JA Company Program

Have you ever thought about starting your own company? Do you know the skills required?

In 10-16 weeks you and other youth from across British Columbia will walk away with the tools and resources required to build your own start-up!

You will be grouped into teams to learn and work collaboratively with your peers. This immersive program will not only equip you with the essentials for launching your own business, but also nurture your teamwork, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.

Timeline

Over the course of the program, you will run your own business, from idea generation to company liquidation.

You will use real money, real products and have real customers. As well, you will be part of a group of inspired and prepared individuals creating business strategies and personal action plans.

Who Can Participate?

Students in grades 10-12 from across B.C. may join at no cost.

2024-25 Program Dates

Start dates are various throughout the year. Meetings will run weeknights between 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm PST and students pick one meeting night for the duration of the program.

The program will not run over December or March breaks.

Time Commitment

Two hours each week will be required (including weekly team meetings and workshops), plus individual prep work.

Location

The program will be held in-person and online.

In-person meetings will have around ten students per evening program. For the online program, access to a computer/mobile device and a stable internet connection is required.

Mentorship Opportunities

Students get the opportunity to work with business leaders and entrepreneurs from across B.C.

Program Dates: January 15 – May 7, 2025

Location: Capilano Suspension Bridge,  3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1

COMING SOON

Program Dates: November 28, 2024 – April 10, 2025

Program Times: Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 PM PT

Location: Zoom (Weekly) and in-person (Ad-hoc)

Capacity: 20 students

No sessions on these dates: December 26 and January 2 (due to Winter Break) + March 20 and March 27 (due to Spring Break)

ENROL HERE

Program Dates: November 13, 2024 – March 12, 2025

Program Times: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM PT

Location: 889 Harbourside Dr #110, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3S

Capacity: 15 students

No sessions on these dates: December 25 and January 1  (due to Winter Break)

ENROL HERE

Program Dates: October 23, 2024 – February 19, 2025

Program Times: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM PT

Location: 4250 Kingsway (Floor 2: #213), Burnaby, BC V5H 4T7

Capacity: 10 students

No sessions on these dates: December 25 and January 1  (due to Winter Break)

JOIN THE WAITLIST

Program Dates: October 8, 2024 – February 4, 2025

Program Times: Tuesdays, 5:00-7:30 PM PT

Location: 777 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver, BC V7Y 1K3

Capacity: 20 students

No sessions on these dates: December 24 and 31 (due to Winter Break)

JOIN THE WAITLIST

Program Dates: October 29, 2024 – February 25, 2025

Program Times: Tuesdays, 5:00-7:00 PM PT

Location: 8181 Cambie Rd. #5560, Richmond, BC V6X 3X9

Capacity: 15 students

No sessions on these dates: December 24 and 31 (due to Winter Break)

JOIN THE WAITLIST

Program Dates: October 16, 2024 – February 12, 2025

Program Times: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM PT

Location: 2055 152 St #200, Surrey, BC V4A 4N7

Capacity: 14 students

No sessions on these dates: December 24 and 31 (due to Winter Break)

THE PROGRAM IS FULL

Program Dates: October 16, 2024 – February 12, 2025

Program Times: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM PT

Location: 4747 Dunbar St, Vancouver, BC V6S 2H2

Capacity: 15 students

No sessions on these dates: December 25 and January 1 (due to Winter Break)

THE PROGRAM IS FULL

Program Dates: October 17, 2024 – February 13, 2025

Program Times: Thursdays, 6:00-8:00 PM PT

Location: 2140 W 41st Ave, Vancouver, BC V6M 1Z1

Capacity: 24 students

No sessions on these dates: December 26 and January 2 (due to Winter Break)

THE PROGRAM IS FULL

Program Dates: September 10, 2024- January 7, 2025

Program Times: Tuesdays, 5:00-6:30 PM PST

Location: #1830-1066 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC

No sessions on these dates: December 24 and 31 (due to Winter Break)

THE PROGRAM IS FULL

Program Dates: October 15, 2024 – February 13, 2025

Program Times: Tuesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM PT

Location: Zoom (Weekly) and in-person (Ad-hoc)

Capacity: 20 students

No sessions on these dates: December 24 and 31 (due to Winter Break)

THE PROGRAM IS FULL

Please contact Craig if you have any questions. 

Space is limited in each program opportunity and will close when maximum registrations have been reached.

» Learn more about the JA Company Program for Indigenous Learners

» See our generous JA Company Program supporters on our JA Company Program- In-School page

Why sign up for JA Company Program?

With the UN Decade of Action calling for accelerated sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges by 2030, individuals and communities should seize the opportunity to address important topics such as Climate Action, Life Below Water, Reduced Inequalities, and many more. You can develop their own innovative solutions to spark social change within their communities.

STUDENTS

  • Gain valuable business experience, job and leadership skills

  • Compete for awards and scholarships through JABC and JA Canada

  • Obtain valuable contacts and references

  • Build your CV for university and job applications

  • May count toward the work experience requirements of your school

  • Experience the enjoyment and excitement of entrepreneurship!

