IN THE NEWS: “So You Want My Job: Non-Profit Executive” – London Inc. Magazine

Karen Gallant, the new CEO of Junior Achievement South Western Ontario, chats about working to make a difference, the digital transformation and her short-lived accountant aspirations.

KAREN GALLANT IS the new CEO of Junior Achievement South Western Ontario, replacing Bev Robinson, who retired after running the London organization for nearly 15 years. Prior to taking the role in May, Gallant was a vice-president with Junior Achievement Canada.

JA Waterloo Region 50th Anniversary Campaign raises $170,451!

Kitchener, ON, July 5th, 2021 – After a nine-month celebration and fundraising campaign, Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region has raised over 170% of their original campaign goal with a total of $170,451.

 

“We’re thrilled to see the community recognize the importance of Junior Achievement and the essential proactive education it brings to our students,” said Murray Flanagan, JA Waterloo Region Board Chair and 50th Campaign Committee Chair.  “This support will go a long way to helping youth prepare for their financial futures, pursuing necessary education along the way, and staying out of the cycle of poverty.”

 

Since forming on September 22nd, 1970, JA Waterloo Region has provided 50 years of cost-free programming in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to students in Grades 3-12.  In 2020, with the help of community volunteers, JA quickly pivoted to deliver programs in an online interactive format to ensure that no student missed this important training due to the global pandemic.

 

In the 2020-21 school year, JA Waterloo Region reached over 6400 students through a variety of virtual programs.  Several programs ran in partnership with JA South Western Ontario, which provided exciting new collaboration and innovation opportunities to students and volunteers across the broader region.

 

“This outpouring of support through our campaign allows the innovation to continue,” said Karen Gallant, recently appointed President and CEO of JA Waterloo Region and JA South Western Ontario. “Keep an eye out for some exciting new growth in programming in the region over the next few years.”

 

Gallant wished to thank the members of the campaign committee Murray Flanagan, Ian Cook, and Darrin Snider, as well as retiring Interim President and CEO Bev Robinson for their hard work in bringing this campaign to fruition. She added, “It was wonderful seeing the stories coming in from JA Alumni and volunteers sharing the lasting impact JA has made on their lives.  It really highlighted the importance of this work and how it ultimately lifts our community as a whole.”

IN THE NEWS: “Stop, Drop, open up shop” – London, Inc. Magazine

Turning its focus to ­transitioning onsite ­programs into virtual experiences, Junior Achievement continues the learning — and learns a little itself, too

CAN YOU FORM a successful business with 15 people you have never met in person and likely never will?

That was the question posed to students involved in Junior Achievement’s Company Program (a four-month program that teaches grade nine to 12 students how to organize and operate a real business) last year, when it became apparent that JA was not going to be able to use the traditional in-person program model for the 2020-21 school year.

Stop, drop, open up shop

JA hosts free online “Empowered Women” event for high school students on March 3rd

JA hosts free online “Empowered Women” event for high school students on March 3rd

 

London & Kitchener, ON, February 25, 2021 – Junior Achievement South Western Ontario and Junior Achievement Waterloo Region are teaming up to present “World of Choices: Empowered Women”, a free online conference for female-identifying high school students across the region. The event runs from 6:30-9PM on March 3rd, 2021 and features an exciting panel of leaders from various fields, career mentors in breakout sessions, and other innovators and motivators.

 

“World of Choices: Empowered Women” is also supported by community supporter RBC Foundation and regional partner Business Education Partnership of Waterloo Region. Students can register for free tickets here: https://hopin.com/events/woc-empowered_women.

 

“We hope that every young woman in high school will take advantage of this incredible opportunity,” said Bev Robinson, President & CEO of JA South Western Ontario.  “It’s so important to see the difference female leaders are making in their fields and gather inspiration from their stories. JA is proud to be hosting this powerful group of women to help energize the leaders of tomorrow.”

 

Highlights of the event include:

 

“A Leader in Her Field” Panel with:

  • Mandy Rennehan – Blue-Collar CEO™ & Founder, Freshco.ca (not the grocery store!) . She is redefining the collar, blue™ to help solve the massive skilled trade shortage in North America.
  • Celina Caesar-Chavannes – Business consultant, coach and international speaker. Author of “Can You Hear Me Now?” published by Penguin Random House Canada. Former Member of Parliament for Whitby, Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development.
  • Carinne Chambers-Saini – CEO and Co-Founder of Diva International Inc., makers of the DivaCup®. Activein 35 countries, over the last three years Diva has experienced double-digit growth. To date, Diva has sold over 6.5million DivaCups worldwide, taking the inner revolution, global.
  • Becky Kellar-Duke – RBC Olympian, Ice Hockey. Four-time Olympic Medalist, four-time world champion.
  • Juliana Dalla Costa (Moderator) – Communications and Digital Media Specialist who hosts “Her Defined”, a podcast that focuses on motivated and influential entrepreneurs and businesswomxn.

 

Career Breakout Sessions where students learn more about individual career interests from Mentors in the industry.  Many careers will be covered, but here are a few examples:

 

  • Nikki Noble – Head of Welding, Lambton College
  • Elena Favaro Viana – Lawyer for Online Coaches & Entrepreneurs
  • Melissa Skrebutenas – Pilot with Air Canada
  • Lisa Porter, PhD – Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Windsor and the Executive Director of WE-SPARK Health Institute

 

Innovation/Inspiration/Motivation Moments including quick presentations from speakers like:

  • Alia Youssef – A portrait and documentary photographer interested in complicating representations of marginalized groups, in particular Canadian Muslim communities.
  • Sara Packard – An advocate and teacher of radical self love and emotional well being through eMOTION movement classes, meditation and one on one coaching.
  • La Quira Young – A dancer and performer who has danced for major companies including Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line, who spreads light and joy through movement, speech and song.

 

The evening will be emceed by Vanessa Rempel, creator and founder of Her Stories Co., a social community, and TV Show on Rogers TV that celebrates and supports women and their achievements, by sharing female driven stories.

 

To learn more about the event, visit: https://www.jacanada.org/event/empowered-women-woc