Introducing real-life business skills and experiences help youth make informed decisions about their future career possibilities. To this end, the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island continue to support Junior Achievement Canada’s Prince Edward Island (JAPEI) chapter so it can focus its efforts on delivering educational programs to students across the Island.

“Youth by nature are curious, and JA’s programming is an excellent avenue to introduce business skills to a large range of age groups. Some participants may go on to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities, but all will be more productive members of our workforce, having gained important business and financial literacy skills. The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is pleased to support JAPEI as the group strives to empower youth with business knowledge and strengthen partnerships within education and the business community.”

• Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament for Charlottetown

“Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of the provincial economy and as such it is vital that we help foster the next generation of Island entrepreneurs. JA not only helps young Islanders learn about the business world, but it helps them develop skills that will serve them well in other facets of life, like budgeting, time management and perhaps most importantly of all, creative and critical thinking”

• The Honourable Chris Palmer, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism

“It's exciting to have the federal and provincial governments continue their commitment to Island youth through JA. This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver top-notch curriculum-based programming in the areas of financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship to students across Prince Edward Island. We continue to be motivated to know that a high percentage of participants are saying that JA programming has had a significant impact on their desire to be an entrepreneur.”

• Betty Ferguson, President and CEO, JA

“My time participating in Junior Achievement during high school helped me develop skills in areas that fall outside the school curriculum such as project management, people skills, and marketing. JA helped me discover my love for marketing and advertising, which I decided to later focus on for my post-secondary education. These skills have proven to be very valuable in launching and growing our business and I thank JA for giving me the tools to succeed."

• Coltin Handrahan, Owner, Golden Custom Clothing, former Junior Achievement PEI participant

• • JA Canada is the country’s largest youth business education organization.

  • The Prince Edward Island chapter was established in 1985.

  • JAPEI aims to impact the lives of over 5,000 students in more than 240 Island classes through the delivery of its education programming.

  • JA offers a suite of eight programs that focus on promoting financial literacy skills, decision making skills, analytic capabilities, and business sense.

Chris Brooks
Director of Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-566-7569
 
Andrew Sprague
Senior Communications Officer
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
902-368-5535
 
Betty Ferguson
President, CEO
Junior Achievement PEI
902-892-6066
BFerguson@japei.org