VOLUNTEER MENTORS

  • Help guide a young person’s career path

  • Enhance your own business and facilitation skills

  • Network with other volunteers

  • Help build talent needed for the future

Learn More About Volunteering

EDUCATORS

Learn about JA Company Program In-School

Look at some recent JA Company Program ventures

Apiculture

Apiculture

Apiculture makes wooden coasters to educate the community about pollinator protection. (Kamloops)

Bacup

Bacup

Bacup creates waterproof covers for your bag or backpack. (Vancouver)

CultureCase

CultureCase

CultureCase celebrates multiculturalism by making pleasingly designed phone cases. (Vancouver)

EcoMesh

EcoMesh

EcoMesh produces eco-friendly washable, reusable, and biodegradable bags meant to carry produce when grocery shopping. (Burnaby)

Flax Pax

Flax Pax

Flax Pax develops hot/cold packs made from 100% natural burlap, whole flaxseed, and dried lavender.

MomentoVan

MomentoVan

A customizable music plaque that lets users pair songs with memories, creating unique and sentimental keepsakes for preserving special moments.

Juggle

Juggle

Juggle is a video game app that entertains youth while also increasing their awareness of the effects of ocean pollution.

Klick

Klick

Klick Co. is a group of students working together to improve road safety with a bike signalling device that works in addition to hand signals! (Vancouver)

Parabox

Parabox

Parabox creates recyclable boxes for every purpose. (Vancouver)

Pauseedivity

Pauseedivity

Pauseedivity produces lively plants for your home. All proceeds go to the Vancouver General Hospital for Covid-19 relief. (Vancouver)

Planture

Planture

Planture is a mobile reminder app that sends users a daily notification with a task on how they can personally contribute to helping the planet. (Vancouver)

Raindrop Bathbombs

Raindrop Bathbombs

Raindrop supplies pre-packaged, high-quality eco-friendly bath bombs at an affordable price. (Vancouver)

Recycled Sounds

Recycled Sounds

Recycled Sounds creates speakers & smartphone accessories using reclaimed wood & locally sourced materials, to improve your media experience. (Kamloops)

ReNotify

ReNotify

ReNotify makes notebooks with washable, reusable pages that work with most washable markers. (North Vancouver)

Sucseed

Sucseed

Sucseed sells seed paper products, planting success, one seed at a time.

Tao Plants

Tao Plants

Tao Plant sells plant kits with basil seeds to continue to promote sustainability. (Vancouver)

Need more inspiration? Check out these previous JA Student Companies that applied for Awards and Scholarships

Apiary Logo
BeeFresh Logo
Klick Logo
Watch
Watch
Watch

Student Questions:

It’s free! Thanks to our many donors and volunteers, we are able to provide this program to students at NO COST! You are only responsible for your transportation to and from meetings and any meals/snacks.

Only students who have registered online can attend the meetings. If there is still room at the location you’ve signed up for, invite your friends to register online to participate.

You and your teammates have the freedom to brainstorm and go through the creative process to decide on any product you’d like. Look a this page for some past student projects for inspiration.

JA Company Program isn’t just for future entrepreneurs. No matter where you are headed, you will acquire real life knowledge that can help you on your career path. You will develop important presentation, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and communication skills which are valuable in any job.

You can, if your team is interested in the idea as well. For more questions about this please reach out to Alanna Tynan.

Awards & Scholarships

JABC annually honours leadership, teamwork, and dedication in the JA Company Program. You can earn multiple awards, some recognized at the BC Hall of Fame.

Apply here

Volunteer with Us

Interested in volunteering to enhance your skills, share your interests, inspire youth, meet new people and give back to the community?

Sign-Up here

Volunteer Questions:

  • Volunteers are not required to have previous mentorship experience or be an expert in business/entrepreneurship to volunteer. We encourage volunteers from all professional backgrounds and areas of expertise to participate.
  • Qualities we look for in volunteers:
    • Passionate about supporting and mentoring young people
    • Invested in sharing knowledge and expertise
    • Ability to devote the time required to mentor students
    • Ability to foster teamwork and collaboration
    • Ability to listen actively
    • Ability to share and receive constructive feedback
    • Ability to motivate, manage conflicts and address challenges
    • Ability to demonstrate and encourage fairness, honesty, and integrity
    • Ability to demonstrate and encourage resilience and adaptability
    • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • JA will provide volunteer training, resources, and ongoing support to deliver the program.

  • JA will provide volunteer training, resources, and ongoing support to deliver the program.
  • Volunteers will be required to work together with their team to review JA resources and prepare for and facilitate the weekly meetings and lessons.
  • We encourage volunteers to bring in their own resources and expertise to complement the JA program as long as they align with JA’s mission, values, and policies.

  • New volunteers who do not have a current police check on file with JA must be registered and complete the volunteer screening requirements
  • Returning volunteers who have completed a police check within the past 5 years must be registered but are not required to complete the volunteer screening requirements
  • JA will follow up with volunteers to provide details to complete the volunteer screening requirements

  • We are always looking to reach more students, businesses, and volunteers in Central Ontario. Please reach out to our Company Program Lead, Alanna Tynan for more information regarding supporting a Company Program.

In the News

Ocecho was featured in the Vancouver Sun in May 2022. View it here

Wild Coasters was featured in the Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News in January 2019. View it here

Chalk-it was featured in the Delta School District in June 2016. View it here

Delivery of JA Company Program in BC is generously supported by:

Provincial Partners

National Supporting Partner