His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales joins CYBF in Celebrating Entrepreneurship

November 7th, 2009, Vancouver, British Columbia:  Today, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), the Official Host of Global Entrepreneurship Week Canada, was honoured to host His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales at an entrepreneurial showcase.

CLICK TO VIEW PHOTO GALLERY

His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, accepts a gift of custom rain wear from Canadian Youth Business Foundation entrepreneur Shanda Jerrett, owner of GumDrops Wet Weather Boutique in Vancouver at an entrepreneurial showcase on Saturday, November 7th. His Royal Highness met with young CYBF business owners who had traveled from all over Canada as well as Mentors, Community Partners and Canadian business leaders during his visit to Vancouver.

As part of the Royal Visit to Canada, His Royal Highness met with 21 young entrepreneurs from across Canada, as well as mentors and community partners connected to CYBF, at a session at the 2010 Winter Games Olympic Village. His Royal Highness was presented with a gift from Shanda Jerrett, owner of GumDrops Wet Weather Boutique, and winner of the 2009 CYBF British Columbia Best Business Award.

The Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, and the Honourable Iain Black, British Columbia’s Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, were also in attendance.

"Entrepreneurs are a critical component of our country's economic future and the lifeblood of Canada’s communities, said Vivian Prokop, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. “We were honoured today to be recognized as a leading member of the Prince’s Youth Business International by our Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, and to showcase the important work of CYBF through the entrepreneurial excellence of young Canadians, mentors and volunteers. “

In addition to the entrepreneurial showcase, several Canadian business icons met with His Royal Highness.  Those in attendance included John Risley, Chairman of Clearwater Fine Foods and Chairman of CYBF; David Aisenstat, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Keg Steakhouse & Bar; David Stewart-Patterson, Executive Vice President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives; Catherine Swift, Chairwoman, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business; Gwyn Morgan, Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of EnCana Corporation, and Tracy Redies, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coast Capital Savings.

For more information on CYBF, visit www.cybf.ca

-30-

Media Contacts:

CYBF: Katrina White, SVP, Marketing, Communications & Strategic Partnerships
Tel (416) 268-0988 (cell). (416) 408-2923 ext 2115. E-mail:

CYBF: Lori Paris, Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications
Tel: (416) 408-2923 x 2120. E-mail:

 

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)
Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway – www.cybf.ca

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.

Founded in 1996, CYBF has invested to date in more than 3,300 young entrepreneurs, whose businesses have created more than 16,600 new jobs, $93 million in tax revenue and hundreds of millions of dollars in sales and export revenue. CYBF delivers its program coast to coast through a national network of more than 150 community partners and 3,000 volunteers including business mentors.

CYBF is the Canadian model of the Prince’s Trust and a leading member of the Prince’s Youth Business International.

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) – www.gewcanada.com
From November 16th to the 22nd, more than 100 countries will come together to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), a movement to inspire millions of people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. GEW Canada will be connecting hundreds of organizations to champion a culture of entrepreneurship and mentoring, through local, national and global initiatives. Students, educators, young adults, entrepreneurs, business leaders, mentors, employees, non-profit leaders, corporations, governments, and many others will participate in a wide range of programs.  The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the Official Host for GEW Canada.

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.

Driving Canada's Business Success By Helping Youth Help Themselves