Indigenous Youth Business Camp builds early pathways and community at Saint Mary’s – Education News Canada
August 5, 2025
This July, Saint Mary’s University welcomed Indigenous youth from Cape Breton for a week-long immersive business and university experience through the inaugural Indigenous Youth Business Camp.
Led in partnership by the Sobey School of Business and Kylar Johnson, Indigenous Student Advisor in Student Affairs and Services, the pilot initiative was designed to create early pathways to post-secondary education for Indigenous youth in Atlantic Canada. Over the course of the week, students lived in Saint Mary’s residence, explored life on campus and in Halifax, and participated in a range of programming focused on entrepreneurship and business fundamentals.
“This week was all about connection,” said Kylar. “It was about giving students a feel for what it’s like to live here and learn at Saint Mary’s, helping them build relationships with our Indigenous community at SMU, showing them what supports exist within Student Affairs and Services and beyond, and giving them a chance to explore what SMU has to offer.”
