Entrepreneurship and business training are vital for nurturing the next generation of leaders. Immersive experiences can help youth, women and students develop critical skills, gain valuable insights and connect with mentors, all of which foster a culture of innovation and economic growth.
As Domtar, Paper Excellence Canada and Resolute Forest Products unite, we embrace our shared commitment to empowering local communities. By supporting educational programs, we not only uplift individual participants but also contribute to the long-term prosperity of the communities we serve.
Take a look at some of our recent investments in entrepreneurship and business training.
Increasing Career Readiness
Domtar recently collaborated with SuitUp, a nonprofit educational organization, to host a special competition for 17 high school students at the Ashdown Mill. SuitUp aims to increase career readiness among students through innovative business training events that empower students to explore their passions through experiential learning and mentorship from corporate volunteers.
The competition engaged students in product development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution for a potential new Domtar product. Four teams of students toured the mill and worked with Domtar professionals to develop marketing strategies and design plans for their competition entries. Ashdown Schools Superintendent Casey Nichols also encouraged the students throughout the event, which ended with students pitching their ideas to a panel of judges.
“The SuitUp/Domtar experience was like no other,” one student says. “It taught us about teamwork, collaboration, innovation and leadership. We learned to think outside the box and gained real-world skills that will benefit us in the future. Overall, SuitUp was an empowering experience. We will continue to apply Domtar’s core values of agility, caring, and innovation in our lives. Thank you, Domtar and SuitUp, for this opportunity!”
Lending a Helping Hand
Resolute’s long-standing involvement in the Tapuetatish “Believe in Yourself” women’s entrepreneurship camp and the “My Way” youth entrepreneurship camp has been pivotal for Indigenous women and youth from the Mashteuiatsh community. These camps, which are managed by Quebec’s Société de Développement Économique Ilnu de Mashteuiatsh (SDEI), provide essential entrepreneurial skills and guidance to women aged 36 and older and young people aged 18 to 35.
The camps allow participants to master various aspects of entrepreneurship, such as business modeling, financing strategies and effective project presentation techniques. At the end of the camps, participants showcase their projects to a jury, who then select the most promising ventures.
Rémi Néron, Saint-Félicien pulp mill human resources manager, has been a jury member almost every year since the camps’ inception.
“The progress made by these future entrepreneurs is truly impressive,” he says. “The skills they develop are invaluable not only for entrepreneurship but also for everyday life. Many have successfully launched their projects, while others have taken new directions in their lives, such as finding their first job, re-entering the job market or returning to school. Watching them present their projects is an emotional experience, filled with pride, a desire to excel, courage and determination.”
Fostering Youth Entrepreneurship
Paper Excellence supports youth entrepreneurship on Vancouver Island through business training initiatives like the Bears’ Lair Dream Camps. This reality TV series features a three-day camp designed for Indigenous youth aged 13 to 18. The camp provides hands-on learning experiences, insights from guest speakers and mentorship opportunities, equipping participants with the fundamental business knowledge necessary for future entrepreneurial success.
Participants are guided through the process of creating, naming and branding a company. They also identify target markets, source products or supplies, develop marketing plans and calculate costs and profits. The camp highlights local Indigenous businesses and role models, inspiring participants to follow their passions and carve their own paths in entrepreneurship. Indigenous values and protocols from the host territory, Cowichan Tribes, help participants stay connected to their cultural roots.
“Our focus is on Indigenous youth and their potential to represent future businesses in British Columbia,” says Lana Wilhelm, Paper Excellence’s director of Indigenous relations, who participated as a coach. “We value the opportunity to foster their business training in ways like this. They are led by an accomplished team.”
