Enactus Saint Mary’s at the 2024 National Exposition
The countdown is on…Enactus Saint Mary’s, who won the Enactus National Exposition in May, is headed to Kazakhstan for the World Cup competition from October 2-4!
Enactus is the largest student leadership organization in the world and strives to solve environmental, social and economic issues through entrepreneurial action. Enactus chapters from around the world work to address global issues and showcase their successes through regional, national and worldwide competitions.
The Saint Mary’s University team was named the 2024 Enactus National Champions in May 2024 by the country’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and a judging panel comprised of top Canadian CEOs. The Enactus Saint Mary’s team has been building toward this championship, having placed in the top 4 in the National Championships 11 of the last 13 years. “We are immensely proud of the Saint Mary’s Enactus team,” says Robert Summerby-Murray, President of Saint Mary’s University. “These students are passionate change-makers, driven to do business well and for the good of the world.“
The team was recognized for their ability to enable social, environmental and economic impact through entrepreneurial action. Their success stems from a passionate commitment to fostering positive change through two key projects:
Plastarch
This pioneering business tackles the escalating problem of plastic waste by offering a sustainable alternative for restaurant food packaging and utensils. Their solution lies in an affordable, durable and food-safe bioplastic crafted from an unexpected source—potatoes slated to be discarded. Plastarch not only mitigates plastic pollution but also promotes a circular economy by finding a valuable use for food waste.
This initiative addresses the twin issues of food waste and food insecurity. At the farm level, 30% of harvested produce is dumped into landfills due to cosmetic imperfections despite being perfectly healthy. Square Roots rescues this "imperfect" produce that would otherwise be discarded, offering it at affordable prices to those with limited access to healthy food. The team recently received a $100,000 investment from the Government of Nova Scotia for expansion, and their goal is to operate in more than 50 locations across Canada and the US by 2026.
““Enactus Saint Mary’s University is a model of team success and social entrepreneurship. We are proud to have them represent Enactus Canada at the World Cup. From their leadership on Square Roots to their innovative ideas on uses for potato waste and single-use utensils, we are confident the team will be a top competitor amongst the 29 other countries represented at the World Cup.””
Enactus team members get ready to cheer on the Saint Mary's presenters at the National Exposition
The team, led by Co-Presidents Gabe Martin and Courtney Dingle, along with Susan MacInnis and Paige Bigelow BComm’24, features 27 students from the Sobey School of Business, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Science. Twenty-one students will make the trip to the World Cup, along with staff from the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, to pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges. Saint Mary’s is the only university representing Canada in this competition with support from the Saint Mary’s community, Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and Premier Tim Houston BComm’92.
“Representing Canada on the world stage is beyond exciting,” says Courtney Dingle. “We had the opportunity to go to the Enactus World Cup last year, and what an incredible opportunity it was to collaborate and come up with new ideas for the world’s biggest challenges.”
“This year, we are so excited that we can showcase our work to that global audience and find new ways to collaborate to help us scale our impact across the world,” says Gabe Martin. Hear more from Gabe’s perspective in this piece he shared with the SMU community: Enactus students count down to the World Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Enactus Send-Off Celebration
Enactus Saint Mary’s students, program alumni, staff and supporters joined together for a Send-Off Celebration on September 24. Global presenters wowed the crowd with their award-winning presentations. Others, including President Robert Summerby-Murray, shared words of encouragement as the team prepares for the global competition. Below is a photo gallery of the event.
Support Enactus Saint Mary’s
To ensure that 21 of Enactus Saint Mary’s students can travel to Kazakhstan and continue to develop their groundbreaking projects, we are seeking your generous support. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant difference. Let's show the world the incredible talent and innovation that Saint Mary's University has to offer! Support the team
Meet the team
Meet some of the Enactus Saint Mary’s team members who are headed to Kazakhstan in October.
Gabe Martin
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
Program: Entrepreneurship and a minor in Political Science
Team role: Co-President
Susan MacInnis
Hometown: Sydney, NS
Program: Double degree in Finance and Computing Science
Team role: Outgoing Co-President
Jonzel Robichaud-Lorde
Hometown: Moncton, NB
Program: Accounting and Global Business Management
Team role: Global presenter
Olivian Sanderson
Hometown: Pugwash, NS
Program: Accounting and Management
Team role: Presenter and Project Manager
David Campbell
Hometown: Tantallon, NS
Program: Entrepreneurship and Computing Information Systems
Team role: Co-Vice-President of Tech
Follow for updates
Watch rounds of competition in Kazakhstan this October on the live stream of the Enactus World Cup!
Follow the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and Enactus Saint Mary’s on social media for more updates: