Students tackle deer challenges at the ‘Oh Deer! Help Our Urban Gardens Hackathon'

Students attended the hackathon at CLARI at Saint Mary’s University

This May, post-secondary students from across Nova Scotia came together for the ‘Oh Deer! Help Our Urban Gardens Hackathon’, an entrepreneurial challenge focused on finding creative, sustainable solutions to the growing issue of urban deer populations damaging community gardens.

Hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Centre for Leadership Excellence, City of Halifax, CLARI, Common Roots Urban Farm and JustFood, the hackathon challenged students to develop practical, community-ready ideas that could help protect urban growing spaces while balancing environmental considerations. To ensure participants had a strong understanding of the problem, the experience began outside the classroom.

In addition to research and solution development, students were invited to visit the Common Roots Urban Farm Bi-Hi location for a live garden drop-in experience. They had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact deer can have on urban agriculture, speak with those managing the challenge daily and gain valuable context for their projects.

The hands-on visit was followed by an interactive Ask Me Anything session with a Common Roots Urban Farm Manager, who shared insights, answered questions and helped students better understand the realities of maintaining a thriving urban garden in the face of increasing wildlife pressures.

Common Roots Urban Farm BiHi Park
Source: Common Roots

Urban deer seen in Halifax

Over the course of the hackathon, students worked collaboratively to transform their observations and research into innovative solutions. Teams explored a variety of approaches, combining entrepreneurial thinking, sustainability principles and community impact to address a real-world problem.

SMU’s winning team: Elijah Bucci, Malik Abdullahi, Wyn Go, Chloe Staple

After presenting their final pitches, Saint Mary’s University students Malik Abdullahi, Chloe Staple, Wyn Go and Elijah Bucci were awarded first place for their solution.

For winning team member Malik Abdullahi, the experience was both rewarding and eye-opening.

“The Oh Deer Hackathon was an amazing experience because we got to tackle a real issue impacting our local community. Collaborating as a team to pitch a sustainable solution after getting insights from the Common Roots Urban Farm team gave us real insight on how entrepreneurial thinking can solve environmental challenges. Winning first place was definitely a proud moment for all of us!”

A special thank you to the Centre for Leadership Excellence, the City of Halifax, CLARI, Common Roots Urban Farm and JustFood for their partnership and support in bringing this hackathon to life and providing students with a valuable real-world learning experience.

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First-ever French Innovation Sprint brings students together in Nova Scotia

Students from Université Sainte-Anne participated in the first French language Innovation Sprint

The energy was high and the conversations flowed entirely in French at the first-ever French language Innovation Sprint, a new collaboration between the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Nova Scotia Community College, Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ) and Université Sainte-Anne. Held at the Centre de l’entrepreneuriat Louis-E.-Deveau in Church Point, Nova Scotia, the event brought together 20 students for an experience focused on solving real business challenges.

What made this Sprint stand out wasn’t just the competition; it was the sense of inclusion. For many participants, it was a rare opportunity to engage fully in French within Nova Scotia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As André LeBlanc, Manager of the Louis E. Deveau Entrepreneurship Centre, put it, “It is not often that the students get to participate in a French event allowing them to fully feel included in the provincial ecosystem.”

All 20 participants were students from Université Sainte-Anne, with a mix of academic backgrounds—three science students and seventeen commerce students. They were tasked with developing solutions for Wild Rose Farms, a local farm navigating the growing challenges of climate change. The business is seeking ways to remain resilient amid environmental uncertainty by adopting sustainable practices and technologies that support long-term operations and financial performance.

“It was an extremely tough challenge, but the students exceeded all my expectations. Their ideas were impressive and they worked incredibly hard,” said Gilberte Doelle of Wild Rose Farms.

Over the course of the Sprint, students worked in teams to build and pitch their ideas. The level of engagement was high, making it clear that there is a strong demand for more opportunities like this.

By the end of the event, three teams stood out:

1st Place: Délices Muswelemalue, Mike Miteulukusa, Adio Ange Bisse
2nd Place: Prudencia Princesse Mbiadjeu Mbunzwe, Liliane Kasanda
3rd Place: Séverine Makiesekink, Océane Gbaligazakies, Igor Mukwanga

“This experience helped grow my interest in entrepreneurship and pushed my thinking in a new way,” said a member of the first-place team. “It was rewarding to support the business and we even won some money.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter.

