Carleton students work in interdisciplinary teams with two northern communities (Mayo, Yukon and Masset, BC) to ignite change and provide opportunities for culture sharing and experiential learning. Our project focuses on social entrepreneurship, community engagement, sustainability, and education.

Our interdisciplinary course offered through the Sprott School of Business has been building community connections for the past 10 years. This year project efforts include supporting a northern community job database, a tourism application, a skateboard-making business, a youth-run radio station, and more. We’re not just talking about change. We’re making it happen, together.

Together with community leaders and youth in Mayo and Masset we work together to develop creative solutions in the areas of housing, food sovereignty, youth engagement, and mental health. This partnership is about co-creation, two-way dialogue, and geographically distributed teams working together to design and develop projects that address these issues head-on. It’s about strengthening cross-cultural relationships and enabling the development of culturally appropriate ventures that boost engagement and community pride.

Our project addresses a variety of identified needs within the communities in Northern Canada; it targets the importance of cultural education and enhancing opportunities available within the our partner communities. These opportunities involve improving the awareness of employment opportunities available to the community, improving tourism, and exploring new ways of connection.

Your donation supports our students to connect and work together with their project partners in Mayo, Yukon, and Masset, British Columbia. Carleton students will work hands-on with local youth, meeting virtually throughout their year and travelling to test and develop products and services in the communities they will be implemented. Your support will make this highly experiential learning possible and support for skills development, knowledge sharing, and cultural exchange.

Your support will echo across various levels. For community youth enhance their business skills, unleash their creativity, and gain practical entrepreneurship experience. Carleton students will bolster their skills in social entrepreneurship and creative thinking while establishing enduring community relationships. Our projects also build working relationships between academic institutions and Indigenous communities, and local entrepreneurs. More than just projects, the Northern Lights course is a movement towards collective benefit, sustainable planning, and a brighter future for all involved.