Our Programs 5 After School Company Program

COMPANY PROGRAM

Step into the excitement of early business training with the JA Company Program — JA’s most meaningful and impactful experience for young people. Over 18 weeks, students in grades 9 – 12 don’t just learn about business — they live it. They brainstorm ideas, build real companies, make real decisions, and navigate real challenges, all while discovering strengths and skills they didn’t know they had. Week by week, they gain confidence, leadership, resilience, and the mindset of someone who can create their own opportunities. 

This transformation doesn’t happen alone. Students bring curiosity and drive, volunteer mentors bring wisdom and encouragement, and donors and ecosystem partners help create the supportive environment where young innovators thrive. Together, we’re shaping a place where youth can test ideas, solve problems, express creativity, and experience what it takes to turn potential into action. 

Whether you’re here to learn, guide, or support, the Company Program is where growth happens.  

Ready to build what’s next?

Jacqueline Jacek headshot

Get Involved

STUDENT

Why Company Program is a Game-Changer for Students

Unlock your potential and experience what it’s really like to run a company with real products, real decisions, and real impact. JA’s Company Program brings together ambitious students from across Northern Alberta for weekly in-person sessions where ideas come alive and leaders are made. You will develop valuable skills, work alongside inspiring mentors, and take part in high-energy events like JA’s Big Pitch, Executive Training, and the Northern Alberta Business Hall of Fame. And when you complete the program, you’ll have the chance to apply for scholarships and awards. This is your opportunity to build confidence, grow your network, and stand out not someday, but right now. Ready to start something big?

MENTOR

Why Students Need Mentors Like You

Becoming a JA Company Program mentor isn’t just about guiding a team it’s about changing the trajectory of a young person’s life. Our students step into this program eager, nervous, hopeful, and curious, and mentors are the steady hands that help them discover their confidence, their voice, and their potential. As a mentor, you become the person who believes in them before they fully believe in themselves the role model they’ll remember long after the program ends. Your encouragement, your stories, your leadership, and even the small moments of connection can spark the kind of inspiration that stays with them for years. When you mentor with JA, you’re not just teaching business; you’re shaping futures, building leaders, and leaving a legacy that lives on in every student you support. Ready to make an impact that lasts a lifetime?

SPONSOR

WHY YOUR SPONSORSHIP CHANGES EVERYTHING

Becoming a Company Program Sponsor means giving young people the chance to bring their ideas to life not in theory, but in a real, hands-on business environment. Your support helps cover essential startup costs so students can experience the full journey of building a company from the ground up. As a site sponsor, you also provide something invaluable: a place where they can come together, collaborate, and feel the energy of creating something real in a professional setting. The space you offer becomes part of their story a place where confidence grows, teamwork forms, and ideas turn into products. By sponsoring a team, you’re not just funding a project; you’re shaping futures, strengthening communities, and giving students a tangible connection to the world of business. Are you ready to empower the next generation of leaders?

Upcoming COMPANY PROGRAM EVENTS

Throughout the year, our Company Program comes to life through exciting events that showcase student talent, teamwork, and innovation. From pitch competitions to trade shows and year-end celebrations, each event offers students the chance to share their journey, connect with the community, and shine as young entrepreneurs. These milestones are more than just dates on the calendar—they’re moments where learning turns into real-world success.

07

March
2026

Executive Training

Stantec Tower | Saturaday March, 7th 9:00 am

An exclusive leadership experience for Company Program participants elected into C-suite roles. It equips these young executives with the skills and confidence to lead their functional teams, make key decisions, and guide their company’s direction. This training turns leadership potential into real capability.

18

April
2026

Retail Tradeshow

Southgate Centre | Saturday April 18th, 9:00 am

At the Retail Tradeshow, Company Program teams bring their businesses to life by setting up vendor booths and showcasing their products to real customers. It’s an exciting opportunity for students to practice sales, marketing, and customer engagement in a vibrant, high-traffic environment.

29

April
2026

Big Pitch

MacEwan University | Wednesday April 29th, 3:00 pm

Company Program teams deliver investor-style presentations, field insightful questions from the judges, and demonstrate their progress from initial protoypes to early sales. This evening highlights what makes JA distinctive: youth leading real companies, supported by volunteer experts and an engaged ecosystem of partners.

10

June
2026

JA Northern Alberta Business Hall of Fame Tradeshow

Edmonton Convention Centre | 3:00 pm

This is a premier opportunity for Company Program students to showcase their products at our largest fundraising event of the year. As business leaders and honourees gather to celebrate excellence and community impact, students set up their booths and present their ventures to some of the most influential and respected professionals in Northern Alberta. It’s an unforgettable chance to make connections, gain visibility, and shine in front of the region’s top business leaders.

27

June
2026

Celebration of Achievement

Location TBD | 3:00 pm

This day recognizes standout Company Program students and teams across multiple categories-families, educators, and industry leaders gather to applaud the growth students showed from first pitch to final product: stronger confidence, clearer communication, sharper problem-solving, and real traction in the marketplace.

