Ryerson University Students Named National Champions of Youth Empowerment

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - May 04, 2016) - Ryerson University has been named the 2016 Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge National Champion by this country's largest student leadership development organization, Enactus Canada, and proud program supporter Scotiabank.

The national competition took place at the 2016 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Toronto.

Enactus Ryerson won for directly impacting 214 youth with their innovative project, Growing North. Growing North aims to build a geodesic greenhouse dome to allow communities in northern Canada to grow their own food, which has the potential to feed up to 53% of their target community. Enactus Ryerson educated youth in the North on horticulture and entrepreneurship while giving them co-op placements and much needed work experience in the greenhouse.

"Congratulations to Ryerson University and all of the teams for their hard work and dedication on the Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge," said Terri Williams, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Scotiabank. "Through this Challenge, Enactus students deliver projects that address the needs and opportunities facing youth. Scotiabank is proud to be involved with Enactus as part of our commitment to supporting young people in communities across Canada."

The Scotiabank Youth Empowerment Challenge is a national competition empowering post-secondary students to develop and deliver projects that address the needs and opportunities facing youth, as it relates to education, learning skills and life-long success.

"These teams are making a real impact on the long-term sustainability of their communities by focusing on youth," says Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. "Enactus Canada is inspired by the ingenuity of our students, who will undoubtedly continue to empower others to become great leaders themselves."

The 2016 Enactus Canada National Exposition welcomed 1,500 delegates including the country's brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs to enable progress by supporting entrepreneurial action through competition, recognition and education.

For news throughout the year and competition results during the event, please visit @Enactus_Canada on Twitter.

ABOUT ENACTUS CANADA: Enactus Canada, this country's largest student leadership development organization, is shaping generations of entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. Guided by academic advisors and business experts, more than 2,650 entrepreneurial post-secondary students led 288 community empowerment projects and business ventures this past year in communities coast to coast. As a global network of 36 countries, Enactus uses the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. For more information, visit enactus.ca.

ABOUT SCOTIABANK: Through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average $50 million annually over the last five years to community causes around the world.

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and parts of Asia. We are dedicated to helping our 21 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking. With a team of more than 86,000 employees and assets of $852 billion (as at January 31, 2016) Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (BNS.TO) and New York Exchanges (BNS.TO).Scotiabank distributes the Bank's media releases using Marketwired. For more information please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.