Enactus Humber has delivered a record-breaking performance at the Enactus Canada Central Regional Exposition by earning multiple top placements and securing a place at the upcoming national competition.
The student-led organization, which includes more than 50 students from a wide range of academic programs at Humber Polytechnic, competed against post-secondary institutions from across Ontario and Quebec. Their efforts resulted in first place finishes in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge and the Enactus Alumni Innovation and Impact Challenge, along with a second runner-up finish in the Desjardins Community Empowerment Challenge.
The wins are credited to Enactus Humber team and all four of the projects factored in the two first-place finishes and the second runner-up finish. However, certain projects were the focus of specific categories.
Enactus Humber is a student-led organization dedicated to creating positive change through entrepreneurial action. It provides students with opportunities to apply their skills to real-world challenges while making a measurable impact in their communities.
Susan Kates, professor and program coordinator, Marketing Management, Advertising Media Management and Entrepreneurship who serves as a faculty advisor to Humber Enactus, said the results highlight the strength and diversity of Enactus Humber's project portfolio and its focus on creating meaningful social, environmental and economic impact through entrepreneurship.
"Seeing our students bring bold, purpose-driven ideas to life and compete at such a high level is incredibly rewarding," said Kates. "Their success at regionals reflects not only their hard work and creativity, but also their commitment to making an impact in their communities. We're excited to see how they build on this momentum at the national stage."
At the competition, the team presented four ventures that reflect a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement. These included ReShade, a project that transforms used, expired and discontinued makeup into paint; Humber Lumber, which recovers urban wood and repurposes it into high-quality products; Flourish, an initiative designed to restore choice and connection in long-term care settings; and HIVE, a program that equips students with entrepreneurial skills.
Kates said the team worked closely with the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation team and that two of their Bachelor of Engineering - Mechatronics Engineering students, Hrishikesh Patel and Gurshan Singh Gill guided by professor Imran Khan, developed a device that greatly reduces the labour required to scrape paint and put it in jars to be processed for the ReShade project. Kates noted that Humber Enactus and Cosmetics Alliance Canada continue to build a stronger relationship and work together on ReShade.
As well, Enactus partnered with the Centre for Innovation in Health and Wellness and its director Vanita Varma to organize the Flourish Hackathon that asked participants to reimagine personal care experiences to enhance dignity, independence and well-being for seniors. Each team brought new and innovative ideas to support seniors' ability to age with care and dignity. The hackathon was used as part of the Enactus Humber submission.
The team's success is driven by strong student leadership. Co-presidents Aashna Manocha, a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting student, and Suneha Walia, a third-year Architectural Technology student, have played a central role in organizing the team, guiding project development and preparing for competition.
Enactus Humber is also supported by experienced mentors, including Kates and Harpreet Sandhu, an Enactus alumnus and facilitator in the Real Estate Education program.
With its strong showing at regionals, Enactus Humber has advanced to the Enactus Canada National Exposition taking place in Montreal in May. Following their first-place finishes, the team will compete in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge and the Innovation and Impact Challenge finals at the national level, with the opportunity to qualify for the Enactus World Cup in Brazil.
As the team looks ahead to nationals, Enactus Humber continues to welcome students interested in gaining hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, sustainability and social impact.
Find out more by visiting the Enactus Humber website.