Meet the 2026 Company Program Teams

Throughout the year, our Company Program comes to life through exciting events that showcase student talent, teamwork, and innovation. From pitch competitions to trade shows and year-end celebrations, each event offers students the chance to share their journey, connect with the community, and shine as young entrepreneurs. These milestones are more than just dates on the calendar—they’re moments where learning turns into real-world success.

Inductee Dave Filipchuk headshot

AMORIA

At Amoria, we create meaningful keepsakes designed to help you hold onto life’s most important moments. Rooted in the belief that memories deserve to be cherished, Amoria focuses on crafting thoughtful, high-quality pieces that capture emotion and connection in a lasting way. Our products are designed to celebrate special experiences and relationships, offering a timeless way to preserve what matters most—so you can revisit those moments again and again.

David Kent headshot

BALM SHELL

At Balm Shell, we design stylish and durable lip product holders that keep life’s small essentials secure, accessible, and always within reach, even in harsh weather. We believe organization should be simple, creative, and fun. By combining thoughtful design with sustainable practices, we celebrate the little things that matter and help our community keep their everyday essentials close.

Inductee Dave Filipchuk headshot

BIJOUE

At Bijoue, our mission is to craft fidget jewelry that not only provides discreet outlet for young individuals facing anxiety and stress, but also offers a safe, comforting channel while raising awareness for mental health for those seeking solace within life’s restless moments.

Zainul Mawji headshot

ETOILE

Étoile is dedicated to crafting high-quality jewelry and accessories from upcycled and thrifted materials. Through blending creativity with conscious craftsmanship, we give new life to discarded materials, proving that style and sustainability can shine together.

Inductee Dave Filipchuk headshot

JEANSTACK

At Jeanstack, we elevate personal essentials through thoughtful design and elegant engineering. Built on the idea that everyday items should be both functional and refined, Jeanstack creates accessories that simplify organization without sacrificing style. Our products are designed to integrate seamlessly into daily life, helping you stay organized, efficient, and polished wherever you go.

David Kent headshot

LNK'D

At Lnk’d, we create products that celebrate individuality while keeping up with life on the go. Built around the idea of blending personality with everyday convenience, Lnk’d designs thoughtful solutions that seamlessly integrate into fast-paced lifestyles. Our products are made to reflect who you are while supporting where you’re headed—bringing style, function, and ease together for life in motion.

Inductee Dave Filipchuk headshot

NEAT SEAT

Neat Seat Company transforms the back of your car seat into a clean, organized space. Designed to keep everyday essentials secure and within reach, it eliminates clutter and makes every ride more efficient. Whether it’s holding your items neatly in place or freeing up space in your car, Neat Seat turns a messy backseat into a simple, functional solution, because your car should stay organized without extra effort.

Zainul Mawji headshot

NOTIV

At Notiv, we create biodegradable pocket journals designed for accessibility, sustainability, and creativity. Made with seed paper and thoughtfully handcrafted by our talented team, each journal offers a unique way to capture ideas while giving back to the environment. Notiv blends purpose with innovation, transforming everyday note-taking into a meaningful, eco-friendly experience that grows beyond the page.

Inductee Dave Filipchuk headshot

REO

At REO, we create high-quality, artist-designed magnets that bring attention to vulnerable and endangered animals. Featuring original artwork by local artists, each piece is thoughtfully crafted to inspire awareness and spark meaningful conversations about conservation. REO combines creativity with purpose, using art as a platform to promote animal protection and encourage everyday actions that support a more sustainable future.

David Kent headshot

SCENT & STORY

Our Scent & Story Simmer Pots are a simple, natural way to fill your home with warm, inviting fragrance, no flames required. Each blend is created with dehydrated fruits, Herbs and spices, designed to be simmered in water. As the ingredients are simmered, they release a soft, sweet, and refreshing scent that brings a cozy nostalgic feel to the atmosphere of any space.

Inductee Dave Filipchuk headshot

SLIMESWIPE

SlimeSwipe is a pliable, non-toxic cleaning slime designed to reach the tight spaces and hard-to-reach crevices in your car that traditional tools simply cannot. Vents, cup holders, dashboard seams and every nook in between are no match for SlimeSwipe. Simply press, swipe, and lift the grime away with no residue left behind.

Zainul Mawji headshot

STRESS BEARS

At Stress Bears we create comfort, relief, and moments of calm in people’s everyday lives. Stress Bears is committed to environmental sustainability and employs locally sourced resources to manufacture ergonomically designed, weighted, bear-shaped neck supports that integrate seamlessly into the busy daily lives of individuals. Our products prioritize mental health by providing effective stress relief and comfort, “like a warm hug.”

Inductee Dave Filipchuk headshot

SQUEEZ'D

At Squeez’d, we create accessible, high-quality stress-relief products designed to support mental health and everyday well-being. Grounded in the belief that everyone deserves simple and effective ways to manage stress, Squeez’d focuses on crafting products that are both practical and comforting. Our solutions are designed to fit seamlessly into daily routines, helping individuals find moments of calm, relief, and balance whenever they need it most.

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