Recent grad making a splash in the world of entrepreneurship

Combining passion and problem solving is the key to successful entrepreneurship, a mentality that Marlee Armour MTEI’22 embodies daily through her work. Having spent the last decade as a swim instructor, Marlee founded Summer Swim Academy in 2015, providing private backyard swim lessons and on-demand lifeguarding services across Southern Ontario. Through this endeavour, she and her team of instructors noticed a glaring issue with children’s personal flotation devices (PFDs).

“We swim with our arms, but PFDs don’t allow for this horizontal movement,” says Armour. “Typical PFDs train kids to swim vertically in what we call the drowning position. Three years ago, I started cutting the PFDs and turning them around, making it easier for the kids to learn to swim safely and properly from the beginning.” 

Armour entered Saint Mary’s Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MTEI) program as a passionate entrepreneur. Her instructors gave her the knowledge and confidence to solve this problem and make the SwimTrainer a reality. Armour also benefited from the entrepreneurial expertise of the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC), which she says played an integral role in helping her learn to pitch her product, supported her with networking opportunities and broadened her horizons through events.

With over five years of entrepreneurial experience under her belt, Armour has now developed a prototype for SwimTrainer and looks forward to applying her knowledge from Saint Mary's to her business.

Did you know? Each year, the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre organizes a national entrepreneurship competition for post-secondary students across Canada. Modelled after the NCAA basketball competition, March Madness sees 64 participants compete to win $10,000 toward their business. With SwimTrainer, Marlee Armour MTEI’22 tied for third place in the 2022 competition.

Related stories:

• Breaking down barriers for women

• International students connect to the start-up community and industry leaders at Volta Labs

• Double-silver at VCIC: Students’ success highlights a unique entrepreneurial environment

Competition to solve freshwater issues begins in Atlantic Canada

Field sampling is an important part of the work Environmental Science students do in classes and in research work with professors. Photo Credit: Dr. Linda Campbell

A competition to solve Atlantic Canadian water issues through technology, innovation and entrepreneurship begins this week. The competition is organized by AquaAction in partnership with Saint Mary’s University. 

“We are excited to bring the AquaHacking Challenge back to Atlantic Canada,” says Dr. Anne-Pascale Richardson, AquaHacking Challenge Program Manager at AquaAction. “AquaAction’s mission is to restore freshwater health in North America. We do this by engaging with local communities to empower talented young innovators and support them as they work to improve freshwater in their region. The first Atlantic Canada AquaHacking Challenge was a great success, and we look forward to this year’s competition.” 

Atlantic Canada is home to a spectacular system of dynamic freshwater and marine environments. Water is core to ecosystems and communities across the region. The Atlantic Canada AquaHacking Challenge brings students, developers, designers, scientists, programmers, engineers, technology enthusiasts and entrepreneurs together to form interdisciplinary teams to tackle different freshwater challenges facing these important ecosystems. 

The issues they’ll be focusing on are:  

1. Innovations for alteration projects in Lakes and Rivers
   Water Issue Leader: Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change - Water Branch

2. Affordable Automated Water Quality Monitoring
   Water Issue Leader: Eastern Charlotte Waterways Inc.

3. Saltwater Intrusion
   Water Issue Leader: Clean Foundation’s Clean Coasts team

4. Aquatic Invasive species
   Water Issue Leader: Coastal Action

5. Green Infrastructure (Stormwater Prevention)
   Water Issue Leader: ACAP Saint John

“AquaHacking is the type of interdisciplinary competition that allows students and young people to apply their knowledge to practical, real-world situations,” says Michael Sanderson, Director of the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC). “We are proud to partner with AquaAction to bring this great competition back to Atlantic Canada.” 

Participants should have an interest in problem solving, collaborating with students from various faculties and applying innovative solutions to bring impactful change to communities in the Atlantic region. They are required to be between 18-35 years of age, a resident of Canada within the Atlantic region and enrolled in a post-secondary institution or be a recent graduate. The entire team doesn’t need to be residing in the Atlantic region, but the majority of the team should be within the Atlantic region.  