How one Saint Mary’s University student balanced school, entrepreneurship and visual storytelling

Prateek Tamta

Prateek Tamta has spent the past two years helping shape the visual identity of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre while balancing being a student in university, entrepreneurship and leadership roles outside the classroom. 

Originally from India, the Saint Mary’s University arts student is a self-taught photographer, cinematographer and designer who built his creative business, Pixels by Prateek, alongside his studies. Through photography, videography and storytelling, he has helped capture the energy of the Centre’s events, programs and entrepreneurial community while continuing to grow his own brand in Halifax. 

Prateek’s creative journey started long before university. 

“My mom used to buy film cameras when I was a kid and print albums of photos,” he says. “As I grew older, I became very keen on all things tech-related, would take a lot of photos on my phone, draw in my free time and watch lots of tech tutorials to get better at design.” 

What began as curiosity quickly evolved into a passion for multidisciplinary storytelling. Over time, Prateek taught himself photography, videography and design through online tutorials, experimentation and trial and error. 

“The most important skill I learned was how to learn anything,” he says. “Since I am self-taught, most of my skills came from Googling, YouTube tutorials, Skillshare courses and just trying things out.” 

Prateek holds the Enactus World Cup trophy

While building Pixels by Prateek, Prateek was also balancing classes, his role at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and leadership responsibilities with Enactus Saint Mary’s University. As VP of Tech alongside Co-VP Maya Campbell, he helped lead the tech team during Enactus SMU’s World Cup win. 

“It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” he says. “We pulled all-nighters, problem-solved and built a system that future tech teams could use as a base. The win felt worth it because everyone worked so hard to get there.” 

At the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Prateek’s visual storytelling helped strengthen the Centre’s online presence by capturing authentic moments from events, student ventures and the entrepreneurial community. Through reels, photography and creative content, his work helped showcase the people and stories behind the Centre. 

Balancing so many responsibilities was not always easy, but Prateek credits the Centre with helping him grow both personally and professionally. 

“I was lucky enough to get a job at the Entrepreneurship Centre that let me work more within my skillset while giving me enough time to do well in classes as well as business,” he says. “The EC also introduced me to a lot of people and ways I could find clients for my business.” 

As graduation approaches, Prateek will continue pursuing creative storytelling full-time. Looking back on his journey, he encourages other students to explore different interests and embrace the learning process. 

“Make sure you’re taking care of yourselves,” he says. “It’s very easy to neglect your health when you’re passionate about something. Just make sure you’re not burning out, learning lots and most importantly, having fun.” 

Saint Mary’s University secures 2nd place national finish at Enactus Canada Exposition

The Saint Mary’s Enactus Team

An incredible legacy of impact continues as Saint Mary’s University secured a second-place national finish at the Enactus Canada National Exposition. This achievement is more than a trophy; it is a testament to the consistent innovation and culture of social entrepreneurship that thrives in the heart of Halifax. 

Setting the standard for student-led impact, the Enactus Saint Mary’s team tackled global issues with local heart. Thirty-eight students representing every faculty across the university attended the three-day event in Montreal last week, demonstrating that cross-faculty collaboration is essential to addressing complex social challenges. In addition to the national competition, the team competed in two other competitions and a social accelerator. Placing first in the Innovation and Impact challenge powered by Enactus Alumni with their business Alaagi and second in the TD Entrepreneurship challenge with their businesses Square Roots and Gluten-Free Living.  

"Securing a top two finish on the national stage is a powerful validation of the work our team has put in this year,” said Mia Makhlouf, national team captain and incoming co-president of Enactus SMU. She adds “bringing together students from every faculty, from engineering to arts, allowed us to approach problems like food insecurity and sustainable packaging from every possible angle." 

Square Roots: Rescuing Food, Feeding Communities 

One of the longest-running businesses in the Enactus Canada network, Square Roots (founded in 2016) bridges the gap between agricultural waste and food insecurity, Square Roots sources "seconds", fresh produce with minor aesthetic imperfections that would otherwise be discarded, directly from local farmers. This food is then sold at a significantly reduced price, ensuring fresh nutrition is accessible to everyone. 

