MyMcMurray Portal

Former Prime Minister Paul Martin stopped by Father Merc today, to start a new Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Project.

Martin says the course will be a major opportunity for local students in Grades 11 and 12.

“For our business course, to be able to be integrated into some of this development work that the high school is doing, I think bodes really well for the future,” he said.

He says equipping local Aboriginal youth with business skills will be a big help in addressing aboriginal unemployment.

Addressing the students, he said the course will show them that entrepreneurship is essentially taking control of one’s own life.

“It doesn’t mean that you have to go into business, but it does mean that you have to have an understanding for the economy in the world in which we live, and I’m sure you will get that,” he said.

The program will start with a class of anywhere from 12 to 20 students with an even male to female ratio.

It is a full year course, it will talk about business principles and what it’s like to be an entrepreneur.

Students will research different aboriginal entrepreneurs, and even have a chance to create their own business.

Michael Hull will be teaching the course and says he has high expectations for it.

“To see one of them start their own business, or even just a job that has to do with business or anything else, for them to come back and tell me all about it,” he thinks is the best thing.

Martin says the program is the second of its kind in Alberta, but hopes it continues to spread.

“I would very much love to have people talking about what’s going on at Father Mercredi High School from coast-to-coast-to-coast,” he concluded.

October 17th, 2012