The students showcased their entrepreneurial ventures and projects before a panel of business professionals at the 2007 ACE Western Regional Exposition. Over 200 students, faculty, alumni, business people and supporters from the four western provinces attended the event.

According to ACE information, one of the ventures presented by the U of S team is called YEP! (The Youth Entrepreneurship Project) which focuses on teaching the basics of running a small business and financial literacy skills to at-risk 14-19 year olds who have dropped out of school and have been in serious trouble with the law.

YEP! also teaches financial literacy topics like opening a bank account and credit card
management while answering the questions participants have about dealing with financial
institutions. The objective is to give the young people a stronger understanding of how to balance their finances, fund a post-secondary education and successfully enter the workforce.

Ainsley Robertson, student leader of the University of Saskatchewan team describes the outcomes of the project: “At the completion of this project, the students have been exposed to career options they may not have considered previously and have the skills necessary to enter the workforce, decreasing the unemployment rate in Saskatchewan, and increasing economic opportunities in our community.”

The U of S team will move on to national competition May 7-9 in Toronto.