More Than a Business: What Students Learn Through JA Company Program
From developing a product to navigating challenges as a team, JA Company Program gives students the opportunity to experience what it really takes to build and operate a business. For students participating in JA Company Program, the experience goes beyond developing a product or making sales. Over the course of the program, they take on real responsibilities and work alongside their peers and make decisions that shape their businesses. JA Company Program gives high school students the opportunity to transform an idea into a functioning small business and gaining hands-on experience across areas such as product development, marketing, sales, financial management and teamwork. But according to students who have experienced the program firsthand, some of the most valuable lessons happen beyond the business plan. Hear from our Students Learning to lead, delegate and ask for help For Iris O’Keefe, a student from Henry Wise Wood High School in Alberta, her experience as VP Marketing for BloomBar taught her the importance of stepping up and learning to lead through challenges. BloomBar developed handmade soap bars packaged in plantable, seed-embedded paper, with a goal of reducing packaging waste while building a community around its product. “I learned the importance of leadership, and how to step up for what I believe in,” Iris shared. Her experience also taught her the importance of asking for help. As the company grew, she found herself balancing JA responsibilities with schoolwork and realized she needed additional support from her team. “I learned that asking for help is not as scary as it seems,” she said. For another student, who served as President of BloomBar, leadership meant learning when to listen rather than immediately trying to solve a problem. “Oftentimes, everyone is eager to come up with solutions, but especially in circumstances like conflict, encouragement through listening and understanding really brings up a team,” the student explained. That experience helped them better understand their teammates’ strengths and become more flexible when plans changed. Turning an idea into something real One of the most rewarding parts of Company Program is seeing an idea move from concept to reality. “I really loved being able to work with everyone on my team and really see how just this idea could turn into a real product,” the BloomBar President shared. That same sense of accomplishment stood out for Iris, who said the experience changed how she viewed her own capabilities. “I truly believe now that if I have a dream I am now able to achieve it.” For Qasim Pardhan of Oakridge Secondary School in Ontario, that transformation happened over four years in JA Company Program. Qasim participated throughout all four years of high school, taking on roles including VP of Finance, VP of Technology and President. His companies included Cargo Clean, SCAN Apparel, Bloom Bracelets and ReSwipe. His teams experienced success at the regional and national levels, with ReSwipe ultimately winning Company of the Year at the JA Canada national competition. Yet when asked what surprised him most about the program, Qasim didn’t point to the awards. “Going in I didn’t expect an extracurricular to teach me as much about leadership, teamwork, and communication as it did.” Learning through real challenges The hands-on nature of Company Program means students also encounter challenges that can’t always be solved by following a textbook. For Qasim, one of the biggest lessons was delegation. Instead of trying to handle every task himself, he learned how to train others, trust his teammates with responsibility and create systems that helped the company operate more efficiently. He also developed practical skills in task management, spreadsheets and automation that he expects to use well beyond entrepreneurship. For the BloomBar President, another important lesson came from discovering just how much a company’s presentation can influence its success. “Customers don’t necessarily see all the work that happens behind the scenes but they see the brand and the experience you create around the product,” the student said. The experience showed them that having a strong product is only part of the equation. How a company communicates and markets that product can influence how customers respond to it. The value of stepping outside your comfort zone While each student entered Company Program with a different role and experience, their advice to future participants was remarkably consistent: take the opportunity and get involved. “It’s an environment where you’re allowed to mess up, and you’ll learn a ton from that,” Qasim said. He encourages students to stick with the experience even if it feels uncomfortable at first, emphasizing that many of the skills developed through the program extend well beyond business. Another student offered similar advice, encouraging participants to attend as many trade shows as possible to meet new people, practice talking about their products and build confidence. For Iris, Company Program is an opportunity for students who want to learn how businesses are built, solve problems and connect with like-minded peers. “JA Company Program is where you’ll find your calling.” Building skills that go beyond entrepreneurship The students’ experiences reflect what makes JA Company Program different from simply learning about business in a classroom. By creating and operating a real venture, students have the opportunity to apply their learning, work through uncertainty and see the results of their decisions firsthand. They develop skills in areas including teamwork, leadership, marketing, sales and financial management, while also building confidence, communication and problem-solving skills. And sometimes, the most lasting lesson isn’t about running a company at all. It’s learning how to trust a team, speak up when you need support, make a difficult decision, try something outside your comfort zone and keep going when things don’t go according to plan. Ready to build something of your own? Learn more about JA Company Program and how students can get involved: JA Company Program Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Helping Youth Imagine What Comes Next: Inside JA Canada’s World of Choices
