Who Can Participate?

Students in grades 10-12 from across B.C. may join at no cost.

2023-24 Program Dates

Start dates are various throughout the year. Meetings will run weeknights between 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm PST and students pick one meeting night for the duration of the program.

The program will not run over December or March breaks.

Time Commitment

Two hours each week will be required (including weekly team meetings and workshops), plus individual prep work.

Location

The program will be held in-person and online.

In-person meetings will have around ten students per evening program. For the online program, access to a computer/mobile device and a stable internet connection is required.

Mentorship Opportunities

Students get the opportunity to work with business leaders and entrepreneurs from across B.C.

Weekly 2-hour in-person meetings for 16 weeks

Start date: January 17, 2024

Meeting time: Wednesdays 6:00 – 8:00 PM PST

Location: 4747 Dunbar St, Vancouver, BC

Register here

Weekly 2-hour in-person meetings for 14 weeks

Start date: Fall 2024

Location: Whistler, B.C.

Get more information here


Weekly 2-hour Zoom meetings for 16 weeks 

Zoom session:

Start date: February 22, 2024

Meeting time: Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 PM PST

Location: Zoom meeting

Register here


Start date: March 18, 2024

End date: March 22, 2024

Meeting time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM MST

Location: 131 7th Avenue South, Cranbrook BC

Register here

Please contact Craig Lovell at c.lovell@jabc.org if you have any questions. 

Space is limited in each program opportunity and will close when maximum registrations have been reached.

Why sign up for JA Company Program?

With the UN Decade of Action calling for accelerated sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges by 2030, individuals and communities should seize the opportunity to address important topics such as Climate Action, Life Below Water, Reduced Inequalities, and many more. You can develop their own innovative solutions to spark social change within their communities.

STUDENTS

  • Gain valuable business experience, job and leadership skills

  • Compete for awards and scholarships through JABC and JA Canada

  • Obtain valuable contacts and references

  • Build your CV for university and job applications

  • Counts toward Work Experience requirements of your school

  • Experience the enjoyment and excitement of entrepreneurship!

VOLUNTEER MENTORS

  • Help guide a young person’s career path
  • Enhance your own business and facilitation skills

  • Network with other volunteers

  • Help build talent needed for the future

Look at some recent JA Company Program ventures

Apiculture

Apiculture

Apiculture makes wooden coasters to educate the community about pollinator protection. (Kamloops)

Bacup

Bacup

Bacup creates waterproof covers for your bag or backpack. (Vancouver)

CultureCase

CultureCase

CultureCase celebrates multiculturalism by making pleasingly designed phone cases. (Vancouver)

EcoMesh

EcoMesh

EcoMesh produces eco-friendly washable, reusable, and biodegradable bags meant to carry produce when grocery shopping. (Burnaby)

Flax Pax

Flax Pax

Flax Pax develops hot/cold packs made from 100% natural burlap, whole flaxseed, and dried lavender.

Hulle

Hulle

Hulle creates repurposed leather coffee sleeves.

Juggle

Juggle

Juggle is a video game app that entertains youth while also increasing their awareness of the effects of ocean pollution.

Klick

Klick

Klick Co. is a group of students working together to improve road safety with a bike signalling device that works in addition to hand signals! (Vancouver)

Parabox

Parabox

Parabox creates recyclable boxes for every purpose. (Vancouver)

Pauseedivity

Pauseedivity

Pauseedivity produces lively plants for your home. All proceeds go to the Vancouver General Hospital for Covid-19 relief. (Vancouver)

Planture

Planture

Planture is a mobile reminder app that sends users a daily notification with a task on how they can personally contribute to helping the planet. (Vancouver)

Raindrop Bathbombs

Raindrop Bathbombs

Raindrop supplies pre-packaged, high-quality eco-friendly bath bombs at an affordable price. (Vancouver)

Recycled Sounds

Recycled Sounds

Recycled Sounds creates speakers & smartphone accessories using reclaimed wood & locally sourced materials, to improve your media experience. (Kamloops)

ReNotify

ReNotify

ReNotify makes notebooks with washable, reusable pages that work with most washable markers. (North Vancouver)

Sucseed

Sucseed

Sucseed sells seed paper products, planting success, one seed at a time.

Tao Plants

Tao Plants

Tao Plant sells plant kits with basil seeds to continue to promote sustainability. (Vancouver)

Need more inspiration? Check out these previous JA Student Companies that applied for Awards and Scholarships

Apiary Logo
BeeFresh Logo
Klick Logo

Student Questions:

It’s free! Thanks to our many donors and volunteers, we are able to provide this program to students at NO COST! You are only responsible for your transportation to and from meetings and any meals/snacks.

Only students who have registered online can attend the meetings. If there is still room at the location you’ve signed up for, invite your friends to register online to participate.

You and your teammates have the freedom to brainstorm and go through the creative process to decide on any product you’d like. Look a this page for some past student projects for inspiration.

JA Company Program isn’t just for future entrepreneurs. No matter where you are headed, you will acquire real life knowledge that can help you on your career path. You will develop important presentation, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and communication skills which are valuable in any job.

You can, if your team is interested in the idea as well. For more questions about this please reach out to Alanna Tynan.

Volunteer Questions:

  • Volunteers are not required to have previous mentorship experience or be an expert in business/entrepreneurship to volunteer. We encourage volunteers from all professional backgrounds and areas of expertise to participate.
  • Qualities we look for in volunteers:
    • Passionate about supporting and mentoring young people
    • Invested in sharing knowledge and expertise
    • Ability to devote the time required to mentor students
    • Ability to foster teamwork and collaboration
    • Ability to listen actively
    • Ability to share and receive constructive feedback
    • Ability to motivate, manage conflicts and address challenges
    • Ability to demonstrate and encourage fairness, honesty, and integrity
    • Ability to demonstrate and encourage resilience and adaptability
    • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • JA will provide volunteer training, resources, and ongoing support to deliver the program.
  • JA will provide volunteer training, resources, and ongoing support to deliver the program.
  • Volunteers will be required to work together with their team to review JA resources and prepare for and facilitate the weekly meetings and lessons.
  • We encourage volunteers to bring in their own resources and expertise to complement the JA program as long as they align with JA’s mission, values, and policies.
  • New volunteers who do not have a current police check on file with JA must be registered and complete the volunteer screening requirements
  • Returning volunteers who have completed a police check within the past 5 years must be registered but are not required to complete the volunteer screening requirements
  • JA will follow up with volunteers to provide details to complete the volunteer screening requirements
  • We are always looking to reach more students, businesses, and volunteers in Central Ontario. Please reach out to our Company Program Lead, Alanna Tynan for more information regarding supporting a Company Program.

In the News

Ocecho was featured in the Vancouver Sun in May 2022. View it here

Wild Coasters was featured in the Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News in January 2019. View it here

Chalk-it was featured in the Delta School District in June 2016. View it here