JA Northern Alberta - Celebrating 60 Years

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF CREATING ENTREPRENEURS

Written By Nerissa McNaughton | Published by Brent Trimming

Junior Achievement (JA) has been launching careers and helping youth understand the vast world of business in our region for 60 years. To say that this exciting organization has made a life-changing impact on thousands of students is an understatement. It’s not just the students either – JA leaves an impression on everyone it touches, from the mentors that go to the schools to the team members that keep the organization running. Now, as JA celebrates 60 years, it seems an appropriate time to look back at this organization’s beginnings and highlight how business mentors are poised to support young entrepreneurs in northern Alberta into the next era.

Cheryll Watson, president and CEO, loves how the seeds of the organization took root in, and remain with, the business community.

“That is one of the most compelling points about JA in general. It was not only founded but funded by the business community,” she says. “These leaders saw a need, did something about it and continue to be actively involved. I see the business community as being the engine of JA right from the start, which continues to power our mission today.”

The local JA chapter has not only achieved a milestone anniversary of 60 years, this year is also the 44th anniversary of JA’s Northern Alberta Business Hall of Fame, an annual event that brings together the business community to honour our region’s most esteemed leaders for their life achievements and service to the economy, community and our future.

“JA is a future changer,” she continues. “It positively alters the career trajectory of hundreds of thousands of

Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta • 60 Years

Cheryll Watson, president & CEO. Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt.

students in northern Alberta. Our role for decades has been to cultivate the next generation of business leaders; this is important as we are seeing an ever-changing, turbulent environment that has led to a sharp decline in entrepreneurship.”

Watson shares a particularly striking statistic.

CONGRATULATIONS

on 60 years of service to our community. REMARKABLE!

We are very proud to be a long time supporter of Junior Achievement and the message they deliver

In October 2023, Pierre Cléroux, chief economist at the Business Development Bank of Canada said, ‘Twenty years ago, there were three Canadians in 1,000 every year becoming an entrepreneur. Now we’re down to about one for every 1,000 people.’”

Watson continues, “This shows that youth are not seeing entrepreneurship as a viable path. It also highlights the need for JA. Seventy-one per cent of JA alumni in an entrepreneurship program say it’s highly likely they’ll own their own business within a year. To reverse the declining trend in entrepreneurship, JA is the answer.”

In 2023, 30,000 students registered for JA Northern Alberta programs. In addition to learning about entrepreneurship, the students learn lifelong skills such as saving, budgeting and investing.

“Yet,” Watson points out, “Even with those strong enrollment numbers, we are only reaching 13 per cent of the eligible Edmonton population. More people need to know about our valuable connection with the business community. Not only does this help inspire the students by seeing the types of jobs they may

Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta

Photo by Rebecca Lippiatt.

JA Company Program students at the Big Pitch Competition.

and Tim Melton remains involved to this day.

Stanley Melton was instrumental in starting the local JA charter, following the model used in the States. Stanley with other business professionals, would visit classrooms, sharing their business knowledge.

Tim Melton’s introduction to JA happened unexpectedly when he heard his father discussing with colleagues a unique concept called Junior Achievement. Intrigued, Tim asked what it was all about. He learned that JA was an organization founded in the United States with a mission to promote business and entrepreneurship. Its goal was to demonstrate how these elements could bring prosperity, jobs and higher living standards to society. Further, JA aimed to teach young people the importance of business and foster a new generation of entrepreneurs.

As a young adult Melton travelled awhile, experiencing the cultures of different cities before returning to Edmonton in 1973 to build a life and his business. At that time he began to focus more on JA, attending events and becoming a supporter and dedicated volunteer.

“JA is an invaluable organization that delivers an essential message to young people about the fundamental importance of entrepreneurship for a prosperous society,” Melton says. “I applaud the Edmonton community for its continued support. The local business community has embraced the cause, providing funding, promotion and mentorship. It’s an organization that delivers an important message to young people that is still viable today; it is so fundamentally important that if we want a society with a high standard of living, we must all perpetuate entrepreneurship.”

Imagine. Believe. Achieve.

Congratulations Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta on your 60th anniversary. Fountain Tire is proud to be a long term partner and supporter of Junior Achievement.

Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta

JA Laureates at Wall of Fame

Cheryll Watson and JA Board of Governors Chair Lyle Best awarding 2023 Business Hall of Fame Inductee Yasmin Jivraj.

Both Tim Melton and his father have been inducted into the Northern Alberta Business Hall of Fame, a recognition of their dedication and contribution to the province’s business landscape and their work with JA.

Another businessperson with a long history of entrepreneurship and affiliation with JA is Lyle Best. As the current chair of the board of governors, he has been closely involved with JA for nearly four decades.

“The irony is, kids in schools don’t get very much business education. In fairness to the teachers, they are not businesspeople either,” Best points out. “I joined JA because I saw there was a real need. For me, it is making sure kids get

EMPOWERING YOUNG LEADERS

Stan Melton of Melcor and founder of Junior Achievement, understood the importance of investing in future generations.

Our continued support of JA proudly continues to empower the bright leaders of tomorrow.

a clearer perspective of what business is all about. Even if they are not going to go into business, it teaches them about personal finances and other important skills.”

Best continues, “Small business and entrepreneurship drive the economy. If you look at the people behind it, especially the people in the Business Hall of Fame, you see how they built up the city and region. JA has a vital message to share and is inspiring the next generation.”

For Shad Smereka, Board Chair and VP, People & Customer Experience at Fountain Tire, the role JA plays has never been more relevant.

“JA’s mission is to provide youth with experiential, hands-on programs focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness. JA programs expose students to essential concepts like the value of money, thoughtful spending and credit, smart saving and investing. JA students engage with skilled mentors, get their first taste of entrepreneurship and lay the groundwork to be the next generation of job creators. As a result of their JA experiences, alumni save more money, hold less debt and are less likely to spend more than they earn. They also start more companies, hire more employees and produce significantly larger annual sales than ventures led by non-alumni.”

Supporting JA is important. Individuals and organizations of all sizes are encouraged to get involved.

“The reality is, we need sustainable funding to deliver programs,” confirms Watson. “Donors that make three- and fiveyear commitments allow us to build out our programs with certainty. It is very important to our students that we are able to commit to their participation.”

Other options for those looking to support JA are to volunteer as a business mentor, promote the program to schools as a parent or teacher and attend JA events.

Watson profusely thanks to all JA supporters from the past and present, including the organization’s founding families, the board of governors, the board of directors and the volunteers. They have all played a role in the growth and evolution of JA.

Junior Achievement has played an integral role in shaping the business landscape of the region over the past six decades. Through its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and providing essential business education, JA has equipped countless young people with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. The organization’s impact extends beyond the classroom, influencing the economy and society at large. As we look to the future, the continued success of JA Northern Alberta will undoubtedly remain a testament to the enduring power of entrepreneurship and the potential of the next generation.