The challenge was clear. Develop a plan to strengthen democracy, create prosperity, realize human potential and connect communities within the Americas.
Not exactly a simple assignment for a typical 18-year-old Calgary student. But Brodie Boland is evidently not your average student. In fact, his ideas and entrepreneurial spirit will be circulated at next week’s Summit of the Americas in Quebec City.
A pre-management student at the University of Calgary, Boland placed first and pocketed $5,000 in prize money in a national challenge of post-secondary students to describe how young Canadians can prepare for increased opportunities in the Americas.
“My plan focused around entrepreneurship as a catalyst. I wanted to stimulate entrepreneurship to affect change in those areas,” says Boland, who is also vice-president for corporate development at the U of C’s AIESEC club, the world’s largest student organization which operates international internship exchanges.
The “Opportunities in the Americas” challenge was sponsored by the Export Development Corporation (EDC) and the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE). Boland’s presentation topped seven other finalists, including a team from McGill.
“Many young Canadians will find their futures linked to or affected by the economies of the Americas,” says CFEE president Gary Rabbior.
“Through this challenge,” added EDC president and CEO Ian Gillespie, “we hope to learn first-hand what the world leaders of tomorrow feel they need to prepare themselves for an active role in the global marketplace.”
Brodie and the runners-up are in Montreal this week to present their plans at the Conférence De Montréal, an annual economic conference that this year will highlight Latin America to coincide with the Summit of the Americas held on April 20-22.
But more importantly, copies of Boland’s presentation will be distributed to the delegates at the Quebec City summit — allowing his ideas “inside the fence” of the heavily-guarded conference. “I think it’s awesome,” says Boland. “I find it extremely exciting.”
While reluctant to speak about the controversial free-trade issues surrounding the summit — “I simply don’t know enough about the issues” — Boland says the gathering of the world’s leaders is a positive step in moving forward to create more sustainable and responsible development in the Americas.
“I think it’s our responsibility as human beings to care about people in other regions of the world,” says Boland, who dreams of a career helping entrepreneurs in developing nations.
“On the other hand, it is prudent for us to ensure we stimulate development in those areas. As we all know, the economy is becoming increasingly global, and increasingly inter-dependent . . . what benefits them, benefits us as well.”
