Sheridan helps to bring a new innovation centre to Mississauga

Earlier today, Sheridan welcomed the visit by the Honorable Dipika Damerla, Minister of Seniors Affairs and MPP Mississauga East-Cooksville and Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance and MPP Mississauga South to its Hazel McCallion Campus in Mississauga, as well as the news of a $1.5 million investment, over three years, by the Province of Ontario to create a hub for innovation in Mississauga’s downtown core.

The new initiative will be co-located in Sheridan’s existing EDGE Entrepreneurship Hub, at the Hazel McCallion Campus. It will build on and expand what is currently available at Sheridan and throughout the City, including in the Regional Innovation Centre, to provide a broader range and more concentrated set of innovation supports and services in the downtown core.

More specifically, the investment will support the expansion of mentorship programming, create new coaching sessions, workshops and events to assist entrepreneurs to meet self-identified milestones, offer tailored support to cohorts of entrepreneurs from under-represented backgrounds, and address specific industry and social innovation needs in Mississauga, which will be identified in consultation with City economic development staff, industry and community stakeholders.

Minister Sousa said, “In this rapidly changing world, we can’t afford to rest . . . we must be at the leading edge of innovation . . . education is key.” In describing the hub, Minister Sousa suggested that “it will bring together a diverse range of entrepreneurs and innovators, provide start-ups with business and technical support, as well as conduct cutting edge research to help them thrive. This unique innovation partnership will nurture companies and create high paying jobs that strengthen our economy.”

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie stated, “We are working to foster a culture of innovation where local companies will not only start, but thrive . . . We want to foster innovative ideas from concept straight through to commercialization right here in Mississauga . . . This hub will provide mentoring, support, guidance . . . all the critical supports that a new start up needs.”

Jarrod Ladouceur, Project Manager within the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation at Ryerson University, noted, “We have been happy to bring some of the best practices from our Zone learning network to the development of the new innovation centre. We look forward to continuing to work with Sheridan on supporting the development of the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in the GTA and building linkages to national and global, investment and business development networks.”

“Sheridan is exceptionally proud to partner with the City of Mississauga, Ryerson University, and industry on this exciting venture” said Dr. Mary Preece, President and Vice Chancellor at Sheridan. “Today’s investment will help us to serve even more entrepreneurs, spur the development of new engines of economic growth, and meet the innovation needs of companies of all sizes. Together, we will foster innovation and entrepreneurship – two areas that are fundamental to Ontario’s future competitiveness and prosperity.”

Pictured top right (left to right): Jarrod Ladouceur, Project Manager, Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation, Ryerson University; Dr. Mary Preece, President and Vice Chancellor, Sheridan College; Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga; The Hon. Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance; Renee Devereaux, Manager of Entrepreneurship and Changemaking, Sheridan College; Shauna-Kay Jones, Sheridan Alumna and Founder of Motify, a company working in Sheridan's EDGE Entrepreneurship Hub.