From its humble beginnings in two Halifax neighbourhoods, Square Roots has expanded to 23 locations across Nova Scotia, diverting over 1.25 million pounds of produce from landfills to date. 

Alaagi: Redefining the Future of Packaging 

While Square Roots manages the present, Alaagi (launched in July 2024) is engineering the future. This student-led startup is taking on the global plastic crisis by looking to the ocean for answers. 

Alaagi has developed a durable, fully compostable bioplastic derived from seaweed. This material is designed to replace traditional thin-film plastics that can be heated, frozen and shrink-wrapped, breaking down naturally after use, without leaving a trace.  

The team is currently creating the world’s first industry-standard 10K Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) bioplastic film. Positioning Alaagi to become the first commercially available 10k OTR bioplastic film This specific technical standard is essential for meat and seafood packaging. By meeting this industry requirement, Alaagi is tapping into a massive commercial market, providing a sustainable alternative for one of the hardest-to-replace plastic uses in the food industry. 

Gluten-Free Living: Creating a Community for Sensitive Diets

Gluten-Free Living is a mission-driven initiative dedicated to empowering the celiac and gluten-sensitive community. The business creates safe, inclusive spaces for members to share lived experiences and find trusted dining options. 

The team is currently developing the Gluten-Free Living App, a digital platform that integrates verified health information with an AI-powered assistant. This tool simplifies Canada’s complex tax credit system by scanning grocery receipts and automatically calculating the price difference between gluten-free and non-gluten-free products, helping users maximize their CRA rebates. 

"Helping to lead this team alongside my co-president Sarah Wheeler, has been the highlight of my university career,” said Courtney Dingle, co-president of Enactus SMU, “watching these students pour their hearts into all our projects reminds me that social innovation is the most effective tool we have for building a more equitable world. This national recognition belongs to every one of our members who proved that student-led ventures can solve some of society's most pressing challenges." 

Saint Mary’s University, through the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, embeds an entrepreneurial spirit into every faculty. By prioritizing problem-solving and resilience, student-led ventures like Alaagi, Square Roots and Gluten-Free Living are equipped to achieve a lasting global impact.  

"It has been a privilege to watch these students gain practical experience in social entrepreneurship; refining their ideas and bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world impact," says Michael Sanderson Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. "This team has proven they are the next generation of global leaders ready to showcase the future of sustainable business." 

Students tackle dual-venture challenge at Innovation Sprint

Innovation Sprint participants from Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie

It’s not every day that students are asked to build strategies for two completely different ventures at the same time, but that’s exactly what made this Innovation Sprint stand out.

Hosted in collaboration with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and New Leaf GSI with the BraveArt Project, the sprint brought together 13 students, six from Dalhousie University and seven from Saint Mary's University, to tackle a unique challenge: building strategies for not one, but two ventures operating side by side. 

New Leaf is a strategy-driven business focused on helping organizations scale through rigorous operations and leadership. The BraveArt Project, by contrast, is a social enterprise brand rooted in creativity, storytelling and advocacy. 

However, they are deeply linked by a shared mission of impact: a percentage of all revenue generated by New Leaf Fractional COO Services is donated directly to The BraveArt Project, the non-profit founded by founder Jessie Taylor. This unique model ensures that every operational success at New Leaf directly fuels the creative advocacy and community work of BraveArt. 

Jessie Taylor

Taylor, the founder of both organizations, set up the tone early, sharing her journey to launching both ventures, along with the challenges, pivots and momentum that shaped them. Her energy carried through the day, especially as she spoke about her continued collaborations, including her work with a previous sprint partner, The Wine Spa, showing students how these experiences can extend far beyond a single event. 

What made this sprint stand out was how quickly ideas turned into real opportunities. Some students even expressed interest in applying for open roles with New Leaf, turning their solutions into potential next steps for their own careers. 

By the final presentations, the level of thought and execution was clear. 

First place went to Patricia Tagliapietra and Mila Souilliere (Dalhousie University students), who delivered a comprehensive plan for New Leaf, covering communication, revenue generation, community growth and a full implementation roadmap. 

Second place was awarded to Hinesh Patel and Swapnil Kanade (Dalhousie University students) for their deep dive into revenue generation, including three scalable models and a creative proposal for a community-driven podcast. 