“Our students are excited and ready to challenge the freshwater issues facing Atlantic Canada,” says Adam Khamis, the Project Coordinator of Skills, Development and Training with SMUEC. “This competition is a dynamic blend of entrepreneurship, social action and science that offers students a unique opportunity to work with people in areas they may not otherwise have discovered.”  

After working on their pitches for nine months, all teams will have the opportunity to pitch their solution during the AquaHacking semi-final event. The top teams are selected from these pitches to go on to phase two of the program.  These finalists receive $2,000 to support the continuation of their work as they refine their solution in preparation for their pitch at the AquaHacking finale. All five finalist teams are winners, receiving kick-start business training, leadership training, a spot in a local incubator, Lavery Lawyers credits and seed funding based on their final ranking. 

For more information about the challenge, how to participate and the great partners that support the competition, visit https://aquaaction.org/challenge/atlantic-canada-2022-23/.  

About AquaAction 

AquaAction is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the health of freshwater by engaging young innovators in solutions creation and supporting the activation of their technologies. Its flagship program is the AquaHacking Challenge, a tech innovation competition which aims to engage university students in developing new solutions to water issues. Recently AquaAction developed the AquaHacking alumni and AquaEntrepreneur Québec. Across Canada, 36 water technology startups have emerged from the Challenge. AquaAction was established by the De Gaspé Beaubien Foundation in 2015, is powered by the RBC Foundation since 2018, accelerated by Ovivo since 2017 and supported by several partners including IBM Canada, Lavery Lawyers, and Mitacs. 

International students connect to the start-up community and industry leaders at Volta Labs

Dozens of international students from post-secondary institutions around the province gathered at Volta Labs last Thursday, August 18, 2022, for an event celebrating their entrepreneurial journey in Nova Scotia. 

The Summer Entrepreneurial Experience Bootcamp was an initiative by EduNova Cooperative Ltd. and post-secondary institutions across Nova Scotia as part of the Study and Stay Entrepreneurship Program. The event, co-hosted by Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC), provided students with a transformational learning experience while exposing them to Volta, the province’s preeminent technology accelerator. The event also offered the opportunity to learn more about the regional and provincial programs and resources available to support entrepreneurs, with workshops led by CEED, EduNova, and Halifax Partnership preceding a panel of international alumni entrepreneurs. 

The Study and Stay Entrepreneurship Program provides access to entrepreneurship and business resources, skills development, networking, and mentorship. 
 
This photo gallery shows President of Saint Mary’s University Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, Honourable Minister Brian Wong, and student participants engaging in networking and workshops. 

Breaking down barriers for women

By Anna Carsley-Jones

Natasha Fernandes

Participants of all ages, experiences and environments came together at Saint Mary’s University with a common purpose—breaking down barriers in the workplace for women. 

The Women’s Empowerment Conference, designed and led by the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC) was held virtually from May 24 to May 27, 2022. In addition to the tools, resources and advice, the key according to Saint Mary’s student and organizer Natasha Fernandes was “seeing strong women being vulnerable and learning from their inspirational stories.” 

Kritika Gurung, Co-President Enactus Saint Mary's, speaking on campus

Kritika Gurung, Co-President of Enactus Saint Mary’s, says that “as an Arts student, I sometimes feel networking events and conferences are out of my reach, so when I heard about this event, I wanted to grab a seat as quickly as possible.” She also notes that this was a first for her—she had never attended a conference that is women-focused, with only women speakers. 

Entrepreneurs, professors, engineers and financial educators alike were involved as panellists and educators in the conference. Panellists such as SMU professors Dr. Rohini Bannerjee and Dr. Patricia Bradshaw, athlete and entrepreneur Keisha Turner BA’12, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion educator Crystal Witter BA’20 shared personal anecdotes of conquering adversity in the workplace. 

