Junior Achievement gaining steam in rural Alberta Pilot project being set up in Flagstaff County

Leslie Cholowsky
Editor

    The Battle River Alliance for Economic Development (BRAED) started a ball rolling with a Youth Retention Forum held in Camrose late in 2010, inviting Junior Achievement (JA) to attend and make a presentation. Attendees of the forum sought to explore ways of increasing access to youth-focussed entrepreneurship programming and services in the region.

    “The Junior Achievement program really seemed to fit into all our economic development plans regarding youth retention,” said Jennifer Fossen, Economic Development Coordinator for Flagstaff County, who attended the BRAED forum.

    “We didn’t waste time on this,” Fossen added, saying she went directly to the Battle River School Division (BRSD) for permission to approach area schools.

    Not only did they get that, but BRSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Larry Payne also sent an introductory letter to schools on their behalf, strongly encouraging principals to find students to participate in the program.

More see the Jan. 17/12 issue of The Community Press