A career decision can feel very big when you don’t know what’s possible or what options are out there. For many young people, the world of work can feel like a collection of familiar job titles and pathways they may not know exist, making it difficult to imagine where their interests and skills could take them. That’s where mentorship and exposure can make a difference. According to MENTOR Canada’s Mapping the Mentoring Gap study, 54% of young adults recalled at least one time during their childhood or adolescence when they wished they had a mentor but did not have access to one (MENTOR Canada, 2021). This highlights the importance of creating opportunities for young people to build supportive relationships and explore their futures. JA Canada’s World of Choices is designed to change that by helping youth explore what’s possible, discover new career pathways and build confidence as they prepare for their future. Through conversations with professionals across a wide range of industries, gives young people something they can’t get from a career list, the opportunity to see the possibilities for their future. Throughout the 2025–26 academic year, World of Choices connected 18,925 young people across Canada with professionals who shared more than their job titles – they shared the experiences that shaped their careers. These conversations can be powerful because career paths rarely happen in a straight line. A student who arrives thinking they have one future in mind may leave having discovered an entirely different possibility. But perhaps the clearest measure of that impact comes from the students themselves. Their reflections offer a glimpse into how these conversations can shape the way young people think about careers, possibilities and their own potential. World of Choices is made possible because professionals and organizations are willing to open the door and share what they’ve learned. Their role goes beyond supporting an event. By sharing their experiences, volunteers help young people understand that careers are built through exploration, curiosity and sometimes unexpected opportunities. The world of work continues to change, and the choices young people face are becoming increasingly complex. That makes access to real-world perspectives more important than ever. As JA Canada enters another year of World of Choices, the goal remains simple: give young people more possibilities to consider before they decide what comes next. Because sometimes, one conversation is all it takes to make a career feel possible. Learn more about the World of Choices program and how you can get involved: Learn more here Source: MENTOR Canada. (2021). Mapping the Mentoring Gap: The State of Mentoring in Canada. Love0 Share Share Share Pin
JA Canada Launches Alumni Advantage Platform with Founding Partner Elevating Human Capabilities Fund
August 13, 2026 National For 60 years, JA Canada has been shaping the next generation of leaders. Today, we are delighted to announce an investment in what comes next — engaging JA alumni throughout their careers and creating new opportunities to lead, learn, connect, and contribute. JA is proud to welcome Zabeen Hirji through the Elevating Human Capabilities Fund (EHC Fund) as the Founding Partner of JA Canada’s Alumni Advantage Platform. The Platform is JA Canada’s new national alumni engagement strategy, designed to strengthen lifelong connections, celebrate alumni achievement, accelerate careers and entrepreneurship, and inspire alumni to make social impact. Now in her Purposeful Third Act, Zabeen Hirji’s current roles include Governor on the Board of JA Worldwide, Chancellor of Trent University, and Executive Advisor to business and public sector leaders. Following a distinguished career at a major Canadian bank, culminating as Chief Human Resources Officer, her cross-sector work focuses on helping organizations and communities strengthen leadership and workforces for an AI-enabled world. “The future will be shaped by people who never stop leading, learning, and creating opportunities for others. JA Alumni Advantage is building an intergenerational alumni community to cultivate responsible leadership, advance careers and entrepreneurial ambitions, and create opportunities that ripple far beyond themselves. I’m excited to support this initiative, which reflects my belief that investing in people is one of the most powerful ways to unlock human potential and build inclusive prosperity in an AI-enabled world,” said Zabeen Hirji. The Elevating Human Capabilities Fund’s multi-year investment will help build a vibrant national alumni community. It will expand opportunities for alumni to network, mentor, volunteer, advocate, continue learning, and contribute to JA’s mission. “This founding commitment will support JA Canada’s ongoing efforts to connect and unlock the potential of alumni and fuel the engagement of a thriving community that will connect thousands of JA alumni as mentors, volunteers, advocates, and champions,” said Scott Hillier, CEO of JA Canada. This milestone partnership, recently announced at the Canadian Business Hall of Fame, will mobilize JA alumni across Canada, enable the annual JA Alumni Achievers Celebration, and launch a new Learning and Leadership Series designed to support alumni across their career and entrepreneurial journeys. By bringing together alumni across generations, the Platform reflects a shared belief that learning and leadership do not end when a JA program concludes. It will strengthen the human capabilities and relationships that matter most in an AI-enabled world while celebrating alumni achievement through a new national award and annual recognition experience. The initiative also builds on the strength of JA’s global alumni network. “Our alumni demonstrate that the impact of JA extends far beyond the classroom. With over 150 million alumni from more than 100 countries, JA has cultivated a global network of leaders who continue to shape business, government, and civil society,” said Asheesh Advani, Global CEO, JA Worldwide. “We are deeply grateful to Zabeen Hirji, a member of the JA Worldwide Board of Governors, for this catalytic investment which will help JA Canada become an innovation lab and network leader in showing how connected alumni can mentor the next generation of leaders!” said Advani. JA alumni are invited to join the JA Alumni Advantage Platform and become part of a growing, multi-generational community committed to lifelong learning, responsible leadership, and creating opportunities for others. Join Gather, the global JA alumni network, and explore a network full of opportunities. Organizations and individuals interested in supporting the Platform through partnerships, programming, mentoring, or sponsorship are encouraged to connect with JA Canada to learn more contact Oli Maynard-Langedijk, Director, Business Development & Partnerships at [email protected]. Love1 Share Share Share Pin
Capital One and Junior Achievement of Canada launch national partnership to invest in youth financial literacy
June 25, 2026 National Capital One and JA Canada are partnering over three years to provide 36,650 financial literacy learning experiences to young people across Canada, helping build stronger financial futures nationwide. This collaboration supports a suite of high-impact programs: Read Full Press Release Here Building Impact Together: Watch our Partnership Video https://youtu.be/JtcHQXv8ryI?si=9CiscegNXZ8uEG9U Capital One Volunteer Registration Interest Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Celebrating a Transformative Partnership with Z Zurich Foundation for Mental Well-being
Empowering the Next Generation: Wrapping Up Phase I and Looking Ahead.
