Thank you for having us here once again today.
Over the past 11 years, we have been collaborating with Veteran Affairs Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces, helping transitioning members and veterans bridge the gap between military service and civilian life. For those unfamiliar with Prince’s Trust Canada, we are the flagship charity for His Majesty the King. We focus on transforming lives and building sustainable communities.
Operation entrepreneur is a core program of Prince’s Trust Canada. We provide the transitioning military and veteran community with the training, tools, resources and opportunities they need to build confidence, develop networks and, through entrepreneurship, move forward with their lives.
Through our business basics workshops, we help veterans explore entrepreneurship, and we help them assess if this is the second career option for them or the one they're interested in pursuing at this time. We also look at how this small business will fit into their lives and their own vision for their future. Then, for those who choose this path, we have an intensive seven-day boot camp, mentoring opportunities and wraparound support, plus an entrepreneurial ecosystem necessary to make the business a reality.
Since 2012, more than 4,500 still-serving members and veterans have learned the basics of starting a business and discovering their own entrepreneurial mindset through our programs. More than 700 businesses have been started in every corner of Canada, from construction to consulting to horse therapy and everything in between.
Veterans who have graduated from our programs and veteran entrepreneurs everywhere have created jobs, and they've also used entrepreneurship to take control of their lives. For veterans, as we know, entrepreneurship provides three key elements necessary for a successful transition to civilian life: a new life purpose, a new group identity and a new opportunity to serve. Self-employment and entrepreneurship are very attractive second-career options for veterans, as they can leverage their military experience and skills in new ways. Additionally, it can accommodate mental or physical health challenges and offers a flexible alternative to traditional employment.
The average age of today’s veteran is in the low forties, around 41 years old. That is very young and mid-career for most people, with their best years still ahead of them. However, in some cases, including for many women, the impact of military service and military culture has taken a devastating toll on their bodies and minds. For women especially, this has resulted in a post-service future very different from the one they imagined for themselves and, by choice or by necessity, a disproportionate number of women veterans, 25%, are turning to entrepreneurship.
Prince’s Trust Canada is very proud to be creating these opportunities and spaces for our veterans to succeed. We will continue to advocate and invest in veterans who want or need to make entrepreneurship their next career and choose to take this path. This is a population of Canadians who are ready and waiting for attention, more help and your support.
I will now turn it over to Major Kristin Topping.