Taking third place, Stuti Sandhu (Saint Mary’s University) presented a powerful concept focused on workplace equity, financial independence and using both ventures as a platform for advocacy and consulting. 

Beyond the competition, Jessie’s growing list of recognitions, including being a 2026 Canada’s Choice Award Finalist and a nominee for multiple national and regional awards, added another layer of inspiration for participants. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter. 

First-year student launches travel startup LocalLink

Noah Hemphill

Saint Mary’s student and Enactus Saint Mary's member Noah Hemphill is turning his passion for travel and entrepreneurship into a tech-driven solution designed to reshape how people explore new places.

Noah chose Saint Mary’s for its strong business reputation, supportive environment and the opportunity to experience a new city while staying connected to his home in Prince Edward Island. He also highlighted the value of the university’s highly accredited business program and the opportunities it provides, which made choosing the Bachelor of Commerce at Saint Mary’s an easy decision.

Now, as a student entrepreneur, Noah is building his venture LocalLink through Enactus SMU, with additional support from the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. The project is a trip itinerary builder designed to create highly personalized travel experiences based on user preferences.

“LocalLink takes basic information about a user and asks a series of questions to build a hyper-personalized itinerary,” Noah explains. “Instead of only showing generic attractions you might find on TripAdvisor or Expedia, it highlights well-known destinations as well as hidden gems tailored to individual interests, budgets and preferences.”

Beyond curated itineraries, LocalLink is also being developed as an all-in-one travel platform. Users will eventually be able to book hotels, activities and flights directly through the site, keeping everything in one place and aligned with their personal budget and travel style.

His inspiration for LocalLink comes from years of hands-on experience in tourism. Having worked in the PEI tourism industry through his teen years, he noticed a consistent pattern: travellers often remember the lesser-known, unexpected experiences most, yet major platforms tend to prioritize larger, more established attractions.

“Smaller businesses and unique experiences often get overlooked because they don’t have the same visibility. LocalLink is about changing that—helping people discover experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise considered, while also supporting small businesses.”

— Noah Hemphill, SMU student and LocalLink founder

Noah and the LocalLink team recently won the Sobey Strategy Case Competition hosted by the SMU Accounting Society

As a member of Enactus SMU, Noah has also been inspired by the organization’s recent national and global success, which he sees as a reinforcement of his decision to study at Saint Mary’s. He credits the Enactus community with providing access to mentorship, resources and like-minded innovators who help strengthen his entrepreneurial journey.

Looking ahead, Hemphill sees strong alignment between his commerce studies and his venture. Skills learned in areas like data analytics and accounting are already being applied directly to LocalLink’s development.

“Everything I’m learning in my degree feeds back into my business,” he says. “It all connects.”

As LocalLink continues to grow, Noah is encouraging others to follow along on Instagram as the platform moves toward launch.

Interested in learning more about how entrepreneurship can blend with other areas of study? Explore programs and events at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

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Applications open: the Access Ability Incubator returns for 2026

The Access Ability Entrepreneurship Incubator, facilitated through the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and funded by the Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, is returning for 2026, continuing its mission to support entrepreneurs who self-identify as living with a disability. Following the success of previous cohorts, the program renewal marks another step forward in creating more inclusive pathways into entrepreneurship.

Since its launch, the incubator has supported over 40 participants in starting and running their own businesses, providing not only the tools to build viable ventures but also a strong sense of community and confidence. The program is designed to reduce common barriers to entrepreneurship by offering structured support, mentorship and financial resources.

The 2026 extension will run from May through December and be delivered across two 14-week cohorts, with 11 participants per group. Throughout the program, participants will engage in hands-on, participant-centred learning that focuses on validating business ideas, developing practical skills and building sustainable plans for growth.

Participants receive compensation throughout the program, aligned with minimum wage, as well as $1,000 in seed funding to support early-stage business development. In addition, they gain access to one-on-one mentorship, peer collaboration and a supportive network tailored to their needs.

By combining financial support with guided learning and mentorship, the Access Ability Entrepreneurship Incubator empowers participants to move forward with clarity and confidence in their entrepreneurial journey.

Applications for the 2026 cohorts are now open. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply here and take the next step in bringing their business ideas to life.