Financial educator Mrugakshee Palwe and Sobey School of Business Professor Dr. Ellen Farrell MBA’88 led the roundtable on Women in Finance. Mechanic and entrepreneur Stefanie Bruinsma and Keisha Turner led the discussions around entrepreneurship. A Women in STEM workshop featured engineer Mel Holmes, followed by a roundtable led by geologist Wren Bruce. 

Speakers shared their feelings of displacement in the workplace, but also their journeys of pushing past internalized misogyny and racism to reach own their potential. Panellists encouraged participants to overcome barriers and to understand that women and femmes (people who present as female) are as deserving of the same titles, jobs and awards as men.  

The importance of allyship from men and masculine peoples was also noted by many speakers. Jonathan MacNeil chose to attend the conference because “it is a great way to understand the perspective of women who are rarely given a chance to speak their truth, living in a ‘man’s world’.”  

For participants and organizers, the Women’s Empowerment Conference 2022 was a success, leaving those who attended feeling powerful, capable and a little bit wiser. Participant Tashauna Reid says, “Women’s empowerment means being courageous enough to question and break the social and gender norms. It creates a space for women to uplift and support each other.”  

About SMUEC 

The Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC)  is a leading provider of university-based business support services in Atlantic Canada. In the last five years, the SMUEC has engaged more than 4,000 students and 3,000 businesses in entrepreneurial support and promotion activities. Recognized regionally, nationally and globally for their programs, the SMUEC supports leaders through consulting, training, promoting entrepreneurship and cultivating community connections. 

A Month of Madness: Saint Mary's Wraps Up Another Successful National Student Entrepreneurship Competition

After 31 days of competition featuring top student entrepreneurship talent from across Canada, one person has climbed to the top of the bracket as the winner of this year's 2022 Saint Mary's University March Madness Competition.  

Senior chemical engineering student, Quinn Cavanagh of Dalhousie University, won for his pitch RFINE Biomass Municipal Biomass Solutions. RFINE produces materials from spent coffee grounds that can be used for products such as high-strength building materials to flexible plastic alternatives—a wide array of customizable applications. 

According to Cavanagh, 82 million kilograms of waste coffee grounds are disposed of daily, waste that produces vast amounts of greenhouse gases. Consumers are demanding that coffee companies take more responsibility. His pitch illustrated how RFINE collects coffee waste to create high-value compounds that would allow companies like Starbucks to have every table and countertop in their stores to be made from their coffee waste. The abundance of applications for RFINE's coffee ground materials idea showed abundant potential to the judges, who awarded Cavanagh the win. With the win comes a $10,000 top prize sponsored by Metronome United and one-year membership of legal guidance and support for his start-up provided by Goodlawyer. 

Goodlawyer is offering a year of their pro membership to the top four finalists. At the same time, the second-place finisher received $5000, and the two third place finishers left with $1000 to support their ideas courtesy of Shannon Byrne Susko BComm'89 BSc'92 and Metronome United. 

"I want to congratulate Quinn on his win and Danielle, our second-place finisher, for an amazing finale to our best March Madness competition to date," says Michael Sanderson, Director, Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC). "Thank you to everyone who participated and brought their great ideas to the forefront. And a special thanks to our sponsors and judges who play a critical role in making this pitch tournament a success." 

This national competition, a destination for Canada's top student entrepreneurs, featured twenty-four universities from coast to coast. From as far west as the University of Victoria and the University of Alberta to participants from central Canada such as the University of Waterloo, Carleton University, and Western University. Eastern Canada was also well represented with many participants, including HEC Montreal, Mount Allison University, Saint Mary's University and the Memorial University of Newfoundland. 

Saint Mary's University's own Marlee Armour, a graduate student in the Master of Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation program at the Sobey School of Business, finished in a tie for third place. Her pitch was for a product called the SwimTrainer, a flotation device that supports both a better position for children to learn to swim and a safer position for them to float in the water.  

For more information about the tournament, visit https://smuec.ca/march_madness/ or visit www.facebook.com/smuec.ca to watch the videos from each round.

