The 2023 CoLab Program

The CoLab Program is an innovation accelerator that helps the next generation of change makers build an idea. Throughout the 10-week program, social entrepreneurs from across the nation will work collaboratively to come up with a minimally viable solution to some of our most pressing problems.
Participants will get access to industry and impact experts who will mentor them through the ideation process. The goal of the program is to create truly meaningful change in our communities.​
Applications for the 2023 CoLab Program will open in April. Stay tuned to our socials for more info. to come.​

This Year’s Challenge​

Youth today face several systemic challenges that have been caused and contributed to by previous generations, inadvertently placing an unprecedented amount of burden on them.
The Mental Health Crisis
This year, we will be focusing on the Mental Health Crisis across Canada. Many mental healthcare systems in Canada currently in place lack the competence to address the harms, traumas and complexities related to mental health that communities in Canada face. Subtopics within this focus area will be informed by an esteemed panel of Mental Health experts and thought leaders.​

2022 CoLab Program Highlights

The CoLab is an innovation accelerator that helps the next generation of leaders, activists, innovators, entrepreneurs and critical thinkers, who are providing business solutions to Canada’s most pressing problems by offering them access to investment and mentorship via industry and academic experts. The 2022 CoLab Program was a huge success! Watch the video above to learn more.

The amazing CoLab Program participants had access to leading Canadian thought leaders as mentors as they honed their design thinking and problem solving skills. They attended two inspiration sessions led by dynamic speakers and activists, as well as many co-creation sessions led by an impressive group of mentors. Participants collaborated together to produce actionable ideas to make real change happen now. All participants who completed the program requirements received a $750 honorarium. Congratualtions to all participants of the 2022 CoLab Program!

2022 CoLab Program Participants

Adam Salaam
Adolphina Wilson
Aileen-Vu Tran
Amit Sharma
Ampai Thammachack
Anagha Vadarevu
Anita Samra
Anthony Hope
Ashwini Selvakumaran
Cher Peng
Chloe White
Connor MacLean
Dilynn Kehlr
Dylan Hubble
Eman Abdelrasoul
Erin Rebello
Faiz Jan
Fikayo Aderoju
Gabrielle Awellano
Hadiqa Shaikh
Hailey Rodgers
Hriday Keshav
Hui Huang
Issac Petonoquot
Jessie Brar
Joshan Gill
Julia Lukas
Kari Guo
Katherine McDougall
Katrina Ouellette
Kirsten Kelly
Max Manglal-Lan
Mesgna Mesgna
Mishika Khurana
Natasha Graham
Natasha Ing
Priyanshu Mahey
Ripdaman Malhans
Rohan Birk
Samantha Passfield
Samuel Perez Alvarado
Seleem Badawy
Tino Dogo
Tracey Gaydosh
Zach Wilkinson

2022 CoLab Program Grant Recipients

This year’s CoLab Program distributed grant funding to selected proposals from a pool of $50,000. An esteemed panel of judges was carefully selected to review and asses each proposal based on criteria of viability, feasibility, desirability and impact.

Project Name

A Melanated Guide to Mental Health

Participant/s

Jessie Brar

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$6,000.00

Project Name

Purple Lotus

Participant/s

Priyanshu Mahey; Cher Peng

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

Frontline Baddies

Participant/s

Tracey Gaydosh; Aileen Tran

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

One Stop Mental Health Canada

Participant/s

Chloe White; Erin Robello

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

Know Your Nation

Participant/s

Mesgna Mesgna

Focus

Misinformation

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

Premis

Participant/s

Amit Sharma; Ripdaman Malhans;
Rohan Birk; Joshan Gill

Focus

Misinformation

Amount Granted

$8,000.00

2022 CoLab Program Speakers

Participants attended two virtual inspiration sessions that emboldened and reframed their thinking around this year’s challenge spaces.

2022 CoLab Program Mentors

Participants worked in groups with mentors and peers to co-create solutions to specific challenge spaces. CoLab mentors bring experience, guidance, and additional perspective to foster meaningful ideation.

2022 CoLab Program Mentors

Follow our socials for info. on the 2023 CoLab Program in the new year.

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