Over the past three years (2022-2025), our partnership with Z Zurich Foundation has empowered youth across Canada by promoting mental wellbeing and resiliency as critical pillars for lifelong success.
Long-standing Funding Support Helps JA Close Critical Gaps in Youth Financial Education
December 16, 2025 National TORONTO, Dec. 16, 2025 /CNW/ – Financial Literacy has never been more essential for young people in Canada. As students navigate an increasingly elaborate financial landscape marked by the rising cost of living, new technologies and changing economic realities, the need for financial education is part of the evolving landscape we’re responding to. As stated by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, “financial literacy has taken on increased importance in an ever more complex financial world.” This message is the driving force for Junior Achievement of Canada (JA Canada), that remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing financial empowerment to youth with funding support from TD Bank Group (TD). As JA’s National Financial Literacy Sponsor, TD supports program development and innovation as well as the delivery of a foundational program, Dollars with Sense. Through these programs, JA aims to create meaningful and lasting impact by ensuring students gain essential skills that can help build everyday financial confidence and help enable them to make real-world decisions that can support their long-term success. “Effective financial literacy education requires the collaboration of multiple organizations,” said Scott Hillier, President & CEO of JA Canada. “TD amplifies this work by bringing real-world expertise into classrooms and supporting program innovation that helps equips students with practical financial skills for life.” Students who have participated in JA Canada’s program have already experienced remarkable outcomes, including: These results reflect the types of learning experiences JA aims to create to help strengthen the financial health of young people across the country. “As students navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape, JA Canada’s work plays a vital role in helping young people build confidence in everyday money management. That’s why, we’re proud to support JA Canada as it continues to create opportunities for youth to access practical financial education that can help contribute to long-term financial well-being.” Said Robyn Small, Senior Manager, Philanthropy, Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. Looking ahead, and with continued support from TD over the next three years, JA Canada is proud to continue its mission to equip 80,000 students with the essential tools, knowledge, and confidence to help them succeed. Love0 Share Share Share Pin
CIRO Article: Better Financial Literacy for the Kids of Today and Tomorrow
December 05, 2025 National How do you teach kids financial literacy when most adults never learned it themselves? This November for Financial Literacy Month, CIRO is encouraging adults to “Talk Money” with kids and youth by providing a Parents’ Guide to Raising Money-Smart Kids. But another way might be found through Junior Achievement Canada (JA Canada). JA Canada delivers hands-on, immersive and digital learning experiences that help inspire kids, translating financial concepts into real-life experience. “Kids don’t always learn about finances at home or sometimes it doesn’t resonate when it comes from a parent,” says Jennifer James, Vice-President of Programs and Charter Services at JA Canada. “Engaging in an interactive and fun learning experience through JA can make all the difference.” At JA Canada, financial literacy is a core life skill. Their programs, such as More than Money, Dollars with Sense, Scam Smarts, Investment Strategies and Personal Finance aim to provide in-class or independent learning to help students learn how saving, spending and investing shape their futures. Many participate through JA Campus, an online learning hub for youth, educators and parents that can be accessed remotely or through a local JA office, making it easy for parents or educators to bring these options into the home or classroom. JA in Canada has also built strong partnerships with schools, helping to create the systemic change needed to support long-term financial well-being. Read Full Article on CIRO Website Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Press Release: Strategic Partnerships Fuel JA Canada’s Renewal of Investment Strategies Program
November 05, 2025 National With support of CIRO, Wealthsimple Foundation, and a consortium of partners, JA in Canada will equip over 25,000 students annually with responsible investment education. TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2025 /CNW/ – Junior Achievement of Canada (JA Canada) is excited to announce the renewal of its signature Investment Strategies Program (ISP), a dynamic classroom experience designed to equip students with essential investing knowledge, now with a fresh look, flexible format, and made possible through new partnerships with the Wealthsimple Foundation, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), and a consortium of supporting foundations and partners committed to financial health. As outlined by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Canadians