“With the support of the organizers, participants, and mentors I was able to put together a program proposal that I can now use to approach government agencies and corporations for partnerships and the grant funding from Press Start was an immense blessing to be able to turn my chronic illness resource ideas into reality!” Karima Leslie

“For me, the Press Start CoLab Program’s most valuable aspect is the collaborative environment it cultivates. Being part of a cohort with a shared mission has provided support, inspiration and networking opportunities. This community-driven atmosphere allowed me to explore my ideas in a safe space while challenging me to improve on the project.” - Alexander Lam (Reset)

“The mental health crisis today is both multi-faceted and unprecedented, but there is hope,” said Martha Turner Osborne, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer of nowly Insurance, a division of Teachers Life. “Each of the program participants brought unique lived experiences and insights to their proposals, and it’s inspiring to see how passionate and committed they each are to making a difference for all Canadians. nowly and Teachers Life would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2023 Press Start CoLab, with special thanks to partner OTIP for the additional funding that enabled us to expand the grant recipient pool.”

"The mental health crisis today is both multi-faceted and unprecedented, but there is hope. Each of the program participants brought unique lived experiences and insights to their proposals, and it’s inspiring to see how passionate and committed they each are to making a difference for all Canadians. Nowly and Teachers Life would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2023 Press Start Co-Lab, with special thanks to partner OTIP for the additional funding that enabled us to expand the grant recipient pool."

“With this funding being specifically for socially innovative ideas, it created the space to allow me to get creative with my approach to mental health education and also allowed me to be able to distribute my resources for free around the world.” - Jessie Brar

"When we were developing our value proposition for nowly, we always knew that an innovative social give-back program would be at the core of our nowly brand. We asked our members what was most important to them. Given they were education workers, it’s not surprising that they asked us to focus on youth who want to make a positive social difference. Hence, the Press Start CoLab program was developed."

“nowly is about helping our fellow Canadians live their best lives now, with simplified life insurance offerings, as well as value-add health and wellness benefits and a social give-back program” said Kayte Fredrickson, President and CEO of nowly and Teachers Life. “The launch of our SmartLife Product Lineup and innovative new technology platform underscores our commitment to the Canadian market and creates a foundation from which we can continue to expand and grow.”