Empowering women through bold ideas

Students from three universities participated in the FemXchange Innovation Sprint

In celebration of International Women’s Month, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre brought together students and founders for an Innovation Sprint featuring FemXchange, a growing platform designed to help female+ individuals share skills, build connections and support one another.

The sprint welcomed 14 students from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University, all tasked with tackling a real challenge: how FemXchange can grow sustainably through partnerships while continuing to engage the right members and stakeholders. The opportunity came at the perfect moment, as conversations are already underway to deepen collaboration between FemXchange and the Centre, particularly in ways that could better connect students, alumni and existing programming.

“I was blown away by the bright, diverse minds in the room,” said FemXchange Founder Caroline Mastropaolo. “As a solo founder, having such a range of fresh, objective perspectives is incredibly valuable. I’m excited to hit the ground running with all these new ideas.”

Not only were students solving for business growth, but they were doing so for a platform rooted in empowerment and access. As a bonus, all female participants received one year of free access to FemXchange, turning the experience into something that extends well beyond the classroom.

The solutions presented reflected both creativity and strategic thinking. First place went to Saint Mary’s University arts student, Stuti Sandhu, who proposed partnerships with university alumni offices, venture capital firms and small business insurance companies. Her idea also highlighted an important social impact angle, suggesting the platform could support survivors of domestic violence and economic abuse by promoting financial independence.

Second place was awarded to commerce student Isabella Scuse and science student Abdinasir Ali, both from Saint Mary’s University, who developed a multi-partnership approach. Their strategy included collaborations with Etsy to support DIY entrepreneurs, Credly for certifications, Shopify for scaling businesses and RBC for funding and financial literacy.

Third place went to Saint Mary’s MBA students Laura Thompson, Benjamin Broadbent and Noah Zelin-Opps. Their plan focused on partnerships with universities, professional organizations and platforms like PrestaShop, alongside a detailed activation strategy that included chatbot integration and a WhatsApp ecosystem.

Overall, the Innovation Sprint highlighted what’s possible when the right people, purpose and timing come together.

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter.

Student behind AI ranching technology wins $10,000 grand prize in The Arena 2026

Haden Harrison, a Bachelor of Commerce student from the University of Calgary, has been named champion and awarded the $10,000 grand prize in The Arena, Saint Mary’s University’s national pitch competition.

After 31 days of intense competition, with over 64 participants from 41 post-secondary institutions across Canada, Haden emerged as this year’s champion with his innovative agtech startup, Agrivanna, which provides AI-powered virtual fencing and comprehensive herd management solutions tailored for large-scale Canadian ranching.

Haden presents his pitch on Agrivanna at The Arena

“The Arena has been a highly professional and very well executed event, truly one of the best I’ve been a part of. Competing in a unique bracket-style format is something I had never experienced before, and in the spirit of innovation and trying new things, this structure has been both enlightening and a lot of fun,” says Haden. “It has also pushed us to sharpen our story, pressure-test our business model, and connect with an incredible community of founders, mentors, and supporters.”

The Arena, presented by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University and sponsored by Metronomics, is a high-stakes, high-energy pitch showdown. Sixty-four of Canada’s most promising student entrepreneurs compete live, under pressure, for the title of the nation’s top innovator and a $10,000 prize.

Modelled after the NCAA March Madness championship, The Arena unfolds in a bracket-style competition from March 3 to April 2. Each matchup is a standalone battle—fast, focused and decisive. Pitches are delivered live. Judges deliberate in real time. Winners advance. All matches are streamed online, drawing audiences from across the country.

Throughout March, participants competed in a head-to-head pitch competition, presenting their ventures to panels of expert judges. In total, $17,000 in prizes were awarded: $10,000 to the first-place winner, $5,000 to the runner-up, and $1,000 each to third and fourth place. Prizes were sponsored by Metronomics, founded by Saint Mary’s alum Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92,

“We’re thrilled to be presenting The Arena for the sixth year in a row. The Arena isn’t just a competition. It’s where Canada’s next innovators step into the spotlight,” said Michael Sanderson, Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. He adds, “The Arena would not be possible without partners such as Shannon Byrne Susko.  We are also so thankful to our elite panel of judges, who, with their vast range of expertise, bring invaluable experience to the competition.”

