Ryerson Entrepreneur Institute - Prosperity Award

The Ryerson Entrepreneur Institute (REI) has received the Prosperity Award at the 2010 Urban Leadership Awards, which is an annual initiative of the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) designed to recognize those who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in Canada's cities and urban regions.

The Ryerson Entrepreneur Institute (REI) is supporting a values-driven culture of innovation, prosperity, and achievement by igniting a passion for entrepreneurship. Launched in 2008 by the Offices of the President and Provost at Ryerson University in harmony with President Sheldon Levy's city building strategy, REI helps entrepreneurs in the Greater Toronto Area start and grow sustainable businesses, non-profit organizations, and community programs. REI has facilitated the establishment and expansion of over 25 businesses that have raised over $800,000 in funding and created over $2,700,000 in economic prosperity in the GTA.
REI leverages Canada's largest entrepreneurship program to provide education, funding, and resources to potential and aspiring entrepreneurs, including high school students, university students, existing businesses, at-risk youth, young mothers, aboriginal Canadians, and recent immigrants. REI has had a direct positive impact on over 3,700 people and has supported many more through its network of 49 partner organizations.
REI is run by Ryerson's Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team, which has won over a dozen Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship awards. As Canada's only student-run entrepreneurship centre, REI gives students the real-world experience of managing over 100 employees and volunteers.
REI's StartMeUp and Start Smart programs provide participants with customized solutions to meet their unique situations and needs including motivational events, idea consultations, resources, a knowledge bank, and funding. REI also funds and supports several entrepreneurial communities, including:
• The Digital Media Zone (DMZ), a digital media incubator that enables students to design and launch digitally based entrepreneurial projects
• The Ryerson Angel Network (RAN), the only university-based Angel venture capital network in Canada
• Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SAGE) Canada
• Institute of Charity Directors of Canada (ICDC)
• Action Learning, The Ted Rogers School of Management's executive education program
• Entrepreneurial Practice Review (EPR), a peer-reviewed journal

REI is empowering individuals and communities by teaching them the philosophy of entrepreneurship: aspiration for positive change, fundamental belief in their own capacity to achieve, and inspiration for self-reliance. In addition to supporting the economic rewards of entrepreneurship and innovation, REI is kindling the human spirit—the foundation of prosperity.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Urban Leadership Awards
• Canadian Urban Institute
• CUI
• Keeframe Productions