TIVERTON, ON – Bruce Power is teaming up with the Bluewater District School Board and the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative to offer an innovative educational program for local Aboriginal youth.
The Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program uses hands-on activities to improve students' proficiency in business mathematics, financial literacy, accounting, marketing, information/communications technology and social responsibility, while supporting the acquisition of leadership skills.
"The Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative is very pleased to join Bruce Power in offering the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program at Saugeen District Secondary School," said the Right Honourable Paul Martin, founder of the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative and former Prime Minister of Canada.
Bruce Power has provided $41,000 in funding in keeping with its goal of working to build strong, long-term relationships with Aboriginal communities and supporting educational opportunities for young people.
"This program is designed to give students the tools to go out and be successful, but it's also about hopes and dreams," said Duncan Hawthorne, Bruce Power's President and Chief Executive Officer. "It's our sincere hope these students dream big and acquire the tools to make those dreams come true."
Eighteen Aboriginal students are enrolled in the program at SDSS, which began earlier this month.
"The Bluewater District School Board is pleased to work in partnership with Bruce Power and to have the opportunity to pilot the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative program at Saugeen District Secondary School for our First Nation and Métis students," said Lori Wilder
Superintendent of Education at the board. "This is a unique program to teach Aboriginal youth how to launch a business and to encourage them to stay in school where they can develop the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve success in school and beyond."
For more information on the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative click www.maei-ieam.ca
About Bruce Power
Bruce Power operates the world's largest operating nuclear generating facility and is the source of roughly 30 per cent of Ontario's electricity. The company's site in Tiverton, Ontario is home to eight CANDU reactors, each one capable of generating enough low-cost, reliable, safe and clean electricity to meet the annual needs of a city the size of Hamilton. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an all-Canadian partnership among Borealis Infrastructure Management (a division of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System), TransCanada, the Power Workers' Union and the Society of Energy Professionals. A majority of Bruce Power's employees are also owners in the business.

Source - Bruce Power