This year, the judging panel featured seven distinguished judges representing the vast range of Canada’s business landscape. Alongside Shannon was Mark Brand, Chef & Social Impact Entrepreneur, Upward Kitchens; Janice Buchanan, Director of Marketing & Agency Services, Irving Oil; Jennifer Grimm, Founder, LUX Beauty; Catherine Bagnell Styles, Co-Owner, Gallery on Lincoln; Dr. Michael Khan, President and Vice-Chancellor, Saint Mary’s University; and Diane Lafontaine, Chief Marketing and Corporate Strategy Officer, BDC.

“The Arena is where bold ideas meet real-world pressure,” said competition judge Diane Lafontaine. “It was exciting to watch the final competitors rise to the moment and prove they’re ready to build something that matters.”

Impressed with both finalists, Metronomics awarded the second-place winner, Meghan Brar from the University of Guelph, an additional $5,000, bringing this year's prizes to $22,000.

Since its launch in 2021, The Arena has awarded over $93,000 in prizes and showcased more than 380 student ventures from across Canada. With a focus on growth, innovation and cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre continues to support the next generation of founders.

Final round of The Arena 2026 features top student innovators from across Canada

After four weeks of head-to-head competition and standout pitches, The Arena 2026 is heading into its final round, bringing together some of the top student entrepreneurs from across Canada.

Now in its sixth year, The Arena, hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, has grown significantly in both reach and reputation, with a record 41 post-secondary institutions participating. What began with 64 student competitors has now narrowed to just two finalists, each representing the increasing ambition and innovation of student founders nationwide.

Moving into the final round of competition are Haden Harrison from the University of Calgary and Meghan Brar from the University of Guelph.

Haden founded Agrivanna, an agtech startup providing AI-powered virtual fencing and comprehensive herd management solutions tailored for large-scale Canadian ranching.

Meghan created Belaris Biotech, a medtech venture focused on advancing regenerative medicine through smart drug-delivery systems.

While both ventures are in different industries, they share a common goal: building solutions that are innovative, scalable and meaningful. Their final pitches will test not only their ideas but also their ability to clearly communicate and execute them under pressure.

As the competition has evolved, so too has the calibre of talent, with participants and judges setting a new standard for excellence.

“Now into its sixth year, we’ve set a new standard. We see the level of ambition get better every year, and this cohort is no exception,” says Michael Sanderson, Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. “By recruiting national business leaders to support our student entrepreneurs, we’ve turned The Arena into a platform where students aren’t just pitching ideas, they’re building real, scalable businesses.”

Beyond the diverse range of student ventures showcased this year, the final round features a panel of seven distinguished judges representing Canada’s business landscape. Spanning across sectors from banking and technology to social entrepreneurship and investment, these leaders, many of whom have built and scaled their own companies, bring invaluable, firsthand experience to the stage.

"I'm thrilled to be judging The Arena because the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs deserves a stage that matches their ambition,” says Mark Brand, Chef & Social Impact Entrepreneur, Upward Kitchens.

“Right here in Nova Scotia, that entrepreneurial energy is the backbone of our communities, and this competition pushes student founders to sharpen their ideas, think on their feet and rise to the moment. I can’t wait to see what they bring.”

— Mark Brand

Alongside Mark, the judging panel also includes Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92 (Metronomics), Diane Lafontaine (BDC), Janice Buchanan (Irving Oil), Jennifer Grimm (LUX Beauty), Orlane Panet (MicroHabitat) and Dr. Michael Khan (Saint Mary’s University).

Together, these judges have the experience to see exactly how a startup can grow, run smoothly and stay successful in the long run. They’ll be looking at each pitch from every angle—from the big-picture strategy to the day-to-day details. To learn more about this year’s judges, visit our webpage.

Watch the final round live

With two exceptional competitors and a panel of experienced judges, the stage is set for a compelling final round, one that reflects how far The Arena has come and the new standard it continues to set for student pitch competitions in Canada.

The Arena 2026 finals will take place on Thursday, April 2, at 7 p.m. ADT, where one finalist will be named the next champion and awarded the $10,000 grand prize sponsored by Metronomics, founded by CEO Shannon Susko BComm’89 BSc’92.

A finals watch party will be held at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University, 5907 Gorsebrook Avenue, in room SH211.