today face an increasingly complex and digital financial marketplace. The national vision is to build a more accessible, inclusive, and effective financial literacy ecosystem; that work starts with preparing our young people today. This program empowers students to build a strong foundation in investing fundamentals, while gaining hands-on experience through a real-time Stock Market Simulation. As educators look to equip youth with skills and experience to prepare for their financial futures, JA’s Investment Strategies Program is one of the most in-demand financial literacy programs nationally. With the renewal of this vital initiative, JA Canada aims to scale its reach, directly impacting over more than 250,000 students over the next 10 years. This expansion marks a significant milestone: ISP will now be accessible to learners coast-to-coast-to-coast in both English and French, with an anticipated growth of 40% more youth learning experiences year over year. What’s New in the Program? Designed with both educators and students in mind, the renewed program introduces a modular and flexible format, making it easier than ever to integrate into classroom learning. The redesigned program features interactive learning content, videos, and engaging student activities. The program, consisting of eight modules, each ranging from 30 to 90 minutes, provides teachers with the flexibility to deliver the full curriculum or select specific modules based on their classroom needs. Students develop a personal investment plan to apply key investing concepts in a real-world context. And in addition to the curriculum, students take part in an interactive six-week Stock Market Simulation, where they apply their knowledge in real time, gaining both foundational investment skills and practical experience. Key program enhancements: Sustainable, responsible & safe investing lessons Modernized interactive stock market simulation Redesigned learning content, videos, and engaging student activities Industry partnership integrations for real-world market insights, career pathways, and opportunity/knowledge sharing “We’re incredibly grateful to our financial and education partners whose support drives key initiatives like JA’s Investment Strategy program.” said Jennifer James, JA Canada Vice President, Programs and Charter Services. “Their investment enables us to create and deliver high-quality, experiential learning resources that not only align with curriculum, but also make a lasting impact on the lives of young people. Together, we’re equipping youth with the confidence and financial capability to shape a stronger, more secure future.” New Partnerships Powering the Relaunch The renewal of the Investment Strategies Program is made possible through the support of new National Development Partners: Wealthsimple Foundation and CIRO. These partners bring a shared commitment to youth education, financial literacy, and equitable access to future-ready skills across Canada. “At Wealthsimple Foundation, we know the path to financial freedom starts with building confidence and that confidence comes from access. Investing shouldn’t feel intimidating or out of reach,” says Emily Naddaf, Director, Wealthsimple Foundation. “Our partnership with Junior Achievement and CIRO will help make learning about investing simpler and more fun for students from coast to coast. We’re eager to continue to infuse the fun and fresh approach Wealthsimple Foundation is known for into Canada’s largest student investing initiative.” “CIRO aims to support Canadian investors in their investment journey, beginning with financial skills and know-how for children and youth,” said Alexandra Williams, Senior Vice-President, Strategy, Innovation and Stakeholder Protection. “We are thrilled to assist Junior Achievement Canada in the renewed Investment Strategies Program, and to help more young Canadians access the training and skills they need to become savvy investors.” Together, we’re working to ensure that all young Canadians, regardless of geography or background, have access to the knowledge and tools they need to confidently navigate financial decision making and explore careers in the financial sector. View Press Release Love0 Share Share Share Pin
Z Zurich Foundation and JA Commit to Youth Mental Well-Being and Resilience
February 20, 2026 National Our partnership promotes mental wellbeing and resilience in JA’s program suite to positively impact of 355,000 young people in the next three years. Expanding Our Commitment: Looking Ahead to Part II Empowering the Next Generation: Wrapping Up Phase I Love0 Share Share Share Pin
BMO and JA Launch National Partnership at Guiding the Future Event
Partnership Video Left to Right: Zabeen Hirji, Carolyn Booth, Rachel Bruce, Asheesh Advani,Mona Malone, Larissa Chaikowsky, Dusya Vera Read the Full Partnership Press Release On September 19th BMO hosted Guiding the Future which convened 300 individuals – BMO employees, community-based organizations, higher education partners, and members of the community – for an address by Junior Achievement Worldwide CEO, Asheesh Advani. The event also featured an engaging panel focused on youth future skills, and the importance of developing the next generation of leaders. Volunteer With JA Love0 Share Share Share Pin