tbe 360.000 businesses in Ontario, 99 pet cent are consîdered -small" wiîh 97 per cent of tbem staffed by less than 100 people. A full 65 to 70 per cent of ail new jobs, bowever, are created by small businesses. 'Ne encourage enîrepre- neurship among young people," said Takbar. 1I am very impressed hy young people." Tbey include Campbellville's Sean Kirk, a Business student aI the University of Guelph- Humber, who operates Student L-awnscapers, offering lawn and property management services for Milton and area bomeown- ers. The key Io Kirk's success was deciding to filI an unîapped niche market, namely lawns that are sîmply 100 small for larger landscaping companies 10 bother witb. Good for tbe economny As a former small business owner, Flynn praised the gradu- aIes and saîd be fully under- stands the bard work necessary 10 run a successful company. Like Takhar, Flynn maintained that offening assistance 10 young entrepreneurs ulîimaîely belps shape Ontarios economy for the beiter. 1 make a point of aîîendîng Ibis (graduation) every year," be said. Added Regional Councîllor anîd acting Regional Chair Carol D'Amelio, -Tbese students are among the mosî ambiîîous of our communîty and I'm pleased t0 be here to congratulate îhem on bebaîf of regional councîl." D'Amelio also said tbe Region is -proud 10 be a part of building business success in Halton" by nurturing and sup- portîng young entrepreneurs. Anoîber Milton graduate of the Summer Company program, is Christopher Puttock of E. C. Drury Hîgb Scbool, who runs Puttock Solutions, a computer consulting business. cIESA KORTMANN / SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION REASON TO SMILE: Participants in the 2006 Summer Company program were more than happy ta smile for the camera after a successful season running their own businesses. Burlington Councillor Carol D'Amelio, Ontario Minister of Smal Business and Entrepreneurship Harinder Takhar and representatives from the Halton Region Business Development Centre and the Ministry of SmalI Business and Entrepreneurship celebrated with the student entrepreneurs. eO SD RN A -A E RCH N E Mr. Mfichael Lee-Chin, founder of the Berkshire group of companies and AIC Ltd., invites you to learn about begmnning a career in the investment industry. Join Mr. Lee-Chin, one of Canada's mnost successful Financial Advisors, intimate and up-close, as he speaks about his 1375 ot abutth Burig erkshire Diféecea d offrtiiest RSVP by: Friday September 8, 2006 Bv email to: recruiting@berkshire.ca B% telephone 905-331-9900 1BERKSH IRE or toll-free 1-800-991-2121 14EýN RU N Extension 3378 BERKSH IRE For directions. plesse visit our isebsite B3ERKSH IRE it www.berkshire.ca mU^CSEVES1c M Free Supervised Children's Activities M Engaging Discussion with other Parents M Refreshments M Parenting Information Impromng your odds Canada's AND STROK FOIJNDATION OF ONTARIO