Kaleidoscope Spotlight

The Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region (BEP) is a local charity dedicated to a singular, vital mission: ensuring every young person in our community can build a path to a fulfilling career. Founded in 2002, the BEP was born from a visionary idea shared by local business and education leaders. They recognized that Waterloo Region possesses one of the most highly skilled workforces in the world and sought to harness that expertise to help students navigate an ever-changing professional landscape.

Since its inception, the BEP has empowered over 130,000 youth across the region. By fostering deep collaborations between parents, educators, and the local workforce, the organization provides students with the tools they need to explore their interests and prepare for the world of work. This work creates a “triple win”—it is good for students, good for business, and essential for the long-term prosperity of Waterloo Region.

The BEP achieves its impact through a diverse suite of high-impact programs:

• Speakers Bureau: Providing educators with a resource to bring professionals into the classroom.
• Explore Your Future: Connecting students and parents with inspirational local professionals and career exploration events.
• Youth Creativity Fund: Providing microgrants of up to $1,000 to help youth ages 15–18 build “creative confidence” through hands-on projects.
• ICE Challenges: One-day innovation workshops where senior high school students solve real-world business problems.
• Skilled Trades Focus: Through Legacy Builders and Trades PD, the BEP sparks interest in construction and supports guidance counsellors in advising on skilled trade pathways.

By offering meaningful opportunities for employers to engage in volunteerism and develop their future talent, the BEP ensures that our community’s greatest resource—its people—continues to flourish.

To learn more, visit 74 Queen St North, Unit B, Kitchener, ON N2H 2H3, call 226-642-0880, or email us at info@bepwr.ca, or get in touch through our socials.

https://www.bepwr.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/bepwaterlooregion

https://www.instagram.com/bep_wr/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bepwaterlooregion/

https://www.youtube.com/@bep_wr

https://x.com/BEP_WR