Recent Posts

October 2, 2023
Press Start’s 2023 Emerging Social Innovators & Grant Recipients

“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)

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September 20, 2023
Our 2023 Press Start CoLab Program Awarded $61,000 in Grants to Young Canadian Changemakers

“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.”

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September 15, 2023
The 2023 Press Start CoLab Program Awards and Winners

"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."

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August 23, 2023
The Lasting Impact of the Press Start CoLab Program

“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

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May 24, 2023
How the 2023 CoLab Program Empowers Young Canadians!

"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."

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May 16, 2023
Introducing The 2023 Press Start CoLab Program 

"Not only will participants receive a $500.00 honorarium for their participation and a new network of peers and mentors that lasts beyond the program, but they will also have access to a pool of over $50,000.00 in Grants, Awards, and In-Kind Partnerships to put their ideas into action."

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May 8, 2023
The 2023 CoLab Program Applications Are Now Open, Apply Now!

“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.”

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September 16, 2022
Announcing the 2022 nowly / Press Start Emerging Social Innovators

"I found invaluable opportunities for networking and mentorship through the program and the tools given to us have been phenomenal, from business plan examples to tips with grant applications," says Tino Dogo, Bachelor of Science student at University of Manitoba and CoLab 2022 participant. "Thanks to the collaborative nature of the program, I had the opportunity to think outside my typical box and see things from different perspectives. This allowed me to come back to my business plan with a totally fresh perspective."

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August 8, 2022
Hope. Inspiration. Empowerment.

"I was eager to join the discussion and was impressed with the passionate and informative speakers who helped cut through the dark and shine a light on what we can do to address these issues and enable change." - Claire Latham

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