Ledcor Cares

Two years ago, Ledcor made a $200,000 commitment over five years to support Junior Achievement youth business education programs in both Alberta and BC regions. As part of that commitment, Ledcor sponsors two annual entrepreneurial awards for high school students who organized and operated an actual business. 

Junior Achievement (JA) is the largest youth business education organization in Canada. By practicing applicable, hands-on skills and gaining exposure to real-world business experiences, participants in the program learn financial literacy, marketing skills, work readiness, and entrepreneurship through the creation of their own team business. Participants experience every facet of small business start-ups, including identifying a business need, generating starting capital, producing and pricing a product, and sales and marketing.

The JA program is delivered by local professionals who share their hands-on business experience. Many JA participants stated that the program significantly impacted their decision to stay in school and enroll in post-secondary education. In total, over 4 million Canadian youth have completed the JA program since 1995. The first award sponsored by Ledcor went to a team from Duchess Park Secondary School in Prince George. Demonstrating excellence in teamwork, innovation, and outstanding planning and operation of their company, “Duchess Park Market Place” was awarded the first place prize, as well as $3000 to be used for post-secondary education. Their company sold five product lines during the Christmas holiday season; personal hygiene gift box, lanyards, holiday greeting cards, candy goodie bags, and holiday mugs. Seventeen students participated in the company and will all be given a portion of the prize for their continued education. Four of these students (pictured here) attended the Prince George Celebrate JA! Event to receive the award on behalf of their team. 

Ledcor’s second award contribution was to Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta and NWT Company. Emily Young , a grade 11 student from Hinton, Alberta   was the recipient of this year’s Junior Achievement Northern Achiever (JANA)  Award for her work as president of her team, “Straight Outta the Hood.” Raising  almost $11,000 in total sales from their branded hoodies, Hinton’s first year  participating in JA was a major success. Twenty-five other companies participated   in JANA, and over 250 participants and guests attended the award ceremonies.

Junior Achievement is a fantastic educational program that educates our country’s youth and gives them hands-on, real-world experience so that they are more fully equipped for success in life after high school. Ledcor is proud to contribute to educational and professional development programs such as this and congratulates all participants on their extraordinary accomplishments. We look forward to seeing your work again next year!