Canadian youth are growing up in a time when spending is easier than ever, and debt is a way of life. This problem is exacerbated by hectic family schedules, which leave parents little time to teach their children about money management. Through JA Canada's newly updated Dollars with Sense program, presented by Coast Capital Savings Credit Union in British Columbia, students in grades 7 to 9 get the tools they need to make smart financial decisions, live debt-free, and become savvy investors. Students learn personal money management skills that they can apply to their lives, beginning now.

Making the decision to donate to an organization is often a very personal one, inspired by a story or experience related to the organization's cause. For Nitin Gaba and Jocelyn Tien, JA alumni and members of the JABC Young Alumni Network, investing in JA is simply their way of saying thank you.

A new partnership between the Province, JABC, Community Futures Development Corporation of the Central Interior First Nations and the Aboriginal Business Network is going to bring more business and skills training opportunities to Aboriginal youth in BC. This pilot project, Youth Aboriginal Business Circles will launch in eight communities and is modelled on JABC's Be Entrepreneurial program.

 

Now in its 5th year, this month-long event is an opportunity for BC to celebrate and recognize the contribution of small businesses to the BC economy. It is also JABC's opportunity to recognize and celebrate the businesses that have been created by our JA graduates. In case you haven't heard, JA graduates are 50% more likely to open their own business! We're going to share some of these businesses throughout Small Business Month so make sure you connect with us on social media to learn more about the innovative businesses and products our graduates are working on. 

For more information on Small Business Month, visit Small Business BC at www.smallbusinessbc.ca

Join Business in Vancouver and MacKay CEO Forums on November 1st when they will host their annual BC CEO Awards to honour outstanding Vancouver CEOs. The winning CEOs will share their leadership lessons to an audience made up of members of Vancouver's business community. 

The 2016 BC CEO Award winners are:

• Enterprise Category: Jonathan Whitworth, CEO, Seaspan ULC
• Large Company Category: David Browlie, President and CEO, Whistler Blackcomb
• Mid-Market Company Category: Debra Hewson, President and CEO, Odlum Brown Limited
• Small Firms Category: Greg Malpass, CEO, Enabler, Traction on Demand
• Not-for-Profit Category: Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Metro Vancouver

Once again, JA British Columbia is pleased to have been selected as the event's charity of choice and will be presented with a donation of $1500 at the event. Thank you to Business in Vancouver for supporting business education for youth! 

For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit www.biv.com/ceo

Following Small Business Month is Financial Literacy Month (FLM) which takes place across Canada during the month of November. FLM is organized by The Financial Literacy Action Group, a coalition of seven organizations that work to assist the financial literacy of Canadians (FLAG). JA Canada is a proud member of FLAG which is why JA charters across the country will be participating in Financial Literacy Month. 

Financial Literacy is one of JA's three pillars and our flagship financial literacy program, Dollars with Sense, presented by Coast Capital Savings Credit Union in British Columbia, provides students with personal money management skills and challenges them to apply concepts to their own lives. They learn to evaluate their financial decisions against their goals and are prepared to make smart, lifelong financial choices. According to a 2011 Boston Consulting Group study commissioned by JA Canada, 75% of JA graduates say that our programs had a significant impact on the development of their financial literacy.  

For more information about Financial Literacy Month, visit: http://www.financialliteracymonth.ca/ 

Community Futures British Columbia hosted their annual conference from September 21 to 23 and is an opportunity for community leaders whose work supports small business and community economic development across BC to meet and network. 

JABC was proud to receive their Partnership Recognition Award for our commitment to supporting entrepreneurship in BC. Thank you to Community Futures British Columbia for this award!

For more information about Community Futures British Columbia, visit www.communityfutures.ca

JABC is pleased to welcome our newest team members:

• Amy Appelle has joined as our Program Manager, Elementary Schools in Metro Vancouver. She comes to us with many years of experience working in the non-profit sector and with youth. Amy replaces Irene Phan who has taken over the Senior High programs for Metro Vancouver. 
   
• Caroline Johnson Klaver has joined the team as Special Events Manager. Caroline has over a decade of experience putting together events that range from small conferences to large galas. 

Please join us in welcoming Amy and Caroline!

Need to get in touch with a member of our team? Visit 

www.jabc.ca/contact