Showcasing Student Business Excellence with Style: The Saint Mary’s University March Madness Pitch Competition

Do you hear that sound? It is the sound of thousands of people clicking the link to watch the 2022 Saint Mary’s University March Madness Pitch Competition.

The competition showcases post-secondary student pitchers throughout March. Modelled after the NCAA March Madness basketball competition, 64 student entrepreneurs from across Canada will be selected to compete head-to-head in brackets as they strive to have their pitch idea declared the best in the country.

This national competition is a destination for Canada's top student entrepreneurs. It features twenty-four universities from coast to coast, from as far west as the University of Victoria and the University of Alberta, to participants from central Canada such as the University of Waterloo, Carleton University, and Western University. Eastern Canada is also well represented with many participants, including HEC Montreal, Mount Allison University, Saint Mary's University and the Memorial University of Newfoundland, to name but a few.

“The best of the best face each other in this tournament, where the student team with the best business pitch can win $10,000 to support their start-up,” says Michael Sanderson, Director, Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC). “That said, there isn’t only one team that wins as the finalists receive support for business leaders and experts to hone their pitches while the third and fourth place teams walk away with $1000 and second place leaves with $5000—all to support their business ideas.” 

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. For SMUEC, a pandemic wouldn’t stop them from providing an avenue for a diverse group of student entrepreneurs to apply the skills they learned in the classroom to a competitive business environment. Enter the first Saint Mary’s University March Madness Pitch competition in 2021, all online.

“We are always looking for new ways to engage students, and last year we recognized the challenges for in-person gatherings, so we began to look beyond solutions and seek opportunities,” says Michael Sanderson, Director, SMUEC. “We took inspiration from the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament and realized the opportunity to do a similar tournament but for business pitches. The online environment allowed us to bypass traditional logistical challenges like location, venue, travel availability for judges to name a few. It brought a whole new dimension to what was possible for a large-scale pitch competition.”

As last year’s tournament progressed, thousands of viewers from around the world tuned in to support their favourites and follow the action. To keep up to date on all the latest teams, pitches and results, visit https://smuec.ca/march_madness/ or www.facebook.com/smuec.ca for the live streams.

Diversity in the Entrepreneurial World

The Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre Ignition Program provides students with an opportunity to learn from a diverse panel of mentors in the entrepreneurial world, allowing students a chance to see themselves as successful entrepreneurs. The 10-week program also provides students with access to training, resources and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Starting February 14, the Ignition Program will host a series of Black and Indigenous entrepreneurship events in their 10-week program. These events will highlight six local entrepreneur panellists over two days to share their real stories, challenges, and successes with aspiring entrepreneurs.

"Seeing yourself through these entrepreneur speakers is so important for our students," says Adam Khamis BComm'21, SMUEC Project Manager. "Nova Scotia is rich in diversity, and so is Saint Mary's. It's only right that our speakers represent that."

The Ignition Program hosted over 50 speaker series to more than 1,300 post-secondary students this past year. Student feedback has shown that including diversity in speaker experiences and business growth stages when learning about entrepreneurship helps them visualize themselves as successful entrepreneurs.

"I have learned a great deal from the various sessions that I have attended, and it's amazing to see the many ways in which these lessons apply to our everyday lives," says Sidney Nuwahereza, Saint Mary's student.

The Ignition program has a rolling registration, and students are encouraged to drop into relevant topics.

Black Entrepreneurship Panel

February 14, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. AST

Join SMUEC in hosting three incredible Black female entrepreneurs, Precious Octavious, Holly Adams and Tiffani Young. Listen to their unique entrepreneurial stories and how their resiliency and perseverance helped navigate a challenging career. Learn more.

Indigenous Entrepreneurship Panel

February 16, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. AST

Listen to the stories of Indigenous entrepreneurs Mariah Battiste and Elora Gehue, and the challenges and stigmas of entrepreneurship they’ve experienced throughout their careers. Learn more.

