Oin on Ontario Initiative Network

Thank You Libro Credit Union

Mon, 26 Oct 2015 03:53:10 +0000

Before I get to the exciting news, on behalf of Ontario Immigrant Network and the communities that we serve, I need to say this: Thank You Libro Credit Union – for selecting OIN from a long-list of very worthy causes, and for recognizing the role that you can play in a very important issue: financial literacy and entrepreneurship for both Canadian and newcomer youth.

In early 2015, the OIN team wanted to find new ways to serve communities and populations in need in a lean, sustainable manner. Many ideas were discussed, and above all it was important to build on the expertise that OIN has been building since 2009. As discussion continued, we finally landed on the FLY (Financial Literacy for Youth) App. Technology is not new to OIN, but a project like this did require some new key partners to make sure that it would be successful.

Entrepreneurship Challenges: Financing

Fri, 03 May 2013 19:00:25 +0000

For any business owner, the challenges are many – marketing, business growth, profitability and (amongst others) the ever-present challenge of financing. While financing can be a challenge to existing businesses, particularly those looking to expand, in this blog entry I’d like to examine how it impacts start-ups.

Prior to coming to OIN, I spent nearly 7 years in the financial services industry. While I focused heavily on insurance and investments, I did spend a significant amount of time with mortgages and leasing. I was in the industry during a very interesting time, the beginning of this economic shift or recession. All throughout I also managed to see how financing has changed and what it means for business owners.

Why SMEs Will Continue to Grow.

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:44:46 +0000

The current state of the economy has driven many to entrepreneurship. In the wake of massive lay-offs in the manufacturing sector, downsizing across all industries and renewed vows to create sustainability, SMEs are a powerful way to create diverse, real, and sustainable communities. Although entrepreneurship is not all rewards, here are 5 reasons why SMEs will continue to grow.

1. Generation Y

Brought up to value their own individuality, talents and skills, research has shown that as this generation matures they are more entrepreneurial than those before them. They value the flexibility of entrepreneurship and bring passion and tech skills that allow them to work anywhere at anytime. In addition, this generation has lived at home longer, and has been less likely to purchase major assets (from cars to homes) permitting them to bootstrap and live on less income than generations before. In pure numbers, they represent a major “wave” of demographics, and the impact of their generation is just beginning to be felt.

Sarnia-Lambton Business Succession Workshop

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:23:31 +0000

Here is a great event coming up thanks to the great team at the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab). I am delighted to be presenting, and I hope that if you are a business owner in Lambton County, that you will take the time to join us.

Immigrant Entrepreneurship – A Boost for our Communities

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:04:35 +0000

Last year, over 250,000 newcomers chose Canada as their new home. Often these newcomers flock to centres such as Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. While these cities certainly offer diverse communities and a multitude of newcomer services, they may also be contributing to a substandard experience.

A recent study showed that Toronto was the most miserable city in Canada, and this was due in large part to the high proportion of immigrants. This is not to say that immigrants make others and themselves miserable, but rather that there is a mismatch between immigrant expectations and outcomes, particularly in larger centres. Each year, we actively seek the best and brightest from developing nations, and only a small percentage are able to find opportunities that match their skill sets.