The goal of the event is to help young entrepreneurs to realize that opening and running a business is a realistic form of income and even wealth generator.

Ontario is now the worst province outside of Atlantic Canada for youth unemployment. The 2013 unemployment rate for Ontario youth between the ages of 15 and 24 ranged between 16 and 17.1 per cent, higher than the average Canadian range of 13.5 to 14.5 per cent.

Recognizing this problem, the focus for this year's Be the Boss event is on current high school students and entrepreneurs. The youth portion of the event will be centralized around educating young people about entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Youth will access local organizations and entrepreneurs at UNIFOR and will travel to the York Entrepreneurship Development Institute to attend workshops and compete in a pitch competition. The high-school students have the choice to pitch their business idea individually or within a team.

Who can participate?

The ‘entrepreneur's marketplace’ is accessible to those who already have a business idea or have registered their business and want to showcase their product or service to the general public for free. The general public is invited to this event as well, and there’s a BBQ planned in the early evening for everyone, along with a celebration for all the youth participants.

The August 12 event will be held at UNIFOR which is located at 30 Tangiers Road, in the Keele and Finch neighbourhood starting at 11:00 am.

If you know a young person who should attend this program or have more questions contact (416) 658-3101 ext. 300.