Creating the Space for Inspiration

Board members, students, faculty, staff and alumni all gathered to welcome the newly elected Minister of Advanced Education, the Honourable Brian Wong, and top donors to Saint Mary’s. Over 100 people gathered safely to learn more about two new buildings under construction, the Sobeys Inspiration Hub and The Exchange.

At the heart of the new additions is the Sobeys Inspiration Hub, a 43,000 sq. ft. glass and steel building, that will house the Saint Mary’s Entrepreneurship Centre, the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services, maker spaces, research and innovation labs, and project studios.

Members of the community spoke proudly about the university’s track record in creating entrepreneurs, many of them current students and recent graduates. Students mingled and took photos with donors including Marsha Sobey. The Sobey family are important donors to the university over several decades; their legacy and ongoing support for the institution was singled out by several speakers including Board Chair Larry Freeman and President Rob Summerby-Murray. Sobeys Incorporated is contributing $5 million, part of the $18 million Sobey Gift to Saint Mary’s from the Sobey family, Sobey Foundation and Sobeys Inc., the largest donation in the university’s history.

George and Dorothy Isaacs, along with Derek Isaacs on Live Stream, attended in recognition of the $2.5 million donation from the estate of Anne and Albert Isaacs DipENG’55.  A student gathering space, named the Anne J. and Albert T. Isaacs Commons, is at the center of The Exchange.

The event was emceed by Leah Skerry BComm’09 and Entrepreneur-in-Residence with remarks by Enactus Co-President Kritika Gurung. The new buildings will open in 2023.

Entrepreneur, Storyteller and Performance Artist: Introducing the new RBC Talent Hub Entrepreneur-In-Residence

HALIFAX, NS— Entrepreneur. Storyteller. Performance artist. Those are some of the terms used to describe the next RBC Talent Hub Entrepreneur-In-Residence at Saint Mary's University's Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC), SMU alumna Leah Skerry.

Leah Skerry BComm '09 is a performing artist, producer and entrepreneur. Her work depicts Skerry's fascination with technology, storytelling, and gamification. She is currently co-producing a hybrid aerial dance show pushing the boundaries of set design and function, funded by the Canada Council of Arts and Montreal's National Circus School.

"Moving back to the East Coast and the opportunity to give back to students and the community where I developed my entrepreneurial sea legs is a full-circle moment," says Skerry. "I hope my experience spanning education, technology, and arts will help others on their path to new ideas and inspire more to seek a multidisciplinary life-long education."

Prior to taking the leap into professional dance and circus, Leah co-founded Squiggle Park by Eyeread Inc. (acquired by Dreambox), an adaptive online reading game with over 3 million kids learning. In addition to studying at the Sobey School of Business, Leah studied design at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and contemporary circus arts in Chicago and Montreal.

"Leah is an experienced entrepreneur with a broad range of interests that will help her connect with our students whose business ideas can be very diverse and touch on many different sectors," says Michael Sanderson, Director, SMUEC. "We are ecstatic to have her join our team and share her knowledge with the next generation of great Canadian entrepreneurs."

As part of her role as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Skerry provides Master Class lectures, workshops, and one-on-one coaching at conferences held by the entrepreneurship centre and weekly office hours for student and community entrepreneurs to offer support, coaching, and advisory assistance.

"We are thrilled Leah will be the next entrepreneur-in-residence at the RBC Talent Hub," says Kellie Sauriol, RBC's Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services, Atlantic Canada. "Students will benefit greatly from her diverse professional background, leadership skills and proven entrepreneurial success."

As home to the RBC Talent Hub, the SMUEC hosts Entrepreneurs-In-Residence (EIR), giving students access to some of Canada's top entrepreneurs. They are selected based on their passion for entrepreneurship and their ability to provide a breadth of advice and information.   The RBC Talent Hub also includes an entrepreneurial mindset success certificate, multi-level skilled entrepreneurship training workshops, a student consultant team and a talent fund for co-operative education.  All of these initiatives are made possible through the RBC Foundation in support of RBC Future Launch.

