YBEX | Community Futures Saskatchewan

YBEX - Youth Business Excellence Awards 2023

Each year for the last twenty-two years, Community Futures Newsask has been hosting an awards event for a business plan competition. We believe it’s important for young people of our region to explore all of the options available to them as they consider their many choices in the next few years. Whether the journey begins with post-secondary education at a University, a technical college or hands-on learning experience, young people need to be aware of the World of Entrepreneurship! YBEX is a great program that provides participants with an opportunity to explore Entrepreneurship as an option to learn about starting their own business. It’s an experience that they can take with them, no matter where their life leads them. This country was built by independent, self- disciplined entrepreneurs and by participating in this event, youth will be provided with the experience and opportunity to develop these skills.

What are the YBEX Awards?

Awards are presented in two categories:
1. BUSINESS PLAN – Take a business idea and develop a business plan.
2. BUSINESS VENTURE – Takes the business plan a step further to actually pitch their proposal to our panel of 2-3 potential clients/investors.
Awards are presented in three age divisions as an individual or group:
Grades 6 to 9;
Grades 10 to 12; or
29 and under within our region or attending a university or technical school with a permanent address within our
Awards to recognize and encourage the outstanding achievements of young people in Northeast

Who can Apply?

Any student in Grade Six through Twelve attending school in the Newsask CFDC region (map of the region attached)
Out of School Youth 29 and under
- Living in the Newsask CFDC region or
- Attending secondary education outside the region with a current permanent address within the Newsask CFDC region.

The YBEX Awards are hosted and partially funded by Newsask Community Futures Development Corporation. Newsask CFDC is a non-profit corporation, partially funded by Western Economic Diversification. It is a regionally based organization, governed by a local volunteer board of directors nominated by municipalities within the region.

Past submitters may not enter the same category for the same business they have entered in a previous year. The business must be a new business idea.

YBEX AWARD WINNERS WILL BE PRESENTED VIRTUALLY MAY 5, 2023 AND AWARDS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO YOUR SCHOOL