Can’t make it? You can also tune in live on LinkedIn, YouTube or Facebook.

Saint Mary’s students earn recognition as 2026 Frank H. Sobey Award winners

Olivian Sanderson

Conrad Scotchburn

Two students from Saint Mary's University have been named among the eight recipients of the prestigious Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies, recognizing their outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to community impact. 

Olivian Sanderson of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, a third-year student known for her strong academic performance and active engagement in the Saint Mary’s community, and Conrad Scotchburn of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, a fourth-year student recognized for his leadership and commitment to excellence in business studies, are the University’s 2026 award recipients. Selected through a rigorous process, they were chosen from a competitive pool of 34 nominees put forward by business school deans across Atlantic Canada. 

Each year, the Frank H. Sobey Awards celebrate undergraduate business students who demonstrate excellence not only in academics but also in entrepreneurship, leadership, philanthropy and future career potential. This year’s cohort reflects a diverse and accomplished group of emerging leaders from across the region. 

As award recipients, they will each receive $50,000 and be paired with an experienced mentor through the program—an element consistently highlighted by past winners as one of the award’s most valuable aspects. 

Demonstrating leadership and peer support

During her time at Saint Mary’s, Olivian has been active in programs at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, including the award-winning Enactus team. This helped her create Sociable, an online community platform that helps students connect, get peer support and gain access to campus events. "The Frank H. Sobey Award gives me space and the resources needed to build my business or start other ventures that also contribute to the mission I have of helping young students," she said.

Conrad used his experience as a former varsity athlete and business student to create Sideline Reset, an app that connects student athletes with peers who share their unique mental health concerns. "Winning the Frank H. Sobey Award is an incredible honour and validation of the hard work I put in." Learn more about their businesses in the videos below.

In addition to the eight winners, 26 other finalists will receive $3,500 scholarships in recognition of their achievements. 

Established in 1989, the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies support the development of future business leaders at universities across Atlantic Canada. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $4 million to students. 

For Saint Mary’s, the recognition highlights the strength of its business students and their growing impact both locally and globally. 

Watch:

How leaders at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre are building their own venture

Michael Sanderson MBA’08 and Meredith Drost BComm’19 MTEI’25, leaders at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, have started their own venture called Athena’s Playground

At the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, supporting entrepreneurs doesn’t stop at mentorship; it often means leading by example. That’s exactly what the Director, Michael Sanderson MBA’08 and Manager, Business Design, Meredith Drost BComm’19 MTEI’25 and their third co-founder, Mukul Gupta BSc’14, are doing through their latest venture, Athena’s Playground.

They co-founded Athena’s Playground, an online learning platform designed to bring people together through shared interests; whether that’s cooking, dance, photography or other creative pursuits. Building on the idea that learning should feel accessible, social and inspiring, the platform creates a community where people can explore new hobbies and connect with others from around the world.

“We wanted to create something that makes learning feel more accessible, connected and rooted in community,” says Meredith Drost. “Turning lessons from local experts into bite-sized micro-sessions makes new skills more attainable.”

The venture is entering an exciting new phase with the launch of its Kickstarter campaign. For the co-founders, the campaign represents more than just fundraising—it’s an opportunity to test, validate and grow the business to 50 trainers, bringing on new courses and applying the same entrepreneurial principles they use every day at the Centre.

Their dual role as educators and active founders highlights a core strength of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre: its commitment to experiential learning. By actively building and scaling a venture, Michael and Meredith are reinforcing the Centre’s approach of learning by doing, demonstrating what it looks like to take an idea from concept to market.

“This is exactly what we’re doing with Athena’s Playground,” says Michael Sanderson, “taking an idea and building it into something we can test, refine and grow.”

The Kickstarter campaign also reflects the collaborative and community-driven mindset that defines Athena’s Playground. Supporters are not just backing a product; they’re helping shape a platform designed to make learning more engaging and become a part of the community.

Through Athena’s Playground, Michael and Meredith are creating a new kind of learning platform while showing exactly what it means to lead from within the entrepreneurial journey.

Discover how the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre supports ventures like Athena’s Playground and follow their journey through their live Kickstarter campaign.

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Watch:

The founders of Athena’s Playground were recently featured on Global News Morning Halifax.