Saint Mary's Hosts: Black Business Initiatives - 25 Years & Beyond

A screen capture from the event.

On April 20, the Sobey School of Business Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network launched a conversation series with the Nova Scotia-based Black Business Initiative (BBI), the longest serving Black business development initiative in Canada.

The first conversation, called Black Business Initiatives: 25 Years & Beyond, featured BBI CEO Dr. Rustum Southwell, Cynthia Dorrington, President of Vale & Associates Human Resource Management and Consulting Inc. and Dr. Harvi Millar, Professor of Operations Management at the Sobey School of Business.

The panellists spoke to Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School, about the history of Black-owned businesses in Nova Scotia and the work that remains to be done to remove barriers to success, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, Dr. Southwell noted that Black-owned businesses have contributed over a billion dollars to the Nova Scotia economy in the 25 years since BBI was founded. Innovations by Black entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia include the world-class medical company BioMedica Diagnostics of Windsor (founded by Abdullah Kirumira) and SureShot Solutions of Lower Sackville, which provides highly specialized equipment for many of the world’s most successful coffee chains (founded by CEO Michael Duck).

Despite a long history of business success and over 200 years of African Nova Scotians in the province, Ms. Dorrington noted that due to systemic barriers, it can be difficult for Black entrepreneurs and small business owners to access necessary financing, coaching, advisory services and many of the other keys to business success. As a result, these businesses are often prevented from achieving their full potential. “To grow beyond a certain level, you must work on your business, not just in your business,” she said.

Black entrepreneurs are also often shut out of certain sectors, like aerospace and information technology, due to systemic barriers. Dorrington said we need to “think big… and provide mentorship and coaching to help business owners see the next big opportunities.”       

Dr. Harvi Millar presented recent research into how Black-owned businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that surveyed businesses are facing challenges including cash flow, reductions in operating capacity, declining customer bases and temporary or permanent business closures.

The research shows that in addition to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black business owners face barriers including racial bias, lack of scale, insufficient access to wealth and collateral, lack of peer-to-peer support networks and limited market access.

Dorrington noted that these barriers are often built into unfair and outdated systems that we must now work to redesign. “These systems didn't have all voices at the table when they were designed,” she said. “This is the time. If you're going to address it, you have to look at the system and really assess what is working and what is not. We must take the initiative and get rid of what isn't working.”

Dr. Southwell noted that “no Black person – no matter how wealthy or successful in business – hasn’t felt marginalized at some point in their life.”

To lift up Black businesses, Dorrington said we must acknowledge systemic racism as a first step. “We must come together to navigate. Until you face those barriers you don't see them. People who have navigated them in the past, we can put our heads together but speak with one voice.”

The next conversation, to be scheduled shortly, will explore Barriers to Doing Business for Black Entrepreneurs: Access to Capital Market. Visit the Community Revitalization & Prosperity Network to learn more.

Hackathon to address human trafficking in Atlantic Canada begins

Saint Mary’s University, in partnership with Volta and supported by the Government of Canada, is hosting the 
SMU Community Hackathon — Addressing Human Trafficking in Atlantic Canada.  

Human trafficking and sexual exploitation are devastating to survivors, families, and Canada’s most vulnerable populations. It is with this understanding that the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC) and partners aim to create awareness about human trafficking while bringing youth together with key stakeholders to explore ways technology can be used to tackle this issue. 

“I was pleased to participate in Saint Mary’s University’s virtual hackathon today,” said The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. “With the help of almost $55,000 in federal funding, the University is building on the important work it is doing to raise awareness on the signs of human trafficking, through technological innovation and collaboration. Through projects like this one, we are working together to build a safer and more resilient Canada, where all people are protected from human trafficking and its harms.”

The funding for the hackathon is made available under the Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime.

This two-day virtual event brings together post-secondary students from across Atlantic Canada, as well as service providers, law enforcement and others, to explore innovative ways that technology can be used to raise awareness of human trafficking. In teams, participants will develop innovative solutions in combating human sex trafficking from a preventative perspective. The event will feature speakers, panel sessions, brainstorming workshops and hands-on opportunities for participants to work with peers and mentors in bringing their ideas to life.  

