Over a hundred founders, students, alumni, faculty, community partners, and government representatives gathered at Sheridan’s Hazel McCallion Campus on July 23 for the EDGE Founders Celebration Night, an evening designed to celebrate entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey, from students just launching an idea to founders scaling established businesses.
MP Fares Al Soud (Mississauga Centre) and MP Iqra Khalid (Mississauga–Erin Mills) addressed the room, joined by Sheridan President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Cindy Gouveia. Throughout the evening, the MPs moved through a vendor marketplace featuring ventures from the EDGE network, stopping at booths to chat with entrepreneurs, hear their stories, and sample their products and services.
Guests were welcomed with Connection Cards designed to spark conversation between people meeting for the first time. During the event, they also shared personal wins and reflections by adding them to a community tree installation. Seven entrepreneurs from the EDGE network staffed tables in the marketplace, sharing their work directly with attendees
The evening put a special spotlight on Rise, an entrepreneurship program supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Rise has served 130 founders who are growing both their revenue and community impact. Rise founders are creating jobs, serving underrepresented markets, and driving local economic growth.
Four founders were recognized for their contributions to their industries and communities, and joined on stage by MP Al Soud, MP Khalid, and Dr. Gouveia. Jason Johnson, founder of Turtle island Charity and a Sheridan graduate, was recognized for creating Indigenous-led initiatives that support community well-being across Canada. Jennifer Benedict, founder of Ironwood Infrastructure and a Sheridan graduate, was recognized for trailblazing growth in Canada’s railway industry.
Shazia Javed, founder of LifeSketch Media, was recognized for championing underrepresented voices in film and television. Hassan Naqvi, a Sheridan Computer Engineering student, was recognized for CreateMyCircuit, a business that makes STEM education more accessible through hands-on electronics learning tools.
MP Fares Al Soud and MP Iqra Khalid both addressed the strength of Canada’s entrepreneurial community. “Tonight we’re celebrating the entrepreneurs who are turning ideas into businesses, who are creating jobs, who are solving real-world problems and challenges, and who are strengthening our communities,” said MP Khalid.
The Founders Celebration Night reflects Sheridan EDGE’s year-round commitment to supporting founders and students at every stage of their journey. Whether launching a new idea or growing an established venture, participants are recognized for their contributions to building stronger, more resilient communities.
