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ACE Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship
Founded in 1987, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) is a national, not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to teaching and ignited
young Canadians to create a brighter future for themselves and their communities. Working in partnership with business and higher education ACE
delivers two programs on 55 colleges and universities campuses across Canada; a team based program and an individual based program – Students
in Free Enterprise and Student Entrepreneur.
SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise)
In 2000, ACE partnered with Students in Free enterprise (SIFE) to operate their team based program in Canada. Sife is a global, non-for-profit
organization that is literally changing the world through highly dedicated student teams on more 1,800 university and college campuses in over
40 countries. The SIFE program empowers students to create economic opportunity in their communities by teaching others about:
- Market Economics – Teach important micro and macro economic concepts, such as the laws of supply and demand, opportunity cost, money
and banking, impact and benefits of trade, etc.
- Success Skills - Help others to develop an understanding of the opportunities provided by self-employment, entrepreneurship as a career choice,
practical skills and strategies employed by successful entrepreneurs.
- Entrepreneurship – Teach other how to establish a new entity to offer a product of service into a specific market, whether for profit
of not-for-profit.
- Financial Literacy – Projects that help others understand and develop the skills required to achieve personal, career and financial
success.
- Business Ethics – teams develop projects that teach the importance of sound business ethics to the long term success in a market economy.
Each year, SIFE national competitions are held around the world, drawing together thousands of student and business leaders to pay tribute to
the extraordinary student driven educational out reach projects.
SIFE Projects
Start-up/Stay-up
Stay-up strengthens organizational effectiveness and enhances agency capacity by providing customized training , workshops, advice and support
to selected United Way funded agencies and focuses specifically on developing or improving a social enterprise. Start-Up aims to teach United
Way agencies the essential skills to start a social enterprise by means of developing and enhancing business skills through a 5-week course.
Stay-Up is a one-on-one consulting program mentoring the progress of each social venture. Stay-Up ensures the application of entrepreneurial
skills and helps agencies identify, address, and find solutions for issues relevant to their social enterprise.
Youth Challenge Fund
SIFE George Brown mentors and advises youth grassroots organizations which create and improve opportunities for at-risk-youth in Toronto’s
13 priority neighbourhoods. With over $240,000 in funding from the youth challenge fund, George Brown acts as the first post-secondary trustee
while SIFE George Brown consults and mentors youth led organizations to ensure that they execute their YCF funding objectives on a timely and
ethical basis.
Toronto Enterprise Fund
SIFE George Brown works with the Toronto Enterprise Fund agencies to assist in conducting feasibility studies and completing business plans. This
is a revenue generating project for SIFE George Brown. Feasibility studies help agencies increase their understanding of their chosen markets
while the business plans are prepared for submission to the Toronto enterprise Fund’s annual Business Plan Competition in September. Agencies
compete for up to $50,000 in funding per agency with the possibility of receiving ongoing support. Funding amounts based on the merit of
the business plan.
Cafe Hub
Café hub project is SIFE George Brown’s first consulting project. By teaching the Community Recourse Connection of Toronto
(CRCT) how to conduct a feasibility study and create a business plan, they are gaining first hand experience in entrepreneurship and success skills.
Text Change
Text-Change is SIFE George Brown’s first revenue generating project. Textbooks, always a priority for students, are becoming more and more
expensive each year which creates economical hardship on students. Our solution is Text‐Change, an interactive website where students can
post on‐line book offers and others can view the offers on the website and communicate with the seller directly via email or by leaving
commentaries.
Student Entrepreneur Competition
The Student Entrepreneur Program operated by ACE is the only national program to focus solely on full time Canadian post-secondary student entrepreneurs.
It is a program that strives to enrich participant’s lives through recognition, networking and providing a unique learning experience.
Since inception in 1997 this program has celebrated the commitment, determination and achievements of student entrepreneurs through an awards
based competition. This competition is open to full-time students at Canadian universities or colleges who are simultaneously operating their
own businesses.
Benefits/Skills
Learn to:
- Compose feasibility studies
- Write business plans and financial statements
- Implement marketing plans
- Implement and run Micro-businesses
- Work place interaction skills
- Team work dynamics
- Communicating with different language barriers
- Gain experience
- Meet people with same interest and work ethic
- Motivate and empower yourself
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Step 1: Learn! – Congratulations! You have already taken the first step by attending college! Pay attention and get the most out of your
education.
Go to Class Expand Your Brain.
Step 2: Participate! – Be an active participant in class discussions and group projects. The more effort you put into your education, the
more you will get out of it. Get involved in school organizations – like SIFE George Brown
Join In. Get Involved.
Step 3: Practice! – By joining SIFE George Brown, you can see your ideas be out into action. You will have the chance to apply what you’ve
learned in class to real business situations.
- Create Micro-Business
- Host Events
- Help the Community
Apply Your Learning. See Results.
Step 4: Grow! – By learning, participating and practicing, you will grow as an expert in your field. SIFE George Brown will provide
you the experience and networking opportunities you need to grow in your career.
Take the Steps. Achieve Success.
SIFE George Brown Contact Information
SIFE George Brown Office
290 Adelaide ST. E. Room 119
Financial Services Building
(416) 4115-5000 x2232
E-mail: sife@georgebrown.ca
To apply, download the Application and send it to SIFE.
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PROGRAMS AND COURSES 
