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More than 400 young Toronto entrepreneurs are today participating at The Learning Partnership's Entrepreneurial Showcase where they are showcasing unique business ventures which have raised funds to support local organizations.

Taking place at First Canadian Place, the Entrepreneurial Adventure Showcase, hosted by The Learning Partnership and BMO Financial Group is displaying 25 ventures from students in Grades Kindergarten to 12.  Now in its 10^th year, Entrepreneurial Adventure brings together students, teachers, and volunteer business and community partners together throughout the course of the school year to develop and implement a venture that benefits their local and global communities. 

“Kids by nature are entrepreneurs,” says Veronica Lacey, president and CEO of The Learning Partnership. “Entrepreneurial Adventure and the Showcase give students the opportunity to be creative and innovative because it encourages them to develop the necessary skills which will help them prepare for future challenges in both their school and work environments.”

Entrepreneurial Adventure is made possible through the generous support of BMO Financial Group, which is a proud founding sponsor since its inception in 1993 and The John Dobson Foundation.  The Toronto Showcase is one of four taking place across Canada over the next few weeks. 

Since it began, more than 15,000 young entrepreneurs from across Canada have been involved in Entrepreneurial Adventure, which has resulted in the creation of more than 540 successful student ventures.

"It is through organizations like The Learning Partnership that we in the business community have an opportunity to demonstrate our support for education, and contribute in a meaningful way to the future of our country,” adds Bill Downe, Chief Operating Officer, BMO Financial Group.  “And, believe me, if this group of young students who are participating in Entrepreneurial Adventure are representative of the future, then the future is bright indeed."

Some of this year's Showcase highlights include a venture from St. Henry Catholic School where Grade 6 students created a dinner and fashion show called “Stylin ‘n Dining” which was attended by members of their community. All funds raised will be donated to Covenant House.  The students are the recipients of the BMO Financial Group National Student Teamwork Award.

In addition, Senior Kindergarten students at Gandastsetiagon Public School in Durham Region turned beautiful drawings into hand made greeting cards, and donated their proceeds to the Children's Wish Foundation.  These students are the recipients of a BMO Financial Group Impact on School or Community Award.

The Awards were created to recognize and celebrate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial achievement of students in EA projects across Canada during the past school year. Winners receive a plaque for their school and a cash award to further enhance entrepreneurial programs. In total, awards were presented to nine ventures across the country in categories that include enterprising spirit, teamwork, originality, impact on school or community as well as a special 10th Anniversary Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Since January, students from participating schools have been working closely with teachers and mentors to turn their ideas into reality. The Entrepreneurial Adventure program is designed to actively engage both teachers and students in learning critical and creative thinking skills, opportunity identification, risk management, research, and planning.

The volunteer business partners work with classroom teachers to tap the wealth of energy and bright ideas the students already possess, and bring their entrepreneurial spirit alive.   Students create their own “ventures” and enhance their enterprising skills such as goal setting, critical thinking, communicating, collaboration, teamwork, leadership and risk taking.

Since its founding in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group has supported the principles of community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility to the communities it serves. In 2005, BMO Financial Group contributed $29.5 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in Canada, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations across the country. BMO was also named Canada's Best Corporate Citizen for 2005 by Corporate Knights.

Established in 1993, The Learning Partnership (TLP) is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada through innovative programs, credible research, policy initiatives and public engagement. Since its inception, more than three million students and teachers have participated in one or more of TLP's programs, including Take Our Kids to Work™, Welcome to Kindergarten™ and Entrepreneurial Adventure. For information on TLP, log onto www.thelearningpartnership.ca. 

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Veronica Lacey, President and CEO, The Learning Partnership and Bill Downe, Chief Operating Officer of BMO Financial Group review the Queen Victoria Public School student exhibit at the Entrepreneurship Adventure Showcase held today at First Canadian Place in Toronto.