Veteran Business Bootcamp offers veterans entrepreneur opportunities 

In partnership with Mount Royal University, the Canadian Legacy Project has launched a new veteran-focused entrepreneurial training program, the Veteran Business Boot Camp. It is a free five-day certificate program, which helps develop the competencies needed to start a business, as well as link participants with other appropriate programs and services.

“Our team is excited to be able to work with Mount Royal University and Servus Credit Union to launch Veterans Business Boot Camp,” said David Howard, president and founder of the Canadian Legacy Project. “Many of our Canadian veterans are having a challenging time transitioning to civilian life and finding a job. While there are several programs designed to help in finding work, there are few national programs designed to help veterans start their own business.”

Once participants have completed the certificate program, they are eligible to apply to Servus Credit Union for micro-loans. These micro-loans are intended to help veterans realize their vision of creating a business. 

“The Inglewood branch of Servus Credit Union is proud to support the Canadian Legacy Project’s Entrepreneur program, designed to help veterans develop skills and identify resources to become business owners. At Servus, we aim to shape the financial fitness of our members through sound financial advice; secure, competitive products and services; and a direct financial return through Profit Share Rewards. We’re honoured to have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the financial affairs of the men and women who have served our country,” said Marlene Mullinger, the Inglewood branch manager at Servus Credit Union.

The Canadian Legacy Project is also teaming up with Mount Royal University to offer an annual bursary to those who have served, who are currently serving, and their families. This bursary is intended for students in financial need, and it is part of the Military Bursary Program at Mount Royal University. It is in memory of Pilot Officer Douglas Aitken.

“We are deeply grateful for the support the Canadian Legacy Project has shown Mount Royal University, through their funding of the Pilot Officer Douglas Spencer Aitken Military Memorial Bursary. Their generosity honours the memory of Pilot Officer Aitken in perpetuity while enabling students today and into the future to pursue their university education with significantly reduced financial barriers,” said Terry Kellam, the Executive Director of the Mount Royal University Foundation.

The first class will be taking place in Calgary, from June 24 to 28, but there will be more. “This free program will kick off in Calgary but will be offered in other cities across Canada. So many of our veterans have amazing ideas and transferable skills but need some help getting their business ideas off the ground. This program will help these dreams become realities, and by offering micro-loans through Servus Credit Union, we can also offer the seed financing some of these businesses will require. The hope after graduation is that they can start their own companies and hire veterans to work within these businesses,” said Howard.    

The Canadian Legacy Project has stated that they feel that entrepreneurship is a meaningful way to assist with veteran joblessness. The Canadian Legacy Project was created 11 years ago due to the challenges veterans were facing when transitioning from the military to civilian life. They work to support veterans in need and create programs that help improve their everyday life.

Mount Royal University was established in 1910, and through the years many of their students and alumni have served in the military. Of those students and alumni, 29 have given their lives in service. Mount Royal University has created a bursary in the name of each of these fallen soldiers. They state that these “Military Memorial Bursaries will honour the ultimate sacrifice made by fallen members of the Mount Royal Family, while furthering the dreams of 29 Mount Royal students, every year, in perpetuity.”

To learn more or to register for the Veterans Business Boot Camp, please visit Mount Royal University website.

To learn more or to register for Canadian Legacy Projects Annual Bursary at Mount Royal University please visit here for more information.