After the hackathon, teams move on to the project’s second phase. Teams will receive weekly mentorship and attend skill development sessions as they develop their ideas over the month before delivering final pitches to an expert panel.

“At Saint Mary’s University, community is at the heart of all that we do,” said Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor, Saint Mary’s University. “We are committed to research and innovation that improves the wellbeing of our communities. This hackathon is an example of this work and we are pleased to partner with the Government of Canada as we raise awareness of human trafficking, find ways to combat this crime, and improve the lives of Canadians.”

Additional information:

• Government of Canada announces funding for project to raise awareness of human trafficking

• SMU Community Hackathon: Addressing Human Trafficking in Atlantic Canada  

The excellence of SMU's Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation recognized by major gift

The excellence of Saint Mary's University's Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MTEI) program is being recognized by a major gift from a leading figure in Canada's business and entrepreneurship community.

Rishbah Arora, MTEI student; Dr. Robert Steele, DComm’18; and Laura Russell, MTEI student.

"I have always been impressed by Saint Mary's University and the Sobey School of Business. From my time as a student and in every interaction I have with a Saint Mary's student going back decades," says Dr. Robert Steele DComm'18. "I have seen the impact that a strong business foundation from Saint Mary's provides students. I know that through this gift, Saint Mary's will be able to continue to attract amazing students from Atlantic Canada, Canada and around the world to the MTEI program and the Sobey School. Students will learn from great professors and receive the support they need to successfully develop their business ideas and start-ups into thriving businesses that will give back to the economic vitality of our region."

Dr. Steele is investing a $2 million philanthropic gift in the Sobey School of Business' Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation program which will enable it to double the size of the program, create new resources for research in the area of entrepreneurship, and support students by providing scholarships and awards to student entrepreneurs.

Over ten years, three major initiatives will be supported by this gift. They are:

• The Steele MTEI Scholarships: These scholarships will support bright, creative and motivated students who have chosen the MTEI program to help them achieve their dreams of being an entrepreneur.
  

• The Steele Entrepreneurship Awards: These entrepreneurship awards will be awarded to MTEI student entrepreneurs who are in the earliest stages of starting new businesses.
  

• The Steele Professorship in Entrepreneurship in the Sobey School of Business: This new professorship will provide additional capacity and support to expand and broaden entrepreneurship research intensity at the Sobey School. 

“This gift reflects the outstanding success of our MTEI program over the past six years and recognizes the tremendous impact of the program on entrepreneurship and innovation in Atlantic Canada,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Saint Mary’s and the Sobey School of Business are the entrepreneurship leaders in our region, and programs like MTEI show why we are part of a rising entrepreneurship tide both nationally and internationally.” 

“On behalf of Saint Mary’s University, the Sobey School of Business, and the MTEI program, I want to thank Dr. Steele for his commitment to the continued success of our institution and entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada and beyond,” says President Summerby-Murray.  

The Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saint Mary’s University is a comprehensive, cross-sector program that combines the knowledge and skills of a management program with marketing, leadership, finance, accounting, communications, economics and information technology. Alumni from the program have started their own companies ranging from rope-less lobster traps to companies specializing in customized lighting, water quality measurement, and training for recreation gaming to e-sports. Alumni have also added value to companies by bringing their MTEI expertise to management at different businesses. Those business areas include companies that deal with cybersecurity, virtual conferencing solutions, and transitioning traditionally retail-based services to at-home delivery.   

“The Sobey School of Business is preparing the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs and researchers in business and entrepreneurship,” says Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business. “With the rapid change this year in how businesses operate, programs focused on the integration of technology and innovation like MTEI are more important now than ever before. With this gift, we can continue to expand the scope of the program, engage more entrepreneurs and researchers in growing knowledge creation and expanding the entrepreneurship and start-up sector.”