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: October 10, 2023
Meeting time: 4:30 – 6:30 PM PST
Location: 1830-1066 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3X2
Weekly 2-hour in-person meetings for 16 weeks
Start date: September 27, 2023
Meeting time: 4:00-6:00 PM PST
Location: Nelson Innovation Center, 91-d Baker St. Nelson
Weekly 2-hour Zoom meetings for 16 weeks
Zoom session 1:
Start date: October 17, 2023
Meeting time: 5:30-7:30 PM PST
Location: Zoom meetings
_________________
Zoom session 2:
Start date: October 19, 2023
Meeting time: 5:30-7:30 PM PST
Location: Zoom meetings
Weekly 2-hour in-person meetings for 16 weeks
Start date: October 9, 2023
Meeting time: Mondays, 5:00-7:00 PM PST
Location: 777 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver, BC V7Y 1K3 (Room Number TBD)
Weekly 2-hour in-person meetings for 16 weeks
Start date: October 18, 2023
Meeting time: Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 PM PST
Location: 2140 West 41st Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 1Z1 (Room Number TBD)
Weekly 2-hour in-person meetings for 16 weeks
Start date: October 18, 2023
Meeting time: Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 PM PST
Location: 5021 Kingsway #112, Burnaby BC V5H 4A5
More JA Company Program opportunities are coming this fall! Please contact Alanna Tynan at a.tynan@jabc.org if you have any questions.
Please note 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
EDUCATORS
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
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